Before the Wii was released we complained about the lack of commercials, but I have to give Nintendo credit now because I am seeing the Wii everywhere. If you watch Comedy Central at all you saw their Wii promotion pimped during Thanksgiving, and last night Stephen Colbert playing Wii Sports creating a Mii of himself to box against a Mii of Nancy Pelosi. I've seen commercials for plenty of games, although no Zelda commercials surprisingly, and I've seen the creepy Japanese guys commercial a few times. The Wii also seems to be getting a lot of play in the mainstream press. I'd even dare say I've seen more Wii commercials than PS3 commercials. Is this anyone else's impression, or am I just living in a fantasy world?
As the thread title points out, these are not major deal breaking issues, so I don't want to hear anyone saying "well it's not that big a deal" or "it's still a great system" or anything like that because that's understood.
Anyway, I just thought I'd point out the minor issues I've noticed here and there while browsing the otherwise great system.
One thing I just found out, by testing Mario Kart DD, is that the Wii doesn't properly handle LAN mode. The thing is, the Wii should be able to do that using wireless just fine without issue in the background and just "trick" the game into thinking the LAN add-on is installed. This can be fixed in a future firmware update, if they so desire. Hopefully they will. It's a minor issue that goes right along with the very short list of Gamecube games not running correctly on the Wii (also fixable through an update).
This is really a Gamecube annoyance, but in attempting to "move" previously unmovable Gamecube saves to my large memory card, I find I still can't do that. Rather silly really. What's the big security risk in not letting me move my Animal Crossing town data or F-Zero data around? They can still prevent "copying" after all, and if someone hacks the system to allow a copy it's not like they can't just also allow a move with the same hack, so it really doesn't prevent anything. This too should be resolvable in a future update, but for some reason I doubt this will ever be implemented. It's just weird.
As my other thread discusses, the Wii strap could use some work. I haven't had the thing slip from my hands yet, and I'm pretty shocked at the speed those videos show of those remotes flying all over the place. However, that tiny string is still pretty weak. Really, what is up with that? Japanese people are weird.
Nintendo's online store needs to ditch "Nintendo Points" in favor of actually listing the price and letting people just buy the things there. As I've said before, unless you have enough points left over from previous purchases (which requires you actually having a lot of things on there you want to buy, instead of, as is more likely in my case, maybe one or two things every year if XBox Live is any indication), basically any and all prices under $10 become exactly $10 for all practical purposes.
The "channel" interface is interesting, but it could be streamlined even further if instead of each and every single app you downloading getting it's own icon in a big ol' list right up there, it was categorized. That is, all the Virtual Console games could get their own folder. Further, it would eliminate the need for all those pages of dead space on the top level.
The last thing is something that's not an issue just yet, rechargeable remote batteries. Those would sure be nice. Two metal contacts on the outside and a stand to sit it in, like a portable phone? Even better.
Anyway, that's all I can think of right now. Nothing major, but little problems that can all be resolved through either firmware updates or a special new accessory to buy.
Ever look at various hand straps included with various systems, see that looping bit of string nowhere NEAR as strong as the part that goes around your wrist, and think "wait, didn't they realize a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link?".
Well, they may not have, but some other people sure have been made aware of this.
At first I was just chocking this up to a fluke or two, but the reports just keep on coming in, complete with photo graphical and video evidence.
Interesting. I myself have noticed one can get a little caught up in the game, though that's nothing keeping a good grip can't solve. Still, I know exactly how clumsy I am and it's inevitable it'll slip from my grip one of these days. I'd like to think the strap would actually be able to hold if I'm in mid-ultraspeed mode (seriously, how fast were these guys swinging their arms to go through a frickin' window or TV?). I think the suggestion to make the strap either thicker or made of metal is a good one.
At least as of yet the people have taken these accidents in stride. Though, eventually a lawsuit will emerge from this... The thing is, I have a hard time really seeing Nintendo come out of any such lawsuit in one piece. They do specifically claim that with the hand strap in place, the remote will NOT fly all over the room. Something like that could be damning if the hand strap doesn't actually do much to prevent such a thing.
Of course if Nintendo loses and does end up making a stronger hand strap, offering to replace anyone's strap if they mail it in or some such thing, someone will probably imbibe in Underdog's energy pills and struggle to somehow break THAT so they can sue Nintendo again.
I didn't do one last year, because last year, I was extremely busy (working towards something ultimately futile). I wanted to, but I could never find the time to actually do it.
This year, I have no such endeavors to occupy me, so I made a new Christmas theme for 2006. You guys all know where to find it.
Posted by: EdenMaster - 25th November 2006, 10:49 AM - Forum: Wii Reviews
- No Replies
Many players will get their first taste of the Wii from this simple yet addictive sports sim package, mostly because (at least at launch) is waspacked in with all Wii systems. It's been called a great segue between controller gaming and using the Wii-mote for games people will play on the Wii. It's also the first game people will probably use their Mii avatars.
The game is meant to be played in short bursts, and while skill can be a factor, most anyone can pick up and play any of the games offered easily. Among them, Wii Sports offers Tennis, Baseball, Bowling, Golf, and Boxing. Each game has the player using the Wii remote in differing ways to affect gameplay.
Tennis is played as doubles, with one player controlling one or both players on on side of the course, and another player (or a CPU) on the other side. Four people can even fill all four positions, making for a grantic experience.
Baseball is somewhat similar to Tennis when batting. Two teams are made up of players and/or CPU's and take turns batting and pitching. When batting, players must watch the oncoming ball and hit it effectively to score a home run, or at least make it a base or two. When pitching, you can press many of the buttons on the remote to throw curveballs, grounders, fastballs, and any number of throws to perplex your opponent.
Bowling is straighforward and simple in it's presentation, but ridiculously fun. Players hold down the B Button as they aim and rear back their swing, then release the button to throw the ball. Bowling consists of a normal 10 frames of ten-pin bowling, just as it would be played normally.
In Golf, you hold the remote pointing downward (as though gripping the end of a golf club), and swing with varying force to either whack the ball across the course to the green, gently putt the ball into the hole, or any amount of strength needed in between.
Boxing is the only game requiring the Nunchuck attachment. Holding both pieces of the controller, players block and punch as though actually boxing.
Outside of the normal metods, each game offers three training courses to help you hone your skill in batting, putting, bowling strikes, or whatever malady your game may have. There is also a "daily training" option which throws a few random training methods at you and then grades your performance.
There isn't much to say about the game, admittedly, it's a fun game that can be picked up and played by anyone just about anytime, as each game only takes a few minutes to play. As stated earlier, it's also a great way to acclimate oneself to the unfamiliar control method of the Wii.
Anyone know why I can't change my avatar? I want to put a new Wii-specific one, but it won't let me change it in my CP. It let me delete the old one, but there is no option for adding a new one. Could this be a bug caused by the recent forum problems?
So has anyone else tried out the Virtual Console? If not, it's pretty slick. I bought a 2000 point card a few days ago and I picked out Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario 64 (the only worthwile downloads among the disappointing launch. Really, who is going to download Soccer or Pinball?).
The process couldn't be more smooth. I entered the code on my card and 2000 Wii Points added to my total immediately. I chose Sonic first, and I had it in about a minute and a half, Mario 64 didn't take too much longer. The games are picture-perfect ports, changed only to accept the functionality of new controls (I use the Wii-Mote in Sonic, and WaveBird for M64). I have yet to get a classic controller, though most games will accept a GC controller. There was a warning before M64 that the controls may have been "optimized" for the Classic Controller, but the GC controller handles it perfectly. It controls much like Sunshine.
It's a really cool system, and will definitely give the console a big edge during the summer droughts. No games being released, yank a game off the Virtual Console for 5-10 bucks while you're waiting for something bigger. Or, if you don't have the money for a new Wii game (as was my scenario), spend the chicken scratch on a classic you may have missed, or an old favorite.
All in all, this may be the best idea Nintendo ever came up with.
