HD Gaming Overrated

[picopir8]

I must admit, I was pretty excited when video game consoles entered the HD era, and I have enjoyed playing a number of games in HD.  But a couple months ago, I picked up the Nintendo Wii which even with the component cables will max out at 480p.  I knew it would not be as pretty as the xbox 360 or PS3 but heck its about 1/2-1/3 the price, and I could not hear enough good things about it.  Not to mention, it plays all the old gamecube games, and you can download NES, SNES, N64, sega, and turbographics games.  I am in my early 30's so the though of having access to all the old games I grew up on was a large selling point.

Anyway, I just realized that since I have purchased the Wii, I have only turned on my xbox 360 once, and that was to play a quick game of Limines.  Every other time I have played games (alone, with the future wife...who may I add does not normally like video games, or with company) it has always been on the Wii.  Sure the games are not HD, but they are so fun that it really does not matter.  If anyone else here enjoys gaming and is avoiding the Wii because it is not HD, do yourself a favor and reconsider.  Or at least get it along with the Xbox 360 or PS3.

[HDefinicktion]

I have to agree with you on that.  After buying the Wii, I really thought that I would be missing the nice graphics, instead, I really enjoy the gameplay.  It is different, and can be tricky to get used, but extremely fun.  Even better, I can now get my wife to play games with me, which never happened with other systems.  To get the Wii, I did not have to dip into the college fund for my first born to buy it either.  I guess in the future, if I truly am missing the graphics, I would reconsider.

When purchasing a used copy of Redsteel last weekend, and couple of guys sighed as I purchased it.  I asked why the attitude, and they said it was a kids console.  I asked if they had played it yet, and they replied "no."  They were really into their Xbox, and were so because of the graphics.  I think that once the Wii become a little more mainstream, many others will see what it can do, and give it some more respect.  Until then, I guess I will take the criticism.

[SRW1000]

I'm one of those guys that wouldn't consider buying a Wii.  Not only because it's not high definition, but because it's a console marketed to a much younger demographic.

I do think they made a mistake not making the Wii HD.  While the market is still small today, it's growing daily.  Over the expected life of the Wii, as more people adapt to HD, it will look more and more like a child's toy.

While the controllers make for an innovation, it's a gimmick that can easily be copied by either Microsoft or Sony.  I'll be shocked if there aren't similar controllers for those systems by Christmas.

Looking at the games that are scheduled to come out, the experience provided by the Wii lends itself to simpler, basic gameplay, while the 360 and the PS3 will expand on that, producing games that the Wii could never touch.  Check out Oblivion, Mass Effect, Shadowrun, Assassins Creed, and BioShock.  These just couldn't be duplicated on the Wii.

At the same time, the 360 has a lot of arcade games (with more coming every week) that can satisfy the less sophisticated gamer.  You kind of get both aspects with the 360, along with the ability to download other HD media content, or stream pictures, music, and videos from a PC.

Price-wise, my premium 360 was only $50 more than the Wii, and it came with a free game.  Normally the basic 360 is only an additional $50, and it does so much more.

The Wii just doesn't thrill me.  But, maybe that's because I'm an old guy (over 40).

Scott

[Mikey]

I love my xbox360.  I never considered the Wii.  I stopped playing Nintendo back in the early 90's once I got hooked on the Sega Genesis and all the EA sports games (madden madden madden!).

I was going to go 100% PS3, but they are just lacking in quality games right now, so I got a 360 a few months ago.  I am enjoying NBA 2K7, MLB 2k7, Oblivion, Gears of War, Fuzion Frenzy & NBA Street Homecourt.  Not only is the gameplay outstanding, but the xbox Live integration adds alot of fun (not too mention all the arcade games you can download for a very small price) and the graphics are outstanding.

MLB2K7 is the most gorgeous sports game I have ever set eyes on.  The sunlight/shadows, jerseys (you can SEE the fabric patterns), sweat, faces (the accuracy of the guys down to some of the most minor of benchwarmers is quite impressive).  The motions, fluidity and gamecalling are also top notch.  You can see the uniforms blow in the breeze for cryin out loud!

And if you haven't seen Oblivion, do yourself a favor and do some searches on the internet for some of the Oblivion "scenery".  Those aren't just CGI shots, those are actualy, in-game, real time screen shots.  

And I can't stress enough that these games aren't just gorgeous, but they play awesome.  I can't wait for the next Madden to come out ('08).  After having another year to program and develope for the best gaming franchise on the planet, my expectations are really high.  I'm not sure if I will get the PS3 version or the 360 version, as I expect to have a PS3 by August too.

Either way, HD gaming on a 56" HDTV is everything I expected it to be.

[kevbeck122]

My roommate has a Wii.  It was fun for maybe the first month.. but I got bored with it.  I'm sticking to the PS3 and 360.

[smack]

I got a PS3 around christmas and picked up a wii in february.  The novelty of the wii has kind of passed at this point.  At least until they get some more games out.  I have gone back to playing PS3 (motorstorm) for the time being.

Although my wife and kids like the wii much more than the ps3.  Perhaps because I don't let them play with the ps3:D

[NDP1623]

I have a PS3, and my best friend has a Wii.  The Wii is definitely a novelty item as of right now.  Maybe games will be better down the road.  I played Tiger Woods on the Wii yesterday for about 3 minutes, and thats about all the fun that was good for, 3 minutes.  It was bad.  As for my PS3, there are great games for in right now(Resistance, Motor Storm, etc.)  but wait a year to see if the system is worth it.  Game programmers have never programmed for a system like the PS3 before.  They are all used to using one or two processors, not eight.  And I would own an Xbox 360 if they would just put the damn HDDVD player in it, and not a add on.  All I can say is I cant wait for the cross-console gaming. :rock:

[picopir8]

While some of the games for the Wii can seem gimicy, many others are pretty solid.  As for the Wii iself, its not aimed at kids, it is aimed at everyone.  Anyone can pick up and play, not just the hardcore gamers willing to learn complex controls.  Im not sure if I could be considered a hardcore gamer anymore. I still play about 1 game a month from start to completion but I also dont have time anymore to just sit and play for hours on end, so a console like the wii is great because its easier to just pick up and play.

As for the controls. I am sure the others will copy the controls next time around, but I highly doubt you will see such controls in this generation.  The Wii has 3 dimentions of accelerometer sensing, 2d aiming (like a lightgun), a rotation sensor, and the 2d analog stick on the numchuck. thats a total of 8-axes of control where as the xbox 360 and PS3 controller only offer a total of 4-axes (2 2d thumbsticks) so if they did copy it in this generation, the knockoffs would have much less functionality.

[kevbeck122]

PS3 has SIXAXIS :p
I've used it for steering in Ridge Racer 7 and Motorstorm.. kinda hard to get used to.  In Resistance, it's used to shake alien zombies off of you at certain points in the game.  Not as complex as the Wii.. but for the games that are on the PS3, I'd rather use a normal gamepad.

[Paul S.]

You guys are crazy- the Wii is gonna be ancient tech in a year or two.

[MDR]

That can probably be said for all of  today's technology!

[klwillis45]

Gameplay is what makes or breaks a game,  not graphics. Playing a great game in HD is just a bonus.

[LowSignal]

If Wii actually supported online play(TODAY) in it's games that would be great. Sometimes you cant have people over when you want to play Mario party or something. So far the Only fun games on Wii have been the Mini games (Wario Ware and Wii Sports)

[SRW1000]

As for the controls. I am sure the others will copy the controls next time around, but I highly doubt you will see such controls in this generation.  The Wii has 3 dimentions of accelerometer sensing, 2d aiming (like a lightgun), a rotation sensor, and the 2d analog stick on the numchuck. thats a total of 8-axes of control where as the xbox 360 and PS3 controller only offer a total of 4-axes (2 2d thumbsticks) so if they did copy it in this generation, the knockoffs would have much less functionality.

All of this could be supported through peripherals and coding.  There's nothing inherent in the Wii controller that couldn't be copied by Microsoft or Sony.  It just depends on whether or not they decide the market wants to see it added.

Scott

[SRW1000]

Gameplay is what makes or breaks a game,  not graphics. Playing a great game in HD is just a bonus.

Yeah, but good gameplay with fantastic HD graphics beats good gameplay with last generation's OK SD graphics.

When it comes to game experience envelopment, you can't overestimate the impact of HD.

But bad games still suck on any system.

Scott