As Nintendo positioned the Wii in the months leading up to E3, they said they were convinced gamers wanted more play experiences rather than ever-flashier graphics. As such they were not going to build the most technologically sophisticated machine but would instead concentrate on the gameplay. Looking at the first crop of games it is easy to see they were not going for the graphics. At best they look like really good GameCube games. In no way do they compare to the much higher resolution Xbox 360 and PS3 graphics. While this could be a problem for hardcore gamers who demand ever more realistic graphics, it in no way detracts from the fun.
Light gun? No problem!
What struck me as I worked my way through the booth was how much fun everyone seemed to be having with the games. Plenty of smiles and laughs accompanied the play, and remember that I was there with one of the most jaded gaming groups in the world … members of the gaming media. Face it, we’ve generally been playing for years and pretty much seen it all. The fact that this group was so thoroughly enjoying themselves spoke volumes about how well Nintendo had executed their new strategy.
It is plain that Wii is destined to be a major source of social lubrication at many parties to come and that it is very likely to attract a whole new group of gamers that find the current style of controller, with is numerous buttons and sticks, to be far too intimidating to pick up. This is just as Nintendo was hoping for.
In my opinion Nintendo has a console hit on its hands unlike anything since the SNES. And while Nintendo has not yet announced a ship date or a price, the likely answers are “the fourth quarter of 2006” and “under $300.” One thing is apparent: they have gotten a major bounce from their first showing of the Wii to the public and it is now up to the company to spread the message and fill the channel with consoles and a good selection of launch games. If they can manage both, Nintendo will once again have shown they can beat the odds with an innovative way of thinking about games. - Will "Jayson" Hill.
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