I'm debating whether I should buy a Wii console...

[Hysteron]

Some of the games you mentioned aren't exactly GC exclusive.

Unless it's Zelda, Metroid, or a Mario game GC sucked, I bought it and only ever bought 4 games for it.

I didn't say they were...because that's not what you asked for.

Exclusive or not, they were on the 'cube.? You didn't ask for 5 good gamecube exclusive games (I gave you that many, anyway, though)...you said there were only 5 good games.? Clearly not true.

You're also clearly? exagerating for effect, because there are a number of good games that were neither Zelda, nor Metroid, nor Mario.? There are more than 5 games on my list that clearly are not Mario/Zelda/Metroid games.....and that list was compiled from my personal library and memory only.? With a bit of research, I'm sure I could come up with a longer one....

Just because you didn't buy them didn't mean they weren't good.? Eternal Darkness is one of the best Horror games I've ever played...second only to Resident Evil 4 (which WAS a GC exclusive when it came out, FYI..and had a relatively long window of exclusivity...about 9 months) and Silent Hill 2 on the PS2.? ?Pikmin is an awesome, if underappreciated, game (here's hoping for a Wii version) as was Fire Emblem and Star Fox Adventures.? Even the Metal Gear port/expansion was good!

Gamecube's problems were pretty much 3rd party support...and it was a catch 22.? The console was not especially developer friendly, it's hardware was comparitively underpowered (compared to the PS2 and Xbox), and it's game medium wasn't standard so replication was harder to contract out.? Since 3rd party developers didn't support the system well, fewer units sold....and more 3rd party developers dropped out because the installed base wasn't large enough...and so fewere units sold.? On and on.

But there were some stellar efforts (both 1st and 3rd party) on the system...certainly more than 5 of them.? The console was well worth it's cost, but was most useful as a secondary or tertiary console, since the PS2 and Xbox had far more selection of games.

Some good points, but I have to point out that me and Izzy are separate entities.

[pilferk]

Some good points, but I have to point out that me and Izzy are separate entities.

Right, my bad....I'll edit the post accordingly.

That's what happens when you're doing 3 things at once.....reading/skimming is not your friend.

[pilferk]

Eternal Darkness is one of the best Horror games I've ever played...second only to Resident Evil 4

Thats a bold statement. I never heard of Eternal Darkness. I definitely need to check that one out.

Pick it up.  It's worth it. Probably have to get it via ebay or used at a gamestop/eb's.  My brother currently has my copy and I have to wrestle it back from him when he comes up for X-mas (he's had it for a year or so, now).

 It was sort of a sleeper hit, but the game is pretty awesome.  It also likes to fuck with your head (literally).  You have a sanity meter...and when it starts to run low, you see some pretty flipping weird on screen effects...some of which will effect you in "the real world".

If you do some searching on it, you'll find lots about it.  It's one of those games that got awesome reviews (deservedly so) but didn't sell wonderfully.  Part of that was that it came out early on in the console's life cycle and part of it is that it didnt' have a lot of name recognition.

I would be very excited for a good sequel....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Darkness

[Sober_times]

The controller design is part of the system. Its a weird design, but its supose to be innovative. I at least don't want to pay 250 for another gamecube. Which it basically is with a standard controller. But I guess its all in the games you want to play, so it will sell regardless. Its got Mario and Zelda, so it will do at least as good as the game cube did, but they are over-charging for those old games through virtual console, I don't think they will sell as well as nintendo hopes.

From a specs point of view, the hardware is about 2x to 3x more powerful than the gamecube (granted, you're not seeing it's full capabilities at launch, and the "showcase" game IS a ported GC game). Plus wireless controllers and built in wireless interent capabilities.? Plus the interactive control scheme. It's HARDLY $250 for a gamecube.? That's the argument touted, largely, by the PS3 fanbois (and I'm in no way suggesting you are one).? It is NOT a PS3 (or even 360), in terms of hardware capabilities, true.? It's also not a PS3 in terms of pricetag. Given the reviews on the launch titles for the PS3, it's becoming increasingly obvious that specs aren't everything.? I've got nothing against the PS3...but wouldn't pay $600 for it..and wouldn't even buy it with the current crop of lauch titles (Resistance being the only one that looks worthwhile). The NY Times is even panning some of it's capabilities at launch.? Microsoft must be doing happy dances right about now.

You have Mario, and Zelda, and Metroid, and Mario Kart, and Super Smash Bros, and Resident Evil, and...I could go on......it's a pretty expansive list? ?If nothing BUT the standard franchise games came out for the Wii, it would be worth the $250 (as the gamecube was).? But already at launch you have some 3rd party games (Rayman's Rabbits, for one...Call of Duty for another, Super Monkey Ball for another) that are good games that all use the game mechanic in an interesting way (and with Rayman...in multiple interesting ways) that doesn't feel "gimmicky" (which is what much of the PS3's "sixaxis" gameplay feels like, from many reports).

As for the cost of the virtual console titles...It think they got it just right.? ?And it seems most Wii owners agree....the title released in the first batch, according to many of the gaming web sites, are selling like hotcakes., with the original Zelda, Mario Bros, and Mario 64 leading the way.? The Wii points cards are also out of stock at most major retailers (wii points buy you wii VC games).?

Thats what its all about anyway, games, right? If I was buying a new system right now I would buy a Xbox 360 (which I already have) and/or a Wii because PS3 don't got nothin for games right now. And the graphics dont wow me as much as I thought they would. Sony kind of dropped the ball, they basically rushed the system and seemed to copy everybody else. I might buy a PS3 eventually if they have some exclusives that look appetizing but if i had to buy one now I would buy the Wii for their first party games and an Xbox 360 for all the 3rd party games.

After all is said done though the Wii really looks like it will be fun to play and with Mario and Zelda, how can you go wrong???

Exactly.? That's precisely how I feel.? I have a 360.? I have no interest in a PS3 with it's current crop of games.? Perhaps if FFXXIII comes out in a year or two, and the price drops a couple hundred dollars.? But not right now.?

And the Wii positions itself perfectly to be "the secondary console".....no matter which is your primary.? I think Nintendo did a very good job on this one...both in pricing and marketing.

First of all, I stated without the inovative controls it would be a $250 gamecube. The innovation is what makes the system. If it had a standard controller with the same system, no innovavtive controls it would be very close to that of a gamecube. And yes even with all the wireless fuctions and everything else. It doesn't play-back dvds, its not hd, the graphics suck compared to the other 2 systems out. I will buy a Wii, but only because I've played it and that control scheme is fun as hell. Without that control scheme, I would stand clear of it until it dropped to the price of a gamecube.

And secondly the first wii owners, like any other system are mostly nintendo nuts. The Wii will sell great in the intro, and vc games will sell good, but I don't think in the long run the Virtual console games will sell all that well. And I think as is the case with all Nintendo Systems since 64, its all about games and 3rd party support has and will continue to kill nintendo even with the control scheme and the Wii will finish a distant third, much like the gamecube has. Though it will still be fun just like the GC was it won't be that big of a difference for Nintendo in the console war.

PS3's lauch is similar to the PS2's, the machine was not all that impressive, the games were not all that impressive and they were harder than hell to find. PS3 will hit its stride just fine after launch and next year they will have some great looking games. I won't buy PS3 because I bought a Xbox 360 and last gen my PS2 became a an expensive paper weight and I ain't spending 600 bucks on what will prolly become a very expensive paper weight.

[pilferk]

First of all, I stated without the inovative controls it would be a $250 gamecube. The innovation is what makes the system. If it had a standard controller with the same system, no innovavtive controls it would be very close to that of a gamecube. And yes even with all the wireless fuctions and everything else. It doesn't play-back dvds, its not hd, the graphics suck compared to the other 2 systems out. I will buy a Wii, but only because I've played it and that control scheme is fun as hell. Without that control scheme, I would stand clear of it until it dropped to the price of a gamecube.

Except, well...it's not.? Look at the hardware specs.? It's not the PS3.? It's not the 360.? It's also not $399 or $599.? But it's not the gamecube, and it's not a $250 version of the gamecube.? It's about 2x to 3x times more powerful than that.? I'm not sure why you continue to assert something that is patently untrue.....just look at the specs.

 On DVD playback...why?? I mean..really?? What's the point?? The installed base on DVD players is insanely high.? Is it a "value added function"? I guess, but at what price is it worth it? I'm certainly not willing to pay any extra for it in my secondary console and, quite frankly, I'd take the reduction in the price of my primary console.? I have a DVD player (and a very good one).? Most other people do too, especially with the advent of $30 progressive scan DVD players.? ?I dont' need my game system to play movies.? Not to mention a DVD capable Wii will ship in '07, and perhaps (and this is the rumor part) existing Wii's will become DVD capable with a "buyable" firmware update.

The graphics certainly do not suck, even when compared with PS3 or 360 graphics.? They're mediocre when compared with those machines WHEN displayed in high def.? You need look no further than Zelda:TWP to see that (which, remember, is a gamecube port and NOT taking full advantage of the hardware).? They are not at the PS3 or 360 level.? They don't carry the same price tag, either.? But they are leaps and bounds better than the 'cubes stuff, for the most part, too...and that's just the launch titles.

On HD...graphics are not the selling point.? Just because the system can't push 720p or 1080p doesn't make it "a gamecube".? It's hardware is plenty capbable of pushing much better graphics than the 'cube...just not at the kinds of resolutions the PS3 or 360 are capable of.? You hit the nail on the head when you talk about the control scheme...it may not have HD, but it has something the other 2 don't have.

And secondly the first wii owners, like any other system are mostly nintendo nuts. The Wii will sell great in the intro, and vc games will sell good, but I don't think in the long run the Virtual console games will sell all that well. And I think as is the case with all Nintendo Systems since 64, its all about games and 3rd party support has and will continue to kill nintendo even with the control scheme and the Wii will finish a distant third, much like the gamecube has. Though it will still be fun just like the GC was it won't be that big of a difference for Nintendo in the console war.

Check out the demographics listed in some of the launch article surveys.? They pretty much run the gamut.? That's the beauty of the system....it's accessible (and being marketed) to everyone.? So I'm not sure it's safe to say those that purchase it at launch were nintendo nuts.? I'm certainly not (despite my defense, here).? I'm a gaming nut, true.? I actually prefer my 360...but not by much.? But that's the beauty of the NES system: they're giving you access to not just old Nintendo games, but old Genesis and old T-16 (and, rumors abound, other consoles are coming on board...like the Neo*Geo, Intellivision, and possibly Atari 2600)

3rd party support, so far, looks to be leaps and bounds better than the 'cube, already.? And given the successful launch (so far about 1.2 million units at retail have gone out), and the installed base...that will likely continue.? Hell, right now...the installed base on the Wii's CRUSHES the one on the PS3's, simply because Sony can't crank out enough units.? Add that to the fact that THIS time around the Wii, despite it's innovative interface, has extremely developer friendly dev kits and the PS3 does not.....

As for the VC games...if you look around on line, it's one of THE most mentioned selling points of the Wii, right now.? Take that for what you will....it's a narrow band of the customer set.? Given the success so far, I think Nintendo has a winner on their hands: an instant access to proven successful "budget" titles (the fastest growing segment of the gaming software industry, FYI).? So far, the numbers support that opinion.? We'll have to see if the tide ever changes..

Analysts are predicting the Wii takes 2nd place , right now, this holiday season.? Obviously we won't know what's going on for the long haul for quite some time.? But it will have an effect, of that you can be sure.? Suffice to say the PS3 buzz is not good, and the shortage at retail during launch did them no favors.? Combine that with a set of lackluster launch titles.....and Sony's corporate financial woes...and things do NOT look rosey for the PS3. On the flip side, Nintendo is cash rich, NOT losing $250 a unit on their console (and that's BEFORE cables, controller, power block, and retail profit are figured in the equation), have a pretty solid commitment from a reputable group of 3rd party developers, have a relativley plentiful number of consoles going out to retail, AND have lots of good press and buzz.

 I wouldn't bank on Sony finishing 2nd this time, and I certianly wouldn't bank on the Wii being a distant third.? If you make that bet, from all analyst accounts, you'd be setting yourself up to lose some money.?

PS3's lauch is similar to the PS2's, the machine was not all that impressive, the games were not all that impressive and they were harder than hell to find. PS3 will hit its stride just fine after launch and next year they will have some great looking games. I won't buy PS3 because I bought a Xbox 360 and last gen my PS2 became a an expensive paper weight and I ain't spending 600 bucks on what will prolly become a very expensive paper weight.

Were you there for the PS2 launch?? The machine was very impressive!? The hardware got great reviews, especially the DVD playback.? All it's built in functionality was lauded by the gaming press (unlike what's happened with the PS3).? The games were a mixed bag, but certainly better the the PS3 bag (where only ONE title is really worthwhile, by all accounts).?

The PS2 was in short supply, but not this short supply (you can look at the historical numbers).? In addition, it was nowhere nears as buggy, and it didn't have completely absent feature sets that could be readily found in it's competitors systems.? It also had a good sized head start, and the name recognition of the PS1 going for it (over the Xbox).? It has NONE of those advantages this time.

As for what the future holds...we'll have to wait and see.? There may be some great LOOKING games...but I don't care what they look like.? Until there are some compelling, great PLAYING games....I wouldn't buy it if it were the same price as the Wii.? The Wii already has a few games that are great playing, with at least 5 or 6 more slated before the spring of next year.? The PS3 has one game that looks fun, and maybe 2 more coming that look interesting to me.

[stardustonmyfeet]

Wii is designed mostly for little kids, although i wouldnt mind playing thAT new Zelda game

[Borat]

Wii is designed mostly for little kids, although i wouldnt mind playing thAT new Zelda game

Wii is actually designed for everyone.

[tim_m]

Nintendo says sells 600,000 consoles in 8 days
Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:13 PM ET

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Nintendo Co. Ltd. <7974.OS> sold 600,000 units of its new Wii video game console in the first eight days after its release in the Americas, as the company vies with rivals Sony Corp. <6758.T> and Microsoft Corp. <MSFT.O> for gamers' hearts and wallets.

Including sales of accessories and games, Nintendo's Wii-related revenue had hit $190 million since the machine's November 19 release, the company said.

At $250, the Wii costs half as much as the cheapest version of Sony's <SNE.N> PlayStation 3 console, which went on sale in the United States two days before the Wii hit the market.

Many fans of both systems lined up at retailers hours or even days in advance of the launches to guarantee they were among the first to claim ownership of the highly anticipated machines.

The consoles are also being hawked on Internet auction sites such as eBay <EBAY.O> for several times their retail price tag.

"We've shipped retailers several times the amount of hardware the other company was able to deliver for its launch around the same time -- and we still sold out," Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said in a statement.

Sony has not revealed how many PlayStation 3 consoles it has sold in North America so far, but has said it aims to have shipped 1 million units by the end of the year.

Microsoft has shipped more than 6 million of its Xbox 360 since launching it in November 2005.

Looks like the Wii is selling quite well.

[bazgnr]

Wii is designed mostly for little kids, although i wouldnt mind playing thAT new Zelda game

It has seemed to me that Nintendo games are by and large geared towards younger players.   That said, I've enjoyed plenty of Nintendo games (now in my 30s), and I'm really looking forward to trying the Wii out...I agree, it's the gameplay and new level of interactivity that's the strong selling point.

Until I get my hands on one, however, I'm pretty content to have Gears of War on my 360...

[mrlee]

has anyone heard of the complains made about it on the news? It picks up the wrong radio waves and fucks up

[Gnrfan]

I've been playing on it since release date and my view is this:

The best multi-player console on the market.

not sure its got as many games to compete with PS2/3 or XBOX 360.

Zelda is excellent, Red steel is fun and Wii Sports is probally the funist thing since MarioKart on the N64.

Its definatly the best value console out there. But i'd wait 2 or 3 months untill there is more of a games choice

[bazgnr]

I picked one up yesterday, but am not sure if I'll keep it - I know several people who have kids who want one for Xmas, and might pass it on to them.  I have a 360 that I really enjoy already...those of you who have a Wii - what do you think?  Worth owning?

[Gnrfan]

I picked one up yesterday, but am not sure if I'll keep it - I know several people who have kids who want one for Xmas, and might pass it on to them.? I have a 360 that I really enjoy already...those of you who have a Wii - what do you think?? Worth owning?

Yeah if you have friends to play it with.

No if you play computer mostly on your own.

It is as fun as hell tho

[bazgnr]

I picked one up yesterday, but am not sure if I'll keep it - I know several people who have kids who want one for Xmas, and might pass it on to them.? I have a 360 that I really enjoy already...those of you who have a Wii - what do you think?? Worth owning?

Yeah if you have friends to play it with.

No if you play computer mostly on your own.

It is as fun as hell tho

Good to know...thanks.  I just handed off the one I had to a local family who really want one under the tree for their kids.  If I run across another one, I'll pick it up for myself.   

[pilferk]

Fun as hell is right. Posting this from my wii, actually.

[bazgnr]

That's right...rub it in.       

[pilferk]

I picked one up yesterday, but am not sure if I'll keep it - I know several people who have kids who want one for Xmas, and might pass it on to them.  I have a 360 that I really enjoy already...those of you who have a Wii - what do you think?  Worth owning?

Yeah if you have friends to play it with.

No if you play computer mostly on your own.

It is as fun as hell tho

I think Zelda, alone, makes it almost worth owning.  The game is that good.

But Wii Sports, alone or with friends (admittedly, more fun the more people you have playing) seals the deal.  And Elebits, Trauma Surgeon, and Rayman put it over the top.

Not to mention...having the net browser is very handy.

[bazgnr]

I picked one up yesterday, but am not sure if I'll keep it - I know several people who have kids who want one for Xmas, and might pass it on to them.? I have a 360 that I really enjoy already...those of you who have a Wii - what do you think?? Worth owning?

Yeah if you have friends to play it with.

No if you play computer mostly on your own.

It is as fun as hell tho

I think Zelda, alone, makes it almost worth owning.? The game is that good.

But Wii Sports, alone or with friends (admittedly, more fun the more people you have playing) seals the deal.? And Elebits, Trauma Surgeon, and Rayman put it over the top.

Not to mention...having the net browser is very handy.

Wow.  Thanks for the added info.  It makes not having one yet so much easier...   

[bazgnr]

My debate is now over, and I haven't even opened Zelda yet because I can't stop playing Wii Sports.  And, for the first time ever, my wife is playing - and enjoying - a video game.

So very worth it.   

[bazgnr]

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2007-02-22-wii-sales_x.htm
 
Nintendo's Wii top U.S. console in January
Posted 2/22/2007 10:44 AM ET   E-mail | Save | Print | Subscribe to stories like this

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) ? Nintendo's Wii was the best-selling video game console in the United States in January, and the Japanese company also boasted four of the top 10 games, data released Wednesday showed.
U.S. shoppers snapped up 436,000 Wii units in January, according to figures from market research firm NPD. The console debuted in November for $250 and features a motion-sensing controller that has helped build buzz for the machine.

The second-best-selling console was Sony's 7-year-old PlayStation 2, which moved 299,000 units and outsold Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's newer but more expensive PlayStation 3, the data showed.

Xbox 360 sales were 294,000 while those for the PS3 were 244,000. High-end versions of those machines retail for $400 and $600, respectively.

"Following seasonally stronger sales in December, unit sales remained solid in January across most hardware platforms," Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian wrote in a research note.

In December, the biggest month for video game sales due to the holiday shopping season, Microsoft sold 1.1 million Xbox units, while Nintendo sold 604,000 Wii consoles and Sony sold 490,700 PS3s.

NPD receives data representing about two-thirds of U.S. retail sales and makes projections for the remainder of the market based on a sampling of consumers. The figures do not include those from Wal-Mart, the largest U.S. retailer, or "mom and pop" stores.

Total sales of video game hardware and software hit $1.3 billion in January, with game sales jumping more than 50% to $549 million, though NPD added that was somewhat inflated due to its January 2007 data covering 5 weeks instead of the 4 weeks in its January 2006 report.

"We believe the fundamental underpinnings for healthy (more than) 15% industry growth in 2007 remain intact," Sebastian wrote.

U.S. game sales charts were topped by Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, a game from Japanese publisher Capcom in which players fight aliens across an icy world. The game sold 329,000 copies.

Lost Planet was one of three games for the Xbox 360 that made the top 10, the other two being Microsoft's Gears of War at No. 3 and French publisher Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas at No. 9.

Nintendo had four games in the top 10: two for the Wii, one for its DS handheld and one for its last-generation console, the Gamecube.

The PS3 had one game, Resistance: Fall of Man, at No. 8, and PlayStation 2 placed two titles, a guitar simulator and a football game, at No. 3 and No. 6.

NPD did not provide further details about unit shipments or dollar sales of the top January games.

January's top games:

1. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Xbox 360 Capcom

2. Guitar Hero 2 PlayStation 2 Activision

3. Gears of War Xbox 360 Microsoft

4. WarioWare: Smooth Moves Wii Nintendo

5. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Wii Nintendo

6. Madden NFL 07 PlayStation 2 Electronic Arts

7. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Gamecube Nintendo

8. Resistance: Fall of Man PlayStation 3 Sony

9. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas Xbox 360 Ubisoft

10. New Super Mario Brothers Nintendo DS Nintendo

Copyright 2007 Reuters Limited. Click for Restrictions.