Nintendo Blog

WiiSports. Its a pack-in game. Does it really need a review? The answer, is yes. Launch games provide a basis for future comparisons, and good launch games create a standard that second-generation games should endeavor to beat.

There is a reason that WiiSports is a pack-in game, it demonstrates the ‘everyone can play‘ strategy that Nintendo is using. The game consists of five sports, each played by Mii characters. WiiSports also includes a training mode and a daily ‘Wii Fitness’ program.

Graphically, WiiSports breaks no new ground. There is nothing visually impressive about WiiSports graphics, but on the same hand there are no major graphical flaws, and few minor issues. The game is easily played on most televisions, even with multiple players and reasonable distance from the television set. WiiSports does not utilise all of the Wii’s capabilities, and doing so could detract from WiiSports no-loading screen appeal.

You can see your own Mii on the other team
Personalized ‘Mii’ characters, created in the Mii Channel on your Wii, become your WiiSports avatar. Scores for each Mii player are saved, along with an accumulative ‘skill‘ score for each game. User created Mii’s not being used by players, appear in-game as spectators, opponents and team members.

The WiiSports user interface is simple, effective and a pleasure to use. Setting up a game is as simple as using your Wiimote to click a few large, obvious buttons. Its easy to understand for newcomers, fast for experienced WiiSport fans.

The interface is obvious and easy

The use of sound in WiiSports is simplistic but effective. Sounds generally play in menu screens, and at significant events. eg. Completing a boxing match triggers a funky sound, regardless of outcome. The standout sound feature of WiiSports is the Wiimote speaker. During gameplay, the speaker emits action sounds. It is disconcerting at first to use a virtual racket to hit a virtual tennis-ball and hear the ‘Thwonk!‘ of contact. Soon, the effect adds to gameplay, helping to immerse player in the game.

Tennis

Tennis is the most enjoyable WiiSports game

Tennis is the centerpiece of WiiSports. Ignore buttons, don’t worry about the sensor bar. All tennis requires is swinging a backhand or forehand with the Wiimote. The gameplay is simple, but oh so tricky. All you have to do is swing, but just like regular tennis, you can angle the shot to give it a superior placement. You also have to choose the right speed for each shot. Topspin is possible, and highly effective. Tennis is always played doubles, with a ‘front’ and ‘back’ Mii. You control the swings of these Mii’s simultaneously. Tennis is a standing game, and couch play is difficult.

Golf

Golf can be frustratingly simple

While Tennis utilises the Wiimote exactly how you would expect it to, Golf takes a different path. Back-swing is an optional extra, the only real movement that matters in golf is the forward movement. Each shot has a power bar, with distinct markings that also appear on the mini map. [If you hit this hard, your ball will go here]. The game is simple, and often too easy. In the same breath, bad play on one putt can send a score down the drain.

Bowling

You can bowl into other people’s lanes!

Bowling is an unexpected Wii success. The game follows ten-pin rules, and consists of ten rounds of bowling. Several persons can use a single Wiimote to bowl, allowing greater numbers of players than Wiimotes. To bowl, you point the Wiimote to the sky, then pulls the trigger. [B] Then, make the motions of bowling, releasing the trigger when you would ordinarily allow the bowling ball to leave the hand. WiiSports bowling is as exciting as the real thing, and with friends, can substitute the real experience.

Baseball

Nothing to phone home about

Baseball is the one WiiSports letdown. Gameplay is as expected, throwing motions with the Wiimote to pitch, and swinging the Wiimote to bat. The game may have been a downer to myself and others who have played it due to Australia’s general dislike of the sport. In the same hand, the gameplay can be impossible, the fielding AI catches almost every ball that is not carefully placed or a home run. Also, the small, unrealistic motions that a pitcher can make to bowl a 150km/h ball do not compare to the large motions one has to make to get a well timed swing.

Boxing

The Wiinderella Man

Real men fight good. Which is a little depressing seeing my 55-year-old Aunt managed to beat me at WiiSports boxing. Twice. Boxing is the only WiiSports game to use a Nunchuk, and also one of the only WiiSports games that can result in punching a television or roommate. Wiimote is your right hand, Nunchuk is your left hand. You punch, duck and weave by thrusting the controllers forward or side-to-side. Against AI or against friends, each boxing match can turn into an epic ten-minute workout.

If you buy a Wii in the Western world, you receive a copy of WiiSports. You are honestly going to spend more time playing this game than you would ever expect. Its a great way to chill out after a rough day, but also the best way to introduce gaming ‘newbs‘ and veterans alike to the Wii. Enjoyable all around, with addictiveness that will see WiiSports dance around the top spot for most-played Wii game for months to come.

Nintendo have had used up all their chances with gamers. The Wii is the final bid to win back a decent share in the console market. What effect would a gamer-friendly console miscarriage have on Nintendo?

State of Affairs
Nintendo have made all the right moves so far. A new controller, a new ethos, new marketing tactics and a brand new name. Nintendo have concentrated on one word. Fun.

The name is easy, and makes primary schoolers and football jocks of all ages giggle. The games are bright and exciting, and the controls can be muzzled by all ages. It’s small, cute and cheap.

The Wii is hot, and not just with hate filled Zelda junkies slavouring for a fix after the long wait. The public is learning about the Wii. And somewhere, deep inside each and every person that learns about the new ‘video game computer’ is a yearning. They want to play.

Enter Wired, Rolling Stone, the New York Times and even the Official Land Rover Magazine. These publications have each had a feature on the Nintendo Wii. New demographics are being exposed to, and infected by the Nintendo Wii.

What do gamers think of Nintendo?
To be honest, alot of gamers were not impressed with the GameCube. In fact, it wouldn’t be outrageous to claim that the GameCube was a major mistake, plunging the future of the influential game industry founder into the abyssal depth of failure.

Gamers feel betrayed by Nintendo.

If the Nintendo Wii doesn’t reach certain levels of gameplay, the Wii-mote doesn’t pay off as a serious controller and if popular companies avoid producing games for the ‘gimmicky’ console, then gamers will desert Nintendo.

There is a point where an abusive relationship becomes too much. Those with their hearts pledged to Nintendo may stick around, but as an open minded gamer, with expectations of how to be treated in a consociation, I will be packing my bags and running away. Forever.

But.. the DS!
The Nintendo DS fused public appeal, gimicks and quality gameplay into a unique, delightful hand held system. The console appeals to gamers and the public alike. In fact, Nintendo has reported a 72% gain in profit directly linked to sales of the Nintendo DS and New Super Mario Bros.

Why has the DS been such a runaway success? Because for the first time, an entire console was designed to be accessible and entertaining for anyone. The DS can be switched on and off easily and tucked away. It is designed elegantly enough to produce on a Subway, or on an airplane.

Previous attempts to familiarise new demographics with the Game Industry have resulted in scabruos attempts to design niche games. By designing a completely friendly console and fun, often social games that do not require, but can accept total immersion, Nintendo suddenly ‘did it‘ for the public, and reaped the rewards from their venture.

With 26,000,000 units already sold, and millions more being manufactured, Nintendo has locked itself into the game industry. A New Super Game Industry.

The New Super Game Industry?
The conventions of the Game Industry have changed. Consoles are designed for the masses. Gone are the days of ‘fun’ consoles, that only a semi-serious gamer or a gaggle of kids could play. Nintendo aims to produce consoles that can be played by any demographic with stepping outside the targets comfort zone.

Unfortunately, the evolution of gaming has come at a price. Multitudes of past-gen gamers are not required to purchase Nintendo to make the Wii successful.

By spreading a virtual net over grandparents, the middle aged and other non-gaming demographics, Nintendo has set itself up for the future. Children will grow up with new gaming styles, technology Monkey see, monkey do.

It’s us of them
Nintendo have chosen to continue to appeal to gamers with a solid array of game titles and content. They want to hold onto both markets, both old and new. But in the end there is to be an ultimatum. Nintendo must make a decision on which course is better for the company’s future.

The future, progress and profit, or fanboys and failure?

Mario has played many sports over the years, including tennis, golf, baseball, basketball, and gokarting. Each of Nintendo’s consoles to date has featured a smattering of Mario themed sports games. With the pending release of the Nintendo Wii, gamers around the world should prepare for for an onslaught of Mario games.

But what can Mario play on the Wii?

Several of Mario’s main sport franchises already have their target audience saturated with similar games. Let’s run through popular Mario sports series…

Mario Tennis

Mario Tennis hit the gaming crowd in 1995 as the in-pack game, ‘Mario’s Tennis’, [Similar to Wii Sports for the Wii] on the Virtual Boy console. There are a total of five Mario Tennis games on the Gameboy, N64, GBA and the GameCube.

Mario’s Tennis on the Virtual Boy

Mario Power Tennis on the Gamecube

Wii Sports Tennis

Out of all the Wii Sports, [there are five] Wii Tennis has recieved the most enthused reviews. From the avid gamer to the meekest journalist, one word has been been ricocheted around the internet when describing gameplay experience. Fun

It’s going to be near impossible for Mario Tennis to compete with Wii Tennis in the US, Europe and Australia markets thanks to the pack-in, and the sheer number of games being released for the Wii. With so many games available, why buy a game similar to one I already own?

Mario Golf

There have been four official Mario Golf titles, on the Gameboy, N64, GBA and Wii. There have also been golf games featuring Mario, but predating the Mario Golf franchise on the NES.

Open Tournament Golf on the NES [It really does feature Mario!]

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour on the Gamecube

Wii Sports Golf & Super Swing Golf

If Mario chooses to play golf on the Wii, he will have a tough time winning the championship. He will already be competing with two major titles. The first being the widely distributed, but not widely indepth Wii Sports golf, as well as the cutesy, funky Super Swing Golf.

Wii Sports Golf on the Wii

Super Swing Golf on the Wii

These two titles cover the main target audience for Mario Golf with cute characters and vibrant environments. There is however, a gap for the more ’serious’ golf game on the Wii.

Mario Kart

The one typical Mario romp that hasn’t been overun by competitors is Mario Kart. The Mario Kart series has five console installments, on the NES and SNES, Gameboy Advance, N64 and Gamecube. A Wii version has been reported, but no screens, artwork of information has been released yet.

Super Mario Kart on the SNES

Mario Kart: Double Dash on the Gamecube

Mario Baseball

As well as traditional Mario sports games, there is one generation old Mario Superstar Baseball. This title was released onto the Gamecube in 2005.

Mario Super Star Baseball on the Gamecube

If Nintendo chose to release Mario Superstar Baseball, the only current title Mario would have to compete with would be the inpack Wii Sports Baseball game. Luckily for Mario fans, the game hasn’t caused as much of a stir as Wii tennis or golf, thus creating an opportunity for Nintendo to throw a plumber into the works.

Wii Sports Baseball on the Wii

Mario Strikers

Finally, a shining beacon of originality for Mario. Like Superstar Baseball, Mario Strikers, a soccer based game, was released exclusively for the Gamecube. It’s sequal, Mario Strikers Charged is releasing on the Wii.

Mario Strikers on the Gamecube

Summary

What Mario Sports games will we definately see on the Wii?

Mario Strikers Charged

What Mario sports games are we very likely to see on the Wii?

Mario Superstar Baseball
Mario Kart Wii

What Mario sports games will we likely not see in the near future?

Mario Golf
Mario Tennis

As Miyamoto says about the Wii…

‘The hardware is basically a GC. We’ve upgraded our development tools to new versions but, you can still use GC programs as they are. With that in mind, I thought we could remake GC titles for the Wii and modify them to work with the Wii remote so that they’re more fun to play.’

This statement been making its speedy journey around the web, with the predictable result.

‘i tuld u tha Wee sux0rs!’
‘Thus proving the Wii is infact.. a repackaged gamecube’
‘Rofl @ Nintendo’

The argument need to be split in half to avoid confusion. Lumping the two arguments together ends in a negative situation, where neither of the debating parties can influence the opposition.

Firstly, The Wii is GameCube 1.5?

Miyamoto, in his cute little ‘Wish we had an international auxillary language to stop english speaking ‘l33t’ gamers from mocking our consumers’ way, was accurate with his statement. The hardware is similar to the GameCube. WAIT! Don’t go running away just yet, for here is a word equation that will float your boat.

The Nintendo Wii hardware is similar to the Gamecube, as A gaming PC is similar to a Windows 95 word processing computer.

What! Says you, but my ‘uber el33tzo0r’ Gaming PC has 4 GB of Ram! It has 6.7 Gigahertz of processing power! THINK. Instead of thinking about the technological specifics of ‘hardware capabilities’, when the above statement is made, one is referring to the style in which hardware and software are created. The Architecture of the device.

Going out on another tangent, Nintendo would not be stupid enough to make the GameCube mistake again. The GC was not a high point for flailing Nintendo. Why now, riding on the success of the Nintendo DS, an innovative handheld device that has taken the world by storm, would Nintendo choose to release an updated version of a failure?

Wii Vs Xbox360 Vs Playstation3

To be blatantly honest, the next-gen console battle will be fought between the Xbox360, and the Playstation3. Unfortunately for Sony and Microsoft, they have launched products capable of the same types of activities, with the same types of controls and the same types of games. It’s a marketing battle to see who will triumph. But for those looking for new, innovative [ie: Not BluRay] technology with an element of fun and a totally unique experience will choose the Wii. There is nothing else on the market to compete with it.

So who would buy the Wii? Just little kids right? Nintendo has many different demographics to target. From the very young, to the very old. The DS has opened the eyes of previously video game free generations, and inspired those just entering the market, as well as gameboy fans looking for a quality handheld. Half-core gamers want something fresh. they want to play with their friends and have fun. They don’t want to shell out big bucks for a gaming system, but would be happy to pay a much lower price for entertainment.

You can not compare consoles on specifications alone. You must use implementation examples to compare things. On paper, the Playstation 3 is the strongest console. Better than the Wii, better than the Xbox360. But does it have quality games? Will there be many games? Will Sony finally be able to create a game that creates a third of the hype that Halo does? Until all consoles have been released internationally, it is futile to argue over which console is ’superior’ and which will succeed.

The Nintendo Wii is not a Game Cube. As the old saying goes, it’s like comparing apples and oranges. Both are in the same general class, yet there are fundamental differences that make comparing them pointless.