Cid Highwind
07-25-2006, 08:55 AM
The motion sensing Wii controller is supposed to introduce a new control scheme that will get even the most adamant non-gamer into videogames. This is all well and good, but some game developers have no desire to change. The Wii also has GameCube controller ports and the system's Virtual Console controller, but Nintendo is trying very hard to push the remote-style controller. The head behind Castlevania, Koji Igarashi, has stated that the series is not fit for the Wii on many different occasions. "...I've noticed that Castlevania might not fit the controller. Wii is targeting some short gameplay, whereas Castlevania is a longer game. Once you get into the game you've been playing for so many hours it doesn't really fit with Wii."
Even more evident of his feelings surrounding the controller were this statement; "When it comes to Wii, obviously the controller has a unique feature, but I just can't come up with a good idea that utilizes it. I mean, clearly you can with a lot of time." It seems that no one has told him, "Hey, you can use a normal controller too!" and that could potentially lose some third-party series for Nintendo if developers go exclusively to another system due to misinformation.
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8691/wiicontrollerbt1.jpg
"Oh yeah, we have that controller too..."
The secrecy helps in some cases, but in others it's just annoying to the consumer. For instance, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be sold on the Wii and on the GameCube. Some future Wii owners are concerned that the Wii's remote will not feel as comfortable as the GameCube's controller, so they are debating about which version to get. Again, the Wii has ports for GameCube controllers, but Nintendo has yet to confirm that the Wii version will have the option to choose between each control scheme.
The Wii's Wi-Fi setup has caused confusion, also. Look around the Internet and some sources will tell you that the Wii can go online using Nintendo's WiFi USB Connector, which a lot of current DS owners already have. Nintendo has neither confirmed nor denied this. Suspense is great, but there is a fine line between hype and confusion.
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4863/ssbmmn7.jpg
If done right, an online Smash Bros could achieve greatness.
The biggest problem is online play. It's great that Nintendo is embracing it, but now they're not sure how to make it work. There is one main factor that's messing everything up: Gamers want Xbox Live features for multiplayer, but Nintendo wants to keep it simple, and above all, free. You can't have both. Under a free service, Nintendo can't as easily enforce rules against misconduct or swearing over voice chat. Nintendo has always been and probably always will be a family-oriented brand. They can't afford little Timmy being cursed out by Pikachu on Super Smash Bros. So their solution with this on the DS was to use friends codes to enable voice chat. This didn't bode well with gamers who wanted more freedom. Nintendo needs to set up different types of rooms for different age groups. A kids' room can have voice chat diabled in online matches unless someone is registered on their friends list and vice versa, and an adults' room can have free for all voice chat. The Wii should have different profiles for each user, and each user should have control settings when it comes to online play. This hurdle can be overcome in many different ways; Nintendo needs to just put their minds to it.
And most importantly, keep the hits coming. Don't make the same mistake as the what happened on the GameCube and keep your all-stars buried in a vault somewhere. We love our Marios and Zeldas, so keep giving them to us.
Even more evident of his feelings surrounding the controller were this statement; "When it comes to Wii, obviously the controller has a unique feature, but I just can't come up with a good idea that utilizes it. I mean, clearly you can with a lot of time." It seems that no one has told him, "Hey, you can use a normal controller too!" and that could potentially lose some third-party series for Nintendo if developers go exclusively to another system due to misinformation.
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8691/wiicontrollerbt1.jpg
"Oh yeah, we have that controller too..."
The secrecy helps in some cases, but in others it's just annoying to the consumer. For instance, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be sold on the Wii and on the GameCube. Some future Wii owners are concerned that the Wii's remote will not feel as comfortable as the GameCube's controller, so they are debating about which version to get. Again, the Wii has ports for GameCube controllers, but Nintendo has yet to confirm that the Wii version will have the option to choose between each control scheme.
The Wii's Wi-Fi setup has caused confusion, also. Look around the Internet and some sources will tell you that the Wii can go online using Nintendo's WiFi USB Connector, which a lot of current DS owners already have. Nintendo has neither confirmed nor denied this. Suspense is great, but there is a fine line between hype and confusion.
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4863/ssbmmn7.jpg
If done right, an online Smash Bros could achieve greatness.
The biggest problem is online play. It's great that Nintendo is embracing it, but now they're not sure how to make it work. There is one main factor that's messing everything up: Gamers want Xbox Live features for multiplayer, but Nintendo wants to keep it simple, and above all, free. You can't have both. Under a free service, Nintendo can't as easily enforce rules against misconduct or swearing over voice chat. Nintendo has always been and probably always will be a family-oriented brand. They can't afford little Timmy being cursed out by Pikachu on Super Smash Bros. So their solution with this on the DS was to use friends codes to enable voice chat. This didn't bode well with gamers who wanted more freedom. Nintendo needs to set up different types of rooms for different age groups. A kids' room can have voice chat diabled in online matches unless someone is registered on their friends list and vice versa, and an adults' room can have free for all voice chat. The Wii should have different profiles for each user, and each user should have control settings when it comes to online play. This hurdle can be overcome in many different ways; Nintendo needs to just put their minds to it.
And most importantly, keep the hits coming. Don't make the same mistake as the what happened on the GameCube and keep your all-stars buried in a vault somewhere. We love our Marios and Zeldas, so keep giving them to us.