Steroyd
05-25-2006, 14:42
E3 2006: The Final Word on Wii
IGN breaks down the pros and cons of each system's performance. How did Nintendo do?
by Mark Bozon
May 24, 2006 - For Nintendo, E3 2006 was do or die time in the terms of continuing the business of console gaming. With a struggling end to the lackluster life of GameCube, fans and critics across the world were eager to see if the Big N could deliver on its promise of a true gaming revolution. In a surprising move to say the least, Nintendo announced at E3 2005 that its newest console, code named Revolution, would deliver a new way to interact with technology, and a new age of gaming for people of all ages, not just hardcore gamers.
At the time we were a bit skeptical, as we'd seen the "gaming is for everyone" mentality used in the portable world with DS, but were constantly haunted by the fact that Nintendo would be starting this generation already in third place, putting everything it had into a technically weaker system that hinged on a still-mysterious input device. In short, Nintendo was believed to either grow or die based entirely on its E3 2006 presentation. Now that the dust has settled on one of the most important events in Nintendo history, what can we say about the company's future?
It's a brand new day for Nintendo.
The Nintendo Conference. E3 2006
E3 2006: The ShowIn the minds of gamers across the world, E3 represents the future of our industry. Once a year, companies from all across the globe flock to Los Angeles California to take part in the biggest celebration of gaming the industry has to offer, the Electronic Entertainment Expo. No matter what system you align yourself with or which games sit at the top of your list, E3 is the show of shows. Deals are made, legends are born and expectations are either met or abandoned in what is without a doubt the most vital and nerve wrecking event we attend. We've seen companies make a tremendous splash (such as the premiere year for Microsoft with the launch of Xbox), or go belly up in the water in just a matter of days (R.I.P. Phantom, R.I.P.). For Nintendo, E3 2006 was one of those shows.
E3 2006: The StrategyNintendo knew this year's E3 was a do or die situation for its console leverage this generation. Banking entirely on a new innovative controller and outlook on the gaming audience in general was a dangerous move, so Nintendo's E3 strategy was crucial to success or failure at the show. While we're used to seeing Nintendo "go dark" before E3, a term that the company itself uses to describe a lock-down of all new information just prior to huge announcements, this year's dark time was especially difficult, as companies worldwide were given explicit instructions to keep all information and media a secret until the Nintendo conference was underway. Aside from a few stories and just a handful of concept screens, the strategy was a success, as Nintendo had a chance to show the entire world its vision of the Wii on its own terms at its media briefing.
Nintendo couldn't make it any more simple.
We may have been tearing our hair out for the weeks prior to the conference due to lack of pre-E3 news, but Nintendo got its wish. Aside from releasing new information on specific games at its media briefing, Nintendo also explained its strategy for the Wii as a whole. Combining fundamental gameplay with innovation, Wii will branch out to people who have never considered picking up a controller. For the first time in industry history, a company dared to plot a strategy for putting a controller in literally every person's hand worldwide. Will it work? That remains to be seen, but if the record-breaking lines on the showroom floor were any indication, Nintendo is off to one hell of a start this generation.
E3 2006: The Final Word on Wii
<< Previous Page | 1 | 2 | 3 | Next Page >>
The Controller: Since the E3 2005 conference, the entire gaming industry has been a buzz with questions about Nintendo's new console, specifically the controller. Ever since the first announcements by Nintendo, we've all been dying to find out if the controller would be a success or not. After all, since everything was riding on a single innovative device, that meant the entire library of games on Nintendo's system could be an instant success or failure, which is some serious pressure on the hardware. As Satoru Iwata explained to us over a year ago, "the key here is not what you are playing, but how you'll be playing."
When Nintendo concluded its media presentation, it left us with a single ideal: Playing is believing. The Wii may be technically weaker, but Reggie and company assured us at the closure of its event that while the games may not be mind-blowing in a graphical sense, it would be on a gameplay level. When we finally had a chance to go hands-on with the system on the showroom floor, we were convinced. The controller managed to bring a new life to gaming, proving that playing truly is believing.
Retro Redefined
Aside from the Wii-mote, Nintendo showed off a few other control methods for event attendees. The nunchuck attachment was used with roughly half the games, combining the motion control of the Wii-mote hardware with a tilt-enabled analog and two-button expansion controller. In addition to the main controller combo, Nintendo also debuted its light gun controller, formally referred to as "the zapper." For traditional gaming, a retro controller was also provided, allowing the classic dual-analog option for its Virtual Console library, as well as any traditionally designed Wii games in the future. The idea of showcasing four completely different play styles may seem a bit overwhelming, but Nintendo managed to keep the core gameplay centered around the standard Wii-mote hardware, allowing for a standard piece of technology to work off of which provides a near-infinite amount of potential with the multiple attachments.
The Games: We can talk about hardware forever, but when it comes down to it the games are what truly matter. As Reggie said two years ago, "He who has the best games wins. Always has, always will." If that is indeed the case, Nintendo fans can start its pre-orders any time, as the Wii managed to deliver a new style of gameplay that can't be found anywhere else, and E3 attendees were eating it up at a record-breaking pace. Nintendo had to make a splash with Wii software, and it did just that, delivering nearly every key franchise it had in hopes of showcasing the Wii's potential.
Mario's back!
One of the heaviest hitters of the show, Super Mario Galaxy is a perfect example of how the Wii controller manages to innovate while still providing classic gameplay. Players had a chance to use the Wii-mote and nunchuck combination, controlling Mario with the analog stick and manipulating the world with the Wii-mote pointer. In this bizarre, yet absolutely addictive adventure, gamers will launch Mario from planet to planet, catapult the plumber through the stars and platform in zero-gravity environments with seamless analog and free-hand control. The feeling is simply amazing, and the gameplay manages to feel completely nostalgic and entirely fresh all at the same time. It's a true testament to what Wii can do, and it was without a doubt one of the biggest games of the show.
With Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Nintendo is redefining the first-person genre using a brand new control scheme. Those of you getting frustrated with the dual analog setup have nothing to fear, as Prime 3 delivers a more natural and realistic form of control with use of the Wii-mote and nunchuck combination, and it's slick. The fact that Corruption has been announced as a system launch title along with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (also revamped with a more natural control scheme) will help make Wii's debut one of the best launches our industry has ever seen.
The real beauty of the Wii console, however, is the fact that literally any franchise or gameplay mechanic can be truly revolutionary. Mario and Metroid may have been the stars of the show, but countless other games were proof that what Iwata said is true. It isn't about the bigger budget, it's about the bigger idea.
Gameplay over graphics? You better believe it.
First party games like WarioWare and newcomer Wii Sports showcased a far more simple approach to the Wii, relying entirely on the amazingly innovative nature of the controller. We can assure you, though these games may not look like AAA titles in the graphical department, they offer some of the most entertaining gameplay we've experienced on a Nintendo console in quite a long time. Nintendo wanted to prove that anyone can make an awesome Wii game, and it succeeded.
E3 2006: The Final Word on Wii
<< Previous Page | 1 | 2 | 3
Old Friends:
A true developer's system.
No matter how big of splash Metroid and Zelda make, Nintendo can't survive on just first party games. We've seen the GameCube live and die based on third party support, and it hasn't been pretty. Amazingly enough, however, is that along with the Nintendo classics we've come to know and love, a few old friends decided to show up for Nintendo's rebirth this E3. Standing next to the Big N this year were the likes of EA, SEGA, Konami, Ubisoft, Activision, SquareEnix, SNK, Atlus, Midway and THQ. Even more astonishing is the fact that the above list is comprised of only companies that will be supporting Wii on launch day. With third party franchises like Madden, Monkey Ball, Sonic, Tony Hawk, Blitz, Metal Slug and even a guest appearance from Snake himself, Wii's future is already brighter than we could imagine. It's hard to ignore a system that delivers innovative gameplay in nearly every genre, and it's even harder when the same hardware is backed by some of the biggest gaming companies in the world.
In fact, as an interesting side-note, every single game shown at E3 2006 was using unique Wii-centered control. We've seen no ports and no cop-outs. Not only have the big guns shown up this time around, companies seem to be having a great time with Nintendo's new hardware.
A Few Surprises: Alright. We now have killer games, awesome third party support and a seemingly awesome revival of Nintendo console contention. What could be better?
How about Super Smash Bros.?
Suprise is an understatement. Snake? Snaaaaaaake!
Dropping an insanely awesome bomb on us Wednesday night, Nintendo invited a select group of industry big-shots to an undisclosed location for what was supposed to be a developer Q&A. What we got, however, what something entirely different. As the footage began to roll we realized our Wednesday night plans were going to be put on hold for a while, as the likes of Mario, Samus and Link began dueling on-screen in the premier trailer for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the sequel to the award-winning fighter based around the Nintendo franchise. Along with the surprise announcement, the company also gave us a brief look into a few new characters that would be making an appearance in the next installment of Smash. Along with the characters from the original cast, Smash Bros. Brawl will feature Metaknight (Kirby series), Zero Suit Samus (Metroid: Zero Mission), Pit (Kid Icarus), Wario and surprise guest star Snake from the Metal Gear series.
In mere moments, the empty Nintendo booth on the showroom floor was again a buzz of activity, as Nintendo re-opened the showroom in order to give media an encore presentation of its Wii line-up, with Super Smash Bros. Brawl preview showing on the big screens as we played our fill of Metroid, Wii Sports and the rest of the E3 2006 games. It was one heck of an announcement and a great way to kick off E3.
The Future: As E3 2006 closed, fans across the world took a collective sigh of relief. Nintendo needed to take the world by storm, and it succeeded. The Wii was the talk of the show, but whether that has anything to do with the final sales that we'll see later this year is still unknown. There's still a great deal of mystery around the console, such as final launch date and official price, but with the amount of awesome information and playable games at E3 it is hard to complain about the final details just yet. The controller is still going over a few minor changes as Nintendo prepares for the system launch, and once again the company has gone dark.
Wii Connect 24. The future of gaming?
We've yet to see online support for the system and are awaiting more details on online-enabled games as well as details on Nintendo's partnership with Opera in creating a Wii web browser. We were given a taste of what Wii will offer with WiiConnect24, a new feature that allows companies to download new game content to players even when Wii is in "sleep mode," as well as a few rumors that we'd be seeing a price point as low as $199.99, but until Nintendo decides to share more launch details we're left counting the days until the Wii hits U.S. shelves.
There may be more to learn, but E3 2006 gave us more than we could ask for. Mario, Zelda and Metroid made an appearance. We learned about new console features such as an in-controller speaker (possibly microphone?), Opera web browser and WiiConnect24, and witnessed some awesome third party support. Add in the new zapper and Virtual Console controllers, the amazing Wednesday surprise of Super Smash Bros. Brawl and 27 playable E3 games (17 of them already confirmed for launch) and you've got what has been without a doubt the best E3 presentation in Nintendo's history. Once again the future is looking bright for Nintendo, and once again the success or failure of the system relies on the unique controller. We've just begun to see if innovation can truly bring Nintendo back to the top of the gaming world, but one thing is for certain: Playing truly is believing.
Link (http://uk.revolution.ign.com/articles/710/710033p3.html)
As long as Nintendo don't have games that are just the same as current gen ported onto the contollers, like Mario 64 DS they'll do alright.
IGN breaks down the pros and cons of each system's performance. How did Nintendo do?
by Mark Bozon
May 24, 2006 - For Nintendo, E3 2006 was do or die time in the terms of continuing the business of console gaming. With a struggling end to the lackluster life of GameCube, fans and critics across the world were eager to see if the Big N could deliver on its promise of a true gaming revolution. In a surprising move to say the least, Nintendo announced at E3 2005 that its newest console, code named Revolution, would deliver a new way to interact with technology, and a new age of gaming for people of all ages, not just hardcore gamers.
At the time we were a bit skeptical, as we'd seen the "gaming is for everyone" mentality used in the portable world with DS, but were constantly haunted by the fact that Nintendo would be starting this generation already in third place, putting everything it had into a technically weaker system that hinged on a still-mysterious input device. In short, Nintendo was believed to either grow or die based entirely on its E3 2006 presentation. Now that the dust has settled on one of the most important events in Nintendo history, what can we say about the company's future?
It's a brand new day for Nintendo.
The Nintendo Conference. E3 2006
E3 2006: The ShowIn the minds of gamers across the world, E3 represents the future of our industry. Once a year, companies from all across the globe flock to Los Angeles California to take part in the biggest celebration of gaming the industry has to offer, the Electronic Entertainment Expo. No matter what system you align yourself with or which games sit at the top of your list, E3 is the show of shows. Deals are made, legends are born and expectations are either met or abandoned in what is without a doubt the most vital and nerve wrecking event we attend. We've seen companies make a tremendous splash (such as the premiere year for Microsoft with the launch of Xbox), or go belly up in the water in just a matter of days (R.I.P. Phantom, R.I.P.). For Nintendo, E3 2006 was one of those shows.
E3 2006: The StrategyNintendo knew this year's E3 was a do or die situation for its console leverage this generation. Banking entirely on a new innovative controller and outlook on the gaming audience in general was a dangerous move, so Nintendo's E3 strategy was crucial to success or failure at the show. While we're used to seeing Nintendo "go dark" before E3, a term that the company itself uses to describe a lock-down of all new information just prior to huge announcements, this year's dark time was especially difficult, as companies worldwide were given explicit instructions to keep all information and media a secret until the Nintendo conference was underway. Aside from a few stories and just a handful of concept screens, the strategy was a success, as Nintendo had a chance to show the entire world its vision of the Wii on its own terms at its media briefing.
Nintendo couldn't make it any more simple.
We may have been tearing our hair out for the weeks prior to the conference due to lack of pre-E3 news, but Nintendo got its wish. Aside from releasing new information on specific games at its media briefing, Nintendo also explained its strategy for the Wii as a whole. Combining fundamental gameplay with innovation, Wii will branch out to people who have never considered picking up a controller. For the first time in industry history, a company dared to plot a strategy for putting a controller in literally every person's hand worldwide. Will it work? That remains to be seen, but if the record-breaking lines on the showroom floor were any indication, Nintendo is off to one hell of a start this generation.
E3 2006: The Final Word on Wii
<< Previous Page | 1 | 2 | 3 | Next Page >>
The Controller: Since the E3 2005 conference, the entire gaming industry has been a buzz with questions about Nintendo's new console, specifically the controller. Ever since the first announcements by Nintendo, we've all been dying to find out if the controller would be a success or not. After all, since everything was riding on a single innovative device, that meant the entire library of games on Nintendo's system could be an instant success or failure, which is some serious pressure on the hardware. As Satoru Iwata explained to us over a year ago, "the key here is not what you are playing, but how you'll be playing."
When Nintendo concluded its media presentation, it left us with a single ideal: Playing is believing. The Wii may be technically weaker, but Reggie and company assured us at the closure of its event that while the games may not be mind-blowing in a graphical sense, it would be on a gameplay level. When we finally had a chance to go hands-on with the system on the showroom floor, we were convinced. The controller managed to bring a new life to gaming, proving that playing truly is believing.
Retro Redefined
Aside from the Wii-mote, Nintendo showed off a few other control methods for event attendees. The nunchuck attachment was used with roughly half the games, combining the motion control of the Wii-mote hardware with a tilt-enabled analog and two-button expansion controller. In addition to the main controller combo, Nintendo also debuted its light gun controller, formally referred to as "the zapper." For traditional gaming, a retro controller was also provided, allowing the classic dual-analog option for its Virtual Console library, as well as any traditionally designed Wii games in the future. The idea of showcasing four completely different play styles may seem a bit overwhelming, but Nintendo managed to keep the core gameplay centered around the standard Wii-mote hardware, allowing for a standard piece of technology to work off of which provides a near-infinite amount of potential with the multiple attachments.
The Games: We can talk about hardware forever, but when it comes down to it the games are what truly matter. As Reggie said two years ago, "He who has the best games wins. Always has, always will." If that is indeed the case, Nintendo fans can start its pre-orders any time, as the Wii managed to deliver a new style of gameplay that can't be found anywhere else, and E3 attendees were eating it up at a record-breaking pace. Nintendo had to make a splash with Wii software, and it did just that, delivering nearly every key franchise it had in hopes of showcasing the Wii's potential.
Mario's back!
One of the heaviest hitters of the show, Super Mario Galaxy is a perfect example of how the Wii controller manages to innovate while still providing classic gameplay. Players had a chance to use the Wii-mote and nunchuck combination, controlling Mario with the analog stick and manipulating the world with the Wii-mote pointer. In this bizarre, yet absolutely addictive adventure, gamers will launch Mario from planet to planet, catapult the plumber through the stars and platform in zero-gravity environments with seamless analog and free-hand control. The feeling is simply amazing, and the gameplay manages to feel completely nostalgic and entirely fresh all at the same time. It's a true testament to what Wii can do, and it was without a doubt one of the biggest games of the show.
With Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Nintendo is redefining the first-person genre using a brand new control scheme. Those of you getting frustrated with the dual analog setup have nothing to fear, as Prime 3 delivers a more natural and realistic form of control with use of the Wii-mote and nunchuck combination, and it's slick. The fact that Corruption has been announced as a system launch title along with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (also revamped with a more natural control scheme) will help make Wii's debut one of the best launches our industry has ever seen.
The real beauty of the Wii console, however, is the fact that literally any franchise or gameplay mechanic can be truly revolutionary. Mario and Metroid may have been the stars of the show, but countless other games were proof that what Iwata said is true. It isn't about the bigger budget, it's about the bigger idea.
Gameplay over graphics? You better believe it.
First party games like WarioWare and newcomer Wii Sports showcased a far more simple approach to the Wii, relying entirely on the amazingly innovative nature of the controller. We can assure you, though these games may not look like AAA titles in the graphical department, they offer some of the most entertaining gameplay we've experienced on a Nintendo console in quite a long time. Nintendo wanted to prove that anyone can make an awesome Wii game, and it succeeded.
E3 2006: The Final Word on Wii
<< Previous Page | 1 | 2 | 3
Old Friends:
A true developer's system.
No matter how big of splash Metroid and Zelda make, Nintendo can't survive on just first party games. We've seen the GameCube live and die based on third party support, and it hasn't been pretty. Amazingly enough, however, is that along with the Nintendo classics we've come to know and love, a few old friends decided to show up for Nintendo's rebirth this E3. Standing next to the Big N this year were the likes of EA, SEGA, Konami, Ubisoft, Activision, SquareEnix, SNK, Atlus, Midway and THQ. Even more astonishing is the fact that the above list is comprised of only companies that will be supporting Wii on launch day. With third party franchises like Madden, Monkey Ball, Sonic, Tony Hawk, Blitz, Metal Slug and even a guest appearance from Snake himself, Wii's future is already brighter than we could imagine. It's hard to ignore a system that delivers innovative gameplay in nearly every genre, and it's even harder when the same hardware is backed by some of the biggest gaming companies in the world.
In fact, as an interesting side-note, every single game shown at E3 2006 was using unique Wii-centered control. We've seen no ports and no cop-outs. Not only have the big guns shown up this time around, companies seem to be having a great time with Nintendo's new hardware.
A Few Surprises: Alright. We now have killer games, awesome third party support and a seemingly awesome revival of Nintendo console contention. What could be better?
How about Super Smash Bros.?
Suprise is an understatement. Snake? Snaaaaaaake!
Dropping an insanely awesome bomb on us Wednesday night, Nintendo invited a select group of industry big-shots to an undisclosed location for what was supposed to be a developer Q&A. What we got, however, what something entirely different. As the footage began to roll we realized our Wednesday night plans were going to be put on hold for a while, as the likes of Mario, Samus and Link began dueling on-screen in the premier trailer for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the sequel to the award-winning fighter based around the Nintendo franchise. Along with the surprise announcement, the company also gave us a brief look into a few new characters that would be making an appearance in the next installment of Smash. Along with the characters from the original cast, Smash Bros. Brawl will feature Metaknight (Kirby series), Zero Suit Samus (Metroid: Zero Mission), Pit (Kid Icarus), Wario and surprise guest star Snake from the Metal Gear series.
In mere moments, the empty Nintendo booth on the showroom floor was again a buzz of activity, as Nintendo re-opened the showroom in order to give media an encore presentation of its Wii line-up, with Super Smash Bros. Brawl preview showing on the big screens as we played our fill of Metroid, Wii Sports and the rest of the E3 2006 games. It was one heck of an announcement and a great way to kick off E3.
The Future: As E3 2006 closed, fans across the world took a collective sigh of relief. Nintendo needed to take the world by storm, and it succeeded. The Wii was the talk of the show, but whether that has anything to do with the final sales that we'll see later this year is still unknown. There's still a great deal of mystery around the console, such as final launch date and official price, but with the amount of awesome information and playable games at E3 it is hard to complain about the final details just yet. The controller is still going over a few minor changes as Nintendo prepares for the system launch, and once again the company has gone dark.
Wii Connect 24. The future of gaming?
We've yet to see online support for the system and are awaiting more details on online-enabled games as well as details on Nintendo's partnership with Opera in creating a Wii web browser. We were given a taste of what Wii will offer with WiiConnect24, a new feature that allows companies to download new game content to players even when Wii is in "sleep mode," as well as a few rumors that we'd be seeing a price point as low as $199.99, but until Nintendo decides to share more launch details we're left counting the days until the Wii hits U.S. shelves.
There may be more to learn, but E3 2006 gave us more than we could ask for. Mario, Zelda and Metroid made an appearance. We learned about new console features such as an in-controller speaker (possibly microphone?), Opera web browser and WiiConnect24, and witnessed some awesome third party support. Add in the new zapper and Virtual Console controllers, the amazing Wednesday surprise of Super Smash Bros. Brawl and 27 playable E3 games (17 of them already confirmed for launch) and you've got what has been without a doubt the best E3 presentation in Nintendo's history. Once again the future is looking bright for Nintendo, and once again the success or failure of the system relies on the unique controller. We've just begun to see if innovation can truly bring Nintendo back to the top of the gaming world, but one thing is for certain: Playing truly is believing.
Link (http://uk.revolution.ign.com/articles/710/710033p3.html)
As long as Nintendo don't have games that are just the same as current gen ported onto the contollers, like Mario 64 DS they'll do alright.