A few months ago I sold my Wii and bought a PS3, after being blown away by Modern Warfare 2 at a friend's house. I'd never played a Call of Duty game before so the experience was pretty overwhelming. Three months down the line, the MW2 phenomenon is wearing thin, and while I still enjoy it, I probably play it for less than an hour a day on average. That leaves a lot of free time in my typical daily allocation of several hours' gaming, so I'm forced to look at the rest of the catalogue. A lot of people would say that this is an excellent period to be doing so - Uncharted 2, Bayonetta, Heavy Rain, FFXIII, God of War 3 and Bioshock 2 off the top of my head.
Not one of those games interests me. They're don't even seem like games to me! The sheer scope of these titles is too overwhelming, perhaps with the exceptions of Bayonetta and GOW, but I've never been interested in 3D fighters (I like action games to be 2D, where I can see everything around me and control my character with precision). I don't want my shooters to contain RPG elements (MW2 I know has these, but they're very light). I don't want several branching paths - no matter which I take, I'm missing content, and this irritates my completionist nature. I genuinely don't even want great graphics - unless they're stylised, they tend to be distracting.
It will probably come as no surprise after reading this that I was a huge fan of WiiWare and the retro games available. PSN is no substitute for this. I own all the PSN games that I find appealing: Thexder Neo, Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3, Blast Factor, Soldner X, Mega Man 9 and Trine. They're all OK (with the exception of Soldner X, which sucks), but compare them to Gradius Rebirth, Contra Rebirth, Super Meat Boy, the Bit Trip series - let alone the virtual console! - and the only one that compares to any of these is Trine. Mega Man 9 not included, obviously, as it is available on WiiWare.
But it's not just WiiWare. New Super Mario Bros and Muramasa are two amazing-looking games that I've yet to play, and you can't find anything like that on PS3. The closest thing to Mario is Little Big Planet, which is admittedly charming, but fails at producing good platforming gameplay. I even find myself enjoying 3D games on the Wii - Mario Galaxy was good, Deadly Creatures was brilliant, and No More Heroes was better still. Even the shooters are better; the on-rails pointing-the-remote mechanic is so much less clumsy than dual-analogue FPS. No More Heroes is a particularly key example however, in that it's pretty much exactly the kind of game I usually hate. Needlessly open-plan, bloated with pointless collection, exploration (to a degree) and mini-games... Yet the actual gameplay is so much fun that I can disregard that. I've played the Bayonetta demo and No More Heroes craps all over it. I believe this is because of the simple controls and clear, basic visuals. I feel like I'm playing a game, not an evolved tech demo.
I'm aware that a lot of my points are easy to counter, or even disregard as plain nonsense. This is an entirely personal thing, and objectively I can appreciate the Heavy Rains and Metal Gear Solid 4s as being brilliant at what they do - but for some reason the depth and scope of these games not only doesn't appeal to me, but actually turns me off the games. Considering the critical acclaim and my love of a good adventure story, I'm sure I could find enjoyment in Uncharted 2. I just cannot find any desire to play it, because of my personal concept of what a game should be: a bare-bones, linear, concentrated abstraction of a challenge to reflexes, awareness, timing and memory. That's fun to me. Anything on top of that is bloat - and all games have it, but far more so on the HD consoles than the Wii.
That's not to say that the Wii is perfect - frustrating tacked-on motion control, an awful online system and, perhaps trivially, lack of a trophy/achievement system are all to its detriment - but in my eyes it has a game catalogue twice as good as the PS3's and 360's combined. That's why my PS3 and the mighty Modern Warfare 2 are now up for sale, and the proceeds will be going straight on a Wii and New Super Mario Bros.
As a sidenote, I have also owned two Xbox 360s and had a very similar experience as with the PS3, although I do vastly prefer the PS3 as a console.
mmm, might be you should limit yourself to play Microsoft Solitaire and similars (pressent even in Win95), believe me, its scope is not overwhelming at all. If you have so many playing hours at hand, probably your very best option is a gaming PC rig.
No arguments from me. Whilst the HD console games look pretty flash I detect a surprising lack of variety in what's being offered which is likely down to risk aversion in the industry tied to the high price tag for developing these games. I'm sure if one or both of these machines dropped into my lap I could find something to play, but I'm just too old school to get hyped about %99 of the things I see advertised.
The Wii catalog has the variety I want, I like the varied control possibilities (or just the fact that the controller is split in two) and given most games are half the price of the HD systems I've felt a lot freer to try game genres and franchises I never would have touched otherwise. It's like a second golden age for me!
I have a PS3 and a Wii. I've been a Nintendo fanboy since birth, but I love my PS3 too. While I definitely think you should get another Wii, I would personally keep the PS3.
Soon it starts all over again.... you know the mantra... we don´t want HD, we want good gameplay. Well.. I want my Wii to be HD. It would be awsome and all hardgore gamers should be pleased too, as the developers naturally would make their bloody mature teenage crap games to the Wii as well. I´m not very in to PS or 360 but it seem they got simulation racing and FPS genres covered. I´m with Sean, the Wii catalog is awsome, being HD wouldn´t hurt my eyes. WiiHD FTW.
I never understood why people would sell their consoles and game collection like this just to buy a new one, especially one they've invested a lot of money in downloadable material for that Joe Ebayer (or worse, Bob Gamestop McSwindle) won't pay an extra cent for. Just seems like throwing money out of the window.
I think anyone ignoring either the approach of the Wii or the HD systems is a little silly, but to each his own. Some people find the libraries lacking on the HD systems, and some find the Wii cluttered with shovelware.
I will say, though: "Deadly Creatures was brilliant" Wow. "I've played the Bayonetta demo and No More Heroes craps all over it." Double wow. I just don't know what to say.
. . . my personal concept of what a game should be: a bare-bones, linear, concentrated abstraction of a challenge to reflexes, awareness, timing and memory. That's fun to me. Anything on top of that is bloat . . .
Of course it's cluttered with shovelware, no one would argue that. It's also a horrendously idiotic reason for not getting the console that more or less translates to "I hate this console for no real reason, so I'm just going to pretend I have one". Unless you buy games by walking blindly into the store, pointing in some random direction, and buying whatever you end up pointing at (in which case you probably wouldn't know what the word "shovelware" means in the first place, anyway), how could it possibly impact you enjoyment of the console?
Not to mention, the PS1, PS2 and, in particularly large doses, the PC, also had mountainloads of cheap cash-ins, yet you never saw anyone decide against those platforms for that reason.
Of course it's cluttered with shovelware, no one would argue that. It's also a horrendously idiotic reason for not getting the console that more or less translates to "I hate this console for no real reason, so I'm just going to pretend I have one". Unless you buy games by walking blindly into the store, pointing in some random direction, and buying whatever you end up pointing at (in which case you probably wouldn't know what the word "shovelware" means in the first place, anyway), how could it possibly impact you enjoyment of the console?
Not to mention, the PS1, PS2 and, in particularly large doses, the PC, also had mountainloads of cheap cash-ins, yet you never saw anyone decide against those platforms for that reason.
Sure, we both know that's a poor reason to avoid the Wii, but not everyone has the time interest to dig deeper to find the gems on the Wii. Going into my local Gamestop, I can totally see why someone might think that it's all the system has to offer. 90% of the shelf space is dedicated to licensed crap, kiddy titles and minigame collections.
"The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion."
I never understood why people would sell their consoles and game collection like this just to buy a new one, especially one they've invested a lot of money in downloadable material for that Joe Ebayer (or worse, Bob Gamestop McSwindle) won't pay an extra cent for. Just seems like throwing money out of the window.
I considered having both but decided against it. For one thing I can't afford to buy a Wii without selling my PS3. Besides this, I just wouldn't play my PS3 very often if I had a Wii sitting next to it. I'd probably still play a few games of MW2 most nights but other than that... The only other PS3 games I'm even interested in are Dragon Age and Demon's Souls (I have different rules for RPGs!) and even out of those, only Dragon Age would be likely to distract me from the Wii. I can get over £200 for my PS3 and games, it's just not worth me keeping. I am irritated by the fact that I have £60 of downloadable games going to waste though. I spent over £20 on it just last week.
. . . my personal concept of what a game should be: a bare-bones, linear, concentrated abstraction of a challenge to reflexes, awareness, timing and memory. That's fun to me. Anything on top of that is bloat . . .
I don't know who that is. But to be honest I exaggerated slightly there, obviously games need some semblance of presentation. I don't want each character to be a 16x16 square block for the sake of visual clarity, and I enjoy backstory and lore too, but I just want these things to take a total back seat to the core gameplay.
The+Fox wrote:
I think anyone ignoring either the approach of the Wii or the HD systems is a little silly, but to each his own. Some people find the libraries lacking on the HD systems, and some find the Wii cluttered with shovelware.
I will say, though: "Deadly Creatures was brilliant" Wow. "I've played the Bayonetta demo and No More Heroes craps all over it." Double wow. I just don't know what to say.
I'm not ignoring anything that the HD systems are doing. I've owned two 360s and a PS3, I think I can say I've given them a fair chance. It's just not my thing.
And just to clarify, those quoted statements aren't objective reviews, simply personal preference.
I don't have an aversion to HD gaming (even though my wallet might) and think that PS3 and 360 offer lots of great experiences for gamers. However, I find that Wii caters a little bit better to my personal preferences and offers more of the "oddball" creative titles that really appeal to me.
To each his own. Nothing wrong with having different opinions.
Another interesting(ish) thing to note is that I loved Gears of War. Easily inside my top 10 games of the last decade. So it would seem that I am capable of enjoying this modern style of game... but that seems to be the sole exception to my rule.
How can one reasonably have an 'aversion' to gaming that is pursued in a higher definition? It's still gaming. The assumption that higher definition = less gameplay is wrong. To wit (on PS3): Uncharted 2, Demon's Souls, LittleBigPlanet. For some games higher definition adds to the sense of world immersion, and that's all to the good isn't it? Also, there are loads of experimental/indie and oddball games on HD consoles, too, some of them taking full advantage of HD like PixelJunk Shooter. That said, 480p is perfect for Super Mario Galaxy, which is the 'complete' game as far as I'm concerned.
How can one reasonably have an 'aversion' to gaming that is pursued in a higher definition? It's still gaming.
I don't claim to. My aversion is completely unreasonable, and I recognise that. I think it's probably just a personality quirk. I have some OCD-ish tendencies in other areas of life that I could feasibly link to this. I was halfway through typing them out but realised it wasn't very interesting!
How can one reasonably have an 'aversion' to gaming that is pursued in a higher definition? It's still gaming.
I don't claim to. My aversion is completely unreasonable, and I recognise that. I think it's probably just a personality quirk. I have some OCD-ish tendencies in other areas of life that I could feasibly link to this. I was halfway through typing them out but realised it wasn't very interesting!
Haha...fair enough! I shan't enquire further...Gameplay surmounts over all for me too. Been playing (i.e. 'dying horribly at') Mega Man 9 again in preparation for 10. Still, a little bit of extra pixellation doesn't always hurt...?
HD is a must, period, but obviously in conjuntion with more power to be able to handle much more complex and well detailed scenaries (instead of having a simplified single and shadowless man walking down a street, put 1000 fine detailed persons in that street if the game requires it). The Wii itself is a big limitation for the games that can run on it, with or without HD graphics. PS3 and XBoX are also quite limited (compared to any modern gaming PC), but the limitations are not so extremely dramatic.The fact is that as you need to put more detail (objects for example, and mostly small objects) in an scene, HD is required more and more. BTW, probably Nintendo will take a different path, lets fill up the world with WiiFit 7.0, low res Mario Cosmic 7 and more 2D Mario platformers for the nostalgic hordes, and of course none of them will never require HD. But these requirements might be opposite for games like Zelda or Metroid.
I like the varied control possibilities (or just the fact that the controller is split in two)
I don't think this design of the Wii-mote gets enough praise. I can't tell you how much I enjoy being able to keep my arms and hands appart when playing game, particularly longer games. The fact the nunchuck is separate lets me find the most comfortable way to play a long lasting game like TP, Mario Galaxy or Little Kings Story. The pros of the separatiion far outweight the cons of having that wire between them.
My wish is Nintendo comes out with a first party Wiimote + nunchuck wireless with built-in M+ on BOTH the Wiimote and the Nunchuck, with improved nunchuck accelometer. That's about as perfect as that tech could be, and I'm not sure how feasible the cost would be.
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Topic: An Aversion to "HD Gaming"
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