Well the flood gates have finally been opened and simply EVERYONE is talking about the Wii (well everyone that’s a gamer geek that is). There’s actually so much info floating around that I simply can’t keep track of everything. Here’s the basics for those who don’t know of are also having a hard time keeping up…
- The Wii comes out, in the US, on November 19th. It will retail for $250. On a side note, the system comes out in Japan on December 2nd, which means we get Nintendo’s new toy first.
- You get the system, one Wii-mote, one nunchaku attachment, A/V cable, AC adapter (those two are no-brainers, I know), the sensor bar, a sensor bar stand (that’s nice), the console stand, plus a pair of batteries. These will be rechargeable actually.
- The system will also include a game, Wii Sports. I think it should also be noted that the inclusion of Wii Sports is the first time we’ve seen any system debut with a pack-in game since the Sega Saturn if I’m not mistaken.
- Wii games will be $50. The price of Virtual Console games will be between $5 and $10. In Japan, they will be either 500, 800, 1,000 yen, so if you do some figuring out, it comes to $5 for NES games, $8 for SNES, and $10 for N64.
- Another Wii-mote will cost you $40, and the nunchaku attachment will be $20. The classic controller will also be $20.
- By the end of the year, we will get 25 Wii games, and 30 VC games (yeah, only, I know… pretty… paltry).
- Nintendo stressed their desire for the Wii to become a digital hub in the living room, by introducing the concept of “channels” that the system will access. They will allow users to check the news, as well as the weather, and even display digital pictures. Plus you can surf the web with an Opera browser.
One channel will be called the “Mii Channel” which will allow you to create an avatar which not only appear in the games, and I’m assuming is used to surf the channels and used to navigate “lobbies” online. But they can be transported by your Wii-mote, when you go to play with someone else’s Wii, which must be the extra-special feature that was hinted at a whiles back but kept a secret.
- I’m not clear on what launch titles are (its been given, but with so much nice going on, I can remember where that list is at the moment), but I do know off the top of my head that Super Mario Galaxy is not one of them. Which sucks. But at least Zelda is still there. And that’s good to know.
- It was also re-iterated that the Wii will be region free, though it was noted that software publishers can add region restrictions to their games if they wish. But what about VC games? No one knows yet, and its driving some people insane. I guess if I didn’t already own Sin & Punishment, I’d be jonesing for an answer as well.
… I know I’m missing a lot, but once again, if you got to all the real news site, you’ll find all the details, plus snazzy screenshots and movies (I’d suggest IGN, which is where I saw some really nice shots of Zelda and WarioWare).
Right off the back, many are complaining about the price. As it was hinted at various points and from various sources, many were hoping or had simply assumed it would be $200. And as I already noted, a few were even speculating that it would be as low as $150, and now all those people are pissed that its $250, despite the fact that you’re getting a lot for that price.
And not surprisingly, given that’s its Nintendo fans we’re talking about, who often allow themselves to get wrapped up in rumors, wishful thinking, and unrealistic expectations, are now playing the “How could they do this to us, their fans?!?!” card, which is such bullshit since they all seem to forget that the video game business is a business. Nintendo, along with Sega, Konami, Capcom, SNK, and everyone else are not anyone’s best friends, their companies, and they act as such (or at least should). But in the end, and this isn’t limited to just Nintendo fans: video gamers are just a fucking whiney lot who are never happy with anything.
Though I will admit that I was hoping for $200 since that’s pretty much the starting point of every single Nintendo console since day one.
Another main complaint is that extra controllers are too expensive, if you count both the remote and the nunchaku attachment, which means $60 in the end. Well, I still remember paying $80 for a Dreamcast controller ($30 for the base controller, another $30 for the VMU, and $20 jump pack), so this doesn’t bother me one bit.
I guess that’s it for now. I might pass along more concrete info, or any other interesting highlights, since there’s still additional info yet to be released.
Oh, and by the way, I got the chance to play Guitar Hero 2 earlier in the afternoon, and it’s simply phenomenal.
First off, I only played the first game once, and that was at last year’s DigitalLife event, and I was bad… really bad. So bad that some kid told me afterwards that I sucked. But little kids speak the truth. Ever since then, I’ve been somewhat wary of the game, that’s how embarassed I felt (earlier this year while covering the 24 hour mobile mosh at Parsons, that was the one thing that every blew their steam off on, or wasted valuable time with, and not once did I touch that controller that entire 24 hour period).
Second, I just wanted to point out that most press events either take place in a hotel penthouse or some swanky lounge-space. But Red Octane (the folks behind the game) decided to do theirs at the Gibson Guitar Showroom (Gibson is one of the game’s partners), and they had the game projected on a large screen, in the middle of this super high-end recording studio. Talk about setting up the perfect atmosphere.
Anyway, I was the first among the Nick Mag crew to arrive at the scene and got a chance to chat with the Octane PR folks, who were all really cool, but most importantly knew their shit; I always respect PR folks that actually play the game they are demoing it. I got a rundown of all the new features, including new songs (40 in total), new characters (each with multiple outfits), got to admire the graphics (which looked much nicer to me; I recall not really digging the first game’s characters, but not only do they look better but each one far more conceptually creative), heard about the new modes (more on that later), and learn about the new guitar. Aside from the slight cosmetic difference (the first one was black and white, the new one is red and black), the buttons and everything are just tighter and punchier.
Soon my editor from Nick and a few other folks from the magazine arrived and the demo went into full swing. Got to see the main demo guy play YYZ by Rush, and at a tricky level, which left everyone impressed (and making me even a tad bit more nervous about the idea of giving the game a go). Then one of our guys took the axe and played Sweet Child O’Mine (this was the first song that made me go “Damn, I might have to finally get into Guitar Hero”). And just hearing, and watching, the way the music was integrated was simply genius; I’m a big fan of music games, but let’s be honest here, 99% of them are simply Simon Says, but in Guitar Hero, you really are making music.
Next a second person joined him and picked up the second guitar controller; it was time to see the two-player mode in action. In the first game, two people could play together, but they sorta faced off against each other by trading off riffs. This time, both people play the same song at the same time, because one person does the rhythm, the other does bass. The best part is that each person can play the same song with differing difficulty levels. The song was Cheap Trick’s Surrender, and by the time they got to the chorus, my editor and everyone else starting singing. Everyone was that into it.
Afterwards, the PR person to whom I had mentioned earlier that I flat-out sucked during my first time with the orignal said “Your turn!” I gave a nervous laugh and slowly went up to assume the position. Silly as it sounds, I was actually a bit nervous, especially since not only was my editor and others from Nick were in attendance, along with the Red Octane people, but a few minutes earlier a band had shown up to watch everyone play; the band had actually won a contest to have their music featured in the game and I guess they had come along for the tour.
So I picked my character (I chose Lars Umlaut, the European, Kiss-esque metal guy) and I chose guitar while another fellow Nick Mag person at the magazine chose bass. I forget the song, but the most important part was I DIDN’T SUCK! And it really felt like I was literally playing the song! I totally zen-ed out and was so into the music, though as soon as I stopped to think what I was doing, I began to make mistakes. Now I can see why it’s become such a monster hit. Previously, I was going to get this game simply because MK had commanded it so, but now I simply can’t wait to get the sucker and play it all night long, and to play it at parties (it has become, far and away, one of the most popular party game of this gen, rivaled only by Smash Bros in my eyes).
I wish I could remember all the songs, but the selection is great; it has Misirlou for Christ’s sake! The only negative is when I heard… and maybe this is common knowledge… that the second game will only come with the guitar controller, its not going to be sold separately. Apparently, that’s what retailers wanted. So if you already have a controller because you already have part one, well, you’re getting a second one. Which is sorta neat since the two-player mode is SO FUCKING AWESOME, but if you already have a second controller, well… And if you’re buying a Guitar Hero game for the first time with the sequel, you can get the original without it’s controller, but only directly from them online.
But otherwise… yeah… fucking hawt shit. Playing the game literally had me pumped for the rest of the afternoon.
Uh oh, I just realized that I sorta just rambled there. Sorry about that. But I also realized that I’m going to be late for my appointment with EA, so till next time!
