# The Nintendo Wii is the Celine Dion of this generation of consoles. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 29, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296 "2008-04-29T00:19:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/121 "2008-05-02T13:08:20Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Please, tell me what the hell it is that’s so funny about what I wrote. [/QUOTE] In my first post to you, I explained what’s so funny. “I don’t like it” does NOT equal “It sucks.” You’re presenting your opinion as an objective statement on the console’s worth. The Virtual Boy sucked. The Wii doesn’t fill your gaming needs. That’s the difference, and that’s why your screeds here are so damn funny. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Cream\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ice\_Cream\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Cream_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/122 "2008-05-02T13:09:11Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Eh. No blood [/QUOTE] That must be a video of the Japanese version where they took out the blood. In other region versions there’s TONS of it, although it’s probably too stylize and in too GREAT a volume to suit your preferences. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/123 "2008-05-02T14:08:17Z")
[QUOTE=Ice Cream Man] That must be a video of the Japanese version where they took out the blood. In other region versions there’s TONS of it, although it’s probably too stylize and in too GREAT a volume to suit your preferences. [/QUOTE] Good lord, yes. It surprised me when I saw just how much there was. It’s like 300 with the amount of blood there is. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/124 "2008-05-02T14:55:08Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] I agree about GTA on the Wii, by the way. I predicted it when Table Tennis came out: it uses essentially the same engine as GTA4. Then Bully Championship Edition, for further programming experience. Why spend that effort getting people used to working on the Wii if not to bring out the big gun? Oh, and here, Argent. People have suggested this to you. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K63B9ZmXtR0/hqdefault.jpg "Eight Minutes of Why No More Heroes Rocks") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K63B9ZmXtR0) Enjoy. It’s gameplay, not a trailer, so it’s not as splashy. [/QUOTE] Looks like a lot of swinging and not enough hitting. Eh. I dunno. I suppose I’ll check that out. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/125 "2008-05-02T15:04:53Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Looks like a lot of swinging and not enough hitting. Eh. I dunno. I suppose I’ll check that out. [/QUOTE] I only watched about the first 20 seconds, and the player isn’t using the lock-on feature, which is notably similar to the one in Twilight Princess. I certainly don’t miss that much in the game. The physics are not realistic, and the overworld is a bit annoying. But there’s a lot of fun in the combat, and it’s more sophisticated than it appears at first glance. As you saw, before the suplex there’s two arrows with icons of the nunchuck and remote, and those tell you which way you have to swing the two. It’s a bit gimmicky, but I found myself getting into it, with a burst of satisfaction with each takedown. It’s a very silly game with a lot of references to old 4- and 8-bit games. Extremely offbeat, but fun nonetheless. ETA: IMO, it’s a prime example of how the Wii can be used well by third-party developers in a way that doesn’t necessarily have to cash in on licensed franchises or be a kid’s game. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/126 "2008-05-02T16:17:46Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] In my first post to you, I explained what’s so funny. “I don’t like it” does NOT equal “It sucks.” You’re presenting your opinion as an objective statement on the console’s worth. The Virtual Boy sucked. The Wii doesn’t fill your gaming needs. That’s the difference, and that’s why your screeds here are so damn funny. [/QUOTE] Yep. You’ve defined “gamer” as “people just like me” defined the Wii as “just a toy” - apparently the XBox is not. And defined your own completely subjective criteria as and objective “what makes a good game.” And you keep defending this like its a religious truth. You want to know what a GREAT GAME is? - chess. Its been around for hundreds of years in functionally the same form. It takes years to master and a few minutes to learn. I don’t happen to enjoy chess, not my thing. But its a great game. And has no graphics, no console involved at all, no plot. By your standards, its not a great game…and that’s silly. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/127 "2008-05-02T16:34:19Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] I only watched about the first 20 seconds, and the player isn’t using the lock-on feature, which is notably similar to the one in Twilight Princess. I certainly don’t miss that much in the game. The physics are not realistic, and the overworld is a bit annoying. But there’s a lot of fun in the combat, and it’s more sophisticated than it appears at first glance. As you saw, before the suplex there’s two arrows with icons of the nunchuck and remote, and those tell you which way you have to swing the two. It’s a bit gimmicky, but I found myself getting into it, with a burst of satisfaction with each takedown. It’s a very silly game with a lot of references to old 4- and 8-bit games. Extremely offbeat, but fun nonetheless. ETA: IMO, it’s a prime example of how the Wii can be used well by third-party developers in a way that doesn’t necessarily have to cash in on licensed franchises or be a kid’s game. [/QUOTE] I’ve heard it highly recommendd here. If I run across a cheap copy, I’ll grab it. ---
**Author:** ![Kalibakthegreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@Kalibakthegreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalibakthegreat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/128 "2008-05-02T16:39:25Z")
_No More Heroes_ is the best third-party Wii game out there right now, though the actual traveling/city side of things is almost game-breaking in its complete pointlessness. I’ve heard that it’s a sort of meta-critique of empty, sprawling overworlds in games, but dude, stick it in you grad school thesis…don’t make me drive through it. That said, I’m going to bow out of this thread. I don’t want to be combative, but the level of fanboy panic among posters like **JustinBailey** is kind of shitting all over this discussion. It was an adult conversation for the first page or so, but then it turned into a Gamefaqs message board thread. Bailey, in the future, please understand that “NUH-UH!” isn’t an acceptable rhetorical response, and no matter how much you hem and haw, that’s really all you’re saying to each well-reasoned critique of the Wii. “Nuh-uh…you’re wrong! So there!” It’s clear, based on your responses in this thread and your user name that you’re an indiscriminate fanboy rather than an aficionado who’s willing to concede critical faults, and the attitude has really ruined this discussion for most people that were taking part. ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/129 "2008-05-02T16:39:58Z")
I haven’t read this entire thread, so forgive me if I reiterate someone else’s thoughts. I love the Wii. It is new and different from everything else on the market. It’s also really fun. The fact that the graphics are below PS3 and XBox360 doesn’t bother me at all. If the game is fun, I don’t care if the graphics aren’t all they can be. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was one of the best games I’ve played in years. The sword controls with the wii-mote were downright FUN, and isn’t that what it’s all about? Right now I’m playing Super Mario Galaxy, and again, it’s FUN. That’s why people play games, isn’t it? I don’t care if they bring games over from other systems. In fact, I think it’s great. I’d like to be able to play certain games without buying a brand new system. I don’t understand why people get uptight about the graphics in a video game. If the game is fun, and the controls are good, who cares if something doesn’t look as good as real life? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/130 "2008-05-02T16:43:37Z")
[QUOTE=Ice Cream Man] Contentious statements aside, the Wii is severely lacking in the games Argent Towers likes. It does have some that would fit his descriptions except, for the most part, they all seem to be ports of PS2 versions. The Wii and PS3/Xbox 360 definitely put emphasis on different aspects of gaming and the things that the PS3 and Xbox 360 put more stock in are those that Argent Towers seems to value. Just as the Wii appeals to a middle aged mother who never played video games, it seems the Xbox 360 and PS3 appeal to Argent Towers. [/QUOTE] Thank you. You’ve nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/131 "2008-05-02T16:51:19Z")
[QUOTE=Kalibakthegreat] That said, I’m going to bow out of this thread. I don’t want to be combative, but the level of fanboy panic among posters like **JustinBailey** is kind of shitting all over this discussion. It was an adult conversation for the first page or so, but then it turned into a Gamefaqs message board thread. Bailey, in the future, please understand that “NUH-UH!” isn’t an acceptable rhetorical response, and no matter how much you hem and haw, that’s really all you’re saying to each well-reasoned critique of the Wii. “Nuh-uh…you’re wrong! So there!” It’s clear, based on your responses in this thread and your user name that you’re an indiscriminate fanboy rather than an aficionado who’s willing to concede critical faults, and the attitude has really ruined this discussion for most people that were taking part. [/QUOTE] I’m a fanboy? [Angry response deleted because this isn’t The Pit] Listen man, I’m sorry that you are completely ignoring all of the reasons I have given to defend the Wii from people shitting on it in this thread. I’ll try to use smaller words next time. And for the record, I have been playing video games for over 20 years and I currently own a Wii, Xbox 360, DS, PS2, Dreamcast, GameCube, GBA and a few other systems that are in storage. Can I be a fanboy for all of those systems? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/132 "2008-05-02T16:55:26Z")
[QUOTE=Kalibakthegreat] I don’t want to be combative, but the level of fanboy panic among posters like **JustinBailey** is kind of shitting all over this discussion. [/QUOTE] That you singled out **Justin** and ignored **Argent Tower** ’s vitriol reveals your bias. It’s a goddamn game console, not a candidate for President. If you don’t like it, don’t freaking play it! Get an X-Box or PS3 and be happy! ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/133 "2008-05-02T16:57:17Z")
Vote for Wii! It’ll bring housewives out because it’s cheap! A Wiimote in every palm! ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/134 "2008-05-02T17:09:49Z")
[QUOTE=Alias] I don’t understand why people get uptight about the graphics in a video game. If the game is fun, and the controls are good, who cares if something doesn’t look as good as real life? [/QUOTE] Because for me, I don’t want a video game to be “fun” anymore than I want the novels that I read to be “fun.” I want a video game (and even using that word makes it seem like it’s a kiddy thing by nature, so I hate to do so but it’s the only word available) to be an intense, deep multimedia experience that puts me in a virtual world and has many elements that mimic reality. The games I like reflect this: Max Payne, Mafia, Battlefield 2, all the Metal Gear Solid games, Shenmue - these are more than “games,” they’re virtual experiences with very deep plots (with the exception of Battlefield 2, which is an intense combat simulator with fairly good realism despite some shortcomings, such as the medic system.) These are what I dig. I don’t want a video game to be “fun.” Getting high and drunk and moshing to death metal is fun. Going for a long drive out in the country is fun. Blasting things to smithereens with a rifle is fun. Jet-skiing out on the lake is fun. Jumping on a trampoline is fun. Going bowling or playing soccer is fun. If I want fun, I’ll do that stuff, not play a video game. I like the kind of videogames that push the limits of the system to the utmost, have plots and a level of interactivity that are extremely detailed, and like I said before, allow me to experience _realistic_ things that I could NOT do in real life - be a detective in a gritty film-noir setting, or be an elite commando in the middle of the jungle, or be a Japanese karate student who has to search through a virtual city to find the gangsters who killed his father, or whatever. I guess I just like video games that are more “serious” and “mature.” The Wii doesn’t offer that, not on the level of the other systems. So, no thanks, Wii. ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/135 "2008-05-02T17:11:13Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] It’s a goddamn game console [/QUOTE] Another depressing example of how we humans can turn _anything_ into an excuse to break into opposing sides and fight bitterly. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/136 "2008-05-02T17:16:49Z")
There you go. An understanding that this is you and not everyone has the same tastes you do. Yeah, the Wii sucks if you like graphics, first person shooters, deep role playing games - the XBox is great for those sorts of games. The XBox is a lousy console if you are an eight year old boy with a mother who limits your exposure to violence and gets excited when you have to stand up to play a game - in that case, the Wii is the console recommendation. My boss has an eight year old and we just recommended a Wii to her over an XBox for her kid. “We” by the way was myself (I have a Wii/XBox/PS2 and four gaming PCs in the house), a serious PS3/XBox gamer, and three Microsoft employees. She even said “what about the XBox” and even the MS employees said “no, you won’t be happy with an XBox.” ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/137 "2008-05-02T18:16:07Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Because for me, I don’t want a video game to be “fun” anymore than I want the novels that I read to be “fun.” I want a video game (and even using that word makes it seem like it’s a kiddy thing by nature, so I hate to do so but it’s the only word available) to be an intense, deep multimedia experience that puts me in a virtual world and has many elements that mimic reality. The games I like reflect this: Max Payne, Mafia, Battlefield 2, all the Metal Gear Solid games, Shenmue - these are more than “games,” they’re virtual experiences with very deep plots (with the exception of Battlefield 2, which is an intense combat simulator with fairly good realism despite some shortcomings, such as the medic system.) These are what I dig. [/QUOTE] None of the games you’ve listed are impossible on the Wii. Your problem is with the developers who won’t bring the games you want to the Wii, not with the console itself. But although I don’t have any inside information to prove it, I’m convinced more “hardcore” stuff will appear on the Wii by the end of the year. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/138 "2008-05-02T18:17:18Z")
[QUOTE=Kalibakthegreat] That said, I’m going to bow out of this thread. I don’t want to be combative, but the level of fanboy panic among posters like **JustinBailey** is kind of shitting all over this discussion. [/QUOTE] :rolleyes: You don’t “bow out” of a discussion and call out a specific person at the same time. It’s rude in real life and rude online. > [@Argent Towers](#): > > I don’t want a video game to be “fun” That’s your opinion, and you are entitled to it, but can we all - including you - agree that you’re in the minority here? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/139 "2008-05-02T18:27:20Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] None of the games you’ve listed are impossible on the Wii. Your problem is with the developers who won’t bring the games you want to the Wii, not with the console itself. But although I don’t have any inside information to prove it, I’m convinced more “hardcore” stuff will appear on the Wii by the end of the year. [/QUOTE] Well, I’d definitely like to see it. E3 should be a good year with Fallout’s newest installation coming up soon, Spore, something badass by Nintendo, and Gears of War 2. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/140 "2008-05-02T18:30:14Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] :rolleyes: You don’t “bow out” of a discussion and call out a specific person at the same time. It’s rude in real life and rude online. That’s your opinion, and you are entitled to it, but can we all - including you - agree that you’re in the minority here? [/QUOTE] I don’t know. I agree and disagree with the entire notion of “fun” being the bottom line. For example, I play a lot of Halo 3 online. I’m really flippin’ good at it. Playing against other teams isn’t so much “fun” as it is executing your strategies, identifying and stopping their strategies and limiting your deaths. Strategies change with every stage and every gametype, from just Team Slayer (race to 50 kills), Oddball (holding the objective, making it mobile as well and getting more time than the other team), Capture the Flag, and King of the Hill (self-explanatory) aren’t so much fun as they are just foder for competitive folk. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296.md?page=8)