# 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:** 8
**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, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/141 "2008-05-02T18:41:36Z")
It’s still fun, though. It’s entertainment. It’s not goofy, but if you get enjoyment out of it, it’s fun. I like strategy, economics, deep plots, and silliness all equally. I got as much of a charge out of Battlefield as I did out of EVE Online, as I did out of Planescape: Torment, as I do out of Brawl. After all, why do you play Halo 3? You don’t get paid for scoring points. You’re not trying to save a buddy’s life. You do it because you get a kick out of it. Even competitive tournaments and ladders exist because they’re fun and provide entertainment, even if it feels like work sometimes. ---
**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, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/142 "2008-05-02T18:45:46Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] It’s still fun, though. It’s entertainment. It’s not goofy, but if you get enjoyment out of it, it’s fun. I like strategy, economics, deep plots, and silliness all equally. I got as much of a charge out of Battlefield as I did out of EVE Online, as I did out of Planescape: Torment, as I do out of Brawl. After all, why do you play Halo 3? You don’t get paid for scoring points. You’re not trying to save a buddy’s life. You do it because you get a kick out of it. Even competitive tournaments and ladders exist because they’re fun and provide entertainment, even if it feels like work sometimes. [/QUOTE] Entertainment might be something different from “fun”, but I think we’re veering into a conversation that might take us away from what we’re talking about. ---
**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, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/143 "2008-05-02T19:00:34Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Entertainment might be something different from “fun”, but I think we’re veering into a conversation that might take us away from what we’re talking about. [/QUOTE] Fair enough. I suppose the point I was trying to make is just that it’s only a perception that the Wii’s games are more frivolous than the 360’s or PS3’s, a perception based on one’s own preferences. In the end, no matter what you choose to play, you’re just killing time and increasing your hand-eye coordination. ---
**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, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/144 "2008-05-02T19:16:08Z")
Oh, no doubt. I think we can all agree with that last part. Maybe the only difference is gaining dexterity in your arm or just your thumbs. Now they need interactive Wii porn. Come on, Apple. Come out with the iThrust! ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/145 "2008-05-03T00:02:20Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] Well, the Wii does do HD. Not 1080, but 720. And widescreen. [/QUOTE] Uh no it doesn’t. It does 480p which is not even close to HD. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/146 "2008-05-03T01:49:41Z")
Sorry, 480p. Does do widescreen. ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/147 "2008-05-03T02:54:35Z")
[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. 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. [/QUOTE] I hate to tell you this, but that deep, multimedia experience that you enjoy so much is called having fun. I like my share of the gritty, grownup games too, but I’m not going to pretend that I’m doing more than just playing a game that I think is a lot of fun. I’m a huge fan of the Fatal Frame series, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the new game when it comes out for the wii. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/148 "2008-05-03T19:14:16Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] 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 [/QUOTE] Then what are you doing with a console? Build a gaming PC. I’m amused by the people that talk about getting the most advanced, graphically intense, realistic experiences and being all elitist and condescending towards others… and they’re talking about a console. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/149 "2008-05-04T02:21:15Z")
Tell me about it. What’s worse is some of the better games are being screwed by the limitations of the 360. Mass Effect and Deus Ex’s loading issues… (Okay, plain X-Box for Deus) ---
**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 4, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/150 "2008-05-04T04:24:53Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] Tell me about it. What’s worse is some of the better games are being screwed by the limitations of the 360. Mass Effect and Deus Ex’s loading issues… (Okay, plain X-Box for Deus) [/QUOTE] I think he’d want you to assume, for this reason, that the Xbox will have a BluRay player in it in its next incarnation. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/151 "2008-05-04T05:32:12Z")
Won’t help, it’s the lack of hard drive the base unit has that’s the problem. And when that Blu-Ray comes out, come Christmas season, they won’t be going on all the models. Penetration issues, again. Can’t write a game for such a small segment. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/152 "2008-05-04T15:37:07Z")
[QUOTE=Kalibakthegreat] Then, to put it bluntly, you should not be playing a Wii. If you want to play a traditional RPG with a traditional controller interface, you should be playing another system, as the whole point of the Wii is its nontraditional interface. A Wii rpg is and should be like the _Dragon Quest: Swords_ game. [/QUOTE] I know I’m pulling this up from the front page, but if you’re gonna say something like this, you wanna point out what the 360 has that fits the JRPG model? That’s one of my favorite genres, and it seems to be pretty lacking among all three current consoles. Say what you want, but I don’t care what system a game is on, just if the game interests me, which the Wii seems to be best at for me. And it’s way too damn hard to find a good RPG these days. Graphics do not make a game. Gameplay makes a game. I would play many SNES games over the newer, more graphically intense games in a heartbeat. ---
**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 4, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/153 "2008-05-04T15:40:15Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] Won’t help, it’s the lack of hard drive the base unit has that’s the problem. And when that Blu-Ray comes out, come Christmas season, they won’t be going on all the models. Penetration issues, again. Can’t write a game for such a small segment. [/QUOTE] I think it’s also assumed that there won’t be a “base unit” available after that. **Jayn\_Newell** : Check out Blue Dragon. It’s incredibly JRPG and anime, which I loathe as a general rule, but it’s done very very well and it’s a great game. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/154 "2008-05-04T18:00:07Z")
[QUOTE=Jayn\_Newell] I know I’m pulling this up from the front page, but if you’re gonna say something like this, you wanna point out what the 360 has that fits the JRPG model? That’s one of my favorite genres, and it seems to be pretty lacking among all three current consoles. Say what you want, but I don’t care what system a game is on, just if the game interests me, which the Wii seems to be best at for me. And it’s way too damn hard to find a good RPG these days. Graphics do not make a game. Gameplay makes a game. I would play many SNES games over the newer, more graphically intense games in a heartbeat. [/QUOTE] Blue Dragon and Eternal Sonata were very fun (though Eternal Sonata does have a non menu based battle system, but in general the battles and game itself is the same as every other JRPG). ---
**Author:** ![Kalibakthegreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@Kalibakthegreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalibakthegreat)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/155 "2008-05-04T18:41:37Z")
[QUOTE=Jayn\_Newell] I know I’m pulling this up from the front page, but if you’re gonna say something like this, you wanna point out what the 360 has that fits the JRPG model? That’s one of my favorite genres, and it seems to be pretty lacking among all three current consoles. Say what you want, but I don’t care what system a game is on, just if the game interests me, which the Wii seems to be best at for me. And it’s way too damn hard to find a good RPG these days. [/QUOTE] _Lost Odyssey_ is the big one, and then to a lesser extent _Eternal Sonata_ and _Blue Dragon_. But the undoubted king of JRPG’s is the Nintendo DS. Atlus seems to have moved almost all of their primary efforts to the DS, and there are copious remakes and reissues of the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games on the way, as well as new efforts (in fact, Dragon Quest IX, the next true installment in the series, is going to be DS-only). There are something like 50 JRPG’s coming out for the DS in the next few months alone. I’m a massive JRPG fan, and I’ve never really liked the portable gaming format for RPG’s, but I can’t complain. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/156 "2008-05-04T21:09:51Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I think it’s also assumed that there won’t be a “base unit” available after that. **Jayn\_Newell** : Check out Blue Dragon. It’s incredibly JRPG and anime, which I loathe as a general rule, but it’s done very very well and it’s a great game. [/QUOTE] I’ll second Blue Dragon. LOUNE: So, what, there will be nobody out there who owns the non-Blu-Ray X-Box 360 come fall? Just make all those consoles equal to junk, force everybody to buy a new one? It’s the installed base I’m talking about. ---
**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 4, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/157 "2008-05-04T21:33:32Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] I’ll second Blue Dragon. LOUNE: So, what, there will be nobody out there who owns the non-Blu-Ray X-Box 360 come fall? Just make all those consoles equal to junk, force everybody to buy a new one? It’s the installed base I’m talking about. [/QUOTE] A dongle will be made, I think. Something small and inexpensive. Some kind of memory storage to keep the base models usable. ---
**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 4, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/158 "2008-05-04T21:57:36Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] A dongle will be made, I think. Something small and inexpensive. Some kind of memory storage to keep the base models usable. [/QUOTE] Any Blu-Ray drive for the Xbox 360 will only play movies, just like the HD-DVD drive. Microsoft does not want to segment the 360 userbase. That’s why they forbid developers from requiring the hard drive. Although they do make exceptions (Final Fantasy XI) and will no doubt do so in the future. ---
**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 4, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/159 "2008-05-04T22:57:18Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] Any Blu-Ray drive for the Xbox 360 will only play movies, just like the HD-DVD drive. Microsoft does not want to segment the 360 userbase. That’s why they forbid developers from requiring the hard drive. Although they do make exceptions (Final Fantasy XI) and will no doubt do so in the future. [/QUOTE] Assuming the one exception is made, others will press for it, especially if it seems lucrative. ---
**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 4, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296/160 "2008-05-04T23:58:23Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Assuming the one exception is made, others will press for it, especially if it seems lucrative. [/QUOTE] Right now the exceptions seem to be only for MMOs [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nintendo-wii-is-the-celine-dion-of-this-generation-of-consoles/447296.md?page=9)