Eh, no, I don’t think it has anything to do with good games. Are you at all familiar with the Japanese and their strange ways?
I could easily device a game that would sell millions in Japan simply by combining some tried and true Japanese favorite themes: pokemon, some tentacle porn, teenage girl panties, incomprehensible plot, and a useless, strange, peripheral or two. The Wii fulfills at least two of the required criteria.
Ahh, gotta love the japanese.
Here’s another one that caught my eye, I Am Alive.
It’s a “survival adventure” game from Ubisoft where you have to survive in the aftermath of a major earthquake in Chicago. The trailer was really cool and it’s at the game’s website:
Hm. I know some things about Japan, but I’m ignorant enough to remain naive, apparently.
I think he’s serious. There are videos of others mocking him, though.
I saw that. I’m worried that it’s apparently plotty and puzzly - i’d much prefer a sandbox than a mission system. Also, zombies, but you can’t have everything.
As for the “What’s big in Japan” debate, we can argue about Sony vs. Nintendo all day, but we can pretty much all agree Microsoft will sell about two consoles a year. To tourists.
I don’t think Force Unleashed will use the widget, sadly. Won’t be out in time.
Mirror’s Edge looks interesting. Especially, how you have to ditch weapons to use your jumps, so you can grab guns, use 'em… but you can’t keep 'em around.
Plus… roof running! Wheeeee!
…Which is sad because it’s starting to distance itself from the others in terms of quality software.
It’s easy enough to look up sales charts to get a clear look at the Nintendo vs. Sony battle in Japan. I don’t really feel like going and finding links now, but rest assured that Nintendo has the video game market completely, 100% sewn up in the land of the rising sun. The sales of the PS3 in Japan are nothing compared to the Wii juggernaut. The PSP is performing respectably, although its success pales before the astronomical sales of the DS.
At any rate, sign me up for Wii Sports 2. The first game is one of my most-played console games ever, and I really have no problem calling it one of the best games ever made (along with the single most influential video game of this generation).
I have to say that the FFXIII thing totally blew me away. I was under the impression that Sony would move Heaven and Earth in order to keep that thing an exclusive. Ouch. I agree that I don’t see any way out of 3rd place for Sony in North America this generation.
Huh? What? You’re talking about Wii Sports here? Wii Sports? I honestly wasn’t even really aware that people played that “game”. I’ve been alternating mine between duties as a doorstop, a chewtoy for my poodle, and a coaster. It’s been so much more useful.
Which one of the “games” provides you with entertainment/replay value?
I’m not kidding when I say I thought it was basically a demo/tutorial for the Wiimote. In fact, I still think it is unless you can do a very impressive job of convincing me otherwise :dubious:.
I’m surprised you feel that way. I know plenty of folks who enjoy playing it from time to time, and I include myself in that group. Mainly for the bowling and baseball whenever we have a group of people come over. I would enjoy the golf more if I could get it to work properly for me.
I’m with **Cisco ** here as well. Wii Sports is nothing more than a demo. At best, it’s a vastly inferior game compared to other titles and an okay party game for people that haven’t touched the console before.
Hijack complete.
Golf is the only one I’ve remotely enjoyed. If they expanded that out to a full game I might buy it.
Bowling is way too easy - I don’t think I’ve ever not gotten a strike.
Tennis is boring.
I can’t get boxing to work right. My guy swings pretty randomly but more often not at all. A way to walk around would nice.
I suck at baseball in real life and on the Wii, apparently. I thought it was just bad game mechanics but I handed the controller to my wife (former D1 college softball player) and she smoked me.
Wii Sports seems pretty much to be the game for non-gamers - half the people I know have said “Oh, my parents/grandparents/cousins love it!”. Nintendo’s focus is pretty much more on getting new customers, so I suppose it probably works for them. It’s just not that interesting for the rest of us.
Although I do like the bowling.
Not exactly E3 related, but this is possibly the best analysis of the current gaming market I’ve seen in years.
http://malstrom.50webs.com/birdman.html
Worth reading. Justin?
Well I think this will go down in history as the least exciting E3 ever. Not a single big annoucement, though FF13 going to 360 was a shocker it still isn’t a new game annoucement. We all knew GoW3 was coming at some point. Bungie pulled whatever it was going to reveal at the last minute. No new hardware. No new (exciting) IPs.
Lame.
Yeah, that was pretty good. It was definitely a great explanation for why the Wii is doing fantastic and why no one seems to understand why even though the reasons why the Wii is doing fantastic are pretty obvious when you think about it.
I think Wii sports should go on the great games list, though my criteria would be for it’s impact on people and influence on the future of games. Similar games would include pong, guitar hero, and games that redefine the experience, even if they lack certain other qualities.
The only thing that impressed me from nintendo was the 1:1. They better do some good stuff with it, because it has some serious potential. Wii Music…while I think it looks like crap, perhaps it will succeed akin to mario paint?
Video of the Wii extension. Including a swordfighting demo.
And yes, you can plug a nunchuck into it. I wasn’t sure you could.
There’s disagreement about Bungie’s non-announcement. Some think Microsoft bitch slapped them a little bit and made them not bring it out, some see it the other way. Others think, that because it was a weak E3, it was done on purpose so they could save it for later in the year and yet others think it was held back so it wouldn’t conflict with Gears of War 2 (as much).