17 replies to this topic

[jbanes]

According to Chris Hecker (one of the developers working on Spore for Maxis), the "Wii is nothing more than two GameCubes stuck together with duct tape." While we can't seem to get rid of the criticism of the console being "underpowered", at least the critics are setting the record straight.

Story: http://wii.ign.com/a...1/771051p1.html

[MCHufnagel]

Gee, why doesn't he tell us something we don't know. Everybody and their brother should know by now that the Wii is "underpowered' compared to the Xbox 360, PS3 and vastly underpowered compared to high end gaming PC's. But to be honest no home console ever seems powerful enough to PC game developers. In a couple of years these same guys will be saying that the Xbox 360 and PS3 are poor choices for gaming compared to PC's. I love PC gaming, but talk about elitist attitutes.

[jbanes]

MCHufnagel, on Thu Mar 8, 2007 3:13 PM, said:

Everybody and their brother should know by now that the Wii is "underpowered' compared to the Xbox 360, PS3 and vastly underpowered compared to high end gaming PC's.

As far as I'm concerned, it's water off a ducks back at this point. If you enjoy your Wii, great! If the Wii doesn't appeal to you, maybe the competitors will. But in the end, the Wii is a fairly new type of game system that's getting dinged because it's not a traditional game system. Such is the way of things.

As Ghandi said, "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

I'd say we're on stage 3.

Quote

I love PC gaming, but talk about elitist attitutes.

Yeah, seems to be pretty common among game developers these days.

[vdub_bobby]

Quote

Hecker also took Nintendo to task for not taking games seriously enough. "It's not clear to me that Nintendo gives a s*** about games as an art form," he said. To illustrate his point, he searched for references to games as art on all three console manufacturers web sites. While he found numerous such references on both the official PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 sites, Wii.com had none at all. He then shared quotes from executives at Sony and Microsoft talking about games as a serious artistic medium, and then a quote from a Nintendo executive saying the company only wanted to make "fun" games.

Hecker ended his spirited rant with two demands for Nintendo: First, recognize and push games as serious art. And two, "make a console that doesn't suck ass."

Heaven forbid a game should be fun.

[remowilliams]

MCHufnagel, on Thu Mar 8, 2007 4:13 PM, said:

In a couple of years these same guys will be saying that the Xbox 360 and PS3 are poor choices for gaming compared to PC's.

Probably, in a couple of years PCs always surpass their counterparts - the whole evolution cycle thing, which you do pay dearly for on the PC though.

He was rather harsh, but I can understand developer frustration with the system. There is nothing next gen about it. In a nutshell it delivers last gen power with physical interactivity and a rather attractive price point.

[Lord Helmet]

I could give a shit if it IS Gamecube 1.5...the damn thing is fun...period. That is ALL that matters.

[Albert]

vdub_bobby, on Thu Mar 8, 2007 4:31 PM, said:

Quote

Hecker also took Nintendo to task for not taking games seriously enough. "It's not clear to me that Nintendo gives a s*** about games as an art form," he said. To illustrate his point, he searched for references to games as art on all three console manufacturers web sites. While he found numerous such references on both the official PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 sites, Wii.com had none at all. He then shared quotes from executives at Sony and Microsoft talking about games as a serious artistic medium, and then a quote from a Nintendo executive saying the company only wanted to make "fun" games.

Hecker ended his spirited rant with two demands for Nintendo: First, recognize and push games as serious art. And two, "make a console that doesn't suck ass."

Heaven forbid a game should be fun.

Someone call that man a Waaaaaahhmbulance.

..Al

[Malc74]

Quote

"It's not clear to me that Nintendo gives a s*** about games as an art form," he said.
Hecker ended his spirited rant with two demands for Nintendo: First, recognize and push games as serious art.

What exactly is serious and arty about Spore? Isn't it just yet another Maxis life sim that'll sell millions by being decidedly un-serious and distinctly un-arty? Or are the little animals going to suffer from outbursts of existentialism or something?

Edited by Malc74, Thu Mar 8, 2007 4:23 PM.

[blastermaster]

isnt spore coming out for DS? why is he bashing nintendo?

[Jess Ragan]

He's a shortsighted douche?

I thought the world had already figured this out. You buy one of the heavy hitters for graphically intense games, then you buy the Wii as a supplemental system, for plain, simple fun. One console does what the other cannot, or WILL not. It's not so much technological limitations that stop the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 from getting clever titles like Elebits... it's the attitudes of the companies that manufacture those two consoles.

JR

[Malc74]

Well there's a surprise [/sarcasm] - he's apologised.

[AtariJr]

It's not clear to me that Nintendo gives a s*** about games as an art form,"

umm.. what?? no offense , but when your system is underpowered, its all ABOUT art form, look at zelda lol, took a more artisitic approach than real life...

and even if what he was saying is true.. his level of immaturity and lack of any type of vocabulary other than Shit and ass makes his post about as meaningful in my eyes as a joystiq fanboy post. and we're supposed to pay money for his games after hearing him say this?

and yes, i agree with lord helmet.. does the wii look like shit compaired to ps3 and 360, from a graphical standpoint pretty much. but next generation is about fun , not graphics.. its a leap in FUN that is supposed to be important, something new that is more fun to play. and for some examples of how graphics dont help a francise, radiant silvergun looked a lot worse than ikaruga, but ill take radiant silvergun anyday. panzer dragoon 2 zwei looked like shit next to panzer dragoon orta, but ill take zwei anyday.. etc etc .. HELL, super mario bros looks like shit over mario sunshine, but ill take the nes game any day lol. when it comes down to it.. would i rather play zelda or rfom or gundam... zelda, cuase its fun.

Edited by AtariJr, Thu Mar 8, 2007 9:51 PM.

[remowilliams]

Malc74, on Thu Mar 8, 2007 10:42 PM, said:

Well there's a surprise [/sarcasm] - he's apologised.

Corporate Spin Control got a hold of him quick.

[AtariJr]

remowilliams, on Thu Mar 8, 2007 7:59 PM, said:

Malc74, on Thu Mar 8, 2007 10:42 PM, said:

Well there's a surprise [/sarcasm] - he's apologised.

Corporate Spin Control got a hold of him quick.

Secondly, it's totally obvious—and I'm sorry that I implied otherwise—that everyone at Nintendo is passionate at making great games. Some of the games give me hope that we will be seen as an art form on par with movies and books.

"implied otherwise"??? that wasnt implying , that was stating. so, who did he "hurt"? and who had to beat the shit out of him for him to be so sorry and to make it sound like he was just joking?

[Shannon]

lol... what a whiner...

Graphically, yeah the nintendo is limiting, but no amount of processing power is gonna make up for poor AI/gameplay. That's all up to the programmer themselves.

The PS3 and 360 are not gonna just "magically" think for you.

Maybe he just doesn't like playing with his Wii...

Edited by Shannon, Fri Mar 9, 2007 5:25 AM.

[eric_ruck]

Of course consider your audience here. Most of whom still enjoy their Gamecubes...and NES...and 2600. So who cares if it is two GC's duct taped together, so long as they gave developers something new to work with to play fun games. Raise your hand if you've got a 2600 hooked to a flat screen?

By the way I'm a new convert. Sort of. Personally it's not my favorite system. And I still don't understand why the demo units are running ExciteTruck instead of Wii Sports. But it is a great parlor game, and the Wiimote does make for some fun experiences.

The really fun part about the Wii is watching my kids take turns and cheer each other on. That already sets it apart from the rest of the video game systems.

Eric

[jbanes]

eric_ruck, on Fri Mar 9, 2007 9:44 AM, said:

I still don't understand why the demo units are running ExciteTruck instead of Wii Sports.

While it annoys me, I understand their reasoning. Wii Sports is a very physical game. In the cramped quarters of a video game store, it's only a matter of time before some yahoo gets too excited and damages a whole bunch of stuff. (Or worse, another customer!) Excite Truck manages to show off some of the WiiMote's abilities without putting people or property in the line of fire.

On another note, I'm outright amazed at how quickly I've gone from being excited about the WiiMote to simply accepting it as a "normal" control device for video games. At this point it feels almost as natural as a gamepad.

[AtariJr]

jbanes, on Fri Mar 9, 2007 7:57 AM, said:

eric_ruck, on Fri Mar 9, 2007 9:44 AM, said:

I still don't understand why the demo units are running ExciteTruck instead of Wii Sports.

On another note, I'm outright amazed at how quickly I've gone from being excited about the WiiMote to simply accepting it as a "normal" control device for video games. At this point it feels almost as natural as a gamepad.

yea i totally agree with you. it seems second nature now. the funny thing is that ive been going back and forth between my ps2 and my wii right now, and i really dont even need to adjust, its just another controller now. i remember when i first got it, nervously making sure the strip was on tight, constantly looking down at the controller as id forget whcih button was Z and which was C lol.