Post by: Caliban on November 01, 2006, 10:06:26 AM
I already sent an email to them to reserve a spot, hopefully I get a positive response.
Anyone else going to try?
Post by: couchmonkey on November 01, 2006, 11:58:03 AM
Actually, the 14th is awfully close to launch day! This would be a lot cooler if they were doing it, like, this weekend. By the 14th, you could just punch yourself in the brain and put yourself in a tiny coma until launch day.
Post by: Artimus on November 01, 2006, 12:06:31 PM
Post by: decoyman on November 01, 2006, 12:31:10 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
By the 14th, you could just punch yourself in the brain and put yourself in a tiny coma until launch day.
Ha! I just did one of those laughs you try to hold in, but it ended up snorting out my nose anyways. And now I'm telling you all about it.
QUITE EMBARASSING WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR.
Post by: Caliban on November 01, 2006, 01:04:43 PM
The funny thing is that we might even be able to test out the Wii even before this event, all we need is one of our local videogame-selling stores to have those freakin' dev units.
However, what if in this event they have playable demos of Metroid Prime 3, Wario Ware, Cooking Mama, or even WiiPlay, I still think it is worth going just to check the possibility of being able to try these demos way before they come out.
Post by: Caliban on November 01, 2006, 01:09:48 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Artimus
Damn it, any other day of the week and I'd go
Oh my, did you get so unlucky as to have an exam on that day?
Post by: Ian Sane on November 01, 2006, 01:10:38 PM
Post by: Kairon on November 01, 2006, 01:21:40 PM
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: Pale on November 01, 2006, 01:47:35 PM
Post by: Ceric on November 01, 2006, 04:26:50 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Pale
If only it was in Niagara Falls.
You couldn't afford it.
Post by: IceCold on November 01, 2006, 04:38:20 PM
Post by: JonLeung on November 01, 2006, 04:42:34 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
What a surprise. It's in Toronto, Centre of the Universe. Couldn't they have a couple of these things? The entire world needs to learn that Canada is geographically really huge. This goes for bands whose lone Canada date on a tour is in Toronto as well. Imagine if someone did a concert tour and New York was the only American stop and at the concert the lead singer said "HELLO AMERICA!!"? They should have one of these in every city with a CFL team.
I agree, there's more to Canada than Toronto. I think Canada has been the largest country ever since the USSR disbanded, isn't it? Then again something like half of all Canadians live in or near Toronto.
But hey, the Video Games Live tour has TWO play dates in Edmonton. At least we've got something here.
Post by: Guitar Smasher on November 01, 2006, 05:09:21 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
What a surprise. It's in Toronto, Centre of the Universe. Couldn't they have a couple of these things? The entire world needs to learn that Canada is geographically really huge. This goes for bands whose lone Canada date on a tour is in Toronto as well. Imagine if someone did a concert tour and New York was the only American stop and at the concert the lead singer said "HELLO AMERICA!!"? They should have one of these in every city with a CFL team.
Now that's a real low-blow... (the CFL thing)
But you're dead on about the band thing (thanks AliceInChains...). Props to Pearl Jam for doing an exclusively Canadian tour, though.
Ottawa gets sh*t on because Montreal's only 2.5 hours away.
Post by: IceCold on November 01, 2006, 05:14:07 PM
QuoteLong live the Renegades!
Now that's a real low-blow... (the CFL thing)
Post by: Kairon on November 01, 2006, 05:37:05 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: JonLeung
I think Canada has been the largest country ever since the USSR disbanded, isn't it?
Nope. Russia is STILL bigger. I should know. I asked the same question in 5th grade.
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: IceCold on November 01, 2006, 06:48:16 PM
Post by: Pale on November 01, 2006, 07:19:10 PM
Post by: Ceric on November 01, 2006, 07:26:26 PM
Post by: Caliban on November 02, 2006, 08:13:31 AM
The other event that I first posted is intended for the press but they will offer a few non-press lucky bastards a chance to participate in it, however this one is an open public event for all of us Canadians, not just Toronto.
Post by: JonLeung on November 02, 2006, 08:38:45 AM
If it's a single big event, that very likely means it's going to be in West Edmonton Mall. Duh.
EDIT: And double duh. They did say it's be a mall thing. But a cinema thing? What, they're going to set up in a Cineplex Odeon or Famous Players? Actually...in some of the bigger cineplexes where they always seem to have way more non-theatre space than necessary, they could probably do it, and it might actually work pretty well.
Post by: Ian Sane on November 02, 2006, 08:58:30 AM
Post by: Caliban on November 02, 2006, 09:06:23 AM
Post by: couchmonkey on November 02, 2006, 11:00:48 AM
Post by: JonLeung on November 02, 2006, 12:04:55 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
Oh man, I like the idea of putting them in movie theatres. TONS of people.
I say they should have commercials in the theaters before the movies like they have in the past for DK 64, FF:CC, and the first Who Are You? ad (with those school kids). Though it'd probably be just as effective to just have a commercial or even one of those pre-movie slideshows that say "The Wii is playing at this theatre right now! After this film, experience the Wii for yourself!"
Post by: Guitar Smasher on November 02, 2006, 02:13:38 PM
Post by: IceCold on November 02, 2006, 07:58:47 PM
Post by: Caliban on November 03, 2006, 06:19:33 PM
Thank you for registering for the Nintendo Wii Preview Event at Atlantis, Ontario Place on Tuesday, November 14. Your reservation has been confirmed, along with your chance to enter a draw to win a Wii when you arrive.
Please note that admittance to the lineup will begin at 11am and will end at 4pm. Entrance to the game floor is on a first come, first serve basis, so be sure to come early to avoid disappointment.
Booyah!
Post by: IceCold on November 04, 2006, 10:03:50 AM
Post by: Caliban on November 04, 2006, 04:13:27 PM
What if I win that Wii they are giving away?
Will they give it to me right there, 5 days before launch day?
And if they do give it to me, will I have to sign another NDA?
Lol, I can't wait to go.
Post by: Caliban on November 08, 2006, 07:00:35 AM
You too can also get one. How? VGM Daily got 10 or so VIP passes directly from NoC Ltd, so basically they are handing them out, but in order to win...read the rules.
Their latest episode, episode #153, you can listen to the first 3 VIP passes given out. In episode #152 you can listen to how specifically this daily contest is going to be.
Edit: I forgot to mention that my submission on #153 was the question about Metroid, ain't I one freaking lucky bastard. My thanks to Tony, Ryan, and Nintendo.
Post by: IceCold on November 08, 2006, 01:09:55 PM
I saw that contest, but I was too lazy to enter..
Post by: Caliban on November 08, 2006, 01:56:44 PM
Post by: z_911 on November 08, 2006, 08:32:37 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Caliban
It's daily, they have more passes to give out.
hey man!
thanks to you i won a pass today. I didn't get an e-mail yet or anything confirming other then hearing my name on the podcast. Do you know the details?
i found out that they get mailed to you. that is awesome. i'm going down there alone and hope to meet some cool people. Do you know what building this is in? I think it is the same building that they had N64 in way back in the day...
Post by: Caliban on November 09, 2006, 07:45:46 AM
I too didn't get a confirmation email but I think that's expected from Tony, however, rest assured that your VIP pass will arrive on Monday at your given address via express mail if not sooner.
The event is supposed to be at the Atlantis on Ontario Place, as is indicated here.
I honestly don't know what to expect, other than that we will get to play games lol, and from what I understand from what Tony said we will be playing games seperately from the "common folk" and hence therefore we wait less in line, heck if we can even get some freebies all around a better experience, eh?!.
Post by: z_911 on November 09, 2006, 05:36:43 PM
Post by: Caliban on November 11, 2006, 07:53:15 AM
Wii Play Tour - Cinemas
Wii Play Tour - Malls
That is such a bad decision, to do what they are doing, but then again they already expect the hardcore population to know about its release, so these tours are intended for the mainstream rather than the hardcore.
Post by: Artimus on November 11, 2006, 08:17:13 AM
Post by: Caliban on November 14, 2006, 10:13:51 AM
Post by: D_MaN87 on November 14, 2006, 11:14:03 AM
. Anyways, the wait was pretty long, and they only let in some 50-60 people in at one time. They had 30 or so wii's on display. They had the launch games. Myself, I tried Zelda, Wii boxing, wii tennis, wii bowling, and madden 07. Was in line for red steel when we were told we had to go for the next group to be let in. I was pretty impressed overall, though I think I will need more time to get used to Zelda with the wii-mote. Overall had a great time. Took some low-quality pictures with my camera phone. And the speaker in the wii-mote truly does suck. Madden for example, when saying "hut!", cuts off and sounds worse then a regular GB. Not a bad event though. Just wish they gave us more time considering the wait in line.
Post by: Caliban on November 14, 2006, 12:13:36 PM
I saw and said Hi to both Tony and Ryan from vgmfusion.com, I also recognized that one guy from Electric Playground (not Tommy Tallarico), and was Kris Abel from Canada AM there because I think I saw him too...when I got home I was like "I should have asked them (Tony and Ryan) their autographs on the VIP pass, darn!".
I had a VIP pass (inside look of pass) which gave me and others the chance to be the first to play Wii for 30 minutes before anyone without a pass.
We did stay a little longer than 30 minutes, close to 50 minutes, but then we had to leave, or I could just join the normal line and wait to play it again but the line was quite big so I decided to go home.
By the way, as we left they gave us a booklet, and inside that booklet was this DVD. Nothing new in either booklet or DVD that we didn't know from before.
Unfortunately 50 minutes was not enough to try every game on display, so I only got to try Super Monkey Ball, Wii baseball, Wii Golf, Wii Bowling, Excite Truck, Rayman, and DragonBall.
The nunchuk surprised the hell out of me. It's so small, so light, and so comfy that it felt like it wasn't even on my hand. The Z and C buttons are easily accesible, and the analog stick worked fine for the small amount of playtime I had to use it.
I liked the remote, it's small just as I expected. it's light, it's not as comfy as the nunchuk because of its shape but you definately have a good grip on it. You can acces the B/A/d-pad easily all at once, and even the +/-/Home buttons can be accessed without moving your hand from the A/B/d-pad position. The 1 and 2 buttons work best when the remote is played sideways (like in Excite Truck). The D-pad works great, infact I think it is better than the DSLite d-pad.
The rumble was really nice, much better than the GC rumble because it isn't too over-powered IMO.
Lol, I forgot to try and hear anything from the remote speaker.
Always use the strap, I didn't have a problem but I seriously warn you to use the strap on games with more physical movement than expected.
So what about the games, hmm, which one should I start with:
DragonBall:
Apparently they only got this game today, because I asked some questions to the Wii-assistant and she didn't know and replied that they just got it today, so I tried it by myself without any help from her.
One of the first things I checked was the sound option menu, and I can clearly say that they left the option to listen to the Japanese voices.
As for the Japanese music, I couldn't see any specific option for it, so I don't know if it is automatically enabled once I choose Japanese voices, but then again I couldn't listen to any music because the environment was either too loud or the TV volume was low, however I did pick the Japanese voices and grunts.
Gameplay wise, let me assure you that the game will be quite easy to play with the motion controls, all motions I did for dashing and ki attacks translated perfectly into the game, I can fairly say that it's so easy it took me less than a minute to learn dashing and ki attack motions, really really easy.
What about graphics? lol, I was so into the game I didn't even give myself some time to stare at the game without being able to play it. It looks fine, nothing like 360 or PS3 obviously, and I was more interested in how it plays anyway.
Excite Truck:
I raced 2 times, 2nd place in both races in the same track, and the Wii-assistant barely taught me anything so it was another easy 'pick up and go'. The driving motions are wierd though, but once you get to know the mechanics of controlling the vehicles you will understand why they chose such driving motions.
They had the TV volume low so obviously I can't say how it sounds, but judging from the videos I've downloaded on IGN the music ain't that bad, if you still don't like it either turn it off or shove some MP3s onto an SD card and listen to your own kind of music.
The graphics looked fine.
Super Monkey Ball:
I played 4 or 5 levels of the first world, I think. I'm getting this game for sure, it looks fine, however I felt that I wanted more time with the game when I left the event, don't get me wrong, it's just that I'm so used to playing games with the analog stick that it just leaves this awkward sensation that of something new.
Rayman
I only had 2 minutes with this game so barely enough time to say anything worthile other than that graphically the game looked better than I though i has bee shown on released gameplay vids. the bunnies are funny though, they made me laugh when I heard them screaming while I played Excite truck.
Wii Sports (Baseball, Bowling, Golf)
Well you already know how it looks and sounds, so how do they play? They play nicely but take into consideration that it is a first gen motion controlled sports game.
All three were quite easy to understand the gameplay mechanics, and I don't understand why people complain about Wii Golf because I had no problems in finishing 1 hole in 3 strikes, that's all I played of it anyway.
Wii Baseball was quite interesting, I really liked the pitching, you can just do a flick motion with the controller just like when you flick with fishing rod in real life. I really suck at batting lol, I never got a homerun, but my playing partner did (lucky bastard).
Wii Bowling, easy easy easy to understand how to play it, but to actually strike (take all pins down in one throw) isn't so easy, I'm not saying it is uber hard but I don't remember ever making the ball going in a straight line lol, lots of fun for sure.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the end I really wanted to play more, I really wished I had been given 3 hours to play more and other games too, but like many others I will have to wait another 4 days until my Wii gaming marathon commences.
Post by: IceCold on November 14, 2006, 07:03:21 PM
It's a shame you didn't get to play many of the other games (WiiSports Tennis especially) but it seems like you really enjoyed them overall. It's also good to hear about the analogue attachment - I was worried about how a separated controller would feel.
It's good to see NoC doing something like this. These impressions really are making the wait unbearable
