Messages

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Nintendo Gaming / RE:I met my first skeptic today

« on: December 24, 2006, 12:07:39 PM »

These things are obviously a matter of opinion but Twilight Princess looks generic, unimaginative and derivative to me. Still, Nintendo can't take any creative risks with Zelda (like they did with Wind Waker) or it just blows up in their faces so I guess from a business point of view they probably did the right thing. I personally find it uninspiring but I realise I'm in a small minority - most people seem to love it so maybe I just have no taste...

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: I met my first skeptic today

« on: December 21, 2006, 10:39:32 AM »

@franky005 - obviously graphics are a matter of taste and polygon count and texture resolution aren't everything, but for me, TP's semi-realistic style combined with the low image quality looks badly dated - I much preferred the look of Wind Waker - it seemed more original and worked better within the limitations of the hardware.

@couchmonkey - I bought mine partly because I hope it'll get decent content further down the line - the Cube got maybe 20 or 30 really pretty good games and that was plenty to keep me going over the lifetime of the system. To be fair to the Wii, it's probably going worth it for the party games alone. My friends all love it and it's really good to be able to play stuff that they all like. Otherwise they'd generally not touch a games console as they don't have the time or the inclination to get deeply invested in long, difficult games - they just want something instantly rewarding to play when we all get home from the pub. However, I also want stuff that's a bit more hardcore than that and the release schedule so far looks a bit bleak.

@xanrastafari - have you tried Raving Rabbids - some of the games made my arms hurt like mad and I play drums in a punk band so I'm not afraid of thrashing my arms about wildly! (It's great fun though, and quite addictive but serious lactic acid ouch!)

[edit - remove redundant rambling...]

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Nintendo Gaming / RE:I met my first skeptic today

« on: December 20, 2006, 09:54:55 AM »

I've met a Wii skeptic: me. I'm far from convinced. Apart from some multiplayer Wii Sports and Rayman, mine's sitting relatively unused. Choice of games here in Europe that are not mini games, not Zelda and not demonstrably crap is limited to Monkey Ball, which is a mixed bag at best. The game that's had far and away the most single player play has been a second hand copy of PN.0.3 I picked up last week to stave off the boredom. I think at best the Wii has potential - considering only the launch line up, it's a party game only system (plus Zelda, which bores the pants off me as a franchise and in it's latest incarnation has eye rendingly bad graphics - both technically and art direction). I was looking forward to Virtual Console games, but so far that's been disappointing too - the release rate is glacial and the choice of titles is baffling.

[Dirk Temporo]

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Nintendo Gaming / RE:I met my first skeptic today

« on: December 19, 2006, 12:10:13 AM »

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Originally posted by: Dirk Temporo
You know what else looks stupid? BUYING A $400 MASS OF ELECTRONICS FOR YOUR BOYFRIEND. Not your husband, not your fiance, your boyfriend. Now THAT'S f**king stupid.

With a brain like that, is it any wonder she jumps to conclusions?

Umm, so people are not allowed to buy expensive presents for their partner unless they're either married or engaged? I'd better take everything I bought for my girlfriend (been together for the last 10 years) back to the shops then, as she's clearly not eligable. I think you need to get a grip here...

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Various Wii problems

« on: December 13, 2006, 10:45:35 PM »

Thanks, I thought the fire was probably IR interference. I guess I just have to not light the fire if I want to use the Wii - it's a bit inconvinient but I can live with it.

As for the other problems, I thought the games refusing to load and the network stuff might just be because the firmware/OS was new and buggy or the network busy but if other people aren't experiencing these problems perhaps my Wii is just broken. That would be a pain - I don't particularly want to part with it while they fix it, especially over christmas.

BTW my firmware version is 2.0E (it's displayed at the top of the Wii settings menu), does anyone have a version different to this (more recent?)

[will]

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Nintendo Gaming / Various Wii problems

« on: December 13, 2006, 09:49:27 PM »

I've been experiencing some problems with my Wii. Mainly with the Wii menu and associated applications. Problems include:

- often won't load a game disk if I go to the Wii game channel after visiting some other part of the Wii menu first - instead the Wii just hangs with a black screen. However, it usually will load if I have gone straight to the game channel from booting up

- network issues - hangs trying to update, hangs trying to reach the shop etc. Pretty sure it's not a wireless config issue as it works occasionally and my laptop gets plenty of signal if I place it next to the Wii.

- the controller only works reliably as a pointer over a very narrow range of distances. In Rayman even with the sensitivity turned up it won't operate reliably from my sofa (approx 2.5 meters from the TV, game keeps telling me to move closer). Oddly it works fine in the Wii menu at this distance (provided sensitivity is turned up - at low sensitivity the cursor jumps around)

- the controller is distracted by the open fire in the same room and I can't really see how I can rearrange the room to alleviate the problem (the fire obviously can't be moved and arrangements where the fire is behind the TV or behind the sofa are going not fix the problem/be impractical)

Are these common problems, or is my unit faulty. Are there solutions or workarounds for any of these problems?  

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TalkBack / RE: Wii Sells 50,000 on First Day in the UK

« on: December 08, 2006, 08:05:09 PM »

FWIW they're completely sold out here in the UK and Wiis are going on eBay etc for well over twice retail price. Places are taking pre-orders for spring shipments and telling people there's no hope of getting one before christmas now unless you've previously pre-ordered.  

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Nintendo Gaming / RE:One more week!

« on: December 08, 2006, 03:24:04 AM »

Well I've gone and done it - wasn't at all sure but I've finally got a Wii. I'm far from conviced so far by the wiimote as a control mechanism but it's better than I expected. Verdicts so far - Wii Sports looks like it'll be fun but not with only one controller Rayman plays OK but dear me it doesn't half look like ass, finally, Super Monkey Ball - pretty good, looks good, plays well - main game at least. Again - only one controller - that's what I get for strolling in at 9AM instead of queuing up at midinight like everyone else!

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: One more week!

« on: December 03, 2006, 12:51:53 AM »

Lots of stuff - not convinced by launch titles, doubts about the controller, think machine is overpriced for what's inside it, just don't have the excitement I felt about the Cube. I'm going to give it six months or so and see how the software line up is starting to look - when both Super Mario Galaxy and Metriod Prime 3 are released and reviewed and it's clear how developers and publishers are treating the system and how the remote is being used, then I'll reconsider.

Right now I think it's probably fairer to let someone who wants one badly to get it really - there's no point in me depriving someone else of one when I'm not that excited.

[Still]

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Nintendo Gaming / RE:One more week!

« on: December 02, 2006, 12:36:47 AM »

Finally got an email through from Gamestation confirming my pre-order. I'm Still completely undecided whether to actually pick one up. I was actually going to cancel the pre-order but then I just couldn't go through with it - it felt wrong...

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Why Wii sucks!

« on: November 23, 2006, 02:13:48 AM »

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You sound like my brother. He almost exclusively plays games full of action that rely on quick reflexes, skill, and instinct with virtually no puzzle solving. If you're more of an action gamer then you probably won't like Zelda all that much.

Yes - too much puzzle solving makes my brain hurt and gives me strong urges to throw the controller out of the window :-)

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Why Wii sucks!

« on: November 23, 2006, 02:07:05 AM »

Excite Truck could me my kind of thing - I'd prefer any other conveyance to trucks though, cars, boats, snowboards, hovercraft, motorbikes, boats, lawnmowers, giant seamonsters, all would be more to my taste - trucks are just terminally uncool. Still, Excite Truck might be worth a go.

EDIT: Actually Trauma Center might be OK too.  

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Why Wii sucks!

« on: November 22, 2006, 09:56:31 AM »

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Is Wind Waker the only one you've tried?

The only one I've played through all the way. I played a bit of OOT on my friends N64 and also something or other on the GBA but can't remember which (had lots of chickens in it)

I can see there's quality in Zelda but I'm just not a fan of that style of gaming - I like stuff that's more arcade style with shortish levels, lots of replay with the oppotunity to find/learn best routes and tactics + improve on past performance, and preferably lots of fast reactions and motor memory.  

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Nintendo Gaming / RE:Why Wii sucks!

« on: November 22, 2006, 09:51:41 AM »

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Don't be pressured into buying it at launch. If you're not sure, just wait 3-6 months and see if you still want it, you could probably get a better deal and buy better games by waiting.

Yeah - I think that's really my best bet. I'm a bit bitter because I thought I was being very sly by trading in my Cube and a bunch of games earlier this year for store credit, planning to use the credit to get a Wii at launch. I figured the Cube would be worth less nearer the Wii launch so didn't want to risk trading it in on launch day. Now I've had no (non portable) console for months and I'm just not excited about the Wii any more and I wish I had my Cube back

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Why Wii sucks!

« on: November 22, 2006, 03:13:04 AM »

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Dude, you should know by NOW that the Wii is NOT about updated graphics. If they truly matter you should get an XBOX 360 or a PS3. True, the graphics are not perfect but those that have been enjoying the Wii are enjoying it because the games are FUN, which puts the graphics in second base when it comes to enjoyment.

Just because it suits Nintendo to say it's not about graphics doesn't mean it's not about graphics... Part of the fun is the looks of the game. It doesn't have to be technically brilliant but it has to not look out and out bad and Red Steel looks bad. It looks worse than even an average Cube game. Not just technically worse but artistically worse - bad enough that I don't want to have to look at it. Metroid prime, to pick something at random, doesn't look like that and doesn't make me feel I need to gouge my eyes out with a spoon

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Why Wii sucks!

« on: November 22, 2006, 03:08:49 AM »

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Jeek just become a Zelda fan that will take all your troubles away and it will be a pleasant experience I'm sure.  

Hmmm. I've tried to like it but it it's just not my thing. I mean, I liked the graphics in WW but the gameplay bored me rigid so really I think there's probably no hope for me as a Zelda fan :-)

Stuff I liked on the Cube included Super Monkey Ball, Metroid Prime, PN03, XG-III, Burnout, Timesplitters 2, F Zero - anyone seen anything in the European launch line up (besides Super Monkey Ball) that might appeal to me (i.e. mainly quirky, twitchy and/or arcady stuff)
 

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Nintendo Gaming / RE:Why Wii sucks!

« on: November 22, 2006, 03:02:17 AM »

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1. I have yet to see a Wii game look worse than the GameCube - Red Steel included. Don;t believe the hype. Red Steel does not look bad, at all.

Videos and screenshots I've seen show low poly characters and environments, average textures with nasty baked in lighting, unconvincing animations - it really doesn't seem to look as good as the best looking games on the Cube.

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2. It's well worth the price. I'm sure just about everyone here will agree with me.

It depends on what you're comparing the price to - nearly 200 quid is a non trivial amount of money for something that doesn't do a lot more than the Cube or PS/2 and (controller aside, which is not an unambiguous plus point) does a whole lot less than the 360 (which is dropping in price towards the point where the Wii is looking far from a bargin)

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3. Super Monkey Ball controls just fine. Any complaints are coming from people who either haven't spent enough time with the game to properly master the tilt controls or who are too stubborn to learn.

I've heard people complaining it gives them sore wrists because the neutral position requires holding the controller at an uncomfortable angle - we'll have to wait and see if this is a common problem or not, I guess.

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4. I'm not much of a Zelda fan (though I did buy "Twilight Princess") and the other 4 games I bought are as different than Zelda as can be. I'm completely satisfied with the launch line-up. Honestly, what system has ever launched with a robust library? None.

Maybe I'm just going off gaming but I just can't get excited about any Wii launch titles - what 4 games did you get?

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5. Any network issues will be worked out by Nintendo. It's hard to roll-out a new service and hiccups are to be expected. Updating issues only apply to the units assembled early on and for whatever reason hadn't had their firmware updated at the factory. Nintendo is replacing those with brand-new Wiis.

Brand new Wii's from the Japanese and European allocations no doubt - I'm not sure I'm happy about that

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6. It's not widespread and surface scratches are common. Disc-based media are delicate and no matter how careful you are while handling a disc, scratches are going to happen.

I think they'd have been less likely with a more conventional (and cheaper) drive, but again I guess we'll just have to wait for the dust to settle and see how common this problem is.

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Why Wii sucks!

« on: November 22, 2006, 01:33:39 AM »

Hmm. I've been dithering about whether to get a Wii or not for months now (still waiting here in eeyoorope...) and the launch has not inspired much confidence. On the upside:
 - Nintendo console - there haven't been many bad ones
 - No games on the 360 or PS3 look very interesting to me
 - Novel control mechanism
 - Interesting games in the pipeline

downside:
 - Most launch games look worse than better quality Cube games (Red Steel looks like arse, frankly)
 - Surprisingly expensive
 - Control issues reported for many launch games (including Super Monkey Ball, which was the only launch title that really excited me)
 - Few interesting launch games for the non-Zelda fan
 - Various network/update issues
 - Disk scratching issue

Apart from the fact that I have a pre-order at my local Gamestation plus credit from previous Cube trade in (which I'm now regretting), I'm not sure I'd bother with a Wii at all. Certainly not sure I want a first batch one, at full price with first generation games with sub Cube graphics and control issues :-(

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Nintendo Gaming / RE:Wii scratching disks?

« on: November 22, 2006, 12:06:36 AM »

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Why would anyone move it while a disc is spinning?

Tripping over the power cable?

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: Where the hell are the US Wii commercials?!

« on: November 14, 2006, 11:05:09 PM »

FWIW: Just caught the tail end of a Wii ad on TV here in UK last night. Looked like the Japanese one - white space with animated Wii logo. Didn't seem to include any gameplay (I might have missed it though as I didn't see all the advert). Difficult to judge what its impact might be as I'm already sold on the Wii (although with reservations) and my GF lives under a self-imposed video gaming ban (otherwise she'd never sleep...)

[that]

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Nintendo Gaming / RE: What Will You Be Playing/Buying?

« on: November 14, 2006, 09:35:48 PM »

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is this a poll

that sounds awfully like a poll...

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Nintendo Gaming / RE:What Will You Be Playing/Buying?

« on: November 14, 2006, 09:20:12 PM »

Given that Europe is getting shafted (again, as ever) and our launch allocation has been cut, and I'm pre-order number 20 at my local Gamestation in a smallish town here in the UK, I'm not at all certain I'm getting anything

Anyway, assuming I get my hands on a Wii, I'll probably be getting:
 - second wiimote
 - classic controller (maybe, depending on European VC line-up - I really wanted R-Type and it looks like we won't be getting it, grrrr....)
 - super monkey ball

After that gonna have to wait for some decent games - MP3, Elbits - got no interest in Zelda BTW - the art direction has lost it's way in my opinion - giving in to pressure after WW has left the art generic and cold IMO.

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Nintendo Gaming / RE:Phenomenal TC preview

« on: October 16, 2006, 11:14:07 PM »

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Is there an age where it becomes inappropriate to ask for a game or two for X-Mas?

I don't think so, I'm expecting my girlfriend to get me something for my Wii and I'm 35 but maybe I'm disproportionately immature

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Nintendo Gaming / RE:Wii console sales give retailers a higher profit margin than competition

« on: October 16, 2006, 11:11:37 PM »

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You know, there's something wrong or off here, but I am not in the position to speculate upon it effectively.

Yes - they're bribeing retailers with our money! The horror!

Realistically, how else are they gonna persuade shops to sell it - shops aren't in the business of selling items at a loss, on the whole.

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Nintendo Gaming / RE:Getting a Wii and selling your 'Cube?

« on: October 13, 2006, 04:20:10 AM »

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(And coz I could never bear to part with it like I did my SNES - something I still regret)

Yeah - that was a mistake. I lent mine to a friend when I was drunk and when I finally came around, he'd moved to Australia with it (it took me a while to come around...)

Still - holding out high hopes for VC - I miss Starfox, Gradius, R-Type, ...