So, who has their Wii?

[FoolKiller]

Congrats on the purchase! Do you think it's use of the controller outweighs the graphics? Or not? I may buy it when Madden 08 comes out, but I'm not sure if I want graphics, custom soundtracks, achievements, etc, or a killer control set-up that'll make the game last more than a month.

Well, from the few minutes of store demo time I have gotten with the other two systems I would say that as for right now there is just more fun in the Wii. But I have yet to see a game that just makes we want to buy the other two systems, yet. Although, I am a techno-junky and whenever I see the PS3 demo video for Formula One I am drawn to the screen like a moth to fire. But I have to say graphics do not make the game. They can catch your attention, but a visual masterpiece can still suck. I can play Wii Sports all day long and never get tired of seeing those cheesy looking Miis because I am having fun.

As for Madden, the graphics aren't as good and custom soundtracks were never a big deal to me, especially since I like the on the field audio better than hearing Madden give me the same repetitive comments. I don't know what you mean about the achievements. It has the Madden cards and lots of mini games and multiplayer mini games and then there are about five different ways to play the game from Quick Game, Season, Franchise, Head Coach (don't they sell that seperately for $20), and Superstar. And as usual some of those have a few ways to play. I hadn't bought a football game in a couple of years (I refuse to pay that much for what is basically an annual upgrade) so this Madden seems to have so much more than I expected.

I plan to do a new team in franchise mode with either a fantasy draft or an entirely created roster, but I will probably also have a superstar mode game on the side where I run the plays called by the coach, not me, and then have to do interviews and practice between games and everything I do can affect my endorsement deals, contract negotiations, and player relationships.

I've only played a few quick games so far with my Rams so I can't get too in-depth with everything yet.

But as you said, the control setup for Madden and Wii Sports have me constantly wanting to go back and play more. When I play a full best of 5 game match in tennis I finish having worked up a sweat, because while a few wrist movements is enough to play you can get truly in depth if you work on ball spin, angle, and speed which will require more than a flick of the wrist.

I think that with the control setup I will be more willing to buy games that are new instead of just renting them or buying them used. It adds replayability to games that can get old. And for games like Tiger Woods I might actually enjoy it, because timing a button push for golf just doesn't work for me, but if I actually swing, like I have a club...we'll see. Wii Golf is okay, but not very in-depth. I want realism, which is what I hear I should expect from Tiger Woods.

For now, with the PS3 prices as high as they are and my not owning an HDTV the Wii is perfect. If I had an HDTV and needed a form of home computer then I would have sprung for the PS3, but would have still gotten the Wii later.

I'll give Nintendo credit, the last Nintendo I played was my old SNES. They caught my attention again.

Trauma Center: Never played it, but it seems interesting.

My wife wants to try this. She also wants to try Mama's Cooking Challenge (or whatever it's called) when it comes out in April. I am interested in doing surgery, but it might get boring quick, even with the Wii controls.

Rapalla: I'm not a fan of fishing games, nor do I know how good the controls are.

I like to fish as a stress reliever and mostly do catch and release, so if this means I can enjoy it without getting up at 6:00 AM, or staying out until midnight then I am all for it, but I am renting it first. I need to see the controls.

WarioWare: Heard it's pretty good, and it has some very interesting ways of how you play the minigames.

Well, the slacker gamer looking guy and the ricer (that poor Civic) in line at Circuit City with me both bought it saying the past versions were great, so I figured I would rent it. Honestly, the pink box was turning me off. The "avoid pink boxes" theory has always worked well when looking at DVDs, so I figured it would work for video games too.

ExciteTruck: Very fun... in 15 minute bursts. It very eerily seems like Hydro Thunder with trucks. I'd rent it first.

Hydro Thunder with trucks? Isn't that Off Road Thunder? It was an arcade only (until a recent PS2 game collection) game that would have been fun on its own, but seemed old after owning and playing Hydro Thunder non-stop.

I just thought I would see how Nintendo's foray into racing has gone.

Zelda: It's one of the best games of all time. I think it's safe to say that if you don't buy it, you're nuts.

Well, considering the last time I played Zelda it was a top-down 2D game that gave me a headache I have little knowledge of the Zelda games, other than my college roommate that played Ocarina of Time too much and I wanted to scream everytime I heard that annoying Ocarina sound, I thought I woudl try it. Past experiences have left a bad taste in my mouth but I believe it is time to look into it again. A friend told me yesterday he would let me borrow it (same one that is letting me borrow Marvel Ultimate Alliance).

I will probably never buy a Zelda game, even if I like them, just because I have gotten to the point where I will rent a game that is story-based and then once I beat it I don't have it taking up shelf space. Replayability has become a key in getting me to purchase a game. This is something that is becoming a bigger and bigger challenge since I don't do a lot of online gaming and most developers have come to see that as the key to replayability.

 

[DuckRacer]

I don't know what you mean about the achievements.

Well, on the X360, they're in a sense goals. Say, in Madden, when you get to Level 10, you get 10 points. Get to level 20, get 20 points, get 400 rushing yards in a game and get 20 points, etc. If you look through here it should give you a sense of what they are.

Some people think they're useless, others (like me) think they're the best thing since the analog stick.

I will probably never buy a Zelda game, even if I like them, just because I have gotten to the point where I will rent a game that is story-based and then once I beat it I don't have it taking up shelf space. Replayability has become a key in getting me to purchase a game. This is something that is becoming a bigger and bigger challenge since I don't do a lot of online gaming and most developers have come to see that as the key to replayability.

Zelda: TP takes 70 hours to complete. 100+ if you decide to collect every little thing out there (all heart pieces, all poe souls, all golden bugs, etc etc), and you go though all the hidden dungeons, etc. With that much playability I don't think you'd care much about playing it over and over.

 

[Pako]

Problem for me renting games that are 70+ hours, the rental fees would cost as much or more as just purchasing the game. This way I can pawn the game off when I'm done to recoup some of my initial investment.

On a side note, I seem to not have as much time to devote to gaming as I used to so these long drawn out, epic games seem to take too much energy to get into the 'fun' parts of the game. The less time I have, the more instant fun I require.

For those of you that have tried it, hows the Trauma game?

 

[FoolKiller]

Well, on the X360, they're in a sense goals. Say, in Madden, when you get to Level 10, you get 10 points. Get to level 20, get 20 points, get 400 rushing yards in a game and get 20 points, etc. If you look through here it should give you a sense of what they are.

Some people think they're useless, others (like me) think they're the best thing since the analog stick.

So kind of like ASpec points? Do these show up online, kind of to tell everyone what you have achieved? It seems pretty good for matching up evenly in online play, but I think if you aren't playing online it seems about the same as the points for Madden cards. Which, I have no clue why, but I love collecting Madden Cards. I never use the cheat cards, I just like getting the player cards.

The one thing I can say about Madden on the Wii is that I am better using the controls because with the usual controllers I would never think to juke or stiff arm in time, but with the Wiimote and nunchuck I am usually throwing my hand out yelling, "No way, buddy!" as a reflex action and getting my stiff arm in. It adds a lot to the multiplayer because you can actually throw your hand out at your friends. --- no injuries, yet.

Zelda: TP takes 70 hours to complete. 100+ if you decide to collect every little thing out there (all heart pieces, all poe souls, all golden bugs, etc etc), and you go though all the hidden dungeons, etc. With that much playability I don't think you'd care much about playing it over and over.

Problem for me renting games that are 70+ hours, the rental fees would cost as much or more as just purchasing the game. This way I can pawn the game off when I'm done to recoup some of my initial investment.

Using Gamefly I pay my $15 a month so my rental fees never get more expensive if I keep it for a while. And in some cases I do rent epic story-based games and realize I love it, but it will be cost ineffective to hold onto it until I beat it, so at that point I realize it is worth a purchase. The bonus with Gamefly is their "Keep It" option where if you like the game and want to buy it you pay the used price and they send you the box and instruction booklet as well as your next rental.

So, it is possible I will decide I like Zelda enough to want to devote time and energy to it and buy it. But if my friend actually lets me borrow it now that he's finished rental fees won't be an issue.

For those of you that have tried it, hows the Trauma game?

I just sent Chronicles of Riddick on the XBox back today so if no one else has played it I will let you know sometime next week.

 

[glacier985]

Finally got a Wii after getting jipped by Best Buy on the 21st (stood outside with a group of people in the snow for an hour and then some employees came out saying they gave vouchers out at 9, we got there at 845 so we knew they were lying, sucks because I saw the Wii just sitting there).

Sat inside Wal-mart the other night (27th) waited a half-hour, I was number 8 and they had 13. I ende up getting a Wii-mote and Nunchuk to go with it and Saw III, lol, didn't by any games because my friend had beat Zelda and is letting me borrow it. I plan to pick up the Trama Center: Second Opinion and my own copy of Zelda soon and maybe a copy of Elebits (heard it was good). I'm currently having fun just playing Wii Sports and all my gamecube games that I never beat.

 

[JordanKnight]

Got my Wii and I have to say that they are truly amazing, Legend of Zelda is soo fun and so is Red Steel, hoping to see a good quality racing game released soon so I can try out the driving capabilities of the Wii Remote