Musings Of A Game Store Clerk
I know it may seem harsh, but seeing a machine I waited in line for 9 hours to purchase collecting dust is just a little painful. It’s not like I haven’t tried to play it…but every time I look at my Wii (and yes, Wii jokes are still funny) I just end up angry. It’s not just me – nobody wants to play with the damn thing, and they haven’t for some time. Where have the family bowling tournaments gone? What happened to drunk Wii tennis? Why does the Wii suck so much?
Talking to other gamers, I’m finding that this is more and more the case with the Wii. So what’s the problem? What could Nintendo have done to make one if it’s biggest fans (me) reject it?
Too much crap – The Wii’s game library, though extensive, is mostly crap even 7 year olds get bored with in a matter of minutes. There are a few gems, but they are few and far between. As always with Nintendo, if it has Mario or Zelda on the cover it is probably a safe bet. Personally, Resident Evil 4 was the game I found to be the most enjoyable on the Wii – and it is a Gamecube remake! In terms of gaming, I take offense that the word ‘casual’ is synonymous with ‘terrible game not worth your money’.
Lack of online features – Compared to the Xbox 360 and PS3, the Wii’s online features are very disappointing. Using long, numerical codes to add your friends is far more difficult than remembering a nickname as with the other systems. Recently, Shigeru Miyamoto has announced that they will very likely be adding ‘premium features’ to the Wii’s online marketplace… and also implementing a monthly cost for these services.
Too many peripherals – Despite the lower price of the Wii console, it has some of the more expensive peripherals out there. The console itself only comes with one Wii remote and nunchuk, which are sold separately. Then you’ve got the Wii motion Plus, the Wii fit, and a plethora of other accessories available that do absolutely nothing to enhance gameplay.
Console killing rumors – What exactly is casual about playing a console game when you can easily open an app for your iphone in 1/10th the time? By starting the casual gaming craze, every company from Apple to Facebook has added some gaming aspect to their products. I have no problem with this, but it does seem like Nintendo has shot themselves in the foot here to a certain degree. As ‘casual’ as Nintendo games are, they still (usually) require a degree of effort/concentration to enjoy. This new breed of casual games usually doesn’t.
I choose to blame Nintendo for creating this vernacular among gamers that makes us define ourselves as either casual or hardcore. As a female gamer, I am quickly defined as casual by most people who ask for my gaming advice. Should I be offended that they don’t assume I kick ass at Call of Duty?
When it comes down to it, I want to be engaged by the game I am playing. I don’t honestly believe that this casual gaming phenomenon signifies the end of console gaming, but a definite shift is coming. PS3 seems to be the most on track with the inclusion of various features that allow the system to be used for all forms of entertainment, not just gaming. In terms of casual vs hardcore games: who cares? As long as the gameplay is fun and engaging, why should it matter?
–Mary Hoffman