Wii controller impressions: day 2
by Blake Snow 
{ May 11th 2006 at 8:45PM }
Having spent two days now with Nintendo's Wii controller, here's what we think up to this point. We'll have to see a little more (sorry Reggie, I mean play) before fully believing, but we're glad you'll keep using a traditional control scheme through the GameCube's controller on new games.
Pros:
- Solid hardware design. The controller(s) have added weight and feel very good in your hands. Nice plastic, yo!
- Built-in speaker value add. While Zelda fishing, the reel audio sample was a nice touch.
- Works well with certain games, i.e. tennis, baseball, Zelda (spin attack) where stroke motions are, would be similar to real life ones.
- Doesn't work well with certain games, i.e. Madden where stroke motions differ than real life ones (you don't pass a football by flicking your wrist).
- Rumble feature feels weak. Nuff said.
- If no real-life motions are associated with a game, does motion control add value to the gaming experience? (undetermined)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Special_K @ May 11th 2006 9:56PM
{first?} I was wondering that... will thwy come out with games whose motions /do/ mimic real life? Or will we need to learn a whole new (sign) language in order to control the damn thing?
GenoBaby @ May 11th 2006 10:03PM
I read someone where that they would dumb down on the rumbling in the controller because it would effect your pointing... for example if you were aiming in an FPS and fired the aim would slightly go off do to excessive rumbling.
ngS @ May 11th 2006 11:47PM
damn.. ... .. I need to know if the thing is cool.... . .I just need it.. ... .
derfreddy @ May 12th 2006 5:41AM
i really hoped the rumble feature was stronger. if you fire a gun it vibrates quite noticeable, too.
and a strong simulated heartbeat could complicate aiming so nicely.
i wish it was adjustable.
the wii is worth getting only for those certain games it works well with, anyway.
i wanna play tennis.. and mario.. and zelda.. and sadness.. and red steel..
Rob @ May 12th 2006 10:18AM
"I read someone where that they would dumb down on the rumbling in the controller because it would effect your pointing... for example if you were aiming in an FPS and fired the aim would slightly go off do to excessive rumbling."
That would be a good thing. As it is, rumble is neat, but not useful. It queues you into things that are happening, but doesn't DO anything itself. If you are getting all shot up and the controller is going butt wild in your hand so it's tough to return fire, well that's realistic.
Also, #4, a heartbeat/breathing simulation would be cool if they used it in certain games/modes, such as high zoom sniper shots, etc.
brian @ May 12th 2006 4:15PM
(you don't pass a football by flicking your wrist).
you are if you're vince young!
Sam @ May 15th 2006 11:35PM
"I read someone where that they would dumb down on the rumbling in the controller because it would effect your pointing... for example if you were aiming in an FPS and fired the aim would slightly go off do to excessive rumbling."
Well, think about games like Counter-Strike where recoil and realistic aiming were in place. Imagine if instead of the game itself calculating recoil, the controller rumbled a lot and threw off your ACTUAL aim? Imagine some type of war sim that tried to be super realistic, and whenever you fired a pistol the jolt of rumble forced your hand to move much like when firing a pistol in real life. If you're into extremely realistic games, that would be the pinnacle of them.
olivier @ Jun 12th 2006 3:00AM
i want a nintendo wii so bad but i do wish that the rumbling was diferent hey but wat the hell mabie every one will get use to it i mean when joysticks came out they werent all esey and sory about my spelling i am on a french computer it is quite hard but do you all get the point it will all tern out ok in the end