E308: Wii Fanboy reacts to Nintendo's keynote [update]

With so many highlights from this year's Nintendo E3 keynote, we're finding our live chat wasn't enough to cover our thoughts and opinions on what was shown. So, below, you'll find some impressions akin to what we did last year. Enjoy.

Shaun White Snowboarding
Dave: This actually looks really fun. Spiritual successor to 1080 Snowboarding anyone? Cammie might not be the best, but I'm sure I could top her in rocking the half-pipe.
Chris: One question, Shaun White Snowboarding: are you 1080 Snowboarding, a.k.a. the only snowboarding game in existence to get everything right? No? Then I remain cynical.
Phil: The physics involved with real snowboarding allow you to lean into turns, with speed and centrefugal force (or whatever) keeping you balanced. With no resistance on the Balance Board, are people who lean too far just going to fall off?
Alisha: I would fall off. Probably.
Candace: It looks kind of fun -- if you have any sort of coordination, unlike myself. I fail at balance games, so I'll probably have to stay away from this one. Even Cammie could own me in a Balance Board game like this.
JC: Wii Fit snowboarding is too hard. This is like Too Hard Balance Board Snowboarding: The Game. Looked okay, though!

Animal Crossing: City Folk
Dave: Does anyone have anything bad to say about this? Seriously. Awesome.
Phil: I certainly do. It's clearly, ummmm ... with the really bad ... errrrr, never mind.
Chris: As a self-confessed Animal Crossing nerd, I was obviously elated with City Folk. I'm pleased they maintained the art style of previous games (and find complaints about the visuals baffling, to be honest), and all the additions are really encouraging. Some Wild World/City Folk connectivity would be made of win, so take note, Nintendo.
Candace: Don't get me wrong -- Animal Crossing looks pretty great. Yet, it wasn't exactly a surprise, so it didn't stir up much excitement in me.
Alisha: Exactly -- it wasn't a surprise. WiiSpeak and multiplayer was pretty awesome, though!
JC: I was surprised and delighted by Nintendo's audacity. The visuals have hardly changed at all! I was so burned out on Animal Crossing after being a GameCube AC lifer and then trying it on the DS, but I'm back!
Gallery: Animal Crossing: City Folk

WiiSpeak
Dave: I really don't see this catching on, honestly. If it's bundled with Animal Crossing: City Folk, then it'll get into homes. Otherwise, I don't see gamers really leaping for this peripheral.
Chris: Amazed. Surprised. Chuffed to bits. I am all of these when it comes to WiiSpeak.
Candace: I think it's a step in the right direction for Nintendo, but I would have preferred a storage solution to WiiSpeak.
Phil: Great for Animal Crossing, possibly even greater for party games. Multi-household Wii nights with intertron communication? Awesome.
JC: My cats will knock it over. It's probably good for people who like talking to people, though.

Third-party titles
Dave: Call of Duty: World at War? Lame. Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party? Great! I still don't know about that Star Wars game, though. I can't get off the fence about it.
Phil: Call of Duty: World at War? Great! Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party? Great! Lack of Red Steel 2 information? Not so great.
Chris: Red Steel 2? You are an oddity, Larsen. Anyway, more Rabbids? Call of Duty? Guitar Hero? Like, seriously? Not for the first time, I'm left cold by third-party offerings on a Nintendo machine.
Candace: I think I fell asleep at this part. Also, I'm not sure how, in any way, the Wii version of Guitar Hero will top that of its competitors. I think that was a silly thing for Iwata to say.
Alisha: This Rabbids game looks ridiculously fun, but I think there are probably better third party games to showcase. I hope so, at least. Y'know ... something exclusive.
JC: I'll buy Rabbids, have a good time, and be branded part of the problem. They really could have used some MadWorld or something.

Wii Controller 1:1
Dave: I don't see the potential for this outside of Wii Sports Resort, honestly. That is, until I get that dream sequel: No More Heroes 2.
Chris: A far bigger deal than I think people realize.
Candace: I agree with Chris. 1:1 motion controls is a huge deal. If this is where gaming is going, I'll have to stop making waggle jokes.
Phil: I agree with C and C, disagree with the D. This has amazing potential for developers who couldn't bring their creative ideas to fruition with the current functionality of the Wiimote. Endless possibilities.
Alisha: I'm with Phil. I really think this could improve some of the controls we've seen so far.
JC: Kind of embarrassing that Nintendo has to release an extra peripheral that basically just fixes the original functionality. But hey, if it works well, and helps me throw the frisbee to the dog ...

Wii Sports Resort
Dave: Look, Reggie. Why wasn't this Dolphin Park? Seriously. That would've been great. That course better be in here. It's Wii Sports 2. Of course I'm excited!
Chris: I'll have to confess indifference about this, but seriously: way to crank up the bank balance, Ninty. Should make Wii Fit look like small fry at the tills.
Candace: I think it'll be great, especially with 1:1 motion controls. But, is this the do all, end all game I was hoping Nintendo would announce at E3? Not even close.
Phil: Not so hot on this, if only because I never play the original Wii Sports any more.
Alisha: I'm all for this. Wii Sports is still one of the best multiplayer experiences around.
JC: Seriously. I am in love with the dog frisbee game. This is not a joke. I am not kidding. I honestly wasn't expecting a new Wii Sports until a new Wii hit.
Gallery: Wii Sports Resort

Wii Music
Dave: My least favorite of the show, hands down. I like rhythm-based games, but that have to at least have some challenge and gameplay. Not a game that just makes the music for you and asks you to stand around your living room like an idiiot.
Candace: The highlight of the keynote for me was Wii Music. While a lot of people seem unimpressed, I just like the whole idea behind the software. I consider myself musical, but most of my friends aren't. Now, those that struggle in games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero have a chance to play along, too, and rock out to some great Nintendo tunes. I only wish that there was also a more advanced option for more advanced players.
Chris: I'm with Candace on this -- I think it has real potential. I need to see more, but my curiosity is piqued.
Phil: I can't see this taking off. After a while of fun, messy gameplay sessions, the players who actually want to become skilled won't have the content and precise functionality to support any marked improvement. I agree with Dave that it needs more challenge, more gameplay, and more precision.
Alisha: I think this looks awesome, though I'm notoriously bad at rhythm games of all sorts. It's the kind of thing I feel like I need to get my hands on before I judge, though.
JC: I don't get how it works. Do you select songs beforehand? Some of the gestural stuff seems silly, but those drums made me a believer. Very impressive display.










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LongshotX @ Jul 15th 2008 6:05PM
You guys were being way too nice.
Tristan @ Jul 15th 2008 7:35PM
Once again I would give nintendo a not so hot score on another boring conference. They still didnt reveal anything dealing with Mario, or Mario Sports titles coming in the futre, are they even doing that? And even then, these arent games I could see myself playing extended sessions of.
Nintendo must be taking a break this year cause it just wasnt all that content heavy or even excitng to watch.
crazypenguin @ Jul 16th 2008 5:03AM
they really do know how to be nintendo fanboy's. i love my wii, and animal crossing i'm excited for, but this entire conrence SUCKED.
shinra @ Jul 19th 2008 8:29PM
yea guys why were you being so nice, how could you not admit the nintendos E3 sucked so bad... arrhh... this sucks...
Bandit King @ Jul 15th 2008 6:38PM
Outside of Animal crossing Nintendo's show sucked even more then last year. Primarily because last year Nintendo did not promise that the old Nintendo fans would be getting new games to be excited about. Last year they caught everyone off guard with their "games for the soccer mom and elderly" approach. Big whoop I already knew the Zelda team was working on a new Zelda and that naturally the Mario team was working on a new title as well, teasers of these would have really helped sell the announcements. I am not going to be all down about this because I knew it would be like this, hopefully TGS holds some new surprises for long time Nintendo fans.
Michael @ Jul 15th 2008 6:27PM
how are developers going to be able to develop a game that works with the 1:1 adapter and not make the game horrible for people who don't feel like buying four new adapters?
I think I have more accessories for my Wii than games. :(
Alex @ Jul 15th 2008 6:27PM
Wii Motion Plus is about the only thing that I found remotely interesting (no pun intended) in this keynote. I agree it has the potential to be pretty big, but I would like to see a more in-depth presentation/demonstration.
TX2 @ Jul 15th 2008 6:28PM
I'd complain about the lack of hardcore announcement, but considering the recently announced hardcore games weren't even mentioned (Wario, Third Castlevania DS, ect.), I think it's safe to assume that they're just keeping quiet right now.
And I would complain about not providing any challenge to Wii Music, but as Southpark pointed out, perfecting your skill with a fake instrument is pretty empty.
Joe H @ Jul 15th 2008 6:31PM
Okay so I'll preface this by saying I love my Wii.
However... this conference was HORRIBLE. Perrin's replacement looked awkward as hell and can't speak to an audience apparently.
Shaun White Snowboarding was okay, but nobody really cares that a famous person is on stage playing the game. Show a video of him playing the game, and then let the sites play it on the E3 floor. Half of this conference was I'm sure really fun for the presenters playing the games on stage, but looks really lame from an audience.
Not an Animal Crossing fan too much, especially since there will be no NES games in this one (well why would there be, with the Virtual Console going strong.) The Wii Speak microphone is nice... except uh, what about those of us with the sensor bar below the TV. Where will the microphone go then? There's not enough room between the sensor bar and the bezel for me, so there better be at least rubber feet or something to keep it firmly sitting on top of the TV by itself.
WiiMotion Plus.... maybe this will be awesome, but nothing they showed us seemed like it can't be done already with just the remote. From the wording by Reggie near the end, they definitely expected Microsoft to copy them with motion, and that's the main reason for this, to stay a step ahead.
The frisbee thing looked like it wouldn't last very long, and I'd have sworn I played something similar in Warioware or something, though I could be making that up. I REALLY don't see why the WiiMotion Plus is necessary for jet-skiing. The remote and nunchuk already sense rotation fine. This game would make more sense on the balance board with a remote and nunchuk anyway.
Sword fighting was one of two good things in the show... and did they really need the WiiMotionPlus for this either? I mean, Wii Sports Baseball had similar control over the bat before a swing.
I used to think Wii Music was neat.... but that's when I thought you'd be able to make any music you wanted. Now it seems its just moving the remote to make music, and pretty much no matter what you do it plays the music. Again, very lame.
The only other thing that caught my attention was GTA:DS, and we know nothing about that yet.
Benjamin L. @ Jul 15th 2008 6:57PM
I think this is just my mind playing tricks on me, but didn't somebody say a while ago that Nintendo was supposed to announce a brand new character/franchise at E3?
Sonic_13 @ Jul 15th 2008 8:17PM
I really wouldn't be surprised to see something big revealed separately ala Super Smash Bros. Brawl style. Brawl wasn't revealed during Nintendo's E3 conference. It was revealed one or two nights after.
Nintendo has always featured a few examples of key franchises (in either demo or video form), whether it be Mario, Metroid, Smash Bros. (all three were featured last year). This year was very void of that, with only Animal Crossing being seen.
Hamster @ Jul 15th 2008 6:47PM
Nintendo's E3 presentation was an absolute travesty. Nintendo just died on stage and it wasn't quick and painless either, it was death by a thousand cuts. I was watching with my hands covered over my face. Just more casual, casual, casual, back-slapping, back-slapping, back-slapping. Why are they so proud of themselves? For selling their soul, for appealing to audiences that don't know any better? What's there to be proud of? There's certainly little to be proud of as a Nintendo fan at the moment. Is money all they care about now? Why do they insist on insulting and alienating their fans and gamers at every opportunity when it's us who will still be around when all the casual gamers have gotten bored (or died of old age in grannie's case) and moved onto the next fad? Seems like a pretty stupid long-term strategy.
Where were the games? Animal Crossing will be great but it wasn't a surprise and it's geared towards casuals (what isn't?), Wii Sports 2 (boring!), Wii Music (even more boring!) Shawn White Snowboarding, Raving Rabbids TV Party (need I say more), more bits of white plastic (urghh). I just can't believe what happened today. No Kid Icarus, no Pikmin 3, no Disaster: Day of Crisis (the only disaster was the show itself), nothing remotely interesting. What the hell Nintendo?
I'm severely depressed now. I've read a lot of people saying that watching Nintendo today made them feel like their inner child had died and I totally agree with that. I wished the audience would have started a "YOU SOLD OUT!" chant or at least booed them off stage. It was a disgrace.
Danny @ Jul 15th 2008 7:00PM
I agree it was a disappointment but i think they ll show us better games in the next few days
Jumbo @ Jul 15th 2008 7:04PM
Anyone want to clue me in on what was actually said about Guitar Hero?
Makimirianu @ Jul 15th 2008 7:16PM
I was a little disappointed, i wanted to see Kid Icarus, and really, the only big surprise was GTA for DS... i hope they show something better in a foreseeable future
Sonic_13 @ Jul 15th 2008 8:08PM
This year's show was weaker than normal, but it still revealed some cool things.
Last year's was exciting, with the revealing of Wii Fit and I'm not sure that the E3 before Wii's launch could ever be topped.
I have a feeling that we'll be seeing another big announcement this week. The show was suspiciously void of any key Nintendo franchises, and there has ALWAYS been something. Even though the focus was on Wii Fit, we still saw Mario Kart Wii revealed as well as demos/videos of Metroid, Super Mario Galaxy, and Brawl.
Remember that Super Smash Bros. Brawl wasn't revealed during Nintendo's E3 press conference - it was revealed a night or two later in a special showing. I wouldn't be surprised to see a key game revealed in the same fashion.
KaBob799 @ Jul 15th 2008 8:12PM
I don't think nintendo is saving all their awesome stuff for a later time, I think motion plus could be pretty cool. From what I heard the wiimote is limited in how many different movements it can identify at one time (internal memory) so if motion plus adds more memory I can see that helping a lot of games.
KaBob799 @ Jul 15th 2008 8:13PM
Err I mean, I dont think nintendo is saving all their stuff for a much later time. AKA lots of announcements over the next few months.
shinneri @ Jul 15th 2008 8:25PM
Terrible. And not just Nintendo... E3 so far has been completely uninteresting.
Also I thought Shaun White was Carrot Top. Not Cool.
mario le magifique @ Jul 15th 2008 8:41PM
i think i died when i was watching the conference.Most of the stuff they shown seems boring no offense,beside animal crossing and the wii speak.but others.wow.i just couldnt believe wat i saw today.anyways.im sure theyll reveal something better at the last day.
Jasen @ Jul 15th 2008 10:03PM
I was very disappointed in the MotionPlus segment. Reggie seemed like he didn't know the script or the product well and stumbled through it. Also, they didn't tell us at all WHAT the thing does. What does it add? How does it work? Why do we need it? Nothing. Just, ooo, watch us wave swords around, look at the cute puppy, it's sooo CUTE. Really, Cammie looked like she was stuck out there to be the token Soccer-mom. Bleh.
sepaar @ Jul 15th 2008 10:35PM
People just don't seem to be focusing on the fact that both 1:1 motion and voice chat are now options in games. Is that not pretty freaking big news?? Yes the show seemed underwhelming and if those two things weren't there, then yes it would have been a complete waste.
But really, what else is there that they could announce that we wouldn't have seen coming? We know some sort of storage solution is on the way, we just don't know when. We know that the major franchises are coming up, just not when, but they will be here. It's not like there never going to ever put another of the key franchises ever again. We know things are on the way, and this 1:1 will surely alter those.
Why are people so gosh darned intent on looking at this show as completely casual related and will in no way affect the games "we" usually purchase? And others above have stated that not even Brawl was announced in their keynote, so there's nothing to fear.
Sonic_13 @ Jul 16th 2008 1:31AM
"People just don't seem to be focusing on the fact that both 1:1 motion and voice chat are now options in games. Is that not pretty freaking big news??"
I agree, those are big things and we should be focusing on them. The Internet today just drives me crazy. If the Internet doesn't get everything they want they way they want it, they will whine and moan forever.
sepaar @ Jul 16th 2008 9:09AM
Thanks, it's good to know that at least somebody else on this earth isn't missing the fact we got those two things out of it. It almost seems like people are whining just to whine this year. Why is that even if people get some of the things they've been screaming for the past two years, they still complain about the things they weren't told about, even if we all already know they're coming anyway?
mr_sauce @ Jul 15th 2008 10:41PM
Lets face it this generation Nintendo is saying the hell with the hardcore gamer. Lets be real about it. People are only going to buy the new wii sports to get the 1:1 motion adapter. I wouldn't buy wii music even if it was on wii ware. I'm 31 years old so I'm not really into animal crossing...a game in my opinion where you walk around and do nothing. Last but not least a microphone that sits on top of my television...WTF?? Another year has gone by and they are still dodging the storage question. Like a previous poster said we have more add-ons and accessories for the wii than games. I would say that sony won this year's e3 hands down! Sure we may not know when God of War 3 is coming out but at least they showed something new that people want to get excited about. I guess I should be excited about the mario baseball game that comes out later this summer...( yea right). On another note I really wish that aside from the main mario series that nintendo would stop putting mario in every game they make. Nintendo has been "pimping" mario for way too long! He's the biggest whore in video games. Maybe i'll start getting my hopes up for the their next console, because it looks like this generation is for the most part strictly for the traditional non-gamer, but if the wii finishes this console race in 1st or a very close 2nd the new wii may be more of the same....last gen graphics, instead of a hard drive we might have 2gb of internal storage space, dvd playback (no hi-def medium), and lets not forget more mario, zelda, and metroid, or as reggie would say "core games!" Core games 20 years ago!
Windmill @ Jul 16th 2008 5:38AM
Unlike most of ya'll that think Animal Crossing sounds great, it was for me the biggest disappointment of the whole thing. Animal Crossing for the Wii was my most hyped game ever, and instead they just coped out and made ANOTHER remake. So we'll be playing the SAME game AGAIN. I loved AC for the NGC to bits, but this new version seems hardly *new*. Theres only so many times you can play the same game! NOT EVEN MOTION CONTROL OPTIONS!
Smithe @ Jul 16th 2008 9:09AM
I'd have to agree with the first comment, this break-down was far too kind. The fact of the matter is that Nintendo seems to be getting back into their lazy routine of just watching the cash flow in. I mean, honesty, these games are terrible. With the exception of the 1:1 add-on (and maybe the talk device), there's absolutely nothing here to write home about. Moreover, was that really some of the management at Nintendo? Talk about looking like a bunch of unprepared fools.
With the exception of four to five games (many of them are the best games I've played in some time), I'm honestly tiring of the Wii--especially when I'm watching MS and Sony add some interesting new features to their respective platforms. I'm really hoping that a game like Star Wars will get me back into it, but is the significant graphics trade-off made up by the controls?
Granted, Nintendo is going to keep selling Wiis, the question is when the next platform comes around, will people shell out the money? Given the fact that they seem to be stuck in neutral technologically these days (or just busy counting the bucks), I'm not so sure.
Apologies for being a downer.
sepaar @ Jul 16th 2008 9:06AM
Thanks, it's good to know that at least somebody else on this earth isn't missing the fact we got those two things out of it. It almost seems like people are whining just to whine this year. Why is that even if people get some of the things they've been screaming for the past two years, they still complain about the things they weren't told about, even if we all already know they're coming anyway?
bf @ Jul 21st 2008 12:27AM
it doesnt mater that motion plus or wii speak were anounced because all of the games SUCK(bside animal crossing). but im happy with AC ds i dont need a wii version, and no half decent ds games were even anounced, gta ds wont apeal to 99.99% of ds owners, which may i point out is alot of people under 10 who couldnt get there hands on gta if they tried. WERE'S PIKMIN, MARIO, ZELDA,METROID. SCREW U NINTENDO U SELLOUTS!!!!!
BioSchmuck @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:16PM
Well, let me just put it in a very simple way: Nintendo's presentation at this year's E3 were so BORING and very disappointing one! Were they even embarassed that the media was not that amazed at all, and only few applauded them--a sympathy applause, that is! But yet, people from Nintendo still looked so proud and happy while being on the stage, showing-off their "ho-hum" games. Again, BORING!!
BioSchmuck @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:17PM
Nintendo, you guys BLOW big time!