Epic: "Wii is a virus"

What is it about the Wii that has these "so called" real gamers so threatened? I mean, they can't help (Paul more than most) rally against it and belittle people who have the Wii like they are some freaks or something. It's kind of sad really, but more pathetic. And I don't own a Wii anyways (have played it, it's fun) and guess what? It's a video game. Duh. I still have a PS2, which my family enjoys and we can get games under $60.

We have a Wii, had if for three months. It gets used every other day. :)

OK, I don't have a Wii, but if I were to buy a video game system today, that's what I'd get. Why? Because my perception is that the Wii caters to families. Yes, I'm a gamer, a big PC gamer. But if I bought a console, I don't want to replicate my PC experience. I want something my kids, spouse and I can enjoy together. I could be wrong, but I'm of the belief that the Wii is the ONLY gaming system with a library of games specifically tailored to playing together as a family. Maybe that's just marketing, but convince me otherwise.

JuryDuty, I just wrote a huge post about how great the 360 is for families and then just before posting hit the back button and lost the whole thing. Can't bring myself to writing it again. In short, Xbox Live Arcade is spectacular for families. Young kids can really master Arcade games from classics like Frogger, Asteroids, Sonic 1 & 2 to new titles like Cloning Clyde and Band of Bugs. Myself, wife and two sons (3 and 6) love to play the arcade games together. Also great titles like Uno in the arcade. And all for 5 - 10 dollars each. Everyone complains about the 60 dollar games, but the 360 has more games under 10 dollars than any console!!! They just are delivered in a way fitting with 2008 and not shrink wrapped at toy's r us. Xbox Live in general is a great way for the kids to stay in touch with distant relatives. My son plays with his cousins in the US (I am an expat in Amsterdam) all the time. I get to play 18 holes of golf with my brothers every few weeks via Tiger Woods 2007 (voice enable of course). I would never get this type of quality time with them without the 360. And again, it is so well integrated you do not even notice you are using such incredible technology. The games are plenty for familes as well (like Dance Dance, Viva Pinata and Viva Pinata Party Animals, Star Wars Lego, SceneIt, etc.). Even though some are not 360 exclusive, they are still great family games. Star Wars Lego especially. This game is great to play with your kids as it encourages discussion to solve problems on screen. Through in it keeps dad (me) extremely happy as it is by far the best "hard core gaming console" and it servers as our primary media center giving the kids instant access to their videos, and our family pictures. The Wii simply can't compete on a day to day basis.

@JuryDuty I agree that the Wii has been marketed as a family oriented console. This has been a double edged sword for Nintendo because the hardcore gamers (ones without families for the most part anyway) have shyed away from the system. That is bad in the long-run, good in the short-run. We will be seeing these effects here before holiday 2008 most likely.

If you have kids under 10, I have 2 twins at 7 and a 4 year old, the Wii is a blast. I rigidly stick to the ratings system, and they play only E games. I also have a Microshaft RROD 360 that I play games on. Honestly its a great product and live is great as well (when its working forget about using in Dec/Jan). PC games are dead. I used to play with a group of about 20 guys over the years. After BF2 we all moved to the 360. Now some of them, pissed about the RROD have moved to the PS3. I will too if my 360 RROD's again. The PS3 now gets to good games at the same time...COD4 is simply the best game out right now IMHO.

Lindy, I have 7 yr old twins and an 8 yr old. My wife had 3 kids in less than 11 months. We've been aging fast. Peace and good luck.

They take over your life that is for sure. God bless and good luck to you Doc.

Sounds about right Paul. We have a Wii. Played some of the games with our friends at parties. They thought it was so great they also bought one. Honestly, I haven't turned it on in months. We probably will use it at parties every so often, but its really just an expensive party game, and Trivial Pursuit is a lot cheaper...

@ brandon.pope You seem to be somewhat threatened by the Wii. "I agree that the Wii has been marketed as a family oriented console. This has been a double edged sword for Nintendo because the hardcore gamers (ones without families for the most part anyway) have shyed away from the system." Really? Even if that were true, which it isn't (and unless you can provide those "statistic" or "fact" doo-dads, you've got nothing to stand on), what does it matter? Do you really think Nintendo cares WHO is buying their console? The bottom line is that they're selling Wii, and doing so at such a rapid pace that they're barely able to keep them in stock. " That is bad in the long-run, good in the short-run. We will be seeing these effects here before holiday 2008 most likely." Right. The Wii was "the item" for 2 holiday seasons in a row. Let me repeat - TWO holiday seasons in a row. What was the last product to have that sort of impact? On top of that, what are you even talking about? Are you suggesting that Wii sales will begin to slow down in the future? If so - WOW!!! You must have a degree in business to be able to so acutely predict such an unforeseeable outcome. Since one bold prediction deserves another, I predict the sun will rise tomorrow. Again - so what? So maybe Nintendo will be able to actually keep these things in stock this coming holiday season. That would be great, as I know a handful of hardcore gamers who have wanted one, but haven't been able to find one. And everyone I know who wants a 360 already has one. - B

I am going to buy a Wii this Thursday solely to play Mario Kart :P

I don't have anything against the Wii, but it simply is not for me. It is a great party game system, and that has been shown again when at people's houses and actually playing a game system. That certainly would not happen with a 360 or PS3, outside of the initial "ooh, ahh" factor wears off. However, as a system that I would want to play again and again, no way.

Eh. It's my 360 that sits around gathering dust. But I suppose I don't have as low standards when it comes to games as Mr. Thurott. Call me when Gears of War (which is, admittedly, one of the few 360 games I bothered to play much of) gets controls or level design even half as good as Corruption's. Or when there's a 360 adventure game that comes close to Twilight Princess. Or when there's a 360 platformer to rival Galaxy. Even Resident Evil 5, one of the primary reasons for me to pick up a "next gen" system, is going to be crippled for lack of pointer-based control. Sure, I have more 360 games than Wii games. But I'd rather play through RE4 or Corruption or Galaxy or Twilight Princess yet again rather than finish Assassin's Creed or Halo 3 or Gears of War or the plethora of other mediocre 360 games.

My roommate bought a Wii, he still plays it a bit. We're not huge gamers, but it gets used. l just thought I'd chime in because more than anything I'm also disappointed in the tone of this blog lately. Every other time I check in, Paul is chiding some other blogger for being loose with the facts (shock! horror! bloggers are crappy journalists! I'm about to faint!) or having a crack at Apple (yes, their fanboy's are rabid, but a post on your blog won't have ANY impact on that) and it's getting frustrating to read. Sure, some things deserve the words (the Apple/Safari update situation for instance), but for goodness sake, if people are happy with their Wii's, why should you give a crap? And if some blogger on some obscure blog is making noise about Microsoft, how could you possible help by mentioning his name and linking to his article? Even if you are chiding him, it's counter-productive.