11-21-2006, 05:11 AM
Here's a proper reply to Roland now that I have some time to do so.
I've already stated in this thread that DVD playback isn't necessary. It's more of a "it would be cool if" instead of "I really need this feature!" I have enough DVD players as it is.
I don't really want an Xbox 360. It's been out for over a year, and there is exactly one game that interests me and I already have the PC version of it. HD-DVD is a non-feature for me because I don't yet have a HDTV.
The Xbox 360 isn't just "more money", it's a LOT more money. One of the major reasons I am interested in a Wii is due to price, but even if the Xbox 360 dropped to the same price as the Wii, I'd still prefer the Wii.
Live Arcade games are nice and all, but when I was explaining to my wife how we could buy NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, and Turbografx-16 games and play them on a Wii for between $5-$10, her eyes really perked up and warmed to the idea of buying a Wii. Before we were married and just dating, we used to rent SNES and Genesis games and stay up all night playing them together. We'd hit the local Blockbuster after school, pick out Breath of Fire or Shining Force, and then go home and put on a pot of coffee and play games until the sun came up :wub:
The child factor is a big one for me. When you're a parent, it always is. My son LOVES watching me play PC games. Any time I'm playing something new, he pulls up a chair beside me and asks 50 questions about it.
"What new game is this daddy?"
"What is your new game called daddy?"
"Is that guy a good guy or a bad guy daddy?"
"If I see bad guys, I'll see them and I'll tell you I see them"
"Don't go in there daddy it's dangerous"
"Does your guy have friends daddy?"
"I like your new game daddy"
It's just unfortunate that most PC games are way too complicated for him. He can't read yet, and can't use the keyboard for anything other than typing in his name. He's great at using the mouse to point and click at things. The Wii's motion-sensing simplistic remote and the impending abundance of kiddie games is a HUGE feature for me.
I speak as someone who works in a store that sells PS2s - everyone is buying the silver one now. If you want to be different, buy the black one.
I'll definitely do that. A good friend of mine bought a Wii on launch day and is really happy with it so far. The only hiccup is that she has had trouble connecting to the online Wii thingamajig. It connected to her wireless router just fine, but she can't download updates or anything from the online Wii shamozzle. We both figure that it's due to the Wii farflugen being overwhelmed. She'll try again in a day or so and report back to me.
The bad news is that there is a possibility that my store won't get any more Wiis prior to Christmas:(
Quote:Well then, you obviously won't need to worry much about wearing down your Wii. I wouldn't make DVD playback a make-or-break choice in terms of a gaming console, but that's me. Ultimately, it's your money, your family, and your time and involvement. If you feel that DVD playback is enough to avoid getting a console, by all means, wait. However, if you can live without it for the time being, especially since it would appear that it's a software solution, and so can be patched in in the future, you might be better served getting one sooner.
I've already stated in this thread that DVD playback isn't necessary. It's more of a "it would be cool if" instead of "I really need this feature!" I have enough DVD players as it is.
Quote:There's always an Xbox 360 to consider. Yes, it's more money, and probably not as kid-friendly as a Wii, but it will do DVDs, and with an add-on, HD-DVDs.
I don't really want an Xbox 360. It's been out for over a year, and there is exactly one game that interests me and I already have the PC version of it. HD-DVD is a non-feature for me because I don't yet have a HDTV.
The Xbox 360 isn't just "more money", it's a LOT more money. One of the major reasons I am interested in a Wii is due to price, but even if the Xbox 360 dropped to the same price as the Wii, I'd still prefer the Wii.
Quote:Not to mention Live Arcade, which does have some old classics, and games that anyone, including your son, can enjoy.
Live Arcade games are nice and all, but when I was explaining to my wife how we could buy NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, and Turbografx-16 games and play them on a Wii for between $5-$10, her eyes really perked up and warmed to the idea of buying a Wii. Before we were married and just dating, we used to rent SNES and Genesis games and stay up all night playing them together. We'd hit the local Blockbuster after school, pick out Breath of Fire or Shining Force, and then go home and put on a pot of coffee and play games until the sun came up :wub:
Quote:But I know that was not the object of your inquiry, and I don't expect you to change your mind. Personally, if I didn't have a 360, I might be tempted to get a Wii first. But, then, it'll be much harder to get one over a 360, and although I own VERY few games on my 360 (cost being factor #1, limited selection being #2), I have gotten plenty of mileage out of my system, and am comfortable enough with the monetary investment I have put into it. Live Arcade has greatly expanded my gaming library and my enjoyment of the system, and serves as a solid interim solution between major game releases. But, then, I'm probably a bit stronger gamer-at-heart than you, so having multiple consoles would fit with my tastes and desires more than yours, I am guessing. And, I don't have any children to worry about, so I can afford to base my decisions based solely on what I want out of the system.:)
The child factor is a big one for me. When you're a parent, it always is. My son LOVES watching me play PC games. Any time I'm playing something new, he pulls up a chair beside me and asks 50 questions about it.
"What new game is this daddy?"
"What is your new game called daddy?"
"Is that guy a good guy or a bad guy daddy?"
"If I see bad guys, I'll see them and I'll tell you I see them"
"Don't go in there daddy it's dangerous"
"Does your guy have friends daddy?"
"I like your new game daddy"
It's just unfortunate that most PC games are way too complicated for him. He can't read yet, and can't use the keyboard for anything other than typing in his name. He's great at using the mouse to point and click at things. The Wii's motion-sensing simplistic remote and the impending abundance of kiddie games is a HUGE feature for me.
Quote:-snip-
A PS2 may finally be in the works for me, doubly so if they cut the price again (although I doubt they will). I'll probably pick up a silver one, just to be different.:)
I speak as someone who works in a store that sells PS2s - everyone is buying the silver one now. If you want to be different, buy the black one.
Quote:Let us know how your decision goes, and if you do choose a Wii, what you think of it. I'm eager to have some more hands-on experience from someone, as media outlets generally suck for reviews and previews.
I'll definitely do that. A good friend of mine bought a Wii on launch day and is really happy with it so far. The only hiccup is that she has had trouble connecting to the online Wii thingamajig. It connected to her wireless router just fine, but she can't download updates or anything from the online Wii shamozzle. We both figure that it's due to the Wii farflugen being overwhelmed. She'll try again in a day or so and report back to me.
The bad news is that there is a possibility that my store won't get any more Wiis prior to Christmas:(