Here is a collection of independent rants and raves about the Wii. It was sort of inspired by Jack Handy.

Every Monday I fire up my Wii to check what game Nintendo sent our way. For the past few Mondays it has been disappointment. It’s not that the games are no good, some have been games I’m sure many have been waiting for, but it’s that there is only one Virtual Console game released since WiiWare has come about. When I reflect on the extensive library that is the combination of NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, NEOGEO, and TurboGrafx 16, if find it disappointing that Nintendo reduced the number of Virtual Console games released. While I understand that it costs money to transfer these games, it is one of the primary reasons many people bought the Wii. If Nintendo wants to release one WiiWare game a week, that’s fine, but I wish they wouldn’t have taken away from the VC.

If Nintendo keeps pace with other platform producers we might see the next generation of gaming consoles around 2010. I just hope that Nintendo keeps backward compatibility as a service to its customers. Also, if VC games could be transferred to future consoles, that would be neat.

Screenshot from The Conduit

Wii’s future is potentially bright, especially if it brings in games that attract adventure, action, and RPG gamers. I’m not talking VC games either. I want to see more  regular games in these categories. There is a start with Alone in the Dark and The Conduit (Q1 2009). However, I think this direction is already being pursued. I just thought I’d bring it up anyway.

Finally, I want to know what I can use Wii’s USB ports for besides a keyboard. What else could Nintendo develop that can be used through a USB? I’m thinking video camera, Wii remote charger, Wii to Nintendo DS connection, or maybe some peripherals for a game.

Well, it felt good to get this all out, and I’m sure I’ll think of some other speculative things Wii might do later tonight. Thanks for stopping and reading the random rants and raves. I know it wasn’t the most coherent thing I’ve ever written, but it might segue into a more in-depth look at some of these items.

Rx by,

Dr. M. CLK

I decided to start a bi-weekly write up about games for the Wii featuring two games- one worth checking out and the other that should be avoided. In addition, I’ll try to pick the games based on a theme since some games are great in one aspect but lacking in another. This edition will feature multiplayer games that can accommodate at least three players found on the Virtual Console.

Great Grand Prix

If you need a game that can entertain up to four people and you want to do it for around $10, I strongly recommend Mario Kart 64. This game provides three race options in a two player mode and two options in the three or four player modes. Since the focus of this blog is on games for three or more I’ll focus on that mode.

Playing with three or four players in Mario Kart 64 gives you the option of a versus mode or a battle mode. In the versus option, each player chooses a character to compete as in a race to the finish. Remember, size and individual characteristics of the character will affect how they perform. For example, Toad is light so his steering and acceleration are better than the average racer, but it takes longer to attain his top speed. Not only will your characters attributes make a difference in your performance but obstacles and weapons on the course will aid or debilitate your pursuit of the finish line. From heat seeking shells to size altering lightening, there are plenty of weapons that will come your way after running over a transparent “?” box, just like to side scrolling Mario games (except these weapons/extras are much more varied and graphically cooler). Pick from sixteen race tracks, from a cruise in the country to racing through Bowser’s Castle. This mode will give you hours of entertainment.

If you and your guests get tired of racing you can try out the battle mode. Here choose from four battle arenas to duke it out until the end. Each player gets three balloons to represent how many more hits they can take. Every time you get hit, you lose one balloon (including driving into a pit). The goal is to be the last one standing, er… driving.

Bomb of a Multiplayer

If you’re looking for a multiplayer game that will provide an afternoon of enjoyment, Bomberman ‘93 is not recommended. Bomberman ‘93 really isn’t that bad of a game. However, the multiplayer mode, which can accommodate up to five players, will not provide hours of multiplayer enjoyment. The main problem is it gets boring for three or more people fairly quickly. Despite having multiple stages to choose from, and each stage having unique amenities such as conveyor belts and warps, the multiplayer mode will keep everyone entertained for a limited time.

It is a fun multiplayer game for the first few round, but unless everyone you are playing with is a Bomberman fan, don’t count on everyone wanting to play 30 rounds.

So if you’re looking for the safe bet I recommend Mario Kart 64 over Bomberman ‘93. However, if I am one of your guests either game would be fine for a six hour game shindig.

Rx by

Dr. M. CLK