Wii - lets talk about it
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 7:47 pm
Here's my Wii story.
> It's not for me!
I was a relative latecomer to the Wii and I didn't pick up the machine until 2009. I had held off for those two-and-a-bit years following the console's launch in December 2006, unconvinced by the software and uncertain about the "wands". Even so, the system was impossible to avoid... everyone seemed to have one and be talking about it! Even my brother-in-law and a close pal, each of whom were not "gamers" and had not played since the days of the Mega Drive, both had the system soon after launch. It was really quite odd. Especially as their families and (*gasp*) their parents were playing, too!
My first experience of the Wii was playing some awful party game on a pal's machine. Lousy graphics, lots of remote-waving and... well, it was just complete rubbish. It reinforced my prejudices that the Wii was gaming for people who didn't really like videogaming. For months afterwards I just ignored the Wii and turned down opportunities to play on it.
> Hold on... it's not bad.
However, by the time 2008 rolled round even my work colleagues were talking about it. Everyone had a machine and they shared stories about playing on it at family get-togethers, Christmas and other occassions. I visited a mate and I played on Wii Sports for the first time. Now... that game helped to change my mind. Some of the sports were pretty weak but, man, I loved the bowling. It was terrific! I spent a few hours playing and I realised how innovative the Remote system was. It felt good to play... and everyone wanted to play! The console looked smart, I had grown to love the Remote, and "normal" controllers were available, too. The Wii felt fresh and, once you looked around a bit - beyond the mountains of shovelware that were around - there were some all-out great games. My view had changed and, in early 2009, I jumped on board and got my own Wii.
> Golden times and then the end
I've never regretted it. The Wii enabled me to play gaming with family and even my parents - they *still* love the bowling and table tennis in Wii Sports Resort! I've not had experiences like that with any other console that I've owned. Alongside that, there were plenty of super, more traditional games that I've loved to play, too.
For me, it feels like the Wii was some kind of weird but totally wonderful fad. By late 2011 the moment had passed and people were moving on. Even so, when I visit friends and family many of them still have the system connected to their TVs, even though they're not really used much now. I could never get rid of my Wii and it remains under my screen in the front room.
- - - - -
Oh, and here are some of the games that I particularly enjoyed playing on the Wii! Wii Sports Resort (table tennis ), Boom Blox, Geometry Wars Galaxies, House of the Dead 2 and 3 Return, No More Heroes, Cave Story, Kirby's Adventure Wii, NBA Jam, Zelda Skyward Sword and Tomena Sanner (amazing fun!). I've still gotta try the Mario Galaxies... .
Okay... now, what's your Wii story?
Did you have one? Love it... or hate it? Did you play with friends - or did you just avoid it? And, of course... what were the games that you enjoyed?