Miyamoto has lost his marbles; Wii Music is offensively boring
Friday, July 18th, 2008 at 2:32am by Boss Hog
LOS ANGELES — The theme of Nintendo’s E3 press conference this week was “smiles on people’s faces.” It’s a good theme, and one Nintendo (and select third-parties) have largely delivered on so far. Unfortunately, the upcoming Wii Music does anything but put smiles on faces, that is if said faces are older than three years of age.
In a sterile white demo room, with lots of air conditioning to counter stinky journalists who are forced to move limbs while playing video games, I was treated to an hour long demo of Wii Music among other more enjoyable first-party games (i.e. Wii Sports Resort and Mario Super Sluggers quickly come to mind).
But calling Wii Music a game is a stretch. A long one. There is no possible way to fail here. Consequently, there is no possible way to win and no sense of achievement. Players merely move around Wii Remotes and Nunchucks however they please, and push whatever buttons they choose to sound a pre-selected note when they want. There is little strategy, other than to try and follow the seemingly standard 4/4 time, but you don’t even have to do that.
This, my friends, is the definition of failed fun and zero smiles. Much like abstract jazz (and Miyamoto’s own performance on Tuesday), the midi music sounds sloppy, unorganized, and repellent — like a garage band not worth listening to. Simply put, Wii Music, in its current form, is neither pleasing to play or listen to.
And yet by their description, Nintendo has intended Wii Music for everyone. But it’s not. My two and a half year old might have fun for a little while because she just likes to shimmy around. But even she can appreciate the basic strategy, responsibility, and accomplishment that comes from taking care of her digital puppy in Nintendogs.
So there is little, if anything, to be found in playing Wii Music if you’re conservatively over the age of three or four, and most of that demographic doesn’t play or buy video games (read: a commercial failure to boot). But maybe the impressive-looking drum mode can salvage the game, right?
It doesn’t — at least for this author who doubles as a part-time drummer. The hits, which require the balance board for high-hat and kick pedals, are only somewhat responsive. And rather than detecting actual air drumming, Wii Music uses button modifiers to play different drums such as toms. The effect feels unnatural, but perhaps non-drummers might enjoy the simulation.
Now, I’m being facetious and irreverent with my preview headline. Make no mistake; one or two bad eggs by Miyamoto doesn’t negate dozens of golden ones over the years. But the celebrated designer is really off the mark on Wii Music, though I believe his intentions are good. Regardless, less skillful players (not to mention learned ones) will be better served playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band on the most basic of difficulties. And I suspect many will, and the daring Wii Music ones will sour on their console after buying the game and expecting a good time.
Contrary to what recent “the sky if falling” opinion suggests, there are numerous party and core games coming to Wii this year, with more to be announced. You just have to look for them. But I’m sad to report that Wii Music isn’t one of them.
So avoid this stinker upon release this holiday at all costs. Not since the Virtual Boy has Nintendo endorsed such a misguided product.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:30 am
coming from someone’s who’s seen it in action, i’ll trust your opinion.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:48 am
Wow. I haven’t read it, but just from the headline…
Damn.
I don’t think I’m quite as, um, against it as you are (like I said, haven’t read it yet), but I was definitely dissapointed in the way they decided to go about it. I was expecting something more traditional (not quite GH or Rock Band) yet innovative as Nintendo is known for…not something that’s impossible to mess up on.
July 18th, 2008 at 4:23 am
You will all be proven wrong.
July 18th, 2008 at 4:43 am
Miyamoto even said it’s not really a game. http://kotaku.com/5026431/miyamoto-wii-music-is-better-than-a-video-game
I don’t really think it’s going to be “better than a video game.”
July 18th, 2008 at 4:55 am
Sure we will, Poochy. And your Itchy and Scratchy cartoons were both hilarious and educational, and the Simpsons episode they were featured in was a witty, sophisticated critique of the impact of marketing on creative efforts.
July 18th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Just try to remember that not all entertainment revolves around rules, wins, losses, or other things that typically make a game. Nintendo is expanding the market by expanding their software beyond just games. Think of them now as more of an interactive digital entertainment company. I’m not very interested in Wii Music myself, but I have shown it to several people who now are very interested in it. Curiously enough the ones who seem most interested are musicians, even though they see and understand how basic it appears.
July 18th, 2008 at 5:53 am
I too don’t entirely get Wii Music. However, I kind of understand where it’s coming from. Nintendo couldn’t just make another music rhythm game. Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and the host of other “follow the rhythm” games already exist. Copying isn’t what Nintendo do. I see that their approach with Wii Music has been to make a “music creation” game. In this respect I think that Wii Music is a partial success, but misses some of the most important parts of “music creation”.
This game could be geat if the following things were included:
1. A mode where there’s some kind of scoring for keeping yourself in time with other band members (be they AI or real people).
2. A true “write your own music” mode, where you can determine what notes are played by each member of the band or orchestra, then conduct them all to your new tune.
July 18th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Blake I trust you and I’m really sad to hear this about Wii Music.
=(
July 18th, 2008 at 6:02 am
The Eurogamer guys seemed to like it, though they described it being more as a fun accesible toy, than an actual video game, so like with Wii Fit it might be more difficult to appeal to the hardcore without being slammed as yet another dumb mini-game collection. Though I think I’ll wait for a more solid a review before I decide if it’s worth my time or not.
July 18th, 2008 at 7:23 am
What Nintendo is doing is good, they are further broadening thier audiences. From the moment Wii Music was announced waaay back, I knew it was a game I probably wasn’t going to be interested in…But you can speak for all the people whom might like to get this for thier children, etc. etc. And just because the game isn’t in the least interesting to you, doesn’t make it a bad game…Stop expecting eveything that Nintendo or Miyamoto comes up with to be catered to the ‘hardcore’ gamers, especially if he himself said it wasn’t meant to be any kind of AAA software to sell millions….
July 18th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Blizake,
Did Wii Music feel rushed or unfinished at all? I’ve heard from various trusted sources that the MotionPlus announcement and the entire keynote were actually a kind of preemptive strike against Sony/MS motion controls (that never came). The execs onstage even talked like the keynote was meant to soften the blow of the competition (”imitators,” etc). Turns out those announcements never came, leaving Nintendo with a keynote that didn’t make a whole lot of sense.
Just something I heard, is all.
PS — You hated Wall-E, so I’m not entirely sure I can trust this review
July 18th, 2008 at 8:00 am
No one bats 1000 I guess.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Most of these judgments you make about the game are unfounded and highly speculative. You call it a commercial failure, yet it has yet to be completed, let alone placed on the market. And I am sure infants are not nintendo’s target market here, as you suggest. Many (millions, likely) will buy and enjoy this software. And that is how it should be judged, as a piece of unfinished software.
I find this to be quite daring on nintendo’s part, and if it is a failure at least they are attempting something new. Which is more than I can say about the writing and images in this article, which are biased and unfunny (you fail at life… really?).
July 18th, 2008 at 8:43 am
I haven’t been impressed with Wii Music since the first glimpse we got of it. I’m even less impressed with it after watching that awful skit Nintendo put on. Like I said in an earlier post, it looks like something I would literally like for about 10 minutes and after that shrug my shoulders and move on. I’m sure many will buy it simply because it’s a Nintendo game with “Wii” in the title but I honestly think that’s going to be the main reason.
What’s amusing to me is the reactions to “negative” articles on this site. They almost seem to take it personally if you don’t like something NIntendo does; and the defending is amusing as well. Just because something is “different’ doesn’t always mean it’s a good thing. I think Wii Music looks incredibly simple, and in this case I mean the game looks incredibly lazy. It’s almost like Nintendo made the game with as little effort as possible yet still appear like they are doing something “innovative”. It’s to the point that for the fanboy (which are obviously MANY around here), pretty much ANYTHING Nintendo does on the Wii is “innovation”.
Ok…if you say so.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:18 am
What happens if it sells?
I admit, it’s probably not for me or many on this board, but what’s wrong with making a barebones simple game that will mostly appeal to the younger set?
As long Nintendo keeps cranking out a broad mix of titles, I’m happy.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:20 am
1000s of living rooms will be going on a MIDI-phonic jazz odyssey this holiday season!
July 18th, 2008 at 9:21 am
residential – it’s fair for readers to let writers know what articles they like and dislike. it IS unfair for Blake to make such strong statements about a game he’s played a unfinished demo of for only an hour. that doesn’t mean he’s wrong. i personally think wii music looks lame and don’t plan on getting it, but i thought that long before blake wrote this article. it’s well written. it’s just a little strong, that’s all.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:30 am
“What happens if it sells?”
It probably will, and I agree with the rest of your comment, too. I hate to sound like a broken record, but even if this does sell well, it has absolutely nothing to do with Nintendo’s other development efforts. There are always crap games, and no one forces you to buy them. I’ve never like Pokemon, but does the fact that Nintendo has continually released Pokemon games mean they’ve lost their way and gaming is doomed? Not at all. Wii Music, crap that it is or isn’t, is the same story with different words.
Meanwhile, there was a laundry list of cool titles (from Nintendo and third party) that came out of the second, third and fourth days of this conference. We’ve covered them. Take a look at the past dozen or so posts here on Infendo. Ignoring them does a disservice to the third parties that busted their ass to make quality titles for the Wii and DS, and it’s ignorant to boot.
“1000s of living rooms will be going on a MIDI-phonic jazz odyssey this holiday season!” < -- I don’t doubt that for a second.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:44 am
@ResidentialEvil
I couldn’t have said it better. Wii Music, for people who care enough about gaming to read a site like this is awful. But Nintendo, as usual with the Wii, isn’t going for the Guitar Hero or Rock Band crowd, that crowd is well taken care of. They’re hitting all the wannabe GH players and they’ll do a fine job with it.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Ouch. Major Ouch. Hopefully this product is right for SOMEone.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:59 am
actually, for people going to read a nintendo only site, wii music may be up their alley.
In fact, even if its not for the core, that doesnt mean its a bad game. it isnt even barebones, nor is it childish. the fact that it doesnt force you to pay $100s to play it is not something to criticise it for.
Air instruments are something many people did in their youth, and i mean into teens at the least.
Its hypocritical for anybody to say that an the writer of the article can hate on the game, but nobody can defend the game in the comments.
I have no interest in music games at all, but i cant be offended, as jake seems to be, by nintendo going in its own direction and trying to make music playing fun even for non-competitive people, and help people learn instruments also.
How can you criticise them for trying to help people learn the basics of music from a game? Sheesh.
I will repeat one last thing. Yes, even people who play occasionally,and are just looking for things like this can go online, find a nintendo only site, and think its a good place to get views about nintendo games. easier to figure out then going to IGN or any other multi-console site for sure. Hopefully Blake wont get to review Wii Music when it comes out and we can get less hyperbole about how bad the game is, and a more head on shoulders review.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:35 am
The handful of people who haven’t played Wii Music do not trust the opinion of the one person who has? Do negative reactions to Blake’s negative reaction equal a positive reaction? I was never very good at math.
I will gladly place my alliegance to the “Wii Music is Crap” faction. I appreciate Nintendo’s expansion of interative entertainment, but this software is the digital equivalent of banging pots and pans. A game does not necessarily need structure, or goals, or even a point. But there must be SOMETHING to compel you to boot it up.
How does it compare to Electroplankton, another free-form music title, and the one I immediately thought of. But even Electroplankton seemed more compelling than the embarrassing demonstration of Wii Music. Even Miyamoto seemed bored.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:52 am
[...] [Infendo] [...]
July 18th, 2008 at 10:53 am
@walter: Jake? The Infendo writer? I don’t think he’s commented on Wii Music yet. He’s just posted a butt load of E3 stuff over the past few days, to his credit.
After all this negativity, however, I’m now itching to try Wii Music for myself. Morbid curiosity, I suppose, like people who slow down for traffic accidents.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I wouldn’t mind trying Wii Music out, but from what I’ve seen from the E3 footage I’m not that impressed. I can’t see Nintendo charging more than $30 for this game. Just a note.. I was a skeptic of Wii Fit and the balance board when it was first announced, so Nintendo will probably prove us all wrong again.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Even a creative genius has to take a poop sometimes. Right?
July 18th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Sadly I’ll be picking this game up at launch simply to own the complete Wii titled game lineup. Wii Sports, Wii Play, Wii Fit, Wii Music, Wii Sports Resort. My daughter will be 2 when Wii Music comes out so maybe the game will get some playing time at my house.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:48 am
yeah- looks like a snore. but I generally avoid the virtual life type games for my gaming time anyways. I can only take wii golf or guitar hero for maybe a couple hours every couple months. And this looks even less interesting than those.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Actually… I really want to play Wii Music with my family. Seriously, this isn’t a game for hardcore players like me, but I do see myself playing the game with my two young sisters, and even with my dad, together in the living room just having a great saturday morning playing songs like fools. It just seems fun. We’re all into music, but we’re not great at all. It’s a family music toy that you play intuitively and in a simple way. It won’t be played every day, or all day, but it’s a game that has legs, and will be enjoyed in family reunions and rainy days for years to come.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Anyone remember the whole ‘casual games will/wont take away from hardcore investment’ argument?
Many of us were surprised that Nintendo has aimed its E3 elsewhere. Sure they have conventional stuff in the pipeline, but the alternative would be an abandonment of their IPs! And I can’t imagine an E3 so unfocussed on the veteran gamer even 3 years ago.
Has the casual game market stolen from the hardcore market?
Exhibit A: E3 2008!
July 18th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I think I’ll wait to try out the final released version before making any judgments one way or the other on this one.
Nintendo has a way of making even mundane and seemingly boring games (or maybe I should say software titles) come alive in ways that no one could have expected. I’ll wait and see before saying yea or nay.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
This game would have great potential if it taught music theory or something along those lines. Would give a sense of accomplishing something.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
The Headlines say: MIYAMOTO MAKES CRAP!
July 18th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
rdaneel: “The handful of people who haven’t played Wii Music do not trust the opinion of the one person who has? Do negative reactions to Blake’s negative reaction equal a positive reaction? I was never very good at math. ”
i lol’d at that.
well said.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
The reason this game gets so much hate is because it really isn’t even a game if you think about it. It’s more like…a toy. And the reason is, is because you can’t fail, and there’s no real goal. So, basically, it’s kind of like any Animal Crossing or Harvest Moon game. Which is why I find it so weird that so many people hate this title and enjoy those other games.
Shiggy says this game can help you get better at music, but that’s not true at all. The best thing you’ll learn from this is 4/4 time. It’s more like musical playground than anything. It looks fun, but if Blake says it’s as unresponsive as it is, it may just be a good idea to pass. One thing I’d like to clarify is that these definably aren’t midi sounds, well, most of them… The sax sounded kind of midi.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I won’t buy it, it’s too kiddy.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Even Harvest Moon has goals.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I think this title will work for a lot of people. Older and younger. Maybe not so much for the middle. I am interested in trying it out.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
The description of WiiMusic reminds me of ElectroPlankton… Cool piece of software, fun, but definitely not a game!
July 18th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Most of you just don’t get it.
I think Wii Music is going to be a great game.
The stuff you saw at E3 was just what they decided to show (probably because it was the only “stable” part of the game at this development milestone).
That DOES NOT EQUAL the entire game. Get that through your head first.
We do not know what the entire game consists of. We only saw a summary. We saw a semi-working game. Stuff will change.
For crying out loud, it’s going to be released in the First Quarter (Spring) of 2009! That’s a long ways away!
Nintendo used E3 to get the inside scoop on whether or not certain things were going to be cool or not to a large mass of people.
This is important data that’s going back to Japan/Redmond to be taken into further consideration to what the final released product will be.
So, fine, take shots at a completely unfinished game. Feel better?
I’m guessing your attitude toward the game is going to change a whole lot once the game gets released.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
This from the guy who thinks WALL-E is boring. I love ya Blake, but are we becoming a little jaded in our old age?
July 19th, 2008 at 12:19 am
@Joltman “Nintendo used E3 to get the inside scoop on whether or not certain things were going to be cool or not to a large mass of people.”
Doubt it. That’s what focus tests are for. You don’t go walking on stage in front of the whole world with an untested idea, just to gauge people’s reactions. Especially if your stakeholders are watching.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:52 am
“Most of you just don’t get it.”
Ah yes…..here we go. Remember what I said about fanboys? Exhibit A: joltman
Actually…we DO get it jolt. Stop acting like it’s that complicated. The only reason you say we “don’t get it” is because we don’t agree with you. Please stop using one of the most cliched comebacks on the internet. And stop acting like it was some test demo; the game has been in development like 2 years now. What you saw is more than likely very close to what you’re going to get. Plus like dub said, you don’t put on a show like that with an untested idea just to see what people say, regardless of how unimportant e3 is now.
July 19th, 2008 at 1:00 am
What about the sence of accoplishment that comes from getting frineds together and learning how to play your favorite song, not just mime it with a plastic guitar, but actually being in controll of how it sounds.
On and BTW, based on the convo in a podcast a couple weeks back I thought ratat…W/e, and finding nemo were just ok, hated cars, but I loved Wall-e
July 19th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I didn’t know Blake wrote this until I read some of the comments. I trust him.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Video Game isn’t a useful turn anymore. technicaklly this is the interactive experience/entertainment industry. Calling them games give it a much more commercial name, plus that how they started off.
From what I’ve heard the music in this ame doesn’t sound bad, and it appeals to people like me who simply sit around keeping beat in their head or using surrounding objecs and then fiddling with the beat. Then again, I’m one of the few people who like most of the music in every Guitar Hero released. I’ve constantly come oline hering people complain or rip on some band in the game for whatever odd reason they feel like doing so. If the game is offensively boring to you, fine, but don’t ignore or degrade people who may enjoy the game because they enjoy your tastes. you play guitar hero to emulate playing a guitar (well, more than that later this year), you’ll be playing Wii Music to enjoy and mess with music. I’ve eagerly anticipated its’ arrival since it was first announced, and will be one of the first to play it later this year.
Also, games aren’t just devices that determine winners and losers. A games core purpose is to entertain through a set of defined rules. Whether or not a game is designed o be competitive is one issue, there is a such thing as non-cometitive game that is meant to be played for the pure experience of having fun. But it seems like in a game like Wii Music, the player would technically lose or fail based upon their own personal objectives, whatever it is they’re trying to achieve. For a perfectionist playing this, I’m sure not being able to emulate the Simpsons heme would be a constant fail for them until they succeed. Fr others who want to keep a beat going at a certain tempo, being off would be their negative.
Honestly, because the software isn’t penalizing you with a score, you deem it to not be a game. it’s like those reviewers who complain about single player games being broken because some people can cheat them. It’s up to that individual person to decide to cheat, why does it being possible drop a games score if you’re playing the “right” way? Couldn’t resist temptation?
July 19th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I meant to say “term”, not “turn”.
Off homophones are a headache while typing and speaking at the same time.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
@ joltman
yeah, I really think I get it. I mean, bfore wiifit, I appaised it at ‘meh’ and had a lot of people tell me i ‘like, totally don’t get it’. Well, my opinion of it hasn’t risen.
This is kinda more of the same. Besides, I can barely play guitar hero without running off to look up tabs and work on some riffs. Me sucking at guitar doesn’t matter. I just prefer to work on playing over pretending to have a skill. Similar situation for wiisports. I’d rather jump in the car and go bowling. I can only take that game in small doses.
But everyone remember electroplankton?
Games can certainly be freeform. I mean, most of what I do in GTA is freeform. And I’ll never denounce Nintendo for having nongames available. Ubi’s Spanish Coach is a great warmup before traveling. Although I do lament their enhanced focus on casual games.
On Wed I introduced the daughters of a friend to my nintendog. They loved it. It was great see people just be surprised and excited by technology. I’m sure this game will do that for someone. But, not for me.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
ha- jump in the car and *go to a bowling alley*. right.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
I will instantly become more excited for Wii Music than any other game this year if it gives you the ability to compose your own songs and export as MP3 files via the SD Card.
July 20th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Depending on the price I may pick up the game. It could be fun to mess around for a bit. On second thought, might be a rental.
July 24th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
I agree with the third comment from poochie, Miyamoto isn’t a complete idiot. He knows what it is that he’s doing and he will certainly have people test this to see if they actualy enjoy it before releasing it. Nobody who cares about the quality of their games can possibly screw up as badly as you claim Miyamoto has.
Think of it this way, have you ever air guitared to music before. Because if you have then you’ve already pretended to do what this game offers. Plus we don’t know everything about it yet.
It seems to me nearly every decision Miyamoto has made lately has drawn criticism at first, and he hasn’t screwed up yet. Personally BLAKE I think this article is a little low for you.
September 27th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
[...] of Nintendo’s E3 2008 press conference. A hot and sweaty M. Night Shyamalan lookalike plays Wii Music, and not very good from the sound of it. As one in attendance, I can’t tell you how [...]