Poll - Is Wii a gaming supplement or a full meal?
Tuesday, December 11th, 2007 at 10:04am by David
Regular Infendo commentator, Andrew-MG, inspired this week’s poll. In a discussion of the Five Most Anticipated Wii Games of 2008, he said:
My biggest frustration as a Wii owner thusfar is seeing it become my “supplement” to gaming, instead of my meal.
It’s a great statement, but is it true for the rest of you?
Is Wii a gaming supplement or a full meal?
December 11th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Until recently, if it weren’t for the Virtual Console, it’d have been a supplement to the PS2.
But recently, what with all the good Wii games coming out, I’ve hardly played my PS2 except for the weekly-or-so playing of God Hand, which has been my crack for about a year now.
December 11th, 2007 at 10:27 am
I find the Wii library to be plentiful with good games in most of the genres I love. Great action/adventure games, fighting games, shmups, platformers, light gun games and puzzle games are all present on the machine at this point. I feel that the Wii has a more diverse and higher-quality line-up than either of the other consoles, at this point. Add in the VC games for systems that I did not own, such as the NeoGeo or Turbo Duo, and the system really shines.
I am also excited that the usual January/February drought will not be happening this year. In fact, both of these months seem to be continuing the great games every week trend started in November.
December 11th, 2007 at 10:34 am
I refuse to answer this poll. I do this on the basis that I as a gamer of several generations would like to contest that no single system is a ‘meal’ as it were, and that each console, handheld, (and let’s include the PC kids too) contributes to a healthy diet of videogames. As in the analogy’s case, a healthy diet includes a variety and good portion of each.
Sure I have days where I think the Wii/DS is all that I need, but to keep a healthy and fanboy free outlook I like to mix things up. Let’s not break out the flame-retardant suits today, no console is a meal.
December 11th, 2007 at 10:49 am
I agree with dlindema, but I’ll take it a step further. There are plenty of games on the Wii today, and to say otherwise is rubbish. It’s no longer a matter of opinion when someone says that system “doesn’t have meaty games” — and to say otherwise, again, is either being ignorant or purposefully ignorant to achieve some other purpose.
First, there were only first party, but not anymore. As nilcam mentioned, there are capable FPS, strategy, puzzle, rhythm, platform, sports (I include Charged in that category), adventure and even some ports that I’d consider playing. Again, so say that this isn’t a “meal” is either ignorant or worse. Then again, maybe people who can’t see the games in that list of categories are looking for something else. Something a NIntendo system just can’t offer. I suggest you go look for it.
December 11th, 2007 at 10:50 am
Between Original Wii games, Gamecube games that I can play due to backwards compatibility, and the Virtual Console, I’ve had more fun playing games with the Wii than any other system I’ve owned.
In fact I owned a 360 and ended up selling it because I would hardly play it.
From VC greats like Ninja Gaiden, Contra III, Super Castlevania IV, Sin & Punishment, Gunstar Heroes, and Super Metroid to Gamecube gems like Metroid Prime, Eternal Darkness, Viewtiful Joe, Prince of Persia, Zelda: Windwaker, Tales of Symphonia to quality Wii games like Super Mario Galaxy, Zack & Wiki, Twilight Princess, Trauma Center, Metroid Prime 3, Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition, Wii SportsGodfather . . . . the little white box has been a great meal for me over this past year.
Best of all it is my hardcore machine as well as my party machine and not to mention I make full use of it’s web browsing as well as the other channels.
December 11th, 2007 at 10:54 am
I had to vote supplement because no system can be the full meal. I was just given a PS2 slimline and I immediately went out and bought GT4 because I absolutely love the GT series. There is nothing that comes close to GT on any nintendo system ever. To think that any one system is the full meal is to kid yourself, and reeks of fanboyism.
December 11th, 2007 at 10:56 am
The only reason i say it is a supplement is because although fun, there are still some certain aspects of gaming that i am required to go elsewhere to get. Online play is still lacking with no voice chat. There are many games that are huge titles that i cant get on the Wii yet. In addition i find myself playing the DS more often.
As i look at the picture of the meal in this post I cant help but think that as a gamer your plate should have many different game systems and unique experiences.
You need some greens (X-box) which is very good for you, but not so appealing for children.
Mashed potatoes are good and appeal to all audiences (Wii). They aren’t to tough for old folks but yet Kids will still eat it up.
Chicken is good (PC), but after figuring out what cut of chicken you need, and how to cook it so it doesn’t dry out, the process of making it yourself doesn’t appeal to may folks.
Some…Eggs and gravy? (PS3) which is delicious individually but I really don’t need the gravy (Blue-ray) with my Eggs (Gaming).
After eating all that some times you like to play with (what appears to be) a tiny read ball after eating (DS).
December 11th, 2007 at 11:06 am
No meal is complete without Mass Effect and BioShock
Its sad to say but I don’t think I could live without my 360 and just have a Wii. Though there are certainly high quality games on the Wii, I hope 2008 proves a better year for software sales.
December 11th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Wii60 FTW.
December 11th, 2007 at 11:15 am
It depends on your tastes really. I’m just now warming up to the idea of checking out some Xbox 360 games, but up until now Nintendo has always fulfilled my gaming interests and will continue to.
December 11th, 2007 at 11:34 am
The wii has been my only full meal this entire year. If anything it has made my PC and DS the supplement to my gaming diet.
December 11th, 2007 at 11:39 am
I am 34, I have a job, a wife and other interests. I bought Super Mario Galaxy on the day it launched and have so far only collected 20 stars. It took me 3 months to finish Twilight Princess. Right now, I am juggling between an unfinished Metroid 3, Guitar Hero III, Zack & Wiki and Super Mario Galaxy. I can’t even keep up with the Wii games I own. There is no way in hell I could imagine adding another console to my mix. I’m just praying that I can finish some of my Wii games before Smash Brothers comes out.
December 11th, 2007 at 11:42 am
I choose meal cuz there’s a lot for everyone, of course it won’t be for everyone (no normal console is or ever will be).
I’d rather consider it like that delicious treat you’d like to always have around to munch on when the cravings hit.
I don’t really have the time for “full meals” anymore which is why I most likely won’t ever own a PS2, 360, or PS3 but WILL be looking into getting a DS.
I like my Wii cuz I can get on it relatively quickly, play for a bit and with most games just drop it and leave things for later. The occasional strong course is, of course, welcome but I’d rather have my delicious “snack” which I can take whenever instead of getting full with just one meal.
December 11th, 2007 at 11:46 am
I love this analogy.
Is the Wii a game “supplement”? Not for me. There are enough good games to satisfy all of my gaming wants/needs - in fact, there is more gaming goodness available than I can possibly enjoy due to time and money limitations.
Some other people will have different tastes in games, and different amounts of time/money available… so they might feel differently about the Wii. But it gives me everything that I want at the moment.
December 11th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
I think the idea that the Wii isn’t enough by itself is belied by the fact that the Wii has consistently selling more than the other two, sometimes more than the other two combined, since its release.
A gamer without much of a life outside gaming, someone who spends 20 hours or more gaming each week, is almost always going to have more than one system. That was true back in the SNES vs. Genesis days and it’s even more true today, considering how many gamers had all three systems in the last generation.
I personally don’t have enough time to even get through Wii games most of the time, to the point where the first time I ever played Jak and Daxter (the first one, from like 5 years ago) was when I had to send my Wii in for repairs even though I’ve had a PS2 for years. I still have a backlog of Gamecube games that I haven’t even started, let alone finished, and the drought of Wii titles earlier this year was actually welcome, in a way, for letting me start Chibi-Robo and Beyond Good and Evil, though I still haven’t finished either one.
Will there eventually be a title for one of the other consoles that is compelling enough to buy one? Probably; Katamari Damacy made me buy a PS2. But I think that makes me a “serial monogamer”, rather than one who needs to keep switching consoles to get a “full meal” as it were.
December 11th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
The Wii is not enough, on it’s own for the serious gamer. There are too many titles that are only targeting “next gen” systems. (360 and PS3 get most of the same titles, but notice that Wii development is usuallly teamed with PS2/PSP titles) If you only have a Wii you miss out on BioShock, Mass Effect, CoD4, etc.
Of course conversely if you have a 360 you don’t get Galaxy or Twilight Princess. If you are in it for the games, then you need several platforms to cover the bases. Fan Boys need not apply.
December 11th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Right now the Wii is not a “full meal”, at least for some. It’s missing a handful of genres or only has a handful of games in that genre.
And at least half the library is geared towards the new or casual gamer. Wii sales indicate that alone, as there is almost no attach rate whatsoever. I’d say about 75% of the people that bought Wiis this past year were getting it because of Wii Sports or Carnival Games (etc). It really seems like people are treating it more like a fancy toy than a video games console, and I think that’s a big reason for all the “casual” games that have come out. Nintendo marketed it to the casual gamer and so they got casual games.
So as far as the whole meal analogy goes, some gamers are content with the meal so far. But as for myself, I see the Wii as just part of my pizza. My extra large pizza with garlic sauce. And bread sticks. Damnit, now I’m hungry.
December 11th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I tend to agree with ejamer apparently, but I also like what dlindema said.
I think the Wii offers a full course of gaming, but much like you can get a full course of gaming from one restaurant, there will still be other restaurants with menu items you crave from time to time. Given the option, I think the Wii60 is an incredibly solid setup. Either alone has its weaknesses and then it comes down to personal tastes. The PS3 is struggling right now in overall coverage, but has a pretty diverse offering, if not a lot of depth. The 360 has a lot of depth but not as much diversity.
December 11th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
The PS3 is getting there as Cisco says, with Ratchet and Clank, Drake and upcoming MGS and FF releases there are some solid exclusives. The online store is also coming along with original titles like PAIN and the PS1/PSP downloads.
Not to stray too far off topic.
December 11th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
i can understand it not satisfying everybody right now, but its as always up to third parties to get on the ball and show support. its so slow coming its frustrating even to me.
luckily i have more then enough to play on Wii and even a few gamecube games to go back to also if i meet a time when i am out of wii games to play.
only things i do worry about are the rumors of red steel 2 and tales of symphonia 2 troubles. i am not too worried about tales except for it meaning a delay, but i dont trust ubisoft to even make a good exclusive, moreso even for a nintendo system.
but i liked the first game for what it was, and i want red steel without all the launch bugs and that has their experiences up to now put into it.
besides that, 2008 is still wide open. sheesh, if you think about it, the majority of the known hyped titles for the other systems in 2008 are things we knew about in 2006 and very early 2007. wii already has a few notable titles known for 2008 and so much is still secret. we can expect a large amount of games to pop up and franchises to cross over to the wii in 2008. its still early. i dont think 2007 was so bad for a launch year, and 2008 still has so much potential ahead of it. i am excited for the possibilities.
December 11th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Between the Wii and the DS, my gaming plate is full. Though, I’ve never been known as a “serious” gamer. (Sort of an oxymoron, isn’t it?)
My lifestyle is a lot like Aran’s so there’s no way I could work in another console. My PS2 has sat unplayed since last January.
Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to to TRY another system. I’m very curious about what the 360 and PS3 have to offer as an experience, but at the moment there isn’t a single must-buy game on either system for me.
December 11th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
I’ve already said my piece on this (and voted likewise) but I just wanted to comment to say thanks for making a poll out of my comment. It’s appreciated.
And to mark the occasion, today I got my 120th star in Galaxy, the first Mario game I have completed 100% since SMB 3. And, yes, I know that there are 121 stars, so it’s really not 100%, but please, let me pretend.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
I voted supplement. I am a lifelong Nintendo fan … have owned at least one Nintendo console continuously since the original NES back in the mid-80s, but the Wii alone doesn’t cover all my gaming needs. I still need a solid multiplayer FPS fix, and Medal of Honor 2 doesn’t quite do it for me. Given that Nintendo won’t be getting any ports of UT3 or Warhawk anytime soon, my PS3 and Wii will fight for equal time based on my mood and what itch I need to scratch when I get home from work.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
The opposite goes for me. The Wii is my meal (I play it at least 4 times a week), whereas my Xbox360 is my supplement (I play it probably once or twice a month).
With games that have high replay value and originality, and the Virtual Console, I get a ton of enjoyment out of the Wii. Conversely, since games on the 360 are so costly and for some reason seem lackluster to me (probably because many of them consider their multiplayer the highest merit as opposed to their single player/campaign).
December 11th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
It really depends. Are you including gamecube games played on the Wii and Virtual console?
December 11th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
It is a supplement. Not enough AAA titles to keep my hunger for my X-box 360.
The Wii is great , but I cant go without my 360 as the main course as of late.
December 11th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
I just downloaded Ghosts n Goblins, that will be filling my belly for the next week at least. I love me some retro NES!
December 11th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
It’s all a matter of taste, really. Personally I barely touch my Wii as much as I used to and the Xbox 360 has become my mainstay … that is, when my Xbox 360 works. Currently my 360 is in a box on its way to Texas where Microsoft is going to repair–sorry, I mean replace–my unit. So as it stands my Wii is getting a lot more play time for the moment.
But for many people the Wii is more than enough. I happen to be a big RPG fan and I play the 360 because it has the most next gen RPGs (and it doesn’t even have that many itself. How sad is this for the RPG genre?). If the Wii had some killer RPGs you’d need to pry the Wii-mote away from my cold dead fingers. All the Wii really needs, in my opinion, is a greater variety of quality titles in diverse genres, and that will come with time.
I agree with Andrew G about 360 games focusing too much on online multi-player at the expense of single-player. I find that practice repugnant, to say the least. I also agree with Dlindema when he states that no one console is a “meal” unto itself.
If you ask me I’ve always found the “console war” among fanboys to be petty and immature in the extreme. Arguing over pieces of plastic and circuits, and the corporate brand names they represent, seems to me like a senseless waste of time. I do enjoy video games, but I’ve never considered it to be something worth fighting over. I once saw a person go red in the face because someone had the audacity not to like his favorite game. A GAME! Of all the things to get emotional over. The moment I become overly-emotional over a video game I give you all permission to smack me in the face until I come to my senses.
Anyway, I’ll stop here before this becomes a rant.
December 11th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
it’s a snack to me. not a supplement. i spend 90+% of my gaming time online. So the 360/pc have me covered. When I’m not online, I love deep rpgs. And I’m sry, but TP has actually bored me, and quite quickly. Against Oblivian and Mass Effect, the wii isn’t going to cut it for me.
So the wii is a snack, like milk and cookies. I’ll have it for a bite every so often, but I don’t even buy cookies myself, and never will (playing TP on the GC).
And the ds… that’ my bag of cheerios and raisins for plane flights.
December 11th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Definitely a supplement. There’s simply not enough quality games on the Wii, even though I know many keep claiming there is. If you’re going to count GameCube and Virtual Console titles, then you have to count Xbox and XBox Live Arcade titles as well.
And sure, there are “plenty of games” on the Wii, but the vast majority I would claim are NOT what I consider quality. I’m assuming some here have a very liberal definition when it comes to the Wii offerings as well. And no…it isn’t “ignorant” to suggest that the library on the Wii is lacking, and even if it is then apparently there are a lot of ignorant Wii owners around considering the attach rate for software is pretty low. But that’s obviously it….it couldn’t be that the library for the Wii IS lacking, it has to be the ignorance /Sarcasm
December 12th, 2007 at 12:33 am
With games like BioShock, Mass Effect, Halo 3, COD4, Assassins Creed and more littering the X-box 360 AAA list in the last few months while only Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3 as AAA titles on the Wii, the Wii is indeed my desert and my 360 the Main course.
Add to that the MUCH superior online aspect of LIVE, Downloadable game demos and trailers, Also Free X-box Live arcade demos and updated classics with HD and online play. It is just no contest at the moment.
I was hoping for the Wii to be my main course, and the 360 would get the left over, but I am still happy with the way my gaming time is spent, even if MOST of it is on …SHOCK… a non Nintendo console…
December 12th, 2007 at 3:37 am
actually I don’t see the point of getting one of the other consoles, even with HD I feel like going back to old games without the wiimote, and bluray isn’t really yet worth it with only 15-25 target group” movies and hddvds aren’t available here in mexico… the only game I want from those consoles is Rockband and that’s even the most expensive game ever to add to expensive consoles..
December 12th, 2007 at 3:38 am
@caion,
“I once saw a person go red in the face because someone had the audacity not to like his favorite game. A GAME!”
“The moment I become overly-emotional over a video game I give you all permission to smack me in the face until I come to my senses.”
Um, is it just me or, is your post the most emotionally charged on this topic? You’re more emotional over people getting emotional then the actual people who supposedly had the problem. You’re the only one on this topic to use an exclamation point. Everyone else’s comments are pretty calm and thought out. I think you need to be smacked for being too emotional about people being emotional about games.
or, a quote I love, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”.
December 12th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
I agree with most commenters that there isn’t a single console out there that can be a “meal” for most gamers…
However, I will say that the combination that comes closer for me to the “perfect meal” would be a 360 Elite + DS Lite combo.
And I do own a Wii, a GameCube, a micro, and a PS2, which I still love, but if I was hard-pressed to go on a “diet”, I would choose the above combo.
December 12th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Consoles hardly can even pretend to be “full meal” - they are sparse supplement.
At least Wii in a way is original.
PC - this is where real gaming happens. Cheaper, more games. Free games. Demos are given. Etc.
Consoles with classical controller are just gimmicks. WiiMote adds something, but it’s still not enough - compared to PC. Wii lacks games - probably later when more games will be available it would be more sensible to compare Wii with anything else.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:41 am
“PC - this is where real gaming happens.”
You’re right. I’m playing pretend games on my consoles.
December 13th, 2007 at 11:42 am
I think the problem is that people are misinterpreting meal as meaning “satisfying ALL”, when it really says “satisfying a wide range”. Sure, the Wii doesn’t some of my favorite games of the year - Team Fortress 2, Portal, etc. But it still satisfying a wide range of what I like - from Excite Truck, to Galaxy, to Metroid, to Charged.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
@reef,
Thats what I was getting at too. Its a meal, just like you could get a full meal at a chinese restaurant, but that doesn’t mean you don’t also want mexican once and a while. So, even though its a full meal, theres still alot of “food” to enjoy elsewhere.