The Coming of Age of Wii
Not even Nostradamus with access to Google's search engine could have seen this one coming... The Nintendo Wii is officially the coolest thing since sliced bread. Current UK stock shortages are testament to it's popularity. Hopeful Wii owners are scouring the Net, braving the queues on frost-bitten mornings or shelling out way over the RRP on Ebay for one of Nintendo's magic boxes.
When first announced as the "Revolution", it was initially dismissed by critics and industry insiders as another 'gimmick' console. Quite expected after the dismal failure of Nintendo's Project Reality and the subsequent lukewarm reception of the N64, which failed to make it's mark in the first-gen war between Sony (PSone) and Sega (Saturn). Although the underrated Gamecube fared slightly better, lack of third party support and Nintendo's family-friendly policy dug it an early grave while the PS2 and Xbox were establishing themselves as household names. No one gave Nintendo (including yours truly) a snowball's chance in hell of standing upto Sony's powerhouse and Microsoft's juggernaut. Fast forward 5 years and the Wii is the place to be. The revolution in next-gen gaming has well and truly arrived. A lower price bracket, genuinely innovative games not found on conventional consoles and top first party support has left the PS3 and Xbox 360 reeling in terms of sales. And this from a machine that's clearly the weakest on paper in terms of technical specs.
UK Wii demand has been met with severe shortages for the past two Xmas seasons running. Websites are running 60-second stock checks on leading retailers. After all in December, Amazon.co.uk sold 1400 units in just under 8 minutes! Ebay prices soared well above 400 pounds. Naysayers say this is a ploy by Nintendo to build speculative interest but the situation doesn't look like alleviating anytime soon despite Nintendo having upped production to 3.5 million units per year. Further leftfield, even China is cashing in on the craze with a crudely put together, shameless, incompatible, look-alike imitation known as the Chintendo Vii.
Skeptics dismiss the Wii as not 'mature' enough for hardcore gamers because of it's easy access to accommodate toddlers and grans alike. But with conventional titles like Tomb Raider: Anniversary, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, Need for Speed: ProStreet, WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008 and Manhunt 2 (which has been subsequently banned by the BBFC on grounds of unadulterated sadistic violence); and add to this gems like Super Mario Galaxy (universally voted Game of 2007), Nights, Ghost Squad and Wii Fit (giving kids a fun excuse to work out instead of ending up armchair potatoes) which you cannot play anywhere else, this is one revolution that doesn't look like being checked anytime soon.
Just make sure you have enough space in your living room, lest you end up with an embedded Wii-mote in your new glossy HD telly.
Article by Mr S. Baharani
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