It may surprise some people to know that, from Nintendo's console catalogue, I've only ever physically owned a SNES and a Gamecube. I had a fair bit of fun with the SNES, but not as much as with my MegaDrive, and I was distinctly underwhelmed by the Gamecube, despite a few titles of undeniably high quality. So, when it hits the High Street, why should I buy a Wii?

Curmudgeon

The main reason, so I'm told, is because "the Wii will offer new and exciting ways to play games!" But we've already got new and exciting ways to play games. No doubt the Wii will be a wonderful machine, and the new controller will bring a lot of entertainment, and yes, new and different gameplay experiences. But is one, all-encompassing wavey-wand going to be the best way to achieve this? The PS2 is showing that the right peripheral, custom-designed for the game in question, can boost enjoyment massively.

First off, there's Buzz! Now, video quiz games have been commonplace for almost as long as there have been videogames. I remember having a lot of fun with Trivial Pursuit and Powerplay on the Commodore 64, for instance. But up until now, every home-based quiz game has seen you pressing X or Triangle or whatever to answer. Actually having a TV-show style buzzer in front of you adds a whole new dimension to proceedings, especially if there are four of you, and you're all half-cut.

The gaming revoution is already here

Then there's the Singstar series. Originally thought of as being a bit gimmicky, this is quickly turning into a party phenomenon. With a range of releases now available across all kinds of musical genres, Singstar really does offer something for everyone, and if you've got a reasonable number of friends around for a few drinks, this is better, and more embarrassing, than a karaoke machine. And for the gamers' girfriends or wives, the microphone beats the hell out of miming into a hairspray can in front of a mirror.

The gaming revoution is already here, again.

Thirdly, and most impressively, there's Guitar Hero. Catering to everyone's childhood rock star fantasies, this wouldn't even be half the game it is if you didn't get to strap on that guitar and throw shapes like the best axemen around. Men and women are drawn to this like you wouldn't believe, and I've seen girls that haven't touched a game since Ms. PacMan giggling with sheer joy at this. Just let them loose on Easy level, and sit back and enjoy, as they wig out to some of the best rock classics around. They love it, and as an added bonus it's something they can wear that doesn't make their bums look big. We're all winners.

The thing is, would any of these games have been better - or even as good - if they'd used the Wii controller? The joy of these games is in the uniqueness of the controllers, waving a TV remote around the room just won't have the same appeal.

Nintendo have often been thought of as the kings of party games, especially in America where Super Smash Bros. reigns supreme. But they're in danger of having that mantle ripped firmly from them, as the PS2 establishes itself as a party animal. There's a lot to be said for a well-designed gaming peripheral. Custom controllers put you "in the game" far more than one, all-encompassing remote can surely hope to, and the new styles of game and controller are dragging in the curious non-gamer, and especially the female non-gamer, more quickly than any cute, fluffy animals have ever managed. There's a healthy renaissance going on at the back-end of the current generation's life-cycle, and it bodes well for the future of the industry. And it won't necessarily take a wavey-wand to keep the renaissance alive.

July 2006

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