Wii's Graphics - What's All The Fuss About?

compodude

theres nothing wrong with wii graphics, and anyway, if its a good game i dont give a monkeys about the graphics, gameplay that counts

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if you dont like it, live with it!

LordArchantos

Very well written, great article. It's amazing how this subject still causes huge uproars. I agree especially with the part about art direction, it does have a huge impact on what the visuals seem to be, look at Metroid Prime 1 & 2, LoZ: TP, Okami, etc. They're beautiful, and stunning still, IMHO. I personally don't really care about graphics, in terms of polygon count, HD, or all that. If I did, I certainly would have never bought or played any PS2 game since Xbox and Cube came out, and because I had a high-end gaming PC back then also. It's funny how the Sony fanboys were screaming a different thing when PS2 was weaker than it's competitors, now that PS3 competes in processing power, suddenly "it's all about gfx". Hell, I'd even play a visually C64-level game now if it had something new and innovative gameplay-wise (and would be compelling in terms of story, etc. of course). I've been playing since C64, and now, 10 years after Nintendo made analog stick a standard in console gaming, I want a change. I don't want to play the same old games from the end of '90s on an upgraded graphics engine, on the same controllers. That's why I don't play much on my PC anymore, even though I have a high-end one. That's like eating the same few kinds of food day after day for years and years, only served differently, and possibly on a newer, shinier plate. I think the gfx that Wii is CAPABLE of, (as DazzeL pointed out, at least Doom 3/HL2 quality), are more than enough. And with a little skill and effort, especially on the art department from the devs, I say Wii could have some truly stunning looking games (at least IMHO, but I consider visuals to be a lot more than just high polycount and HD.).

Plus, finally, there's a console that can have a decent AI in FPS games without giving the player auto-aiming, not to mention the indefinitely better immersion and the feeling of aiming and firing w/ the Wii Remote, if done properly. And RTS games where you don't have to spend hours on a single mission, simply because moving camera, selecting troops via dragging, moving to build/command/etc. -menus in a hurry, with an analog stick, is a real pain and really annoyingly slow.

But, I'm not saying "Nintendo rulez" or any other fanboy-&¤%#. No matter which company would have done what Nintendo did with Wii, I would've felt the same and loved them for it. I'm just saying, as a long-time hardcoregamer, thank you Nintendo for the Wii.

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Rolex

Well said - this is something once people get into Wii games seem to loose sight of. The control system in THE main selling point in Nintendos eyes and we should focus on the benefits and immersion this brings, too many people seem to forget about using conventional controllers over Wii and how different Wii can be in the right devs hands.

As soon as there is a mass realisation of such then we will continue to have this conversation in one for or another.

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---Smithy...
"This IS the difference over the other systems....graphics can make you believe you're there to some extent but motion gesture can make you believe you're doing it!"

DazzeL

You've misunderstood Zap2. Theres nothing comparable about PS2/Xbox graphics. Xbox are far superior. Hence my point. GC sits in the middle somewhere.

demonflair

Great read, the article was amazing. Almost everything you said has great points of view.

Great Job

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arcticreaver

i think people should just realize that the Wii is NEVER going to be able to be on par with Xbox 360 or the PS3.

as soon as people get over that part. it's all good. but seeing as how people keep complaining about this particular problem, i'm not sure if people will ever stop talking about it.

WiiBad

I really dig the graphics personally. After not getting into the whole last generation of consoles, its all good to me this time around (sold an Xbox and a Gamecube, neither did it for me).

wii_cammy

All I meant was
We all know the graphics arent that good
nd we all know about the gamepla
so why keep bringing it up
none of us really care about the graphics or else we wouldnt buy a wii

Umbrous

Exactly the point. A respectful gamer knows it is not about the graphics, it is about the storyline, the gameplay. The feeling you get playing the game. Go back to phantasy star series and you will see a good story but the graphics are not todays par that is for sure.

I look forward to getting a wii, but somehow I have to get rid of this current junk (PS2) I have to get money. But even than it doesn't seem to get enough on todays market scam....oh I mean scheme.

I admit that even though PS2 (in its day) had great graphics, the games were sub-par the nearer we got to the PS3. Look at them now, they are practically half of a game with content "to be released". Don't be surprised if you have to pay another $30 on-top of your $50 (or $60 in PS3's case) game just for expansions or added content.

The wii, even though it is a bit more expensive than "last-gens" systems it is still "cheap" compared to the other choices, which are not worth it at all.

So, in comparison, it is Nintendo takes the K.O. again in the gaming industry because they always focus on one thing. Fun.

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"Imagination is more important than Knowledge" -Albert Einstein

"Two Catholic nuns, a university professor and a businessman were sentenced in 2001 to between 12 and 20 years' jail for aiding the mass murders." -BBC News

.;'`~-= Still playing, training, building teams =-,

flemo123

Sure it's all about game play, but there is a rapidly increasing use of large flat screen televisions. When you blow up Wii graphics to the larger sizes like a 42" or 50" screen they not only look worse it starts to get difficult to distinguish one non-descript blurry shape from another. If the graphics really are as good as it gets I think the Wii will rise and fall rather quickly by console standards, especially given the rapid growth of HD television hardware. The control method is cool, but if anyone had bothered that could probably have been sold as an add-on for any GC, XBox, or PS2.

vagrant

I sold my last 360 to buy another Wii.

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Dreamcast Fan Fo Lyfe

Monsteroids

huh why??

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vagrant

Because there isn't shit I want to play on 360 for months. And any of those games I can get for free for my PC anyways and just use my 360 pc controller.

Plus crysis makes anything on the 360 look like a joke.

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Dreamcast Fan Fo Lyfe

Monsteroids

ahhh true.

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captainff

Whenever I read about the graphical shortcomings of the Wii I think of this analogy......

Imagine you are in a bar and a gorgeous woman / man is giving you the eye. You go over and get acquainted, spend the night together. In the morning you realise that while they were gorgeous, and fun for a night, you really don't think that you can spend your whole life with them......

The next night you go to the same bar, and meet another,slightly less attractive woman / man, who is just as fun. It dawns on you that this second person is emotionally and mentally on your level, and that you want to spend your life learning new things about them......


Now I know that someone will think / say that you could just keep on going back to the bar night after night. If that is your choice, so be it. I'd rather spend the time exploring the less visual, but ultimately more interesting option.

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Monsteroids

Niiiiice. Well put! *applause*

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flemo123

So your saying the Wii is the ugly chick with the great personality and the 360/PS3 is the airhead supermodel?

Okay let me take the analogy a little further (too close to a true story). Your out at the bar enjoying a few drinks with your friends. You see an attractive woman at the far end of the bar. After a few more drinks you pluck up courage to go and speak to her. You enjoy several more drinks with the lady, you leave together and spend the night. The next morning, in the sober light of day you realise that she is not so attractive, in fact she's quite unattractive and is showing signs of a 5 o'clock shadow. However she's a very nice person, she makes you breakfast, thanks you for a great night, asks for your number and bids you farewell. You realise personality goes a long way but you aint going to be dating the bearded lady in this lifetime.

MetroidFan

This link proves how good the Wii's graphics are:


http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?p=2436097

Monsteroids

Well, all I say is that the developers are lazy and that. Metroid, Galaxy, Brawl, and many SEGA games will likely prove to be visually appealing.

Maybe its just me, but I think this is cool:

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captainff

Not what I said at all. In simple English I said that I'd prefer a game with substance, gameplay and longevity over graphical polish, if I had to choose one or the other. I never said which, if any, system would be either example - that is purely your interpretation of my analogy.

I think that if you wake up in the morning next to a bearded lady either 1) that's your thing and I'm happy for you, or 2) you need to go easier on the booze.

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