Does the unique control method for the Nintendo Wii make it a niche gaming system? – Part 2

I am afraid that I will have to agree that the Nintendo Wii is a niche gaming system.

Let's face it, a truly hardcore gamer is beyond brand loyalty these days and is going to get whichever system offers them their favorite games. As a result I know more than a few people who routinely pick up every new system as soon as they come available just so they can stay on the front line of the "Gaming Generation."

Now since this market is already covered, what niche is the Nintendo Wii trying to fill? Well given the large number of family friendly games featuring cute characters with an emphasis on physical, group activities available for play on the Wii, I am very confident in suggesting that this system is marketed heavily to an adult female (likely a parent with young children) demographic.

Frankly, I think this is a wonderful strategy. Kids are going to play video games anyways, so getting them a system that will make them get off their butts and work up a sweat is a brilliant idea. And I know it also appeals to women, because my wife hated video games until she played the Wii. I personally enjoy playing the Wii with friends and family as well. For a little while, anyways.

What can I say? I am an old school gamer. One who cut my teeth by dedicating hours at a time in front of my TV set, trying to master the deft finger manoeuvrings required to get my "Red Contra Soldier" to successfully clear the battlefield. This level of concentration did not allow for any arm waving and control-pad-gesturing to get the 8-Bit creation to the promised land. It required, sweat, Doritos, 7-11 grape Slurpees and rigid digital manipulation with my elbows firmly tucked into my sides.

But that's me.

My Mom loves the Wii. Playing bowling. Beating my Dad in a boxing match. Having the option to exercise at home with the ingenious "Wii Fit". Just this past New Year's Eve at a friend's house there were round robin tournaments for the ever popular "Wabbits" game. For those not familiar, this game involves ridiculously cute furry mammals performing a variety of mundane tasks at your arm-gyrating command. These tasks include, but are not limited to: brushing teeth, shaving, using environmentally friendly aerosol antiperspirant and so on. Watching grown women and men laugh uproariously as they failed to get their "Wabbits" to complete these tasks successfully was truly more enjoyable than playing the game for me.

And that's why I know this Wii is a niche product. For every hardcore gamer who loves MMO games, playing with dozens of different people at any one time from around the world, there are dozens of people who barely play video games at all. The Wii puts the fun back in video games, and makes people who've never been able to spell "Nintendo" want to buy one desperately so they can play with their friends.

Have fun!

Video game reviews: Supreme Commander (PC)

Supreme Commander raises the bar for the Real Time Strategy (RTS) video game genre. The designers of one of my favorite games of all-time, Total Annihilation, designed this MASSIVE video game. Both the scale and scope of Supreme Commander boggles the mind and captures the imagination. I give the game an overall score of 9, and all of my ratings are found at this bottom of this article.

Pros:

Supreme Commander provides an amazing entertainment experience for fans of this genre. The amazing numbers of units are the highpoint of the game. Many RTS games have low caps on the size of armies. The army cap was one of the greatest weaknesses of the excellent game, Battle for Middle Earth 2. Another advantage of Supreme Commander is map size. Battles feel epic do the number of units and the size of maps. In addition, Supreme Commander features three balanced factions. Each faction has unique units and the units on the top of the tech tree are amazingly powerful.

Style of Play:

Air units are introduced early and matches and change the overall dynamics of gameplay. Static defenses are powerful and discourage early rushes. In other words, Supreme Commander does not play like other RTS games. Even if you are tired of this type of game, Supreme Commander offers a different style of play that emphasizes intelligent force building, smart defenses, and resource collection. Every commander will be forced to choose between building expensive but deadly high tech units or relying on large numbers to win.

Cons:

Although Supreme Commander has many amazing features, the game taxes the resources of even the mightiest PCs. Even high-end gaming PCs experience slow down when a lot of units are on the screen at one time. Furthermore, the sheer numbers of units and the extreme size of maps can prove overwhelming for novice players. In addition, the graphics are good, but they are not the best graphics for a RTS game. The soon to be released, Command and Conquer 3 features better graphics and effects.

Ratings:

Overall: 9

Gameplay: 9

Graphics: 8

Replay Value: 10

Story: 8

Sound: 8

Multiplayer: 10

Campaign: 9

Pros and Cons of Online Video Game Rental Services

Mawe Barrios asked:


If you want to know more about the pros and cons of video game rentals online, then you should definitely read this article. It will be able to enlighten you on some of the basic advantages and disadvantages about this online service, thus helping you make a decision whether or not to sign up for one, just in case you're interested.

The video game consoles that are now out in the market are costing gamers up to $300.00 to buy. The average price of a video game can reach up to $60.00. With these kind of prices, you cannot blame people for trying other alternatives just to be able to continue playing their favorite games. Renting video games online can offer gamers a huge convenience, as well as lower their expenses. However, these services are not for the average gamer, so there are a few disadvantages, too.

Renting video games from online companies can be very convenient, indeed. It is perhaps for this reason that several websites are flourishing in this industry. The selection of games in these online stores are extensive and can reach up to thousands of games. The popular formats are supported, too, like PS2 and PS3, Nintendo Wii, and the Xbox.

If you order a game you want, the delivery times usually range from 1 or 2 days, so you don't have to wait long. You also enjoy the convenience of having access to game manuals, cheats, and reviews.

The subscribers in these video game rental services are able to enjoy huge savings as compared to the rates they have to pay if they choose to rent from a local shop instead. It has become the standard in this industry that online video game rental services do not impose late fees for the games that their subscribers rent out. You can play your games for as long as you like!

The membership fees are usually lower, too, when you compare them to your local video game stores. And if you do want to buy a game instead of renting them, you'll be able to get them at a much higher discount.

However, these services are not for everyone. Even if you are an avid gamer, perhaps it would be better to think twice before signing up. Perhaps you are not one of those people who play games every single day. If you don't play games more than 3 or 4 times a month, then you won't be able to get the most benefits out of these services.

For some people, even waiting for 1 or 2 days for their games to arrive may be unthinkable. What if you get the sudden urge to play a game this very minute? Delivery times of 1 or 2 days are fast enough for online video game rentals, but they might not be fast enough for you.

Lastly, some video game rental online services may charge their subscribers for membership fees even if they are not actively using their accounts. People who rent only 1 game a month will sometimes have to pay their full monthly dues. It's advisable to use your subscription to the fullest when you sign up, or else you could be wasting your money.



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