gogogadgetearl

2006.06.01

• when it comes to the next-gen console wars, i've known which one i'm going to buy for a long time now: the nintendo wii.  i knew i was going to buy it back when it was known as the revolution.  why?  because it'll be fun.  yes, i am still the same earl who has to have all the latest and greatest gadgets, but in this case, the latest [technologically] isn't necessarily the greatest.
  
  think about it: when was the last time you could sit down at a console and play a game that was truly fun?  -i'm not talking about a game with excellent graphics, or a great storyline - i'm talking about a game that is just genuinely fun.  if you've ever played games like mario party, super smash brothers, or mario kart, you know what kind of fun i'm talking about.  they bring the kind of fun that you can sit down and enjoy with anyone - the guys, your wife/girlfriend, your kids - anyone.  what other games on any console have that kind of enjoyability and mass appeal?  final fantasy?  halo?  madden?  tekken?  how many of your wives/girlfriends just love to sit down and rock out on an xbox or PS2?  [i'm not saying there aren't any girls that love to do that, i'm just asking how many there are -- to my knowledge and experience, not many.]
  
  now, i'll hand it to sony, the PS2 was a beautiful system and had a great line of really pretty, really challenging games - final fantasy, metal gear solid, tekken, SSX - it really opened up the market to the masses.  and xbox rocked the world with halo -- i've never known so many people buy an entire console system for only 1 game.  however, what did the xbox 360 bring to the gaming market other than nicer graphics?  and while the PS3 will also be prettier and support high-definition DVDs, what did it bring to the gaming world [other than a huge price tag]?  oh, it has motion-sensing controllers too?  since when does the market leader need to rip off the competition unless the competition is really getting it right?
  
  i'm telling you, nintendo is getting it right.  nintendo is pioneering new ways to enjoy your games - new and old.  as long as they continue to license and manufacture genuinely fun games for anybody and everybody, i'll gladly stick with them.