It's been almost two years since the release of Nintendo's Wii console. This should be roundabout the time that most developers have a fair idea of what a console is capable of, and will often play to its strengths. Yet we find that most developers are merely content to port over some questionable titles, tack on shoddy motion controls, downplay graphics and call it a day. Several developers have tried their hand at developing games for those of us that want more than party games and bad ports, but very few have had any form of success. So what exactly is the problem?

When the Wii first arrived on the scene, many developers had differing opinions on Nintendo's little hardware that could. Some thought the idea was truly interesting and innovative, and took the initiative to test the waters, such as Capcom with its remake of Resident Evil 4, and later titles, such as Zack & Wiki. Despite sales figures for the latter that didn't quite meet expectations, (even with the help of high critical praise), Capcom proved that the Wii is something that can definitely hold its own against some of the big boys on other platforms. Graphically, alright, it's got its issues, but gameplay-wise, (and for me, it's all about the gameplay), it adds something that even Sony's console just can't do, in spite of its own brand of motion-controlly goodness.

Ubisoft saw the potential for the console as well, and immediately started to develop titles for the launch. Games like Red Steel, Far Cry Vengence, and Prince Of Persia Rival Swords were readily available when the Wii arrived on the scene. The problem is that...well...they kind of sucked. It seems that the rush to meet launch was just a bit too much for the developers and with the exception of one title, Ubisoft's attempts fell short of making any real impact in the gaming world. However, Ubi wasn't done yet. It still had the ace up its sleeve...something to lure in the curious and casual gamers of the current-gen: that loveable party game, Rayman Raving Rabbids. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with Rabbids, at all. It's a fun game, and one of the better party games on the Wii. Yet, it seems that due to the failures of their previous efforts, Ubi has become too afraid to give the Wii much else. Evidently, if you fall flat out of the gate, you go with the easy money, and focus the rest of your attention elsewhere.

Now we see that a lot of gaming companies are dividing up some of their development houses, so that they can focus on the Wii. While some of us may have high hopes upon hearing that news, it seems that most of these development houses and publishers are just too afraid to take a chance and are playing the safe route when it comes to what they release for the console...What are they releasing, you may ask? Most of them are releasing...you guessed it...casual/and or party games. Wonderful.

So as the cash flows in from all these party games that must be selling, (otherwise, why bother devoting entire studios to develop them?), does that mean some of the publishers are going to start investing those revenues into new killer apps? Yes. However, don't hold your breath for them to do it on Nintendo's console. It seems like the truly innovative ideas, just aren't being given the chance, and some developers are starting to take notice, and take the initiative themselves. Games like the upcoming Conduit are being developed by those who are just as passionate enough, and aware enough to realize that there is a need to get the Wii out its current funk, and get it into a new and exciting faze.

Now before anyone out there mistakes anything that I've said here as being anti-party game, and anti-third party, I will say that some developers are really trying to give the Wii something different. Take Two has noticed the lack of a "real" hockey game on the Wii, and are taking it upon themselves to correct that. Konami is opting to bring Castlevania to the Wii, albeit not in the manner that most were expecting, but a good fighting game on the Wii would be a bonus, all the same. EA has tried before with varying results, to give the Wii a shot, although lately it's been less forthcoming with actual interesting gameplay, (does it seem that the Godfather: Blackhand Edition is the last EA game that they really tried to do something for on the Wii?), they're still giving it a shot. Madden is great for the Wii, and Woods has been alright, and will continue to improve, especially if Wii MotionPlus works as it's supposed to.

Come to think of it, maybe that's the big point of contention. The controls. Perhaps developers just haven't been patient enough to even try to take advantage of the strengths of the Wii Remote, because refining the controls would take time, effort and more money. What's funny about that, is that companies will throw away money on developing extra specially craptacular games for the PS3 and Xbox 360, which we've been told it costs more to develop for anyway rather than take that money and dump it into a project for the Wii that could be use to refine it, nearly as much as any of the Wii's first party games. Many will disagree with this point, as they'll tell you the Wii just doesn't have the processing power to play these games, but correct me if I'm wrong, isn't it just as powerful as the PS2? It certainly seems the PS2 was able and is still able to get some great games made for it....so that argument just doesn't seem to have any real meat to it. I guess what I said previously is true...you go where the money takes you. And where the money takes us is...

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6195646.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;5

Awesome.

A funny thing happened to me while shopping for my kids for Easter. I went in for a new Mario game for my son, and came out with a PS3. Perhaps I should explain this, being that I've been pretty adamant on not buying the PS3 until they show me something that's truly worth the money they're asking. So here goes...

Well, upon not finding a Mario game for my son, I decided to check the used bins infront of the store, (which I really never do...as I know by now that the only titles they have in there are GTA III and countless Syphon Filters), when lo and behold, attatched to the used bin was a little slip of paper. But this was no ordinary slip of paper my friends...this slip of paper would be the deciding factor in me buying the one system I was holding out on. I think I've made my opinion clear on the whole PS3 matter, so I won't rehash my reasons for not jumping on the Sony bandwagon right away here. Instead, let me just get straight to the point...this slip of paper informed me that I could trade in any 10 games, and receive a 60Gig PS3 for $399.99 CDN. For the record, that's the price of a Core 360...the one with no hard drive...

So after some serious thought and discussion with the clerk, I decide to run home and pick ten games that I knew I would never finish, nor even play again for more than 10 minutes. Now the ad said 10 games, but what can I say, I'm an overacheiver and brought in 21, just to see how much more I could take off that price, which all things considered, was a much better price than the $659.99 the system retails for without trades. The final amount I paid, including a copy a Fight Night Rd. 3, ended up being $219.87...

Now some people might say that I had to make some sacrifices by trading in some games to get this, and therefore the price I paid is equal to what I would have paid anyway....but in truth, I doubt that Monsters Inc. Scream Arena is going to be missed by anyone in my family...It also helps to be married to someone who has a pretty extensive gaming collection, which holds more than a few doubles in there...(oddly enough, Scream Arena was in his collection before we had kids...a fact that I didn't find out until after I had come home from the store with a brand new copy...)

First impressions? From the moment I started the console up, I was impressed. Though pretty basic, the menu screen is still pretty cool to look at...yes, the PSP had it first, but I like it just as much on my tv. Upon popping Fight Night Rd. 3 into the system, I immediately sat up and took notice (after the incredibly long load time...in which time I thought the system had frozen...). I've owned Fight Night Rd. 3 on every console...Xbox, PS2, 360...and I've been impressed with each versions graphical display...but when compared to the PS3, not even the 360 version can compare. The amount of detail on the boxers is quite incredible. They seem more defined...less soft, like they appeared in the 360 version. Admittedly, they did have more time to work on the PS3 version, but I can't help but be impressed with it nonetheless. Unfortunately, for right now, Fight Night is the only game I've got, which means I can't formulate much more of an opinion regarding its shortcomings and successes. I will say one thing, the load times on Fight Night are outright ridiculous, so I'm hoping that the first party stuff will be a little better.

Now, all that being said, the question remains...is the console worth $700? If you aren't at all interested in Blu-ray players, my answer would be a firm no. A great step up from the PS2...yes, but not worth a $500 + price increase to get to that next step. Everyone's got their own opinion on the matter, but for me, I have to say that if it weren't for EB having this deal on, I would most definitely not have bought the PS3..at least not until a major price drop happened. Now I've just gotta get through until September when Heavenly Sword supposedly comes out. Until then, I have a slightly less expensive paper weight than I expected.

Alright, here's the deal...I am by no means anti-Sony...hell, most of the last two gens have been spent playing mostly PS and PS2 games. However, this gen, I just don't feel like they really want me to buy the system. They keep trying to get the balance right, but so far they can't seem to get me to make a firm decision on whether or not to buy one. Instead of offering me things I don't want, let's look at the things I do want...quite simply...games. 

Hence, the first problem I have with the system is that there are no games out right now that aren't coming out for the 360 that I really care about. Motorstorm doesn't interest me, and Viruta Fighter is coming to 360 later this year, and with possible online play. Add this to the fact that several of the games coming out for both 360 and the PS3 are already out and cheaper for the 360, (Fight Night Rd 3, Godfather, Saints Row), Sony's really got to work for my money...Yeah, some future titles have peaked my interest, but overall, I can't say any of them is a system seller to me...which leads to the next issue...

Yeah, you guessed it, the price. Seriously, if I drop $700 on a system, I'm going to want to know that I didn't just buy it to sit there and look pretty...If I drop that much money, I want to know that it can be my primary playing system, and right now, that doesn't look like it's going to happen. The 360's library is excellent, and the Wii is definitely innovative and fresh, with alot of untapped potential, so right now, nothing that Sony has lined up that's going to overshadow that. One or two games does not a system sell...at least not for me.

Some of you might question my thoughts on the online components of the system. Well, being that Live was my first forray into online last year, I have to say I'm not really that impressed with either one...Offer all the bells and whistles you want...at the end of the day, I just want to game. Online is way too overrated right now, I think. Everytime I go online, I either get hit on, get told how much I suck, or get stuck with some punk twelve year old who feels the need to sing every damned Eminem song ever written and drone on about how "high"  he is. Riiiight...If I can't take Live's online service, how do you think this new Home service from Sony is going to be? The comparisons to Second Life and the Sims Online are inevitable, and really, I'd much rather sit in my own livingroom or a friends livingroom that some virtual room online and chat. Human interaction far outweighs anything the online community can offer me, sorry.

One last thing that's been on my mind is the whole Blu-ray thing...don't bank on this to sell the system to me, because I could give a flying Tofu bar about Blu-ray...format wars are WAY too overrated to me. HD vs. Blu-ray? As long as it looks good, I don't care. I'm still pretty happy with standard DVD's, so given the choice, that's probably what I'm going to pick. Sorry, I just can't even remotely force myself to give a rat's bahookey about which format is the best...that's just the way it is.

All that being said, yes, I will eventually take the plunge and buy a PS3...it's not a question of if...just a question of when. So come on Sony...make me want you.