Great stuff, Richard. I'm definitely on a wait-and-see approach with the Wii.

My biggest problem with it is how much the environment plays into enjoying the system properly. I live in an average sized apartment, I have a feeling that the Wii just isn't going to cut it in my teenie living room. When it's a sunny day, do I have to close the blinds for fear that the IR will be screwed up? I don't have to do that with my 360 or PS2 in the same room.

I'm kinda in the same boat as you, but after some thought I think this will be the first console I (try to) buy on launch day.

As to price, if I have it right, I spent $300 for a PS2 way after its launch date.

Wii $250
Extra controller + nunchuk $60
Two games (including free Wii sports) $50-60

That's around $360/370 that I plan on spending, only a little bit more than when I got the PS2. Actually, now that I think about it, I had to buy a memory card and extra controller for the PS2, so that was, what, an extra 50 or 75 bucks? Even better.

So the price doesn't bother me as much.

As for the motion sensors being affected by light level, too much or too little, it's Bluetooth isn't it? So AFAIK, it should be OK. I'm more concerned about not having built-in rechargeable batteries.

This article, that takes a longer view of Nintendo's console history definitely gives me pause:

http://gameinformer.com/News/Story/200609/N06.0915.1324.09291.htm

But I'm still undeterred....I think.

Sounds like most of your concerns will be answered within a month or two after launch. IMHO I think you should wait until after launch and see how the gamer public is reacting to the controls and games.

Remember that Nintendo is publishing (but not developing??) some new IPs, HAMMER, and some Day After tomorrow game. So they seem to be branching out for new IPs.

I don't understand why everyone is so critical about the Wii's graphics. In my opinion, Super Smash Bros. Melee looks a lot better graphicaly than most PS2 and X-Box games being released today. Sure, the graphics won't be as godly as the PS3's, but they're still pretty enough to look at. And this way, Nintendo has room to improve. Sony's packing so much into the PS3, what will the PS4 be like? It won't be much better because they're putting so much power into the PS3 already. It'll cost just as much and be in the same situation as the Wii, but not because of innovation, just because they can't make it much better than it is.

thats why the ps4 isnt coming out for another 6 or 7 years

I got a huge reason why the Wii might "fail". The Wii can't play DVDs. A huge reason why the PS2 was this generations top dog was the ability to play DVDs. I think Nintendo made a huge mistake when they decided not to let people get their movie on with the Wii seeing as how they've been touting it as some glorious home/family/whatever entertainment device.

I am one of the people who decided not to get one and many of my reasons mirror your "Fail" reasons. The price of the virtual console games is a bit insane as well as the overall price of the system.

Either way, good article mate =)

"The Wii can't play DVDs".

Ooooh, come on!!!

Who needs today a DVD player? EVERYBODY owns a DVD player! You don't need a console to play DVDs. That's not a problem.

Well, the cost thing is not an issue to me at all. NoA, although charging $250 for the console, is after all giving you a pack in game that probably will cost about $40-$50 anyway. Also, you have to add in the cost of extra controllers for any system you buy. I say that fun is the biggest thing to look at, if you feel like you can buy the Wii and have enough fun to justify the cost go for it! If you want to get a different console that's fine too! Just buy the one that you think you'll have the most fun with. ;) I personally don't think I can get 600 bucks worth of fun out of the PS3, if I could even get one on launch day anyway.

Wii cant play dvd's, so what? wii and iTV beside each other look so freakin good! ALL my music, ALL my TV Shows, ALL my MOVIES, right there on the iTV. Personally, my dvd collection is gathering dust thesedays.

nintendo has consistenly made many of the funnest games i've ever played. i feel that graphics are a secondary factor in making a game worth it to buy/play. i agree that the graphics make it less of a reason to buy, but not enough to switch me over to not buying.

the newness and the innovation in how games can now be played, backed by the makers of arguably the funnest games ever (as well as third party publishers of many of the other top games ever), makes this purchasing decision an easy one in my view.

"fail" i don't see being a likely outcome. i believe that games will forever go in the trend the Wii will be taking it, more and more intuitive, more immersive, w/ the gameplay increasingly approaching reality. not abstact button pressing, but a motion that can be articulated.

star wars lightsaber battles using a "wand", will be awesome. let's see if nintendo will make that feeling worth it on their first attempt. i believe in them.

I agree with SAM, DVD playback isn't all that important. I buy video game consoles to play video games.

That said, there really aren't that many videogames on the 360 or the PS3 that I'm all that excited about. Even when great games come out for those systems, there's almost always a PC version that eventually comes out that's just as good (or better).

However, this usually doesn't happen for Nintendo games. If you want to play your Marios, Zeldas, Metriods, etc., you've got to have a Nintendo console.

Yes, the graphics aren't state of the art, but that's why I have my PC (which will always be ahead of all consoles in the graphics department). Besides, I truly am of the camp that gameplay is more important than graphics, and I find that Nintendo usually does a great job in that arena.

Cheapest, quality games exclusive to the console that probably won't make it to the PC, interesting controller possibilities... More and more, I'm leaning Wii.

I'm looking forward to the innovation that Wii will bring to the games market. I think the market is becoming stale, with more and more remakes being done for the sake of making money.

Whilst Nintendo will be remaking some games, the controls will offer the innovation, just like the DS :-)

I agree with a lot said here. Yes the Wii graphics will start to look retro when the ps3 is out and developers get more stable with the potential of the 360. Yes most people have a DVD player and don

Honestly, the Wii graphics look vastly improved above the GameCube... Yes, it _does_. So I really regard it a very, very small compromise.

The price isn't that expensive, for what you get, it's a great investment. Had it been any cheaper, it probably would be considered like a cheap toy.

Don't sneeze while playing any games - Wii or not. It will screw you up regardless.

contradict yourself much?

I don't see why complain about paying like additional 120$ for an extra wiimote and a game... I don't see the point comparing it to buying an XBox 360... As far as I know, the XBox 360 comes with one controller and no games, for the same price you are paying for a Wii, an extra controller and a game... People stating that it is the same, simply don't get the numbers quite right...

umm about the dvd playback. The reason why it was beneficial to the ps2 is because when the ps2 first came out, everyone didn't have atleast 3 dvd players in their house. A DVD player isn't as high of demand as it was back then. If you don't have a DVD player by now, whats wrong with you? Having no DVD player included is no problem with me. The price is as good as it gets to me. $250 plus you get the wii sports? thats a pretty good bargain if you ask me. And the graphics arn't terrible. They cant touch the PS3 or 360 but they look better than any X-Box game. If the controls match up then this console is a sure thing. With a cheaper price and innovative gameplay, theres no reason why the Wii shouldn't do good.

Well, I do agree with you. I am definetly getting a Wii at launch, but I also highly agree on the fact that they need to branch out to more franchises. I dont want them stretching the metroid and zelda story line anymore like they already have. I would hope that in the future, that MAYBE, POSSIBLEY an HD-ADD-ON COMPONENT would be available for us hardcore gamers. Graphics do matter,but they aren't really everything but they need to be up to par with everone else. I do understand the branching out to other audiences thin they're trying to do but they are leaving out the HARDCORE power whores some of us are. The Classic controller looks ugly :) :( :P

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this or not yet, but the motion sensors work through bluetooth, NOT IR. So the fears over how light will affect the motion sensors are really unfounded.

That's why you can hold the wii controller side ways, a la tennis, and still have it respond.

Launch games on any system rarely use the full potential of the hardware. Right now, developers are still getting used to what they can and can't do with the Wii, and working out how to use the new motion-sensor control. There are some bugs to work through; few people will deny that. But I think that in a few months the Wii will show itself to be a clear winner.

However, this is just my opinion. I'm going to get a Wii ASAP after it comes out, but that doesn't mean you have to. If you're not sure, that's cool. Don't waste your money on something you might not like. Chances are you have a friend who will get a Wii... just wait and try theirs before you make a final decision.
And unlike the PS3, you'll probably be able to find Wii available at the store without a preorder, if you change your mind.

FYI....the Wii DOES play DVDs

Joedark0, not all the functions work with the Bluetooth, there is still a motion sensor, duhhhhhhh!

only time will tell. It's a fact that there will be only two first party game on launch day, but at least this time Nintendo will benefit of a strong third party support. One great point is that the Wii barely can't do worst that the Gamecube did. Right at the beginning the Wii will have a better start: a great number of games, new original controllers and an original online experience. Just for that it's worth it so stop being so pessimist. The Gamecube wasn't original compared to its competitors, the Wii does so let's see.

gamers4all the wii does not play dvd movies, scroll down to the bluebox with the technical specs, last item states disc sizes:

http://wii.ign.com/articles/733/733464p1.html

you can get a dvd player for less then $20 now so i don't see what the big deal is, with it not playing dvds its more of a gimmick then anything.

the only thing i think nintendo is doing wrong with the wii is not supporting 1080i, and Dolby Digital audio. slow but surly everyone is switching over to hd tvs and people want the best picture they can out of there tv.