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Nintendo Conference Reaction: Excited and Unashamed

Parker Scott Mortensen

6/07/2011 07:42:00 PM

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. That's the feeling I think most people have going into this whole "Project Cafe" thing, what was the code name for what has become Wii U, and after watching the Nintendo Press Conference, I'm excited and not afraid to say it.

There's inarguably an air of excitement surrounding Nintendo right now. Whether you're into the new controller or not, Nintendo is doing something different, something that combines their comfortable brand of Wii with the familiarity of tablet-like devices sewn by Apple with iPhone and iPad.

Let's be honest, the first part of Nintendo's press conference was entertaining, but nothing special. As it started, Miyamoto announced plans for Zelda titles on all current Nintendo platforms as well as the coming Skyward Sword Zelda game (presumably for Wii and Wii U). From there, it was talk of 3DS and all the standard Nintendo franchises that are to come to it - Icarus, Mario Kart, Luigi's Mansion, Starfox, etc. - which is all well and good, but it's certainly no dramatic step forward.

And so then the introduction of the new controller seems like a dramatic step forward in comparison, but it almost feels foolish to call it that at this point. Wii itself was supposed to do much the same, and when it was first announced/released, we all got into a tizzy over its potential. Almost five years later and the Wii is more irrelevant to us than relevant. But that hasn't hampered my ability to enjoy it.

Truthfully, I think the Wii produced some of the best gaming experiences I've ever had, but I think I'm mostly alone on that one. Wii Fit is one of my favorite games of the decade, along with Wii Sports Resort and Twilight Princess. But apart from that and a handful of other sundry experiences, Wii doesn't hold my attention these days, not because it's stupid or gimmicky or lame, but because there's simply more to play elsewhere.

Wii U feels like an attempt to make the Wii brand relevant again, something I believe it can do and would be happy if it were, but I'm anxious to make a declaration whether Wii U will make for a stronger, better Nintendo. The terms "hardcore" and "casual" gamers are completely stupid, but since everyone likes to use those labels, I'll say this: Wii U can ostensibly appeal to the "hardcore", the "casual", and every shade in between (if those two segments are truly polar opposites). My biggest problem with owning a Wii was that the experiences it held were so separate from the experiences I could have on PS3, 360, or PC. While adding support for games that would traditionally inhabit those consoles solely does little to benefit the types of experiences we've been getting from Wii, I can certainly see it satiating that particular crowd that enjoys pigeonholing itself into "hardcore gamers".

What excites me is the possibilities the new Wii U controller brings, and whether or not that part appeals to the bulk of gamerspace doesn't concern me one bit. I enjoyed the hell out of Wii Sports despite the dismissive air that surrounded it. Sadly, the Wii U's most exciting feature is that it combines Nintendo first-party exclusives with the games that have lived on PS3 and 360 for five years now. I say sad because I think that attitude misses the point. It's possible to be excited about something new without being "duped", and focusing on the addition of support for "core" games and not the potential for new ones sticks us in the same myopic E3 cycle. Dramatic step forward or not, Wii U is different, something that's arguably dramatic itself when it comes to video games.

The codename for the original Wii was "Revolution", and you can argue whether that turned out fitting or not. At the least, the experiences that came out of it felt different and were compelling in their own right, even if they didn't translate well to traditional "hardcore" gamers, proving relevancy to that group is potentially irrelevant. If being "duped" by Nintendo means enjoying the unique experiences it brings, whether validated by "hardcore" gamers or not, then consider me duped and loving it.