Look Ahead: Nintendo Wii Preview

Caught out playing catch up in the last generation, Nintendo are back to doing what they do best on December 8th when the Nintendo Wii finally makes its long-awaited European debut. No longer wishing to compete directly against Microsoft and Sony with the increasingly risky reliance on sophisticated technology, improved visuals, spiralling costs, but same old gameplay formula, Nintendo are taking a step in a different direction with the Wii, previously hinted at with the release of the hugely successful Nintendo DS. Nintendo's "Blue Ocean" strategy behind their recent success has been well documented in the past, so there's little need to regurgitate the scope for targeting additional markets with disruptive products. Where Nintendogs and Brain Training helped the DS, Nintendo hopes to appeal to such wider audiences by throwing away twenty years of the traditional joypad's evolution and the increasing complexities, which Nintendo considers to be the largest barrier that prevents the industry from growing.

After an opportunity to sample the initial line-up for the Wii, it seems that Nintendo's confidence is well placed. There's something immediately inviting about picking up the pad (sorry remote) for the first time, far beyond the initial sense of curiosity. It's something so different, but at the same time so well-suited, that you can't help but feel that Nintendo are on to something with this (something that Sony seems to realise only too well).

Strangely instead of Zelda or Mario, it's Wii Sports that has become a talisman for the system to-date and will likely be the key title during the launch of the Wii - a title that breaks down the traditional one-dimensional attraction of videogames with the broad appeal of sports. Covering Tennis, Golf, Boxing, Bowling and Baseball, Wii Sports is "the" game to convince the non-gamers that Nintendo talks enthusiastically about (a little too much at times); the game to get your grandma off the sofa and switching over to the Wii instead of watching the Queen's speech this Christmas. Perhaps the only slight area of concern is just how much emphasis Nintendo is placing on these "new" audiences, appealing to those who've never played a videogame before or ditched them when pads starting featuring more then two buttons and a paddle. The marketing men at Nintendo have been quick to latch onto this, adopting a design conscious, lifestyle image that's at odds with what's traditionally expected from Nintendo - let's just hope they don't forget about the demands of the core experienced players and the younger markets too much, Nintendo would be well-advised that the early adopters will likely consist mainly of the stereotypical gamer.

With a line-up that consists of classic and creative new titles the gamut of experiences covers a broad range of game types, which should find something for everybody this Christmas. Whether it's the monumental accomplishment of having a Zelda title for launch, or something slightly more appealing to a wider audience who doesn't understand the importance of a green tunic hero; perhaps the one title that defines the Wii at launch doesn't come from Nintendo, but the strong support of French publisher Ubisoft. With no less then seven titles at launch, Ubisoft's Red Steel is showing the strengths of the Wii remote in the popular first-person-shooter genre; a mixture of swords and guns gameplay that bears more then a passing resemblance to the likes of Kill Bill, Red Steel will likely fly off the shelves alongside the Wii this Christmas.

Of course there are some fears; although the Wii offers up a multitude of new ideas and opportunities for developers, it will be interesting to see how certain genres take to the Wii treatment. Equally there's also some concerns about certain publishers upping the "gimmicky" quota with irreverent novelties - we're talking about you Monster 4x4 World Circuit with your cheap and tacky "steering wheel" attachment. There's also the same reservations that were voiced when the DS launch, as to which game publishers will "get" the Wii and produce titles to maximise its strengths rather then looking at which franchises will make the most sales with the least amount of effort - the dreaded port. Hindsight from the DS suggests that developers will begin to exploit the system further down the light, and we envision some truly unique experiences coming from many of Japan's development studios - let's just hope the likes of EA and Activision give the Wii a chance with unique titles as opposed to a home for generic titles based around the latest license. It's the concept videos behind Wii that continue to tease and provide an alluring proposition of the future, whether it's something deliciously simple as turning a door handle with the Wii remote in a survival/horror or twisting the throttle on a motorbike. Perhaps that's the greatest strength behind Wii, the endless possibilities that seem apparent at a time when genuinely unique gaming experiences seem to becoming harder and harder to find on the competition's traditional platforms.

Insisting that it's "always about the game" has been a commendable policy from Nintendo in the past, but it's one that cost the hardware giant dearly in the last generation as gamers grew accustomed to their DVD drives and online services. This time around Nintendo have accepted such demands, and although wisely removing DVD playback at the last minute (does anybody not have a DVD player these days?), the Wii has a bundle of features and options away from gaming that will bolster interest away from videogame fanatics. The introduction of the "Mii", a self created avatar that can be inserted into the likes of Wii Sports and other games after a rousing appearance at E3 earlier in the year, is classic Nintendo and one-in-the-eye for Xbox 360 owners with their simplistic GamerPics in comparison. The Wii Channels providing access to the Internet via an Opera browser (free for six months), Photo capabilities, Weather forecasts and News headlines, are also a major change for Nintendo and the drive behind Wii appealing to wider audiences. In true Nintendo tradition, what could be considered fairly uninteresting features to the average Nintendo gamer, are however brought to life in the trademark fun and enjoyable manner. Employing a Google Earth styled interface, weather forecasts are more entertaining and feature a greater level of interaction then the local news, providing the opportunity to zoom from your present location and check out what's happening on the other side of the planet.

Sitting on top of the richest back-catalogue of hits in the industry and with the surprising popularity of Xbox Live, Nintendo's Virtual Console promises to become a crucial element of the Wii. Providing Nintendo's titles from the NES, SNES and Nintendo64 (along with certain PC Engine and MegaDrive titles), the Virtual Console should ignite the interest of the hardcore gaming group - those that Nintendo appear to be distancing themselves from with the overall design of the unit. With prices ranging from between £3 to £5 Nintendo's service will hopefully be strong enough to cope with the huge demand that's likely. The long months between essential XBLA titles also proves that Nintendo will have to keep the games coming at a regular rate to sustain interest, along with encouraging independent developers with creative aspirations to create the "next" Tetris.

With a UK price of £179.99 Nintendo have settled for a price at the high-end of impulsive. Strangely the cost comes at odds against Nintendo's strategy, and could be the one reason to possibly prevent those that Nintendo are chasing after. If you've never played videogames before but have interest in the Wii, does the price represent a point that will make or break those sitting on the fence, tempted but not entirely convinced? Consequently the price point does allow for a margin of cuts later into the Wii lifecycle, during which Nintendo would hopefully have enough momentum to push the Wii further into the mainstream, closer inline to Sony's positioning with the PlayStation2 as opposed to the desperate cost-cutting measures of the GameCube.