Frontal Cortex, one of the many voices over at <a href="http://www.scienceblogs.com">Scienceblogs.com</a>, has written a unique explanation for the Wii’s success.
As I’m sure anyone who reads this blog knows (and has read over and over and over,) the Wii continues to sell strong while the PS3 staggers. Sony is offering up <a href="http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4646&Itemid=2">its own explanations,</a> but apparently the Wii is fast approaching <em>5 million </em>units sold. Reporters across the mainstream media are posting stories (perhaps prematurely) over the Wii’s “win.” Now, so many news outlets already declaring victory makes me nervous — I have no doubt that the PS3 will become a powerhouse — but the simple fact that the Wii is getting so much mainstream coverage is fantastic.
Just today, the New York Times published an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/technology/31game.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin">article</a> about Nintendo. It’s the same thing we’ve read over and over: it’s fun, nobody can find it, check out how much Sony’s machine costs, look at how much money Nintendo’s making… but what’s far more interesting is the writeup over at Frontal Cortex, where he claims that the simple act of <em>moving</em> makes the game more fun, thanks to those crazy endorphins.
Apparently there is more to the Wii’s control than simplicity. The controller flips a deep neurological switch when you wave it.
Check out the blog here:
<a href="http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2007/01/the_wii_and_william_james.php">http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2007/01/the_wii_and_william_james.php</a>
He explains it significantly better than I can, and brings up William James to boot.
What does this have to do with Smash? It means we have less to worry about in terms of Nintendo “screwing up” the control system. I’m interested to see how this “emotion” thing translates in games like <a href="http://wii.ign.com/objects/845/845775.html">Mortal Kombat</a>. If it can work for the traditional tons-of-button-combinations fighter, than it can work for Brawl.
As I’m sure anyone who reads this blog knows (and has read over and over and over,) the Wii continues to sell strong while the PS3 staggers. Sony is offering up <a href="http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4646&Itemid=2">its own explanations,</a> but apparently the Wii is fast approaching <em>5 million </em>units sold. Reporters across the mainstream media are posting stories (perhaps prematurely) over the Wii’s “win.” Now, so many news outlets already declaring victory makes me nervous — I have no doubt that the PS3 will become a powerhouse — but the simple fact that the Wii is getting so much mainstream coverage is fantastic.
Just today, the New York Times published an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/technology/31game.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin">article</a> about Nintendo. It’s the same thing we’ve read over and over: it’s fun, nobody can find it, check out how much Sony’s machine costs, look at how much money Nintendo’s making… but what’s far more interesting is the writeup over at Frontal Cortex, where he claims that the simple act of <em>moving</em> makes the game more fun, thanks to those crazy endorphins.
Apparently there is more to the Wii’s control than simplicity. The controller flips a deep neurological switch when you wave it.
Check out the blog here:
<a href="http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2007/01/the_wii_and_william_james.php">http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2007/01/the_wii_and_william_james.php</a>
He explains it significantly better than I can, and brings up William James to boot.
What does this have to do with Smash? It means we have less to worry about in terms of Nintendo “screwing up” the control system. I’m interested to see how this “emotion” thing translates in games like <a href="http://wii.ign.com/objects/845/845775.html">Mortal Kombat</a>. If it can work for the traditional tons-of-button-combinations fighter, than it can work for Brawl.
