Developer slams Wii’s graphics, gamers want "beautiful" games
By Jonathan Schlaffer
Fans of the Nintendo Wii will tell you one of the best things about it are the controls. The Wiimote and motion sensor controls have been praised by Nintendo fans and reviewers ever since the console came out. Then there are others who think it’s not so great and that the console as a whole could be better.
In an interview with Disposable Media, game developer David Perry was asked what he thought about the Wii. He thinks that the Wii isn’t the end all be all of consoles and that better interfaces and controls are bound to come along but may not come from Nintendo.
Almost everyone who has a Wii will not comment on the graphics quality, which isn’t so great, despite what some people say the graphics on the Wii are really horrible, Nintendo says graphics don’t matter to the crowd they are trying to attract. But, Perry does not agree saying, “The fact is, gamers are attracted to beautiful looking games.”
I’m one of those people that is attracted to beautiful looking games. None of the games on the Wii can compete graphically with a PC, PS3 or Xbox 360 and it never will be able to. The Wii probably won’t be around in 10 years, frankly, it’s not very easy to understand why the GameCube is still around.
Don’t get me wrong, if a game has good graphics and horrible controls in gameplay, it is a bad game. If a game has poor graphics but excellent controls, like many of the Wii games, that is also not a good game though Nintendo fans disagree.
As much as some of you want me to like the Wii, I simply can’t, I’ve tried but the lack of HD outputs or even HD capabilities, the lack of graphics that could even approach something between the Xbox and Xbox 360 and the lack of a hard drive are just glaring oversights by Nintendo, in my opinion.
The Wii has sold well because of a low price and because of all the crazed Nintendo fans out there.
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July 19th, 2007
Um… So does that mean that Super Mario 3, or Zelda OOT are not good games because they aren’t HD?
This guy is an idiot.
Gamers didn’t abandon the PS1 for the N64 over graphics, or the game boy for the game gear, or the SNES for the Neo Geo, or the PS2 for the Gamecube, or the DS for the PSP or…..
Historically the system with the best graphics has NEVER won the console war. Why are people incapable of seeing this? It’s a clear factual trend since the days of the NES.
July 19th, 2007
Two Luke’s can’t be wrong, right?
Took the words right out of my mouth man. I agree 100%. Graphics are cool to look at, but a game or for that matter a system doesn’t live or die purely on whether it can have the most advanced graphics.
July 19th, 2007
This guy is a looser. to say a game is good because of graphics is sill and as a developer this is an insane concept. so games like Resident Evil 4 wii edition are dark and gory as it meant to be the control system is second to none but the graphic are shabby in his opinion so the game snot worth buying, right? Would you say wii sports are graphically inferior?
I think not. If he took the time to encode in 480P then he would get more out of the console. He lacks vision and concepts. What games of any real substance has the PC? It has tons but not all are graphically sound. Take Jedi Knight II, the games design and story line is brilliant but the graphic aren’t breath taking nor is star wars battle front or the godfather or Scarface what about command and conquer and these games are rated 7 – 8 out of ten even nine but not are graphically sound and how many games does the pc release every year which fall short in every area some don’t eve make it to the shelf’s let alone get a review. This guy is waste up let look at IIS soccer on the XboX what a shite conversion (PS2 download to the later) and fifa on the Xbox also nonsense the Xbox has been around for 4 years an the best game on it is ONE gears of war (360) and the forth coming HALO 3 and if I remember correctly the HALO graphics were repetitive and shite. Were the grass smooth and did every strand sync in time. No. It was a very badly textured mapped green layer. I could go on all-day but point taken I hope
So the next time you review a console look past the David Beckham one trick pony e.g. graphics and look and the style and grace and ingenious technique Nintendo have put into the wii.
P.S. look out for “no more heroes” and “soul caliber legends” and please get a real job as your mind can’t coupe with thinking out side the box. Please remember the Wii is out selling both the PS3 and Xbox
July 19th, 2007
This writer and Perry are both talking about the “hardcore” gamer, which is only one portion of the Wii demographic. My gf and my dad, who both play casually, don’t give a shit about a graphics because they’re having so much fun to care that their Miis lack proper arms and legs.
And Wii graphics are nowhere near being maxed out yet. If you think Resident Evil 4 or Zelda: TP are “really horrible” looking… you my friend, are a graphics whore. Go buy a DirectX 10 card and go play some FPS where you’re a macho soldier trying to stop some alien invasion or whatever. zomg Breakable environments! Now that’s a good game. Am I talking about Crysis? Halo? Killzone 2? Does it even matter?
The Wii has sold like crazy because it’s FUN. You know, like Solitaire for Windows, Bejeweled, Geometry Wars, Lumines, Tetris, etc.
All “not good / bad” games by your definition, right?
July 19th, 2007
Suck my dick, Schlaffer.
July 19th, 2007
I consider myself to be a hardcore gamer, following the likes of Crysis, Bioshock, Call of Duty 4 etc. loving the look of these games especially Bioshock, but I also love my DS, had a psp but the games that they are pushing I feel are were not designed for portables. Ive been following all consoles lately and I have to say there are so many impressive and attractive looking games coming to the Wii, and not only the 3 big nintendo releases which I have to say after watching the new videos. Metroid, galaxy and brawl are looking hot, but there are so many fun looking 3rd parties on there way. A game that caught my eye was ‘de Blob’. Anyway I love flash graphics but I probably love fun and exciting games with decent graphics just as much if not more. You cant always play FPS
July 19th, 2007
If I want cutting edge graphics, I’ll play a PC game. Most new games like Assassin’s Creed, Bioshock, Mass Effect, are being ported to PC anyway.
Wii offers something the others don’t. I’ve been playing since release, still having fun, and see no need for PS360.
July 19th, 2007
Schlaffer=owned.
July 19th, 2007
“Nintendo says graphics don’t matter to the crowd they are trying to attract. But, Perry does not agree saying, “The fact is, gamers are attracted to beautiful looking games.”.”
I would say 1/3 to half of the “gamers” out there are attracted to, no amused by, amazing looking graphics. The rest of us are just looking for something fun and fresh.
“The Wii has sold well because of a low price and because of all the crazed Nintendo fans out there.”
The low price is only part of the formula. If you look at who is actually buying and using the system, people of all ages are getting into it. Nintendo said they were going after the “blue ocean”, casual gamers, and by the looks of things they have been extremely successful.
July 19th, 2007
Look at any of the games Dave Perry has been involved in, from the early nineties to present. I can probably think of two, maybe three, out of a pretty big list that I’ve bothered replaying after I’ve finished them (Earthworm Jim, Aladdin, Robocop vs Terminator - and that was a long time ago).
In all cases though, the graphics, while cutting edge for their time, have taken precedent over gameplay and longevity. I can honestly say I’ve had more memorable and enjoyable moments playing Wii Sports for example, than I ever did playing MDK or Paperboy 2, Dave.
Eye candy does not define the gamers experience, and one thinking that, would be in for a huge shock.
Think of it this way, and to some gamers this concept may be alien (joking), consider a really hot chick, great to look at, which of course is the initial attraction. You then get to know her, and after a while you realise she’s the most boring fucking person on the planet, a real bitch or whatever, you realise she isn’t as great a person as you took her at face value and you lose interest. Not that I’m saying it would be better to have a total beast of a girl that ..er..plays better, but you get what I mean.
Anyway, Dave Perry hardly has the finger on the proverbial pulse of smart gaming decisions, and as Learoy points out, the Wii is outselling both the 360 and ps3 by huge margins, both systems whose emphasise is on their huge graphical abilities.
July 19th, 2007
This guy’s a game developer?
Sounds like some kid that failed out of film school and makes game by the business model - gah makes me sick.
July 20th, 2007
The sheer stupidity of some people is absolutely beyond understanding. Has the DS got stunning graphics no, has the Wii no, they were designed to draw in new audiences and offer developers a fresh canvess to paint on. Instead of beefing up graphics, beefing up the price which we ultimately pay and offering the same, stale, old ,rechurned rubbish year after year. No coincidence their both selling out and whipping the competition. What can the competition offer the next time round… same old content just better graphics you can bet your bottom dollar the bid N WILL OFFER NEW CONCEPTS NOT SEEN BEFORE unlike MICRO$OFT & $ONY.
July 20th, 2007
“despite what some people say the graphics on the Wii are really horrible”
Has this guy paid any attention at all? Has he seen Mario Galaxy or Prime 3? The graphics may not as good as PS3 or 360 but it is proving itself to be a hell of allot better than any of the last generation (with the exception of ports and crappy third party games because most third parties are such freeloaders) and that’s good enough for me.
July 20th, 2007
First off, i consider myself more than a casual player but i am far from the hardcore. As far as i can see i seem to be part of a much larger demographic. I know i can only speak for myself but what interests me is technology that is new and exciting. In the past, one of the major items that qualified as new and exciting was graphics. That does not mean that graphics is the only thing that can put a gaming system into that category. Sure I secrectly wish my wii supported HD but the pretty factor can only do so much for a game.
What nintendo has with the wii is something entirely different. You can’t tell me that the graphics of the PS3 or 360 have changed anything in gaming! The wii is changing how people think about and play games. The wii is so successful because it’s not following that same old path. Nintendo has been able to take a step forward with wii and make games fun and interesting again.
People like David Perry have been saying crap this since it’s lauch and dispite it all wii’s popularity keeps growing. I think it is going to be hard for Sony and MS to keep because games like Mario Galaxy and Prime 3 are just going to blow people away.
July 20th, 2007
A game without great graphics isn’t a good game!? That might be the dumbest, most shortsighted thing I’ve ever heard written on this topic.
You can’t judge a game by its graphics because GRAPHICS CONSTANTLY EVOLVE. Gameplay, that’s ease of contols, immersion, fun level and replayability, are what make a game stand up over the long haul. Well done stories can hold up well, also, but the game itself doesn’t hold up after the first play, but that’s beside the point. Graphics, by the nature of the business, can not and do not hold up. They become obsolete within a year. You’re the ones that keep saying it: “the graphics will keep getting better as programmers learn to use the hardware.” You really think that people buying the Nintendo are making a mistake investing in fun when the crap you’re investing in will be old hat in 12 months!? And your hardware won’t last either! You’ll be one of those idiots who spends EIGHT hundred dollars on the next PlayStation the week it comes out because you HAVE to have the latest graphics. Then that’ll be obsolete three years later, too!
All of these people, the David Perrys of the world, that putz from Sega (Sega? wtf?), who said the Wii would burn out, the dumbass who wrote this article - these people think that video games are video first and games second. “Gamers want to look at beautiful games” - what a steaming load.
They’re GAMES. We’re GAMERS. I’m spending my money (way less money than you, by the way) to PLAY, not look at pretty pictures. Pretty pictures can raise the fun level in the near term, but I don’t continue to pick up Mario Kart every couple months because of the graphics. I do it because it was (and IS) fun.
Listening to these people calling Nintendo fans the shortsighted ones, the fad-mongers, the bandwagon riders - listening to them say that THEIR ideas are the ones with more staying power…it’s really pathetic.
July 20th, 2007
I’m the definition of a hardcore PC gamer. I’m involved in teams making mods for games. I’ve hated all console systems after the N64. But, the Wii caught my attention early on because of the controls and the innovative approach Nintendo took on its design. As soon as I found one in stock I bought it, and I can honestly say that I’ve had more fun playing it than I’ve ever had with any other game system. I don’t need a console system to have the best graphics, that’s what my computer is for! I want a console so I can play games with my wife, and my friends when they come over.
I’d be willing to bet that Nintendo captured a LARGE number of PC gamers like myself with the new control scheme. It’s the closest to using a mouse for first person shooters you can get. The bottom line with consoles like the 360 and PS3 is that for first person shooters, you don’t get the same control as you do on a PC. But with the Wii you can get DAMN close. I had an absolute blast playing Call of Duty 3on my Wii. I’ve never had anything but a frustrating experience on a console system playing any first person shooter.
Graphics do not, will not, have never, MAKE the game.
July 20th, 2007
I’m so tired of hearing “hardcore gamer.” Really, I am. I got my pokemon diamond about 2 months ago and have played more than 400 hours. I got everything to get on Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. I spend upwards of 12 hours a day playing games, if there is nothing else I have to do, and if there is something else I have to do, I’ll try to get out of it.
I don’t want a PS3, because its too expensive. I’ll pick one up when I see it at a garage sale in 5 years. I don’t want an Xbox360, because it has a high failure rate. Both just have more realistic ways of showing blood. I DON’T CARE.
I would think most people couldn’t compare with me in being a gamer, and I don’t see anything now or comming for the PS3 or 360 that I actually care about. Good graphics? WHO CARES!? I would rather pick up the old Legend of Zelda (for the NES, the first one) and play though it than ever play Halo 3. Give me good old Legend of Dragoon or FFVII over Fable.
Graphics mean nothing if its the same old thing. Sure, some people don’t see it (look at all the FPS out there, most all the same set in different places, but they sell). The PS3 and 360 are giving everyone the same old thing with better graphics. That’s WHY the Wii is outselling them, and still yet to even near its peak. The Wii is offering us something new.
How can you tell if someone is making a good game? It’s not by how good it looks, but when you can go back, pick it up 10 or 20 years later, and enjoy yourself. When you take away the graphics, that’s the game. Heaven forbid that if I want a fantasy world that looks real I go out and buy a DVD for $20, and not a game for $60. I don’t have that cheaper option with the type of fun you can get with the Wii. Leave the “beauty” to Hollywood. I play games for fun, not flash.
July 20th, 2007
This guy is definitely an idiot.
July 21st, 2007
John, you seriously need to stop editorializing, it only makes you look like an total douche.
Christ, I mean, Metriod Prime 3, Resident Evil 4 for the Wii, and the Legend of Zelda: Twighlight Princess are all very nice looking games, you just seem to be broken in the head.
July 22nd, 2007
I was reminded of something.
I want to hear the story of how the beautiful graphics of the game gear managed to make the game boy a thing of the past. Sega’s Game Gear had amazing graphics for a handheld system at the time, and Gameboy wasn’t even in color, and sometimes you couldn’t even tell what the heck was on the screen.
That’s why Gameboy failed and today Sony has sold millions upon millions of Game Gear DS, right?
Wait, it didn’t go that way. The graphics of the Game Gear lost out to the graphicly inferior Gameboy. Oh well, I suppose its everyone’s right to ignore history.
July 23rd, 2007
What a stupid comment. “The Wii sold well because of low price…” duh. First year economics. Go back to school loser and learn about some shit.
July 29th, 2007
The PS3’s sales have slowed down because the main target consumer (hardcore PS fans) have mostly already brought one whereas the Wii is selling fast (still faster than can meet demand) because the Wii is appealing to those who have never owned a gaming system before, when a parent thinks “Hmm, I think I’ll get my kid a games console for there birthday” (and I think that’s how most people first owned a console) they will be getting the Wii due to is low price and current popularity. What I’m saying is the PS3 hasn’t done too well in relation to the Wii and from here on will only go downhill.
August 1st, 2007
Consider this:
I would rather play Zelda: A Link to the Past on a SNES than some racing game or something on PS3. Wii can’t stand up graphically to PS3, but it’s games are so much more fun. If given a choice between Final Fantasy 6 on SNES, and Final Fantasy 13, or something, on PS (Stupid traitors left Nintendo), I would choose the fun gameplay and story of 6 then the new crap being shoved out of Square. Crap, Duck Hunt is a better party game than some PS3 games. I’d even probably have more fun with a magnavox first-system-ever console (not really). My point is, video games were created to be fun, not to look good. You could take all the gameplay of an HD game and make it 16-bit. PS: Wii graphics look really good. If your so stuck up that you’d take small improvements in graphics over gameplay, then you’ve lost the whole meaning of what a video game is supposed to be. Nintendo kept that vision, and that is why A: They’re going steady, one horse race. B: They SAVED video games in the 80’s (PS would not exist without nintendo) and C: A lot of good games originally on Nintendo are now on Xbox and PS3, such as metal gear, final fantasy, banjo-kazooie, etc. What does that tell you? looks like Nintendo knows how to make a good game. Who cares about graphics?
September 17th, 2007
This guys obviosly woke up one the wrong side of the bed when he wrote this.People buy games for their beuatiful graphics?!Bullshit
September 17th, 2007
This guys obviosly woke up on the wrong side of the bed when he wrote this.People buy games for their beuatiful graphics?!Bullshit!
October 2nd, 2007
As far as i can remember i have always owned a console & a beefy PC to play my games.
My PC keeps up with the latest & greatest looking games & where much of my gameplay time used to end up.
As for this geneneration of consoles, i was always going to buy an Xbox 360, due to the good games & decent graphics. Then my brother purchased a Wii and after a few hours of play i was hooked. From being a firm advocat for the Xbox 360, i changed to prefering the Wii. No other current games console can compete with the sheer joy, fun & laughs i get with my friends (mostly or alone) when i play my Wii. The controllers & motion sensing is just fabulous. When i play the Wii i barely notice that the graphics arent as nice as FEAR on my PC, because of how much fun i am having. The Wii is definitely the one console to own right now.
Go out & buy one right now, i did & find out for yourelf how much fun this console can be.
October 3rd, 2007
Man Jonathan you got dissed by everyone on here! I can’t believe your even arguing this point.
The whole reason why people play games is to be entertained right? So wii is kickin your ass bro!
Maybe your just pissed cause you spent so much money and now your trying to convince us you made a good choice. lol! That’s fine I’m not saying that xbox360 isn’t fun but your denying the wii. I love the game Halo but I’m not gonna by a console for one game. By the way I like the game because it’s fun not for it’s graphics, which are a plus. Wii is rockin the whole industry because they went a different direction. I anticipate that in the future this is where gaming is going. Maybe xbox will copy em one day and we’ll have the best of both worlds. until then.
Wii will rock you!!!
October 7th, 2007
isnt starcraft 1 still the most popular game in the world??? thanks soley to korea mind but there you go,, i still play final fantasy VI/VII/VIII and think its a much better game than X or XII which have incredible graphics,
November 7th, 2007
Getting your ass kicked by the littlest kid on the block does hurt the ego. I hope you can grow up some day and realize that there are other ways of gaming out there. I loved Tetris. Bejeweled was great, too.
December 23rd, 2007
this guy is a fukin fag that could suck a fat dick. wii is ill man. lets see him come up wit a better console
February 14th, 2008
Wii on a large screen hd setup is horrible looking. Fucking ugly. Ya some of the games rock, but man thats some ugly gaming going on there.
February 20th, 2008
PS3 will OWN U ALL!! F*CK’N NEWBS
February 20th, 2008
Graphics is a big selling point the Wii has terrible graphics PLAYSTATION 3 has way better games and the best full 1080p hd resolution.
March 6th, 2008
I think what is really happening here is that people believe that the Wii is a console aimed primarily at kids and the more mature gamers want to play PS3’s or 360’s. I on the other hand have noticed that most kids these days want death destruction and violence (so they can talk about it on the school playground the day after). I therefore think that the real hardcore gaming is on the Wii, Zelda and Mario are hell of a lot more challenging than most PS3 or 360 games and I think that most PS3 and 360 owners are really scared of the challenge that these games present. That is why most PS3 or 360 owners go on the four letter word offensive when subjects like this are raised THEYR’E REALLY SCARED!!!! But Zelda would still look great in HD!
March 10th, 2008
Man, Jonathan, get a live. Sure, good graphics are nice, but without proper gameplay, it’s nothing. The Wii has really innovative gameplay, and the graphics seriously aren’t as bad as you say. Look at games like Metroid Prime 3, Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. They got nice graphics and nice gameplay. Yes, when we talk about graphics, the Wii can’t keep up to the PS3 or the Xbox, but it’s graphics aren’t horrible at all and if developers do it correctly, they can also give the Wii games proper graphics. Nintendo has the image of being a family-console, which they had since the NES. A major problem is the lack of good games. Developers should make some more out of Wii games, the consoles IS capable of more than normally shown by third party developers. And you know, the GameCube had better graphic capabilities than the PS2, it’s problem was the lack of third party support.
March 10th, 2008
And just so that I don’t get any stupid comments: I own both a Wii and a PS3 and I like them both almost equally.
April 8th, 2008
you know what, your all so thick
that the ps3 has good games as well
and if done right you can have good
graphics and gameplay, Like super rub a dub
for example the graphics are good and gameplay
is simple collect the rubber ducks and go to the
plughole. My brother said it feels like the Wii in
simler ways, but with HD graphics so really the
Wii would suck cock, If 3rd party studios just use
sixaxis proply and then ps3 would win this war.
P.S I’m getting a Wii as well just softcore gaming.