Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Updates

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to visit my site. I am now an Editor at that videogame blog, so if you have enjoyed Planet Wii, take some time to head over there to check out my new stuff. I'll be writing Wii related articles on a weekly basis for that site, pretty much like I've done here.

3rd Party Wii games that sold a million

Wii vs. N64 vs. GC: The First 16 Months Compared

As for Planet Wii, updates will cease for the foreseeable future.

Friday, February 15, 2008

10 Potential Sleeper Hits for the Wii


Here's a list of some Wii games that you might want to keep an eye on. They may not be high profile releases, but they do show a lot of promise and have the potential to be sleeper hits. The pleasure of owning hidden gems offers unique satisfaction to true gamers.

De Blob
Developer: Blue Tongue/Banana Games
Publisher: THQ

One of a triumvirate of THQ games on this list, De Blob is probably the most promising. It started life as a free downloadable P.C. game created by 9 students studying at Utrecht University. It impressed THQ so much that they picked up the game and decided to turn it into a fully fledged Wii release. The core of the game centers around using the main character to turn a drab gray city-scape into a vibrant, psychedelic version of itself.

Blast Works: Build, Fuse and Destroy
Developer: Budcat Creations
Publisher: Majesco

On the surface Blast Works looks like a 2D Gradius style shooter, but delve a little deeper and it's the game's level/object editor that is really its defining feature. Previews suggest the editing tools are both flexible and relatively sophisticated, with the Wii pointer being put to great use. Users will be able to design, save and share their levels with other gamers, setting the stage for a dedicated online community.

Boom Blox

Developer: EA Los Angeles
Publisher: EA

When Steven Spielberg first announced he was involved in making a Wii game, most gamers assumed the result would be a cinematic masterpiece. When a physics based block puzzler was subsequently revealed the disappointment was palpable. Boom Blox has since come on leaps and bounds, and has led to some proclaiming that its design and execution is Miyamoto-like. It also includes a level editor that allows users to generate their own content. If the game can live up to the industry buzz it has created, then EA will surely have a hit on their hands.

Deadly Creatures

Developer: Rainbow Studios
Publisher: THQ

Further evidence of THQ's increasing faith in the Wii is their recently announced title Deadly Creatures. Billed as an action/thriller, the game has you playing as realistic looking creepy-crawlies exploring a desert wasteland. The game clearly has a relatively large budget as the screens bugs that have been rendered with unnerving realism. Let's hope the press release stating the developer's intentions to push the hardware was more than marketing hype.

Battle of the Bands

Developer: Planet Moon Studios
Publisher: THQ

It would be easy to dismiss this title as a an uninspired Boogie/Guitar Hero clone, but anyone who has had real hands-on time playing the title has come away impressed. While Boogie suffered because of its shallow and unstructured gameplay, Battle of the Bands takes its mechanics and bolts them onto a real game. The music announced so far also looks promising; this has the potential to appeal to Hardcore and Casual gamers alike.

Major Minor's Majestic March

Developer: NanaOn-Sh
Publisher: Majesco

From the makers of PaRappa the Rapper, Major Minor's Majestic March is sure to be a rhythm action game like no other. If Masaya Matsuura can imbue his Wii title with the personality and charm as he has his previous work, and also make good use of the Wii controllers, then this game has cult hit written all over it.


Monster Lab

Developer: Backbone Entertainment
Publisher: Eidos Interactive

Apparently in development for almost 2 years, Monster Lab appears to be truly unique; a turn based fighter with a huge focus on monster creation/customization. The game's visuals are also distinctive with heavy use of rim-lighting and bloom. Being able to fight online is also planned. The recent showing of the game at GDC confirmed that the game has a lot of potential.

Oboro Muramasa Youtouden

Developer: Vanillaware
Publisher: Marvelous Entertainment

As very little is known about the game at this point, this title's appeal largely stems from Vanillaware's heritage of excellence. Billed as a 2D action RPG, the game is sure to feature a lush, beautifully stylized look much like Odin Sphere, and a control scheme that has been tailored for casual and hardcore gamers.


Mushroom Men

Developer: Red Fly Studios
Publisher: Gamecock

Essentially a platformer, Mushroom Men places you in control of a diminutive fungi hero exploring the world from a 3-inch vantage point. The game's weapons are cobbled together every-day objects such as staple removers and paper clips; characters also have distinct abilities based on their designs. If the developer's execution matches their imagination, Mushroom Men could be worth keeping an eye on.


Rygar:The Battle of Argus

Developer: Tecmo
Publisher: Tecmo

Rygar's appeal has fluctuated wildly since it was announced for the Wii. At first it was thought to be a genuine sequel to the excellent action/adventure on the PS2: Hype+1. It then came to light that the title was actually a port of the original with new controls and a new mode: Hype -1. The game has subsequently been delayed, and the signs are that the project's ambition has been increasing, with graphical upgrades and new character designs being announced. It seems that the Wii's popularity has lead Tecmo to invest some genuine effort on the title.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Other than Nintendo, who makes the best games for Wii?


How do the major publishers/developers in the world stack-up when it comes to Wii support? What follows is a ranking of 14 of the biggest players and their major releases, starting with the poorest. The factors taken into account are the volume and quality of their Wii games, as well as their commitment to future support.

14. Midway

Released: Cruis'n, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Upcoming: Blitz 2008

Midway's output is typically poor, but the Wii seems to have brought out the worst in them. Anyone who had the misfortune of playing or even buying Crius'n has my sincerest sympathies.

13. Take-Two Interactive

Released: Fantastic 4
Upcoming: Don King presents: Prizefighter

More licensed fodder and sports games. Nothing to see here...

12. Activision

Released: Call of Duty 3, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Spiderman 3, Tony Hawk Downhill Jam
Upcoming: Call of Duty 5

The company's one platform exclusive was the passable Tony Hawk Downhill Jam, which was also a launch title. All other releases have been multi-platform games that have been handled with varying degrees of success; the lowlight being the hilariously buggy Spiderman 3. While the Wii was overlooked for Call of Duty 4, the fifth in the series has been confirmed for the system. Activision doesn't appear to have any plans to truly support the Wii the way they have the Xbox 360.

11. Rockstar Games

Released: Manhunt 2, Table Tennis
Upcoming: Bully

Rockstar have typically maintained a healthy distance from Nintendo development, but the Wii is beginning to change that. The upcoming port of Bully looks to make excellent use of the hardware, but truly exclusive games still remain elusive. Grand Theft Auto: Pipe Dream...

10. Sci/Eidos

Released: Tomb Raider Anniversary
Upcoming: Monster Lab, Tomb Raider Underworld

The publisher's sole release on the Wii to date has been the competent port of Tomb Raider; a version of the next in the series has also been scheduled. In addition, Monster Lab, an original 1 on 1 fighter has also been announced. A few more original games would help Sci/Eidos quickly move up the rankings.

Monster Lab: Looks like Galaxy's gorgeous rim lighting has a few admirers

9. LucasArts

Released: Lego Star Wars: The complete saga,
Upcoming: Lego Indian Jones, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

The ouput of LucasArts has confused and frustrated many Wii owners. Using the Wii remote as a lightsaber seems like an obvious decision, and the perfect idea for a platform exclusive. But the closest the company has come is to announce a version of Force Unleashed with some Wii specific controls, levels and modes. Good multi-platform titles are fine, but they'll only get the company so far.

8. Ubisoft

Released: Redsteel, Rayman Raving Rabbids 1+2, No More Heroes, Nitro Bike
Upcoming: Brothers In Arms, Prince of Persia (new)

The one company to really buck the trend of improving support on this list is Ubisoft. Having started brightly with Redsteel and Rayman, the company's output has steadily declined, alienating gamers in the process. The company has since gone on record to state that it will be aiming for Nintendo-like quality in the future, but there is little on the horizon to get really excited about. Their decision to publish No More Heroes in the west has counter-balanced some of their poor output.

No More Heroes: If Ubisoft can't make good Wii games, they can at least publish them

7. THQ

Released: WWE: Smack vs Raw, SpongeBob
Upcoming: De Blob, Worms: A Space Oddity, Destroy All Humans, Band Mashups, Dangerous Creatures

THQ's support so far has consisted mainly of middling licensed games, but the future holds far more promise. Brand new exclusive games such as Band Mashups and De Blob have been garnering universally positive previews, and are great examples of Wii development done right. The recently announced Dangerous Creatures, an original IP, also looks very promising. THQ appear to be one of the few western publishers with serious ambitions for their Wii games.

De Blob: Sleeper Hit?

6. Namco

Released: Soul Calibur Legends
Upcoming: Fragile, Tales of Symphonia 2, Family Ski

Namco is perhaps the one company on this list that is most likely move up rankings very soon. They recently stated that they have up to 30 games in development for the Wii, but for now all they have to show is the desperately average Soul Calibur Legends. While most of their schedule still remains a mystery, the titles that have been revealed look very promising.

5. Square-Enix

Released: Dragon Quest Swords
Upcoming: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon

A very slow start has given way to a very bright future. The company is reworking their Final Fantasy Wii game to turn it into an epic, big budget single player adventure. They are also supporting the WiiWare platform with the Final Fantasy brand. While the lineup is still a little sparse, what's on the horizon is is shining very brightly indeed and is enough to put them up to 5th.

4. EA

Released: Medal of Honor: Heroes 2, My Sims, SSX Blur, Boogie,
Upcoming: Spore, FaceBreaker, Boom Blox

EA have had a solid start to Wii development, with a good mix of exclusive games and well chosen ports. Though missteps such as Boogie and some poor sports updates have dragged them down the rankings a little. Their forecasts show they expect the Wii's success to continue, so their support is likely to improve through 08/09. What's missing is a true big budget, exclusive blockbuster game for the future.

Boom Blox: Will the comparison to Miyamoto made games really hold up?

3. Konami

Released: Dance Dance Revolution, Elebits, Dewy's Adventure, MLB Power Pros, Korinpa
Upcoming: Pro Evolution Soccer

The innovative Elebits set an early tone for Konami, and their update of Pro Evolution Soccer may very well revolutionize the genre. Konami have offered Nintendo good support without offering any of their really big franchises; if this were remedied the company would really challenge for the top spot. Of particular interest will be what Shingo Mukaitoge has next up his sleeve, and whether he can marry innovation with sales success.

2. Sega

Released: Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, Nights, Sonic and the Secret Rings, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games
Upcoming: Samba de Amigo, House of the Dead, Sega Superstar Tennis

Sega's commitment to releasing new additions to some of their most important IPs (Sonic, Nights), as well as solid ports and mulit-platform games has overcome their lack of true AAA titles to place them at the number 2 spot. While the quality of their games haven't reached Nintendo-like levels, they are by far the most consistent and committed 3rd party. Their position will come under increasing threat however as Namco and Square-Enix begin to match Sega's numbers with greater quality.

1. Capcom

Released: Devil Kings 2 Heroes, Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, Zack & Wiki, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law
Upcoming: Okami, Monster Hunter 3, Wii Love Golf

What Capcom have done, they have done well. Their ports and brand new IPs show that they have an understanding of the Wii controller that perhaps only Nintendo can match. Future support also looks promising with the commitment of one of their biggest IPs; Monster Hunter. With sales being robust, their Wii lineup will surely grow and help them protect their position against the rapidly improving competition.

Okami: Another great Capcom port, but will it help them keep the top spot?

What's immediately noticeable is how the top spots are dominated by Japanese companies. Apart from EA and THQ, the other western players simply aren't favoring the Wii with quality games, and in some cases few games at all. If western publishers are really buying into the idea that only Nintendo games sell on Nintendo hardware, they'll quickly become in danger of missing out on the rapidly growing Wii software market. It's no coincidence that Capcom, in my opinion the number 1 3rd party developer/publisher on the Wii, are also the ones posting the best sales figures.

Monday, January 28, 2008

10 reasons why WiiWare will be great


This year Nintendo is going to launch their own downloadable game platform called 'WiiWare'. Here are a few reasons why it's going to be awesome.

1. Game sizes are not limited to 40MB

Initially it was thought that Nintendo had limited titles to a 40MB file size, but Nintendo put this rumor to bed by stating that 40MB is merely a recommendation, and not an official limit. The Wii has about 512MB of memory internally, so it is really this which will restrict game sizes. More space will allow developers to approach development with greater ambition and to create deeper experiences.

2. One game per month per publisher

We've already seen many publishers trying to cash in on the Wii's success with what has been termed 'shovelware'. Nintendo seem to be aware of this, and has made this rule to try and counteract publishers who would seek to inundate the platform with sub-par content. The 1 game a month rule will force publishers to be far more picky about what content they choose to sell, as the opportunities to do so will be restricted.

3. Fresh Content

Already the Wii is known as a platform which is cheaper to develop for; combine this with digital distribution and access to an audience that will soon be reaching 30 million and you have a platform that offers developers huge bang for their buck. With the barrier of entry so low, and potential rewards so high, WiiWare will see games from developers that would only have had access to the fragmented P.C. market until now. This will surely be a breath of fresh air to people tired of endless sequels.

4. The Wiimote and Nunchuck



The potential of the Wii's motion controls are only just beginning to be unlocked, but you have to feel that a lot of innovation and research is blocked through fear of poor sales and low returns. Perhaps with the punishment for failure now lowered, developers will truly allow their imaginations to run wild and use those controllers in some truly fantastic ways.

5. Niche Experiences

Many genres don't see many games as their sales typically are not high enough to warrant new ones, but that doesn't stop them from having a small but dedicated following. For those gamers tired of the endless train of FPS and Racing titles, perhaps Wiiware will see the resurrection of the point-and-click adventure and 2D shoot-em-up genres? Much like the internet in general, WiiWare makes the access of niche markets possible and worthwhile.

6. Square-Enix and Final Fantasy

Having the backing of Square-Enix at the launch of a platform is one thing, but to have them come through with a unique Final Fantasy is quite another. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Young King and the Promised Land, amazingly looks better than 99% of 3rd party games released on the Wii so far, and looks to innovate and take the series in a different direction. Even Nintendo has yet to announce anything that looks as ambitious as this title.

7. The Wii has no hard drive


There I said it, now hear me out. The lack of a real hard-drive for the Wii may deprive it of many things, but what it also seems to have done is discourage developers from adding downloadable content for their existing franchises. No extra tracks for racing games, and no extra arenas and weapons for death-matches. What this means is that WiiWare will not be dominated by the same traditional titles that make up the charts. It will instead encourage developers to make brand new content knowing they are not competing with titles that have already sold millions of copies on disc.

8. Nintendo

Nintendo are superb at making epic games; the recent Zelda and Mario games on the Wii are evidence of this. But what Nintendo are also great at is introducing new play mechanics upon which to base new games. Examples of this are the vacuum in Luigi's Mansion and Fludd in Mario Sunshine. The problem comes that sometimes these mechanics aren't quite deep enough to warrant an entire epic game, but would really shine in a smaller experience that WiiWare could deliver. If ever there was developer that can take advantage of a platform with low risk, it is Nintendo.

9. Flexible Pricing

The Wii's traditional games have already seen the appearance of games of exceptional value, Resident Evil 4: Wii edition and Mercury Meltdown Revolution being two examples. Consumers expect to only pay full price for brand new games, and less for what they perceive as budget or ported titles. This same attitude will also apply to WiiWare and will help to create a platform where gamers will get more than ever for their gaming dollar. If Square-Enix's new Final Fantasy game comes in at the $15-20 mark, other developers worldwide will think hard about how to price their own offerings, including Nintendo.

10. Convenience

Recently I had the pleasure of attempting to hunt down No More Heroes, and ultimately found it at the 6th store I went to. Earlier Zack and Wiki had also led me on a merry chase. I've also had problems attempting to find some older Gamecube games I thought it would be fun to try, but it seems they've also transformed into hen's teeth. Whether it's down to the games being released in limited quatities, or simply having sold out, they proved frustratingly hard to find. The convenience of being able to buy games when and where you please is perhaps a minor advantage, but it's definitely a welcome one.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

King's Story emulates Tilt-Shift Lens Photography


Take a look at some examples of Tilt-Shift Lens Photography:



Yes, the above images are of real environments and not shots of miniature models. The effect is quite startling and was pioneered by Olivo Barbieri; an Italian artist and photographer.

Now take a look of some recent
ly released screens of the upcoming game King's Story:



Depth-of-field blurring is commonly used in 1st and 3rd person perspective games to provide the environments with a sense of scale and realism. It seems King's Story developers: Cing Inc./Town Factory, have deliberately used the depth-of-field-effect in an overhead viewpoint to try and emulate the miniaturizing effect of tilt-shift lenses, keeping only a small portion of the scene in complete focus. To me the effect is quite charming and compliments the game's art style very well.

Games as art?

Monday, January 14, 2008

Factor 5: From Breakups to Makeups

How Factor 5 left, and then returned to once again suckle upon Nintendo's teat.


Hey baby, maybe we should take a break and see other people?

April '04: Factor 5 announce no more software to be made for the Nintendo Gamecube

Hey baby, maybe we should take a break and only see other people.

May '05: PS3 exclusivity announced
"I was shocked by how powerful the new consoles are. They should really free our development."

Meet my new girlfriend, isn't she beautiful?


July 2005: Lair is announced at TGS

The sex wasn't that great... that's why I left.

Oct '06: Julian Eggebrecht suggests Wii is Gamecube 1.5
"When I heard what was going on at Nintendo, I cringed. It's audio is relatively mediocre. It's essentially GameCube 1.5, which is fine because all the motion-control stuff they're doing is pretty radical. That's precisely why the 360 wasn't exciting to me, because it didn't have the jump there, even though it had everything else."

Your new boyfriend is an ass, all he wants is your money.

Feb '07: Julian Eggebrecht criticizes developer's 1st gen Wii games
"Yes. I'm so disappointed knowing exactly what the Wii can do -- and I still think nobody knows it better than we (no pun intended) [laughs]. I really have to say, boy, am I disappointed! They all have finally figured out, five years into the hardware's life cycle, how to do at least basic shaders and a rim light, but that's what everybody does. But I still don't see enough bump and normal-mapping, if any. I still don't see enough post effects, although you would have insane fill-rates with Wii. I don't see any of that. I was digging out Rebel Strike the other day and was looking at it, and we had some people who were visiting ask, "Why isn't anybody else doing this on Wii?" And I am at a loss. I really am."

"I love the Wii, absolutely. As I've said many, many times, the perfect combination of consoles to have at home is a PS3 and Wii. Everybody really should have one. Will we make something for the Wii? Well, obviously we would have an extremely powerful engine on it with our work on Rebel Strike, but for right now we certainly haven't planned"

Somebody told me she was kissing another guy at the office party.

July '07: Mediocre early reviews for Lair.

E.G.M Scores: 5/10 5.5/10 6/10

A friend told me they found her sextape while they were surfing for porn.


Sept '07: Mediocre reviews all round for Lair
How to mess up a game in which you ride a dragon is quite simple. You make the control of that dragon answerable to motion-sensing technology that can’t distinguish subtle or even very forced gestures in anything like the detail required. [Edge Magazine Nov 2007, p.90]

She apologized for the kiss.

Sept '07: Sony teaches reviewers how to play Lair
"Open your mind and hands for something very different!"

She assured me that wasn't her in the sextape.

Sept '07: Sony reacts to poor Lair reviews
"At the end of the day, I'll be interested in the consumers' response, because the consumer awareness for this title was so huge. I've spoken to any number of people who really like it, and there's other people that find it a challenge. What really matters is whether or not the consumers are having a good experience, because they'll tell us on the [PlayStation] blog."

She was young and foolish, she was surrounded by a hardcore crowd, that's why she made the tape.

Sept '07: Julian Eggebrecht attempts to explain Lair's poor reception by the media
"The Sixaxis motion control itself feels a lot more organic and free-form than the rigid controls of other flight games and does much better for casual players, as we saw in focus tests. It does seem to alienate some reviewers who are at the top of the hard-core crowd and seem to have a passionate hate for all things motion."

Baby...please take me back.

Jan '08: Factor 5 reveal development of new Wii title
In a phone conversation with IGN Wii this morning, company president Julian Eggebrecht confirmed that the studio is underway with at least one all-new Wii project -- and it's not a Virtual Console game. Beyond that confirmation, Eggebrecht was mum, but he did note that the new title would not simply re-use old Rogue Squadron tech; whatever it is, significantly updated or even completely new tech has been developed to help accommodate it. [IGN]

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

10 Games that are begging to be made for the Wii

There are some games that are just begging to be made for the Wii: here is my top 10.

Resident Evil Code: Wii

Not a port of the upcoming Resident Evil 5, but an original game in the series that retains the 3rd person gameplay of RE:4. Back in 2000 the Dreamcast received Resident Evil Code: Veronica, which was the first of the series to be fully 3D, and even though it was not a direct sequel it was not a lightgun game. The sales of both RE games released on the Wii so far have easily exceeded the expectations Capcom had for them. The thirst for a true RE game on the Wii is palpable and makes complete business sense.

Katamari Damacy

A Wii version of this game was initially rumored, but nothing has been seen or heard since. While the game's dual analogue 'tank-like' control scheme would not make the transition, the game's style and audience seem to be a perfect fit for the Wii. Tilt control could be used to replace dual analogue, and the game's simple graphics that have already graced the PS2/PSP, would also pose no computation problems. If Namco feels this game is better suited to the 360 audience rather than the Wii, their marketing department should be rolled into a ball and flung into space.

Wii Lightsaber game

Lucasarts have confirmed that the Wii will be receiving its own version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, but what Wii gamers really wanted was an original title that would really make use of the Wii Remote as their virtual lightsaber. Sword fighting has had a troubled past on the Wii; Redsteel being the primary offender, but Warioware featured 1:1 sword controls that could be copied by Lucusarts to deflect blaster bolts. Dragon Quest Swords has also used the on-screen pointer to help with the recognition of slashes. While a true 1:1 lightsaber may only be possible on Wii's successor, there is still huge potential this gen.

Pikmin

The original Pikmin was a good game, and its sequel was even better. The games use a cursor interface to select the Pikmin that is ripe for adaptation to the Wii pointer. In fact the Wii pointer could bring an entirely new dimension to the interface and add depth and variety to your orders and instructions. Pikmin 2 also features co-op modes that would greatly benefit from the online support that the Wii can offer. This really is a no-brainer.

Grand Theft Auto

I'm not talking about GTA4 here, but a version of the series that really focuses on the Wii's strengths. Godfather has already hinted at what can be achieved with the controls in 3rd person action games, and Resident Evil 4: Wii edition has proved that there is a market on the Wii for quality mature titles. The possibilities for immersing, unethical behavior using the Wii Remote is limitless and would create an excellent counterpoint to the main series. If a poor selling game like Manhunt angered certain groups, this game would send them into glorious apoplexy.

Pilotwings

Anyone who has played the previous two games that appeared on the SNES and N64 knows that the series is truly unique and appeals to the hardcore and casual community. Whether you just wish to explore the landscapes as birdman or guide your hang-glider through thermals to a gentle landing, the experience is nothing less than captivating. The possibilities on the Wii are endless, but larger more detailed worlds and tilt controls would be an excellent start. Perhaps even a co-op mode for the bi-plane, where one player pilots and the other takes out the targets? But please no flapping to make birdman fly...

Jet Set Radio

This series pioneered the use of cel-shading in video-games. It first began life on the ill-fated Dreamcast, and later its sequel arrived on the xbox: both performed poorly in the market place but were highly regarded by critics and hardcore gamers alike. 'Tagging' in the game required players to perform scripted motions with the analogue stick, but the Wii offers far greater accuracy and speed with its pointer and would allow gamers to tag the environment with an almost uncomfortable amount of realism. And of course shaking and spraying would produce the appropriate sounds from the Wii remote speaker. Need I say more?

Rez

Quite possibly the coolest game ever made, Rez was essentially a shoot 'em up that synergized sound, vision and gameplay to transport the gamer to its angular alien world. The game worked by having an on screen cursor that needed to be dragged over the targets, after which they would all be shot down in time to the music. More enemies targeted in in a single motion meant higher scores. Much like Pikmin, moving the cursor from dual analogue to the Wii pointer really opens up gameplay possibilities. Don't make me beg Sega.

Valve FPS

The FPS is a tricky genre on the Wii. While Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 and Metroid Prime: Corruption have amazing controls, the Wii simply does not have the power to match the A.I. and realistic environments that the PS3/360 can offer. If there is a developer that would be able to minimize the Wii's deficiencies and play to its strengths it is Valve. Portal is a work of genius and a genuine breath of fresh air, and if Valve could apply the same out-of-the-box thinking to a wii game, they would have a hit on their hands.

Burning Rangers

Sega has just blessed the Wii with a true sequel to Nights, but strangely its best control schemes make no unique use of the Wii at all. Burning Rangers was also a classic Sega Saturn game that put you in the role of a Fire Fighter, and with this game Sega has no excuses at all when it comes to the controls. The Wii remote would become your fire hose and it would create an experience not possible on other consoles. The heat haze effects and distortions would also be an ideal fit for the Wii as it shown itself to be quite capable when it come to post-processing effects. All in all if Sega were to again look at their back catalog of games to update, this would have to top the list. It's just a shame Yuji Naka, one of its original creators has left Sega to form his own company Prope.