Nintendo Wii: Future of Adventure Games?

[Yonkey]

I just happened to read an interesting article at Adventure Gamers called "A vision for adventure games on Nintendo Wiii" where it basically talks about Wii's potential for our genre.

This topic has been discussed in the past, both within the team, by some of our forum members, and most recently I happened to talk about it last night with Cesar.  So, what are all of your thoughts?  Do you see this as a means for modern adventure games to thrive?  Or, do you think adventure game development should never diverge from the PC platform?

[Baggins]

Well sure it'll be awesome for a hybrid first person shooter/adventure game, such Metroid Prime 3.

But I don't think I necessarily would like the wand in place of a mouse or gamepad for traditional adventure games. Also the classic style analog controller costs extra.

If you didn't know X-box has been kind of a safe haven for adventure game companies. Syberia 1 and 2 for example had ports that did really well on the old X-box, and last I heard there are some being planned for release on x-box 360 as well.

[Yonkey]

If you didn't know X-box has been kind of a safe haven for adventure game companies. Syberia 1 and 2 for example had ports that did really well on the old X-box, and last I heard there are some being planned for release on x-box 360 as well.

How did they implement point-and-click on those?

[Baggins]

You walk up to something and then click a button to "look", another button to bring up inventory items or activate on the area you are near.

The system is very similar to the system used in Monkey Island 4, and Grim Fandango which had no mouse control to begin with. Those games work better with gamepad themselves rather than keyboard.

..or games with mouse control, you use one of the analog sticks to move the pointer around the screen to click on things.

[dark-daventry]

I wouldn't know, but as they say "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" If we don't try it, then we wouldn't know. I would be very open to the idea of trying one out. If TSL was ported to it, I would certainly get it, to own it, and to see if it works. I think it's really a matter of testing as you go along. You can't know something like this until you try it. I would certainly believe it has potential. Whether that potential is used properly I do not know. Anyway, that's my two cents on the matter.

[Yonkey]

I'm not really sure if TSL will be ported there, but I would definitely like to explore this option in future products.

[dark-daventry]

I'm not saying it is. In fact, I think it's physically impossible by the laws of nature that TSL would be ported there. (Notice that I didn't say it couldn't be ported there...) But it would be tons of fun! I'd love to play graham, using the "wii-mote". Just point the mote around the screen, and press one of the triggers to use the action presented. The A button would then be used to change the different commands. And of course, the narrator would have remarks to say to graham, and if you fail a puzzle, then the mote would shake... Just lovely... I can almost imagine it. Wait, I am... *mummbles to self and contemplates entering the asylum...*

[Yonkey]

Are you talking about our Mote or Nintendo's?

[dark-daventry]

If that's a joke I don't get it, but I was talking about nintendo's. I would love to see that someday... Maybe when I become a homebrew gamer in the next 25 centuries after oblivion I could port it there... If you mean mote as in a mote of water surrounding a castle, I think I may get it, otherwise I have no idea. And I realize I spelled mote wrong in the sense of water...

[Yonkey]

If that's a joke I don't get it

You don't know who Mote is?   Ok, this should help.  

Have a look at the entry under Fan's Quest.

[Piotyr]

I honestly think it'd be a fantastic console option for "point and click" type games, as most adventure games are.

Plus, allegedly the development kits will be affordable (as in...like 1000 dollars instead of 50000), and the dev environment is a lot like the Gamecube, which is pretty simple and developer-friendly.

[Drunken Chinchilla]

I think it would be a waste to think about adventure games in the point n click format on the wii. The only reason its the dominant method is that its the best input method we have at the moment. The wii offers a mouse like environment but in three dimensions. The possibilities with this kind of input method are just so exciting! Rather than clicking a hand icon on a door you just go up to it and rotate the wiimote as if opening a door handle etc etc. I think its going to be a very exciting time when some companies finally do tackle a fully blown adventure on it.

About porting TSL...well i wouldn't think it would be very hard at all as like I said above its really just an extended version of a mouse any way. It may even be possible to offer it on the virtual console component of the system...

[Yonkey]

Exactly Alex!

That's why I see the most potential with this genre with the Nintendo Wii, because it allows you to be very creative input-wise.  That's something I've never seen before in terms of hardware, so I think they might be "revolutionizing" a lot more than they think.

EDIT: Actually, I remember Nintendo making the PowerGlove ages ago, but I don't think that really took off, since not many games used it.  Plus the fact that it was a glove, so it kinda hindered on how creative you could be. The Wii-mote on the other hand could be use for tons of things, as illustrated in their promotional videos, so it's almost like the sky's the limit!

[dew7]

Hmm, it makes one wonder if the Wii will surprise people and end up being the next dominant console.  I am sure Nintendo would love that situation.   

[dark-daventry]

I personally believe that Nintendo does not aim win the race, they only wish to make their fans happy and to innovate games as much as possible. That's how I interpret their vision at least... But I believe seeing a KQ on the wii would be very cool. I think that the wii will very likely be the beginning of our return. (By our I mean the adventure genre and it's community) But as Roberta williams said herself, the genre isn't really gone. It never was. The fans keep it alive. (I don't believe she said the last part, and I didn't make this a quote, as I don't think it is one...)

[Drunken Chinchilla]

I personally believe that Nintendo does not aim win the race, they only wish to make their fans happy and to innovate games as much as possible. That's how I interpret their vision at least... But I believe seeing a KQ on the wii would be very cool. I think that the wii will very likely be the beginning of our return. (By our I mean the adventure genre and it's community) But as Roberta williams said herself, the genre isn't really gone. It never was. The fans keep it alive. (I don't believe she said the last part, and I didn't make this a quote, as I don't think it is one...)

Well thats what it seems like Nintendo are doing but I reckon they are playing a very clever game and have some pretty intelligent guys in their PR/Marketing department.

Prior to the DS's release Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata stated that he'd be pleased if only 10% of people actually "got" what they were trying to do and it was in no way a replacement for the Gameboy Advance. Yet almost two years on the DS is the fastest selling console around atm with Japan's software chart being completely dominated by DS software and the GBA dying a slow (but quite dignified death software wise).

Fast forward to the Wii's unveiling and its a similar kind fo story. When asked about whether they think they can "beat" Sony and MS in Sales they've taken the stance that they aren't after the same market so can't beat them. The way everythings been handled about the Wii has really impressed me, from the revelaing of its name to how they've slowly shown us why its going to be such a revolutionary system piece by piece at various trade shows.

*gush*

BUT anyhow, the reason i was even posting in this topic was to remind everyone that FINALLY the release date and price point is due to be anounced at three seperate HUGE press events in New York, Tokyo and London over the next 48 hours. My moneys on a mid to late October release with a sub $199/£150 price point.

[dark-daventry]

*Squeals* That soon? *Hyper-Panic mode activated* OMGosh, what am I going to do... Where's my laptop... Plane tickets... Wait a sec, I can't attend the events anyway...  Oh well! There's always Gamespot! And IGN!

[dew7]

Well, my friend Brian is planning on buying the new Nintendo and I may end up buying this one as well if I buy a new console.  The Xbox 360 has no interest to me --- I have a good computer --  --- The Playstation 3 while it seems really awesome is very pricey and I wonder about DRM (Digital Rights Management) in this console.  I still remain undecided. -- some of my funds go to keeping my computer in top notch shape -- 

[Say]

I totally agree to that, as cool as they seem I would choose a PC if I could (sadly, some nice games are not available for PC )

Just out of curiosity, what monitor do you have Dew?

[dew7]

An old cathode ray tube monitor and it is an Optiquest -- I am happy with it and it still works fine so I have seen no reason to upgrade to a new fangled LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or another different type of display.  The computer is a Falcon-Northwest which I fully upgraded except for the original case, original 1.44 mb floppy and the original monitor.  I probably will at some point but this monitor suits my needs and is quite sharp for a CRT monitor.  <grin>  I usually view at 800x600 resolution (sometimes 640x480 when needed with older games and sometimes 1024x768) with 32 bit color.  The 98SE side has an old DOS (Disk Operating System) mouse driver for compatibility (as well as newer Windows drivers of course) with old games and the Sound Blaster Audigy 1 has DOS drivers for full compatibility with old DOS games as well.