Official Wii/DS Q/A thread. FAQ in first post! Game reviews in second post!

[dturner]

This thread is wonderful. We got one for our three gamers and I had so many questions. Our 10 yo is an excellent gamer and will play a game until he beats it. What games will be good. for him and what will we need extra to play them. Is there a thread that discusses the various games?

My 10 yo is also an excellent gamer and played the Wii yesterday at Gamestop - he played Zelda and thought it was GREAT because you get to actually work the sword - also, you can fish in that game and it was really a hoot watching DS trying to virtually fish and then try to wind the fish in when he caught it. He's also asking for the Dragonball Z game, Tony Hawk downhill jam and of course the Mario games when they come out in March, 2007.

 

[harleyquinn]

Exactly! I can't stand being held hostage by such arrogance. For crying out loud Nintendo, make enough to meet demand. I bet if they charged a little bit more the increased profit would offset the risk of a saturated market and kill their excuse to limit supply. Or, am I missing something here?

For the life of me I can't see how the Wii's marketing and distribution methods work in Nintendo's favor. The whole point of marketing is to make your product EASY to buy.

Be happy you aren't trying to get a PS3.

The reason this situation happens is because the competing formats give arbitrary dates for launches that they aren't truly prepared for. It's not about supply and demand as much as its about production being too slow.

If Sony and Nintendo had waited until next year, they would have enough systems, but then Microsoft would have aeven bigger of a head start, which is really hurting Sony now.

 

[harleyquinn]

This thread is wonderful. We got one for our three gamers and I had so many questions. Our 10 yo is an excellent gamer and will play a game until he beats it. What games will be good. for him and what will we need extra to play them. Is there a thread that discusses the various games?

I think the person that already anwered your question took the words out of my mouth! I just want to second everything they said. Buy Zelda!

For any of the games that are out, you won't need anything extra unless you download something or want to play with more than one player. Zelda is one player.

I haven't mentioned Tony Hawk before, but it's getting great reviews and is supposed to be really fun and different.

There will be plenty of other games in the future for him to play too.

Checkout the Wii section of www.ign.com They have reviews, previews and all the news you can use.

 

[harleyquinn]

I was lucky enough to get one this morning at TRU (thanks to this site for the heads up). I was #17 and they had 18. My question is do I need any special adapter to hook up to tv. My DS's TV was new last year.

TIA

Nope! If you want the system to run at its absolute best and are tech saavy I suggest the component cables, which will run the system at 480i. If you don't know what that means then just play it the normal way.

Techies probably already have component cables. If you need them, order them off nintendo.com. They siad ours wouldn't be shipped until Dec 18th at the earliest, but they were shipped on the 2nd. Mad Katz is making knock off cables too. i don't know if those have hit the stores yet, but the nintendo component cables are impossible to find.

 

[MAH4546]

Exactly! I can't stand being held hostage by such arrogance. For crying out loud Nintendo, make enough to meet demand. I bet if they charged a little bit more the increased profit would offset the risk of a saturated market and kill their excuse to limit supply. Or, am I missing something here?

For the life of me I can't see how the Wii's marketing and distribution methods work in Nintendo's favor. The whole point of marketing is to make your product EASY to buy.

Great idea. Nintendo should overload the factories, make tons more Wiis, and then risk a huge decrease in production efficieny and quality of the product.

To blame Nintendo on this is ridiculous. Nintendo's Wii launch is one of the smoothest new console launches in a long, long time. It is not Nintendo's fault that every kid in America wants one. They simply do not have the resources to make that many.

 

[harleyquinn]

Great idea. Nintendo should overload the factories, make tons more Wiis, and then risk a huge decrease in production efficieny and quality of the product.

To blame Nintendo on this is ridiculous. Nintendo's Wii launch is one of the smoothest new console launches in a long, long time. It is not Nintendo's fault that every kid in America wants one. They simply do not have the resources to make that many.

At least no one is getting shot waiting in line or having huge fistfights.

I do wish they could ramp up production more, but then you face the possibility of a poorly trained short term work force mucking up the new systems.

Like I said before in a perfect world, the companies would have a reasonably good supply of consoles ready for launches. To many in the industry, Nintendo's supply is exactly that, especially with the poor feelings toward the Gamecube (even though it did great and they made a profit unlike the other companies).

But trying to tell this to the poor parents here who can't find the ONE thing their kid wants for Christmas. I don't blame people for being frustrated and upset. At least it's not Elmo.

 

[maggiew]

Any comments on the Trauma Center game? Is it fun or just gross??

Also, are the old-school Mario games available for download NOW or at a later date? Trying to see if Santa should put a download card in the stockings or not??

Maggie

 

[minniebeth]

Harleyquinn, EXACTLY....my all my DS wants for Christmas AND his BD which is in Jan. is a Wii. That is all we can swing to give him with a few games (we are doing a WDW trip in Jan. as well). So...on Christmas day, he will be sitting with nothing (if he wants to get it after the fact) while his siblings are opening their gifts. How do I explain to the younger kids that Santa brought them gifts but not their brother?
I understand the reality of the situation and I'm not blaming anyone. I've done my share of searching and standing on line at 5:00 in the morning. It just still stinks when you are just trying to do something special for your child.

 

[harleyquinn]

Harleyquinn, EXACTLY....my all my DS wants for Christmas AND his BD which is in Jan. is a Wii. That is all we can swing to give him with a few games (we are doing a WDW trip in Jan. as well). So...on Christmas day, he will be sitting with nothing (if he wants to get it after the fact) while his siblings are opening their gifts. How do I explain to the younger kids that Santa brought them gifts but not their brother?
I understand the reality of the situation and I'm not blaming anyone. I've done my share of searching and standing on line at 5:00 in the morning. It just still stinks when you are just trying to do something special for your child.

I remember when one of the old systems came out before christmas one year and that's all my brother and I wanted. My mom had a really rough time of it, but she found it right before Christmas. it would have been a really bad Christmas if she hadn't.

I wouldn't wish that on anyone!

 

[harleyquinn]

Any comments on the Trauma Center game? Is it fun or just gross??

Also, are the old-school Mario games available for download NOW or at a later date? Trying to see if Santa should put a download card in the stockings or not??

Maggie

I have not played Trama Center. The people that have really like it, but it doesn't interest me at all. I don't think it's gross. I'd put it on the fun side. Ign gave it an 8, which is good. you can read the review here:
IGN Trama Center review

Yes, you can download Super Mario 64 (best Mario ever) or Super Mario World right now. And lots more are coming. new downloadable titles are being added every Monday.

 

[fan_of_small_world]

minniebeth -

I know exactly how you feel! It's just rotten that there is so much hype and then not enough inventory to meet the demand. Then you add in all the people just trying to make a buck by selling on e-bay. Ugh. I too understand the situation - but it doesn't mean I have to like it! We were fortunate to get a system last weekend, but only because DH stood in line in 30 degree temps for 7.5 hours. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!!

How old is your DS? I know there are often some good bargains at the dollar store, Five Below, and Big Lots. Maybe you could pick up some things there that aren't very expensive so he would have a few things to open up on Christmas day, along with a picture of the Wii he'll get after they're in stock. Just an idea...my DS is almost 8, and I swear some of his favorite things are pretty cheap...he loves to draw, so I'm going to pick up a pack of notepads that I know he'll be very happy to get.

 

[minniebeth]

minniebeth -

I know exactly how you feel! It's just rotten that there is so much hype and then not enough inventory to meet the demand. Then you add in all the people just trying to make a buck by selling on e-bay. Ugh. I too understand the situation - but it doesn't mean I have to like it! We were fortunate to get a system last weekend, but only because DH stood in line in 30 degree temps for 7.5 hours. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!!

How old is your DS? I know there are often some good bargains at the dollar store, Five Below, and Big Lots. Maybe you could pick up some things there that aren't very expensive so he would have a few things to open up on Christmas day, along with a picture of the Wii he'll get after they're in stock. Just an idea...my DS is almost 8, and I swear some of his favorite things are pretty cheap...he loves to draw, so I'm going to pick up a pack of notepads that I know he'll be very happy to get.

Thanks for the understanding fanofsmallworld,
He will be 12 in Jan.
Like I said, we will be doing a WDW trip in Jan which we will be surprising the kids with on Xmas day. If we don't get a Wii (which we will keep trying!) I just might change my strategy and surprise the kids with the trip first, and then let them open their gifts after. I do have a box that has a few Disney trinkets each for them in it. Maybe I'll add some Disney Dollars too since we give them a little spending money anyway. Not how I planned on it, but it might work. Thanks for the suggestion for some inexpensive items, I'm sure I can find some little gadgets that he loves. I appreciate the support!

 

[KelNottAt]

Harleyquinn, EXACTLY....my all my DS wants for Christmas AND his BD which is in Jan. is a Wii. That is all we can swing to give him with a few games (we are doing a WDW trip in Jan. as well). So...on Christmas day, he will be sitting with nothing (if he wants to get it after the fact) while his siblings are opening their gifts. How do I explain to the younger kids that Santa brought them gifts but not their brother?
I understand the reality of the situation and I'm not blaming anyone. I've done my share of searching and standing on line at 5:00 in the morning. It just still stinks when you are just trying to do something special for your child.

minniebeth - if push comes to shove maybe you can ask a retailer to lend you one of their empty "for display purposes only" Wii boxes. You can wrap that up and present it as a "raincheck" present. That's what I'm thinking about doing.

 

[DawnMarie]

If anyone lives in the Washington, DC area and need controllers for the Wii. The Ciruit City in Marlow Heights has them in stock. They have the Wii Nunchuk Controller.

 

[spima3]

message removed

 

[harleyquinn]

Anyone have any experience with the Action Replays for PS2? Son announced yesterday he wants one for Xmas. He is done, but maybe SIL can get him one if it is worth it. Amazon reviews weren't very good, but wondering if anyone here actually has/uses it?
TIA

lori

This is a Wii thread. I'd really like to keep it to that.

I have no experience with Action Replays, but if you just post the question on its own thread, you should find someone who does.

Good Luck!

 

[phorsenuf]

My son was able to pick up a wii this morning. His perserverance paid off!

Anyway, we were trying to get the inetrnet connection established and couldn't. We have wireless in the house and its secure but we put the key in and still nothing. Is it possible Norton is stopping it? It shouldn't with the key and all. Any thoughts?

 

[michboro]

My son was able to pick up a wii this morning. His perserverance paid off!

Anyway, we were trying to get the inetrnet connection established and couldn't. We have wireless in the house and its secure but we put the key in and still nothing. Is it possible Norton is stopping it? It shouldn't with the key and all. Any thoughts?

We had this problem too, but solved it by changing the channel on the router to either 1 or 11.

 

[phorsenuf]

We had this problem too, but solved it by changing the channel on the router to either 1 or 11.

When you did that did it change any of your existing things connected wireless through that router? I don't want to change it and then reconfig all the computers in the house.

Also, since I'm lazy, how do you change the channel and is one better than the other? Thanks so much!

 

[harleyquinn]

This is one of those things that I just can't help with. I'll see if DH can find the answer. We can't get broadband at all (even though our neighbors down the street can ).

I'll work on finding something out.