Source: http://robotgeek.co.uk/2011/11/20/top-6-5-reasons-why-the-wii-is-the-best-console-of-this-generation/#more-12638
For years, virtual armies have waged war on forums and comment sections across the internet in a desperate struggle to prove console superiority. After half a decade of hurt feelings, insulted intelligences, offensive mother comments, and general meanness, the battle is finally over. Despite the stiff competition, the dust has settled and a clear winner has victoriously emerged from the message board flames, holding the severed heads of its competitors together with a Wii Remote and Nunchuck.
6.5. It’s responsible for more hilarious videos on Youtube than any other console.
Before the launch of the Wii, a majority of videogame clips found on Youtube were all focused on what was happening onscreen. Whether it was a 14 minute long Halo montage, or a GTA stunt video, all the clips had something in common; they were BORING! No one cares about onscreen videogame action in games everyone has played a thousand times. If people wanted to see that, they would play the damn game themselves! Thankfully, in November 2006, everything changed with the launch of the Wii. Despite being marketed as a family-friendly console, the Wii ushered in an era of accidental comic brutality that is rivaled by no other. “Father hits son” and “Home Shopping Network, Live” are just a few of the classic side-splitting videos brought to us courtesy of Nintendo. Any console that is responsible for this much comedic violence deserves our gratitude.
Waggle it, just a little bit.
6. Actual motion controls.
It’s true the Wii was not the first home console to utilize motion control. The Atari Joyboard, the Power Glove, and the Sega Activator are just a few examples of previous game control devices that depended on player movement, rather than button pressing. Despite Lucas Barton’s warning to the world that the most famous of these controllers were still “so bad”, the public rushed out to buy them. But even after the dream of true videogame-immersion-through-flailing was crushed repeatedly, the quest for proper motion controls continued. Unbelievable as it may seem to those who grew up in the 90s, it appears as though we have entered an era in which motion control is actually feasible. Through the use of built in accelerometers, infrared detection, an LED sensor bar, and Bluetooth technology, the Wii Remote is the most precise motion controller to date. Like it or hate it, the creation of a fully realized videogame console that uses precise motion control is a completely original and innovative step in the evolution of the industry. One may argue that this is simply a gimmick rather than step forward. However, keep in mind both Microsoft and Sony scrambled to release versions of motion controlled devices after the success of the Wii. It sure seems as though they are following in the footsteps of a console that is one step ahead.
Saving money is always a good thing.
5. It won’t break the bank.
After watching the latest episode of Big Bang Theory, your average soccer mom has decided that she wants to find out what this whole videogame hoopla is all about. After making her way to the nearest retail outlet, our new videogame enthusiast will joyfully skip her way back to her minivan with said new game console underarm, right? Wrong! Unfortunately, videogames are an expensive hobby. Therefore, if the average gamer often experiences sticker shock, imagine how non-gamers might feel. Who wants to invest a ton of cash into a new electronic device that they aren’t even sure they will enjoy? What’s a poor consumer to do?
When the Wii launched in November 2006 for $250.00, it was by far the most inexpensive consoles of its generation. The PlayStation 3, which also launched in November 2006, touted a hefty $500.00 price tag ($600.00 if you wanted the 60GB). The Xbox 360 not only boasted its own $400.00 price tag, but had also spent its year head start on the competition by building up the now famous “red-ring-of-death” reputation. Even today the average price of a Wii bundle is often literally ½ the price of its competitor’s bundles. If Amazon.com is where you do most of your videogame shopping (which I recommend not only because they are one of our advertisers, but because they really do have amazing prices on videogames), you can often find a Wii for under $100.00. The exorbitant prices of its competitors make this decision a no-brainer.
Highly illogical, but fun!
4. Miis
According to Shigeru Miyamoto’s statements at the 2007 Game Developer’s Conference, the concept of the Mii has been kicked around at Nintendo for decades. However, after failed attempts to include them on both the Famicom and the N64, these personalized avatars finally found their home on the Wii. It’s true that the concept of little, footless, ball-fisted caricatures of you and your friends does sound a bit cutesy and useless. But, I’ll be damned if I didn’t enjoy creating Miis for myself and everyone I know. It’s nearly impossible to explain to people what Miis are used for while still making them sound fun. However, there is still an unexplainable satisfaction one receives when spotting a friend’s avatar cheering you on in a game. The bizarre fulfillment felt after using your Mii to collect puzzle pieces, unlock hats, and trade information via street pass on the 3DS is inexplicable, yet undeniable. Although the concept of the Mii was initially scoffed at by gamers, the formula has since been copied by both Sony and Microsoft, and is now an accepted standard in the industry.
Don't sweat the technique.
3. It turned non-gamers into gamers.
The Wii marketing campaign was ambitious to say the least. Nintendo wanted not only to appeal to gamers, but to the large, untapped market of the non-gamer. Who could forget those amazing commercials where every age group all waggled together in peace and harmony? These ads may have seemed silly at the time, but to say that Nintendo’s strategy worked is an understatement. Suddenly, people all over the world who had never even considered purchasing a videogame were clamoring for Nintendo’s new console. The highly advertised Wii Remote and Nunchuck alleviated the intimidation most non-gamers felt when it came to videogame controllers. Now, they could simply swing their arms to play games. Coupled with mostly non-violent games and Nintendo’s emphasis on “getting gamers off the couch”, consumers felt as though they weren’t just buying a game console, but a fun, wholesome piece of exercise equipment for the whole family.
The Wii’s success is arguably responsible for the creation of the terms “casual gamer” and “hardcore gamer”. It’s true that many gamers may have a negative opinion on the subject of the casual gaming audience, but this knee-jerk reaction is both immature and counterproductive to the industry as a whole. Gamers are always whining that videogames are negatively stigmatized and misunderstood by mainstream society. However, when the mainstream audience actually becomes interested in videogames, those same complainers turn around and act condescending towards this new faction of gamers. Who cares if this new audience wants to play Wii Bowling instead of Halo? What’s important is that they are playing videogames! It is the natural evolution of the medium if it is to survive. A condescending attitude creates a divide where there shouldn’t be. The fact of the matter is that if more people play videogames, more people will understand and respect them. Becoming accepted by the mainstream is not always a bad thing.
The world just couldn't get enough.
2. It is the best selling console of this generation.
Less than a month after its release, Nintendo had already sold over 3.19 million units. Wii shortages were reported by nearly every major retailer for well over 6 months after launch. In 2006 and early 2007, to get your hands on Nintendo’s highly sought after console you had to either get really lucky, or have an inside connection with someone at a retail outlet who could put one aside for you. Despite this shortage (which some claim was purposely manufactured by Nintendo), in the first half of 2007 the Wii sold more units than both the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 combined, becoming Nintendo’s best selling console behind the DS. By the end of the year, according to a report in Financial Times, the Wii overtook the Xbox 360 as the market leader in units sold. In 2009, thanks to the Wii, a monumental event shook the gaming universe. Wii Sports surpassed Super Mario Bros as the best selling console game of all time at approximately 47 million units. Wii Play (the 6th best selling game of all time at 24 million) and Wii Fit (the 8th best selling game of all time at 21 million) are also exclusive Wii titles. In 2010, Nintendo saw its 3rd consecutive year of sales exceeding 7 million Wii units in the United States alone, a feat that has never obtained by any console in gaming history. Today, the Wii holds the title of 5thbest selling console of all time with a staggering 89 million units sold worldwide. The crowd has spoken. 89 millions gamers can’t be wrong.
Whatever you do, don't pull his finger.
1. Mario
OK, to be honest, Nintendo’s famous plumber with the red cap is not the primary reason the Wii is the best console of this generation. However, like Batman, he has transcended from man to symbol. He has come to represent videogames to the world. People who don’t even play games recognize him. In the 1990s, a national survey found that Mario is more recognizable than Mickey Mouse. Also, with Mario comes Nintendo’s enormous list of iconic characters and franchises, many of which continue to thrive. Instead of fading into obscurity, these characters not only stay relevant, but actually continue growing their audiences. Despite being a series that is over 2 decades old, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was arguably one of the most anticipated games of this year. Not many characters (in any form of media) manage to stay relevant for so long, while at the same time continue starring in their own new titles. Yet somehow, Nintendo has managed to do this with a slew of its characters. The bond gamers feel with those such as Mario, Link, Samus, Kirby, Pikachu, and Donkey Kong is deeply held and not easily broken. The generation of gamers who grew up with these characters is now able to share them with their own children, continuing the cycle and strengthening the sacrosanct emotional reverence.
Aside from representing the emotional investment gamers around the globe have for these characters, Mario also represents the vast library of retro titles Nintendo has at its disposal. Thanks to their cutthroat business practices and massive popularity, Nintendo owned nearly 100% of the video game market in the 1980s. Nintendo could make or brake publishers, developers, and even retail chains who would not submit to their contract stipulations. Although Nintendo’s hold over the industry in no longer monopolistic, the repercussions of this near total domination can still be felt, especially when it comes to older game titles. The Wii’s online game download service known as the Wii Shop Channel is one of the only places gamers are (legally) able to access some of their favorite classic titles from a time gone by.
So, there you have it. Through Nintendo’s brilliant design, the Wii is able to both remain appealing to the hardcore audience, and invite new gamers into the fold without making them feel intimidated or nerdy about their new hobby. This ability to both strengthen and grow the gamer populace while continuing to innovate is what makes Nintendo’s Wii the best console of this generation.
