First, I get very upset when people say such stupid things.

Also protip, I have been playing games since the NES.

The shapes are better then letters. Anyone from all over the world will know what each shape is. Do Japanese people know what an A is? I don't think children will if it isn't in their language.

As I said, my 4 year old cousin has played my PS3 perfectly fine. It only has 2 more buttons and 2 extra sticks over the DS. Which is so child friendly.

I am not saying all games are simple. But most games are so easy to play. You move with a stick, and then attack/jump/shoot/etc with one main button. Then a few others do secondary things that aren't needed.

To play call of duty all you need to know is what aims, what walks, what shoots, and what reloads. Is it too much to ask that someone remember what 4 things do?


How does one function in life if they cannot remember what a few buttons do?

PS3 and 360 games require an intermediate level of skill. A novice gets the Wii just fine. Most casuals do not care to put the time in to play intermediate levels; some will but most wont. Nintendo is the king of platformers, childrens games and party games. Sony is f'n delusional, just like they made themselves out to be this gen when they claimed they would beat Nintendo. A 10 year plan is no plan at all when your competition gives up on their system to move onto the next level.

@sharky54 - Right, I noticed that you're 21, roughly about, which means you were an infant when the NES hit the US. Ever get your hands on an Atari 2600 controller? 1 button, 1 stick. That's what the older gamers are used to. The NES pushed them in a different direction (crosspad + 2 buttons). The SNES/Genesis pushed them into the 6 button category, and it got worse for these casual gamers from there.

The issue with shapes vs letters is simple. Follow the pattern - A, B _ , D, E, _ 1, 2,_,4, 5, _ Circle, Rectangle, ___________ , Triangle, Rhombus, _________

Number or letter patterns are how we communicate, learn, read, etc. The only place I use shapes for anything are spreadsheets, and the rectangles are already drawn out. Besides, one of the first, if not the first company to offer letter-based buttons was a Japanese company (Nintendo), so I doubt the whole part of it being easier to understand across the world had much to do with it. The process of preparing a product for a foreign market is called Localization. It's the reason why you can have RPG's from Japan but get them in English.

I think Call of Duty might be a bad point, as you also have to switch weapons, call in air raids/special weapons, etc. There's more to moving and shooting to be good at COD.

As for remembering what a few buttons do, the issue is that their functions change with each game. So its remembering what a few buttons do x 20 games. Its a lot to ask out of a busy adult life.

LOL this reminds me of that statement MS said that *wii owners are able to graduate to the 360*

I believe it was Microsoft.

So actually, Sony's just copying Microsoft! Oh noes! Wasn't it supposed to be the other way around?

Sony copying Microsoft, again.

That is why I won`t miss Sony when they get out of the VG business.

Who says you HAVE to switch weapons and call in anything. All you need to do is walk aim shoot and reload to play the game.

Also I have played an Atari. It was easy sure. But whats not easy about a few different buttons and two sticks?

Also look at the PS3. What needs to be changed for the local market for the system? The default language is all. I can move to japan and still know the symbols for the controllers. Can you with the wii/360?

Also as I said, if my 4 year old cousin who is of average intelligence can play a PS3 and understand the controls fine. Then everyone should be able to. If you aren't then perhaps you have some sort of metal defect.

Oh one more thing about the shapes. The human mind is wonderful at remembering certain things. Learning shapes are the same as learning the names of animals. Do you know anybody who can't tell you what a bird/cat/dog/snake is? I am fairly certain everyone knows what an X and a Square and a Circle and Triangle are. Also they are color coded as well. So if you aren't color blind you can still fall back on to that.

Oh stage, one more quick thing. Who says you must be great at a game to play it? I am not saying the games are easy to master, but to play they sure are. I just took what probably most people see as a complex genre and dumbed it down for newbs. 2 buttons and two sticks. Not very hard now is it?

EDIT

Could be just 1 button and two sticks if there is auto reload.

I agree with aniyo the games are the same, only wii play/sports are different and those are like flash minigames, and wii fit is another controller, all comes down to letting unskilled poeple enjoy the games