Graphics?

[Gaffer]

OK, well there are MANY posts ALL over the internet about graphics in the next gen consoles.

This splits into 2 camps:

1) Anti Nintendo = "...meh, graphics are 5hite, a PS3/360 is where it's at"
2) Pro Nintendo = "...but graphics don't matter, it's the gameplay that counts"

I thought I'd clarify what I feel after reading Killaraps excellent blog post

The best way to do this is to give you a very simple analogy......to do with cars.

The two important things in a car are the handling and balance (Gameplay) and the engine horsepower and torque (Graphics).




Now there are some people in the world who only love bhp+torque. They have cars to fulfill their needs. These are called "muscle cars". They are very good at sounding great and going in a straight line....but they're pretty poor at going round corners





There are other people in the world only put handling+balance above everything else. There are cars that fulfill this criteria too. Things like the mx-5 and rx-8. GREAT FUN to drive round tracks, but haven't got the 'oomph' wanted by the muscle car brigade


Many people have joined both camps by having a double garage that fits both types of car for whatever "rush" they want whenever they want it.







However.....our chimp brains are so very easily fooled
There is a third camp.
This is a camp that wants the balance+handling of the latter group, combined with at least a measure of the bhp+torque of the former.
This camp really wants to drive around in Lotus Exiges, not mx-5's or muscle cars.




So overall, I agree with Killarapp on this one. Just because the Wii is less powerful graphically than the PS3/360, doesn't mean we have to settle for "old gen" style graphics.

Now, regarding the Wii, we haven't got the muscle car. However, at the moment we do instead have potential exiges masquerading as mx-5's, so I hope we start getting this 'oomph' sooner rather than later (which with the Wii devkits being available for some time we soon will )


...again, an mx-5 or a muscle car may be fun, I'm not disagreeing with these statements at all...... but an exige will top 'em every time...

[wiistar]

I spent all Friday afternoon having this discussion with the guy I sit next to at work, as its one question that comes up time and time again.

My argument was that I want games where you dont have to spend a good few hours in some "training mode" just to learn how to fire one of your 100 different guns. I want a console that when my friends come round they can just pick the controller up and enjoy the games rather than listening to the constant "its not fair as I dont know the controls.."

Dont get me wrong I am all for great graphics, but it really gets on my nerves when people say " im getting a PS3 as the Wii graphics are crap" some people just dont understand that the Wii is not about just graphics.

I love that Lotus.... when I lived in Norfolk I lived near the lotus factory, I have always said that one day I might get one...(if someone lends me the cash)

[shaunyboi]

Excellent post Gaffer!!

I completely agree with you and your Jeremy Clarkson a-like post. But we all know one thing for sure. The Wii may not be (Full) HD Ready, but we all know that it's twice as powerful as the GameCube and more than capable of producing some amazing graphics when developers want it too.

The Wii shall fly.... :-D

[Gaffer]

That Exige is a motorsport example (only v slightly fettled by a company in Surrey I think), but is mainly standard.

Looks GORGEOUS imho (esp. in black).

I'm hoping that the upcoming Resi Evil game for the Wii will deliver me the Exige I'm looking for

[captainff]

I was sat in traffic on the way home today behind a Lotus Esprit and what did I start thinking about....................?

Cost and Relaibility!


To carry the 'car' analogy further...........

TVR's are gorgeous to look at, have great power and handle well BUT are prohibitively expensive for the 'average' person and notoriously unreliable.....

Most people drive a Renault / Honda / Ford family box not through desire but a combination of cost and reliability...... Very few drive the 'Halo' models from these manufacturers (I'm fortunate to have driven my 172 from new).

If you want to modify your vehicle you choose one that many have already modified before so that parts are available.

Does any of this sound like choices for gaming machines yet?

[Gaffer]

Definitely

There is NO DOUBT in my mind that the cost of the Wii has really helped it take off.
By sticking with the analogy, though, I'd say that rather than owning a Renault family box, we instead own:
An exige, currently masquerading as an mx-5, but bought for the price of a Renault

Also, I have said elsewhere that I believe the PS3 and 360 have their own +ve's and -ve's. One of the -ve's of the 360 is it's poor track record re:3 lights of death. So you're also right about the reliability coming into the equation as well

Conclusion: Here is a piccie that is simply a good excuse for me to drool (and therefore isn't really a conclusion at all)