Nintendo Rules

Reading Hamlet on the Holodeck, among many things, got me thinking about the possibilities of future technology especially in the gaming industry. It seems after any new gaming system comes out I always find myself thinking that this is as good as it gets. Game technology can advance no further than Super Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt for the original Nintendo. But then, not long after comes Mario All-Stars for the Super Nintendo, Sonic the Hedgehog for Sega, Mario Cart for N64.... And though my heart remains with, Super Mario III for regular Nintendo, game technology just just keeps getting better and better.

After the most recent release of advanced gaming systems such as XBox 360 and Nintendo Game Cube, both displaying superior graphics and near life-like imagery, I really thought that the technology could go no further. But then I heard about the next installment from Nintendo called Wii to be released this November. The new system among other things has a unique control system which allows the position of the control to be detected in a 3D space. The controller will allow the player a much more active participation in the game. For example, in the Wii Sports tennis game, players swing the Wii Remote like a racket to hit the ball, just as you would in a real life game. Players can add topspin or slice the ball just by angling their hands and wrist much like real tennis. The same goes for a samuri sword match which would take place in the same fashion. How cool is that??

In addition, according to Nintendo's website, every Wii console includes another distinctive feature: a series of on-screen “channels” that make up the Wii Channel Menu. The Wii Channel Menu is the starting point for all of the console’s functions. The “channels” offer a gateway to a rich variety of entertainment options. When connected to a TV, the Wii Channel Menu offers a simple interface, letting users pick games to play, get news or weather, view and send photos or even create playable caricatures of themselves to use in actual games. Additional functions allow users to redeem Wii Points and download classic games to Wii’s Virtual Console™. The variety of options available through the Wii Channel Menu motivates both gamers and non-gamers to turn on Wii’s power every day.

WOW. I found it really interesting to consider the seemingly unlimited possibilities of gaming technology. Just when I think videogames have reached their peak, something better comes out. As video games move closer and closer towards reality, I wonder if there is ever an end to this particular technology?

For more info on the Nintendo Wii the website is http://wii.nintendo.com/