Two Weeks with the Wii

[Abednigo]

This is a pretty good review of the Wii by someone at Slashdot. He doesn't have anything about Zelda yet (he said his review grew too long to include in this article) but the whole article is a great read. Here is part of his final thoughts:

Even with a fairly humble collection of launch titles, Nintendo has managed to get gamers and non-gamers alike to drink the kool-aid. The system delivers exactly what the company promised when the 'Revolution' was announced in 2004. It's a system that offers the best of both worlds. Non-gamers have a completely intuitive control scheme that will now allow them to play with their game-loving friends. Hardcore gamers already have more innovative titles to play than they know what to do with. So what if some of them, like Red Steel come up a little short. For every Red Steel, there's a Trauma Center, a Rayman, or a Twilight Princess (whose review grew too large to fit here, and will be addressed tomorrow). Offering the best of new technology and plenty of unearthable retro memories, the Wii is a console that demands attention. I've yet to encounter anyone with a mild opinion of the little white box; you are either going to love this thing, or hate it.

Two Weeks with the Wii (http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/06/1641229)

Based on his comments about Rayman, and all the other things I've heard about it, I need to get that game.

[Stormwatcher]

Dude, it's all about the Rabidds!!!
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

[Metal Jesus]

The Wii will look nice sitting next to my other white next gen console. :P

[wezlypipz]

I've owned the Wii for a couple of weeks and I've barely played it. I have Zelda and Red Steel.

I neither love or hate my Wii

[EternalGamer]

The size of the Wii just makes the 360 look ridiculiously big. The two just look very very odd sitting beside one another.

[score]

Not long to go for us now. UK launch is friday and I can't wait :)

[protocol_image]

I think Rayman is a lot of fun, but I'm glad I rented it. There isn't enough in it for me to justify a purchase. A must-play game for sure.

[Stormwatcher]

I want a black Wii

[Zacharai]

The size of the Wii just makes the 360 look ridiculiously big. The two just look very very odd sitting beside one another.
This is why you do not mix apples and oranges. Keep the 360 next to other large things, and you'll stop noticing it. For example, I keep my 360 next to my weight bench. It doesn't look out of place there. I think I'll see if the Wii can fit into my spice rack.

[Worldcrafter]

I've had a lot of fun playing Rayman with friends in the same room. It's just a silly light hearted game that's fun to play and fun to laugh at.

I'm loving my Wii, but then again, I've only had it for a few days.

[Worldcrafter]

I want a black Wii
Oh God!...Must...resist...Wii jokes...not..funny any...more...

ack!!

You know what they say about black Wiis...

[drakkarim]

my opinion of it is also mild. fun controls, crappy graphics = mild.

[TheFlyingOrc]

It's a pretty good launch, all things considered.

I've about Wii'd out this past 2 weeks. With all the friends coming over to play it, plus me playing Zelda and Trauma Center, I could use a short break.

Give another two weeks, and it should change from ZOMG NEW THING to business as usual.

However, business is GOOD. :)

[Heretic Machine]

The Wii is pretty awesome, but currently I only own Wii Sports and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. With Zelda beaten, I have a feeling the Wii is going to go unused until Christmas time when I plan on getting a couple of games from the good ol'parents. Of course, I still have half of FFXII to finish, so it isn't like I'm going to be bored.

Anyhow, loving it so far, and Zelda: TP has toppled OoT as my favorite Zelda game. The atmosphere is excellent, and the dungeons are extremely polished and satisfying. I think my save weighted in around 35 hours, but I'm not one of those people that bothers going out of their way to collect useless junk (like a bigger quiver, or all the heart containers).

Still, a far cry from the supposed 70+ hours some people were reporting. I have no idea how they get that length, I have most of the golden bugs, and I'm only missing about 15 heart containers. I guess they must be poe hunting or something, but even then I already have 23 out of 60 poes.

I'm looking forward to getting the following before the end of the year: Elebits, Dragonball Z, Rayman Raving Rabbids, Metal Slug Anthology, and possibly Super Swing Golf.

[Salesmunn]

I want a black Wii

Don't we all.

[lockwoodx]

I've owned the Wii for a couple of weeks and I've barely played it. I have Zelda and Red Steel.

I neither love or hate my Wii


Didn't you read the back of the box it says "some friends required"

[Abednigo]

I think my save weighted in around 35 hours

How the heck!? I'm at 18 hours and just finished the 3rd dungeon. Unless the rest of the game goes by at a faster pace I may very well hit 70 hours when I finish. Maybe I'm just taking my time.

[TheFlyingOrc]

How the heck!? I'm at 18 hours and just finished the 3rd dungeon. Unless the rest of the game goes by at a faster pace I may very well hit 70 hours when I finish. Maybe I'm just taking my time.

It does pick up speed after the third dungeon.

For one thing, no more "kill the bugs to get the tears"

[Abednigo]

It does pick up speed after the third dungeon.

For one thing, no more "kill the bugs to get the tears"

Yeah, I did spend a good deal of time killing those dang bugs.

[shunoshi]

It does pick up speed after the third dungeon.

For one thing, no more "kill the bugs to get the tears"

...and thank god for that! Finding the bugs in the Zora area drove me insane. :eek: I think I'm on the 6th dungeon now and about 26 hours in.

I've played Trauma Center up to a stage where I want to cry even thinking about how difficult it is. I also just picked up a DS with FFIII. So, I'm feeling the full embrace of Nintendo goodness right now :D

[Abednigo]

...and thank god for that! Finding the bugs in the Zora area drove me insane. :eek:

Same here. Seeing those bugs on the map in Zora's river and having to use a guide to figure out how to get there was frustrating.

[walkstheplanes]

In before Serapth's "Too bad the Wii kinda sucks."

[TheFlyingOrc]

...and thank god for that! Finding the bugs in the Zora area drove me insane. :eek: I think I'm on the 6th dungeon now and about 26 hours in.

I've played Trauma Center up to a stage where I want to cry even thinking about how difficult it is. I also just picked up a DS with FFIII. So, I'm feeling the full embrace of Nintendo goodness right now :D

Normal mode, or easy?

The difference in the 2 is maddening. I beat a level on hard, and I felt like I was bad at video games. :(

[shunoshi]

Normal mode, or easy?

The difference in the 2 is maddening. I beat a level on hard, and I felt like I was bad at video games. :(

I'm playing it on normal. I'd imagine playing it on hard would be near impossible. Some stages are super easy...and some are the opposite. I'm on stage 5-3. I think I've tried it about 10 times or so now....no luck.

[Serapth]

Anyone that reads any gaming posts on slashdot knows they have a rabid pro Nintendo bias there, and a strong anti Sony hate. People say this site has a pro MS bias... compared to slashdot, any bias here is non existant.

[MacD]

Actually, /. has a strong underdog bias, which means Linux and AMD. Nintendo, having much cash and the best selling systems (GB, GBA, DS, pretty soon Wii) isn't much of an underdog, so the system must be good :)

"People say..."? Which people?

[TheFlyingOrc]

Actually, /. has a strong underdog bias, which means Linux and AMD. Nintendo, having much cash and the best selling systems (GB, GBA, DS, pretty soon Wii) isn't much of an underdog, so the system must be good :)

But they are PERCEIVED as the underdog.

[J Arcane]

The Wii is pretty awesome, but currently I only own Wii Sports and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. With Zelda beaten, I have a feeling the Wii is going to go unused until Christmas time when I plan on getting a couple of games from the good ol'parents. Of course, I still have half of FFXII to finish, so it isn't like I'm going to be bored.
Clearly you haven't allowed yourself to sink into the addictive joy that is Wii Sports. If you haven't, you're missing out on one of the coolest new games in longer than I can remember.

I just wish it had online multiplayer.

[Serapth]

But they are PERCEIVED as the underdog.

Exactly. And thus the group think takes over and WII== good, PS3==bad. Its funny they depict MS with the borg icon, when you read comments on that site, Borg like behavour is insane. Which is a shame as there are also many brilliant people on that site aswell. They just get drowned out by the collective and witless.

I hear Diggs worse, but I never frequent that site.

[J Arcane]

Exactly. And thus the group think takes over and WII== good, PS3==bad. Its funny they depict MS with the borg icon, when you read comments on that site, Borg like behavour is insane. Which is a shame as there are also many brilliant people on that site aswell. They just get drowned out by the collective and witless.

I hear Diggs worse, but I never frequent that site.
Digg is the biggest cesspool of utter imbeciles I think I've seen on the entire internet.

[wezlypipz]

"Didn't you read the back of the box it says "some friends required"

posted by lockwoodx

One must also have the $ and means of aquiring more than one wiimote and nunchuck.

If you were insinuating that I don't have friends...will you be my friend?

[PIPBoy3000]

I go to Digg for the news aggregation. I go to Slashdot for the conversation.

In terms of the Wii, my son is mostly playing it and loving it. I got a second wiimote coming for Christmas, which makes some of the party games worthwhile. Even my wife appreciates a video game system that makes him stand up and move around.

I also agree that this is one of the best Zeldas ever. Excellent art direction, even with some of the low-resolution textures.

[Bone]

Still, a far cry from the supposed 70+ hours some people were reporting. I have no idea how they get that length, I have most of the golden bugs, and I'm only missing about 15 heart containers. I guess they must be poe hunting or something, but even then I already have 23 out of 60 poes.
70 hours was given for people who DO collect everything. I think 35-40 hours was the number for the no-frills approach.

I'm at 110 hours, mainly because I am taking my time and enjoying Hyrule, but also because I've been really dense in a couple of puzzles. Going to sleep and coming back the next day, trying to remember the clues I uncovered last night, doesn't help.

What I find interesting is how we all get stuck in different places and blame it on bad design. The bugs were EASY for me to find, but I've gotten stuck in some places that, from reading other people's comments, seem obvious now but made me want to kill the developers at the time. This tells me that the puzzles are all pretty good, it's us who need to adapt again.

Doesn't anybody remember the old days, before Internets, when we had to laboriously draw our own maps, write down clues, etc? I think my brain worked better then. Now if I get stuck for fifteen minutes, it's off to GameFaqs like a moron.

[TheFlyingOrc]

70 hours was given for people who DO collect everything. I think 35-40 hours was the number for the no-frills approach.

I'm at 110 hours, mainly because I am taking my time and enjoying Hyrule, but also because I've been really dense in a couple of puzzles. Going to sleep and coming back the next day, trying to remember the clues I uncovered last night, doesn't help.

What I find interesting is how we all get stuck in different places and blame it on bad design. The bugs were EASY for me to find, but I've gotten stuck in some places that, from reading other people's comments, seem obvious now but made me want to kill the developers at the time. This tells me that the puzzles are all pretty good, it's us who need to adapt again.

Doesn't anybody remember the old days, before Internets, when we had to laboriously draw our own maps, write down clues, etc? I think my brain worked better then. Now if I get stuck for fifteen minutes, it's off to GameFaqs like a moron.

ONE HUNDRED AND TEN HOURS?

Surely you left the game on overnight or something!

[shunoshi]

Doesn't anybody remember the old days, before Internets, when we had to laboriously draw our own maps, write down clues, etc? I think my brain worked better then. Now if I get stuck for fifteen minutes, it's off to GameFaqs like a moron.

Yeah, I feel ya there. I do the same thing. I remember playing the original Metroid and having to make my own map (my parents were too cheap to get me Nintendo Power).

[Wyrm]

70 hours was given for people who DO collect everything. I think 35-40 hours was the number for the no-frills approach.

I'm at 110 hours, mainly because I am taking my time and enjoying Hyrule, but also because I've been really dense in a couple of puzzles. Going to sleep and coming back the next day, trying to remember the clues I uncovered last night, doesn't help.

What I find interesting is how we all get stuck in different places and blame it on bad design. The bugs were EASY for me to find, but I've gotten stuck in some places that, from reading other people's comments, seem obvious now but made me want to kill the developers at the time. This tells me that the puzzles are all pretty good, it's us who need to adapt again.

Doesn't anybody remember the old days, before Internets, when we had to laboriously draw our own maps, write down clues, etc? I think my brain worked better then. Now if I get stuck for fifteen minutes, it's off to GameFaqs like a moron.

Dude, I know exactly what you mean. I used to draw out maps, write down clues, take notes on areas I'd been to, and even sketch stuff out and write down what I'd already collected because my memory is horrible. If I hadn't, I'd have spent about 8 years playing Metroid, Secret of Mana, Zelda, etc. Now, with gamefaqs, I get stuck, and I get frustrated really fast instead of looking for what will later seem to be a completely obvious solution.

The only game I've really had to just beat the hell out of myself to keep from going to gamefaqs in the last year though was Shadow of the Colossus, and I've got to tell you, it was worth it. Figuring out every one of those things on my own was so incredibly satisfying, and it took forever on some of them, but I did it, and I did it with some serious style. ;)

[51|RandoM]

Digg is the biggest cesspool of utter imbeciles I think I've seen on the entire internet.

Never taken a spin around myspace?

[Bone]

ONE HUNDRED AND TEN HOURS?

Surely you left the game on overnight or something!
No. Plain and simple, I screw around a lot.

[51|RandoM]

The only game I've really had to just beat the hell out of myself to keep from going to gamefaqs in the last year though was Shadow of the Colossus, and I've got to tell you, it was worth it. Figuring out every one of those things on my own was so incredibly satisfying, and it took forever on some of them, but I did it, and I did it with some serious style. ;)

The stuff in SotC sorta makes sense though, and you will eventually figure it out.

I'm noticing a trend nowadays to put stuff in a game that you'd never in a million year figure out unless you do one magical thing: Buy their damn "strategy" guide. It isn't a strategy guide, it is a blueprint of the game.

I could've played viva pinata forever and never created a twingersnap if I hadn't read about it somewhere else.

[imagecreature]

Yeah, I feel ya there. I do the same thing. I remember playing the original Metroid and having to make my own map (my parents were too cheap to get me Nintendo Power).
What do you think mint copy of the premiere issue Nintendo Power would go for? I did a few searches and turn up very little.

[Skjef]

Exactly. And thus the group think takes over and WII== good, PS3==bad. Its funny they depict MS with the borg icon, when you read comments on that site, Borg like behavour is insane. Which is a shame as there are also many brilliant people on that site aswell. They just get drowned out by the collective and witless.

I hear Diggs worse, but I never frequent that site.Could you please attack the article in question and not the site on which it was posted? Kthxbye.

[Serapth]

Could you please attack the article in question and not the site on which it was posted? Kthxbye.


Its not an article, its an user review. Which in turn makes the userbase relevant to the question at hand. Much as, if they cross posted an EvAv review on Slashdot, it would be relevant to discuss the EvAv community.

[Skjef]

Its not an article, its an user review. Which in turn makes the userbase relevant to the question at hand. Much as, if they cross posted an EvAv review on Slashdot, it would be relevant to discuss the EvAv community.Zonk is a Slashdot editor, on the Slashdot payroll. Are you accusing him of slanting his review to get a favourable reaction from the Slashdot readership?

[Abednigo]

No. Plain and simple, I screw around a lot.

I do too actually. I like taking Epona and just cruising around Hyrule Field, or going back to the the village and talking to everyone again. Or finding a deep body of water and jumping in with the Zora Armor and Iron Boots and just walking around. Thankfully I got the 600 rupee purse now so I won't be wasting my time finding rupee chests with a full purse. I might take some time to go fishing once I turn back into a human again. :)

[Karmakin]

I'm a long time reader of /., and as much as they have a bias, it's not so much for any console or company in particular, is that for a long time they've wanted certain things en masse. It's a lot of ex-hardcore gamers who have had life get in the way.

#1. Games that you can pick up and play for 20-30 minutes at a stretch

#2. New and innovative gameplay and control methods

And that's about it. Needless to say, WiiSports is made for the /. crowd. As well, games such as ExciteTruck, Trauma Center and Raving Rabbids.

The only thing that's surprising is that they actually like it, considering their history of wanting..no begging for something, and when they get it whining about it.

[rubek]

Awesome, I'm glad the gimicky fears have been allayed.
I lined up this morning for the first day of Wii here in Aus.
Thankfully I visited a quiet store to get my Wii and Zelda. I wanted to buy an extra nunchuck, but had to go to the nearest Myer department store. I'm glad I didn't try and buy the Wii itself there as it was PACKED.
Only game available in Aus on launch day.... Zelda.
Nintendo have never had this much presence in Australia, I feel like we aren't quite the ass end of the world!

[Serapth]

I'm a long time reader of /., and as much as they have a bias, it's not so much for any console or company in particular, is that for a long time they've wanted certain things en masse. It's a lot of ex-hardcore gamers who have had life get in the way.

#1. Games that you can pick up and play for 20-30 minutes at a stretch

#2. New and innovative gameplay and control methods

And that's about it. Needless to say, WiiSports is made for the /. crowd. As well, games such as ExciteTruck, Trauma Center and Raving Rabbids.

The only thing that's surprising is that they actually like it, considering their history of wanting..no begging for something, and when they get it whining about it.

Wow, you have a massively different view of the slashdot crowd then I do. Instead of letting life "get in the way", I view most of the readership of having no life. The atypical nerd in Moms basement with Che like visions of revolution but a complete lack of moral conviction. Being bouyed by the annonymous nature of the internet, they feel the need to play the bully. Plus, they have found a likewise community of social deviants and form into massive huddles of groupthink, while at the same time decry the masses for their hurd like mentalities.


Guess I have a rather negative mindset of Slashdot. God, how I miss the days of it just being a tech geek hangout...

[Karmakin]

Wow, you have a massively different view of the slashdot crowd then I do. Instead of letting life "get in the way", I view most of the readership of having no life. The atypical nerd in Moms basement with Che like visions of revolution but a complete lack of moral conviction. Being bouyed by the annonymous nature of the internet, they feel the need to play the bully. Plus, they have found a likewise community of social deviants and form into massive huddles of groupthink, while at the same time decry the masses for their hurd like mentalities.


Guess I have a rather negative mindset of Slashdot. God, how I miss the days of it just being a tech geek hangout...

Well, I can understand that. I used to despise Slashdot as being the Free Republic of tech sites, mainly because it was just so stupid there you couldn't get away from it. It was filled with Randroids who believed their shit didn't stink,

Over time, it changed. Especially as the tech bubble collapsed, and all these techies world collapsed. Most of the community now, is kinda grown up, some working busy jobs trying to hold on to them, and it's a much more socially adjusted place.

[Serapth]

Thats true of the good posters.

That said, the place is still full of shitheads that think by totting linux and speaking mindless me-too bashes against all things Microsoft/Sony/Flavor of the week and speaking pro Linux/MacOS/Wii/GPL, they are being cool.

Only difference is, the moderation system seems to be working better now.

[Nessus]

I still play Wii usually at least once a day. I've been taking my time with Zelda. I just beat the 3rd dungeon (there were a few headscratchers in that one).

Haven't played Wii Sports much, but I primarily view it as a multiplayer game like Mario Party. I *need* to buy a second controller sometime soon.

[Wonka]

I like my Wii a lot. The controls are clever, but they really amount to another way to "push a button". That is, they do not seem to be sensitive enough to be used for really more than the equivalent of a button push. It really does seem to be more intuitive for new gamers who can watch you more easily wave your arms around in a particular way. BUT, it doesn't seem really "revolutionary". That is, I no longer expect new kinds of games to be born from this...

And the online part of the console is nothing but a dissapointment. The store is the only part that works, and connecting wirelessly to that was VERY PAINFUL indeed. Based on my experience, I predict most people will not be able to manage to use the store without several calls to tech support. I had loads of trouble and I have a VERY mainstream linksys router (WRT54G). The worst part: when I called and told them the error code I was getting, they didn't even know what that code meant... I had to figure it out from trial and error. Once I figured it out, I called THEM back to tell them how to make their console work. The games from the store are unenhanced, but still cost amounts similar to what you pay on LIVE!.

But the intuitive controls make it a great system for simple party games. I think its a great console for a very specific purpose. I would steer clear though if you want to play online...

[[VSK]BadCRC]

And the online part of the console is nothing but a dissapointment. The store is the only part that works, and connecting wirelessly to that was VERY PAINFUL indeed. Based on my experience, I predict most people will not be able to manage to use the store without several calls to tech support. I had loads of trouble and I have a VERY mainstream linksys router (WRT54G). The worst part: when I called and told them the error code I was getting, they didn't even know what that code meant... I had to figure it out from trial and error. Once I figured it out, I called THEM back to tell them how to make their console work.

The error code might not have meant anything meaningful, sometimes an error code is just a fault trap that keeps the system from behaving in a bizzare way (locking up, for instance). And the code could have simply been the system's way of saying "An Unknown Error has occured".

As far as the wireless goes, adding the system to the network wasn't hard at all, it does mean knowing your wireless settings on the router (WEP/WPA encryption methods used, and so on). But everyone else I know that has a Wii has had no problems getting it online.

[Bone]

I had loads of trouble and I have a VERY mainstream linksys router (WRT54G). I use the same router and had no problems at all. What was the solution that got yours working?

[Nessus]

I'm wondering what the pace of other people's progress with Zelda is like. I've only just finished the 3rd dungeon and I'm already 15 hours in.

[Wonka]

Yes, I know all about the wep settings etc. Those were not the problem (though I can imagine they would be for a person who is easily intimidated).

I had a couple of different issues. The 1st was a fairly common one where the transmit channel has to be switched to 1 or 11. In my case, only 1 works at all.

The other issue was that the DNS servers of the world were not ready for the Wii online store at launch. That is, my console was actually able to get the update (because those DNS entries for that had already propagated) but the store was unavailable. This game me the an error code (something like #2606) that none of the Nintendo guys knew. More alarming, they confessed to me that they did not have any indications about what ANY of the error codes were at launch (they were piecing them together from calls). Whoever programmed the error codes for the Wii front end apparently failed to let anyone in tech support in on their "secret codes"... Anyhow, after flipping the DNS entries around (the Wii basically uses the 1st one and does not try the others by default), I was able to see the store and the error code disappeared. That the Wii is behaving this way reflects really two additional bugs: 1) The online store domain names were released to to wilds of the internet FAR too late for launch (hence some DNS servers simply did not work) and 2) The front end of the Wii was BARELY ready for prime time when it launched (ie. it should actually TRY all the DNSs listed, otherwise why have a place to even type extras in?).

So I got everything to work by trial and error combined with a completely manual configuration of the wifi settings on the Wii. One other error in the front end then bit me a few days later when I discovered that the Wii also does not remember to use internet connection #2 (even after you specifically tell it to use this one). Instead, the console forgets after after being switched off. I eventually had to delete configuration #1 so that the machine would stop trying to switch back to it when powered off.

Anyhow, the transmit channel issue alone is probably enough to keep most casual gamers out of the online store. The other issues will hopefully get resolved with time, but its pretty clear to me that Nintendo is nowhere NEAR to ready for prime time in the online arena. At least not yet.

[Yellowman]

Thats true of the good posters.

That said, the place is still full of shitheads that think by totting linux and speaking mindless me-too bashes against all things Microsoft/Sony/Flavor of the week and speaking pro Linux/MacOS/Wii/GPL, they are being cool.

Only difference is, the moderation system seems to be working better now.

This is coming from the 'Yeah but the wii kind of sucks anyway' guy??????????

I know you thought it was funny and cool but.... it just wasn't.

[Chameleo]

i have a free wireless router from my internet company, and htat worked no problem.

didnt have to enter any codes (cept my wpa) at all... worked just as smoothly as the DS.

as for the wii itself, i'm playing more wii sports than zelda. i hit pro in bowling and tennis so far. boxing is freaking hard. but oh-so fun.

[Abednigo]

I'm wondering what the pace of other people's progress with Zelda is like. I've only just finished the 3rd dungeon and I'm already 15 hours in.

I'm 18 hours in after the 3rd dungeon. The last two "collect the tears" quests took me awhile.

[Serapth]

This is coming from the 'Yeah but the wii kind of sucks anyway' guy??????????

I know you thought it was funny and cool but.... it just wasn't.



Ohhhh, the pain and sting of such a scathing insult from such a distinguished poster.

[Yellowman]

Lol, now you are snubbing me because I have a low post count.

You are so damn L337. Its funny though, because there is this website where people talk down to others who have high user ID in much the same way. Its called Slashdot.

Perhaps you would be happier being a dick there. Then again they have this moderation system so that people who talk crap all the time get less exposure. Which is probably why you like it in EA so much, all that shit you post so quickly because lets face it you spend more time posting on EA than actually gaming, and people have to read it.

In fact that might expain why you hate Slashdot so much. Maybe the moderation system meant nobody got to read all the bollocks you talk. Leading you to feel bitter and upset because nobody would listen to poor old you.

Leading you to EvAv where the more crap you post, the cooler you look with your post count. I mean your lifetime avg is 12.7 posts a day, i wonder how many of those were insightful and incisive insights into the world of gaming and how many were just crap like 'yeah but the wii kind of sucks'. As if having a higher post on a gaming website somehow made everything you have to say about gaming/slashdot anymore valid than something somebody with one post has to say. If we were playing World of Warcraft you'd be that dick in IF with full epix that runs around shouting 'look how huge my e-peen is'

The fact is that I read slashdot as much as I read EvAv and the comments are always varied, but just like EvAv has a slight Microsoft bias, Slashdot has a slight Nintendo slant. Yes they hate Microsoft but then again there is good reason to have an ethical problem with Microsoft, the fact is that you really shouldn't buy their products (Xbox is an exception) because in most other markets they monopolise, stifle competition and then release sloppy products. Look at XP, whatever was good about it as an OS, the fact is it wasn't designed for internet use and Microsoft took a good long time ignoring the problem. The fact is that in gaming you are seeing the absolute best side of MS, whereby they aren't the market leader and they have to compete as hard as possible. Within that market you get things like Xbox Live. But in a market they dominate you get something like Windows ME.

The vitriol you see against Microsoft is the same vitriol you get against Sony here at the moment. Basically they trusted them once and then they made a lot of mistakes and seemed to lose all regard for their user base, after all it was Microsoft or nothing if you wanted to use an OS in a business environment. And when competing products came along that far exceeded the quality of their own products, but instead of competing again, they used monopolistic practices, the hype machine, FUD and a massive installed user base who believe the FUD to stop people from switching. But you probably never really saw it like that did you Serapth? Because after all, 'Windows is where teh games are at'

[Rook34]

Going after teh original posts here, I like my Wii, but I can't seem to divide my time between it and Gears of War or Viva Pinata so well. I tend to lean towards Gears more and Viva because, I think, I feel I need to get my moneys worth out of my 3 month Xbox Love card. (Don't be fooled though, they are both top notch games. Yes, I'm still talking about Viva Pinata, even.)

[Bone]

Lol, now you are snubbing me because I have a low post count.

You are so damn L337. Its funny though, because there is this website where people talk down to others who have high user ID in much the same way. Its called Slashdot...
etc...
It's not that people here look down on low post counters... it's that when you haven't participated here and then attack one of our own, we instinctively protect them and also wonder who the fuck are you to attack us. It's not like we think we're not assholes... Serapth can be an asshole, but he's one of our assholes. And everyone here who participates knows his "Wii sucks" thing is a joke. He loves his Wii.

But you... are an unknown asshole at the moment. That's all.

[Mister Pie]

Want a wii so bad... must wait till college finals are over!

[shunoshi]

It's not that people here look down on low post counters... it's that when you haven't participated here and then attack one of our own, we instinctively protect them and also wonder who the fuck are you to attack us. It's not like we think we're not assholes... Serapth can be an asshole, but he's one of our assholes. And everyone here who participates knows his "Wii sucks" thing is a joke. He loves his Wii.

But you... are an unknown asshole at the moment. That's all.

Golden, Bone, just golden.

[Chameleo]

i tend to give all assholes the benefit of the doubt usually.

yellowman makes some pretty good points, and i never saw seraph as overly funny.

[Serapth]

It's not that people here look down on low post counters... it's that when you haven't participated here and then attack one of our own, we instinctively protect them and also wonder who the fuck are you to attack us. It's not like we think we're not assholes... Serapth can be an asshole, but he's one of our assholes. And everyone here who participates knows his "Wii sucks" thing is a joke. He loves his Wii.

But you... are an unknown asshole at the moment. That's all.


Thanks Bone, appreciated. I wear my asshole badge proudly, but generally only act like an asshole when being obviously sarcastic, or in response to a different asshole.

[Serapth]

i tend to give all assholes the benefit of the doubt usually.

yellowman makes some pretty good points, and i never saw seraph as overly funny.


Too each their own really. I find a number of people not funny, but everyone has a different sense of humour. While the Wii thing got repetitive, I also had a half dozen people PM me to say it cracked them up.

As to giving assholes the benefit of the doubt, so do I. But, if someone dishes a shot at me, I dish one right back. There are two different things... attacking something someone likes/dislikes ( aka, Slashdot ), or attacking a person directly. If someone directly attacks me, I snap back, pretty much like I do in reallife.

[Bone]

No problem Serapth. And just to be clear, I know I'm an asshole too. We should form a support group... oh wait, we're already logged in to it ;)

[Serapth]

Lol, now you are snubbing me because I have a low post count.


Not at all, if I was snubbing you for your low post count, I wouldnt be responding to you at all. You took a shot at me, I took one back. Tit for tat or so they say.


You are so damn L337.

Thanks you.

Its funny though, because there is this website where people talk down to others who have high user ID in much the same way. Its called Slashdot.

Oddly, I dont really find that very much on slashdot. I do find low ID people tend to get moderated up more often. Now, if that is a result of their lower ID or better formed/expressed opinions is a matter of debate.


Perhaps you would be happier being a dick there. Then again they have this moderation system so that people who talk crap all the time get less exposure. Which is probably why you like it in EA so much, all that shit you post so quickly because lets face it you spend more time posting on EA than actually gaming, and people have to read it.

Might want to look in the mirror at who is talking more crap. I said bad shit about Slashdots gaming forum ( which I hold true, I can barely tolerate the community in the game area ), and a jab at you. You've taken probrably close to a half dozen personal stabs at me by the time you finish this post. There is a difference between insulting a group and an individual.


In fact that might expain why you hate Slashdot so much. Maybe the moderation system meant nobody got to read all the bollocks you talk. Leading you to feel bitter and upset because nobody would listen to poor old you.

I don't hate slashdot. Ive been a member with excellent karma for probrably 5 years os ./ There are alot of very informed posters on that site and the moderation system seems to express that. If you try reading what I wrote instead of reading what you want to hear, you might have noticed that. What I hate about slashdot is the average sheep minded poster ( to which I praise the moderation system for burying from view ). In a typical thread of 300 posts, it would be lucky to see 40 or 50 of them of a decent calibre. That said, those 40 or 50 make it all worthwhile. The gaming section on slashdot however, is even worse. Might have a handful of redeeming posts and the rest is mindless drivel.


Leading you to EvAv where the more crap you post, the cooler you look with your post count. I mean your lifetime avg is 12.7 posts a day, i wonder how many of those were insightful and incisive insights into the world of gaming and how many were just crap like 'yeah but the wii kind of sucks'. As if having a higher post on a gaming website somehow made everything you have to say about gaming/slashdot anymore valid than something somebody with one post has to say. If we were playing World of Warcraft you'd be that dick in IF with full epix that runs around shouting 'look how huge my e-peen is'

If you only knew how stupid calling me out for "wii kinda sucks", it was a joke in a different thread that kinda took on a life of its own. If you were a regular here, you would have probrably known that. Hey, dont find it funny, thats ok, everybody has a different sense of humour. I know a number of people did find it funny, like I said enough that it took on a life of its own. Sorta like the guy on Slashdot that tags everything "ItsATrap", which frankly I find funny, but im guessing you dont. All your various insults there, I will frankly ignore as your logic is lost on me. Best I can translate it as is... I hate the Wii, my opinion is invalid and im a cocksucker in WoW. Got it. Guess I should try WoW out for the first time then so I can start growing my e-peen.

The fact is that I read slashdot as much as I read EvAv and the comments are always varied, but just like EvAv has a slight Microsoft bias, Slashdot has a slight Nintendo slant. Yes they hate Microsoft but then again there is good reason to have an ethical problem with Microsoft, the fact is that you really shouldn't buy their products (Xbox is an exception) because in most other markets they monopolise, stifle competition and then release sloppy products. Look at XP, whatever was good about it as an OS, the fact is it wasn't designed for internet use and Microsoft took a good long time ignoring the problem. The fact is that in gaming you are seeing the absolute best side of MS, whereby they aren't the market leader and they have to compete as hard as possible. Within that market you get things like Xbox Live. But in a market they dominate you get something like Windows ME.

I read slashdot a couple times a day and I guess I have a vastly different opinion then you. They love Nintendo ( as the undergod ), hate the PS3 more then the Xbox 360. Infact, there is actually quite a group of Xbox 360 lovers on that site which completely goes against the trend. As to the rest of your comment about why MS is evil ( thank you for atleast not saying *** ), thats really grounds for a much different thread. However, I tend to find people with your outlook on Microsoft arent employeed in an area where buying Microsoft products is pretty much unavoidable. If you really want a rebutal on this comment, spin of a new thread in the totally off topic area, and I will gladly go there and give you my useless opinion while artifically padding my post count.

The vitriol you see against Microsoft is the same vitriol you get against Sony here at the moment. Basically they trusted them once and then they made a lot of mistakes and seemed to lose all regard for their user base, after all it was Microsoft or nothing if you wanted to use an OS in a business environment. And when competing products came along that far exceeded the quality of their own products, but instead of competing again, they used monopolistic practices, the hype machine, FUD and a massive installed user base who believe the FUD to stop people from switching.

As above a different topic for a different thread. If you feel the need to continue this discussion, merely cut and paste your last two paragraphs into a new thread in the off topic section and I will debate them there. Please though, try to keep it civil. Mixing insults in with your argument does nothing but debase both your argument and your insult. If you are going to debate or insult, give it your all... dont dilute it by mixing the two.


But you probably never really saw it like that did you Serapth? Because after all, 'Windows is where teh games are at'


Oh, ive heard that argument many many times. First off, the FUD word is thrown around way too often that its lost most of its meaning. The ironic thing is, FUD is often used in a FUD filled post, something many people never seem to appreciate. As to your second statement, I have to be careful with my wording because I will spark certain people off by saying them. I am becoming more and more of a console gamer ( PS2/Xbox last gen, Wii/360 this gen sofar ) and play PC games less and less. Windows is where the games were at... Not as much these days. Since the days of Baldurs Gate 2, I have been less and less of a PC Gamer. Sadly too, as that was a golden era.

You seem to have made alot of assumptions about me, and I have tollerated a number of personal attacks from you. I have no history of yours to go from, nor any personal experience in dealing with you. This is an area where a low post count truly is relevant. Somebody I have talked with hundreds of times will get a hell of alot more slack from me, then somebody I dont know. Much as it is in reallife. However, if you insist on making these assumptions about me, putting words in my mouth and mindlessly bashing me because I have a different opinion then you, then I wont waste my time in the future responding. I hope that is understandable.

[Stormwatcher]

What the hell is "FUD"?

[Yellowman]

Not at all, if I was snubbing you for your low post count, I wouldnt be responding to you at all. You took a shot at me, I took one back. Tit for tat or so they say.

This is absolute rubbish. Look Serapth, you are quite clearly capable of an intelligent response but you are quite clearly also capable of talking out of your ass. My comment wasn't really a swipe at you, I was just pointing out that you were quite capable of the same inane gibberish that you sometimes find on Slashdot. But your next comment was just outright arrogant and rude, as if you were turning to your mates and say 'hey guys, dont listen to this one, hes not in the gang'. I would never have injected the same vitriol, in fact i probably wouldn't of cared if you had simply took a shot at me.

Now obviously you took a lot more time and put in a lot more thought into your response to my stream of personal attacks. I wont try and defend that, I admit I was incensed, but the fact is that the wording of your carefully thought out response is still full of arrogance. For instance

and I have tollerated a number of personal attacks from you

Tolerating a personal attack would be if you wrote a short response apologising for your arrogance and asking me to please tone my responses down and to not make any more personal attacks. Writing a massive post pulling apart everything I said and then really really patronisingly telling me why you dont respect my opinion is the internet equivalent of smashing a bar stool over my head. And besides what would you have done if you hadn't tolerated my attacks, traced my Ip and come round and beat the shit out of me? Or petitioned for a perma-ban? So in all honesty you took the strongest form of action possible.

Might want to look in the mirror at who is talking more crap. I said bad shit about Slashdots gaming forum ( which I hold true, I can barely tolerate the community in the game area ), and a jab at you.

But you see Serapth instead of pointing out why the Slashdot crowd are wrong you chose the easy path and just attacked them as a bunch of mindless spamming sheep. I did NOT take a shot at you, I simply pointed out that your 'the wii kind of sucks thing', which I believe was a clumsy attempt at irony, was very similar to the sort of spam you often find on Slashdot. The old invent a cliche thing is very Slashdot.

Look basically I cannot be bothered to argue with you since this is devaluing the quality of my low post count. But you completely misunderstood everything I said. You see the thing is that you say I've made a lot of assumptions about you but as someone who read EvAv daily I've read a lot of your comments so I can form an opinion of you. Effectively you are a gamer with good taste who tends to think of himself as better than the general unwashed masses. My comment was a slight quip pointing out the hypocrisy of railing on Slashdot in one thread and then inventing a cliche in the other. Also you said that I hated the Wii, I can only guess at how you came to that conclusion from my post but I can tell you I picked mine up this morning, been on preorder for two months, and now am sitting at work counting the minutes until I get to experience Wii for the first time. I would probably be a Nintendo fanboy if I didnt live in Europe. Its very hard to be a nintendo fanboy in Europe. I am also, as soon as I can afford it, buying a 360, so in terms of taste I imagine we are very similar. I will not be getting a PS3 for sometime if at all.
I am quite capable of admitting my mistakes and unlike a lot of people on the internet I don't see apologising and admitting error as a defeat. I am sincerely sorry for the personal attacks against you, I admit I made them in anger and that for the most part they were wrong and full of assumption. But my original point stands, it is hypocritical and arrogant of you to look down on the Slashdot crowd when EvAv exhibits very similar behaviour that you find more acceptable because it has a Microsoft slant. I mean for christ's sake look at Zeal's posts. The only difference is that EvAv (i am generalising here) thinks of itself as a bit above the whole thing and you are a prime example of that attitude.

See gaming communities form because like minded people get together and confirm opinions. Not share, confirm. EvAv is as guilty as any other site, including Slashdot. At no time is this more prevalent in the gaming section than when a console is released (well actually we shall see when Vista is released, I predict widespread flaming across all sections on Slashdot). It is exacly the reason I choose not to post on boards much. Because of course I am actually above it unlike the rest of you shmucks.

Just kidding, but you can see how similar that is to what you said about Slashdot. And how hypocritical it is for someone who posts so regularly and is capable of exactly the same drivel to look down on Slashdotters and people with low post counts :cool: The fact is that to a certain extent we are all Microsofts/Sonys/Nintendo's bitches because when you invest money and time into an object, it makes you a little bit zealous about it. Whether or not you go out and beat on other people for making a different choice is a question of character, but waxing lyrical about whatever choice you did make is pretty natural.

What caused all the vitriol was the comment about my post count. Not only that but you actually feel that it is justifiable because you don't know me at all. I don't know about you but when I meet a new person I am more careful about what I say to them, as my ignorance about their circumstances kind of forces you to be more respectful. To say that it is ok to look and talk down on someone because you don't know them very well and are protected by a barrier of anonyimity and a close kint group of friends is one of the absolute worst examples of the effect the Internet has on behaviour. It is an attitude that is prevalent on WOW which is why I brought it up.

I'm now going to try and work and ignore the shiny shiny box of fun under my desk.

[Yellowman]

By the way to anyone who says this thread is way off topic and is just a personal argument between two people...

This thread delivers. And you know it. So don't complain :D

[Stormwatcher]

Yellowman hates friends.
And loves to be hated.

That's what I get from this thread.

[Yellowman]

Thanks Storm that was really useful input. Im really glad you stopped by to say that. And congratulations on being able to read! Obviously comprehension is a bit beyond you, in fact your response didn't really make any sense at all, but I did use a lot of long words and some of them may of confused you.

[Stormwatcher]

What the fuck is your problem?

So yeah, you're better than us!! You're HIGH AND MIGHTY! you discovered the TRUTH about online communities! WE are all stupid jerks with low self-esteem and you are the messiah that will free us! You're SO smarter then me, lol. PRAISED BE YELLOWMAN.

Not really the case. You came to EvAv to pick fights, right? You really have nothing better to do, isn't it? Are you so lonely and virgin that you need to come here and annoy people to feel less of a loser? News to you: you don't know ANYTHING about EvAv. All your pseudo-psychoanalytical babbling is just wrong. Really,the posts above paint you as an egocentric, arrogant asshole, and that you think too highly of yourself. Unfortunately, you're not a third as smart as you seem to think you are.

I was actually going to tell Serapth off for mentioning post counts, but hey, you just proved him RIGHT. It takes a lot of nerve to enter a room where people are already acquainted with each other and just start passing judgments on everyone... Tell me, why should we give a shit about what you think? You're no one, you don't know us, and you fancy yourself entitled to do that shit... Sad, really fucking sad.

So, go shovel some snow or something. No forum needs a true certified idiot like you.

[Yellowman]

I didnt make any judgements on people, I stated facts. Just because you were unable to understand the point I was trying to make, that all communities have similar problems that crop up (fanboys, flamers and trolls) and EvAv is no different and to insult Slashdot because it has them as well is arrogant. That is a valid point. The fact that you took it as some personal attack against your beloved site shows you are perhaps a sensitive little flower.

I didn't just come to EvAv you moron and if I did come to pick fights then perhaps I would of picked a few more in the year that I have been reading this site. I love EvAv, I was just stating a few facts about video game boards, I never said I was above that. In fact I admitted I would be a Nintendo fanboy if they didn't treat Europe like shit. I don't wander around picking fights but I do hate elitism with a passion and if I make a comment and someone brings up post counts to invalidate me I get pretty damn angry about it. And if someone totally misunderstands my argument and starts making personal attacks against me, first telling the board they should hate me and then just randomly accusing me of arrogance and flinging shit at me, then I get enraged. Serapth and I were having an argument but at least he somewhat understood what I was trying to say. You just took the ball the wrong way and ran with it.

EDIT - Ok please cite a single sentence in my argument where I suggested I was in any way better than anyone else on this board. Apart from the one I made in jest.

[J Arcane]

Translation of this thread:

Serapth: *waves prick*
Yellowman: *waves prick*
Serapth: *waves prick harder*
Yellowman: *waves prick some more*
J Arcane: *wonders why they don't just fuck and get over it instead of wanking all over in public*

[Yellowman]

An apt analysis J Arcane :)

[Serapth]

J Arcane, I dont consider arguments to be prick waving contests.

Yellowman, you are missing one thing about me. I am arrogant, im pretty transparent about that in most of my posts. Alot of people on this forum are proudly arrogant. Frankly, im ok with it.

Second, I never actually directly called you out on post count :D Infact, I never mentioned it once. I suppose you can read what you want from my comment. So far as insults go, it was a good one, becasue it got you worked up! ;)

I was going to respond about how Slashdot and EvAv are different ( and they are ), but it seems for the time being the thread has been taken in a new direction. I think for now I'll just sit back and see where it goes.

[protocol_image]

Two Weeks with the Wii....and a shit-storm ensues....

I like to preach the method of just ignoring people that blatently start shit....yet I myself can never practice it 100% of the time :)

In any case, I can't wait until 5pm so I can go home and play Wii all weekend!

[shunoshi]

Two Weeks with the Wii....and a shit-storm ensues....

I like to preach the method of just ignoring people that blatently start shit....yet I myself can never practice it 100% of the time :)

In any case, I can't wait until 5pm so I can go home and play Wii all weekend!

Amen, brother! :D

[Bone]

What the hell is "FUD"?Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. Someone in Microsoft famously leaked an internal memo that said they should spread FUD about Linux to make sure the general public never considered it a viable OS.

Actually, the memo says Linux CAN'T be defeated with FUD so they would have to try a different angle.

http://archive.salon.com/21st/rose/1998/11/04straight.html