Hey mailbag,

I got to say that I’m pretty psyched about the Wii console and what it could offer. The only thing that has me tossing and turning at night is the lag that I’ve seen in some gameplay videos. When the player moves the remote, the action on screen happens fractions of a second later. It’s not much, really, but it may be enough to bother some people. If you’ve had hands-on experience could you please shed some light on this for me? Maybe calm my fears?

Thanks a lot!

Frank

From the Wii games I played at E3 a few months ago, I can't say that I noticed any game-breaking controller lag. There was some delay in Red Steel, but when I got a second run though the demo in a sitting position, the effects of it weren't so bad. The game wasn't finished, and neither was the hardware, so I'll give Ubi the benefit of the doubt on that one.

With the new technologies that Nintendo has incorporated into the Wii controller, it may very well be that there will be the slightest bit of delay between controller actions and on-screen actions. Button presses or analog stick movements won't be a problem, but things like aiming the pointer to shoot or performing steering/slashing motions could be a challenge for developers to get right. An action such as a throwing motion isn't as instantaneous as pressing a button, so there may be a fraction of a second in where the game has to verify the controller's velocity before the result is shown on the display.

Like I said, I didn't notice any controller lag issues at E3 that would make a game less enjoyable. Metroid Prime 3 was solid. Excite Truck was great. Mario and Zelda were Mario and Zelda. Ultimately, the Wii controller will probably have delay similar to that of modern wireless controllers (virtually none), with some slower—but still acceptable— responsiveness when remote or nunchaku movements are performed. I doubt it'll bother people unless there's a Wii music game that requires crazy-exact precision.

Hi Mr. Bag,

This should probably be filed under "wild speculation", but I had to ask:

I saw a vague rumor on the web that Nintendo is considering making a handheld capable of playing Gamecube disks. It sounds absurd to me because I know most of the revenue in a platform's life comes from game licensing, so the industry wants new games. But it sounds so brilliant! The size of those disks always seemed a bit absurd, but they're perfect for a handheld. And talk about a launch lineup! Plus it would give a second chance to all those fine GC games that saw tepid sales in the dying days of the Cube's life. So what do you think? Totally unrealistic, or just a long shot?

Monkeybottomley

It's a rumor with a hint of suspicion attached to it. Earlier this month, IGN ran a story about various Wii rumors that included the system's probable launch date and price. Also included was a bit about a revision of Wii's Broadway chip, but it was later removed from the article. Well, once something is published on the Internet, it's out there for good: 1UP got its hands on the original.

That's the story behind it, but does it have any weight? It is plausible that Nintendo could take some of the hardware from Wii and apply it to a new handheld, although I very seriously doubt they will come out with a new Game Boy or DS type of system in the near future. Could a portable GameCube be in the cards? If the rumor turns out to be true, yes. Just as likely is a “GameCube Micro" redesign of the console. They could perhaps even integrate GameCube tech into other devices in the future, a la the shiny Panasonic Q. There's really too little information to bluntly assume anything at this point, and definitely too soon to peg this possibility as a new handheld.

I must say, though...playing Super Smash Bros. Melee anywhere I wanted would be wicked awesome.

Hey bag,

As cool as the DS game Cooking Mama looks (sort of), surely the concept and engine are wasted on such a simple title. Those developers need to take what they have learnt from this project (let's call it a Beta for what's to come) and invest in their ultimate killer app:

IRON CHEF DS!

Just stop and imagine it...

Create-a-chef mode lets you put yourself in the game and prepare to face the Iron Chefs in Kitchen Stadium in a series of cooking-style minigames (based around a single theme ingredient) such as chopping, stirring, frying and writing calligraphy menus like Michiba-san. Final dishes are 'judged' on speed, accuracy, taste and originality.

Multiplayer mode will allow you to select either yourself or one of the Iron Chefs and take on your friends over Wi-Fi to see Whose Cuisine Reigns Supreme!

Also available for Nintendo Wii. No further explanation required...

Marcus

I would purchase this instantly, but there would need to be a special “commentary mode" where I can use the DS microphone and shout “FUKUI-SAN!!" to attract attention for bonus points.

Hey!

It's been while since I last wrote which is crazy because I've been following nintendo news like a madman these past few months on weblogs and of course PGC. Anways on to the questions!

1. I was wondering that since most consoles are region coded. However with virtual console, do you think it would be possible to download and play games developed around the world? Maybe even games that never came to our respective shores?

2. Since the recent news about Zelda Wii not having the option for GC control, i was wondering how this might effect the polocy for wii games in the future. I know that like the DS they want developers to push towards using the new scheme and i totally abide that. However for a traditional game that was quickly retooled for wii play i find it irritating that people who buy the wii version are stuck with that scheme rather than being given a choice.

It was my understanding that they kept the gamecube version in order to make sure they kept their promise to GC consumers that Zelda would indeed release on the cube. Now its like you have to invest on what control scheme you think your going to enjoy! Tough decision that can't really be made till after you have tried both schemes!

3. I recently viewed a list of 27 games that are supposedly slated for launch. One that caught my eye was Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers. So far i have only seen information on the DS version of FFCC. Have any information on this title? Also along the same lines, do you think we will see a DS or Wii version of Zelda Four Swords? That and FFCC were both games that would have shined on these new platforms as opposed to the cube.

Wooo thats its, if i come up with other inquiries ill be sure to mail ya again! Thanks!

Rob

1. I've answered this previously in the mailbag, but it's been a while so I'll answer it again. It's entirely up to Nintendo to allow games from different regions to all be available on Virtual Console. It's technically possible, because a console uses the same hardware in every region. For all the old games, region protection was done with physical differences in cartridge shapes; the game inside was exactly the same. For games like Sin and Punishment or the BS SNES games, again, it's all Nintendo's call if they want to go forward and do that. I doubt they'd do it initially, but I would hope they understand there are a fair amount of people that would be willing to pay money to get their hands on some older games we never saw in America.

2. Whatever their policy is, I hope Nintendo is stressing to developers to not “tack-on" Wii control to games that were obviously designed for a standard control pad. Third parties have a lot of excuses to not use the Wii remote, seeing as they can just settle with the Wii classic controller or GameCube controller. It's inevitable that a lot of the ported Wii launch titles will have varying levels of effort put into how the Wiimote can be applied. In the worst scenario, some Wii games could be like early DS games in which touch screen control was shoehorned in just because the touch screen was there. Developers, please don't force stupid “waggle wand" controls just because you can. You guys are more creative than that!

You mentioned Zelda in your second question, but I'm saving my thoughts on that for last. Check out part 2 of this week's bag to see what I think of that particular subject.

3. We know what you know about Crystal Bearers. The only thing Square-Enix has produced about the game was a trailer they showed at E3 and the game's official name. That's it. I'm curious about knowing more about the game myself...maybe we'll hear a little more in Leipzig or Tokyo?

So, what do I think about Four Swords showing up at one point or another? These days, I don't think it would do well as a standalone title. That kind of game would be better suited for a revival as a separate mode in a major Zelda game, maybe with online capability. It would probably be too late to do that in Phantom Hourglass, but wouldn't that be cool if the next DS Zelda had that?

Hey PGC,

With the confirmation that Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 will allow players to use a GameCube controller instead of the Wii Remote, what are games do you think could end up with this option from their publishers? Also, are there any games you would like to have that option in?

There will definitely be some in the first generation of Wii games that will allow the use of a GameCube controller, and I suspect a lot of them will be ported from the PS2/Xbox type of multi-platform games. Budokai 2 is one such example already, although the developers did say they were going to use Wii controller motions to replicate special moves, which sounds like it could be fun. Tiring, too which is why they're making the option available in the first place.

There are no games I'd like to see that option included in (with the sole exception of Super Smash Bros. Brawl). Games on the Wii console should use the Wii controller. Period. One of the worries I have about the early days of the system is that people could be confused over which controllers work with which games. Worse yet, there's the possibility that the standard controllers may work better than the Wii one does, undermining Nintendo's revolutionary controller theory. It's great that there are options for developers and publishers to get more games on the Wii, but if most of them don't use the main controller, what's the point in having it around?

Hey guys,

I have a question that’s been bothering me for a while and I’m hoping you guys can help out. Ever since my DVD player got fried earlier this summer I have been tempted to replace it. However, I am hesitant to buy one in order to save money and space by waiting for Wii’s release. The problem is no one has mentioned anything about DVD capabilities since it was still called the Revolution. Has Nintendo confirmed that the Wii will be able to play DVD’s? Also, what are the odds that it will be region free if it can?

Thanks

Hilario

Nintendo has said from day one that Wii will support DVD playback, and there's every indication that it still will. There could be an adapter or dongle required for it, but the hardware is capable of accepting a DVD movie without spitting it back out. They haven't said much about it, like many other Wii unknowns, but it's a relatively minor feature. It's a safe bet it won't be region free, though. No legitimate commercial DVD player is region free, because the DVD people and movie studios don't like it when major companies go against that.

Hi PGC staff I was wandering with the Wii coming this fall. Is the gamecube going to be discontinued. Seeing how the Wii is compatiablity with gamecube games will they still my gamecube games or will they only make Wii games for the system.

As unlikely as it may seem, Nintendo probably won't immediately discontinue GameCube hardware after the Wii comes out. There are people out there that are still buying GameCubes, because it's the cheapest of the three current-gen systems out there. By now, manufacturing GC hardware has gotten so inexpensive for Nintendo that they're probably making a pretty good deal of money off a $99 GameCube, and a fire sale price drop will sell more systems and make Nintendo even more profit. The only question is whether or not they'll release any GC games after what's coming up this summer. There are enough systems out there for Nintendo games to make money, but third parties may just stick to the PS2 for a current-gen revenue stream.

A simple question that has been dogging me for awhile:

Will the classic controller work for BWC Gamecube titles or will we have to hold on to our wavebirds? The answer should be simple but I have never heard this expressly spelt out.

It won't, because GameCube games running on the Wii require GameCube peripherals. GC memory cards, GC controllers and WaveBirds are the only things the Wii cares about once a GameCube game is booted. Seeing as how the Wii classic controller is a Wii device, it won't work with GameCube games. Keep your WaveBirds, yeah?

Hi PGC,

I was just wondering if there will be any game you could download through internet on to Wii, for a cash price probably, that would be a new production. I think it would be a great opportunity for Nintendo to get something from increasing number of small (very small) companies. In my opinion it`s not possible, especially becouse of too low quality of such games, but at the other hand there`s Virtual Console that maybe will make oldschool-like games popular? Also making of such games wouldn`t be costy...

Rakszens

Nintendo said there's a possibility of allowing for new games to be made on Virtual Console, and perhaps those games could come from anyone. The games would obviously need to be approved by Nintendo and made available only though the Wii's online service, because Nintendo wouldn't stand for anyone running unauthorized software on the Wii. As always, Nintendo hasn't let us in on how this process would work, so all we can do is speculate on it.

Of course, there are people that won't let that stop them. Homebrewers have been tinkering with consoles and handhelds ever since they figured out how to circumvent the protection schemes of the hardware. There is legitimate software available for various systems, but the problem is the methods needed to run that software—usually emulation—are the same ones that allow pirated games to work. The Wii is essentially an official emulator, though, since it can play all the classics (though we don't really know how). I wonder...what will the homebrew scene be able to do with it once it's released?

There has been a lot of talk, among fans and game journalists, about the idea of point-and-click type adventure games on the Wii. While it seems to be a pretty sound idea, is there any sign that it's actually going to happen? Have the teams behind Phoenix Wright or Trace Memory made any allusions to Wii adventures? Ubisoft is a big Wii supporter, has there been any sign of activity from their "Revelation" team that developed Myst 4? Are there any other devolopers who might actually take a stab at this genre?

There's nothing out there that would hint at a point-and-click game coming to Wii, although it's been done before on a home console. Syberia II was ported from the PC to the Xbox by developer Microids. I don't know how well it did, but it sure looked pretty. Wii would be a good console to try the genre on, because it's plenty powerful enough to make a beautiful game. The controller could allow for more control than just the point-and-click functionality, like using the speaker for clue-finding and puzzle-solving.

The P&C Adventure genre is a niche one, however. Myst may be one of the best selling PC games ever, but that's because there are so many PCs out there to play it on. Until the Wii has a stout userbase, there probably won't be anything coming out for the system in the near future, unless Nintendo asks CING to make a Wii game after they're finished with Hotel Dusk.

How many titles do you think we will likely see made available for the Virtual Console? How likely is it that games not made by Nintendo will show up on the virtual console? Would Nintendo need permission to put Contra on the virtual console or do they own the rights for the 8 and 16-bit versions? What about games made by companies like Rareware? I really liked Battletoads, is there any chance that game could show up?

Nick

Nintendo is talking with third parties about putting all of their old games on the service. Third parties own the rights to their own games (for the most part), but they're probably going to need authorization from Nintendo to put those games on Virtual Console. Because the companies of today may not be the same companies of the late 80s and 90s, ownership of some older games are in question. Acclaim, for instance, came out with a large number of NES, SNES and N64 games, but the publisher as we knew it no longer exists today. Rare is also an unknown; they made games for Nintendo back in the day, but all of their properties are now owned by Microsoft, Battletoads included. It would be up to MS to put Rare games on VC, but for properties owned by Nintendo which were developed by Rare (Donkey Kong Country), it's Nintendo's decision.

Long story short, it's not going to be as easy as digging the archival ROM out of storage and uploading it to Nintendo's servers. There is going to be a lot of legalese for third parties to navigate through to ensure they have the rights to legally republish all the classic games in their libraries. There's also the matter of how Nintendo will set it all up, with either having it all go through a central hub of games, or allowing the third parties to set up their own shops individually. If I had to take a guess at how many games will ultimately be available for the service, I'd say that around 40% of all NES, SNES and N64 games combined have a shot of being there, on top of the multitude of Genesis and TurboGraphix-16 titles. How many will be available at launch is another story.

Woah! There wasn't enough room for the questions and answers this week, so I've split it up into two. Check out the next half of the bag, yeah?