It's been almost two years since the release of Nintendo's Wii console. This should be roundabout the time that most developers have a fair idea of what a console is capable of, and will often play to its strengths. Yet we find that most developers are merely content to port over some questionable titles, tack on shoddy motion controls, downplay graphics and call it a day. Several developers have tried their hand at developing games for those of us that want more than party games and bad ports, but very few have had any form of success. So what exactly is the problem?

When the Wii first arrived on the scene, many developers had differing opinions on Nintendo's little hardware that could. Some thought the idea was truly interesting and innovative, and took the initiative to test the waters, such as Capcom with its remake of Resident Evil 4, and later titles, such as Zack & Wiki. Despite sales figures for the latter that didn't quite meet expectations, (even with the help of high critical praise), Capcom proved that the Wii is something that can definitely hold its own against some of the big boys on other platforms. Graphically, alright, it's got its issues, but gameplay-wise, (and for me, it's all about the gameplay), it adds something that even Sony's console just can't do, in spite of its own brand of motion-controlly goodness.

Ubisoft saw the potential for the console as well, and immediately started to develop titles for the launch. Games like Red Steel, Far Cry Vengence, and Prince Of Persia Rival Swords were readily available when the Wii arrived on the scene. The problem is that...well...they kind of sucked. It seems that the rush to meet launch was just a bit too much for the developers and with the exception of one title, Ubisoft's attempts fell short of making any real impact in the gaming world. However, Ubi wasn't done yet. It still had the ace up its sleeve...something to lure in the curious and casual gamers of the current-gen: that loveable party game, Rayman Raving Rabbids. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with Rabbids, at all. It's a fun game, and one of the better party games on the Wii. Yet, it seems that due to the failures of their previous efforts, Ubi has become too afraid to give the Wii much else. Evidently, if you fall flat out of the gate, you go with the easy money, and focus the rest of your attention elsewhere.

Now we see that a lot of gaming companies are dividing up some of their development houses, so that they can focus on the Wii. While some of us may have high hopes upon hearing that news, it seems that most of these development houses and publishers are just too afraid to take a chance and are playing the safe route when it comes to what they release for the console...What are they releasing, you may ask? Most of them are releasing...you guessed it...casual/and or party games. Wonderful.

So as the cash flows in from all these party games that must be selling, (otherwise, why bother devoting entire studios to develop them?), does that mean some of the publishers are going to start investing those revenues into new killer apps? Yes. However, don't hold your breath for them to do it on Nintendo's console. It seems like the truly innovative ideas, just aren't being given the chance, and some developers are starting to take notice, and take the initiative themselves. Games like the upcoming Conduit are being developed by those who are just as passionate enough, and aware enough to realize that there is a need to get the Wii out its current funk, and get it into a new and exciting faze.

Now before anyone out there mistakes anything that I've said here as being anti-party game, and anti-third party, I will say that some developers are really trying to give the Wii something different. Take Two has noticed the lack of a "real" hockey game on the Wii, and are taking it upon themselves to correct that. Konami is opting to bring Castlevania to the Wii, albeit not in the manner that most were expecting, but a good fighting game on the Wii would be a bonus, all the same. EA has tried before with varying results, to give the Wii a shot, although lately it's been less forthcoming with actual interesting gameplay, (ie: The Godfather Blackhand Edition), they're still giving it a shot. Madden is great for the Wii, and Woods has been alright.

A funny thing happened to me while shopping for my kids for Easter. I went in for a new Mario game for my son, and came out with a PS3. Perhaps I should explain this, being that I've been pretty adamant on not buying the PS3 until they show me something that's truly worth the money they're asking. So here goes...

Well, upon not finding a Mario game for my son, I decided to check the used bins infront of the store, (which I really never do...as I know by now that the only titles they have in there are GTA III and countless Syphon Filters), when lo and behold, attatched to the used bin was a little slip of paper. But this was no ordinary slip of paper my friends...this slip of paper would be the deciding factor in me buying the one system I was holding out on. I think I've made my opinion clear on the whole PS3 matter, so I won't rehash my reasons for not jumping on the Sony bandwagon right away here. Instead, let me just get straight to the point...this slip of paper informed me that I could trade in any 10 games, and receive a 60Gig PS3 for $399.99 CDN. For the record, that's the price of a Core 360...the one with no hard drive...

So after some serious thought and discussion with the clerk, I decide to run home and pick ten games that I knew I would never finish, nor even play again for more than 10 minutes. Now the ad said 10 games, but what can I say, I'm an overacheiver and brought in 21, just to see how much more I could take off that price, which all things considered, was a much better price than the $659.99 the system retails for without trades. The final amount I paid, including a copy a Fight Night Rd. 3, ended up being $219.87...

Now some people might say that I had to make some sacrifices by trading in some games to get this, and therefore the price I paid is equal to what I would have paid anyway....but in truth, I doubt that Monsters Inc. Scream Arena is going to be missed by anyone in my family...It also helps to be married to someone who has a pretty extensive gaming collection, which holds more than a few doubles in there...(oddly enough, Scream Arena was in his collection before we had kids...a fact that I didn't find out until after I had come home from the store with a brand new copy...)

First impressions? From the moment I started the console up, I was impressed. Though pretty basic, the menu screen is still pretty cool to look at...yes, the PSP had it first, but I like it just as much on my tv. Upon popping Fight Night Rd. 3 into the system, I immediately sat up and took notice (after the incredibly long load time...in which time I thought the system had frozen...). I've owned Fight Night Rd. 3 on every console...Xbox, PS2, 360...and I've been impressed with each versions graphical display...but when compared to the PS3, not even the 360 version can compare. The amount of detail on the boxers is quite incredible. They seem more defined...less soft, like they appeared in the 360 version. Admittedly, they did have more time to work on the PS3 version, but I can't help but be impressed with it nonetheless. Unfortunately, for right now, Fight Night is the only game I've got, which means I can't formulate much more of an opinion regarding its shortcomings and successes. I will say one thing, the load times on Fight Night are outright ridiculous, so I'm hoping that the first party stuff will be a little better.

Now, all that being said, the question remains...is the console worth $700? If you aren't at all interested in Blu-ray players, my answer would be a firm no. A great step up from the PS2...yes, but not worth a $500 + price increase to get to that next step. Everyone's got their own opinion on the matter, but for me, I have to say that if it weren't for EB having this deal on, I would most definitely not have bought the PS3..at least not until a major price drop happened. Now I've just gotta get through until September when Heavenly Sword supposedly comes out. Until then, I have a slightly less expensive paper weight than I expected.

Alright, here's the deal...I am by no means anti-Sony...hell, most of the last two gens have been spent playing mostly PS and PS2 games. However, this gen, I just don't feel like they really want me to buy the system. They keep trying to get the balance right, but so far they can't seem to get me to make a firm decision on whether or not to buy one. Instead of offering me things I don't want, let's look at the things I do want...quite simply...games. 

Hence, the first problem I have with the system is that there are no games out right now that aren't coming out for the 360 that I really care about. Motorstorm doesn't interest me, and Viruta Fighter is coming to 360 later this year, and with possible online play. Add this to the fact that several of the games coming out for both 360 and the PS3 are already out and cheaper for the 360, (Fight Night Rd 3, Godfather, Saints Row), Sony's really got to work for my money...Yeah, some future titles have peaked my interest, but overall, I can't say any of them is a system seller to me...which leads to the next issue...

Yeah, you guessed it, the price. Seriously, if I drop $700 on a system, I'm going to want to know that I didn't just buy it to sit there and look pretty...If I drop that much money, I want to know that it can be my primary playing system, and right now, that doesn't look like it's going to happen. The 360's library is excellent, and the Wii is definitely innovative and fresh, with alot of untapped potential, so right now, nothing that Sony has lined up that's going to overshadow that. One or two games does not a system sell...at least not for me.

Some of you might question my thoughts on the online components of the system. Well, being that Live was my first forray into online last year, I have to say I'm not really that impressed with either one...Offer all the bells and whistles you want...at the end of the day, I just want to game. Online is way too overrated right now, I think. Everytime I go online, I either get hit on, get told how much I suck, or get stuck with some punk twelve year old who feels the need to sing every damned Eminem song ever written and drone on about how "high"  he is. Riiiight...If I can't take Live's online service, how do you think this new Home service from Sony is going to be? The comparisons to Second Life and the Sims Online are inevitable, and really, I'd much rather sit in my own livingroom or a friends livingroom that some virtual room online and chat. Human interaction far outweighs anything the online community can offer me, sorry.

One last thing that's been on my mind is the whole Blu-ray thing...don't bank on this to sell the system to me, because I could give a flying Tofu bar about Blu-ray...format wars are WAY too overrated to me. HD vs. Blu-ray? As long as it looks good, I don't care. I'm still pretty happy with standard DVD's, so given the choice, that's probably what I'm going to pick. Sorry, I just can't even remotely force myself to give a rat's bahookey about which format is the best...that's just the way it is.

All that being said, yes, I will eventually take the plunge and buy a PS3...it's not a question of if...just a question of when. So come on Sony...make me want you.

Yeah, dunno...bit on the drunk side at the mo' and thought I'd come out and play for a bit...you know how it is...or maybe you don't.

I just remember how jazzed I was when I brought the first Xbox home and I got the Xbox Soundtrack CD with it...Not that there was much good on the album, but that Ludacris song on there (incidentally the only one I've ever liked), was just sweet...I'm trying to remember what else was on there, but the only one I can remember other than that is the bloody rap-metal song...Where am I going with this? Er...not sure...

I guess it's just a wish for the simpler times. In gaming, in life, whatever...I remember the first time I played Ninja Gaiden and how blown away I was with that game...still am, really...what bothers me is that I really don't feel that way about games in this generation so far, and I'm tired of being patient as I wait for the next killer title to come down the line. Gears just didn't do it for me, I'm sorry. Bah...wtf??? bah??? Dunno where that came from...Anyway, is there anyone out there who just remembers the first time they cracked open a new system and got excited...I mean the Xbox was the last time I really cared about a console. The 360 is great, but it was just an upgrade...I couldn't get my hands on a Wii, though I had one reserved, I had to work and couldn't get the night off to stand in line. Maybe that'll be the one...just something different...I think that's all I need.

Really, I used to be a fan-person, based on the fact that I had bought hundreds of games for the PS2 and my 'cube and Xbox collection only ever had 20 titles in it. Sony, as I've said, is my go to console.

But looking at the launch line-up for the PS3, there's just nothing there yet that interests me. The PS2 didn't have the best launch line-up, granted, but it did have a few games lined up shortly after launch that I wanted. This time around, looking at the scope, the only things I'm interested in are already out, or are coming out on the 360, which I already own. Sony's first party stuff is wishy-washy at best. Primal was a good title, but kinda boring after the first couple of levels. The Getaway had a great story, and the driving segements were good, but the gunplay sucked. So if the first party stuff was pretty mediocre, and the third party stuff is coming out on another console  then what reason is there for me to buy a PS3? Ok, I know you can't judge a console by its launch but considering the competition has a year head start and a cheaper price to boot, wouldn't it make sense to drop some really killer apps first thing?

I don't know what Sony's got up its sleeve, and so therefore I can't say I'll abstain from buying the PS3 forever, but right now, I just don't see any reason out there for me. On the other hand, I've got a pre-order for the Wii, and things are looking and feeling good...(Got my hands on one at E3 this year and just really got a quick feel for it. I've been hooked ever since.)  

...and I'm working. I've worked every single Canada Day since I moved here. Maybe it's because I'm a Scots, but my chief always schedules me for the bloody holiday, and Des gets to go out and have a good time without me. I work until 7am, for the next 3 days straight, but once I'm off, watch out world, I'm heading to Detroit for some serious fireworks and boozing.

Oh, and Des, if you're reading this tonight, you are a worthless, slobbering idiot. Call me.