Computer games and games consoles tend to have a level of stigma attached to them, depending on who you ask. We hate to say it, but whatever your opinion is tends to depend on what generation you’re from. Computer games aren’t what they were back in the early 1970’s (though the origin of console and computer games go back decades before). No longer do they contain painfully simplistic 2D programming and limited enjoyment at quite a substantial cost. But back then they didn’t realise the dangers of smoking and saturated fats, either.
Computers in general make our lives easier. They also infuriate us when they don’t work the way we want them to, but that’s an entry for another time. The best technology is built to provide entertainment, built to completely immerse you in a level of fantasy that surpasses all past selves and current rivals. You know what we’re referring to; X Box 360; Playstation 3; Nintendo Wii; three of the dominant figures in the games console market. After the console gaming industry crashed in 1983, Japan picked up the slack from North America, so it’s no surprise that even today Japan offers two of the most impressive consoles available on the market. In fact, Sony has sold a phenomenal 138 million Playstation 2 consoles since its release in 2000. Nintendo has sold an astonishing 56.14 million Wii’s since 2006, compared with the meagre 39 million X Box 360’s and the 27 million Playstation 3’s that have been sold.
So, what was it about Playstation 2 that was so good then, and what is it about the Wii that is so good now? At the turn of the century, the PS2 paved the way for superior graphics, original and unique gaming and an enormous variety of genres to suit every gaming need. Even now games are still in production for it, even with the majority of focus being on its newest console. It pushed gaming at the time to its limits and spiralled beyond them.
As for the Wii, Nintendo couldn’t have gotten it more right. The Wii, though somewhat lacking in intense single-player games that are found on the other two consoles, brings a lot to the table. Not only does it have an innovative control system that makes it feel a bit like you’re playing with the TV and not using a games console, but it offers a massive range of multi-player games for friends and family alike. Nintendo has banished the image of the stereotypical, overweight 15 year old hauled up in his room in the dark, thumb and index finger tapping away at a frightening speed. They’ve opened the curtains to a brighter age of gaming where everyone can get involved, where health and fitness is encouraged and where enjoyment is paramount. Yes, sometimes the graphics fall short of those seen on other consoles, but everything else the Wii has to offer more than makes up for it with gusto.
