Harry Chen Thinks Aloud

Video games existed since the 1980’s, but little has changed in the way we play them. With the launching of Nintendo Wii, this is all about to change. This is not a Wii technology review but my thoughts on Wii’s innovative technology and how it may change the way we play and perceive video games.

Beyond Single Player Video Gaming

Playing video games was a personal experience. A person sits in front of a TV and is entertained by the actions and stories that are presented by the video games. From a third-person point-of-view, the player is walking a lonely single-person journey and is an anti-social business. While more sophisticated video games (e.g., multi-players online games) allow multiple players to be entertained simultaneously, but that’s still a rather single person experience — one screen per one player.

Wii seems to have changed this. It’s innovative remote game controller allows game developers to create games (e.g., Wii Sports) that is more fun to play in a social environment. Wii didn’t explicit state that games such as Wii Sports should be played by more than one person. However, because sports such as tennis, bowling and baseballs are group activities, it’s natural that they are more fun to play in a multi-players environment, and it’s more fun play with actual human players and not with computer artificial intelligence.

Video Gaming And Physical Health

Playing video games is a form of entertainment that could potentially damage the physical health of the players. Long hours in front of the TV could damage children’s eye vision. Lacking physical excises could cause obesity.

Wii seems to have changed this. Playing Wii is not a form of replacement for physical exercises, but it could help players to develop interests in sports, exercises or just acting silly. After playing Wii Sports’ Golf, I begin to develop some interests in golf and want to learn more about the rules of this sports. I suspect similar effects can also develop in young children’s experience with Wii. Since players’ body motion play an important role in Wii’s gaming experience, carefully designed Wii video games could encourage children and adults to be more active in physical plays.

Mii Social Interaction In Wii

In the age of the Internet, people are more connected than ever before. Pervasive communication mediums such as email and text messaging have enabled people to share information and interact in seconds. If we compare cellphones to video game consoles, most people won’t consider the latter is a medium for communication.

Wii seems to have changed this. The idea of Mii and Mii Channel enable to a new kind of social interaction. Similar to ideas behind Second Life, Wii players can create avatars and host and social with avatars created by other players around the world. Players’ avatars (Miis) can also be saved in their own remotes and bring them to their friends’ Wii gaming parties.

Wii For Everyone

Wii is a well-designed next generation video game console. Its innovative remote controllers is changing the way we play and perceive video games. Not that I believe Wii is a replacement for face-to-face social interactions or a replacement for physical exercises, but it does address part of the problems that we faced today in traditional video gaming. I’m not a hard-core gamer, but I highly recommend Wii as a new entertainment unit to be placed in everyone’s living room — your spouse, kids, parents and friends will thank you.