Journalist competition

Should Wii buy Big Brain Academy? - Part 1

This article is a review of the Wii game Big Brain Academy with an introduction on Nintendo's Wii console, why it is so popular and who should buy one.

When Nintendo's new console hit Europe in December 2006 it was the must have Christmas gift. Buzz Lightyear was thrown aside and everybody wanted to play golf, tennis, bowling and boxing from their sofa. UK high-street shops were selling out as soon as they received stock well into April 2007. The new Wii-Fit is just as sought after and one wonders why the console is so popular and who is buying it?

Console gaming is far from a niche market, the XBOX360 had already been out a year and the PS3 was only months away. Consoles were heading into the ‘next-generation' boasting spectacular graphics and engrossing multiplayer modes using now standard broadband internet but sales figures tell a story of the Wii outperforming its more advanced competitors.

Japan: In April, Nintendo sold around four times as many Wiis as Sony sold PS3s. The following month, that ratio had increase to 5:1. Some 45,321 PS3s were sold in Japan in May. Nintendo sold 251,794 Wiis.

USA: In April, Nintendo sold 360,000 Wiis to 174,000 Xbox 360s and 82,000 PS3s
(According to http://www.reghardware.co.uk )

Figure 1 (below) shows the vast technological gap between the consoles.

The Wii is outselling its competitors and one reason has to be the not yet mentioned price tag. At 179.00 it is still 70 cheaper than the top XBOX package and 170 less than the PS3. Impulse buyers can justify that price tag as an early birthday present much easier than a whopping 350 on a PS3. Nintendo should also start giving children a cut of their profits. I'm sure a lot of parents have bought Wiis on the marketing given to them by their own children. "But mum, you have to stand up and jump around to play the games so it keeps you active. You can also increase your brain power with the brain games, it's not a geeky dark room thing honest, pleeaaaaaase". Cue the puppy dog eyes and add one notch on to Nintendo's headboard.

"No Joey, they don't accept Wii bowling scores down at the alley..."

Another thing the Wii has managed is bringing gaming to families rather than just the spotty teenager or twenty something male. The difficulty of the games combined with the unique control system means everybody from toddlers to grandparents can have a go and play against each other. It is the ultimate party piece whether it's an 18th birthday party or a 75th birthday party. I would bet the Wii has been switched on at the odd wake or two as well. So who 'should' buy a Nintendo Wii and who will buy one and quickly Ebay it and look towards the XBOX360 or PS3? If you were a fan of the TV show Friends and have mimicked your life around that then the Wii is for you. The Friends apartment was always filled with people. If you have an open house policy where you live then the Wii is perfect. You can lose hours in a full golf run or kill time when the better half is doing her hair by having a quick boxing match. You'll soon find the hair is less important and everybody wants to have a go on the Wii.

The Nintendo faithful also rushed out to buy a Wii. The unique control system was enough to convince the Primary Colour gamers, even though they didn't really need a push anyway. The control system merely made the Wii "cool" enough to justify the purchase to friends who were just as eager to try it out.

"Just waving the controller at the screen in boxing will instantly turn you into Mike Tyson."

Very young children can grasp the control system and have a degree of success at the games. Just waving the controller at the screen in boxing will instantly turn you into Mike Tyson. For the older gamers they added tilting forwards and backwards, shuffling from side to side as complexities but the all out control shake to create a flurry of punches still works well. The usual film reproductions satisfy the 6-12 years, being Spiderman or that crazy surfing penguin provide hours of enjoyment. Girls who traditionally liked puzzle games or God games like the Sims can find titles they relate to. With the new Wii Fit out and the general consensus that everybody needs to get fitter it is another Nintendo success story with the little balance board being very sought after. Successful launch after launch from Nintendo has meant they have brought gaming to people who previously thought of it as a geeky hobby.

These people might buy a Wii but it will quickly appear on an auction site whilst they go back to driving around Vice City stealing cars and shotgunning old ladies. And loving every minute of it.

One area they have knowingly sacrificed is the more serious console gamer. The Call of Duty 4 player or Metal Gear Solid enthusiast will stick to the XBOX360/PS3 and rightly so. The graphics and game play of the Wii are fun but fade quickly in the traditional single player bedroom scenario and are easily surpassed. This was probably a good call from Nintendo though as they couldn't hope to dislodge Sony or Microsoft in a head-to-head battle for the traditional console gamer. Radio 1 presenter Chris Moyles regularly talks on air about his Call of Duty gaming on the XBOX360 and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's characters are seen to be playing on one in Shaun of the Dead. These people (celebrities or large beaded men you ask. 20-30 something males actually.) might buy a Wii but it will quickly appear on an auction site whilst they go back to driving around Vice City stealing cars and shotgunning old ladies. And loving every minute of it.

So Nintendo have gone in a different direction with the Wii and games play a bit part in it. One such game is the Big Brain Academy. Boasting to increase your brain power it's one of a series of mini-game based titles that are trying to go under a family education banner. The second part of this article will look at that very game.

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