The Wii May Be the Bane of Roleplaying

[airwalkrr]

Live action roleplay meets video games. That is how I would sum up my experience with the Nintendo Wii. Having acquired one after waiting in line for 20 hours at the local Wal-Mart, I sat down to the most thrilling gaming experience of my life. I felt like I was actually shooting at Nazis as I played Call of Duty 3 and worked up a sweat playing Wii Sports. I have seriously asked myself since then, how could this get any better? I honestly don't know if it can. I haven't even played half the games I bought for it because I am so immersed in Call of Duty 3. It takes the fantasy experience to an entirely new level.

Already, my weekend gaming groups have taken a hit. I had to swap schedules with someone at work so that I could get in line to wait for a Wii on Tuesday. To do it, I had to pick up a Friday shift, which unfortunately is scheduled during my regular Friday night game. I also haven't had much time to plan for my Sunday campaign due to all the time I've spent with the Wii. I fear I may have finally found something that could threaten to supplant my love of RPGs. I mean, feeling like I am there has always been the appeal for me, and the Wii does it so vividly. It is truly a momentous step towards affordable, realistic, virtual reality. I can even play it with friends (and there are some great multiplayer games) so the social interaction isn't quite the exclusive privilege of RPGs anymore either. So now I am asking myself, what do tabletop RPGs really have to offer me anymore?

 

[Tinner]

At least with a tabletop RPG you won't accidentally throw a remote through the front of your television.
Think I'm kidding? Check out Wii Have A Problem

You might need to scroll down to see all the damage done by the flying Wiimotes.
Looks like the strap needs a little improvement.

 

[Ghendar]

I felt like I was actually shooting at Nazis as I played Call of Duty 3

I've found shooting Nazis highly entertaining since Return to Castle Wolfenstein.

 

[greywulf]

Interesting post. While I don't think the Revolution wii will dint role-playing any more than any other console has in the past, I do think that the interface will change the future of gaming, forever.

Console games have brought a lot of players to the hobby and boosted them no end. We're no longer seen as demon worshipping crazies (usually.....), and that's partly thanks to rpg concepts becoming accepted through other media, whether consoles, MMORPGs or whatever.

But the wii's interface. That's another thing entirely. You're actually /doing the actions/ instead of pressing buttons. It's more interactive, so that brings you closer to the action. As you say, you're shooting and playing sports in as close a way (currently) possible in front of a TV.

Reality has just become a little more virtual. That's a good thing. Just wait for the wii TV headset to be released. You may drool now, if you wish.

 

[an_idol_mind]

I would buy the argument if pen and paper RPGs relied solely on immersion for their appeal.

This argument reminds me of the statements made in the past that Neverwinter Nights would replace D&D. Neverwinter Nights is a good game that I played repeatedly, but it was hardly a replacement for tabletop interaction. Similarly, while the Wii is an innovative system, it will not be able to replicate all of the experiences that makes pen and paper role-playing so fun to me.

 

[Odhanan]

I would buy the argument if pen and paper RPGs relied solely on immersion for their appeal.

This argument reminds me of the statements made in the past that Neverwinter Nights would replace D&D. Neverwinter Nights is a good game that I played repeatedly, but it was hardly a replacement for tabletop interaction. Similarly, while the Wii is an innovative system, it will not be able to replicate all of the experiences that makes pen and paper role-playing so fun to me.

Namely the social aspect of tabletop role-playing. The fact that you enjoy the game with your friends around the table, have a laugh, enjoy the presence and imagination of each other, et cetera.

 

[Umbran]

I would buy the argument if pen and paper RPGs relied solely on immersion for their appeal.

More specifically - if pen and paper (or even larp) depended upon immersion in the simulation of physical activities for their appeal.

No amount of playing with a Wii wand will replace the human interaction of RPGs.

 

[Arashi Ravenblade]

The Wii hasnt had any impact on my gaming group (my friend bought one and now brings it over every week). It's ok. But like all of Nintendo products, just OK. The Wand and Nunchuk are neat but as i suspected dont add anything to my gaming experience other than movement of the wrist.

Sorry I prefer X-box and Playstation games. Good ol' normal controller with good games beats goofy innovative controller for a system who's cheapie free game is better than all their launch titles.

 

[wally]

It is just the same issue whenever any other good game or console comes out. You end up wanting to play it more than anything until the thrill wears off.

With any computer/console game, you have the limitation of only being able to do things that are programmed into the game. If you roleplay like you console game...'Tell me what is next and I will kill it...', then there isn't much difference. The funny thing is, when I see fabulous graphics on a game like Elder Scrolls IV, and I see something like the ladder sitting on the side of the house, why can't I pick it up? Why can't I walk through that little river? Why can't I do half the things I could if I have a good DM sitting across the table from me? Because the game isn't programmed to allow it.

I haven't seen a game yet that can truly replace the pen and paper gaming experience.

-wally

 

[bento]

Someone brought over their Wii the first weekend it was out during our Sunday session. We played it for about an hour. Wii Sports, Zelda and the new Rayman game with the bunnies. For the most part everyone's reaction was that it was interesting. Bowling was the most popular, but then again two of us were avid bowlers in the past. Zelda was a yawn - the start up sequences looked like Shadow of Colossus.

I'm waiting six months for more games to come out, then buy it for the kids. The promise of having every prior Nintendo game available is probably the biggest selling point for us.

As for injuries, although the TV survived untouched, my shoulder hurt the next morning from hammerthrowing a cow.