The Wii May Be the Bane of Roleplaying

[Mark CMG]

A thousand things have replaced D&D over the thirty-plus years of its existence. Most notably, newer D&D. Wii will see if this one outdoes them all.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

The consoles and computer games won't replace PnP games until they can offer something other than a canned experience. No matter how interactive the controller, you're still jumping through someone elses hoops and constrained by what they want you to do.

The joy of RPGs (for me, anyway) is the wide-open sense of wonder and possibility. No saves and reloads, no hint books or cheat codes, no levels or zones, and no patches and bugs.

 

[DM_Jeff]

The joy of RPGs (for me, anyway) is the wide-open sense of wonder and possibility. No saves and reloads, no hint books or cheat codes, no levels or zones, and no patches and bugs.

Amen / So Say We All

-DM Jeff

 

[BlackMoria]

........So now I am asking myself, what do tabletop RPGs really have to offer me anymore?

If you are asking the question after your experience with a Wii, then I submit to you that you were probably were not deeply into tabletop RPGs in the first place. As other posters have pointed out, they are two different types of entertainment and two different 'experiences'. Neither 'threatens' the other, IMO.

 

[Psion]

Wii will be the bane of roleplaying if your books are stored in the same room or you are playing at a nearby table when the wiimote goes flying...

http://www.wiihaveaproblem.com/

 

[Zander]

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.

Not quite. Earlier this year, I saw a holographic TV developed by IBM and some French partners. It showed moving, full colour holographic images. No special glasses or other equipment required. Quite impressive! Now if you combined that with the wii interface, you might be simulating sports/fighting etc in as close a way to currently possible in front of a TV. It would certainly be a step closer to the holodeck from ST:TNG.

But it still wouldn't be as much fun as good ol' D&D IMO.

 

[Sejs]

Every single time something new rolls around it's touted as the bane of roleplaying, death of tabletop, destroyer of the industry, etc, etc, etc.

Guess what? Hasn't happened yet.

Wii's no different. Glad to hear you're having fun, but don't fret about gaming. It'll be around for some time yet.

 

[grimwell]

It's just the honeymoon phase -- one I can't wait to have for myself!

It will wear off in the future, but you will still love the console. I've been helplessly addicted to all forms of gaming all my life and while I may have done more of X than Y for some period of time, I've always moved around and back to other activities. Further, I'm always playing one RPG, PC game, and console game (each) at the same time! Who needs to give up one for the other when you can have them all.

Remember -- Vote for the Indecision Party in 2008!

 

[Aaron L]

When I encounter a video game that lets me truly do anything and everything thats possible in a tabletop roleplaying game, then and only then will I believe that it will have any impact in RPGs. I can't think of any video game I'd choose to play over a real live RPG. The options and flexibility of my imagination can't be matched by any computer we've yet made.

 

[Dragonbait]

Every single time something new rolls around it's touted as the bane of roleplaying, death of tabletop, destroyer of the industry, etc, etc, etc.

Guess what? Hasn't happened yet.

Wii's no different. Glad to hear you're having fun, but don't fret about gaming. It'll be around for some time yet.

I was going to start a thread about how hopskotch is going to harm the RPG market.