Nintendo: All The Right Moves

Let's just come out and say it: The Gamecube was a mistake.

The mistake wasn't so much in the system. It's as solid a piece of hardware as you can get. The controller is good. You wouldn't think it is, but it's intuitive, more than you would expect.

No, the mistake is in the games. Nintendo has made fantastic games, just not enough of them. They constantly changed formats when Sony was championing backwards compatibility. Microsoft went the way of multiplayer gaming, completely taking over in that sector.

So, Sony had variety, Microsoft had multiplayer, and Nintendo had...what again? Oh yeah, some good games every once in a while, and you could plug your Game Boy Advance into it, if you wanted.

However, to quote the movie Elizabethtown (just watched it, loved it): No true fiasco ever began as a quest for mere adequacy. Nintendo shot high, and missed.

Fortunately, with the Wii, they seem to be atoning for past wrongs. Consider: Nintendo realized that they need backwards compatibility. That's a huge jump for them. Nintendo has the most history of any company, save Sega. Sega didn't know how to leverage that history and they died. Nintendo was fast on its way. Now, with the Virtual Console and downwards compatibility with the Gamecube, they've started to repent of their sins in a big way.

Second, the wacky controller. I tried this controller a bit, and I can't really say I'm impressed. However, just because I'm not crazy about it doesn't mean it's a bad idea. Considering how many people love it, it's a fair statement to say they made the right decision by going in a completely unexpected direction.

The biggest reason, though, is Sony's total lack of competence regarding their own launch. How you screw up a launch that badly is beyond me. Chimpanzees might have made better work out of that launch, frankly. It was theirs to lose. When you consider what Sony had - momentum, brand recognition, and downward compatibility - there really should have been no ceiling. But the creepy launch commercials, the typical design problems, the lack of TRUE backwards compatibility, and the parroting of all the successful ideas from other systems was their downfall.

The thing that really made me laugh was Sony's attempt at downloadable games. They copied that idea from Microsoft. A good idea, worthy of copying. However, then they decided they would get Neo-Geo games, parroting Nintendo's Virtual Console. Then they added the motion sensing to their controller, once again parroting Nintendo, which also destroyed the vibration function that Dual Shock users are so used to.

Combined with the increasingly positive press from Nintendo, it signalled an end to Sony's domination, at least for one quarter. Does this signal the end for Sony? Ha. Ha ha.

Remember which company had arguably the worst launch last time around? That's right, Sony. Hardware failures, lack of must-have games...sound familiar? Sony has proven they can bounce back.

So, in other words, Nintendo had a great launch. A really, really great launch. Nintendo made all the right calls, and the right decisions, and figured out what their audience wants, and had just the right amount of luck.

Don't count Sony out, but Nintendo, to this point, has made all the right moves. The Wii deserves the accolades it's getting. Let's hope it continues.

I Pick Poorly, Plus Boo Gamecube

It was obvious, wasn't it?

Obvious that you should NEVER, EVER listen to my picks.

The Saints should have won that game. They gave it away over and over again.

The Patriots had nothing left in the tank at the end, but they were up at the half. I mean, come on!

So, now it's Colts versus the Bears in Super Bowl XLI (I know I said XL in my last column, but that was a lie), and I look like an idiot. That's okay, though.

More on this topic later this week.

In the meantime, I just borrowed my friend's Gamecube. It's passable. I mean, I'm not enthralled and wetting myself. I'll probably play some Metroid Prime, and Zelda: Wind Wanker looks okay, and I love Smash Brothers Melee, but I've got just as many games for my PS2 that are just as good. Plus, I have a ton more games that I want for it.

I'm glad I got the Gamecube bug out of my system, though. I might have otherwise wasted money getting one otherwise. Not that it's a bad system by any means, but there is so little that I have any desire to play, and there's only a few games for it that I can't get for my PS2, like Metroid, Mario, and Zelda.

Now, of those games, I don't like Zelda games, the newer Mario games do nothing for me, Killer 7 and Eternal Darkness don't tickle my fancy, and as far as games like Chrystal Chronicles, I've played approximately 300 action RPGs, and Dawn of Mana is on it's way for the PS2, so why should I bother? It's light on RPGs, my personal favorite genre, all that it has for platformers is Mario and a few other scattered games, I mean, why should I bother?

To illustrate, let's say you're going to go out to eat. You can either get a really good steak, or the buffet that has steak as well. Maybe not as good, but it's still steak. Plus, if you pick the buffet, you get mashed potatoes, green beans, unlimited drinks, and dessert, not to mention the other buffet items, like pizza, chicken, macaroni and cheese, and whatever all else they put in buffets nowadays. What will you pick?

The Gamecube is really good steak. It's good when you're playing it, but you're not getting any more. No variety. The PS2 is the buffet. You're getting a whole lot more choice, and most of it is just as good, if not better.

I'll keep my PS2, and take the buffet, thank you very much.

Obviousness in the NFL Playoffs

Can you honestly say you were surprised?

I am, of course, referring to last weekend's playoff games. Can you say you were surprised that Indianapolis beat Baltimore? Or that New England beat San Diego? Or the Saints beating the Eagles? Everyone and their mother knew that Seattle would lose to Chicago.

For instance, we got really caught up in San Diego's all-around talent that we forgot several key factors:

1) Marty Schottenheimer's playoff performance
2) Marty Schottenheimer's playoff performance
3) Marty Schottenheimer's playoff performance

Once the game was over, it was obvious that this would be the outcome. The Patriots always step it up a notch in the playoffs, and Schottenheimer-coached teams regress. It's a pattern.

On Indianapolis' "stifling" defense, let's get a few things straight. The Chiefs have no quarterback. Larry Johnson is a man without an offensive line. Tony Gonzales is not what he once was, and Eddie Kennison and Sammie Parker do not a receiving corps make. It was obvious that they would look good in that round, and the Ravens kept up the charge.

A quick perusal notes that the Ravens offensive line is not as good as everyone says, what with Jonathan Ogden having more problems that he used to. Steve McNair needs an oxygen canister to stand up, and Jamal Lewis is still having chafing problems from his time in the clink. It's not an overpowering offensive team, and Brian Billick is not an overpowering offensive coach, as much as he likes to think he is. Thus, the game was practically gift-wrapped and handed to the Colts. Obvious.

This brings us to this weekend. What are the obvious points? New England and Tom Brady is great in the playoffs. Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning struggle, historically speaking. The Colts weakness has been rushing. The Patriots have two very talented backs in Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney. The Colts front four is good, but the Patriots' offensive line is better, and so on and so forth.

Everyone wants to believe that this is the year for the Colts, but it isn't. Defense wins championships, and the Colts haven't faced any offense that put it to the test. The Patriots win this game. Throw out the home-field advantage, because it doesn't matter.

In the NFC, no one was surprised by the outcome of the two divisional games. Chicago and New Orleans were expected to win, and win they did. However, everyone is now talking about Rex Grossman is Getting It Together and can Lead His Team To Victory.

I call shenanigans. Seattle played without three starting cornerbacks. Grossman had it easy. The Saints are old and a little slow in the secondary, but they're fundmentally sound, and healthy to boot. Obvious.

Next, people rattle on about the Bears' defense. A broken-fingered Matt Hasselbeck and a banged-up Shawn Alexander dented the vaunted Bears' behind a line that is no longer one of the best in the NFL. They have a few receivers, but nothing terrifying.

However, the Saints have a healthy, sound QB in Brees, a few rookies who are feeling their oats, and, oh yeah, Deuce McAllister. Forget about him? He's the glue for this team, and he's been their rock all season long.

The Bears may boast and brag about their amazing defense, but the Saints match up very well against them, and will keep them running all game long, en route to trip to Super Bowl XL.

It's obvious.