Tainted Report

So for awhile I was anxiously awaiting the release of a Halo for the Nintendo Wii. Not literally Halo, just a solid FPS with good online play and great action. I guess I felt a little jealous of the other consoles, who were getting waves upon waves of great shooters.

Well, that game has come and gone, but I'm too busy playing Wii Sports Resort to care.

As patronizing as I may have been towards the little white box called the Wii, there's no denying that these casual games are a ton of fun (well, except for Wii Music). Wii Sports Resort is no exception to this high caliber of gaming, bringing home a polished product that is one heckuva good time.

Of the 12 sports included in the game, 7 or 8 could be stand alone titles. Seriously, table tennis, swordplay, and basketball never get old. Nintendo once again struck gold with this follow up to Wii Sports, one of the biggest casual titles for the Wii, and the game that literally every Wii owner owns.

Let me veer off track here a bit to tell you an anecdote. I was playing Wii Sports Resort with my mom, and we were having a 3-point contest. On my first attempt, I racked up a meager 2 points. My mom, on the other hand, scored an impressive 8 points on her first time playing the game! I was frustrated and a little ashamed, sure, but the whole time my mom and I were laughing hysterically.

I tell you this story because recently I have been wondering one deep question: Where has all the fun gone?

When I say the word "fun" I don't mean in the broad sense of "enjoyable." I'm talking more in the sense of "playful, often noisy, activity" as according to The Free Dictionary. It seems that now games are more focused on skill, and less focused on fun. To some, that's not a bad thing, and I definitely appreciate those games. But I wonder this shift occurred.

Let me give another example. I am an avid player of Mario Kart DS. I learned to snake and PRB, and I tried to become a competitive racer. While doing Time Trials and learning these techniques was enjoyable, I had much more fun out of playing Battle Mode with friends via local multiplayer.

So again, I am not trying to bash games that aren't "fun." I'm really not. I'm just coming to realize that less of these "fun" games are being released. And you know, I think that is why I still stick with Nintendo. I enjoy arcade racers like Mario Kart over realistic racing simulators like Gran Turismo. I enjoy the frantic mini games of Mario Party of intense stealth shooters like Splinter Cell. And I enjoy casual sports titles like Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort much more than I enjoy Madden or NBA Live. Why? Because I have more fun playing these games.

And maybe this is just me, but I think local multiplayer is much more satisfying that taking the game online. I love the convenience of online play, and how it has expanded the gaming world. But, there's just something in atmosphere that comes with getting a group of friends together and playing a few Brawl matches, and trash talking after a victory. That comradery, that hilarity, that fun is priceless.

Again, maybe I am biased because I have spent so much time with Nintendo games. But I think there is something to say about the lack of "fun" in modern gaming today. It's for you to decide whether that is a problem or not. Now, if you excuse me, I've got to go take some jumpers. Momma's bringing her A-game tonight.