In this day and age of the “next-gen” craze, all we ever hear about is high-def, 1080i (or p), and HDMI. The PS3 has it, and so does the Xbox 360. But what does the Wii have that’s so “next-gen”? Well, nothing according to the hardcore tech geeks. Hell, it doesn’t even plays DVDs - yet. But nonetheless, Nintendo’s latest console powerhouse does supports last generation’s HD, the 480 progressive scan display or 480p for short. This is because Nintendo doesn’t feel that the majority of gamers in the whole world owns an high-definition TV yet - and they’re right. Most people don’t, but a large growing number are picking one up every month. So you might as well jump on the bandwagon now. The Wii comes packaged with your standard composite cables, but to actually enjoy the progressive scan display on your Wii, you’ll have to go and purchase an extra set of component cables.

Most of the Wii games available now and coming out soon will supports 480p display. Some folks considers it pointless since most Wii games have crappy graphics anyways? Also, can you really tell the differences between a progressive scan display and regular interlaced?

I sure as hell can, but thats because I’m a graphics whore. I live for the graphics, the pixels, the polygon but yet, strangely I own a Wii. Yeah weird isn’t it? And then again, there are those people who claim that they absolutely can’t tell the difference between a regular display and a high-def display. They probably need some (new) glasses. Anyways, I totally believe that component cables do make a noticeable difference in display. For the Wii games that actually do support 480p, the visuals are much more sharp and clear. Colors are more vibrant and text is much easier to read. And for the Wii, any little bit to improve the graphics help.

The other day I decide to snap some pics of a couple Wii games running in progressive mode and interlace mode. See for yourself and compare.

Metroid Prime 3 in regular interlaced display :

Metroid Prime 3 in 480p :

Resident Evil 4 in regular interlaced display :

Resident Evil 4 in progressive display :

Ok so these screenshots don’t do the progressive scan displays any justice, but I can assure everyone that there is a much noticeable difference. Not completely night and day, but enough for me to say “yep…i’ll stick with the components cables”. So if you haven’t gotten a set of component cables yet, I suggest you do and use them instead. You won’t be disappointed.

So with so many brands of component cables available out there, which one is the best to get? I personally don’t believe that anyone is better than the other - aside from brand name. Some people say the Nintendo brand component cables are the best to use and if you feel better using them, then more power to you. The component cables I’m using is the React Component Cables that I got from Best Buy for $24.99.

Ok, before I forget, make sure to actually change your “TV Resolution” settings on your Wii Settings to HD-TV in order for the progressive scan display to take effect (you shouldn’t be able to unless you have the component cables connected). You wouldn’t believe how many people haven’t figured that out…sheesh…

It seems that the videos I have posted from GameTrailers are breaking the site for users with Firefox browsers, however none of the issues occurred with IE users. I’m taking the video posts down for now until I can get this working right.

Sorry for any inconveniences…

Ok, got it fixed. Found a nice WordPress plugin by Rob Reynolds here that actually made embedding the video clips a lot easier. Also got the YouTube clip(s) working correctly also. So now Firefox users and IE users can enjoy the video clips :)

http://www.thewiieffect.com/category/video-clips/

Holy shiznit. Some one has actually dared to say that Metroid Prime 3’s revolutionary FPS controls will be beaten! Who you might ask? Well its IGN.com’s Nintendo fan boy, Matt Casamassina. According to his blog, he makes the following bold statement :

“On another note, I just want to put it out there: Medal of Honor Heroes 2 officially beats the pants off Metroid Prime 3 in the FPS control department. This is the new Wii benchmark, period. Not even close. Seriously. Wait until you get a load of how beautiful the controls are — I’ll have a video for you in the near future.”

Not even close? Can the controls be perfected anymore? Can this set a new standard for Wii FPS controls? Can pigs fly south for the winter? This I definitely got to see and it’s gotten me very interested in learning a little bit more on this upcoming Medal of Honor Heros 2 game. I heard about this game earlier this year and the big news of it featuring 32 players online, but what else does it have in store for us? Apparently a lot. From the interview by none other than Matt Casamassina himself with EA, this is what we can expect from the game :

• Graphics will still be PS2 level (since its also being developed on the PSP), but will atleast run in 480p.
• Gesture movements are heavily used.
• Will feature a “casual-gaming” on rail shooter mode in the sense of Umbrella Chronicles.
• Wii Zapper will be supported for this mode.
• The goal to deliver the “absolute best FPS controls” on the Wii.
• Wii-mote speakers will be used
• Up to 32 players online via EA Nation.
• No split-screen multi-player mode.
• Contain an extra level for both of the single player modes on the Wii.

Interesting. I’m gonna keep my eyes on this one.

I know a few weeks ago I did a review on GameStop’s Wii Cooling Fan Stand- I just found out it’s actually called the “GameStop Afterglow Cooler” - heh oh well. I guess I’ll make the needed corrections. Earlier today while surfing around on IGN.com, I discovered another cooling system that we can add to the list of Wii hardware and peripherals.

Its called the Nyko Wii Intercooler. I haven’t tested it out myself since I just found out about it recently, but this new cooling system is apparently more suited for those of us who tend to keep the Wii sitting horizontally. And yes, I’ve seen people who do that just because they keep their second or third Xbox 360 that way too. Yeah thats right.

It turns out that the Wii is latest addition to Nyko’s cooling products. They’ve already made similar cooling attachments for the (surprise, surprise) Xbox 360, and the PS3. But for the Wii, it’s a tiny attachment, literally the size of the width of the Wii itself. Its snaps on to the rear vent area with a clip and a flexible cable runs to the power port, which itself has port behind it as you can see from the picture. According to IGN.com, the little thing packs a punch and really does sucks some serious air of the vents. But apparently it does makes enough noise for you to hear it from 5 feet away. Essentially “roughly equivalent to a modern laptop under light load” which not bad at all.

The Nyko Wii Intercooler seems like a nice little device to have if play the Wii for long hours at a time. However, it does not mention if it will actually stay on when you leave the Wii on standby mode with the Wii Connect 24 turned on like GameStop Afterglow Cooler does. So I don’t know if this will protect you from any Wii Connect 24 over heating issues.

The Nyko Wii Intercooler will run you $14.99.

Yes you heard correct, the Nintendo Wii is yet to receive another port added to it’s library. You may recall a few days ago about recent news of Okami heading to the Wii and like many people, we’ve all wondering whether or not it’s going to be a newly updated game or just another port. Ready at Dawn’s (the folks who are doing the port) president Didier Malenfant states in an interview with IGN.com :

“The game on Wii is going to be an exact port of the PS2 version and I think that’s what fans of the franchise want to see.”

What the fu…?? Says who? Yeah I’ve played Okami already. It was fun and cool but I don’t want another frickin port. How about something new and fresh?

“..this game is such a masterpiece in its own right that we had to do everything we can to reproduce the experience that players had on the PS2 as closely as possible. To this day the graphics of Okami are some of the most awe-inspiring ever seen in a video-game and I know it sounds cliche but you don’t want to fix something that’s not broken.“

Damm, well he’s got a point. But, another port!? Another straight port from the PS2??? It worked great for Resident Evil 4 because there was actually new content but what is there to be offered from Okami’s exact port? Hopefully they’ll atleast offer it for $29.99 like RE4 was….

Well I’m now convinced that aside from being remembered as the console that took the world by storm and changed the way we play games, the Wii will also be remembered for having all the ports in the world. There, I said it here first!

From CGV.com, according to the latest Edge magazine, the next game in the ever popular life simulation franchise “Animal Crossing” for the Nintendo Wii is now rumored, note the word, rumored to be an MMO - a massive multiplayer online game. Exerts from the magazine states :

“A Japanese source has confirmed to Edge that the upcoming Wii iteration of Animal Crossing is set to be a social networking MMO.”

Of course, Nintendo isn’t confirming or denying any rumours as usual (since when do companies ever do unless it hurts them?) so it’s still left to be determined. Considering the game itself lays the platform for an easy transition to an MMO, it would make perfect sense to do so. This is significant because it’ll be the very first Nintendo Wii game to support MMO technology - a feat that many considered not to really be possible. I’m actually wondering how this is going to turn out.

For those of you who haven’t played Animal Crossing before on the Game Cube, its one of the most unique game that you’ll ever lay eyes on. If you can look past the overtly cute straight out of Nick Jr graphics, you’ll find a game or rather simulation that similar to The Sims but takes it to another level by following real-time events. Meaning, the game world and all the events takes place in real time - our time, us people, human time (get it now?) using the Game Cube’s internal clock. Even holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween and others are simulated correctly based on the date, as well as seasons. So if its the winter season when you’re playing Animal Crossing, expect it to either start snowing or something in the game. Yeah pretty cool eh?

But the main point of the actual game is a bit vague. Since there really is no direct purpose except to “live out your life”, all you do is perform your daily work and sort of grow your character among with others. The game itself is very direct and easy to play and can get quite addicting overtime. Nintendo Wii owners should give it a try when ever they get a chance. Just don’t forget that you have a real life to live also….