Variety vs. Obsession

I think I’m a cursed gamer. Cursed because of two equal but diametrically opposed absolutes. The first is the need for gaming variety. For instance, right now I have games to play, but all four of them fall within the first person shooter genre. I can only hop around for several weeks before I long for something to break up the gameplay style. Next week’s big release, Call of Duty 4, is the same style, so there’s no relief until the 13th, when I will pick up a platformer (Super Mario Galaxy) and an action/adventure title (Assassin’s Creed).

Unfortunately, it’s then that the other immutable law of my gaming life kicks in–I’m unable to effectively play more than one game at a time. Admittedly, I’ve been doing better with this recently, but in general it’s a rule that I play the game that I’m currently most enamored with, and the second most appealing game, no matter how close it is to the first in terms of appeal, even if it’s just a sliver less attractive and addictive–nope, that game waits.

So I crave variety and yet have the habit sticking to one game and style for weeks on end, without room in my many faceted life for multiple titles. I’ll probably end up on Super Mario Galaxy or Assassin’s Creed for most of the week until the next Tuesday, in which Rock Band and Mass Effect will usher in a new genres–a boon and a curse, as most likely one or more of these titles will become neglected.

However, right now I’m sitting at the PC, sipping some tea, and thinking, I don’t feel like playing a FPS today. Oh well. There’s always Peggle.

Pro-G has a great write up of Wii Fit,which suggests that the game might appeal to more than just the casual gamer. Though the reviewer claims below that it’s only useful as a fitness tool (who would have thought?), he also betrays that he is suprised by the amount of fun that the game is, even for a cynical gaming journalist.

Graphically, Wii Fit has the same art design and level of quality as Wii Sports, so will be instantly familiar to people who have only played Wii Sports on the console. So you’re only going to be interested in Wii Fit if you actually fancy using your Wii to get fit. This will be a wholly personal choice. For me, I quite fancy it. We’re told you’ll be able to tailor your own daily fitness regime with the game, involving press ups and even yoga positions. But most interesting for me is the concentration on knee movements in the mini games I played. Having recently undergone knee reconstruction surgery for a serious knee injury picked up while playing football, I think Wii Fit could really help with my physio. Everyone will have their own reason, of course, but Wii Fit certainly looks like the best game to actually help you lose weight or get fitter. Certainly better than Wii Sports anyway.

In many ways it’s an ingenious idea from Nintendo, and fits perfectly with their new, all conquering healthy video game philosophy. I suspect it will sell millions when it’s released in the UK next year, especially if the publisher gets some high profile celebrities to market it, as it has done with Wii Sports and its Brain Training series of games. Like it or loath it, Nintendo has revolutionised the gaming landscape and these types of games are here to stay. If Wii Sports was the warm up, then Wii Fit looks like being the workout.

As if Nintendo needed another system selling gamer for the casual market. This is going to be crazy when it hits the U.S. Lastly, go check out Wired’s pictorial gallery of Rock Band: Unboxed. It’s funny just to witness the shear scope of it all, and at least you’ll have an idea of a plan of attack when you pick it up yourself come November 20th.

–WG