Nintendo confirms secret ‘Help’ feature
On the extraordinary success of its Nintendo Wii video game console, Nintendo says it’s due, in part, to making games accessible to wide audiences. And with an unannounced – but now confirmed – feature built into future Nintendo Wii titles, the Japanese gaming giant is taking this accessibility to the next level.
On the extraordinary success of its Nintendo Wii video game console, Nintendo says it's due, in part, to making games accessible to wide audiences. And with an unannounced – but now confirmed – feature built into future Nintendo Wii titles, the Japanese gaming giant is taking this accessibility to the next level.
Beginning with the upcoming New Super Mario Bros. Wii, players will be able to pause a game during a particularly difficult level and let the game take over to complete the level. Press a button at any time to resume playing.
This will help reduce barriers of entry for new or younger players – without purchasing a strategy guide or resorting to websites that list cheat codes.
In an exclusive interview with Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary game designer confirmed this optional feature called "demo play" (tentative name) is something the development team has been working on.
"In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, if a player is experiencing an area of difficulty, this will allow them to clear troubled areas and take over when they're ready" confirmed Miyamoto, through his translator.
"And yes, we're looking into this for future games, too" adds Miyamoto.
Not sure about you but I think this could be huge. I recall reading a stat once about how only 5 percent of gamers (or less) actually finish a game, because it gets too tough. Now if you spent $50 or $60 on a title, you should get to see the end of it. It's like buying a DVD or Blu-ray and turning it off after the movie's intro.
When I get stuck in a game I often turn to the Net and read a walkthrough for that particular level. My eldest son, Jacob, who is just learning to read, prefers to go to YouTube and watch a player finish a level so he can run back to the TV and try it out. But what Miyamoto is proposing means you don't need to leave your television to get through tough areas.
If it takes off — and perhaps even copied by the likes of Microsoft and Sony — this could mean the end of strategy guides and other game help books, too.
Do you think this feature is a good idea to help those stuck get through troubled spots in a game? Or are you in favour of a harder game, whereby players should keep trying (and failing) until they get it right (on their own)?
What's the problem? If you want more difficulty don't use the feature. Why are we all so concerned if someone else wants to use a crutch?
Life is becoming too easy in general, just give up is an option now…at least if you have to solve the problem/game you are doing something. It's bad enough kids do not have to go outside their house to integrate with others, play together, now they won't have to play against themselves….sad.
Nintendo destroyed video games when they turned to casuals. Yes it did enlargen the fanbase of video gamers, but at what cost? Soon the Wii will be littered with garbage (not that it doesn't have already) if they keep up with their strategy.
Oh another reason why games aren't completed by so many gamers, they lose attention, that's how stale games have become on that console.
I think the overwhelming majority of people here are wrong, and there are a few misconceptions that no one particularly pays attention too. Firstly, it's an option. It's not something that you have to pick – It's a choice for those who are frustrated enough they don't want to play anymore. How can you say someone must continue to play a game thats no longer fun – it's there freedom to use it if they want.
Secondly, let's cut the crap here about "ruining video games" and making life "too easy". It takes about 15 seconds to walk ten steps to a computer and figure out how to get over the hump. Don't tell me that by reducing that 15 seconds society is getting lazy and fat. That's a load of crap, and a weak arguement at best. Those people don't have a problem with the help feature, they have a problem with video games in general and should have realized it before posting.
I don't understand how everyone can argue that it ruins the benefits of video games. The benefits are that its fun, and it's a temporary escape from reality. Adding in this help feature will further advance the crucial fun element for those who need it, and if its so hard that you give up… so much for a temporary escape from reality.
All in all, not a bad idea for those who wish to use it. I know I would never use it, but I don't think anyone here has presented a decent arguement against it yet. I laugh at those argue video games have benefited society – mhmm, we've all benefited from that sedentary lifestyle that video games only promotes.
Marc…Come on you can't REALLY be that stupid can you ?! of COURSE it's an option but that doesn't mean it's not going to be abused by lazy asses that will just start up a game and then die once or twice and decide it's too hard…then all they'll do is press a button and demo the WHOLE game !
Not only do they then miss out on the sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with finally getting through that puzzle/battle/firefight but then there's also the added negative that the person will basically lose all interest in the game after they've demoed through it and saw everything ! and then what ? then you've just wasted SIXTY dollars for NO reason !
And everyone else is right ! it's just going to make lazy people even lazier ! I remember the FIRST time when i was a kid that i ever beat kid icarus and it felt amazing to finally do it !
I died countless times and you're damn straight i got frustrated ! but that frustration just made victory even sweeter ! and don't even try to bash the upsides to vid games…it's proven that they increase reflexes,critical thinking and problem solving,hand eye coordination and memory.
Lastly to the poster of the article…yea maybe that stat about only 5% of gamers completing games was true back in what…..the 80's ? i GUARANTEE you that your info is completely wrong ! i really hope this garbage idea is only put on the wii.
If kids are having trouble with WII games then it's not our fault that your kids are stupid. Who the hell get's stuck on a WII game of ALL things anyways ?!
Oh and another thing ! What GOOD does demoing the game do anyways !? If you do that you're never going to be able to get past the part that gives you trouble and why ? because you're not doing it hands on yourself ! i mean sure you'll be able to see what happens but you probably won't remember it which means when/if you ever play the game again you'll just demo it everytime you get to that part
Yes it's an excellent idea. With having to use youtube as often for cheats and walk throughs, one's little ones can be subjected to language that isn't suitable.
This is one of the worst ideas in video game history. I someone cannot finish a game, than te difficulty is too hard for them and they should try another. Being able to let the game take over destroys the all feeling of being proud of one's self and erasing all concept of accomplishing something. This is not a movie its a game. When our kids are playing sports or are in school is someone or something gonna fill in for them in these situations and finish that too?? Wow this is one major bad idea…………….
I think it makes sense for Nintendo to do this. Considering who Nintendo's target audience is now, it's a step in the right direction. Entry level gamers essentially. I don't really care, because Nintendo has gone down the hole for me, and I'd never purchase a Wii. True gaming, as we've come accustomed to, is for the PS & XBox. Let the entry level gamers have their Wii with the built in walkthroughs. Since they are entry level, or very casual even..they could use it.
Great Idea. And if you don't like a game because of this new feature, don't use the feature… duhhh
yes this is ruining games, this will take away from the sense of accomplishment when you complete a game on your own. I remember getting stuck on game back in the late eighties early nineties when you only had you and your friends to figure it out. We would just leave the game GO OUTSIDE play/exercise….which gets blood flowing, more than just sitting there and playing…when we would come back in we would usually figure out how to beat that part and move on….ah the good old days no net…no cell…lol
This is the worst thing to happen to videogames. The Nintendo Wii has done so much damage forcing developers to put out "shovel ware", putting out games that are not finished and have no value or challenge. This just makes it worse.
Hoepfully, they will not build the feature into the upcoming BattleToads game.
http://www.battletoadspreorder.com
First off, this is not an entirely bad idea. Nintendo just has to do a few tweaks on this "demo play". When you get stuck at a certain spot you should be able to enable the "demo play" to watch how they "the makers of the game" beat that cetain troubling spot, then able you to resume play and try to beat it yourself. Of course difficulty levels come into play here. If the game seems too hard just drop the difficulty level down a notch!
Secondly the Wii is not a horrible system by any means, single player modes on some games may not be fun or graphically superior to the likes of 360 or PS3, but the Wii exceeds any other system as a fun get together with a bunch of friends. Don't get me wrong I'm XBOX 360 gamer and would never go out and purchase a Wii or PS3, but going out to friends house for a night of partying the Wii just gets more people involved.
im a hard core gamer myself personally i think this feature would ruine the game. you get a two year old that beats it, wheres the challenge? you can sit back with some pop corn and say "i beat this game in 3 hours" there would just be no joy in beating the game, let alone a level.
on the other hand it is a good idea i would be for it if they had 2 game modes, one auto pilot option and one fully manual.
i hate when im not able to beat a level on a certail game but the more i cant beat it the sweeter it is when i do beat it, i do sometimes get frustrated but with a stupid feature like this you can watch the game beat itself, in the end in seems like the most pointless thing ever, if theres 50 levels and you get stuck at level 5 you can watch the game beat itself for the next 45 levels because your to lazy and its to "hard" for you to even try to beat, in my opinion its a stupid idea
This almost made my brain explode with utter disappointment. There will be no pride in the gaming world. It almost feels as if there's no point in beating the game now; if someone else can just come up, hit a button, and relax while they're instantly taken to the goal.
I had some respect for the wii before.
when will this be available on Wii We were going to buy one but we will wait till this is added
Gone are the days when it would takes weeks of perfecting your strategy to get through a game. Casuals killed the video game industry, nintendo is just making money off their "I should be able to do as much as someone who plays 4x the ammount of time as me" mentality.
Errrrm, I thought video games were SUPPOSED to be challenging. This is the most ridiculous thing I've EVER heard. If Nintendo completely loses its mind and gos through with this atrocity, then it should be counted as a cheat where achievements etc. are disabled and the demo play does not count. But I would much rather them force these poor, innocent, little gamers to use a little something called ingenuity.