Free Radical: Wii need more power

Wii News | Ninty machine lacking necessary grunt for TimeSplitters team.

It's emerged that the Wii won't be seeing a version of Free Radical's promising FPS, Haze, after the team behind the project cited a lack of "cutting-edge technology" in Nintendo's next-gen console. Ouch.

In a FAQ on the Free Radical site (apparently published a few weeks ago - we apologise for our lateness), the Haze team have admitted that they'd be interested in doing a Wii version, if only the console was packing a little more power. "There are currently no plans for a Wii version of Haze," reads the FAQ, before delivering a punch to the gut of Nintendo's machine: "Sadly, the cutting-edge technology we're using requires more power than the Wii has available. If we could, we would."

Fortunately, the game is set to appear on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC at an unspecified date in the future (you can read what we thought of Haze when we played it at E3 here), and obviously this doesn't mean future Wii projects from the studio behind TimeSplitters and Second Sight are completely ruled out. For now though, it's looking as though Wii owners may have to look to Samus for their FPS thrills.

Related Haze Content

Haze Review
30 May, 2008 Better than a nectar overdose?

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21 May, 2008 Hazy on which retailer has the best offer?

Ubisoft confirms whopping install for Haze
20 May, 2008 Be prepared to twiddle your thumbs.

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62 Comments

realitybites

5 years ago

IMO this will pop up more and more. Especially in the retail sector for displays etc. They will be showing visually stimulating games (its all about wooing the buyer).

But having said that Wii will be about simple and elegant entertainment. I think if you want the raw grunt experience PS3 and Xbox 360 is your bet.

Suspect "hard core" gamers will have multiple consoles so it won't be a problem.

LeonJ

5 years ago

I reckon it's a bit of laziness on the developers behalf.

Cerebral

5 years ago

I wonder what engine they're using for Haze? I recall reading that some hack-job downgraded version of the unreal 3 engine could actually run on Wii hardware, which would produce surprising results, but never anything close to the 360 or PS3.

This is the reason I bought a 360. There will be too many games like this that will be simply overlooked for the Wii for want of better graphics, experience, and an all round better game.

Jim Dash

5 years ago

Im sure in time developers will be able to work their way around it or find some sort of solution?

Or is that it, it can't be done and it won't be?

döppelgangbang

5 years ago

While an ardent admirer of FR's work I guess I'm not too miffed about this. If a game is set to use HD as its selling point then put it on the PS3 or Xbox. We really dont need 3 systems that occupy the same game space. I do think that this kind of comment could be easily be used as a cop out though, and would hope that if FR (or anyone else for that matter) had a gooD idea for a Wii game they would pursue it.

Frozencry

5 years ago

Jim Dash wrote

Im sure in time developers will be able to work their way around it or find some sort of solution?

Or is that it, it can't be done and it won't be?

With the technology required for games like Haze, Wii won't be capable of handling anything near it, even with great architecture. It's lack of HD tech also diminishes its capability.

I can see this happening often, and this is exactly where Wii is taking big risks.

mqphu1

5 years ago

The Wii haven't release yet and it's already lack in CPU/GPU power?
Imagine whats happen in 2 years time?
I can't imagine the Wii have a lifespan of more than 3 years?

Oh yeah, Nintendo will release Wii HD after 3 years.
Thats the ONLY solution Nintendo can ever came up with
over the past decade.
---> Re-Release Old Technology so they can make money.

(Gameboy -> Gameboy advance -> Gameboy advance SP).
(DS -> DS lite -> ??? DS liter)
(Wii -> ??? Wii HD )

You can argue that the Wii is for fun/gameplay ONLY.

But IMO a game is like ALL game review needs:
- Gameplay
- Graphics
- Sound, Value and Tilt.

Imagine the New Super Mario on DS has the graphic of the Gameboy,
Would you say GRAPHICS doesn't matter????

IT DOES! IT DOES! IT DOES!

Nintendo, you need to think beyond the square box
and give me TOTAL gaming experience.

Jim Dash

5 years ago

They will give you a total gaming experience.

Go buy a 360 or PS3 if you want graphical power.

The Wii is more for the 'alternate' gaming experience. Just because it can't produce graphics to the 360 and PS3's capability doesn't mean the games will be any less fun.

Relax, don't panic!

mqphu1

5 years ago

Damnn it, i have to buy the Wii for that ALTERNATIVE experience,
EVEN I knew they will release a better system in 3 years.

Like MS will release the 360 with HDDVD as the standard drive within a year.

tullyano7

5 years ago

so you say to Nintendo "Give me the total experience" because they arent giving you good graphics, yet you dont say to Sony or Microsoft "Give me a new game experience" because all you do is press a and b.
Thats a bit unfair aint it!

mqphu1

5 years ago

Tullyano,
hmmmm.... you can say that for MS but for Sony i disagrees.
In the past Sony does provide me with new gaming experience.
For example,
Eyetoy, Singstar, Guitar Hero, Killzone, RE4 etc
For PS3,
Motion controllers, New eyetoy games, interactive games etc, just to name a few.

As I said SONY is for everyone.

Sin Ogaris

5 years ago

Except the lower to middle classes who can't afford the new system.

Jim Dash

5 years ago

mqphu1 wrote

As I said SONY is for everyone.

The man has spoken. Huzzah!

People never seem to be happy. Because they will release a better machine in 3 years, you'll skip this one?

That'd be like if I held out for a HD DVD 360. What for?

deaf_echo

5 years ago

But isn't this exactly what Nintendo wanted?
The Wii is supposed to be different.
I think it is said best in the second half of this article:
http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=4919

mqphu1 wrote

---> Re-Release Old Technology so they can make money.

(Gameboy -> Gameboy advance -> Gameboy advance SP).
(DS -> DS lite -> ??? DS liter)
(Wii -> ??? Wii HD )

Those are some poor examples
Nintendo may re-release a more compact version of an existing handheld, but I don't recall there being a N64 Lite or GameCube Lite.
Sony, on the other hand...

And just in case you didn't know, even though your reference to it was totally irrelevant, RE4 was also on GameCube... and before PS2, I might add.

I might get the Wii, but definately no PS3 or X360
My interest in gaming is dwindling, and I won't be spending an insane amount of money on a PS3 that won't be used

Jellyfish

5 years ago

mqphu1... There is not going to be an Xbox 360 with an internal HD-DVD drive. There's not going to be a Wii HD either. Unlike a certain other company, Microsoft and Nintendo don't completely overhaul their home console hardware designs in the middle of it's life.

Sony also isn't for everyone, like me for instance who is boycotting them for what they did to Sega.

Cerebral, they're using their own engine I think, I recall reading something about it over on Kotaku.

Cerebral

5 years ago

deaf_echo wrote

But isn't this exactly what Nintendo wanted?
The Wii is supposed to be different.
I think it is said best in the second half of this article:
http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=4919

Different is one thing, but a perfectly good game being passed up because it can't run acceptably on the hardware leaves no winners.

InfernalEternal

5 years ago

nikack wrote

Unlike a certain other company, Microsoft and Nintendo don't completely overhaul their home console hardware designs in the middle of it's life.

Top Loading NES?
Super Famicon Junior?

Im sure if both the N64 and GCN were as successful as their first two consoles they'd have recieved re-designs too.

zombibubonik

5 years ago

mqphu1 wrote

(Gameboy -> Gameboy advance -> Gameboy advance SP).
(DS -> DS lite -> ??? DS liter)

The thing about these examples is that they didn't force their older counterparts into redundancy (except Gameboy->Gameboy Advance, but that was just a natural progression after the Gameboy had it's run) SP games still worked on Advance, and I don't see any "DS Lite exclusive" games storming the shelves.

And as for this whole Haze malarcky, Samus will do me just fine, thanks.

Joseph

5 years ago

Most people will get Wii as a second console anyway (or their first then get a different console as their second). I am personally looking at getting an Xbox360 or PS3 as a second console because I know this sort of thing will happen with Wii...

But I'm far too cheap to buy them now, when they have their second price drop, I'll look into it.

dc0079

5 years ago

They're suppose to make a different game for Wii, kinda like how PS2 games of current gen get watered down compared to other version. No one complain then... it's a fact that PS2 is the weakest of this gen by far (and wii the next gen).

realitybites

5 years ago

dc0079 wrote

Bit of loose argument. PS2 dominants the market and hence can afford to be the least powerful.

I have RE4 for the PS2 and the game looks and plays great. If you had not played the GC version you would be hard pressed not to be impressed (btw I have played the GC version its slick although I prefer the PS2 gamepad for this game).

This next gen round is totally different we are talking about Hi Def vs. Wii standard Def. There will be a significant difference in graphical quality and physics in the game.

But its Nintendo's decision to go this path. They must have forseen these events and they need to work with develoeprs that will exploit the Wii's unique abilities.

wobbler

5 years ago

FPS are meant to be played on the PC anyway.

rankodour

5 years ago

I hate it when developers use the term "cutting edge technology". That is pure BS. What exactly is cutting edge? A certain polygon has 5000 faces on it and five texture layers? Screw that.

ugh the boot

5 years ago

wobbler wrote

FPS are meant to be played on the PC anyway.

uhh yea....and platform games are only meant to be played on consoles, shooting games with guns, driving games in cars, tennis games on tennis courts...blah blah blah blaahhhhh..

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Haze

Pre-order or buy:
PALGN recommends: www.Play-Asia.com

Australian Release Date:
  22/05/2008 (Confirmed)
Standard Retail Price:
  $119.95 AU
Publisher:
  UBI Soft
Genre:
  Shooter
Year Made:
  2007
Players:
  1

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