Wii, iPhones, and the Future of Social Gaming - Will Wright

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/04/02/Will_Wright_on_Spore_SimCity_and_the_Sims

Game desgner Will Wright discusses how innovative control systems for the Nintendo Wii and the iPhone have created new audiences for video games, and encouraged gaming as a social activity, as opposed to a solitary one. "When you think about the Wii," Wright says, "most of the entertainment is not happening on the screen, it's watching your friend act like a goofus."

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Will Wright, the creator of SimCity, the Sims, and now Spore, speaks with pundit John Battelle about the creative process, user-generated content, and much more. - Web 2.0 Expo

Will Wright is an American computer game designer and co-founder of the game development company, Maxis. He is best known as the original designer of groundbreaking computer games such as SimCity, The Sims and Spore.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• nintendo
• wii
• remote
• iphone
• video
• game
• games
• gaming
• sims
• spore
• simcity
• motion
• sensor
• controls
• controllers
• gps
• group
• activity
• touch
• screen
• screens
• fora.tv
• foratv
• fora
• tv

[Saktoth]

And all the other games he's made arent worth jack?

Will has a long history of producing games.

Spore might have not been much of a 'game', but its innovation and creativity is breathtaking. The animation and customization features are unmatched, and the principles underlying the technology of the game are astounding.

It just forgot that it actually needs to be fun as well.

[VigilantnotMilitant]

<3 u Will!

[ronaldbrashears]

Wii is awsome I love playing M rated games on it the game play is just cool and fun! U can get the same games now as the ps3, and xbox360!

[nightwing49766]

phones are more distracting.

[DroidLife]

@reaperdead We'll I come from another tradition of gaming that doesnt touch any of those concepts where you get physically involved, or run arounda viritual "sandbox" breaking stuff and beating hookers. Or hop around on platforms. The typical console game concepts. But you are right ofcause. Innovation is allways good. I was wrong about the Wii. People aparently like to jump around infront of the screen.

[reaperdead]

@DroidLife Dude, those are totally the best games out there and before you come to the conclusion, i am not a wii fanboy or any console fanboy. I just happen to know more about the industry and how it works then you do. Innovation is the key to the gaming, more innovation, more technological breakthroughs.

[DroidLife]

@reaperdead Have fun bowling and playing tennis.

[reaperdead]

@DroidLife and here we are 5 months after this comment and its funny how the Wii has out sold both third gen consoles.

[DroidLife]

This man does not understand that people bought the Wii because it's new, and because they do not know what they want. They think they wanna stand infront of the tv set and wave their arms about because it's new and sounds cool, but in reality the novelty factor of that whole business weares off pretty fast.

This path is doomed in the long run. Developers should concentrate all effort to move towards controls that involve even less physical engagement then the ones we have today.

[Rsd79]

I don't have that much respect for Will Wright, since he allowed such a crap game to get released. Sub-par effort.