Move, run, and jump. That’s basically the instruction manual for Super Mario Brothers. Those were the kind of games I enjoyed playing growing up. If it were a two player game, we both knew “move, run, jump” and the playing field was level. Games that removed the boundaries between the player and the game are the games that have been proven to succeed. If the gameplay can be picked up in five minutes, you can then concentrate on your wits, skill and experience to win the game or defeat your opponent.

So, where are we today? We’re at a time where the ability to play a game is extremely complicated for casual gamers, alienating all but the “gaming few”. Let me give you a couple of examples. My friend and I play NHL Hitz Pro for GameCube. Since that game came out, we’ve logged hundreds of hours. The other night we had 2 more friends over and we want to have the same amount of fun. The entire night was spent training them on the buttons. Not even basic strategy, but which button passes, shoots, checks, etc. It was stupid! We had fun, but only because it became a game of who can train their rookie first. Not hockey.

Take a fighting game as an extreme example, like Soul Calibur 3. I understand how to play. I know the buttons and how to block. I constantly lose. Is it because my friend is better with a sword or a shield? Because he can move his fingers across the buttons faster? No. It’s because he’s memorized more complex strings of moves, ie, button presses. Memory should not grant one victory.

So, why does Nintendo have it all figured out? They are “removing the boundary”. The joystick? Forget it, it’s a remote control now. You want to run left, or right, just swing it that way. Now, here’s a fighting game and it DOES come down to who holds the sword better. Anyone can now pick up the controller and steer a car, swing a bat, or fire a gun. If it works as well as it appears, Nintendo will once again reign supreme in the video game market. And who’s going to be in last? Sony, with their overpriced, over hyped PS3. The only system I have my wallet set on now is the Wii.