In a traditional game, I’d know exactly what I was doing: hitting the B button, say, while holding down the right trigger. Instead, my expertise with the shot has evolved through the physical trial-and-error of swinging the controller, experimenting with different gestures and timings. And that’s ultimately what’s so amazing about the device.

From Steven Johnson’s blog

Johnson makes a very interesting observation — a player’s control over the game has less to do with well-rehearsed button mashing combinations and is more about improvisation and trial and error. It emulates risk-free experimentation.

I’ve only really played my Wii 3 times so far — each time with my wife and at least one or two other people. But even in that short amount of time I fear developers won’t continue to push the boundaries of what can be done with gesture-based interaction.

One thing that will definitely happen: Microsoft and Sony will copy the wiimote. Nintendo has to do a few things to extract the value out of the Wii innovation:

1. Develop MANY MANY gesture-sensitive game titles
2. Create both virtual and real life social interaction methods via games, or game-like software
3. Keep innovating around gesture-based UIs
4. Create an upgradable system
5. Treat user gameplay as an asset

I think #4 could be a key differentiator. Design for obsolescence — not that users have to replace the Wii — but make processor, graphics card, and memory slots for easy upgrading. Is there a reason to design a system that must be fully replaced every 2-3 years when a better console comes out? I think you could create a much more “sticky” system by making it more modular.

Further, Nintendo could make the Wii more “sticky” by leveraging gameplay data. In Wii Sports there is already a tracking system for the games — keeping track of your “rating” from game to game. All movements players perform should be tracked and stored (in their Mii profile). Nintendo could then create an “exchange” for this data, incentivizing development around tools, games, and services for this information. More to come on ideas for that…

Prior to reading any more, go here, and click on the Fresh Experiences link and watch the entire video.

If Nintendo doesn’t find massive success with the Wii console then we are a sad lot. Revolutionizing the console through the interface–it’s brilliant–and it’s both behind and ahead of its time.

I remember when the first VR games came out–big stand up machines in big city arcades and theme parks… I thought that was going to be the future… but they were too clunky, too expensive, and all together didn’t have very compelling applications. Now there is the Wii and a new form of virtual reality has arrived–and it isn’t virtual.

Personal technology and applications are moving from the bi-polar online-offline schism–to a world of analog–a world of gradients rather solid fields… a world of dials rather than switches… an organic rather than simulated world. Technology isn’t so scary anymore… and it’s becoming more integrated into our daily lives. When I was in junior high, very few people in my age group could type faster than 15-20 wpm… I wonder what the 14 year-old average wpm is now?

The Wii is emblematic of what is happening with our culture–and it’s the healthy part of integrating technology. It’s a matter of more healthily bridging human behavior and technology. Yes–even in gaming. I think, after watching the video, if the Wii really delivers that experience, the concept of gaming will radically shift. Learning button presses and thumb jockeying won’t suffice.

I think the most interesting aspect of Wii is the possibility. Imagine the social games that can be enabled through the interface–not just combative, but cooperative. Gaming becomes a social rather than anti-social pastime.

Enter the Wii zardy. You can have your Xbox 360 and Playstation 3… I’m waiting for the true breakthrough gaming.