I got my first article request a couple of days ago from my old buddy Jeff. He sent me a link to a YouTube video about an upcoming game called Wiiwaa and said it warranted comment by me. Well, I’m a man of the people, and I’m going to give the people what they want.

Here’s the link to the video, so go watch it and then come back. I’ll wait.

I’d make a joke like “hey, glad you’re back” but I’m funnier than that. Now, with something as off the wall and bizarre as what you just watched, surely I have something scathing and sarcastic to say, right?

Actually, I think it looks pretty damn impressive. It’d be very easy for them to rely on the novelty of a game controlled by a stuffed toy and not put any effort into making it enjoyable, but it really looks like they’re using the toy as a unique way to control an action game.

I mean, look at the part where he was sneaking up on that other monster. When the monster would turn, he’d have to lay the toy down so the monster he was controlling would hide. That’s cool! I don’t care what anyone says, that whole video was awesome.

The thing is, a lot of people are going to write this off as stupid and complain yet again that “this is the cancer that is killing video games. I only play mature games for mature gamers such as myself.” When people claim that gaming is “dying” it drives me absolutely nuts. Everyone flocks to the new Call of Duty or Madden, and then they will say with a straight face that New Super Mario Bros Wii is “stupid and for kids.” Are you SERIOUS? You wouldn’t even HAVE Generic Online Shooter and Football Game if it wasn’t for Mario. Gah.

Look, just because you’re not a kid anymore doesn’t mean that kids don’t exist. Kids deserve to have games and things made for them, just like YOU had when you were younger. You would have LOVED Wiiwaa when you were a kid. If you don’t want to play it now, that’s fine! You don’t have to! But to claim that these games shouldn’t be made is way out of line. Gaming isn’t some “elite club” that you have to be this –> hardcore to join. Expanding video games to a wider audience, a younger audience, can only BENEFIT your “mature games” since kids will get into the hobby young, and then grow up with it like we did. It’s beneficial to the survival of the medium. Look at an industry like comic books, which is spiraling the drain. The comic book companies didn’t do anything to expand their audience, they kept it as their own little circle, and when you don’t have a flow of new customers getting into your products, you’re going to isolate yourself out of business.

Will I buy Wiiwaa when it comes out? Maybe, I think the little monster guy is pretty kickass. Even if I don’t, though, I’m glad it was made, because it shows that there’s still some soul left in this increasingly stagnant industry, and I know there’s going to be lots of kids who love playing with it, just like I had playing with my games when I was their age.