Wii: I'm just not sure.

This holiday weekend I had the chance to experience the Wii thanks to the founder of Big Head Mode. While I enjoyed getting some first-hand play time with the hottest new system, I'm not sure this is the total wave of the future.

Let me begin by saying that the price of the machine and the eventual online access to thousands of older games are tremendous selling points. And if you've had a Game Cube, you're good-to-go for backwards compatibility.

But the motion-sensing and physical shaking, swinging and flicking of the controller to guide play seems like it could wear thin in the long run. I enjoyed the bowling and tennis of the Wii Sports title, but the experience of the two-player mode of Red Steel was like a splash of cold water -- a total buzz killer.

I have read and heard some "gaming experts" say that the whole motion control is a complete gimmick . . . it hooks you for a while, but then there is a lack of real enjoyment in return. While I cannot say that I experienced this disappointment, I do find myself considering their comments indicating a lack of substantive third-party support might hinder the Wii later.

In the end, the Wii might be set for real failure if the titles produced for it are somehow "dumbed down" to accommodate gimmicky play. If licensees produce considerably stronger or more solid versions of their titles for competing platforms, then what's the point of constantly putting up with the weaker system?

I'm taking a wait-and-see approach to the eventual viability of the Wii as my best choice for a new system. And even if the motion magic proves to be little more than a gimmick, the Wii will remain a better choice for me than PC or online gaming.

Only time will tell . . .