Why you shouldn't make promises you cant keep

It is undeniable that the Wii's graphics, compared to the 360 and PS3, are not the best. Sure, compared to last gen they might be good, but they do not hold up to graphical punch provided by the other two. Everyone accepts this fact, even Nintendo, because everyone knows that they Wii is all about the controls and having fun.

There are some people, though, who feel that the Wii can match the 360. I talk, of course, of High Voltage the developer behind 'Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude'

Speaking last year, High Voltage CEO Kerry Ganofsky said:

"Most of the games on the Wii look like crap. We want to change that, so we've invested heavily in our Wii tech over the past year. Of course [Wii owners] care about gameplay, but we believe if given the choice, they would want great graphics as well. It's just a cop out. With Conduit, we are trying to make a Wii game that looks like a 360 title."

Sorry, a Wii game that looks like a 360 title ? A Wii game who's graphics could match that of Gears Of War? Are you insane Kerry? The answer is yes.

Watch this tech demo: (or click here to view high quality version)

Quite honestly at no point did I think 'Wow, this looks like a 360 game'. What I actually though was 'Wow, this looks like a PS2game'. Sure there are some nice looking light and water effects and sure the guy says things about graphics that no-one understands but these graphics are unimpressive at most.

Normally I wouldn't even be that bothered, but if it wasn't for the developers big headed-ness then I wouldn't have to be quite so harsh on the graphics.

Did I mention that I think the graphics are a blurry, low-res, jaggy, ugly, brown mess. I should also point out that the fire is one of the worst fire effects I have seen in a long time.

However, after watching the actual game trailer, I will say this: It looks comparable to some parts of Half Life 2 (a 4 year old game, remember), except that it's lower res.

Sure this game looks better than the average Wii game, but personally I prefer the bright, colourful graphics in Super Mario Galaxy to the dull, brown graphics in The Conduit.

Finally just a word of advice to other developers out there: Don't make promises you cant keep, because when you fail to deliver we wont have any sympathy for you.