As the PS3 and Xbox 360 continue growth, Wii will die in gamers’ eyes
A reader comment got me to thinking about the varying types of gamers; one is content to sit down and play games for hours on end, the other is content to play a game for a few minutes, put it down and go do something else. No one ever thought to serve both markets and only one company is serving one almost exclusively, Nintendo.
I’ll give you a hint as to which one, it isn’t the first. It’s the second which can’t, won’t or simply doesn’t have the time to invest hours and hours into a single gaming session because they like to do things like "eat" or "go outside." Okay, I jest but still, it isn’t hard to set aside two or three hours on a weekend to play a game, is it? I find it hard to imagine circumstances where it is.
Nintendo has seen fit to serve the gamer that can’t invest more than a few minutes of game play in a game though they do make games that require some investment of time, they are all easily put down and returned to later, the same is not necessarily true of games in Xbox 360, PC or PS3 land.
For the most part Nintendo games are cartoony, geared for tweens and what one of our readers refers to as "casuals" or casual gamers. I like the shorter casual designation so I’m going with it. The other would be anyone else that can investment more time in games, not necessarily hard core gamers but those that can sit and play a console game or PC game for at least an hour or two at a time. This group shall be called "gamers."
Casuals see gaming a bit differently than gamers do, it’s just something to do for fun once in a while rather than something that must be done. Casuals could easily go a day or two without picking up a game, a gamer could not and can easily say the graphics on the Wii "look fine."
A recent tech demo showed off a new graphics engine on the Wii; welcome to 2002 Nintendo, how does it feel? The point is that the Wii may be a success for Nintendo on the casual side and even some gamers may own a Wii (you are not forgiven) but for gamers the Wii is a dead horse and if I could kick a Wii for signs of life, I would; I can’t because I don’t own one.
Okay, so there’s an emphasis on graphics. So what? If the game looks ugly and it’s fun, is the game less fun? Yes. If the game looks good but the environment has clipping problems and the controls are horrible, is the game less fun? You bet, stink city.
The point is there is a balance and Nintendo picked the wrong one. Yes, you’ve read this same thing on a thousand other sites before written by hundreds of other people, well, so what, now you’re reading it again; deal with it.
Had Nintendo gone for slightly better graphics, 720p output it could have done more to win over both casuals and gamers – everyone would have walked away happy. Only casuals are truly happy with the Wii, but it is already dead in the eyes of gamers, High Voltage Software tried but the Wii will always reside in the area of 2002ish graphics which look ancient by today’s standards; the tech demo already looks outdated.
It will be around for a while but when the Xbox 360 gains more users and the PS3 takes off (like the PS2 eventually did), then the Wii will start collecting dust in closets just like so many N64s.
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April 21st, 2008
I doubt Wii console sales will drop any time soon, but I don’t see it’s relatively poor attach ratio improving… ever.
Because of the severe gameplay restrictions caused by the Wiimote, I see gamers getting less and less interested in new Wii games as the novelty of motion controls gradually wears off.
Of course, I could be completely wrong.
-Arvis
April 21st, 2008
Why is this idiot still around? Wasn’t he completely proven wrong in everything?
April 21st, 2008
“Because of the severe gameplay restrictions caused by the Wiimote, I see gamers getting less and less interested in new Wii games as the novelty of motion controls gradually wears off.”
That was so incredibly stupid, I’m in awe. “Severe gameplay restrictions”? LOL! The point of the Wii-mote is to open up new gameplay possibilities. If the “novelty” of motion controls were to wear off, it would have already done so. Motion controls are here to stay, and just because you have some severe motor neuron disease that prevents you from using them doesn’t mean you can try to write it off for everybody.
April 21st, 2008
lol I have to agree with nightshadow.
April 21st, 2008
I watched UT3 being played on a PS3 on the weekend and after playing it on the PC for a couple of months it looked crap. 1080p is fine but if you cut out all the graphic effects you may as well be playing Quake3 at 1080p.
In 2-3 years time all three “next-gen” consoles will be totally outclassed by PCs so you may as well get a Wii because it will look just as bad as the other two.
April 21st, 2008
If a game has great graphics, but sucky gameplay is it less fun? Hell yeah. Though the Wii may not have the graphics the XBox360 or PS3 has, its graphics are perfectly good. Now-a-days better graphics don’t really make or break a game. If a game has excellent gameplay and 2002-to-the-present graphics the game will still be greatly excepted by the public. Look at Super Mario Galaxy, it doesn’t look nearly as realistic as Bioshock but it is the highest rated game of this new generation. Besides, a game doesn’t have to depict blood, gore, grit and the cruelties of humanity to be a good game, but it seems like the only content the Sony and Microsoft fanboys, the self proclaimed hard core gamers, like (maybe that says something about them). Not that I don’t like a good FPS like Halo, or something along those lines, but there are other games out there besides the ones with the big M for a rating. But, really people just shut up with the stupid graphics argument already all the good wii games have pretty good graphics so to skoff at a game because it has a few less polygons (yes I know it really isn’t only a few) is idiotic.
April 21st, 2008
You can’t be absolute and speak for everyone with stuff like this. The Wii is the only console I own and I, on average, play it for at least a dozen hours every weekend. It’s true that casual games are better represented on the Wii, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any epics out there. I get the feeling you’re just venting…
April 21st, 2008
As I go look at the woods, I spot a bird man.
April 21st, 2008
How old are you? Do you seriously feel such a need to believe that Nintendo has double-crossed veteran gamers everywhere? If so, please… Grow your fucking mind up.
April 21st, 2008
Okay, I am slightly angered at this article. I own a Wii and I really don’t care what the graphics look like, somewhat. There wont be many Xbox 360 users if those guys from Microsoft actually fix the red ring problem. Sony won’t progress til MGS4 comes out, as well as many other good games.
I like the Wii, it makes my family laugh when we all play. That is what makes the Wii great, a family can pick up a wii-mote and play. My grandparents even own a Wii!
Writer of this article, get a Wii. You have no right bashing Nintendo about the gameplay and graphics. From the way it reads, it sounds like you own a ps3 or a 360.
April 21st, 2008
Jeje you keep telling that and MAYBE it will magically become REAL!!! YEAH!!! IT’Z TRUE!
Now, seriously talking, to be saying things like this: “Only casuals are truly happy with the Wii, but it is already dead in the eyes of gamers” is just stupid.
The REAL gamers are people who now are 25 to 30 year old and played videogames since they looked like THIS: http://www.atari.com/us/images/games/FBK2/consolepc/1.jpg
So I’m guesing that we, REAL GAMERS don’t mind having less graphics than High Def. The graphic department don’t kill the gaming experience… ANY REAL GAMER knows this… but hey! Kids of 12 and 13 year’s old don’t like to play “crappy” games like yourself, so go and buy your High Def consoles and leave people who like Wii in peace…
Don’t take me wrong, the PS3 and 360 ARE AWESOME, that doesn’t mean that the Wii is just for casual as your narrow minded article sugest.
April 21st, 2008
I constantly find it funny how the so called “hardcore gamers” always make an excuse why the Wii is crap, even though its kicking the living crap out of the other 2 consoles. And every month and every year there is a new argument. First it was a fad, then it did not have any games, but crappy mini-games, then it did not sell third party software, (though apparently Guitar hero and resident evil, and red steel etc, do not count)LOL. I can literally read the fear in all the people that write BS articles like this, and in the end of the day, theer opinions do not really matter in the grande scope of things. They lack the brains or vision to see what is happening. Apparently SSBB is now a casual game, in which nothing but casuals buy it, though it sold close to 2.5 mil in its first month. HAH!!! get over your self. The new meme now is that online is the next thing to stop the wii because its online is “gimped”, as soon as that bs is thrown out of the window, the only things insecure guys like this will be posting is “teh grafix suxors lol”. One word for you my friend, pathetic. You love your ps3/360 so much, grate, i will love mine when i get them too, but do not talk about what you clearly know nothing about. This dude don’t even own the Wii. Man this Gen Must be pissing you off huh?
April 21st, 2008
Nintendo has once again fooled themselves into taking the same path that has damned them in the past. Other than the odd Capcom game, the hits on the Wii contain at least one of three things: Mario, Link and/or Mario. They’ve yet again managed to isolate third party developers. Why release a game for a system that only sells games containing overweight italian stereotypes? And no, that is not confirmation of a new Sopranos game.
Nintendo opted to go for cheap and easy. The Wii may be selling like a whore with all her teeth for now, but life on the street is hard. To me, seeing the “Conduit” tech demo only further proved what I have suspected from the get-go. The Wii isn’t future-proof. Hell, it isn’t even now-proof. Suggesting that those graphics are comparable to the PS3 or 360 is a gross overstatement. I say if you were to try sticking twenty enemies on that screen, that engine would grind to a halt.
Nintendo hasn’t learned anything this time around. If anything this burst of success will have them insisting that if you toss the words “Fun” and “Mario” around, selling a game is easy. Too bad for third party developers I guess. You’ll probably see a lot more of them heading to the machines that give them a better chance of actually enjoying a cut of the action. Plus ce change…
April 21st, 2008
The Wii is for those who have families, PS3 and 360 go to loners.
April 21st, 2008
alot of you guys are just hella dumb. homeboy? you’re hella fucking dumb. wii 3rd parties sell better than any other system, they had problems at first so people are still bitching about it. even zack and wiki is looked at like a loss even though it sold rediculously more than capcom expected.
the PS3 had framerate problems nearly in every game with good graphics… go look at gamerankings, while the 360 and PC have orange box rated on the top 5 games, the ps3 version was so fucked up that it’s not even on top 10.
the 360 has a 33% breakrate while the wii has .03% and ps3 has .02%. soforgive the wii for not destroying itself with overheating or a cell processer that makes game dev fucking as expensive as shit. for the hardcore (in a little over a year) the wii has ssbb, LoZ:TP, MP3: C, No More heroes. Bridges casual with hardcore with MK:W, and SMG….. all of which nintendo exclusive. while PS3 has R:FoM as there 1 good/okay exclusive
April 21st, 2008
(Disclaimer: I’m LatinAmerican and English is my Second Languaje, with luck. So, please, forgive the grammar horrors)
No, no and no.
I’m a gamer, and enjoy a lot my Wii.
If the game had decent graphics and excelent gameplay, is really fun. If the game have ever better graphics and the same excelent gameplay, is not more fun than the other one.
Why everything goes thru the eyes? why always everything is “How looks” and not “how feels”? why the only stuff can people arge about the Wii is about the same karma I’m fighting since I’m 10 years old? (I’m 23 by the way) The Best looking game I watched recently is the World of Goo, and GTAIV or another realistic whathever can’t ever surpass that because the art direction is overwhelming. But not, they have to fill us with numbers and ratios and HD and stuff just because they don’t have the imagination or the inteligence for doing REAL good stuff about graphics.
Yep, I’m saying a WiiWare game looks better than a Retail X-Box 360/PlayStation 3 Game. And not because the Wii has better hardware than the X-Box 360 (It’s has, in a different way), I’m saying that because this guys have an interesting and imaginative Art Direction. And they are two people. Take That.
April 21st, 2008
The Wii is dead in the gamers eyes… right. I bet it is. I sure don’t play games like Smash and Zelda 6 hours a day.
This argument’s been over for ages, but Sony and Microsoft fanboys don’t seem to get it. Games DO NOT need graphics to be good. Brawl and Galaxy are both amazing games, and they’re just two in many. I love Halo, but it’s not great. It has a good multiplayer and some futuristic military sci-fi plot. That’s it. The graphics make it no better.
April 21st, 2008
Jonathan Schlaffer,
Couldn’t you at least pick a more recent topic for discussion.. rather than the old ‘wii = no gamers’ line of attack.
Just lame pure lame.
For a PS3 owner (like myself), its hard to admit, but Wii is brutalizing the other two consoles as far as sales are concerned. Just deal with it! As far as death to Wii, I don’t see that happening either. Lack of third party games, so what, they will just keep pumping out more Mario games and kids will just lap it up. Unlike the PS3 and 360, Nintento does not have to rely on software sales for making a profit… every wii sold is profit earned for Nintendo.
That said, I do wish they would make more mature games, but then just cause they dont doesnt mean that its not a system for hardcore gamers. Just an fyi, most of the ‘hard core’ gamers that you see today, probably grew up playing ’short casual’ games like pac-man and space invaders.
April 21st, 2008
It’s sad to see the “hardcore” gamers peeing their pants because the Wii is still mopping the floor with the competition. It was a “fad” when it was launched and was only supposed to last a year… then two… then eventually… maybe….
Guess what? You are in a small minority of gamers (and that’s another thing: “casuals” are gamers no matter what you may think) who are dead-set in your frame of mind. Guess what? You were “casual” once too. You had to be. You weren’t born with the whole Amiga library in your closet.
Nintendo will come on top this generation and Sony and Microsoft know that. The Microsoft “wand” is their trying to play catch-up. I hope that all the companies follow Nintendo’s model next generation. That way, people like you will quit gaming entirely and the gaming world will be rid of your ancient way of thinking. You’ve turned into every disgruntled and jaded war vet ever.
April 21st, 2008
I think your analysis is right on the money. As a PC, XBOX360, and PS2 gamer I just don’t see the appeal of the Wii for the non-casuals. IMHO, The PS2 and the original XBOX (720p support, better online with live, dvd playback) are far superior systems with much better games and graphics.
April 21st, 2008
You guys crack me up.
I own all three. I have four kids in the house (8-15) and the Wii sits and gathers dust as the kids fight over the Xbox 360.
To me that’s a better predictor then all other things combined.
April 21st, 2008
To nightshadow:
Dude, I so agree with you!
April 21st, 2008
Sir, you continue to perhaps be 1 of the worst pseudo-wannabe journalists online. You seem to have grasped the english language, but you’re obviously lacking any sort of real idea of what the world truly is.
I used to be a huge gamer, played all the time. Suddenly, and obviously this hasn’t happened to you yet, life happened to me. I got a girlfriend, started up my future career, hung out with friends. All of this led to my gaming being extremely neglected (and still is.)
Any free or spare time I do end up having, I’d rather to sit back with a book, or listen to some music, or watch a movie (since that is my chosen profession, catch up on techniques and the such.) Just relax in general. I don’t really want to be playing anything, I just want to be able to sit back, and relax, and have to do no thinking, or as little as possible amount of thinking outside of “breathe in, breathe out.”
Therefore, finding a few hours to play does prove to be rather hard to me.
Now, the next thing that is painfully obvious in your post is your bias. You have such a ridiculous bias that at some points, your words just seem to be vocal diarrhea. You go out of your way to say that you don’t have a wii, and seem to parade it even. The simple fact of the matter is, how can you have such negative views on a system if you don’t actively own one? I mean, if you owned 1, tried it out, tried a bunch of games for it, and still came to the same conclusion, that’s an informed opinion. Yours seems to be based off of word of mouth and extremely narrow minded.
What makes your opinion even more narrow minded is the fact that you base so much emphasis on graphics. Super mario bros. 3 is just as much fun on it’s release date as it is now, and you can’t get much more dated graphics. If you dare debate the point saying “mario bros. 3 isn’t that great.” then this debate is officially over, and you have been declared the loser.
Let me put it this way, I’ll use my domain of film to prove a point here. Camera and filming techniques both in production and post production have greatly improved over time, and well, like with video games, it’s because of the technology that’s readily available today. So without a doubt, Films look better today than they did in let’s say the 40’s. I mean, a film like “Transformers” could never be made back then since it’s such a CG heavy flick.
But the fact that films look better now than ever before, does that mean that any and all previous flicks are obsolete and shit?
No, simply no. A movie like Citizen Kane will always be a great film that is moved forward by great acting and a great script. Shit, the whole genre of black and white films give films like “Casablanca” an intense atmosphere, and it has the amazing Humphrey Bogart at the helm as lead actor.
So much like games, The physical imagery of a film has greatly improved, that does not mean that it instantly makes for better films.
Let’s not forget the very first thing about games and movies: They are considered an art first and foremost.
The art-style of a game is barnone more important than graphics could ever be (but it can not be called the most important, as I think that goes to controls.) I’ve seen so many games that people think are great on both the ps3 and xbox360 that are just derivatives of derivatives of derivatives of other games. I mean, all fps games are Halo shells. A game that lacks everything from art-style to essence. It’s all flash, and the american public eat that shit up like crazy.
How many summer blockbusters were actually good, oscar nominated films? not many, because those are all flash, but the public eat it up.
So let me end this now, before this gets too long: Buy a wii, buy a few games for it, then come up with an actual informed decision on whether the wii sucks or not. More so, from now on, don’t force your opinion on people, because that just makes you come off as an elitist bastard who’s so ridiculously insecure as to who he actually is, needs something like flash to make up for what he’s lacking.
Enjoy the day sir.
-Tim Lefebvre
April 21st, 2008
@Shadow-Keeper:
Well, it’s been a year and a half and the Wii still isn’t slowing down. You sound like those retarded dooms-day prophets that predict the end of the world will come, yet it’s been over 2000 years since Jesus, and it hasn’t come. You really crack me up.
And to Homeboy:
You really have no idea what you’re talking about. Nintendo has learned anything, huh? Tell that to the sales of the Wii. Are you really that stupid? Nintendo didn’t isolate third parties, third parties isolated themselves because most of their games are complete shit on Wii. They put little effort into them. Are you really that stupid?
April 21st, 2008
How about you suck a lemon, troll-blogger, eh? This “article” is an epic fail. Wii’s crappy graphics have more to do with lazy developers cashing on the casual boom than the hardware itself.
PS. Your writing sucks.
April 21st, 2008
As much as I loathe to give an idiot more attention than he deserves, I can’t help but comment on this piece. And no, I’m not an enraged fanboy here to quibble with your poorly-argued points. (You really have no basis for any of your issues.) I just wanted to suggest that you, Jonathan Schlaffer, consider a change of profession in the near future. No offense intended, but the structure of your writing is at a middle-school level at best, and the grammar within your “article” is simply crying to be put out of its misery. If not for the brief smattering of them here or there, I would wonder if you’d ever even heard of a comma before, and the number of run-on sentences caused me to literally wince. I’m sorry if I come across as a bit of an arrogant ass, but one who considers himself a journalist should at least take the time to understand the basics of writing. Even this poorly-written article might seem marginally more credible were it coupled with proper grammar.
And don’t you dare try to condescend me.
“even some gamers may own a Wii (you are not forgiven)”
I never asked for your forgiveness, nor would I ever.
April 22nd, 2008
Nightshadow, you took the words right out of my mouth. If the third parties made anything other than shovelware for the wii it would be selling boat loads.
I’m surprised the article didn’t have the quote “Wii is a fad!” This article is a piece of shit.
April 22nd, 2008
people get way too worked up about shit that doesn’t matter. if you enjoy one system over another, good for you. setting around worring about what some asshole you’ll meet thinks about your system of choice is both pathetic and sad. and really means you should put down the controller and find a life.
April 22nd, 2008
sorry about the typo it should say, “…some asshole you’ll never meet…”
April 22nd, 2008
“It will be around for a while but when the Xbox 360 gains more users and the PS3 takes off (like the PS2 eventually did), then the Wii will start collecting dust in closets just like so many N64s.”
Out of all the statements in the article this one sounds the most foolish. I’ll start with the PS2 eventually took off?… It took off as soon as it came out, with no competition. Sega was already pulling them selves from the market, and Microsoft didn’t come out for another year. The PS2 was a running success. My second problem is “sitting in closets like so many N64s” really…really…?
The N64 still has a cult following, much like the Sega Saturn, if you transferred that statement to its competition of the time, who owns a PS1? I have one just because I didn’t throw it away yet. The statement would be “Sitting in landfills like so many PS1s”.
What about all those Original Xboxs?…
You would be better off mentioning Gamecubes.
As for the argument at hand, if you need graphics to be a gamer, you’re a trend follower, and you don’t care about games at all. All those people who were complaining about Orange Box graphics being dated sound like idiots {by the way Valve has expressed interest in developing for the Wii}, but they did. The Half-life {1&2} look dated but there still some of the best games ever by any standard.
What about Shadow of Colossus? It looks dated but its still better then anything on the 360 or PS3. Being a 360 owner {along with a Wii hooked up next to my Dreamcast} there still hasn’t been anything that has really impressed me besides Portal; most of the games besides maybe Dead Rising could be downgraded and ported to a Wii to have a similar experience, they are still the same games, just prettier. THINK PC GAMES AND GRAPHIC CARD REQIEREMENTS HAVING DIFFERENT SETTINGS, sure you want to play Crysis on the highest settings but on its average settings it’s still the same game. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE PLAY WARCRAFT all with different settings.
Sure the graphics do improve some gameplay experiences {Mass Effect and Condemned come to mind}, but look at the reviews, 3 of the top 15 360 games are Arcade titles, how can this be? Because they are games that don’t rely on polygon push to get there experience across.
Lets look at Wii reviews, if the graphics are prime factor there shouldn’t be a game to break 85…But there are 15 of them, those reviewers aren’t writing reviews for the ‘casual’ fan. Play some Resident Evil 4 or Metroid and be honest with yourself, if you want to enjoy some of the finest offerings in all of gaming, you can’t deny how good they are.
April 22nd, 2008
http://vgchartz.com/hwcomps.php
These sale figures say Wii is in the lead since 10/14/07.
April 22nd, 2008
Another graphics whore? Among other games I like playing shooters, but I own a PC, so I am not willing to jump over to an ancient Gamepad like the one the PS3/Xbox have. The Wii is the only console that is capable of a precise shooter-control.
And that is the problem for Sony and MS. No one, who owns a Wii and plays some Shooters, or Adventures or even Racers (like Mariokart with the wheel) on this console will ever be going back to an ancient control method like the gamepad.
April 22nd, 2008
Kudos to Tim Lefebvre
Yes I do agree that games are a lot like movies… so just because they create HUGE hype and are really flashy doesnt mean they arent overloaded with shit…
Remember Halo 3??? hehe XD COD4 sold more units AND more people played it on LIVE than Halo 3…. yes I know hype and graphics MAKES OR BREAKS THE GAME….
XD
April 22nd, 2008
The Wii must be selling way too many machines if attach rates are low because everytime I look at the charts here the wi has at least 3 or 4 games in the chart.
Though having had mine from launch and only bought around 10 games, compared to 15 for the 360 this year I’d say there is a problem with the choice of games available for the Wii.
For the first time in it’s history Mario Karts hasn’t had me rushing out. So perhap for me this is one console too far for Nintendo and the magic has worn thin.
April 22nd, 2008
lets just put it like this
Wii for famliy
360 for fat americans with no lives
PS3 for someone who like varity in games
people who own one and say others are crap are fanboys
people who own all three and dont care which is king of games are alright folk(which means non-bastards)
there my veiw on what console owners are trash talk about that and weep 360 nerds.
April 22nd, 2008
@ps3rules
ps3 for variety in game LMFAO ROFL thanks i laughed hard ill fix that error
360 is for alll gamers
wii is for familys
ps3 is for japenese gamers
im not american i have a job and play my 360 everyweekend are you working for sony cos that variety bit was so funny
April 22nd, 2008
on subject the wii is fun for a few mins but it never ever made me go wow when i played it the controller wears of fast but no one can say anything against its sales i think these are correct
xbox 360 262k
PS3 257k
wii 700k +
it sell like crazy
April 22nd, 2008
sales dont really matter but i think since the new 360s are now getting more reliable like my new model with the 65s its not loud hardly generates any heat and unlike my mates 2006 model its wont red ring for a long time or possible years.
April 22nd, 2008
5th post lol
ps3rules you said people who call one crap and dont own it are a fanboy you kind owned yer sel there mate cos i assume since you think 360 gamers are fat americans even though there the same type of gamer that plays both you dont own one so i now pronounce you a fanboy.
April 22nd, 2008
Some people just don’t get it. Back in college I could play Quake and Apache for hours on end. Now I’ve got a wife, house, dog, 2 horses, and land to take care of. Only on those rare, rainy days where there are no indoor chores can I afford to spend more than 2 hours gaming.
My favorite game? Guitar Hero. Which the graphic power of the Wii soooo spoils.
My wife’s favorite game? Excite Truck. The motion sensing *makes* that game. Even her mom’s addicted. Graphics aren’t photo realistic, but it’s not a sim, it’s a game.
We could get equivalents on any platform. But why spend the money? My ‘net access sucks so online gaming is a non-issue.
As for Nintendo’s attach rate, they don’t NEED the same attach rate. Nintendo’s is 3.7, 360 is 4.7 according to another article. Let’s say the Wii’s includes Sports, so let’s drop that to 2.7 vs 4.7. By VGchart’s sales totals, that means that Nintendo has sold 67.5M games vs 360’s 84.6M.
But Nintendo makes a profit on each Wii, vs MS’ loss. MS probably needs to sell at least 1 more game than Wii just to catch up. If you lowered the attach rate to 3.7 you get 67M games generating profit.
Uh-oh, looks like Nintendo can easily afford the low attach rate and still make bank. But low attach rates are a signal for developers, right? No developer wants to make games for a platform with a low attach rate.
Except Nintendo now has an install base 30% larger than MS and more than double PS3. Assuming only 50% of Wii gamers would buy an FPS (cough*COD3*coughMetroidPrime*cough) vs 80% of 360 gamers or 100% of PS3 gamers the Wii has a market of 12M vs. 14M 360 vs 11M PS3.
Let me repeat that: If your game would appeal to half the Wii market, it appeals to a user base equal to the entire PS3 user base.
April 22nd, 2008
Different people like different games. You all are correct in your own ways. End of story.
April 22nd, 2008
@ thomas
You are using th “sales dont matter” card NOW???
After ALL the fanboys are screaming and shouting about how the 360 sold more units and games than the PS3??? Are you using it now JUST because Wii is kicking all the other console’s ass???
The fact is… sales DOES MATTER… to the companies… you think they care about your “views”??? They care about profits.. and Nintendo is the only one who doesnt have to pledge 1Billion dollars to fix their broken consoles… or actually make a loss for the first batch of consoles…
But for gamers… innovation matters… there hasnt been any major innovation since the first Xbox… we have had nothing that has brought something new to games… this motion sensing technology shouldve been properly utilised… the developers should have made more games which used its potential to the full…. but now… because of shoddy 3rd party games… Wii is getting negative press…
April 22nd, 2008
this depends on whether nintendo will continue to pump out quality, fun games. not for fanboys but for real people. I have a ps3 but otherwise the wii would be very tempting. it does look like fun. AContinue the quality family fun games and they will probaby keep up the sales.
April 22nd, 2008
wii fagboys want to cry ha ha ha haaaaaaaaa funny pisses of $hit$
April 22nd, 2008
I notice nobody is talking about the Wii’s low attach ratio. High console sales but RELATIVELY low game sales are not going to endear 3rd parties to the system.
And if I’m the only person in the world who sees the Wiimote as a severe programming restriction, then I guess I’ll just shut up, but it seems to me that the biggest reason that 3rd party Wii games tend to suck is because of the motion controls. Still, at least I can count on Nintendo to make sure their 1st party titles have top notch quality control.
Again, this is just my opinion. If you disagree, practice civility and try not to be insulting. Gamers like a challenge, right?
April 22nd, 2008
Arvis – I do partially agree with you, I can’t play SSBM without my wavebird and the same goes for mario kart wii. However a game thats crafted with just the right amount of wiimote use e.g. mario can be real fun. Also the remote gives wii the potential to become king of the CONSOLE FPS imo.
OMEN – Thats because retards like yourself keep putting down a machine because you fear your purchase of watever you own was a bad one, and you don’t want to be holding a brick in 2 years time. Don’t worry, its not going happen.
As for my thoughts on the wii, well I own a PC, Wii and most recently a PS3.
My only real concerns are first of all the game situation with the wii. There are some GREAT games for the wii but %90 of them seem to be Nintendo games and this all seems a bit familliar (capcom is at least doing a great job tho).
Also, I really really think nintendo dropped the ball a little bit with the online component. Yes it WORKS but it left me a little dissapointed. For example, when downloading a VC game I can’t see an accurate % guage, ETA, OR background the download. The buddy codes are also a nightmare. After getting a PS3 it really made the wii online effort look a little lackluster.
Then there is the way Nintendo is trying to be my nanny, by making it so I can’t add a friend online easily. I have to find my friend via 3rd party means and then exchange codes and then we both have to add each other. Its a little OTT imo.
Other than that, its a nice machine, it was cheap it provides much fun for me and the familly so I can play without everyone leaving the room! Which is nice sometimes
To be fair, i did NOT purchase the wii for a bunch of ‘h4rdc0r3zzzzz’ titles, much like the cube, I got it for the Nintendo titles which are always amazing and that is all i expect from the system with a few capcom etc. goodies thrown in.
In short, wii = good, ps3 = good, pc = good, and I don’t own one, but i am sure 360 = good too (hell it has %85 the same games as the ps3)…
April 22nd, 2008
SW,
Nice post. To back you up, let me just say that my roommate and I don’t own any 3rd party Wii games. Out of the 5 titles we own, all 5 are 1st party.
Of course, this may change, as I am pressuring him to try out the Wii version of Okami (about which I have heard mixed, but mostly positive, things). Still, it would be nice to have an exclusive third-party title worth playing.
-Arvis
April 22nd, 2008
If indeed your article is true, and the “hard core” gamers only care about graphics, why then has the Wii version of Guitar Hero 3 sold out both the 360 and PS3 versions? Personally, I couldn’t call Guitar Hero 3 a casual game, considering the difficulty of some songs.
So then why pray tell has it demolished all other consoles sales? Oh, that’s right. People associate the Wii with fun, and will continue to do that as long as good games come out. If anyone is to blame here, blame the 3rd party publishers. All your article consists of is bashing and little to no proof for your case. Nice try sir, maybe next time.
April 22nd, 2008
The 360 is still ahead of the Wii in installed base in the US, even with the 360 Pro seling for $400($150 more than the Wii) for most of the time the 360 has been out.
Meanwhile, the 360 continues to totally dominate software sales, with the the # 1 monthly NPD game in September(when Halo 3 blew all Wii games out of the water), Oct, Nov, Dec and Jan. A big chunk of Wii hardware sales continue to be made to geriatric old women in retirement homes who don’t buy much real gfames apart from garbage like Wii Play.
April 22nd, 2008
Linkmaster94: “If indeed your article is true, and the “hard core” gamers only care about graphics, why then has the Wii version of Guitar Hero 3 sold out both the 360 and PS3 versions? ”
Wii version of GHII oustold the 360 version because the 360 already had GH II which sold over a million. The Wii never had GH II.
Plus the Wii never had Rock Band.
GHIII sales on the 360 were split with Rock Band sales on the 360. Same genre.
“So then why pray tell has it demolished all other consoles sales?”
# 1. The 360 is still ahead of the Wii in total sales the US.
# 2. The 360 sold for $400 for the first 22 months to the Wii’s $250.
# 3. Most Wii sales are to old women and children. I wouldn’t cal them hard core gamers.
April 22nd, 2008
I have a Wii and a PS3: I loved my Wii until I bought my PS3 ( justified as a Blu-Ray, AVI file music server Media Center). Now I like my Wii and love my PS3. It annoys me that Nintendo put so little power into the Wii. Its a good console with some great ideas but, come on, my old xbox looks almost as good.
April 22nd, 2008
It’s somewhat a surprise that the Nintendo Wii has been selling so well despite not having that many good games besides Super Smash Bro.s Brawl, however I think money has a lot to do with it’s success, It is the cheapest console. I think its a huge surprise and a blow for Sony’s PS3 that the PS3 is still behind the Xbox 360 in sales despite Sony winning the hi-def format war, I guess not many people are willing to buy blu-ray or show no interest since many are fine with normal DVDs or can download high-def movies on xbox live, also the games on the PS3 are not as great as the xbox 360 considering GTA4 will apparently will have more exclusive content on the xbox 360 version than in the PS3 version.
April 22nd, 2008
The Wii’s popularity is down to a few things, one being the novelty of the physical gameplay through the motion sensitive controller and two because it has captured the interest of the traditionally non gamers – and there are a lot more of them than regular gamers in this world. Wii Fit will boost sales due to the fact that people will want to use it as a fitness tool. (Nintendo are currently putting up posters promoting this http://www.wiihealthy.com/2008/03/31/nintendo-putting-up-wii-fit-billboards-in-australia ) Also numerous reports claim that Wii consoles are being used in Nursing homes/hospitals/rehabilitation centres and even the army….need I go on
April 23rd, 2008
XD the 360 fanboys are again using the “Only old women and children buy the Wii” SO WHAT??
THey dont care about WHO buys the console… they care about profits…
And the 360 still sold more than Wii in the US… BRAVO!! Well obviously the US market is MORE important than the rest of the world.. even the Japan has a bigger gaming market… but still the US statistics matter most…
Ohh and Halo 3 didnt shatter anything other than the “Fastest Selling 360 game” record… Super Mario Galaxy AND COD 4 sold more units… seriously guys.. if youre gonna throw statistics in here.. then quote the RIGHT statstics…
And also… tjhe 360 doesnt have any true EXCLUSIVE games… if you have a decent PC… you can play most of the 360 games… Im pretty sure Halo 3 will be released for the Pc as well… the only games you cant play are that one Flying Aeroplane game and DOA 4 and DOA Xtreme and Xtreme 2… and who can live without the DOA Xtreme boob bouncing game right???
April 23rd, 2008
darkwhite- stop typing. you lost all cred when you claimed japan is a larger money making market than north america. pc gaming and console gaming are not the same, so don’t compare. is forza now on the pc? i must’ve missed it.
April 23rd, 2008
DarkWhiteHair,
You’re right, Nintendo doesn’t care who buys the console.
…
However, 3rd-party developers DO care. If only older people, soccer moms, and children are buying the console, that leaves 3rd parties with two nasty choices:
1) Tailor their games to that demographic and piss off the hardcores by releasing games like Super Jogging and Butterfly Collecting Wii.
2) Release more games like Manhunt or No More Heroes and totally miss (and possibly anger) the Wii’s largest audience.
From where I am sitting, developing on the Wii is not a happy place for 3rd-parties.
-Arvis
April 23rd, 2008
@ kevin…
OH NO!!! I LOST MY CREDIBILITY TO A 360 fanboy… I was never a fanboy…
but I do agree… SOME games are exclusive to the 360… Forza 2 and PGR 4 and DOA 4 are the only ones worth mentioning…
and the Japanese market IS bigger than the US market… if you have statistics to prove me wrong… then I would be more than happy to check it out…
Till then… keep making stupid PS3 and Wii bashing remarks… but remember… the Wii sold more UNITS AND games… AND they arent overhyped….
The 360 has great games… I enjoy many of them… but I hate it when people claim it to be the best… the BIGGEST game the 360 had was Halo 3… but even that got beaten by COD 4 and Mario Galaxy… (I repeat myself because you seem not to be getting my point)
So dont use the “We got the best exclusives” or “we sold more units” or “we have the true next gen” (how can DVD format games be next gen???)
April 23rd, 2008
DarkWhiteHair,
You may want to tone it down. No point in getting this worked up.
First of all, yes, the Wii had more people buy SMG than the 360 had people buy Halo 3. Of course, the Wii also had more Wii owners NOT buy SMG than 360 owners who didn’t buy Halo 3. It’s called a ratio, and developers pay very close attention to these things. Right now, statistics show that Wii owners buy less games than PS3 and 360 owners. However, games like SMG can still outsell the Halos and GTAs simply because so many more people own Wiis (although I guarantee GTAIV will blow away everything in sales).
The brilliant thing here is: COD4 is a third party title, and I have the nagging feeling the Wii will never have a third party title approach the commercial success of COD4. Of course, you can’t say “never” until it’s all said and done.
Second of all… um, the Wii also has DVD format games. So I guess Wii games aren’t next-gen?
*laughs*
Just joshing you, I know you didn’t really mean that.
-Arvis
April 23rd, 2008
“I like the Wii, it makes my family laugh when we all play. That is what makes the Wii great, a family can pick up a wii-mote and play. My grandparents even own a Wii!”
Enough said! hahahaha. Kids and “old” people, thats all the wii is! and nothing more, dumbasses that know not how to use a “real” remote. “it`s just too complexed”. the wii will die out, just a matter of time. Where is all the elmo dolls that was the must have craze, where is william hung?
Where is the wii???
April 24th, 2008
@ Arvis…
I understand your point about the ratio… problem is most of the people here dont use that when they are making stupid claims…
And… the FIRST thing Nintendo said when they were unveiling the Wii on E3… was
“If you are looking for NExt-generations… you’ve come to the wrong place” so people who paid attention already know that its not a nex-gen console.. but I think they have next-gen gameplay… If only they had better online and a hard-disk and some decent 3rd party games
@johnson…
Jeez no one used the “only old people and children play the Wii” and the “Wii will die out” arguement before… thank you soo much for your completely ORIGNAL comment that makes George Bush sound like an English Professor…. XD
April 24th, 2008
This comming from someone with the name “darkwhitehair”? go play your wii untill you grow up! lol I think you may be the english major!
April 24th, 2008
@ johnson
Wow… that was a brutal attack… how can I live with myself??? XD
I DO enjoy playing my Wii… its a nice console… so go play your “Red ring of Crap box” till you can make statements that make sense…
April 24th, 2008
Sorry bro, I have a ps3. noooo problo`s here! Do you have a big head like all the wii characters have? don`t forget to go potty before you play, and 8:30 is your bedtime. Maybe mommy and daddy can afford to buy you a ps3 next year? the xbox and ps3 are the best systems out, If you don`t know how to use a controller (typical one that is) then the wii is definately for you, the ps3 has a motion sensing controller, and “next-gen graphics” and soon (says the web) microshaft will have a wii like controller as well, so when that happens, will you just make more excuses about your wii or just realize all you did was buy into the hype of nothing more than just a ps2 with a motion controller? High def tv will be standard in feb `09, nintendo needs to step up! Most by then will have a high def tv, If not -shame
April 25th, 2008
@ johnson…
Ohh I didnt know you had a 360… and you didnt know that I had all three systems… what part of me screaming “WHEN WILL GOD OF WAR !!! COME OUT” didnt you get??
April 25th, 2008
ohh sorry… typo.. I meant to write “I didnt know you had a PS3″
April 25th, 2008
Likely story! “everyone” has all three systems. hmmmm. That means i must as well huh? maybe god of war will come out on thw wii! you can slash everyone with the wii-mote and it will be easy because all heads in the game will be 5 sizes too big! then you can work out on wii fit (all of japan know were a bunch of fat asses). lol
have fun man, it`s all about games! and i am waiting for god of war as well. peace
April 25th, 2008
well If you dont believe me then I cant do anything to change that… all I can do is to scream “WHERE IS GOW !!!” to appease my hunger for upcoming news on GOW!!!… myabe they’ll announce it in E3… if they announced it a couplea weeks ago then this wouldve looked like a better year for PS3… ohh well … I have to wait
October 2nd, 2008
Bwahahahaha! This blog is hilarious!
Such blind fanboy drivel, it’s got me crying with laughter!
Seriously, whilst you are bitching and whining and writing that the Wii is crap and the controls don’t work, the Wii owners will be actually playing and having fun with their console…
You’re just upset the Wii’s trouncing EVERYTHING in sales aren’t you? Hahahah!
Go back to your boring button mashing.