Epic Games not interested in the Wii – Maybe Wii 2 or Wii HD though
The Wii may not be the most powerful or prettiest console on the market. In fact, it most certainly isn’t either of those things. But it is the most popular by a long way, with over 50 million units sold worldwide so far this generation. With that in mind, can any games developers afford to ignore the platform?
Evidently, yes they can. Epic Games is choosing to do just that. Epic is best known for the Gears of War games on the Xbox 360, the Unreal games, Unreal Tournament 3 being the most recent, and the Unreal game engine, which powers a lot of PC and next-gen console games.
Epic has released games on the PC, the PS3, and the Xbox 360. But not the Wii. And it seems that’s not going to change for the foreseeable future. Speaking to IndustryGamers recently, Epic VP Mark Rein was asked whether there was any chance of the Unreal engine, or games that utilize it, appearing on the Wii anytime soon.
He said:
If you stretch something too thin, it becomes very thin. How do you support that? We don’t make games for that platform because we don’t see a market for the kinds of games we make – let’s be honest.
Rein was then pushed on the subject with IG noting that the number of hardcore games appearing on the Wii has been increasing of late. Rein’s response left little to the imagination although he did make it clear what would need to happen for Epic to become interested in developing for a Nintendo console.
He said:
And they’ve been huge financial flops… It’s just not where the market is. Look at EA. Do you see the same Madden game on Wii? Of course not – it’s a dumbed down game.
If Nintendo comes out with a Wii 2 or a Wii HD, and it’s got a couple more processors and a little more memory and better graphics, then yes we’ll be on it.
So, as much as Epic would love a new 50 million-plus audience for their games, the company either doesn’t think it’s worth it or doesn’t think it’s possible to first redesign the Unreal Engine to work on the Wii, and secondly to release its games on the console. Because they probably wouldn’t sell anyway.
The chances are that Nintendo is already working on a successor to the Wii, with some kind of Wii HD that acts and feels like a Wii but has much-improved graphics the most likely candidate. If that is the case then I guess we can look forward to Gears of War and Unreal Tournament 3 coming to a Nintendo console soon. Maybe.
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34 Responses to “Epic Games not interested in the Wii – Maybe Wii 2 or Wii HD though”
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July 25th, 2009
wii is only good for mini games
July 26th, 2009
I guess if I were 5 years old that would make me Happy.
July 26th, 2009
I see the wii as a party console. You’ll always have a ps3 or xbox if you’re a gamer
July 27th, 2009
I have died a little on the inside, but I am agreeing with Ivan. The minigames are the shiznit for the wii. No amount of Guitar Hero/Scene It/Buzz/Lips/Singstar amounts to the family fun that an evening of wii minigames brings. Especially when my 3 year old niece wipes the floor with me in bowling.
July 27th, 2009
There are games that are fun to play that are not mini games.
But that would mean *gasp* playing something without a chainsaw in it…
July 27th, 2009
harry sachz:
Go suck a dick you big fag and shut the fuck up already. Stop dick riding already are you in love with PlayStation users now dumb ass. I don’t give a flying fuck if you think I’m anyone other then myself. You buddy need a fucking life other then this damn website. I don’t give a fuck about Wii that shit ain’t good for anything. Wii is for people that hate real gaming.
Why buy a Wii when there’s a PC Xbox Xbox 360 PlayStation PlayStation 2 PlayStation 3 PlayStation Portable PlayStation X and Soon PlayStation Portable Go.
July 27th, 2009
hahahahahaahahahahaahahahahahahaahah @ Ivan! I can just imagine you writing that, going red in the face, sweat building on your moustache as you begin to throw furniture around in a fit of rage.
July 27th, 2009
^
LMFAO, so true!
July 27th, 2009
lol
July 27th, 2009
We Wii-tards are well known for hating real gaming. Also we like to sacrifice puppies daily in the name of Shigeru Miyamoto. Ban-Sai Miyamoto-Sama!!
July 27th, 2009
Akaro do you only own a wii?
July 27th, 2009
LOL
That reminds me of a video where this cartoon kid joins a clan and opens a virus. Then turns red an flips out threatening to email the admins.
LOL
July 27th, 2009
Wish I could find that video again.
Classic!
July 27th, 2009
’sweat building on your moustache’
Whoa there harry! You’re getting a fella all hot and sweaty here…
July 27th, 2009
Actually, I don’t really care for the mini-game stuff on the Wii. Wii Bowling is cool for about 30 minutes, but that’s it. The only games on the Wii I actually like are games that could very easily be better on a PS3 or 360: Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Rune Factory. No motion control required!
-Arvis
July 27th, 2009
LMAOO I never thought of that. but you are 100% right Arvis
Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Rune Factory can be better on a PS3/360 even PSP
July 27th, 2009
Indeed Roca.
July 27th, 2009
ok so for the add on this page, “dating for video game fans”, why didn’t they try to use attractive people for the advertisement?
July 27th, 2009
LOL! That came out wrong, didn´t refresh the page for hours. I meant to answer to Roca´s question. XD
Motion control for Smash is so wrong, but I really liked it for Mario Kart. I think the best games for Wii are the ones that use the pointer schema.
July 27th, 2009
you Only have a Wii, wow im impressed
you sure you dont have a PSP, or a DS laying around?
July 27th, 2009
Barnabe, I keep just seeing that flipping annoying Evony ad over and over and over…
-Arvis
July 27th, 2009
‘I think the best games for Wii are the ones that use the pointer schema.’
Thats because, in general, most ‘motion games’ suck balls.
The best use of waggle is no more heros, where you have to jerk-off (and thats how the char. in the game does it too…) the wiimote in order to charge your sword.
July 27th, 2009
I see those Evony add on countless game related pages. If you type “Evony ads” into google news, you’ll see that you are not the only one who is sick of the ads.
I’m just curious as to how much they have actually spent on marketing the game.
July 27th, 2009
Who cares, you get a nice dose of rack served up daily
Thats how I look at it.
July 27th, 2009
“Evony ad campaign: Where breasts trick you into playing a Civ clone”
Gentlemen… someone has disclosed our weakspot!
Roca:
Oh yes, I also have a DS and a PSP. The PSP is borrowed from a friend that went on a trip though.
July 27th, 2009
harry sachz:
Lol sure fag
July 27th, 2009
You wish I were a fag, Ivan Yglesias. Then you and I could hook up on chubbydating.com.
Yeah I keep seeing that Evony game too…. anyone bothered looking at it yet?
July 28th, 2009
LMAO^^
I do like the adds. They definitely get my attention every time, but supposedly the game doesn’t even feature any “busty maidens”.
July 28th, 2009
Yglesias i didn’t know there was a “S” fag games
July 28th, 2009
what are you talking about? what’s an “S” fag game?
July 28th, 2009
The first Evony ads (called Civony originally) actually made some kind of sense. They asked the player to “save your queen,” who happened to be a rather busty virtual maiden.
These new ads make NO SENSE AT ALL. A picture of a whore, with the words “Start your journey now, my lord.”
WTH kind of journey are they trying to get me into???
-Arvis
July 28th, 2009
I hope its a journey where I can use my spam lance.
July 28th, 2009
Alot.
July 28th, 2009
I love the one that says: “Play DISCREETLY on your browser NOW!”
Why would you need to play Civilization “DISCREETLY”? They almost try to market it as porn or something. I bet there are a lot of pissed of lonely guys who downloaded the game expecting naked busty maidens, but were surprised to find a run of the mill RTS.