Wii - what is keeping the demand so high?

[Ouenben]

sadly I can see more and more "non games/quick games" taking place of proper games.

In the end I'm betting it'll be

10 Brain trainings/mini game compilations/nintendogs

for every

1 Zelda/mario/metroid etc


Although the best selling games on DS include New super mario bros, animal crossing, pokemon diamond and pearl, mario kart ds and tetris DS

so maybe Nintendo wont forget about us gamers.
but at the moment it certainly feels like it.

[Ouenben]

I must say I'm actually disappointed in Capcom thus far. In terms of Resi, all the Wii has planned is a Resi 4 port with added motion controls and a glorified lightgun game. Wow-wee.

It's a shame because we all know they can do so much better...



Not 'round here it ain't.

You can't be a 'real' gamer if you like the Wii...

It's not Wii games as such but you do have access (if you can find them) to REmake, RE0 RE2, RE3, RE4, RECVX Via the gamecube back catalogue.

I was really dissapointed in reading that Umbrella chronicles was like Resident evil 4, changed to light gun style to make it easier/appeal to the Wii's main audience

[elkatas]

I was really dissapointed in reading that Umbrella chronicles was like Resident evil 4, changed to light gun style to make it easier/appeal to the Wii's main audience

*shrugs* That's Capcom's fault to think they know Wii's audience. But one thing that has buggered me is that people somewhat believe that RE4 style gameplay would have guaranteed UC to be good game. I mean, its obviously quick n' dirty project that will be rushed to be out this holiday.

[elkatas]

sadly I can see more and more "non games/quick games" taking place of proper games.

I wonder where these impressions come from, especially as new games haven't been announced, and we do know rest of the years lineup. It is pretty much "business as usual". Few quirky titles, couple of new franchises (that are "serious"), and then there is the classic flagship titles.

Although the best selling games on DS include New super mario bros, animal crossing, pokemon diamond and pearl, mario kart ds and tetris DS.

Exactly. Nintendo is intending Wii to be portway into "serious" market, like it was with DS. There was few fascinating charts on Financial Results Briefing two weeks ago. For example, did you know that 81 percent of japanese Brain Training buyers joined Club Nintendo, and over 60 percent of them bought either NSMB or Mario Kart DS as their second game for the system? Rest were divided with other, slightly less popular titles such as Tetris, Animal Crossing, Big Brain Academy, and Pokemon. It's not like new gamers were actually afraid of trying more complex games.

Wii is currently doing same in Japan, but with accelrated pace. Wii Sports and Wii Play have sold very well, having attach ratio around 75 %. But then there is Super Paper Mario, that has sold 320 000 copies within two weeks*, and Zelda** that has sold 480 000 copies. Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree has sold only 140 000 copies in two weeks, but it looks like the game will have steady legs (other Brain Training games started with similar sales numbers). To Bandai-Namco's big surprise, One Piece Unlimited sold its whole printrun (50 000) within day, and they are now trying to get game back to the print. These are great numbers considering that Wii's userbase is 2.3 million consoles in japan.

* TTYD sold 430 000 copies during its lifetime.

** TP has sold 4.6 million copies worldwide. These are incredible numbers considering Wii's userbase is around 6.8 million units worldwide. It has already passed Oblivion, Wind Wanker and Kingdom Hearts II in sales, and it will very soon pass over FFXIII that has sold 5.2 million copies. In fact, with the speed that Wii's userbase is growing, it is quite possible that TP will pass Ocarina of Time before end of this year.

[MikeRox]

but nobody buys games on Wii everyone on alot of forums says so, and Zelda was a flop in Japan because they only want to play Wii Sports and Brain Training nice to see a post finally put Wii software sales into perspective, certainly 2 fingers the consensus that 99% of Wii owners only got it for Wii Sports and will never buy another game.

[Bus-stop Boxer]

I think it's doing well because it has appealed to such a wide variety of people.

My girlfriend has no interest in gaming whatsoever, but seeing the Wii made her want one!

[Big N Veiny]

In my experience Wii sports is all people want.
Was at a party and someone kept asking to drive me home to go pick up my Wii so everyone could play.
Had a large group of people, 4 wiimotes and a projector. People didn't want to see any other game, just Tennis and bowling. This kind of thing has happened a few times.

[Ady]

Just because people enjoy one game, it doesn't mean they'll never ever want to play anything else.

Was the Gameboy popular just because of Tetris? And did its many users only ever buy that one game?

I thought a unit shifting killer app was meant to be a good thing.

[Keith]

My mother bought a Gameboy just for Tetris, about fifteen years ago.

It still works, she stills plays it, and it's still the only game she's got for it. So at least one person did.

[Kotatsu Neko]

In my experience Wii sports is all people want.
Was at a party and someone kept asking to drive me home to go pick up my Wii so everyone could play.
Had a large group of people, 4 wiimotes and a projector. People didn't want to see any other game, just Tennis and bowling. This kind of thing has happened a few times.

All it will take to change that is anothet game which captures people's imagination. DS has done it a few times now with Nintendogs then Brain Training.

Perhaps Wii Fitness or Wii Music will follow on from Wii Sports...

[sj33]

I think the basic point that the general public doesn't even think about 'upcoming' releases, or even consider them as a particular factor is correct though, they have a completely different perspective of gaming than we do, and don't jump from release to release like us.

It's just that now and again, a release comes along that grabs their attention (Sims, Brain Training, etc)... gaming isn't something people do regularly as a general hobby like we do.

[The Mole]

People are saying its a waste to spend ?200 on a console with no good games. Well you could have spent ?425 on a console with no good games to find it ?70 cheaper the next week.

Also i think Health Pack and Wii Music along with the Brain Training will help drive sales until Nintendo are ready with some new big hitters. remember it took the DS about 10 months for the million sellers to start showing up regularly.

[Adam Stone]

You know, I love my single player epics, games that can whisk my senses away for hours on end... allowing me to escape to a different world, allowing me to hide in my isolation, if only for a moment. I don't get a great deal of time to play games now, but when i do, i turn the lights off, i prepare my snacks, and i cherish every moment...

...The Wii, i appriciate, is not the best console for this. It doesnt yet have those sorts of games... But you know what, it offers something more then that, something more special. It offers something me, my girlfriend and her daughter can all enjoy together...

As great as the playstation 3 will be, as superb as many of the 360 games are... neither of them appeals to those closest to me quite as much as the Wii. It really does bring people together, whether the games are epic or not... And that is why Nintendo have strock gold this time. They really have created what the people want, without the people ever knowing what it was they wanted.

[iloveannie]

You know, I love my single player epics, games that can whisk my senses away for hours on end... allowing me to escape to a different world, allowing me to hide in my isolation, if only for a moment. I don't get a great deal of time to play games now, but when i do, i turn the lights off, i prepare my snacks, and i cherish every moment...

...The Wii, i appriciate, is not the best console for this. It doesnt yet have those sorts of games... But you know what, it offers something more then that, something more special. It offers something me, my girlfriend and her daughter can all enjoy together...

As great as the playstation 3 will be, as superb as many of the 360 games are... neither of them appeals to those closest to me quite as much as the Wii. It really does bring people together, whether the games are epic or not... And that is why Nintendo have strock gold this time. They really have created what the people want, without the people ever knowing what it was they wanted.

Good points. I like playing games with my family too. We have a good night in where we have a couple(!) of drinks and bond as family/friends should do. Me sitting there playing GTA alienates everybody else.

I think the multiplayer gaming that the Wii offers is quite a departure from what we have become used to. It is active, competitive, fun and very social. It's more like cards or dominoes, pool and darts. Monopoly even! Swingball in the garden, that kind of thing. It's not a video game although it uses the very technology that has become synonymous with a largely insular pastime.

I think gaming is growing up quite well at times

[elkatas]

Well, it looks my sources were correct about Nintendo's gamers day. Here is what Cassamina said in his latest mailbag:

I will be in Seattle next week...I think such an event [like Gamers Day] would be a great way for Nintendo to give us a pre-E3 look at some of its games for the next quarter or two and I'd be seriously surprised if anticipated projects like Metroid Prime 3: Corruption weren't on-hand. Barring any embargoes, I'd stay tuned through next week for more news - hypothetically speaking, of course.

Furthermore, Smash Bros Brawl site is currently having countdown for new website:

http://www.smashbros.com/

7 days.