Wii sales plumet

[Princess Kate]

I am sort of happy about this (http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/10/30/2009-10-30_gamers_are_no_longer_hot_for_wii.html)developme nt. The sales have crashed 52% this year, and hopefully this will lead to more investment in AAA titles and not so much shovelware. I am not against motion controls, but I prefer good graphics and game play with traditional controls over bad gameplay and graphics... with Wiimote!

[Nick Nunziata]

The Console with the Crystal Plumet.

[Doc Happenin]

I blame it on everyone already having a Wii.

[Princess Kate]

I blame it on everyone already having a Wii.

If that were the case, wouldn't Nintendo have predicted that eventuality? Because according to the article they had to drastically rework their sales projections, meaning this was an unanticipated development for them

[Ludwig]

Well, I think there are several things in play as to Wii sales tanking:

1. No good new games
2. Prices of competing systems have dropped
3. Game libraries for other systems have better titles

People who have played the Wii at a friend's place have more than likely played all of the fun games already. What do they have new that's coming out? Wii Fit Plus, and a multi-player Mario. With the PS3 being under 300 bucks now in my neck of the woods and the Wii STILL selling for over $200, what's the point in getting a Wii if you haven't done so already? Just go to a friend's place, get drunk, play bowling, then go home and play something actually good on an xBox 360 or PS3.

Seriously, every title that shows up on Wii that exists on the other two systems is shit. Guitar Hero 5 for the PS3 is miles above the Wii version (yeah it's GH, but I have never seen such a stark contrast between two ports of a single game like this one; it's like the difference between a port for a hand-held system VS one for a PC).

[Cleo]

People who say there are no good Wii games are not looking hard enough. In my experience the Wii tends to get more variety, and a lot of the games are skewed a little younger (although not all), and is the most fun console to me by a long way. Little King's Story, The Munchables, House of the Dead Overkill = a few recent games that have come out which were amazing. The Wii started off looking like a casual gamer's console and it's made a lot of money off it's family friendly image, but some seriously interesting games are starting to come out for it now.

There seems to be a lot more shovelware for the DS than for the Wii, anyway.

[HBarr]

People who have played the Wii at a friend's place have more than likely played all of the fun games already. What do they have new that's coming out? Wii Fit Plus, and a multi-player Mario. With the PS3 being under 300 bucks now in my neck of the woods and the Wii STILL selling for over $200, what's the point in getting a Wii if you haven't done so already?

They did drop the price to $199.

[Princess Kate]

They did drop the price to $199.

With sales tax, that's more than $200. (Not to nitpick)

[HBarr]

With sales tax, that's more than $200. (Not to nitpick)

I don't think he was concerned with sales tax. As he mentioned that the PS3 was under $300 (and it sure wouldn't be with sales tax). (Not to nitpick).

[Ludwig]

I don't think he was concerned with sales tax. As he mentioned that the PS3 was under $300 (and it sure wouldn't be with sales tax). (Not to nitpick).

HBarr gets the square. I was indeed referring to pre-tax prices. None of the stores around here seem to be carrying the Wii for the 199 price at all... I have found them online in a few places in Canada, but many are still selling for $227, OR they make you buy it in a bundle with a bunch of crap for more. The $300 PS only comes with one controller, so yeah it will be more expensive ultimately to obtain if you want to play with friends. But the library is so much nicer now than the Wii one.

People who say there are no good Wii games are not looking hard enough. In my experience the Wii tends to get more variety, and a lot of the games are skewed a little younger (although not all), and is the most fun console to me by a long way. Little King's Story, The Munchables, House of the Dead Overkill = a few recent games that have come out which were amazing. The Wii started off looking like a casual gamer's console and it's made a lot of money off it's family friendly image, but some seriously interesting games are starting to come out for it now.

There seems to be a lot more shovelware for the DS than for the Wii, anyway.

Eh, I have rented all of these games, and they were aiiiight I guess. Far from amazing though. Little King's Story was VERY derivative and just silly (keeping in mind I have a PC and a ton of strategic RPG-style RTS games). House of the Dead Overkill?? A rails shooter is "amazing"? Really? Just because it's gory doesn't make it original, or even all that good. There wasn't anything here that rose above "fancy Flash game I could play for free" if I am being honest. Like the vast majority of Wii games, they are cute and great for kids but with little-or-no staying power.

[Egg]

I've found the Wii to be entertaining enough as a side dish gaming system. News of its popularity inevitably cooling off is no surprise. What is notable is this guy:
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2009/10/30/alg_wii.jpg
Whoa! That looks fun! Whatever it is he's doing!

[Doc Happenin]

He's driving with the power of his mind! I want that accessory!

[billylove]

I'm selling my Wii.

[Jcassady]

What's eerie is that Nintendo is following the Atari 2600/5200 which lead to the video game crash. However, Nintendo in their statements appears to recognize the fact that they need to put out quality 1st party games to keep people interested. New SMB, Galaxy 2, whatever shitty Metroid game that morons will love coming out in the next year with offset some of the recent losses.

[Leto II]

There's one thing and one thing only that's keeping my Wii hooked up -- the promise of the new Zelda sometime next year. And maybe that Team Ninja Metroid game.

Which actually means "late 2011," probably, since this is Nintendo and Zelda we're talking about here. I'm such a battered spouse for this, but so be it.

However, that said....an entire year which only sees the release of Punch Out! and NSMB means this is a console that just isn't cutting the mustard for me any more. Something's gotta give.

[Nexus-7]

Nintendo needs to have more stringent quality control on third parties, and stop shovelware. A 3rd party has released 3 AWFUL games in a row? Don't fucking let them release a 4th, for the love of god. Take back their dev kits and tell them to fuck off, since they never should have been able to release a 2nd game with PS1/N64-era graphics and shitty waggle control.

Shovelware has killed Nintendo's "brand". Sure, the first party games are overall top notch, but to all the new gamers who don't know jack about that stuff, they don't buy many games because they probably got burned by something like Game Party 7.

There's plenty of great games on the system, more than enough for anyone who doesn't have money to throw away, but it's the fact that you have to dig through shit to get to them that's a major turn-off.

As for the plummet? No big surprise here, it was bound to happen after the amazing success they've had.

[duke fleed]

Ludwig, The...Upcoming, Awesome Looking. Wii games...Tatsunoko Vs Capcom, and Sin And Punishment 2 arrive next year. Muramasa The Demon Blade, is one of the best 2009 titles...on any system!

[Kriegaffe]

I still essentially like my Wii. If it was the only console I owned, I'd probably find enough games to keep me occupied.

However, it pales into comparison to what's on offer for the PS3 (especially this year). Killzone 2, inFamous, Uncharted 2, Little Big Planet, Valkyria Chronicles, Ratchet and Clank and then a bunch of non-exclusives too. I don't know of any Wii games in the last 12 months that hold a candle to that.

[Dr Vivisector]

I just gave Kid Vivisector his Wii for his tenth birthday. The Sports Resort game has a dogfighting game that we're loving. Sure, it's simple but it's been a blast. Little bugger is good too. So much for coming out of the sun like his old man....

[ryoken]

Quick, we need another dumbass add-on for this thing!

[Nexus-7]

Well, that thing that monitors your heart rate or whatever that they showed off("oooh ahhh!") at last E3 is pretty fucking stupid, as far as add-ons go.

[grubstreeter]

Didn't they sell gazillions of Wiis? Maybe everyone who wanted one has one already, and the numbers had nowhere to go but down.

[Mangy]

Didn't they sell gazillions of Wiis? Maybe everyone who wanted one has one already, and the numbers had nowhere to go but down.
They did, and those owners are still playing Wii Sports.

I haven't bought a game since Sports Resort, and that was at a discount. I hope more good games are on the way, but the last couple of years have been terrible.

Are they still going to sell that stupid heart monitor?

[Overlord]

There's one thing and one thing only that's keeping my Wii hooked up -- the promise of the new Zelda sometime next year. And maybe that Team Ninja Metroid game.

Which actually means "late 2011," probably, since this is Nintendo and Zelda we're talking about here. I'm such a battered spouse for this, but so be it.

However, that said....an entire year which only sees the release of Punch Out! and NSMB means this is a console that just isn't cutting the mustard for me any more. Something's gotta give.

At what point will Zelda enter the late 20th century and have voice acting and an orchestral (versus keyboard/midi) score? 2015? 2027? Ever?

[Nexus-7]

I don't think I want voice acting in Zelda. There's too much of a chance of it being atrocious. Either way, Link should stay mute. Agreed very much about the orchestral score.

[Pop Zeus]

I'd be okay with Japanese voice acting and subtitles in Zelda. Link will never talk (I hope) so that a moot point. SMG was orchestrated so my guess is the next Zelda will be. As long as the music lives up to Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time I'll be happy. Them's some great scores.

[TzuDohNihm]

I just gave Kid Vivisector his Wii for his tenth birthday. The Sports Resort game has a dogfighting game that we're loving. Sure, it's simple but it's been a blast. Little bugger is good too. So much for coming out of the sun like his old man....


Like Snoopy and the Red Baron or like Michael Vick?

[Timothy Q]

I know three people with a Wii and I have not seen or heard of any of them playing it in at least a year or two. I think the gimmicky nature of it got a lot of interest for a while and when the novelty wore off people just moved on. Its telling that those folks I know that have Wii's aren't what I would consider "gamers".

[Overlord]

I don't think I want voice acting in Zelda. There's too much of a chance of it being atrocious. Either way, Link should stay mute. Agreed very much about the orchestral score.

Yeah, it could be atrocious. Kind of like how voice acting can be atrocious in any game. But, you know, those which have been made after the year 1997 tend to buck up and try to do a good job with it. If you want a mute protagonist, Half Life 2 did that pretty well a decade or so ago.

[Farsight]

It's a crappy console with crappy games, a great marketing team and a successful gimmick. At some point the snake-oil dealer gets found out and has to come up with something new.

I'm just glad the Wii seems to have given MS and Sony a nice kick in the rear towards making true strides forward in game input. It make me turn and glare at my Wii collecting dust in the closet at least 10% less often!

[Princess Kate]

I bought a gamecube in like 11th grade, and I guess I'm still sort of bitter about that experience. I only ever purchased 3 games for it (Rogue Leader, Everything or Nothing, Enter The Matrix), and so it was a huge waste of money. It kind of led to me abandoning video games for a few years actually. For instance, I never played MGS3:SE as a direct result of my GC purchase. I have to live with that each and every day

This, combined with the shovel wear ETC, is partly why I wish the Wii encounters further troubles. Petty, sure, but I think alot of gamers feel the same way. Once the public sort of abandoned the whole " Wii Party" fad, interest in casual gaming is going to drop off for the next few years till there is a new gimmick to draw the non gamers back.I mean, I found it diverting at first when playing with friends, but I guess I'm just drawn to the deeper games and alot of the Wii titles don't really stack up (IMHO)

[Brad Millette]

You know what the real problem with Zelda is at this point? It's not a lack of voice acting or orchestral scores, it's that with the exception of Majora's Mask, they're all the same fucking game.

[Justin Clark]

Mention Zelda II in mixed company and you'll discover the real reason they don't make that series over in any major way.

[Brad Millette]

Fuck that. Zelda II may as well have been a million years ago. Nintendo is a company that's pathologically averse to change in any form, despite any claims to the contrary. When they find a formula that works, they stick with it until it absolutely can't sell any more units. That's fine, the Zelda games are all good, but it, like pretty much everything else Nintendo puts out, has long since become a stagnant franchise. They really don't innovate anymore.

[Justin Clark]

But again, a lot of this is due to how their audience tends to react when they do mess with the formula. Hell, remember how the gaming community did everything short of shit blood in their collective panties over Wind Waker being cel-shaded? And that was just an artistic choice.

They don't innovate because their biggest, paying audience keeps paying them not to.

[BillyG]

They really don't innovate anymore.

But really, hasn't this been the issue since Mario 64/Ocarina of Time? All the rehashing (Majora excepted) began there. People just figured with a new piece of technology Nintendo would begin to put out interesting product again, but you still have Miyamoto running the show, as far as game design goes. Nintendo needs a young mind filled with new ideas to fan the flames.

The only really innovative work being done by Nintendo is being farmed out to the 3rd party developers. And when they found something great (Retro doing Prime) they milked it a game too far, and then had Retro put together a shitty compilation. How they have treated Retro Studios is a perfect representation of the entire company.

[kingcujoI]

And then there's this. (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/cbs-bringing-diagnosis-murder-to-gaming-platforms/)

There are a lot of quality titles on the system that span different genres. Enough for folks like me that tend to wait on titles until they go down in price, or while they slowly finish other games.

But there are too many instances where we go a month or two at a time without a really compelling new game to get excited about.

[Brad Millette]

But really, hasn't this been the issue since Mario 64/Ocarina of Time? All the rehashing (Majora excepted) began there. People just figured with a new piece of technology Nintendo would begin to put out interesting product again, but you still have Miyamoto running the show, as far as game design goes. Nintendo needs a young mind filled with new ideas to fan the flames.


Well yes, that's my point! The formula for Ocarina worked, and they really haven't changed it in any significant way since the slightly experimental Majora's Mask. Same with Mario, I mean they changed things up with Galaxy and I do respect that at least, but what are we getting now? Galaxy 2, which looks EXACTLY like Galaxy, because that formula worked.

[wydren]

Personally, I'd love it if both Mario and Zelda went back to 2D (that's why the first Wii game I get since my in-laws fell in love with WarioWare will probably be New Super Mario Bros. Wii). Seriously, I've owned the console since my wife wanted to wait in line on launch day, and I can count the number of games I have for it on one hand. And that isn't all that uncommon.

[Nexus-7]

And when they found something great (Retro doing Prime) they milked it a game too far, and then had Retro put together a shitty compilation. How they have treated Retro Studios is a perfect representation of the entire company.Metroid Prime Trilogy is far from shitty, but anyway. Retro is working on something brand new, and has been for years. That gives me some hope. I'll be upset if it's not a new IP though(I hate that term).

Nintendo has mad e a tiny bit of progress, there's only one fucking Mario Party game on the Wii, which is a miracle for multiple reasons.

Mario and Zelda seem to mix things up slightly every other game, people bitch, and they go back to the tried and true. I don't mind that when the end result is as good as Galaxy. Galaxy 2 seems to buck the trend of mixing things up, which is disappointing, but hey, I'd rather that than something like Mario Sunshine 2.

[Nabster]

I pretty much hate the WII, but even I have to admit the Medtroid Prime Trilogy is pretty awesome. I don't think WII sales are as obviously saturated as peple think, both the PS1 and PS2 sold far more units than the WII did without suffering such drastic declines.

[BillyG]

Metroid Prime Trilogy is far from shitty, but anyway.

The quality of the games on the disc weren't shitty (well, the first two aren't) but putting together a Trilogy compilation instead of letting Retro focus on something brand new is shitty. Milking the tit.

And Mario is coming back in 2D, as some weird Mario Party/Mario 3 hybrid. It just looks uninspired. An entirely too busy version of Mario for families to play together.

[Brad Millette]

But there's new HATS!

[Nexus-7]

The quality of the games on the disc weren't shitty (well, the first two aren't) but putting together a Trilogy compilation instead of letting Retro focus on something brand new is shitty. Milking the tit.From what I've read, only a very small team at Retro was working on Trilogy, while the rest of the studio was hard at work on their new game. Considering how much better the first two control now, it was worth it. These games, along with Pikmin 1/2, were no-brainers as far as Wii remakes, as far as I'm concerned.

I like Prime 3 just as much as the others, but I admit losing the feeling of isolation in parts doesn't suit Metroid at all.

[Nabster]

The quality of the games on the disc weren't shitty (well, the first two aren't) but putting together a Trilogy compilation instead of letting Retro focus on something brand new is shitty. Milking the tit.

And Mario is coming back in 2D, as some weird Mario Party/Mario 3 hybrid. It just looks uninspired. An entirely too busy version of Mario for families to play together.

Yea the repackaging of the games is vintage Nintendo, they've been doing this for decades, its sorta their MO. I mean how many iterations of supermario 3 have they released accross different platforms? Its absurd, but profitable for them.