Is the Honeymoon Over for the Wii?
Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:15PM EDT
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It's so popular that you still can't buy a Nintendo Wii from Amazon.com, but already some are wondering whether the party might be dying down for the It Console of the day.
Based on a report featured in Japanese newspaper The Nikkei, speculation is rampant that, although the consoles have been lapped up by fans around the globe, they aren't actively being used. While Nintendo may not care if the consoles are actually used after they're bought, game software developers don't feel the same way. If people don't play games on the consoles, they don't buy games. And if they don't buy games, the developers don't make games for the console. And that starts a cascade of problems.
If it's true, so far people around here don't seem to have noticed. Six of the top 12 gaming products for sale on Amazon are Wii products (though only one of those is an actual game, and it's a pre-order).
But the game industry isn't known for turning on a dime. Developers shifting resources today can take months before the impact finally trickles down to the retail market. If developers are really pulling support for the Wii, it could be some time before we feel it.
So, Wii owners, it's all up to you: Are you still playing games on your Wii? What's the last title you bought?
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2 Posted by jameslongstrider on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse
The main problem with not playing the Wii is the lack of third party titles for it, Most people are holding onto their Wii's for the two games most people bought them for, being the next mario game, as well as the next smash brothers game (A large contributing factor in the reason I bought mine last year) Both games coming out in between now and February, so if either or both those games disappoint, expect to see the Wii next to the 360 and the PS3 at that Pawnshop in March.
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3 Posted by sgrmba on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:14PM EDT Report Abuse
I have about 15 games for my Wii console and I keep looking for more 3rd party titles but they don't seem readily available. Last time I checked, I cannot purchase what does not exist. So, let's get this straight, most the 3rd party developers thought the Wii would not be much a hit so they were putting all their resources into XBox and PS3. EA even stated as such earlier this year. Time passes and everyone is caught by surprise with Wii's success, mostly 3rd party developers. They begin putting resources on it after it has been out for months. To write a good game takes months. Now enough time has elapsed that some good games from 3rd party developers should be arriving, finally. I don't see how anyone can write a complete story about this particular topic without taking all those factors into account. If they will produce it, I will buy it. And so with other gamers. But, as stated earlier, I cannot buy what does not exist. So, does this mean the 3rd party developers are quitting before they even get ramped up with good games?!?
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4 Posted by outsiders_kn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:47PM EDT Report Abuse
I think this post has validity to it. There really are few good games for the Wii. I have Wii Sports and Madden. I am waiting for Smash Bros, Mario Galaxy and Mario Kart. But where are the good 3rd party titles? Not to mention where is the online voice chat functionality?
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5 Posted by crash_davis6 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:30PM EDT Report Abuse
TO rogueist. Your comments about pawn shops also could mean just the opposite and be bad for the Wii. Why would you keep every game you play? I have a couple that I refuse to trade in, but most of the time, I am trading in for a new game. To me, this means Wii games are not selling, because none are available at "pawn shops" Everybody doesnt' keep all their games. If they did, Gamestops wouldnt' be popping up all over. So if no games are available in 2nd hand stores, maybe it means they aren't being bought in the first place.
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1 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse
I dont think the Wii has lost any popularity. Based on the fact that the stores are repeatedly out of stock on Wii game titles and the fact that most stores sell 3 Wii games to 1 for any other console, they are depending on the Wii to keep them solvent this year. I have never seen a Wii in a pawn shop - trust me I would have bought one if I saw one there. I see plenty of XBox 360's, and recently several PS3's in pawn shops. I have never seen a Wii game in a pawn shop. There are hundreds of XBox and PS3 games in the pawn shops. So what is really popular? What is really selling? What is really being used? From what I can see, the Wii is the keeper all around - and the other two are losing very badly.