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Analyst: Wii is 'inhospitable' to third parties photo

Can Madden NFL 09 selling better on the PlayStation 2 than on the Wii prove that Nintendo's White Box o' Waggle is a wasteland for third party publishers? If you're Cowen Group analyst Doug Creutz, then yes. Yes it does.

The Wii has the largest install base of current-gen machines, yet Madden 09 sold 79% less units than the PS3 version, and 87% less than the Xbox 360 version. Creutz uses this to back up his theory that "the Wii is a relatively inhospitable platform for third-party publishers."

I think it merely proves that even Wii owners have taste.

No, that was just a little joke (the last thing I need to do is alienate Madden fans as well,) but I do disagree that this proves the Wii is "inhospitable" to anything that isn't a first or second party game. Capcom had no complaints with Resident Evil 4, after all, and I believe both Guitar Hero III and Rock Band did pretty well. I'm also sure some of the crap that Ubisoft puts on the thing must sell well enough to keep them going.

All this really proves is that Wii owners like football less than PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 owners. That's really not a difficult thing to believe, with all the housewives buying it.


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24 comments | showing # 1 to 24

craineum's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 10:15
craineum
I would say there is a large population of people out there that are very happy with just Wii Sports, and will probably not buy much more, except maybe Wii Fit and Wii Music.

But that is cool, and more power to them.
Sinow Wolf's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 10:24
Sinow Wolf
Madden 09 is a good game.
I think its just the fact that people don't play on their wii's. Kind of like that child you once bought on Ebay, the novelty wears off and it kind of gets boring after a few months so you box it back up and put it in the cupboard.
Krow's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 10:26
Krow
Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. Not the article and the 'statistics', but the comments about Wii Betrayal that are sure to accompany it.
NihonTiger90's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 10:31
NihonTiger90
The problem isn't that third party games on the Wii aren't selling well - the problem is most third parties are STILL not putting any effort into their Wii development.

On top of that, Madden is not a casual's game anymore. The hardcore sports player has swallowed it whole, and they live on the 360 and PS3. Of course those games are going to sell better! Common sense, you analyst dumbasses.
JustLikeBuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 10:31
JustLikeBuck
Wait, isn't Madden 09 on the Wii the only one with Bobble Heads?

That's all the pics I've seen of it. And I own Madden 07, and don't feel like changing the roster for another £30.
Video Cognito's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 10:35
Video Cognito
The reason why Madden '09 isn't selling as much on the Wii is it lacks two of the concrete factors that the gamers buying Madden look for: amazing graphics and great online play. However, in the case for the PS2, that's simply because of it's large install base and more "traditional" controller that Madden veterans are used to.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 10:37
Holyetheline
Dude I hate football...

Okami did just fine on Wii also... as I recall.
Demtor's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 10:46
Demtor
Everyone knows the real Nintendo games are on the DS anyways ;)
Narishma's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 10:54
Narishma
Holyetheline: No it didn't do well at all. That's why they aren't making a sequel.

This isn't surprising really. The Wii is for casual gamers (at least that's what Nintendo wants you to believe with the ads), and casual gamers by definition don't buy many (if any) games. They are content with whatever games came with the console (Wii Play?).
Face's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 11:06
Face
Didn't those other EA sports franchises like Tiger Woods sell best on Wii?
shouryuuken's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 11:22
shouryuuken
man.. madden is a casual game, its just that its fanbase is hardcore about it. i dont consider guys that buy 360s, and bought ps2s just for each iteration of madden, and maybe some ncaa, wrestling, racing, and nba 2k9 to be hardcore gamers.. or even gamers really.

"hardcore" madden players just simply dont want to use a remote to throw a football, they want to use analog sticks. plus, yes online play and better graphics is a plus for that sort of game.. so it only makes sense it sells better on ps3/360.

oh yeah.. if i recall, okami did terribly on the ps2 as well.. just like ppl buy wiis and never get any other games besides maybe mario kart or wii fit, ppl bought ps2s and got no other game besides gta or madden. get over it.
daCuk's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 11:26
daCuk
That's why "ANAL" is part of the word "ANALYST"
Fanatism's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 11:31
Fanatism
Narishma:
+ the original studio doesn't exist.
Hiltz's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 11:52
Hiltz
Is anyone really surprised by this ? Since when has a Nintendo home console been the system known for doing well at selling sports games let alone being the platform that sells the most of them ? Besides, when it comes to multipatform titles, Wii usually gets screwed over at least in terms of graphics and game features.

Personally, the only sports games I have ever cared about are NBA Jam and Wii Sports.
Phantom Spaceman's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 11:54
Phantom Spaceman
"This town don't have enough waggle for the two of us."
Funkiller's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 12:50
Funkiller
JustLikeBuck-And I own Madden 07, and don't feel like changing the roster for another £30.

They sell Madden in the UK? OMGWTFBBQ? Wow... That really weirds me out.
smoger's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 13:00
smoger
not only did the Wii version of GH3 sell well, but it was in fact the best selling version out of all of them..
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 13:30
pedrovay2003
I agree with Nihon.
Palidi's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 13:40
Palidi
If anything, this just proves that people who like football, prefer Xboxes...or maybe it has to do with the fact that all the advertisements were blatantly for the 360 version of the game.
mr spooky's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 14:03
mr spooky
Ps2 games are cheaper than wii games to buy at a reasonable.
Poopface Morty's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 18:16
Poopface Morty
Frankly, I think it's backlash from how awesome Madden 07 was, to how shitty it has become with the past two releases. 07 was fucking fantastic, 08 was a buggy mess that axed many features, and 09 is more of the same from 08. Madden on Wii sucks.
RJG's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/12/2008 19:38
RJG
If people had to choose between a Nintendo title built from the ground up, or the latest Capcom piece, or a piece of shit waggle port that appears on every other console a well with better graphics and controls, then yeah, there's probably going to be a discrepency in sales figures.

I buy a Nintendo console for Nintendo games, not EA ports. That said, Nintendo don't make games anymore, they make housewife simulators, so there's $400 down the drain.
fatfoogoo's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/15/2008 05:19
fatfoogoo
Gonna have to agree (in part) with MotoRobo here. Somehow when I think Wii (which is a great system in it's own right), Madden isn't exactly the first title that comes to mind. Sure playing around with WiiFit is great, but we haven't really seen a third party developer seriously invest some time and money into a Wii specific product.
Sidar's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/17/2008 05:56
Sidar
" buy a Nintendo console for Nintendo games, not EA ports. That said, Nintendo don't make games any more, they make housewife simulators,"

Get real, you guys are so fucking dramatic =/.
I hate this attitude from gamers, it just doesn't hold any water.
Why the hell would they not make any games, like they used to?
It's their franchise of 20~30 years!
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