I recently read an article where Reggie was readying his "Wii just outsold the 360" speech. I had to bite my lip. I mean, what are we talking about here? A console with a questionable lineup of sequels and party games with an arguably unique control scheme. In the forseeable future there are no new IPs coming to the Wii, and most companies are frantically trying to port over already released software (I'm looking at you Ubisoft).
The reason I'm readying for a good belly laugh is that I believe that the Wii at its low price point will become the console that everyone owns, and get this- NOBODY PLAYS.
I'm not trying out for the fanboy club here, hell I OWN A Wii! But as soon as I picked up my Elite and copy of Crackdown, there was no looking back. I own 1 game for the 360 right now (purchased 4-29-07), and it has seen more play time than the 6 Wii titles I own combined for the last 2 months. Thats not a good sign.
Lets get to the heart of the matter:
1) The Wii has a weak lineup ahead, of which the majority of titles are: sequels (direct or indirect), dumbed down ports, and party games. And if anyone points to anything with Mario in the title or with an unnounced release date I'm removing your testicles with my infant son's plastic spoon.
2) The Wii's Virtual Console lacks features that other consoles already have implemented at a comparable price. Let's see, shall I pay 10 bones for Super Contra (direct ROM dump), or 10 bones for Contra (HD, online play, achievements, etc). I think we know where your money is going. The only way to turn this around is to add features or sign some retro exclusives (not happening).
3) The Wii's titles have virtually no replay value. Think about it... You have Party games, and thats about it. You play the Wii when you have friends over, but rarely by yourself. Why? Because there really is no point otherwise. Zelda was an ok adventure, but once you finished it, did you go back again? No. Why? Because you were done, and there was nothing else fun to do. If you say you need to go back to collect Poe souls, I reserve the right to beat you about the face and neck with your Triforce Trapper-Keeper.
4) Wii Online Service appears to suck. I say appears because nobody has seen it yet in full force. Will we have endless Friend Codes to email out, or just one? Will we have voice or Friend Lists? Good question. As of now, there is no online multiplayer or co-op. As an XBOX player from last gen, I more often than not purchase a title based on whether or not it has an online component in order to justify the purchase. I know that if my buddies are playing it, I'll have a blast on it for months and maybe years to come. As for the Wii, I'm scared shitless to purchase a title for fear that the controls won't work right and it will have no replay value. Unlike most other console games, the Wii doesn't have download content and online multiplayer available to rejuvanate or fix broken titles. WYSIWYG, and I am not impressed. I'm sure it'll come along eventually, but when it does will I even care?
I hope everyone comes away from this without a bad taste, because I'm not "bashing on the Wii". I'm pointing out that even if it surpasses all the other consoles in sales, that doesn't mean anyone is playing it.
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Cause Sadness, PROJECT Hammer, Disaster: Day of Crisis, Boogie, Dewy's Adventure, No More Heroes, Godzilla: Unleashed (not a full-fledged sequel, but I could see how you dismissed it), and perhaps Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles (same as Godzilla) are not new IPs!
And I thought there were articles and posts about companies APOLOGIZING for those lame ports they already released and are changing that...
Who knows, just doesn't seem like that fully...
I honestly don't like playing retro titles co-op online. For me, those games are all about sitting on a couch with a friend. That's not always possible, but I vastly prefer that to playing online. It's the same with PC games; net games are nothing compared to having a few friends over on a lan. I guess I was spoiled when I was younger. Also, judging from the retro titles with tacked-on net play run through Gametap and XBLA, even a tiny amount of lag can ruin the experience. It'd be nice if VC games had it, but I doubt I'd ever take advantage of it myself.
Voice chat is great with people you know, but when I play with strangers I almost always mute it. I'm not interested in hearing racial or homophobic slurs from morons who haven't even grown any pubes yet. I definitely wish there was an option for chatting with my friends though.
Have to disagree on the Wii's upcoming lineup, there's lots of stuff coming I'm interested in. And just because a title is part of an existing franchise or has Mario in it, doesn't mean it sucks. Usually the opposite in my opinion. :) Third parties are definitely loading up the system with quick ports right now, but that's because they didn't expect the Wii to be as popular as it was. Now that they see that the system is going to be a good seller, they're actually taking the time to make better and more fleshed-out titles for it. Look at Madden 08 for the Wii, that game is going to have some pretty nice online features.
PS: Wii can have downloadable content...it is planning to get downloadable stuff for Guitar Hero 3. And yes, Wii doesn't currently have downloadable content to fix broken titles...but isn't that a good thing cause that means they don't hae any broken titles?
Oh and I forget which game it was but the one of the Virtual Console games had a small little glitch/problem and you could go to the Shopping channel and click the "update" button to fix the problem. So I guess they do have that feature it is just that as Miyamoto said, they let their developers have the time they need to make a game to their standars and not release a game with bugs. There are exceptions but for the most part, it isn't needed.
And to agree with Mxyzptlk...who cares about a sequel if it is a great game? I mean you can't say that 360 isn't relying on Halo 3 to bring in the gamers...you would have to be an idiot!
I've decided this will be my viewpoint on the Wii:
I'll be happy it was made when the next generation of consoles comes around and there is one that is PS3 type tech heavy WITH a wiimote controller sold separately(or more likely, included in a "superior" version of the system that costs $125 more). Or maybe they will even find a way to release something like this on the currently most powerful consoles. Either way, just be happy someone is going through the growing pains of that new control scheme, and the idea that you will reap the benefits. Though, since you own one, I guess you are going through the growing pains....too bad for you I guess.
I didn't say that. But I will say that my 360 is getting far more play time.
Mark my words...
Project Hammer: You can wave it around and shit...4 hours before boredom sets in
Resident Evil Umbrella: Liked it better when it was called House of the Dead (I call it a sequel)
Sadness: Is this a real game? Really? Is it...
Bah, rather than fuel the hate I just wanted to post this so in 3 years I can say told you so.
My 360 is getting more playtime than any of my consoles (even my DS which use to get more playtime than all my consoles put together) but there are things for the Wii on the way. Just about every studio I have been to over the last year has had at least one Wii game in the works so just wait, the games are coming. Just about every developer got caught with their pants down and a lot of them are still playing catch up.
It's going to take some time to get some really good Wii games out the door and luckily a lot of people are taking the time to try and make quality games so just be patient.
As for Reggie already preparing his speech, it's a bit presumptuous but since we all know it will happen (by Christmas I'm betting) I suppose I can forgive him.
Christmas? Wii has sold over 7 Million, 360 has just under 10 or around 10, I don't think it will take that long since they won't stay on the shelves...
Sales are starting to slow down and more and more areas are starting to see Wii's on shelves (though rarely for extended periods of time). I'm guessing they are going to continue to slow in the next few months but as Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Smash Bros Brawl gets closer they are going to sky rocket again. With the added bonus of Christmas sales the numbers are going to sky rocket.
Also, you have to remember the 360 is going to continue to sell, especially with the release of Halo 3 and the Christmas season.
Oh yeah...Halo 3 will drive 360 sales but the 360 sales have suffered in the past couple months.
Once again, agreed, and I think most people that want Halo 3 have a 360 but I do believe that there will be a sales rise with Halo 3 along with general sales and the holiday season makes that it's not unreasonable that 360 sales will not be above 11 million and I suspect that they will be in the lower end of the 12-23 million range and I completely think the Wii hit that mark this holiday season.
hows everyone doing??