I was thinking about some of the games I'm missing having just one console (the Wii). You see, even though I'm still ok with having just the white box of joy, I'm always open to eventually buy another platform if I feel it's the case. So what am I missing on the Wii? One of the games I'd like to have is a good racing simulator like Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport, and looking back I wonder: why have Nintendo platforms been always lacking those kind of games?
Because it's not just the Wii, Nintendo home consoles in general seem to rely only on Mario Kart as a racing game, plus some arcade games from third parties which usually aren't that good either. Ok, Mario Kart Wii has been a tremendous success with more than 6 million copies sold thus far, but I'm not a fan of Mario Kart! I like playing it every now and then on my DS, and I think that's a well developed game, but I haven't even bothered trying the Wii version. That "more of the same" feeling added to my indifference towards online gaming keeps me from doing that.
Anyway that game isn't anything like a realistic racing sim.
What else do we have? There are several other "racing" titles on the platform, like GT Pro series, Excite Truck, Need for Speed Carbon and Pro Street: again, no GT or Forza counterpart here. And if you're thinking "wait a minute, Gt Pro series is a sim, it like totally has tuningz and all that stuff": well, good sir, I can't help but say that the game sucks and you suck too.
Oh, I forgot to add an historical game: CRUIS'N! The game that made the N64 look good again, and redefined the concept of "ugly" and "worthless".
Wow, nice graphics! Take that PSX! You envious? Of course you are! Oh wait, that's not N64? F*CK!
The Gamecube library wasn't that richer in this particular genre too, with no honourable mentions in the category. Auto Modellista by Capcom and the Japan-Only GT Cube were nice attempts, but in the end they failed to delivery a solid and deep racing experience like other titles on other platforms.
So what has changed over the years? Have Nintendo consoles got something better to fill this hole?
No.
Nope.
Nada.
Zero.
Niet.
Niente.
It's probably part of the bigger problems that Nintendo has had for years, for example with third party support: first because of the GC failure and now because for their own admission devs weren't betting a cent on the Wii and some of them aren't too willing to work for the platform even now that it's the no.1 worldwide and in each territory. Of course as we all know Nintendo has never been interested in developing these kind of games, now less than ever with their focus completely put on the casual gamer.
But in the end it's odd to see that this particular genre has always been something missing on the Nintendo side and I'd really like to know why racing simulators in particular tend to not appear on Nintendo consoles, at least in a good form.
So, what do you think, Dtoiders, what's keeping Nintendo and racing games apart? What kind of racing game would you like to see on Wii and how would you use the controls?
Or are you good with just Mario Kart? Let me know what your point of view is.
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the lack of a great racing series is partly the reason that my Wii is turning grey from dust... I love racing games, sims especially since recent years ( see my newest blogpost for that ) and as you, I've always wondered "WHY NOT???" ( last generation I had bought a Cube first. :-( )
Its something thats lacking from every nintendo console-gamelibrary ( even the DS doesn't have a real decent racing game but then again its not made for that at all )... I guess they feel 'real' racing is too 'hardcore' for their audience?
One possible reason could be that racingsims take up a huge amount of processing power, processing power that is most often lacking in Nintendo-consoles...
Because 8 year olds don't like racing sims. See what I did there.
@RonBurgandy2010, neither do their moms or grammas. :)
Mario kart?
randombullseye:
Kart Racer =/= Racing Sim
@RBE
Please tell me you're really not that dumb.
also,
there are no racing sims on Wii because they're too hard for 6 year olds and grandparents.
LOL@RonBurgandy2010 :) Notdryad, I hope you're kidding too.
The fact is every Nintendo console has a hole in racing sims, and it's quite strange when you think that other genres like survival horror are covered instead, even on the DS (Resi, Dementium). Why racing in particular? That's something that bugs me.
@Mistic: now we could say it's because of the distance Nintendo is putting between itself and the "hardcore". But the lack was there even in the past so I don't think it's the only reason. The GC was quite powerful, and surely more than PS2, but in the end it had no racing sims anyway. Power it's not the issue IMHO and the Wii can do some great things...look at The Conduit for example, and compare it to Cruis'n up there in my article (LOL). The Wii can be house of pretty games, not HD but not crappy either.
Does the world need another Grand Turismo?
@ FOE
No. We need another Forza.
I remember stunt race fx.
The SNES had Test Drive 2.
@THE-EXCEL
And;
Pffft F-ZERO.
Im done.
snes had some awesome racing games
but ever since waverace on the n64 no there has not been a good racing game on a nintendo console.
Guys please remember I'm talking in particular about racing sims like GT and Forza, not just racers in general. F-Zero, Waverace, Super off Road (which I really like) are different kind of racing games.
Nobody could claim that the Wii "couldn't handle it", that would be stupid. If they just had something that looked and played like Forza for the original Xbox, they'd be set.
But, i'd chalk this one up to market strategy. Although RonBurgandy is joking about the Wii being for kids, Nintendo's core demographic isn't generally interested in racing simulation.
@Tyrian
We know what racing sims are.... thanks.
I was just trying to avoid off topics, Dephect. Relax.