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Resident Evil producer: Adult Wii games need an 'X-factor' photo

While many claim that M-rated games just don't do very well on the Wii, one publisher constantly disproves the myth. Capcom has had plenty of success in bringing Resident Evil to the world of waggle, and series producer Masachika Kawata has some words of wisdom for anybody looking to emulate such success.

"First of all I don’t think that Resident Evil was the only exception selling on Wii," he supposes. "There are other hardcore titles, such as Call of Duty, which were quite successful on Wii as well. People get this perception that on Nintendo Wii all there is are cutesy games. However, when you actually try to develop a game on Wii it costs you money, it’s time consuming and it’s not the easiest console to deal with.

"We were serious about creating and developing this particular game, and therefore the fan will accept and recognize our effort. I’m considering it a reward for our effort if you like. And also, we were lucky that we’ve got the Resident Evil brand, which is well-known all around the world.

"There are good games that didn’t sell, obviously. You need an X-Factor. However, vice versa people won’t buy it if it’s not a good game."

Why is it that certain individuals constantly claim that people won't buy games if they aren't good? Surely most of the Wii's library is proof against this rather fantastical little daydream. Unless, of course, Kawata somehow believes that Carnival Games actually deserved to sell as much as it did.


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22 comments | showing # 1 to 22

SnakeDude4Life's Avatar
SnakeDude4Life at 07/09/2009 13:42
The X is for EXTREME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wanderingpixel's Avatar
wanderingpixel at 07/09/2009 13:44
I think the biggest problem is the lack of marketing on the part of the PR people. How many commercials for that crappy lumber jack game have you seen? And how many ads for Mad World have you seen? I'm not saying that it's all marketing's fault, but I think that is a big part of it. Coverage from game journalists can only do so much.
whormongr's Avatar
whormongr at 07/09/2009 13:48
they are mature titles, not adult titles, adult titles would have the xxx factor
CocoJambo's Avatar
CocoJambo at 07/09/2009 13:54
I think this is the first time I've read a developer speak how it really is about the Wii. Maybe the gaming press will listen to him?
theswitcher's Avatar
theswitcher at 07/09/2009 14:02
I love how literally...YEARS after Carnival Games came out, it's the only real example bloggers have to make this stupid claim.

If I recall, Sneak King sold like a million copies.
Cadtalfryn's Avatar
Cadtalfryn at 07/09/2009 14:05
I think he meant titles that are aimed at the Core audience, as opposed to titles aimed at the expanded one.

If a game aimed at the Core is crap it will fail, because you are relying on people who know what they are buying. I'll read impressions, watch game footage,and check out reviews from sources I trust before making my decision to invest my money in a title. Someone else that just wants something fun might walk into a Gamestop and drop their money on something with cool boxart, or something a friend recommended to them passingly.

Also you need to look at marketing and hype built up around titles. Games that are marketed and talked about sell better. For the Wii, the Conduit has spent the last 3 weeks in the Amazon top 100 and while its still a little early...it appears to be selling well. However, Madworld on the other hand didn't do so well at all. However, I enjoy both games and think they're good. Maybe less hype/marketing. Maybe it was that reviewers told people to rent it. Maybe it was people like me that lent their copy to friends for the weekend so they could beat it. Perhaps its the M rating vs. the T. Okami is amazing and it sales were less than stellar. Platinum/Clover games have never really sold "well" though.

Killer 7 is one of my favourite games of the last generation, but despite being multiplatform and receiving a lot of praise it hasn't sold well either. Of course, it is bat shit crazy.

I like how he throws Resident Evil and Call of Duty out there though...like it was in question whether or not they would sell well. It's new IPs that are of more concern. I would be shocked if a RE or CoD game tanked.
kaocrat's Avatar
kaocrat at 07/09/2009 14:37
Has anyone on Destructoid actually played Carnival Games?
smurfee mcgee's Avatar
smurfee mcgee at 07/09/2009 15:01
@kaocrat: Yes. Now move on; nothing to see here.
SnakeDude4Life's Avatar
SnakeDude4Life at 07/09/2009 15:06
@kaocrat

Because people who play Carnival Games hang out here, a web site (mostly) for HARDCORE gamers.

The Game = Lost
mix's Avatar
mix at 07/09/2009 15:08
Make a crappy game $10 and people will buy more then if it was priced @ $40 hense those burger king games, I bought one of them and it was the bike one and it was pure shit.
FistfulOAwesome's Avatar
FistfulOAwesome at 07/09/2009 15:35
Well, well. We meet again, Mr. Sterling. So here we go.

I notice that most of the time when I write a post I agree with someone from earlier. This post won't change that. I agree with the switcher. It's sad that Carnival Games is still being picked on, despite it being several years since its release and the fact that "crappy" games sell on other consoles too.

As for Carnival Games, I want to ask one simple question to gamers: Why wouldn't it have sold? Who wouldn't want a set of Carnival games to play at home? It only comes once a year and then you can't play those great games again until it returns. Carnival Games is a well made series of simulations of those great games. It doesn't take up your time (no story or confusing mechanics to get in your way) and it's really fun in Multiplayer. In short, most people who hate CG haven't played it and mostly just hate the idea of a game like it (no story, no amazing graphics, tried-and-true gameplay, in other words no "HARDCORE") selling.

As for the perception of M-Rated games not selling, that is simply not true. Both RE4 and REUC have sold very well on the Wii. I do think it is mostly that good games sell and bad or uninteresting ones don't (generally). Anybody who wants to point out Okami or Madworld's lack of sales should realize that they aren't good "games". They are good "experiences". CG is more of a game than either of those two. It isn't pretentious and have unwieldy controls or a (not that great) story clogging up the experience while the thing you paid for is a game. You pop it in, you play. It's that simple.

Deal with it.
LsTr Of SmG's Avatar
LsTr Of SmG at 07/09/2009 15:59
FistfulOAwesome, your post was full of so much garbled rubbish I can't begin to debunk it. Bravo sir.

PS, I've played Carnival Games and sorry but it was a broken crappy mess. I'm sorry but using your own example RE4 is a much better game and yet sold less. And sorry but to call Madworld pretentious is hilarious.
LsTr Of SmG's Avatar
LsTr Of SmG at 07/09/2009 16:07
Basically put; I'm sorry for you. Regardless of whether you consider it a game or no (I for example don't consider CG a 'game') a 'good experience' should still sell.
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar
Kyousuke Nanbu at 07/09/2009 16:16
M rated games don't need an X-factor, they need actual content beyond blood and someone fuck a lot.
FistfulOAwesome's Avatar
FistfulOAwesome at 07/09/2009 16:16
@LsTr_Of_SmG
Good experiences are defined differently for different groups. A "HardCore" gamer will see Okami and Madworld and they'll appeal to them (the first for it's beautifully realized world, the second for it's bloody cheese). However, the majority of Wii gamers see strange controls, repetitive gameplay, and pretentious stories (that get in the way of their gameplay). CG is simple, direct, and uncluttered. It's the perfect game to play for 20 min. rather than one you have to set an hour aside for to get through the opening cutscenes/gameplay.

P.S. You might want to look up the meaning of "Pretentious".
L0cky's Avatar
L0cky at 07/09/2009 16:30
i played carnival games and it is uber garbage.
To think of it gametrailers reviewed that game and gave it 7.4 at the time.
since then i dont trust there reviews anymore.
Chronic Logic's Avatar
Chronic Logic at 07/10/2009 00:00
Make an M-rated Mario game, and I'll buy ten copies!
Cadtalfryn's Avatar
Cadtalfryn at 07/10/2009 07:18
@FistfulOAwesome

Carnival Games aside, all your credibility went out the window when you said Okami and Madworld were bad games.
LsTr Of SmG's Avatar
LsTr Of SmG at 07/10/2009 08:04
@FistfulOAwesome

'Adjective
pretentious (comparative more pretentious, superlative most pretentious)
Marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction'

Going by that definition I still find you calling Madworld pretentious worthy of a bemused chuckle. I fail to see how Madworld itself is pretentious, people may speak pretentiously of it but the game itself doesn't claim to be anything other than what it is. I can understand, to a degree, calling Okami pretentious - though I'd still argue against it. But Madworld? Nope.
Jim's Avatar
Jim at 07/10/2009 09:07
bummer! somebody already posted "XXX" factor ;)
FistfulOAwesome's Avatar
FistfulOAwesome at 07/10/2009 13:33
@LsTr_Of_SmG
3. making an exaggerated outward show (I certainly think Madworld applies to that one)

@CadTalFryn
I never said they were bad games. Just not good ones. Slogging and suffering is the name of those games. Here's some story to get in the way of fun (this one mostly Okami), here's some repetitive combat to get in the way of fun, here's some "stylish coolness" to get in the way of fun.

I think gamers have forgotten what a game is. It's something you play for fun. With Okami and Madworld there is too much repetition and story that get in the way of actual fun. To experience the games is a form of fun, but that fun isn't from the actual gameplay. There is too much stop-start in order to make it count.

You know what are games?: Tetris, Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros. Those are games. Okami and Madworld are more of experiences.

Based on getting to play a game, Carnival Games is better/more of a game than Okami and Madworld. There little in the way of your fun in that one than there is in Okami/Madworld. You start it up, you play. It's that simple.
DJJ's Avatar
DJJ at 07/25/2009 18:14
hi
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