The Wii is in desperate need of...

[Falcon_BlizZACK]

Rouge Squadron!

 

The Wii has been around for a year now. In the Gamecube's first year (May 2002 - May 2003) we also had Super Monkey Ball (launch title), Mario Sunshine (October 2002), Eternal Darkness (? - I got it for Christmas 2002), Metroid Prime (March 2003), and Zelda: The Wind Waker (May 2003).

 

There are more too, like Star Fox Adventures and Wave Race Blue Storm, but probably not what most of you people would call noteworthy.

 

Resident Evil

Capcom vs Snk 2

Pikmin

 

...To name a few more. If the GC's first was not noteworthy then the Wiis must be minute. The first year was pretty righteous by all means, it was just that dreaded summer drought.

 

I don't think there have been THAT many mini-game collections on the Wii.

 

Its not really the amount, what concerns me most is the amount of time that those mini games absorb when developers could be using that time to come up with a good game idea - like Pikmin - rather than the B$ 'swing your remote like a bat'.

[c0Zm1c]

If the GC's first was not noteworthy then the Wiis must be minute.

I didn't say it wasn't noteworthy. I said there are probably games, other than those already mentioned, released in the Gamecube's first year [that I could have mentioned - and I did mention two] but are probably not what most of you people would call noteworthy. I forgot about the Resident Evil remake, but I hated that anyway (rubbish controls). Of the ones I've played I've only liked RE4.

 

Talking about mini games and games for the casual in general, I think developers are looking at it all wrong. They're trying to appeal to casual and hardcore gamers with separate games when they should be designing games that can appeal to both - games that can be rewarding to the less experienced but have hidden depth and optional challenges for the hardcore.

[flameboy]

for me it simply needs more of the epic single player games. The notion that the Wii isn't capable of competing in this area is BS. Look at God of War on PS2 that game proved there is still plenty of way to go graphically last generation and that you could compete with most of the dross of PS3. Why must the Wii be confined to mini game collections and shovelware?! It doesn't have to be this way. Think there are plenty of gamers out there who only bought the Wii to play those few killer app Nintendo titles that surface every year.

 

Also we need more racers, I'm hoping the ferrari one proves to be good.

[Maiky-NiSuTe]

for me it simply needs more of the epic single player games. The notion that the Wii isn't capable of competing in this area is BS. Look at God of War on PS2 that game proved there is still plenty of way to go graphically last generation and that you could compete with most of the dross of PS3. Why must the Wii be confined to mini game collections and shovelware?! It doesn't have to be this way. Think there are plenty of gamers out there who only bought the Wii to play those few killer app Nintendo titles that surface every year.

 

Also we need more racers, I'm hoping the ferrari one proves to be good.

 

Indeed. Nintendo must also stop with the `Hint` games to warts the developers like Wii sports and other minigame games. sure they show us the potnentual of the Wii but if it stays there nothing special is going to happen.

 

and not only the Wii but Nintendo them self NEED± Johnny Chung Lee !!! :bowdown:

[c0Zm1c]

Yeah I think a lot of people overlook the fact that the last-gen systems had many brilliant games - differences in technology aside, many of which are still better than this generation's finest.

 

So it isn't unrealistic to say that the Wii can compete with the Xbox 360 and PS3 in having high quality games.

[Maiky-NiSuTe]

Better graphics is almost a must these days isnt it

[Falcon_BlizZACK]

Better graphics is almost a must these days isnt it

 

Put it this way; would you have been happy if the Gamecube had N64-slightly enhanced N64 graphics? I can still happily play N64 games like OOT and MM but releasing a new game on a Gamecube in that state at full price is out of the question.

[c0Zm1c]

Questions would definitely have been raised if developers were releasing Gamecube games that looked like N64 games, since the hardware was capable of better. But since the technological jump between the Wii and Gamecube is a lot smaller (or so we're given to believe), it - at least for the games that suggest the developer has made an effort - can get away with it.

 

Granted, the quality of a lot of Wii game graphics is uncannily bad. But at the other end of the scale they're never going to look as good as 360 and PS3 games. That doesn't mean the games can't be as good though, or better even: there is a lot more to video games than just graphics.

[DCK]

Put it this way; would you have been happy if the Gamecube had N64-slightly enhanced N64 graphics? I can still happily play N64 games like OOT and MM but releasing a new game on a Gamecube in that state at full price is out of the question.

That comparison isn't right, because the Wii is more than just an upgraded GameCube.

[jammy2211]

Put it this way; would you have been happy if the Gamecube had N64-slightly enhanced N64 graphics? I can still happily play N64 games like OOT and MM but releasing a new game on a Gamecube in that state at full price is out of the question.

 

If the er GameCube didn't come with a different method of progression then no, I wouldn't be happy. I don't see how this applies to the change from GameCube to Wii though?

 

And er, I would happily pay full price for a game OoT quality, it can have 8-bit graphics for all I care if the game is as good as OoT was when I played it I couldn't care less how good the graphics are.

[Hellfire]

That comparison isn't right, because the Wii is more than just an upgraded GameCube.

 

Yeah, I agree it's 2 GC's taped together

lol

[Maiky-NiSuTe]

Put it this way; would you have been happy if the Gamecube had N64-slightly enhanced N64 graphics? I can still happily play N64 games like OOT and MM but releasing a new game on a Gamecube in that state at full price is out of the question.

 

hmm now come to think of it your right. but were we* not all the ones that shouted we don't care about the grapics

 

* i meen all the Nintendo fan boys out there including me ^.-

[Ten10]

A nice meaty rpg, one that once you've played it you feel like you've had a 40 ounce steak.

[DCK]

Today I was having a moment of random thought, and I came up with what the Wii really needs. It's very important that this happens. So important in fact, that for the first time in my entire life, I gave a post an actual title. This is not some game or software, it's a new image for the Wii.

 

Nintendo has always been slated for being kiddy, a false claim that was the continuation of the old SNES <> Mega Drive wars back in the early nineties. The Wii doesn't have this problem any more, as it's the 'family console'. The kiddy problem has not disappeared, however, as developers consider families (or, as they like to call it, the 'broader demographic') as much a bunch of retards as kids (the beloved 'younger demographic'). Even with the Wii, or perhaps even moreso, Nintendo's console is considered a retard's console with, as a result, a lot of stupid games.

 

The problem now isn't to blame on some old console war, but on Nintendo itself, as they presented themselves as the family man. It can't be blamed that they did so, as the Wii (and DS) are raking in money for them. Still, the real gamers seem to suffer to a certain extent. How can this be changed?

 

Nintendo needs to get out there, say to the consumers and the developers "we are here for the gamers", and I don't mean in just some off quote in Reggie's E3 presentation or another interview with Perrin Kaplan, but in actual actions. The Wii is too much of a family console for developers to understand that there really are gamers cringing for some 'hardcore action', that the Wii is a serious market for gamers. For this, you'd expect a new console, but there's enough in the Wii for more years.

 

Besides, Nintendo can't just drop their money printing machine for the gamers, that would be foolish. What the Wii is in desperate need of is a Wii Gamer's Edition, or Wii Elite or Wii Extreme, or whatever. A redesigned Wii just for the 'hardcore' Nintendo fan so many of us are. Make the Wii more of a piece of gamer's gear than the family friendly Wii console now. Paint it black, pack it in with Metroid Prime 3 rather than Wii Sports, and give that Wii menu a customisable slick look. Give it an upscale chip and an HDMI out, for many gamers today own an HDTV. Add an Ethernet port on the console itself for a reliable connection, and give it a reasonable 2 GB of Flash memory so demos and Wii Ware titles actually have the space. Needless to say, all Wii games will retain compability, and all games will work on both versions of the console, but this will give the Wii a new image it so desperately needs, that the Wii is not just for retards, and the Wii is something to invest time and money in to create awesome third-party titles. Sell it at a higher price than the Wii - it's for the fan, the money spending gamer. Or, better yet, just introduce it at $249 and lower the Wii Family's price after the shortages are over. Just release some piece of hardware to give the developers an idea that there are owners of the console that do appreciate effort.

 

A concept like this would satisfy a lot of gamers and developers, and should really be a boost in the Wii's support. There's too little effort in many titles for the Wii, and I hope this could fix part of that.

[jammy2211]

It's a nice post DCK, but I don't think it'd overcome the huge hurdle that is the fact there is a huge lack of software for the hardcore demographic, which is ultimately why peopel question Nintendo's intentions.

 

This so called hardcore demographic are the core gamers, they're the ones that will go wherever the games are. Nintendo don't need to market the Wii to them, or say to them "Hey, look, we're bunding MP3 with the console", all Nintendo need to do is present a great array of games to them. That's why I think your logic is flawed, the hardcore gamer can be swayed simply by one must have game.

 

For me, if Nintendo want to get the core gamers involved all they need is for themselves, or a third party, to make great traditional games, with a twist of Wii in them. Mario Galaxy did it, MP3 did it, Smash Bros will do it and I've no doubt other games being planned or developed will do it, but the sooner these games come the better.

 

I guess I just don't like your idea of Nintendo trying to throw tons of hints at the hardcore gamer, the (truly) hardcore gamer will only go where the best games are, and thats what Nintendo should be aiming at :/.

[DCK]

Ah yes, but the gamers are not the problem (hell, there are 15+ million of them, with a significant percentage being 'core'). The vibe from developers is that they need to be developing 'family' games for the Wii, or at least don't put in any effort because Wii owners are too thick to notice anyway.

 

A Wii Gamer's Edition would remarket the Wii partially, and show that Nintendo's intentions are also towards gamers, because this seems not to be the case at the moment. Because of Nintendo's presentation, I can fully understand why a lot of developers are being so thick and lazy at the moment, despite Nintendo being the freaking market leader.

 

Add to that it would just be very awesome to have a Wii with HD and more memory ^_^. It's just cool stuff for the gamer, but an important new image for developers. It would be a big step in realising all the games that people wish, because Nintendo can't and shouldn't possibly take care of all that alone.

[Hero-of-Time]

Well said Jammy. Im a prime example of this I mean I bought a PS3 recently just to play Uncharted as did many others on here. Its the traditional games that will pull in the core gamers on the Wii.

 

EDIT: I do agree with DCK in that a hardware change could give it boost hell just give us a freakin hard drive and alot of us would be happy.

[Daft]

Yeah, I really wish there was a hard drive. At least 4/5 GB.

[c0Zm1c]

I'd certainly welcome HD resolutions, be it through HDMI or component. The Wii and my other SD consoles look quite terrible on my LCD - far worse than they did on my old CRT.

 

I really don't think that, and the other features you mention, would get hardcore gamers falling over themselves to buy one though. It needs the games as well. Metroid Prime 3, as good as it is, isn't going to pull, say, the typical 360 gamer away from Call Of Duty 4, or Gears Of War, for example. And since the Wii isn't powerful enough to have 'as good as' versions of those games, or games like them, then third parties can't make them even if they wanted to.

 

A price increase isn't a good idea either. Many a hardcore gamer sees the Wii as just a Gamecube with a gimmicky controller, and thought it was overpriced to begin with.

[DCK]

You're all missing my point

 

It's not about getting gamers - there are enough. There are just many people that think the Wii is just a family thing, not worth spending time on. This is true for some gamers, but especially for many developers who don't put in effort to give us quality games.

 

Finally, besides the point, a Wii GE would have to sell at a higher price because of all the components. It also makes it a more luxurious, more serious (and that's important) presentation of the Wii GE. But that's just marketing.

[Domo Kun]

I think it's not so much what the Wii needs, but what it doesn't need. I want to see an end to seriously shit cash ins and crap non games done by EA, Ubisoft and the like. Abominations like Boogie that're dog shit, even though they sound like great fun will seriously hurt the Wii. All the casuals who've bought a Wii and Boogie will grow to hate their Wiis and not bother buying any more games for them in the future. I reckon it could seriously harm the console.

[c0Zm1c]

It's not about getting gamers - there are enough.

Then your Wii Gamers Edition seems all the more pointless.

[DCK]

Ok, rephrase: it's not about getting gamers per se. Of course it'll get gamers to get a Wii, it'll sell like hotcakes.

 

My point is that Nintendo needs to show something that is not something for a cosy family night, or for old people, or for children. The Wii GE's sales are there to demonstrate that there's an audience that takes games seriously and that there's a demand for games that can be taken seriously, which is something a lot of people, most notably a huge amount of game developers, do not seem to know. Of course it'll be cool for the gamers, but it should serve as Nintendo showing "look, we can satisfy that market too", instead of blabbering on about Brain Training 3: Kawashima's Revenge.

[c0Zm1c]

My point is that Nintendo needs to show something that is not something for a cosy family night, or for old people, or for children.

Do they? It's that kind of image that seems to have helped the Wii sell so well.

 

Regardless, I've played video games since the 80's so I'm an established gamer, and I'm satisfied with the Wii (so far). So I'm failing to see what the problem is. As long as they don't abandon their core fanbase I'm not going to abandon them.

 

The Wii GE's sales are there to...

...wait a minute! There is no Wii Gamer Edition sales as there's no such console on the shelves and we don't know if Nintendo are planning anything like this.

 

You and your grand assumptions!

[Hellfire]

I highly disaprove of this gamers edition. It's just going to inflate the egos of those who think they'e "hardcore" and that they're the only ones who know what's good and laugh at "casual games" and "non games". Then they'll also post more things like "AAA", "hardcore" and "epic", which truly annoys me.

Also, from recent interviews and studies most Wiis have been bought by "core gamers", not by grannies.