Bad Nintendo Wii software sales, is it a big issue?

The software sales for Wii are not good and the publishers know it. With a very low games attached rate per system sold, and majority of software sales going to 1st party, it really doesn't bode well for Wii's future. Will this eventually lead to problems for the Nintendo Wii?

[Dannagar]

Let me see, I only have 5 Wii games... Paper Mario, Zelda TP, Metroid P3, Monkey Ball BB, and Resident Evil 4. I do plan on getting Zack & Wiki, Nights Journey of Dreams and in addition to Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles. I do have about 30 virtual Console games though. There's a ton of garbage/shovelware games out there but Wii owners have plenty of good games too.

[Seraphim]

I have to agree about the garbage/shovelware games. There's too much of it on the Wii. But there are some great games out there, and it's imperative that Wii owners support these games. But if these good-great titles from 3rd party developers don't sell like they should it could influence future decisions from developers.

Anyway, one point I want to make. Just because Nintendo now has the largest, or close to, install base doesn't mean software sales are going to be off the charts. Look at the PS2. A prime example of a very robust install base, and a prime example of the problems we have in the gaming industry. Meaning that even with such a robust install base it doesnt mean games are going to sell. I can name many good-great games like Okami, Psychonaughts, etc who's sales were miserable. I can also name many big name IPs/series who's sales were pathetic in comparison to the install base. The fact of the matter is that even w/ a large install base gamers aren't supporting the software. Be it they rent games, buy used games, or are very casual gamers who rarely even game. There's a problem in the industry because rarely does a game sell like it should. Then obviously we also have a problem with crappy games. There's too many of them be it bad ideas, or simply bad games. But that's something we have to live with. It's unfortunate but reality...

[KeiZka]

Yet there is another problem with Wii here. PS2 also offered a somewhat cheap multimedia center operability, in form of playing both dvds and cds, and that was/is a good reason to buy it alone.

Wii does not have this option.

[Bloodmask]

I think the big problem is that 3rd parties are basicly just giving the Wii "ports" of Gamecube or PS2 games. Or just making minigames. The Wii can put out good graphics if the developers would take the time to utilize the Wii. Just look at Super Mario Galaxy. The graphics are great.

I think 3rd parties are just under a lot of pressure bc it isn't a big industry secret that Nintendo has a great track record for producing AAA Games. Most of the games that Miyamoto has a hand in are gaming gold. Basicly it just goes to show that long time industry veterans still know what gaming is all about "fun and gameplay". Other developers take notes.

It is true that a lot of people buying Wiis aren't "hardcore" gamers that purchase a lot of titles. But at the rate the Wii is selling every month I don't think that Nintendo has much to worry about.

[DrPirate]

This is the correct answer. Well done Bloodmask.

[Spike47]

You see, zack and wiki,monkey ball,nights, are nothing compared to assasins creed ,call of duty 4etc.

You know, at first I wanted to buy a wii, but then I realized the limited amount of games on it.
if i buy a ps3 or a 360, I have a larger selection of games.Take for example all these games that you can't get on a wii:
assasins creed,gta4, unreal tournament 3, call of duty 4, resident evil 5, the orange box,devil may cry 4,mercenaries 2,etc.

The only games that interest me for the wii are super mario galaxy, SSBM,mario kart, and no more heroes.

I know the innovation is great, but I don't want any of it if the only games I can use that innovation with are just 3 good AAA titles while the rest are mini games.

[unsunghero28]

"You see, zack and wiki,monkey ball,nights, are nothing compared to assasins creed ,call of duty 4etc."

First of all, that's very much based on opinion... And I'm not sure popular opinion either. Many people would pick easy-going Z&W or NiGHTs over action games like COD4 or AC.

Second, you hardly listed the best Wii games coming up. You mentioned that 360 and PS3 had "assasins creed,gta4, unreal tournament 3, call of duty 4, resident evil 5, the orange box,devil may cry 4,mercenaries 2,etc." (nice use of etc. in a concrete list, btw) and for the Wii mentioned Galaxy, SSBB, No More Heroes and Mario Kart.

That's 8:4 so far, but you're not counting BWii, Fire Emblem, Resident Evil UC, Final Fantasy CC, Manhunt 2, or Soul Calibur Legends. All of those could be considered must-haves for many hardcore gamers, and all of those are actually Wii exclusive.

I know a lot of people are concerned about how many hardcore games are out for the Wii now, but the inexpensive Wii will have SOMETHING that appeals to every type of hardcore gamer by the end of '08.

[Rooftrellen]

"Take for example all these games that you can't get on a wii:
assasins creed,gta4, unreal tournament 3, call of duty 4, resident evil 5, the orange box,devil may cry 4,mercenaries 2,etc."

Here's the trick. First, I've already picked out 11 games I consider must haves, and did the same for the PS3 (didn't for the 360, though I dislike FPS for the most part, and that's a big part of the 360, anyway), but the PS3 only had 10. All but one of the Wii games I listed was a port from another system, and all were next year (the rest of this year is nice too, by the way).

So, as we can see, a whole heck of a lot of great games are comming for the Wii, and you won't be getting them on the PS3 or 360.

Second, your list of games bores me. The only one on that list I would want is RE5, and even then, not with the old control system. It comes down to personal tastes, but there are very, very few games outside of the Wii that I want, and those 7 sequals don't fall among them, I'm sorry to say, though they, and Assassins Creed, may impress you.

[Darkiewonder]

Given the exception of a few third parties that are trying. The rest are following market trend that's being set. They see a certain type of games are selling so they'll go that way. Once it chances, they are like "WTF?!" So they'll do whatever it takes to make money. In the end, Wait, There isn't one! ;O

[the worst]

dragonball, zelda, wario
waiting 4 mario galaxy
nothing else really

[MK_Red]

Well, it's time that 3rd party start making actual games for the Wii instead of EA Playground and other mini-game / party game collections.

I don't have a Wii but the games I plan on getting with system and later are:
1.Zack & Wicki
2.Metroid Prime
3.Dewy's Adventure (Love it)
4.Mario Galaxy
5.Rayman Rabbids 2

[bourner]

do people see the games on tv and get the console for them games . becasuee its not for the hardcore gamer people dont buy the games . everyone wants wii sport and things like that and then leave it for when they have frinds round

[kss]

yes it will eventually hurt the wii because this will stop 3rd party developers from making wii games

[calderra]

"With only a 1.3 attached rate, and majority of software sales going to 1st party, it really doesn’t bode well for Wii’s future."

^That includes the pack-in Wii Sports, doesn't it? Software sales on the Wii are ridiculously bad- Wii could be selling many times more units than 360 and it still wouldn't be selling as many games. That's great for Nintendo's profits, terrible for 3rd-party software developers, and a conundrum for first-party devs. People are clearly buying Wii hardware regardless of what games are on it... why bother putting any real effort into the games?

[unsunghero28]

http://www.nextgenthinktank...

WITHOUT Wii Play and Wii Sports, "publishers are realistically looking at a low 3 figure." The link even says that's not so bad.

Sorry, but 1.3 attach rate is complete BS and whoever said that was either lying or believed someone else's lie.

[KeiZka]

Didn't Nintendo just publish their own list of software sales, and by it their attach rate is around 5? Where does this info come from? Sources, people, sources!

(Of course, that's Ninty telling us their pov, but 65million sold software? Come on. Why'd they lie about that?)

EDIT: Also, do take a look:
http://www.n-europe.com/new...

If that link is to believed, Ninty has sold closer 66 million pieces of software. That's quite a bit. It also spells a healthy attach rate of nigh-5, so where is the basis in this posting?

EDIT: Of course, not bashing Bloodmask by any chance, merely wondering how the poster in the link has come to the "1.3 attach rate" conclusion.

[TheMART]

It seems people buy the wii with wiisports included and then it stands in the closet catching dust.

That's no fiction, it's pretty much reality for many Wii owners. Nintendo earns on selling the hardware, but the backup is too weak.

[unsunghero28]

And even if it was, between Galaxy and Brawl I'm going to be doing little but playing Wii between Christmas and Wii 2.

[Primetimebt]

For once I agree with you.

[jcgamer]

Whether or not that leans to first party more than third party and is that an issue as of now is another thing, but the actual attach rate is much higher than the tone of this article is leading people to believe...Nintendo Wii software sold 21 million units in the last three months with 65.8 million software units sold in its lifetime. The worldwide software attach rate of 4.98 does not include Wii Sports despite being bundled in NA and PAL markets...Wii owners are buying software...the quality of third party may be a concern for some as of now, but the actual numbers don't lie...

The software attach rate breakdown per territory with Wii Sports included:
Japan - 3.24 (Wii Sports not bundled)
North America - 6.13 (this number includes Wii Sports)
Everywhere else - 5.06 (including Wii Sports)

An attach rate of close to 5 games is impressive and nothing to scoff at this early in the game...the forecast for the next six months for Wii is an addition of 52.7 million software units sold, which does not include Wii Sports when bundled...

*this information came from the VG Chartz financial analysis article using actual earnings report sources from Nintendo, MS, and Sony about sales for next-gen consoles through 9/30/07*

[lodossrage]

I wouldn't say it is THAT big of an issue. But it IS a problem. Ever since the n64, nintendo hasn't had much in terms of third party games. They know their money comes off of their own first party games.

And honestly, the developers should know better than to put so much effort into nintendo's machines by now. When nintendo makes their systems, they only have THEIR own developers in mind. They never really consider the difficulty that the third parties will have making games that will PROPERLY use the wiimote.

I'm not saying that third parties should abandon the wii. But I am saying that for third parties, the wii should be second choice at best.

For nintendo itself, this isnt a big issue. For the third parties that are brave enough to put their games on the wii, THEY are the ones that are at risk

[KeiZka]

One could say that the risk is quite similar also on PS3, seeing the high development costs... Do not know myself about X0, though, perhaps not.

Also, we have to remember the coming of WiiWare. I'd like to think they'll shift some software as well.

[forum_crawler]

That is why Nintendo keeps either introducing new SKU's with lower prices... oh, no wait... uh... reducing the price... oh no wait... reducing the price of their software... darn... hm...

Well, it's for kids and they got no money, so they can't buy games ha ha... (hope nobody sees the link with the software sales...)

DARN IT!!!
They are selling consoles and games... Well, the Wii is a toy, it's for kids, no 3rd party developer has sold 1 million copies of any game for it...

@EDIT:
I should make clear that I am being sarcastic, but then again, just have a look at my avatar...

[cooke15]

redsteel and rayman both sold a million on wii but also remember there hasnt exactly been too many good 3rd party games in the first place..

RE4 sold 500k and its the 4th time it was ported haha

[Rooftrellen]

Fourm, I love your sarcasm.

Keep in mind many people thought "A Modest Proposal" was serious. Good sarcasm can always be mistaken for real logic!

+bubbles for you, because, I, for one, love it!

[cooke15]

the exact same thing happened for PS2. TONS of people bought it but not everyone bought lots of games for it.. my roomate has one and only has 2 games.. singstar and another singstar

[KeiZka]

She also owns Wii and N64 though.

[Dpa]

Its only casual gamers that do that. Thats why aiming a console at just casual gamers is a bad idea. Most of them buy the odd game they like then dont even try to look for more games. It happens a lot in the UK, i know quite a few people who have bought PS2s just so they can play the latest FIFA game. Thankfully the PS2 was great for both casual gamers and hardcore gamers.

[Rooftrellen]

"Thankfully the PS2 was great for both casual gamers and hardcore gamers."

And that's what I love about the Wii, now. I have my hardcore games, but if one of my non-gamer friends comes along, there are plenty of games they can quickly learn.

[Dpa]

I bought a Wii on release day, i sold it within 3 months of buying it.
It was just plain boring, Wii sports was a laugh on christmas day, family had a go and all. I had bought 3 other games, Twilight Princess, Red Steel and Call of Duty 3.
Twilight Princess was pretty tough to get into, but once i had played a couple of hours i started really enjoying it, it was my favourite game by far.
Red steel was a generic fps, the wiimote added nothing to it and it got boring after a few days.
Call of Duty 3 was one of the worst ports i've ever played, it gave me motion sickness and the graphics look like someone had smeared s**t all over my TV screen, oh and the european version lacked 480p support or even 60hz mode.

I spent way more time using the voting channel when i was bored than actually playing games. After researching the 2 other consoles and realising the only game i even remotely wanted in the future was smash bros, i made the decision to sell my wii and get myself a PS3 - one of the best decisions i have ever made. I now own both a 360 and a PS3 and i have no intention of ever buying a wii again.

[BlazeXXL]

same goes for me. It's such a boring platform, I only bought zelda, red steel and paper. After that I sold it..

When comparing the WII with the xbox360 and ps3, it just looks so dull, and it might be innovative and new, but whats that gonna do when you only got 3 games to play..

[forum_crawler]

But when you want the best (since Wii graphics don't cut it for you) you should play on the PC. That's were the best graphics are at, hands down.

When I want to play fun games I choose the Wii. When I want the best graphics, precision etc, I play on my PC. You guys realize that all the games ("you can't play on the Wii") that you can play on the PS3/360 are dumbed down versions of their PC counterparts (whenever they have a PC "big brother" equivalent) right? That is because the consoles just don't have the bandwidth required to push the number of polygons you can push on a PC. That is just reality...

[BlackCountryBob]

So let me get this straight, developers are complaining that it costs too much money for them to make games for the 360 and PS3 even though they sell well and the consoles both have good attach rates, so they decide to instead make a couple of games for the Wii for the same money but they release it and no-one buys them so they eventually lose money anyway.

Anyone think that developers are actually completely clueless where money is concerned and simple business sense (if something sells well in a market than keep getting your product into that market) and this explains why they keep complaining about money and going bust/get bought by a publishing giant like Activision or EA.

Hows this, let someone with a little bit of a head for finances have a say when making games and I think the world of gaming will be very different (Donald Trump wouldn't work in such a shoddy short sited way that's for sure).

[forum_crawler]

65 Million games sold equates to an average attach rate of 5.

But then again since they aren't 360 games sold they provably don't count right? Just like console sales don't count right?

Developers are not at risk by developing for the wii. If the games are good, they are going to sell. Just look at how well Capcom and EA are doing on the Wii.

By the way, define what the "best games are." FPS? Simulators? Tell me what the good games that cannot be played on the Wii are, and I will tell you what games would play better on a PC.

[BlackCountryBob]

OK....

1, I don't have a Xbox 360, I have a PS3 and there is a Wii in the household which I play often.

2, Best games? Are you replying to the right post?

3, I assume you know more than me about the topic because I read in the article a attach rate of 1.3 and that is what I was commenting on.

My post was about the bad business sense of developers, learn to read before you release the attack dogs buddy.

[Rooftrellen]

"if something sells well in a market than keep getting your product into that market"

I would agree, but let developrs, like Ubisoft (what they said a month or so ago was by far the worst), sell well on the Wii and then give some games to the PS3/360 only if they want.

It may not be good business to have to make money somewhere else to fund games that you won't break even on on another console, but they'll eventually learn.

[TheFamilyGuy]

This is the point I keep trying to make. The only exclusive AAA game for the Wii so far is Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. The Wii only has 7 games above 80% on Gamerankings...it is pathetic.

The console is cheap and fun to use, though, so people will buy it and continue to buy it even if it doesn't have the best games.

[Prismo_Fillusion]

According to metacritic, the Wii actually has 9 games with over 80%

Oh, and it has one more 90%+ game than the PS3.

[candystop]

This is where 360 excels beyond the Wii and PS3 combined in software sale attach rates and digital distribution! Yes it's good news for Nintendo that there consoles are selling well but bad for developers taking a risk on it kind of like PS3! I actually love Nintendo games and think that with the right promotions they can sell alot more!The 360 is really doing well and I think that SOny and Nintendo can learn a thing or two from MS even though people hate to hear it!

[Codeman420]

if they dont step up the third party software. and that software be awsome they will turn the wii into the gamecube. O wait it already is a gamecube they just gave it a different controller and a new case.

[Jammy2211]

I'm not convinced the third parties need to be worried. I mean, most of the PS2 / PSP ports have still managed to zoom past 100k in just America, which is practically pure profit for the publisher. All the games made exclusive to the system have sold fine thus far (Red Steel, Rayman Raving Rabids, Sonic and the Secret Rings, MySims, Dragon Quest Swords, Elebits, Trauma Center etc).

I think so far third parties are making profit, which to them is all that matters. With the cheapest developement costs and largest userbase, even if Nintendo do get the majority of sales, they're still going to be making more money off releasing games on the Wii then they will on the PS3 or 360 - in the long term.

I think the companies will be worried when a larger budget project struggles to sell on the console, but in all honest we're still testing the water on the Wii. There's not even been 5 'big name' third party exclusives on the console to judge things yet, I think this article needs a follow up once we see how all the big name titles coming out over Christmas perform.

So yeah, Nights, Manhunt 2, Zack and Wiki, RE:UC, Guitar Hero III, Soul Caliber Legends, Ghost Squad, Medal of Honour: Heroes 2, Trauma Center and a few more. Even then, chances are they'll all make a profit anyway, and that's not a very good reason to stop releasing games on the system.

[Spinitus]

bought one fresh off the streets from a crackhead for $50. got bored of it quick so traded it for a 80gig Ipod.

[cooke15]

Got any other made up stories to tell?

[Spinitus]

dude there's plenty of crackheads in new york is not hard to find one whose selling you some shiit so he/she can score drugs. crackheads do anything for drugs.

[cooke15]

Where did this person get this info from? Very VERY poorly written article.. How was this approved?

BTW i have 9 Wii games

[Prismo_Fillusion]

I have 7 Wii games, and that's not including Wii Sports.

[bootsielon]

There's nothing saving the Wii. I'm only buying the Wii when it hits the price it's worth: A gamecube price. Even then, I'm not really excited for anything on the Wii. Moving hands like a Fairy doesn't sound very appealing. I'll simply play unfinished gamecube games, VC games, and any other game that's cheap. I refuse to pay 50 bucks for games that cost a thids to develop a $60 game, especially when they sell more to morons that think the Wii is actually a next-gen console.

[forum_crawler]

When I play Wii games I never wave my arms like a fairy, but if that is how YOU play it, then to each his own...

Clearly the Wii is worth the asking price. It has never been discounted by either a lower price or a new sku with more "features," Much like the 360... oh wait... Much like the PS3... hm...

Well, at least it is still worth what I paid for it the day it came out. Can you say the same about your console?

[Shaka2K6]

Dust collector ever.

the most fun you will have with this useless POS is trying to revome all the dust it collects beacuase gamers are far to busy playing real games on the PSP,PS2 or PS3 and even PC.

[forum_crawler]

That if a "gamer" plays a game like RE4 on a PS2 he/she is ok, but he/she wouldn't want to play the better version of the game on the Wii because the Wii is a POS? No matter how you slice it, RE4 Wii edition is superior to the PS2 version of the game. Better engine, and better controls, so there...

Are RE4 and Okami POS games? or would playing those games on a Wii make them less involving? I never played RE4 before PS2 nor GC, but I must tell you that I had a super fun time playing that game on the Wii, and I expect to enjoy playing Okami on the Wii very much too.

Also, the Wii is a superior machine than the PS2, heck, even the GC had more horsepower on tap than the PS2. Does that make the PS2 a POS?

[TheExodus]

But what happens when the mini-games become puzzles that drive a plot? Keep an eye on Capcom because my 1st evening with Zack & Wiki has left me with the impression that 3rd party developers are about to show us that they get the Wii.

[KeiZka]

6. With not Wii Sports included. Going to get Metroid Prime sometime soonish, and paper mario as well. Need to get paid before those, though...

[AndrewR]

Read the article. The only quote comes from two postings on Product Reviews own board, while the second source is this rather vague ambiguous reference:

"Some Wii owners also say that many of their friends and themselves only have one Nintendo Wii game."

Who are these Wii owners? How many friends?

Actually - forget that - show me some actual data, some actual numbers that have not been snatched from the air or made up.

Seriously, this is lazy reporting, and the only reason it gets posted is to discredit Nintendo.

[cooke15]

So now nintendo is in trouble because wii owners arent buying bad 3rd party games? this is truly rediculous. GOOD 3rd party games have sold well on Wii. Its up to developers if they want to sell games or not.