Wii bubble to burst as developers shy away?

Recent suggestions that the high-flying Nintendo Wii's days at the top of the console sales charts may be numbered are beginning to look less ridiculous almost every day, as more people in the know come round to that point of view.

The latest naysayer to pitch in is heavyweight business newspaper The Nikkei in an analysis piece headlined 'Software Houses Miscalculate Audience, Demand For Wii'. In the subscription-only article, author Tomoyuki Kawai reflects on a range of concerned voices within the videogames industry.

[Jeremy Gerard]

everyone knows the wii only makes money for nintendo, it is a 1st party platform only for the most part. On top of that most folks purchased one just because it was the thing to have, they played it for a few hours and never touched it again, the WIIs days are numbered.

[Prismo_Fillusion]

Classy avatar. It really makes me respect you and your opinion.

/sarcasm

[Silvia007]

not sure who disagreed with you but I know there is not a single game on the Wii at this moment that is worth my time. My 9 year old niece comes over and plays mario party sometimes but that's even starting to bore her. Perhaps Metroid Prime but never really liked metroid in 3d anyway. I wonder who out there is actually a Wii fan that would disagree with you. I know I'll get some disagree's too but what can you say.

Edit:

Prismo... I agree with the avatar. It would be fine if this was an all guy's forum but if we have ladies in here, that is unappropriate. It would really, really bother me to see a lady who put a guy bending over wearing a G string as a avatar.

[PS360WII]

*shudders* guy bending over in a g-string. yea that's an image I could of done without.

As far as no games that's all subjective. People can say that 360 has no games that I want to play therefor it must be an awful system. Just like the PS3 doesn't have a game besides PS2 titles. This argument has no grounding seeing that Wii has games that people buy and developers are still making games for the Wii because games still get bought.

[marinelife9]

I think the point the article is trying to make is that Nintendo is the only one that can make a decent game for it. And that third party developers are starting to shy away from even trying.

[ITR]

Tell that to Ubisoft, EA, T2, and Capcom.

I promise you the Wii will keep on selling way into next yr.
Nintendo will hit it's goal of over 14 mil. sold by Dec.

[JosefTor]

Yeah... I've noticed that Wii owners love to disagree when making valid points, future projections or just stating an opinion. They are usually really nice on the forums though so its all good. I'm glad they love and are proud of their system.

I own a Wii too but like the first and third post said... I didn't play it for more then like a couple days. Even games like Mario Party are better on the gamecube in my opinion and the sad thing is my favorite versions of Nintendo games are still on the N64... one of my favorite consoles. I do like how Nintendo tried to bring creativity and innovation back into the forefront and I do like how they brought a lot of casual gamers into the market.

[forum_crawler]

I must be weird or just plain wrong for playing Metroid, Zelda, RE4, Mario Strikers, Rayman, etc on my console.

If the wii's days are numbered (based on the current sales figures), then I should almost ask if they even make the XBox & PS3, but then going to your local Walmart and seeing all the unsold stock they have, and the lack of wiis...

I'm sure the wii is jut fine, and will be fine for the next while.

[anonymousAJA]

There are more stupid people like the poster above who think the Wii is the greatest system of all time with the exception it has the worst library of games out of all three systems. Fact is that most people who bought a Wii were the average Nintendo fanidiots who never question Nintendo or the technology put into a system so many of them were severely uninformed about its real lack of potential. Sales don't justify a system is worth a buy, its games do. And to that effect Nintendo has nothing to offer that a gamecube won't. Hell even the N64 has a better library of games than what the Wii is offering.

[forum_crawler]

I called the wii the greatest system of all time, and how it is that it has the worst library of all 3 systems. Name an action RPG like Zelda on the Xbox that is better than Zelda, oh wait a minute, maybe YOU don't like that kind of games, but others do. In fact, I'm willing to bet that there are gamers out there who aren't interested in shooters, thus making the meat of the XBox library of little interest to them.

Who says that people who bought the wii didn't know it wasn't the most powerful console out there? I am pretty sure most people who bought it did it knowing that it didn't have PS3 like horsepower. The Game Cube had more power than the PS2, and yet you don't see people who bought that system feeling like idiots.

Oh, and by the way, the GC didn't offer motion sensing controls, so there, the wii does offer something more...

Why is it so hard for people to understand that most people who bought a wii did it because they WANTED TO BUY ONE, and not because everybody ad their dog has one. I bought one knowing full well that it was the least powerful of the three consoles, that it didn't have all the "medial capabilities" or that it may not be for the "hard core" gamers out there. But why would I want my GAMING CONSOLE to stream video, or do more than just play games? I ALREADY HAVE A PC FOR THAT!!!

Believe it or not, the PC still plays shooters, simulators, streams media, or just about any other kind of games better than any console out there. So please don't give me that "you are an uninformed idiot for buying a wii." I got it because I wanted one, no tricks, no misinformation.

Oh, and by the way, I don't appreciate you calling me stupid for stating my opinion (which I am entitled to), or calling wii owners idiots for CHOOSING to get a wii.

[assjacket]

Ummm, that's a girl bending over...

[Marty8370]

Fads end.

[mustash2003]

its FADTASTIC.

[Trick Nolte]

Wii haters are more of a Fad than the Wii itself. Seems people forget that Nintendo consistantly does things that appear to be fads but turn into successful product that enjoy longevity.

Pokemon? C'mon I thought that was a joke and I never got into it, not ever and nor do I chose ti. yet its still going strong and sells in the Millions. You guys really think that just because YOU dont like something or it shouldnt exist. Wake Up.

People RARELY associate Nintendo with the word; FAD. They associate Nintendo with the word; fun.

Wii is more of a social console, we all know that. The perfect answer for the person who doesnt want to sit in front of a tv 12-14 playing games.

Its-a-perfect! for people with active lifestyles.

[KeiZka]

Didn't Capcom just announce that MH3 is coming to Wii? Developers shying away? Interesting.

EDIT: Disagree all you want, but Capcom still did announce MH3 for Wii, which does indicate against what the article is saying.

Duh, was meant to type against instead of towards, but guess I was distracted then.

[Rooftrellen]

Capcom has made good money from the Wii, and, shockingly, it has been with good games.

Third paties can do well on the Wii, and Capcom is showing that.

[boodybandit]

like this one.
Isn't the theme of this gen "negativity"?
I have a strong feeling this will become reality. It's the same thing that happened with the N64 and Gamecube. Developers looked elsewhere and almost all of the must have games came from Nintendo themselves. I don't think Nintendo cares one way or the other. They already made a ton off of their new console. They "always" make money. More than the other 2 combined (profit).

I do think that they really did a disservice to their diehard fans by bringing out such dated hardware to power this console. The Wii is the first time ever I passed on a Nintendo made product. I crave hi def and 5.1 or higher. I don't want to hook up analogue when all my hardware is best suited for digital. After a long day I want to kick back and relax and not stand or sit off the edge of a chair waving my arms about.

But that's just me.

[forum_crawler]

I have yet to see anyone waving their arms around as they play wii games. I didn't even do that when I was playing Zelda, so I really don't know what you are talking about.

Oh, just as a side comment, the people playing in the adds are not representative of how your actual game play will be. This is much like a burger. It never looks the same as the add when you actually have it in your hands.

[seaempty]

I can see that the lower development costs and bigger fan base makes the Wii a much less alluring prospect...

And then the 80 games coming out for it this quarter - just about double that of the 360 and PS3 combined - supports this claim...

[crck]

Good for you. BTW that "bigger fanbase" don't buy games outside of Nintendo ones. Every 3rd party multiplat game has done piss poor on the wii. Sad fact is none of the top independent developers want to touch the system. It will continue to get crap games made by mostly crap developers forced into projects by mega corporations. If those are the kind of games you want then ROCK ON!

[ItsDubC]

If the Wii having two 3rd-party games that've sold over 1 million copies is piss-poor, then what does that say about the PS3 having none?

One of those Wii titles is multiplat - Rayman.

[crck]

that sold well. Well great, I hope wii owners get the best minigames on the planet. But look at sales of Spiderman 3, Transformers, Madden 08, Nba Live 08 and just about any other game available on other platforms. It gets outsold by the ps3 version by about 3 to 1. While the 360 version usually outsells it by around 10 to 1. Orange Box, Call of Duty 4, Rockband, Assasin's Creed and UT 3. The biggest 3rd party games this holiday season. Where's the Wii version of these games? Oh thats right, good developers don't want to bother with it.

[ItsDubC]

to refer not simply to games in general, but specific types of games? We could go on and on if the basis for argument keeps changing.

The 360 and PS3 obviously have similar capabilities so a higher percentage of their titles are likely to be multiplat in comparison to Wii titles. If the PS3 had never come out and the console war was between Wii, 360, and PS2, then of course the 360 would get the least number of multiplat games. The sale of multiplats that are common to all three consoles of course tend to favor the 360 and PS3 because those two consoles share a similar and narrow demographic for which those titles appeal to (your list of upcoming 3rd-party titles proves my point). Release a mass-market title such as Singstar as multiplat across all three platforms and guess which console will sell the most copies.

But bragging about multiplat titles just seems a bit odd when we're comparing the software libraries of individual consoles. Especially right after Capcom and Square-Enix have announced major Wii-exclusives. Apparently they're not the good 3rd-party devs I thought they were since they're "bothering" with the Wii.

[PS360WII]

blah blah blah. Same old story same old rip. If they can repeat what they say I can repeat what I say. 3rd parties devs only need to put forth the time and effort to make an actual game not just throw something out on the Nintendo platform. They say it's to hard to beat Nintendo that's because they don't try.

[lawler]

This article is a load of shiz, publishers are flocking to the Wii, not away from it. Wii has more 3rd party games planned for this quarter than MS and Sony combined. Capcom favor the Wii over PS3 too, as proved with Monster Hunter 3.

[Balance]

where do you get your numbers? i don't see hardly any 3rd party games (and those aren't exciting looking) for the wii. developers like to push the envelope and wii is very weak in that regard. basically the wii is a 1st party platform with nothing but super duper paper mario 25 type games and wii fit, wii sports, wii sit in your living room and wave your arm around like an idiot.

and to the first poster... your avatar rocks. when will this world keep to themselves and get out of other people's business. if you like your avatar that is all the matters if it offends some tree huggin hippies then they can stop looking at it. god forbid someone represent themselves the way they want, no one is forcing the hippies to look at it so smerk or plant a tree or whatever you hippies do and scroll on and let people do what they want.

[PS360WII]

heh I don't think you understand the concept of hippies. Hippies would be the last people on earth to say 'you can't do that'

well done on being s-m-r-t.

[ChickeyCantor]

instead of writing that hippie bullcrap you could masterbate on porn and loose your sexual frustration.

it works try it.

[Balance]

thats were you are wrong, try going outside and being apart of society. the classic term of hippie from the 60's you would be semi correct however liberal tree huggin hippie today (also known as pc shock troopers) are people who do nothing but tell you what you can and can't do. don't use styrofoam, don't use this word, don't use that word, don't buy cars with engines buy cars that plug into the wall socket and go 40mph, don't wear a shirt that says this, dont' think non-pc thoughts, like everyone, don't have a 1 on 1 conversation with someone that a hippie could walk by and over hear that might offend said hippie. the list goes on and on. his avatar is a perfect example, instead of thinking to themselves "hmm i don't like that picture" and go on with their own life they make a point to post things about it and try and get him to change it simply because it isn't "their cup of tea" instead of letting him express himself in a way he likes they want to change him to their view. which is BS.

[Balance]

sidar,
if i wasn't at work i would be way ahead of you on that suggestion, you are right it does work. however it doesn't apply to me today because the wifey woke up before i came to work today so i am good on the frustration until this afternoon.

[PS360WII]

yea I hear ya on that Balance. Thou the only real hippies are from the 60's. Those Libral Hippies you speak of are only Librals. If they try to call themselves a hippy you just need to tell them that they look pretty young for a 60+ year old. The dread wearing pot smoking and tree hugging people of now are only neo-hips. The free movement has come and gone for the days of the 60's.

As for the you offended me. That's found everywhere without the tree hugging stuff. Mostly it's from the I want easy money crowd.

[Balance]

yes that sums up my point, all i really want in this world is to live my life the way i want to, i am not going to mess in anyone else's life (even though i may not agree with or like it) so all i ask is they stay out of mine. if someone had an avatar of some fat hairy dude bending over in a thong, i might say it sucks (my opinion) but i would never ask them to change it, in kind i wouldn't want someone who doesn't agree with my avatar bugging me to change it.

[thisisim]

There is a place for presenting the stuff you're made of (head over to the gentlemen's club or buy yourself a playboy if that's what you need to do). There are laws to protect society from people who think that what they do shouldn't affect others - the "if they don't like it they can just look away" mentality. If you don't want drugs you don't have to buy them, even if you're offered. No way anyone's kids will buy any either. If you don't want to see the streaker, avoid the mall he's in. Give me a break and take some responsibility for your actions.

[IntelligentAj]

@8.6

You're right. You can't make other people do what you want them to.

[cooke15]

I am enjoying the games I have on Wii right now, and its only going to get better. More than half the games i am anticipating are from third parties

No More Heroes
Zack and Wiki
NiGHTS
Mushroom Men
Civ Revolution
Guitar Hero 3

are a few

[calidredz]

with the author of this article. I passed on the Wii after my game cube was a total crap experience in my opinion. This is the only next gen system I do not have and plan to keep it that way. The hard core gamer is not the Wii's target audience even though they lie and say otherwise .

[Rooftrellen]

Nintendo never said they're targeting the hardcore gamer with the Wii.

They're doing what they have done every gen since the NES, revolutionizing gaming and making it stick by targeting everyone.

They've never targeted the hardcore, they never said they're targeting the hardcore with the Wii. They've always targeted everyone, they said they're targeting everyone with the Wii.

[forum_crawler]

The wii is not for "hardcore" gamers. That's what the PC is for.

[ManOnFire]

While its true that Nintendo's software has always been a main draw to thier systems should they lower the standards of thier games so third party software devs can look better ? That would be wrong on so many levels and will never happen. I have read that certain dev's put thier money and resorces on other consoles in the beginning because they did'nt expect Nintendo to do so well. Now there is a big push to catch up with what has become the best selling Hardware this cycle. Is that Nintendo's fault ? Once again no way. I think third parties will start to make good money with the system as they start to make games that are made to take advantage of the system and are not just ports of PS2 and PSP games ! Big surprise right.

[otherZinc]

Ive been saying this since last year. This is all Nintendos fault, Ill say it again: when you go after non gamers you will get people that dont buy software, they are casual old people.

& whats worse is that controller, I hate it, Ive been playing games since 1977 and there was no need for a mass change in the way we play games. See, the 360 gave us what the true gaming public wanted, thats why the software sales are through the roof.

If NINTENDO would have made a traditional controller with the Wii-mote as an option for a few titles, they would have sold the Wii and Wii software to everyone. Developers would also embrace the traditional controller.

If M$ would have made a motion controller mandatory, I wouldn't be playing next gen game.

Nintendo got caught trying to shove something down peoples throat (Wii-mote) & SONY got caught trying to shove Blu-Ray down peoples throat.
Nintendo paid the price with developers & software sales.
Sony paid the price with consumers, developers & software sales.

[forum_crawler]

And what is that exactly?

I am part of the gaming world, like Zelda, but yet I can't play it on an xbox. So right there, I have proof that your statement is not correct.

It can't be FPS. That has its origins, and will always be better on a PC.
It can't be analog controllers. That was brought to attention of the gaming world by the big N. Remember the good old N64?

So there was no need to massively change the way we play just because you can't get used to the controller? Here is a solution, don't buy it. But don't knock it because YOU can't get used to it.

[IntelligentAj]

All you need to do is put console in front of gaming and his statement sounds more relevant. Though for the most part it's accurate.

[thisisim]

If you've been playing games since 1977 that does put you in an older demographic than the majority on this site. And if you're married and have a family I'd think that you'd want something that would appeal to the rest of the family as well - not just to the teenagers...

[Dannagar]

In order to make money, 3rd parties have to learn who and how to make games for the Wii's demo graph. If Nintendo can make money off their software, so can third parties.

[GameHero]

Fad,
GAME OVER!

[HondaSIRowner]

The Wii is just a GC 1.5 and some of its full 3D games look as good as my PSP game SyphonFilter: Dark Mirror. Devs will get bored of the mediocre graphics it has to offer and the small disc space.

Soon, very soon, everyone will hear the theme song from PINKS: Walk Away from me my love. Walk away from me my love. LMFAO!

[KeiZka]

If you're going to say that X0 would offer more disk space, you'd fail. Badly. With PS3, you'd have massive loading times. Is that any better? Also, if the graphics are better than Xbox, they SHOULD be enough for anyone.

[Vizion26]

Wow, all these cliche anti-Nintendo-isms. When will it ever end?

The Wii is not a fad. I seriously question the level of intelligence and rationality (and maturity) of people who continue to say it. Nintendo Wii sales have been hot since day one and has been outselling PS3 and 360 combined (except for the past few weeks because of Halo 3 pushing more 360 consoles). The Wii is the fastest selling console in history, that's a fact. When has a console ever been so hot that just quickly died off as some of you people think? Are you going to continue to say it is a fad in late 2009 if it is still outselling PS3 and 360 combined? Saying the Wii will die soon is not based on any sound rationale. You guys just simply dislike the Wii, and that's fine, it's your opinion. But you still have no sound basis to say the Wii is a fad and will die soon. If you really believe so then I challenge you to please back it up with sound evidence. Provide indicating factors that will lead to Wii's quick downfall. If you do take up the challenge, here's a word of advice: Don't post a link to comparable sales charts because it will make you look utterly stupid.

As I said before, if the Wii is a fad then I bet Microsoft and Sony wished their consoles were fads if fads results in such strong sales over a long period of time and massive profits. Even today is still hard to find a Wii available at retailers and it is still marked about $150+ on Ebay.

And you remember when a lot of people said the DS was a fad? Well, the supposedly fad-ish DS is killing PSP is sales. How do you like them apples?

To those who say Wii owners don't buy software is erroneous. Zelda: TP, Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (which is a 3rd Party game non-kiddie game), Rayman Raving Rabbids, Red Steel, Mario Party 8, Super Paper Mario all sold well over a million. I hope that destroys the notion that software on the Wii doesn't sale.

[teto83]

Their days of dancing around like idiots with their Wiimotes are numbered.

[Prismo_Fillusion]

The Wii is as much of a fad as the Ipod is. Meaning, it isn't.

[Also, I'm no tree-hugging hippy. I didn't ask anyone to change their avatar - but by disagreeing with me you're saying that having that avatar *is* classy. And that pretty much just makes you an idiot. Have some respect for god's sake. (No, I'm not a Jesus nut either)]

[otherZinc]

I do have a family (a great 1) and my 5 year old daughter & 8 year old son beat HALO 3 on easy playing 3 player co-op. With my son we beat HALO 3 on normal system link.

My son & I have been playing co-op games on XBOX since he was 4. We play together, isn't that the 360's saying?

Also, my kids love their LEGENDARY HALO 3 helmet, they have it in their rooms & my daughter put a princess crown on The Master Chief.

Yes, we have a blast playing the 360 & for the road they play their DS games (pink & blue originals of course). Oh, my Wife, she hasn't played games since we beat HOUSE OF THE DEAD on the DREAMCAST, when my son was about 6 months.

They have many kids games also, but they love HALO more than anything.

[ChickeyCantor]

"Devs will get bored of the mediocre graphics it has to offer and the small disc space.
"

" get bored " like that got something to do with it.
its the money that matters to them, no money means no game developement studio.