Has Nintendo changed the definition of 'gamer'?

Sunday, NPD released its January video game sales figures, and once again, Nintendo dominated.

According to the research firm, Nintendo sold 680,000 Wii units and 510,000 DS units. Microsoft was able to sell 309,000 consoles in January, and Sony once again trailed the pack with 203,000 units sold.

On the software side, Nintendo's Wii Fit, Wii Play, and Mario Kart Wii took the top three spots, while Left 4 Dead and Call of Duty: World at War rounded out the top five.

This ain't your grandfather's gaming industry.

(Credit: Rockstar Games)

At this point, after well over a year of leading the video game industry, it shouldn't be a surprise that Nintendo dominated the charts for yet another month. After all, the company has found a way to provide consumers with a fun and unique experience at a price that's more affordable than its competition. And in this economy, that's a necessity.

But as the months have worn on and more Wiis enter homes around the world, I'm left wondering if I'm an "old school" gamer who has been left behind. Sure, I own the Wii and I've played all the games listed here, but if we are to believe that sales figures can adequately determine the preferences of gamers, I don't think it's out of the question to say that I'm no longer the typical gamer. And it's Nintendo's fault.

There was a time when I was the typical gamer. I played all the major franchises like Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy and loved to play the obscure titles like Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete. More often than not, I was enjoying the games that topped the charts each month and all the consoles that sold best were usually the systems I was playing most often.

Then something strange happened: for the first time in years, Nintendo reclaimed the top spot in the video game industry. Maybe we can chalk the Wii's success up to its features or maybe even its price.

But as more people join the ranks of gamers through the Wii, it's becoming clear I'm not part of that movement. I own the Wii and I'll play games on it every now and then, but I've found that many of the games don't appeal to me.

Sure, Wii Play was fun for a day or two, but after a while, I lost all interest in it and only popped it into the Wii at parties. I've spent my time playing shooters, adventure titles, and other games on my Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. But judging by the sales figures of both hardware and software, I'm not in the majority anymore.

More people are buying the Wii and its games than picking up an Xbox 360 and playing Fable 2. It's as simple as that. There is a massive influx of new gamers entering the market and in the process, they're changing the way games are played. After all, if the Wii wasn't a hot-selling console, Nintendo would have ditched the idea by now and third parties would be running from the Wii. Instead, Nintendo's execs are laughing all the way to the bank as third-party developers like EA make it a point to tell the gaming community that more games will be coming to the company's console.

I'm not happy about it. Based on my testing, the only fun Wii games come from Nintendo. Third parties simply haven't been able to develop titles that can match the first-party games. Worse, I don't really enjoy the Wii's control style and more often than not, I find myself frustrated, wishing I could enjoy the game the "old-fashioned way."

I know I'm in the minority. I realize that as I keep plugging away in GTA IV or Halo 3, more people will be finding reasons to buy a Wii and games that are developed by Nintendo. I think NPD sales numbers have proven that.

Maybe I'm just another victim of age, or perhaps I'm unwilling to change. Whatever the reason, I'm just not convinced the average person who is playing games is like me anymore. Today's new gamer doesn't want to waste their time playing through an epic adventure; they want to jump on a plastic board that's connected to the Wii.

That's just not me. Is it you?

Check out Don's Digital Home podcast, Twitter feed, and FriendFeed.

[vikinzer]

Dude, seriously. This isn't the first article you've written about how you don't think the Wii is fun. We get the point. That and you aren't alone. The hard core trad gamers aren't the ones playing the Wii. After Nintendo lost the last console round they looked at that market and basically decided that Sony and Microsoft could fight over the same old gamers all they wanted. Nintendo was going to go get other fans, because if you create a market that no one else has a product for it's amazingly easy to get your sales numbers up.

You have your Xbox, you have your PS3. You honestly just sound like someone who indignant over . . . I don't even know what you sound indignant over. Why do you have like what other people like. Just keep on playing your old traditional systems. Trust me the old interface isn't going to go away. When Nintendo hits a generation refresh and discovers that Grandma doesn't need buy her Wii all over again for the same play experience, but with a slightly different look they're going to rethink things.

The fact that the "tradition gamer" like you continues to blow 50-60 for yet another first person shooter should tell you all you need to know about effort to profit ratios. Your market isn't going anywhere.

[Firehazel]

well i think what Don is trying to say is that Wii needs some good games targeted towards old school gamers too, not just fun stuff that a tween would play. because nintendo seemingly has dropped the market it helped create, old school gamers are going elsewhere. if they DO want to stick to their Wii, Nintendo better listen to the consumer!

[Seaspray0]

Does pong qualify as a first person shooter?

[mcooper13]

Wow, what a bunch of whinging. We realize it is your job to come up with weekday topics but this is scraping the bottom of the barrel. This is a bunch of self absorbed, self indulgent noise.

[celticbrewer]

Seriously! Who cares? I've got a couple of consoles (not counting the old relics I still have) and a PC. They all have their positives and negatives. My first video game system was a coleco vision and commodore 128. I consider some of those games more fun than the crahp that people are creaming their pants about now. I haven't enjoyed a FPS since the original Doom or Wolfenstein. Just because the Halo crowd screams the loudest doesn't mean that game is any better than Sim* or Mario* nor does it make either camp "true gamers". Get over yourselves and just enjoy what you have rather than try to force people to adopt your opinions.

[mycbrad]

Don't worry about it, Don! The attachment rate for Wii isn't that stellar. As a 360/Wii owner, myself, I can tell you that you're not alone. My wife plays the Wii. I play the real games.

Wii is a toy.

[thelemurking]

Isn't it a matter of personal preference and opinion as to what a real game is? As a hardcore PC gamer, I would consider your 360 just another disposable toy. But that's my opinion and my preference is PC. I own a Wii, a PS2, and an X Box. Console wise, the games bore me. I tend to stick with FPS type games and on consoles, they suck. Sure you can rave on how great Halo is and how awesome Gears of War is... but there's nothing like playing those games on PC. PC is superior graphics, superior speed and superior everything.

As for my Wii, out of the 3 consoles I have hooked up, it's the only one that gets any play time. When ever I have people come over, it becomes an instant game party. From the Wii Sports, to Mario Kart Wii to just constantly doing the same courses on Sean White's Snowboarding on the Wii Fit... we have an absolute blast. I take it to my girlfriend's parents and we have a blast there as well. But if I am alone... it's straight up PC.

So there's no solid definition of REAL GAMES. A game is a game! If you have fun with it, then it's a real game. I can waste countless hours at work playing Free Cell. It's such a basic game, yet it's fun, easy to replay and just because it's a small and basic card game doesn't make it any less real than Fable 2 on your 360.

Enjoy your toy while I game on a real machine!

[cyruszuo]

I think your attitude is keeping you from having any fun with the Wii, much like the author of this article. That's just sad. Seriously. Let go of the hate and you'll find there is a lot of games to love on every console.

I don't see the hate being returned and really don't understand it. Can you only be happy with your console if other people love it? Do you fear that your opinion only counts if everyone shares it?

It's fun to be a part of the majority for sure, but there is no reason to hate on the majority. Just enjoy what you have. If you look for the good you'll see it on every console. If you look for the bad, you will find it. Regardless of who or what you are looking at.

I think it's somewhat humorous and rather ironic that the attitude of I am 'the koolz,' and you are 'the dumbz newbz' is attached to the platforms that claim to be for adults.

[Zoobie]

Ugh--when will Xbox fanboys give up on the tired attachment rate stats? MS has sold you a marketing line, and you all bought it hook, line, and sinker.

Xbox has higher attach rate=True
More total games are sold on Xbox than Wii=False

Not only does Wii move more raw numbers of games, the lower development costs means those games are more profitable which is why all the major publishers who originally dissed the Wii, are now on their hands and knees begging to get in on the Wii market and are promising better efforts than the garbage they've put out in the past.

[George Gray]

Wii is a toy? Hmm, so ... because it has no Halo or GTA nonesense, that makes it a toy? And, please, don't give me the whole 'shovelware' crap either. Go to any store that still sells PS2 games and count the sheer volume of shovelware for that console. Look, ANY console that sells as well as PS2 or Wii will get a TON of crapware. I see it on the 360 as well. And, convince us that all of the PS3 games are fantastic. From what I have read, they are not. And if Wii is a toy, then why the hell did Sony try - and FAIL - to emulate it? They put motion control in their controller and it failed. They added that Home service... a year late and, from what I see, it's failed too. Microsoft adopted the 'Mii' concept and the so-called 'hard core' set hates it. Does that make XBOX a toy too?

[mycbrad]

I really tried to want to be a Wii gamer. I was renting Wii games that were cross-platform like Madden and others. It had this "Gamer Lite" feel to it. I've tried Mario Kart and others, but it just didn't fit me. Some people enjoy the Wii & that's fine. For me, the Live experience is superior.

As for PC gaming, that was me a couple years ago until I realized its an endless money pit. How often do you have to spend another $200 because your graphics are lagging to play titles that are rarely PC exclusive? I was a "down with the console" gamer, then realized it just isn't worth it.

I don't care if I get the "fanboy" tag. Better a fanboy than bored or broke.

[Notoapplefanbois]

The wii is a toy because it is disposable, about have the people who i know who have wii's, have lost them or forgotten about them. Yes you can lose a wii, just like you can lose a car. But there are people who have 3 or 4 wii's because they can't find it so go and and buy one and then once they've bought one they find the one they lost.

[SteamChip]

I agree, if Nintindo can get more exploding heads and intestine splatter shots into their games it would not be so much of a toy anymore, but a serious productivity machine.

[pentest]

It is ironic that you imply that certain devices made to play games are not toys.

[U. Tripps]

Sorry, but they are all toys. Practically by definition. A PC isn't a toy, but it becomes one if all you do with it is play games. If you are playing games with it, it is a toy. My work computer is a toy right now, because I'm entering this comment for my own recreational purposes, as opposed to producing something of value to anybody.

[k23232323]

And a fun toy it is.

Im a PC gammer for life, but sometimes i want to chill out, and play some old kurby or lost winds. Anyway the Wii is great, but its not supposed to be played the same way as an xbox 360

And good marketing on nintendos part, people would rather spend 250 on a little box that looks fun, the (at launch ) a 600$ giant "media hub" Ps3.
The wiis a great system, im just waiting for the next one (the only thing i want is usb hard drive support.

[Penguinisto]

Don:

1) FPSes and Final Fantasy are not "old school", so please Don, FFS - stop posing. That goes for the rest of you children out there who think that just because you got kicked around on Halo once or twice or can claim that you played Final Fantasy, you're somehow "awuld skool, biatches!"

2) Nintendo (you know, Mario Bros.?) does qualify as "old school"...about as old school as you can frickin' get without mentioning Atari or Intellivision.

3) "gamer" = "one who plays games", or in its original definition and usage: "one who plays games on a customized PERSONAL COMPUTER". Console User != "gamer". Please stop abusing the term.

/P

[Hunnter2k3]

1) Apparently you haven't played any Final Fantasy pre FFVII. (like most)

2) Yes, but they have changed a LOT in recent generations, trying to be the "boss" too much

Agreed with 3.

[Nataku4ca]

I actually agree with you on these things for once lol

As far as Final Fantasy goes, the genere died for me after 9, it just wasn't the same. No really good store like the past ie, 4~7. its all graphics now and game play wasn't as interesting as the past. May be I'm too old on this part.

As for gamer definition/positioning though, this is my point of view:

Hardcore gamer: Those that play 70~80% console, PC, arcade games(ie. those that actually adapts to the control instead of ******** about how its not keypad = =+)

"old school" gamer(note: term used loosely): zealot to a specific control be it key pad, arcade, or keyboard/mouse

average joe gamer: enjoys games every once in a while and usually gets the most popular console

I myself, am getting xbox 360 when I get back to vancouver, I own wii, PS2, and a bunch of the old ones except stuff from Sega. I find all the console have something fun on them I want to play but as far as FPS goes, I still only play it on PC, can't beat the mouse I guess lol

[Penguinisto]

@Hunnter2k3:

1) I was talking about the first one.

2) Yep, they have changed... in many, many ways. They got a slap in the attitude back in the gamecube days, as they deserved.

@Nataku4ca:

I can grok the term, but too many people abuse it. Me, I happily play on consoles (with the missus) and on my Mac (yes, you read that right :) ). Before that, it was all Linux/Quake/UT, all the time.

It's just that I remember a time when you had to swage in a TCP/IP patch just to play Quake on the Internet, and when Capture The Flag was still just a semi-authorized modification of the game. Hell, LAN parties mostly ran on 10 Mb back then, and someone had to 'borrow' a hub or two from work to do it. Normal lag was at well over 200 ms, and nobody complained (too much - heh).

Before I wander too far off into 'get offa my lawn' territory, I just recall the days when the term was earned with curses and tears over a half-built assembly of computer parts - or over a half-compiled map, or over a marathon debug session when the MOD you're helping to build is due to release that very week.

Nowadays, it is simply granted at the check-out counter of a Wal-Mart upon the successful purchase of an xbox. I think we all lost a little something by it all...

/P

[Inconnux]

#1 exactly, as someone who started playing Wolfenstein on the PC when it came out, it is anything but Old school.
I do miss the old Quake 1 days though :) back when there was real lag!

#2 Nintendo reinvented consoles when Atari/ colecovision/ intellivision collapsed the market. they are damn old school. Glad to see them on top and showing the others how to innovate.

#3 exactly. I can't figure out how anyone can play an FPS or RTS on a console with that crappy controller. Give me a mouse/keyboard any day. I just wish that console/ PC gamers could play each other... hmm I wonder why the developers wont let them??? PC controls would hand the consolers rear end to them that's why... 'real hardcore gamers' use a PC because of its superior control system.

As someone who's been 'hardcore' since you could hook up pong machines to your TV, I find all this whining about the Wii not being a 'traditional' game system hilarious. The Wii has lots of great games from Resident Evil, CoD:WaW to SSBB and MarioKart. You want to use the 'standard' controller? easy, pick up a gamecube controller and plug it in. Personally I love the new controller, it makes sports games actually fun!

[ChicagoZ]

No offense, Don, but you are coming off a bit elitist.

I don't think the definition of gamer has changed so much as it has been broadened. My parents have a Wii, they don't have an 360 or PS3. Now, the title of "gamer" just includes my(and probably your) parents, grandparents, more women, etc. The Wii makes gaming accessible, easy to understand, and more interactive. This just appeals to a different demographic than the 360/PS3 set.

I have a Wii and a 360 and I would hazard to say I play them both pretty equally. You are right that it's easier to play with multiple people in one room, with the exception to Halo. BTW: MORE FIRST PERSON SHOOTERS NEED SAME SYSTEM MULTIPLAYER AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE PLAY, just like Halo. Want to sell more games people, follow their model. Once MadWorld, The Conduit, No More Heroes 2, etc come out I think a small shift in the opinion of the Wii among "hardcore" gamers will happen.

[cidbearit]

I think your comments about "today's new gamers" might be missing the mark some. As an old gamer myself (think "Intellivision"), I was one of those who just couldn't get into the systems like Xbox and Playstation, partly because of the price, and partly because of the complexity of the games and the time it takes to play them. Before you can even enjoy those system's games, you need to spend considerable time learning the ins and outs of the games. Then you have to commit hour after hour for the game play.

The Wii's games are relatively simple, and use motions that many of us are already very familiar with...throwing a bowling ball, swinging a tennis racket, driving, shooting, etc. The learning curve is relatively low. And the games themselves don't require endless hours to complete. Yes, you can spend hour after hour at the Wii, but if all you have is half an hour, it's a half hour of fun action and you're done. This simplicity has brought this old gamer (and I'm sure many others) back to gaming.

[kojacked]

Nintendo redefined the industry and stole it out from under Sony and Microsoft. They continue to pwn their "competition" month after month. Sony and Microsoft were caught like a dear in the headlights. It must baffle their execs on the staying power of the Wii. I can't wait for someone to make a movie out of it. The spanking Nintendo handed out was just that good.

[Penguinisto]

Nintendo helped define the industry (hint: they were selling games long, long before Sony and/or Microsoft built consoles). Given that, it's only fair (and IMHO expected) that they continually redefine the industry,

[DamnPigs]

Everyone I know that has a Wii never plays it. It sits there gathering dust. Wii is a fad that gets more and more people buying it because of articles saying how it is the biggest seller, so noobs buy it because they want to be a "gamer". It's just another tickle me elmo.

[Zoobie]

Nice anecdotal evidence of "everyone I know." How many is that exactly? Does "everyone you know" make up a statistically significant representation of the rest of the market?

Everyone I know who has a Wii plays it, especially when company is over. Maybe my anecdotal evidence trumps yours.

We can debate preferences all day long and won't ever come to consensus. My daughters play Webkinz, Nintendogs, and Endless Ocean. My wife plays Bejeweled, Diner Dash, and Solitaire. I play Metroid, FF, and Gran Turismo. We all play Mario Kart, SSBB, and Wii Fit. I don't consider myself to be any more a "gamer" than the rest of my family--which I think is great because we all have our own games, and we all enjoy family games.

[Hunnter2k3]

Mines sure has.

There's a few games out there i can stomach, the rest embarrass me terribly.

[daveb85]

I think you hit this right on the money Don. Something changed when the Wii came out, and I'm not completely sure it was a good thing at all. My mother bought a Wii. This is a woman who's almost sixty and never played a video game before in her life. I'm sure these types of "gamers" are a huge proportion of the Wii's fan base.
Now imagine simply because they are the majority, that the big game developers start catering simply to their needs. We'll continue to get crap after crap game.
Hey remember when Nintendo ended the great video game depression in the 80's? How funny would it be if they started another one?

[WDS2]

So, why in the world is it bad that your mom has a Wii? Maybe she let you use or something?

[Nataku4ca]

So are you saying if the game isn't made for you its going to be the end of the world?

at least the wii is letting your mom exercise her body/brain, u should be thankful. It makes seniors healthier and retain their brain power longer.

Hell, if new comers to the game world are so scary to you I wonder how you treat new employees coming in.

[danielwsmithee]

cidbearit understands the demographics of the Wii very well. Most people are not willing to spend hours on end playing and winning an epic FPS. They want a game system they can turn on for 30 minutes and play while they have nothing else to do and are not willing to dedicate a large portion of their life to playing a video game.

[mediocrates--2008]

"Has Nintendo changed the definition of 'gamer'?"

No. They've just tapped into a non-traditional market, selling games to families that would otherwise be playing Parcheesi or Uno. Neither gamers or their market have changed, or declined.

Are you still not ready to admit that Sony and MS were right all along - that the Wii is *not* competition for the 360 or PS3?

[Penguinisto]

"Wii is *not* competition for the 360 or PS3?"

ROTFLMAO!

Face it - the Wii is not only "competition", but has managed to stomp everyone else flat. A console is a console is a console... and no amount of redefinition will change that basic fact.

[Nataku4ca]

I just hope I don't see another comment like the one sony usa made.... = =

[gofalcons]

pen, maybe for you, but not for others, many "gamers" like myself do not see the wii as competition, i dont own it, and wouldnt own it, so its not competition to me and i own pc's, mac's, xbox360, ps2 and ps3. Thats like saying porsche is a car, so its competition to the aveo.

[pentest]

gofalcons,

That doesn't even make sense.

I don't like Toyotas, would never buy one, but does that mean that it isn't competition for Honda?

The XBOX360 plays games.

The PS3 plays games.

The Wii plays games.

Get over yourself, they are all toys.

[mediocrates--2008]

No, it's more like saying the the Suburban is not competition for the Civic.

They're both cars, but the target market for each is different - so... *not* competition.

[jabelar]

I agree that Wii is not strictly competition. Competition would mean that someone is spending dollars on the Wii that they would otherwise spend on the XBOX360. I don't think people are forgoing XBOX360 in favor of Wii, rather there are people getting both, and there are people who are getting Wii instead of getting nothing. Neither case is highly competitive. The segment that is choosing Wii instead of XBOX360 probably exists, but I bet it is really small.

[parttimeaw]

This dude is just a 360 fanboy. Don't get me wrong I love both the PS3 and 360, but the people who are "hardcore" 360 fans are just dumb all they see is the Xbox 360 and that's it, and he is one of these sheltered people.

[Stormspace]

As someone who never mastered the thumb control for a steering wheel I can tell you the Wii's controls are vastly superior and more natural for replicating everyday tasks. They do fall down on certain titles though when you need all those buttons. The Wii controls also add a level of uncertainty into game purchases. For instance, you don't know from game to game which ones will require you to hop and jump about the room to accomplish anything or if they will use the more traditional controls.

[Cube Over]

Funny! Just few days ago I have put my thoughts and suggestions to Wii software design team & marketing here.
http://cubeover.blogspot.com/2009/02/wii-are-champions.html
Indeed, it's a device that CREATES gamers. Or, at least, occasional USERS. Anyway, BUYERS :)

[epross]

There are consoles and then there are consoles. They are not all created equally (despite protests by some)

It's not so much that Nintendo has changed the definition of gamer, rather they have broadened the definition by increasing the size of their market. As recently as 10 years ago, young children, grandparents, etc. weren't in the demographic of "gamer" - the equipment was too expensive, the games were too expensive, it was relatively difficult for these groups to access the technology - it's no wonder that the traditional view (and core market) of "gamer" that you lament about was mid-20's to 40's male.

Someone at Nintendo woke up and said "What if we market to people outside of this demographic ?" and guess what? It's working for them (but only them). Eventually Nintendo's sales rampage will slow down as they saturate their target market, or more competition enters the fray. I personally don't think that either the PS3 or Xbox caters to this newer overall, larger marketplace as completely as the Wii does. I suspect comparing Wii sales to Xbox and PS3 is a little like comparing apples to oranges.

I have young children and a PS3 and with the exception of "Little Big Planet" (and even that's debatable) there are very few games that are catered solely towards them or their grandparents. But my daughter has a DS (and wants a Wii) as there are hundreds (of mostly crappy) games (e.g. DogZ, Catz, HorseZ, etc. etc.) aimed towards the pre-pubescent and tweener markets...why aren't MS and SONY aiming at this market also? There's a gold mine here!

As a traditional (but not hard-core) gamer, I have no interest in the Wii (but my Mom and wife both think it is the golden bullet to lose weight via the Wii fit board). Do you see any themes here? Ninetendo is not aiming at "gamers" but at "players" -- a key difference. I suspect that if you look at PS3 and XBOX - their sales are derived mostly of the aforementioned "gamers" while Nintendo's are the "players" - will it be sustainable for the Wii in the long run? Who knows? I suspect the "player" market is far more fickle that the "gamer" market and one mis-step by Nintendo could see the sales progression come to an abrupt halt. (I know they cooked me on the Nintendo 64 - that was a failure that I fell for, I am reluctant to give them anymore of my money after that disaster!, Gamecube wasn't much better - lucky I didn't buy one of those.)

Or to put it another way, Sony and Microsoft are selling sports cars (small market) while Nintendo is selling family sedans (large market) - which will sell more? Does it matter? Can you even compare the two? They are similar, yet completely different. That IMHO is the key point everyone is missing here.

[wolvesgod]

Wow, who made the most logical statement on the page. He's right Nintendo did make the Wii for quick pick ups.

[Nataku4ca]

games u dont like = crap, games u like = great

so ignore all other people that play games, ignorant

one more thing, N64 didn't suck it was one of the better consoles(lets see... golden eye, starfox, ssb, destruction game(forgot name), and a bunch of others), now GameCube was horrible I agree

[pentest]

Nintendo is going back to the more traditional market that the uninspired and pointless Playstations and Xbox have ignored.

Mindless FPS with the same gameplay and same "story" is not traditional.

Go back to the original NES and even before then. Back then game play ruled, it was easy to get into and was inexpensive.

Today, mediocrity and repetition rules. Ninetendo simply went back the the roots of gaming.

[Lamppost0]

Waaaaaaah!! Waaaaaah!!
Don, the definition of gamer hasn't changed. It's EXPANDED. You and your ilk are just a bunch of whining babies (and believe me, I wanted to use a different word than that) who wish that they still had their secret society of headset-wearing wannabe Army snipers who speak in their own lingo.
More than anything else, Nintendo has obliterated what was a growing wall between "hardcore gamerz" and anyone else who was interested in picking up a controller. More power to them.

[pentest]

I think it has just went back to its roots.

Mindless FPS XII is not traditional gaming.

[YazzMeister911]

Whell Don Don't worry i Got all 3 consoles but the console i most play on is Xbox 360 and PS3 i dont really play on the Wii not my style to move like a moron in the air watching standing up watching telivison i rather sit down and play with my fingers instead of my arms or my legs im more a player that likes Far Cry 2, COD, GTA4 there will be much more games as some of you said there just after more gamers first person shooter games will always be alive XD and about the Wii they are just for family's its now more like hey lets go play on the wii yeah daddy can i instead of lets go play monopoly or something.... but 360 and PS3 are more dominating in game quality most people buy the wii because its cheap and they are curious what the game play is all about 360 and PS3 are more expenisver because off the graphics and stuff like that i my opinion i rather play with something thats dull but ******* awsome graphics then something thats cool with block pixels no reflection of the water no shadows, shadows dont bother me that much except if its a game with some nice light effects but thats my opinion and i dont get that they send a commercial out of old people bowling on the wii if i was in my 80 i would rather sit in my chair then standing up putting the wii on that i almost went through my back and do a game with my arms and loose everything because im 2 stiff and dont have any reflex to point the pointer in time on the screen ... rather play with fingers ;) im out peace

[cbruner]

Dan - you aren't close to being a victim of age yet. I started gaming on a Kaypro (remember CPM) and my gaming machine of choice would be a PC - IF I had the time. As you get older and have a younger child or two you suddenly find you run out of time (unless perhaps your profession is gaming journalist) to play an fps.

Knock jumping on a piece of plastic all you want, but that piece of plastic allows me to have some playing time - my wife using Wii Fit ... me with some cooperative game (or epic adventure) with her, or if I have the time, Resident Evil 4.

Dan, your complaint really isn't about the Wii. Your complaint is about the type of software produced for the Wii and the dearth of GOOD M rated titles. I agree, but as we both know, this is about to change drastically as software developers decide they have to make money, rather than supporting the super cool hardware.

Dan, don't worry, you'll grow out of hte Xbox/PS3 demographic at some point too. But by then, we'll hopefully both have good titles on the Wii to play.

[Nataku4ca]

well said cbruner, well said

[despin]

Keep in mind the age of the Nintendo wii player. I work in an office with 5 women who all love the wii and love to play online with their grandkids.
Here are their ages around about:
1 over 40
1 over 50
2 over 60

I have yet to play it because like you I prefer the games you listed.

More than anything it seems like Nintendo tapped into a market the gaming world has never been able to, grandparents. They buy one for themselves and one for their grandkids automatically doubling that sale. If you take the age demographic into account I am sure Xbox still leads the pack in the under 40 sales.

[megustansalchichas]

hey, you just described $1,000 worth of retail sales there -and this is what Don's against? i guess Don would also like a planned economy where everyone has to buy what he says is worth buying, and eat what he says is worth eating. god forbid anyone do anything creative and expand the wonderful world of consumer offerings with products that appeal to the entire family and not just the surly teenager boy or the manboy in his 20s or the 5-o'clock-shadow adolescent in his 30s.

[WA166]

What is the definition of Gamer?
" people who is good at remember the button sequence and tapping button" or " people would like to have fun"?

When playing wrestling game, Is it more fun to remember the sequence of buttons to attack opponent or do I want to copy the wrestler's signiture move to attack the opponent?
Can you imagine using not using the guitar controller but use keyboard to play "Guitar Heroes"?

Wii did not change the world, just embrace it.

Too bad many of the 3rd party game programer still narrow minded considering "game should be played by spining joystick and tapping buttuns", or just porting the Xbox/PS game to Wii directly. That's why they don't make fun Wii game.