If people buy consoles for software, why is the Wii so popular?
A new study conducted by Japanese site Kakaku.com asked respondents what their top concern was when they headed to the store looking for their next console.
49.2 percent of the 3,422 gamers polled indicated that their top reason for picking a console was "because it's compatible with the games they absolutely want to play." Forty-three percent of respondents said they buy the console that's most talked about, and only 6.1 percent care about price.
When asked which console they would choose next, an astounding 28 percent said they would choose the Wii, while 27 percent would choose the PlayStation 3.
Am I missing something here? Almost 50 percent of respondents to a survey, which could or could not have any real meaning, have purchased a console because of its software? If that's true, then why is the Wii such a popular device?
Of course, comparing Japanese buying preferences to North American preferences is extremely difficult. That said, there is one thing that we can derive from this study that easily applies to the U.S. market--very few people are buying the Wii in this country for its library of games.
Let's face it--unless you're a Nintendo zealot who can't keep your hands off everything your savior makes, there's not much to like in the Wii's library.
According to its most recent sales figures, NPD witnessed spectacular success for Nintendo, as both its Wii and DS Lite systems held the top two spots for yet another month.
Even better, three Wii games--Wii Play w/ Remote, Super Mario Galaxy and Mario Party 8--were among the top 10 best sellers for the year.
There's no debating the fact that the Wii has been an unbridled success, and as an owner of the console, I can say that it's easily one of the most fun devices I have ever used. That said, I just don't see its success lasting much longer, and most people will finally realize that it's nothing more than a novelty device.
Now, I understand that for the last 10 years of gaming, Nintendo zealots were forced to keep their mouths shut as Sony kicked them from one corner of the room to the other, and now that the Wii is a success, they're making up for the last decade. But is there really anything worth celebrating under the surface?
In recent years, Nintendo has been a victim of itself in the software space. Unlike Microsoft and Sony, Shigeru Miyamoto and friends have carried the flag for the company and third-party developers have been conspicuously absent.
Have Wii games sold well? Sure. But when you look at NPD numbers for December, Nintendo software is sitting alone in the top 10, and yearly figures reflect the same result.
So why do people really buy the Wii? I think it has everything to do with the second most popular response in the Japanese study--notoriety.
Over the past year, the Wii's scarcity and news coverage have created unforeseen demand for a console that most people play with friends and lays dormant for the rest of the time.
Save for Super Smash Bros Brawl, which is scheduled to hit store shelves in early March, the upcoming Wii release calendar is riddled with such winners as, Kawasaki Jet Ski, My Horse and Me, Kidz Sports: International Soccer and Pimp My Ride. Wow. Now that is what I call an upcoming release calendar that would make me want to plunk down $250.
Compare that abomination to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 release calendars featuring Burnout and Devil May Cry 4 or the PlayStation 3's very own upcoming release of GTA IV, and I think the difference is quite apparent.
So what does the future of the Wii look like? Bleak. Sure, all of the Nintendo fanboys can run around and tell the world that their console is the greatest and they have the numbers to prove it, but they don't seem to look ahead when they do it. Do they even realize that the Wii's upcoming release calendar is crap? Do they know that the novelty is slowly, but surely wearing off and eventually Nintendo will be forced to show us some games to coax us into buying the console? Do they understand that the console needs to get away from mini-games and offer us some compelling single-player games that aren't just made by Nintendo?
As an avid gamer and Wii owner, I hate to say it, but I think they should enjoy the success while they can; it doesn't look like it will last forever.
Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
'Compare that abomination to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 release calendars featuring Burnout and Devil May Cry 4 or the Playstation 3's very own upcoming release of GTA IV, and I think the difference is quite apparent.'
Correction: GTA IV isnt exclusive anymore. Its coming out SAME DAY for both sony and xbox 360 .
This article is hideously bad, and seems to be targeted directly at Nintendo fans rather than Nintendo business.
First, the games listed are clearly cherry picked, and obviously represent a very niche market on each respective console, not the actual overall business.
The questions asked in the second last paragraph are ludicrous?
?? ?Do they even realize that the Wii's upcoming release calendar is crap??
Crap to who? You?
They?!? Who are they?
?? ?Do they know that the novelty is slowly, but surely wearing off and eventually Nintendo will be forced to show us some games to coax us into buying the console??
The novelty will persist as long as software is created for it. After all, the ideas made famous on the NES are still not dead. Also please provide some evidence of slowing ? all we?ve seen so far is Nintendo reinvigorate both the DS and Wii as soon as they begin to slow down (Nintendogs --> Brain Training, Wii Sports --> Wii Fit?).
?? ?Do they understand that the console needs to get away from mini-games and offer us some compelling single-player games that aren't just made by Nintendo??
Even if the console were mini-games driven as you claim, why does it need to get away from that? Why do you feel people do not understand your perspective? So you need compelling single-player games from multiple companies? Does the maker really make a difference to you?
Even your closing statement is retarded: it doesn't look like it will last forever! Well of course it won?t nothing lasts forever. And what?s with the caution? ?It doesn?t look like??? What does it look like?
That being said, I don't think you can really compare the Wii with the PS3 and XBox 360 when, by their own admission, they aren't even trying to compete with those platforms. If they were, surely even the short-sighted developers at Nintendo would have gone hi-def, added CD and DVD playback, and a whole host of other features that the high-end consoles have.
Nintendo suceeds becasue they created something completely different, not just the same old thing just better quality. Of the games you listed for PS3 and XBox 360, how many of those are orginal? None. They are just better quality. I do agree that Nintendo's line-up is weak, but you also have to consider games like Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. If done correctly this will be a truly unique game on a truly unique platform, so it's not all bleak.
I think the genius of Nintendo was to include Wii Sports with the console. That move alone is one of the driving factors behind a lot of purchases, and is still one of the most popular games on the Wii. Granted, we do need more unique games that take advantage of the Wii's unique capabilities, but overall Nintendo has done what the others haven't done - created a demand that has lasted well beyond launch (think PS3) and will, I think, last well beyond the point that they are in stock at stores everywhere.
At least, that's how I feel about it. But I wouldn't consider myself a hard-core gamer. Nor am I a casual gamer.. somewhere in between, I guess.
I haven't actually owned a console since the 64, but that's because I'm a poor college student. I *desperately* want a Wii, and that's really the only console I'm interested in not just owning, but really the only one I care to even play.. (apart from maybe Playstation purely for Kingdom Hearts)
Almost all the Wii owners I know have a second console.
Most of the other games I play alone, I play on the PC, so why would I bother with a XBox or PS3? Basically, the Wii is a console. XBox and PS3 are PC replacement wannabes that the PC does a better job at.
When other consoles come out with proper motion-sensing technology, and have games that truly compete with the Wii on all levels, then we can talk about buying one or the other for its software. Right now, it's too early to put it in the same category as other consoles, because it (and its software) offer something that no other console does.
Wii fanboys will bring up "graphics don't matter" Ok, then why spend $250 for a Wii and $50 for a games and not much of a library at that., when for $129 I can get a PS2 with the same graphics and have hundreds if not thousands of games to choose from most for under $25?
Now your right about the games not being so great right now. I'll give you that. But what fault is that of Nintendo's? People buy the wii because of what the wii is suppose to deliver in terms of gaming. Fun and interaction. The wii has tremendous potential. But is it Nintendo's fault that 3rd Parties are too lazy and money hungry to deliver a game thats both good and offers the kind of controls people expect out of the wii?....no....i kno the wii is gonna have some of the best games ever made...thats why i would never buy any of the other systems....where else am i gonna play Mario galaxy or a Smash brothers....forget the ps2 library...i'd rather just play a game like smash bros than any game in the entire ps2 library...its a no brainer...if you want good games with substance...get a wii...maybe 3rd parties are releasing garbage....but Nintendo's games almost always Triple A games.
And you think Wii has bad graphics? Just take a look at a screenshot from the upcoming Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles game.
Man. Ignorance. Its everywhere.
The Wii is aimed at a different, broader audience than the niche hard-core gamer, and it will continue to be a success, because that broader audience will continue to exist into the future.
You should try following your premises through to their conclusions. If people say they buy consoles for the games, and the Wii is the most popular console, maybe the correct conclusion is that the Wii also has the best games.
Maybe not best in terms of graphics or gory explosions, but best in terms of *fun*. For the broader audience anyway. So you hard-core gamers can continue to rant about how the Wii's games are "inferior" to other console games, but it makes as much sense as the pimply-faced teenage movie reviewer whining about the lack of car-crashes in *When Harry Met Sally*.
1) Poll shows people buy consoles for the games.
2) The Wii is the best-selling console.
3) Conclusion: People are idiots, and the Wii will be short-lived.
Huh? How about this:
If #1 is true and #2 is true, then the conclusion must be that the Wii has the best games. Is this difficult to understand or are you one of the same people who would be happier if elections were determined by polls rather than actual votes? Dumb-a**.
Eloquent, insightful & brilliant!
I work for a PR firm and completely understand how the press can effect the notoriety quotient of a product. But in the end the product itseltf must have something indigenous to itself that keeps people talking about and buying it. And for Wii, it is that very low learning Mii curve.
Having said that, it is a given that for any company to be truly successful over the long haul they must continuely develop new lines of product and thus create new revenue streams. So I do agree that Nintendo develop more single player games. I also agree that, as stands now, Wii is more a multi-player game and that it does "lay dormant for the rest of the time."
Would it be intelligent to draw conclusions about a consoles survival, based on information for a demographic that the console is not focusing on? Um.. I think not.
I joined Digg and 1Up to tease fanboys, and even though I joined CNet years ago for different reasons, I cannot leave this opportunity pass! Do you have any proof to say the novelty is wearing off, or are just angry that the PlayStation 2 overcame Xbox and now that finally Xbox 360 is ahead PlayStation 3, you must witness how a cheap, weak and novel console is smashing it up?
Microsoft Xbox 360 is an impressive console, but it is exclusively for hardcore gamers. That is why it will fail.
By the way, I find the "As an avid gamer and Wii owner, I hate to say it" offensive after all your previous defenestrating pieces about Wii. It is not different from saying "I have a Jew friend" or "My best friend is black". Of course, as you say, we can't expect a lot from fanboys.
Now sometimes ported games will happen to work really well on the Wii, a happy accident, but most of the time they won't - and the use of the Wii controller won't make the game special. The Wii will never get it's best games from ports - they almost always look better on the XBox360 or PS3.
But here's the thing, the Wii appeals outside the hardcore gamer audience, many Wii owners would never have bought a PS3 or XBox360. Even more than that a good number of hardcore gamers will buy a Wii in addition to a PS3 or XBox360 (this is me). Why? Because we want to play Nintendo's unique games, we want to play Mario Galaxy, Wii Sports, Metroid and the rest and the Wii is cheap enough that we can get it in addition to our other console(s).
So do I care that the other games look nicer on a XBox360 or PS3? Nope - I'll play them there. But the Wii has a place next to my TV, ready for Wii games. For me, I have a Xbox360 in "the den" and a Wii in the sitting room. Paradoxically it's the sitting room that Sony and Microsoft aspire to - amusing isn't it?
However, I feel price IS a very important reason why it has been so successful.
OR
It is not so much, price didn't matter when buying a Wii, its that price DOES matter when buying a Xbox360 or PS3. As it is very expensive and needs good reason to be purchased.
The Wii is a a price its so cheap, it doesn't matter, just buy it, even if its not that good.
So PRICE I feel IS very important. And yes, the Wii has no future. It cannot compete with the flashy games of the other two. It cannot compete on downloading content like the other two. Nintendo have nothing, from my understanding, coming soon that will bring it p to there level.
Nintendo will still do OK, but in the long term, will not be able to compete with XBOX360 (The PS3 is never going to threaten Xbox until Microsoft stuffs something up. And lately they have been doing everything better then the PS3.
PS3, is only ever going to be a distant 2nd at this rate.
See my Blog for more comments on Xbox/PS3 analysis..
http://www.crafted.com.au/blog
James
What you should have done is say hey 3rd parties stop acting like dipshits and makes some good games for the consoles. 3rd parties and apparently journalists are hypocritical. Aside from Zack and Wiki, 3rd parties are making god awful games to be cheap cash ins and then complain when they don't sell well. Then people have the nerve to tell us Wii owners that we should stop buying NIntendo games, which are always AAA. There have been good 3rd party Wii games, and some have even gone platinum such as RE4: Wii edition, Rayman Raving Rabbids, and GHIII. But getting angry about games like My Word Coach or cheap ports of last gen games not making good sales is silly.
3rd parties need to wake up. There is a lot of money to be made on Wii in software. Despite all the ****** games that have come to Wii, alot have sold exceptionally well considering and turned a lot of devs big profits. Hell Wii software sales topped 360 software sales in December despite a small userbase and less games out. 3rd parties can sell well on the Wii as proven. but they have to first put time and effort into the games and make awesome games for the Wii fanbase to pick it up. Put effort in like NIntendo and you can get sales like they do. I mean sure not all games will suceed as 70-80% of your titles you release on a platform are probably not going to be successful, but with higher userbase and less development cost that can be lowered with just a little bit more effort. And more importantly 3rd parties market your Wii games. Zack and Wiki was an amazing game, but Capcom did nothing to market that game. Its their own fault that game flopped.
So don't rag on Nintendo for this. They create good software, market it well, and get money in return. 3rd parties just need to do the same and they will get similar outcomes.
Do you understand that most of their beloved franchises have or will be released on the Wii and that's what they've always been doing?
Do they understand that 95% of the mini games out on the Wii are from 3rd party publishers and that Nintendo is only licensing them?
Do they understand that maybe you should be asking these 3rd party publishers why they aren't taking the Wii seriously and making great games like they do on the XBOX 360?
Do they understand that you have no idea what the hell you're talking about?
Wii fanboys will bring up "graphics don't matter" Ok, then why spend $250 for a Wii and $50 for a games and not much of a library at that., when for $129 I can get a PS2 with the same graphics and have hundreds if not thousands of games to choose from most for under $25?"
So is that why ps3 controller has motion sensors? oh have you tried smg and mp3? or mho2 yea thats what i thought. First put is mute.
Next: First off game had BETTER GRAPCHIS THAN PS2. second its a diffrent game with the controller and it was alot better madde 07 was better than madden on the other two consoles. CAUSE IT WAS DIFFRENT.
Next. Yea you wave you arms *roll eyes* I never had to wave my arms to play a wii game hell i could sit and play a game without an issue.
Next: Wii is current gen just like 360/ps3 get overyourself. Power and grapchis dont = next gen. It a sucessers to the cube that is next gen which means its current gen.
No nintendo said the hardware was simliar to the cube they didnt say wii was next gen they said it was new-gen. Learn to read. Sale count just like the ps2 count with all the rebuys.... Yes there is wii is more powerful and better hardware and grapchis. If cube is
better grapchis and hardware why the hell would wii wouldnt? yea you're just another grapchi ***** who knows nothing.
i remembering hereing that from sony fanboys "grapchsi dont matter gameplay does. "
If grapchis matter n64 would of won... plain and simple Yea you do that while sony is mliking a ps2. that will breake on yea. And like i said ps2 and wii arent the same.
- by umpire17 January 19, 2008 8:21 PM PST
- Briansdg -short live like ps2? yea alright keep talking smack . here the reality people like the controller. It helping doctors and other people out. ITS NOT GOING TO STOP SELLING.
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (32 Comments)so get overyourself. wii sports is a samll quick sample of what a controller can do. you should know that.