Comments on: Why I gave up the Wii

Are you playing the Nintendo Wii? Don Reisinger isn't, but he thinks he might be the only one.

[ScottProdigy]

Give WiiWare and Virtual Console a spin too. Games like World of Goo, and Mega Man 9 are stellar titles that you most likely never review, because they aren't on physical media. The Wii has silently entered the online realm as well, with Mario Kart, and addictive puzzle games like Dr. Mario and Tetris Party. It's time to check out some newer stuff that lacks the attention of games not published by EA or Ubisoft.

Also, you probably mean that you were playing Red Steel, not Red Faction.

[Pacman33]

I have a PS3, my 14 year old an Xbox 360 and my 7 year old a Wii and a PS2. My youngest still plays his PS2 more, and often finds himself in his brothers room or in the living room playing the 360 or PS3. I fell for the hype with the Wii, and was so excited when I finally found one on a shelf. I've bought him 7 games trying to find one that catches his interest. BTW, the shovelware is not the only thing that syphons your cash, all the other litlle peripherals and attachments do the same. The only game he truely plays is Mario Kart, so I had to get him 2 more controllers and wheels, plus a couple more nunchuks for other games.

[jgaronnh]

Actually, I like the Wii. Granted I'm a very casual user, but, when my family comes to visit it gets heavy usage. My brothers and I are addicted to Tiger Woods golf and during the holidays I love to see my dad and the grandkids bowling together.
My brothers family recently bought the Wii-Fit and now exercise at their house is a nightly event that seems more like fun than exercise.

[mailbox001]

I bought my family a Wii this past Xmas with 6-7 games. It was entertaining for awhile, but after a few weeks, we barely touch it. I don't consider myself a hardcore gamer, more recreational. Only a few hours a week. What disappoints me with the Wii is, initially their games are ok but it wears out quickly. It's not challening enough and the online portion is a joke. With my 360, when I go home for lunch, I can quickly play an online game, chat with friends, watch movies, listen to music. It's challening enough and also entertaining. You don't have to be a hardcore gamer to love the 360. The Wii, just doesn't have any feature worth playing with. The future of gaming, is online and MS is generations ahead. Now, when I buy a game, I just play the online multi-player because I don't have the time to sit and play the regular games for long hours, for weeks/months.

[umcrouc0]

It's been a while since I've played much Wii as well. I pop in MarioKart sometimes but am mostly on xbox with Gears 2, Fallout3, NHL09, GTA4, COD4, etc. I'm pretty weary of buying any additional Wii games until they come out with the upgraded controller as well. In theory games released using it will allow for much better control than what is currently coming out so I don't want to buy something if it's going to be outdated right away. The problem with this is I can't find a guaranteed date for the release of the upgrade so I'm just perpetually holding off any purchases. If it's not out until Q3 or something there's no point in waiting for it but I thought it was out in Q1 sometime. I guess either way it's going to be pretty unlikely many developers will fully realize the potential of the new control scheme as there are only a few games that really do a good job with the current system. Maybe it's tougher to use because it's so limited and the added features will make it easier to work with but I doubt that.

[ZarkSeven]

When they Wii was released, there were very few developers on-board. So the game choices were slim. When the console started selling like crazy, and devs and publishers realized that they were backing the wrong horses, they tried to make up for it as quickly as possible, which meant throwing shovelware at it, which is cheap to develop and can probably make a buck. In the meantime, they started developing better games for it, which take longer to make. The results are coming in the titles announced so far for '09.

If you look at what's coming this year on the Wii, there are quite a few quality titles. And most are "exclusive" to the Wii. The fact that it isn't like the PS3 or the Xbox means that the quality games that are coming in '09 are developed specifically for Wii, and not a bad port. I wrote a series of articles on my blog about anticipated titles in 2009, and the Wii list is as long as the PS3, Xbox, and Multiplatform lists combined.

[bwvla]

I think the author is showing that he's a bit more serious about gaming, and probably doesn't usually have a house full of sub 20 year olds.

Nintendo has always targeted a younger more social demographic. From their first console on they have always have promoted multi-player titles aimed at the "slumber party" and family type markets. This is why their consoles cost a bit less, pricing them as a decent Christmas or birthday present for younger kids.

Meanwhile Xbox and Playstation have always targeted an older more hard core gamers that prefer a more ergonomic controller for long session, games that don't require a room of kids to enjoy, and a engrossing graphics for a more realistic as opposed to cartoonish experience.


I think both the kid/family market and the serious gamer market are valid. But considering how many wiis have sold don't be surprised if the next xbox or playstation has a more childish tilt in an attempt to cross markets with one device. Personally if I were at Sony or Microsoft I'd be trying to add more kid friendly games and figure out how if I could make an alternate version of my console in a WALL-e shaped case.

I totally agree with you. I never got my wife or kids on the PS or PS II, but they all jumped in on the Wii. It's definitely aimed to be a social device. It's not geared toward the hardcore gamer. Nintendo couldn't compete in that department with the gamecube. Whoever the person was that dreamed up this system at Nintendo was a genius. I thought Nintendo was done in the gaming department, however, the Wii brought in a whole new array of players. The DS is like an extra appendage on my 9 year old. She goes everywhere with it. Nintendo realized that there was a whole untapped market out there filled with grandfathers, wives and little girls who would never touch an XBox or a PS3. The wii will probably wind up in the corner somewhere by this summer...but we'll dig it back up in the winter months when we can't go outside. You want to intense games with strategy, violence, high degree of difficulty, go ahead and get your xbox or PS3...let my girls have fun playing tennis on the wii and playing figure skating. They are into fun gaming, not serious gaming!

[atomD21]

I've found that as I've gotten older and now have a family, I have much less time to play games period. I own a 360, Wii, Dreamcast (gotta love it!), PSP, and DS, and the only ones I really play are the portables just because I can sneak in a bit of gaming at work. I would love to be able to rip it up in Mario Kart or Gears of War, or any of the many games I have bought and not had a chance to finish, but there just isn't time...

[mrklaw]

We play the wii a lot, but I guess that's because there are a bunch of us that like to play. Multiplayer games just fit our household better. I have a hard time playing single-player titles like Zelda, but if my wife asks me to play a game with her, I'm usually willing.

[Cpt_Dreadnut]

"I realize nothing is stopping me from popping Super Mario Galaxy or Red Faction into the console."

...Um, how about the fact that Red Faction was canceled for Wii and never saw the light of day?

[jabelar]

I think there is a factor of one's age in this assessment. I know lots and lots of youngish kids (maybe 10 and younger) who play a lot of Wii. In fact, it may be the only console they have due to the more mature nature of the good games on the other consoles.

So I agree that I rarely feel the urge to pick up the Wii and play by myself. My my kids are doggedly logging those hours on Super Smash Brawl and Lego Star Wars.

[shiningdevil]

I think the Wii has plenty of games. Now, what the Wii needs is: more GOOD games. Hardly any of the games for the Wii impress me. Super Smash Bros. just isn't for me (or any of the previous SSB games, really). I tried to like SSBB, I really did, but it failed to have me playing it for 4 straight days. I do not like Zelda games. Super Mario Galaxy, eh.
The last game I bought for the Wii is Mario Kart Wii -- AT ITS RELEASE DATE! -- and I'm still playing it to this very day. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean I enjoy it all the time, it get's me pissed every now and then, and then I end up not playing it for a week or so. And as for any games I'm looking forward to buy, none.

[mitchell2percent]

i only play my wii with friends usually, and maybe the occasional run through in medal of honor. The wii is just so filled with crapware too

[ultimatebuster]

Can you send me it? I'm still trying to buy one.

[bigfootrockymtn]

Where do you live, on Mars? They are everywhere now.

[saamson]

My wife and I bought the system so that we could finally have a platform that the both of us could enjoy. Simply put, we played it for a week and had a fantastic blast. We then grew tired of the few titles we had purchased and set out to see what else was there. Well, what we found was; Paper Mario, Wario Something, Mario Galaxy, Mario Cart, Mario goes to the Movies, Mario Washes his Car, Mario builds a house, Mario works out ... get the idea?

After seeing little long term value in the system, we eventually sold the system at a profit on ebay because of the artificial demand Ninendo created for the system. The guy we sold it to had 5 children and he ended up loving it. So I guess the platform is perfect for some as long as you have plenty to entertain, but I can't see it being a good solution for many others who are looking to have more fun than just flicking your wrist.

[Ryan_R]

I bought a Wii for the rest of the family. If friends come over that have never used a Wii before - playing Wii Sports can be quite fun. Trouble is now everyone seems to have a Wii, or have at least played one, so it's sortof already outdated. PC is my gaming system of choice, PS3 a close second (purchased mainly for streaming capabilities plus BluRay and getting HD games on the TV, besides the fact it's a LOT cheaper than building a HTPC).

Simply put, the Wii isn't really a single-player device

[auramac]

Dork.

[Tal_tos]

Have to admit I am the same.
Loved playing Zelda for a while - until it bored me - same with the Fit.
Now I am back to serious gaming with my PS3 & 360.

Interesting diversion while it lasted but there is a reason I upgraded from the Atari to the Amiga and PS1 to PS2 - old tech - well it's old.
Don't get me wrong - I still keep and play some original PS1 & PS2 games - but when was the last time I bought one - Wii has slotted into that category for me as well now.

[bigfootrockymtn]

I suspect you will receive numerous emails from Wii fanboys blasting you for your story but let me be one of the first to say thank you for being brave enough to state the obvious. I've owned a Wii since launch, yet the only use I have for it nowadays is in my guest room, where even the guests only use it to surf the Web via Opera.
I love my 360 and am finally getting into my PS3, but the Wii just sits there ... it just sits there, looking all pale and dusty, never offering anything more than the occasional blue hue that reminds me it still has a heartbeat. But for how long? And it's damn near impossible to play any true next-gen title on PS3 and 360, then switch over to Wii and enjoy it. Retro is fine and dandy, but I like progress, and I like to see developers work towards developing titles that help me suspend reality for awhile, not pixelated memories of yesterday.
Nintendo has saved the industry from a total sales perspective, but take Wii and DS out of the mix and the industry would come crashing down. Unfortunately for the industry, only first-party titles do well for Wii, so only Nintendo benefits while the rest of the industry struggles to stay alive. Software attach rate tells the real story, when PS3 actually has a better attach rate than Wii. It's up to Sony and Microsoft to save this industry, not Nintendo.
Luckily, the Wii is small enough that it doesn't eat up any space in my guest room's entertainment cabinet, or it would be closeted ... or on eBay.

[brokensummer]

Don,

You have revealed to the world the reason why the Wii is not taken seriously as the PC, 360, and PS3. Sure, people may argue that the Wii's hardware is no where near the Higher Def consoles, but the fact of the matter is that people are buying the Wii, as well as other consoles and thus there is a competition between all 3 main companies (Micro, Sony, Nintendo) when it comes to where I as a consumer will put my hard-earned income in this recession. The president of Nintendo of America said it best (paraphrasing) Third Party support will "Get It" when they have their best content on the console. Only when their BEST content is on there will there be better games on the Wii. Then we will get better quality games. Simple as that. It has taken a long time getting to the 2009 lineup; there are a lot of publishers and producers who are putting their best content on the Wii, while, sadly, it will take a lot more to get everyone to understand what "their best content" means.

Don, I hope you will stay with the Wii for this 2009 Calendar year; there are SO many great titles that are coming out and many, many, many in development. I can't wait for 2010 and 2011!