Can the Wii keep its winning streak going?
by David Hinkle 
{ May 31st 2007 at 3:55PM }
The LA Times is reporting that many seem to have doubts about the staying power of the Wii as their latest article suggests Nintendo's newest console could be dropped by casual gamers in the long run. Some analysts, including Van Baker, a consumer technologies analyst with Gartner Inc., are thinking that the nature of going after casual gamers means they could leave you just as easily as they love you. "Its appeal is primarily to casual gamers, and there's a serious question about how long casual gamers will stay engaged with the platform," he says, adding "It wouldn't be surprising to see them lose interest after a relatively short amount of time."But after a little over 5 months of being on the market, Nintendo is consistently doing well and the Wii console is still being snatched up as soon as it finds itself on a retail shelf in some areas. No one can predict the future, but we feel this trend will only continue, especially with big titles like Metroid Prime 3, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Strikers: Charged and Pokemon Battle Revolution coming this year. We're not worried.
What do you guys think?
[Via 1UP]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kenneth Johnson @ May 31st 2007 4:27PM
I think some analysts wrongly assume that the casual gamers will all remain casual gamers. I think Nintendo is going after to casual gamer in hopes of making them a gamer. You lure the casual gamer in with simple, easy to understand games and then (hopefully), soon enough they are craving more -- and not just the "casual gamer."
The Wii is also intended to be a family/party game system. So, instead of breaking out cards or board games, you throw in Wii Sports or Mario Party.
If they can't turn the casual into long term, then the analysts may be right, but the Wii has changed my gaming attitude. Before the Wii I barely played any games or had any interest. Now I'm posting on a video game blogging site!
Chicago_Josh @ May 31st 2007 4:59PM
I'm not in any way a casual gamer, but I totally agree with Kenneth Johnson (if that IS your real name!!!!) :)
I know more than a few people who started out playing casual games on either the DS or Wii and are now asking me for tips on what games to buy.
Part of the trend also stems from the fact that the Nintendo Generation of the 1980s has grown up and it's become more socially acceptable for adults to play video games.
Mr Khan @ May 31st 2007 5:08PM
Well, i'd say so
But it can't function as a sole system, not even I, who owns only Nintendo systems, can deny that
But with the DS, the Wii perfectly balances a match, and i'll be perfectly happy with it as long as Nintendo keeps brining on the first-party glory
Sarah @ May 31st 2007 5:49PM
I think he might be right, I see people dropping this thing, I mean, however good wii sports is, you can only play it so many times before you get bored, and being a more hardcore gamer I am already bored with my Wii (gasp!). That is truly sad considering how I love nintendo but so far I don't see any good games out yet I HAVE to buy like I do on the DS. But, then again the DS did take a full year before it hit its stride so I'll wait it out.
Ken @ May 31st 2007 6:27PM
@Sarah
You should be used to this lack of games early on in development if you love Nintendo. I felt this through the Gamecube and the N64. I know it'll get alot better with the crazy success of the Wii. Give it time, it will be alot better in a year or so.
Jared @ May 31st 2007 6:54PM
Ken, the Wii is nowhere near how slow the DS was. I almost sold mine, but hung in for the New Super Mario Bros. which caught me and kept me holding on to it until bigger and better things started showing up (which happened a few months before the New Super Mario Bros. came out). Wii had great first-party titles from the get-go.
I went through a period of time where I put down my Wii and didn't play with it for about a month. Super Paper Mario drew me back in, and I remembered how much fun it is.
I think the guy who wrote the article must've been visitng the PS3 Fanboy blog and reading all the h8er comments over there ^o^ Seriously though, isn't anything a possibility? But, Nintendo's strategy isn't exclusively geared toward the casual gamer. With titles like Manhunt, Resident Evil, and other FPS/excessively violent games coming out, there'll be plenty there for the more serious gamers too.
Besides, some great casual third-party titles are set to hit the Wii over the summer, including an emergency rescue driving game based off the engine of Crazy Taxi. You can't not love that.
If it really was a hard core bust, wouldn't the Wii sales look more like the PS3's by now? Yes, the general consumer tends to be uninformed, but it's been out for too long for everyone to not know whether or not it's just about the greatest thing since splinter-free toilet paper.
Lkr @ May 31st 2007 9:45PM
I have been a hardcore gamer for sometime. The Wii started to worry me, around a month ago. I still had faith in Nintendo, except it seemed to be getting dry. Then a few weeks ago I got some money for some games, and picked up Super Paper Mario. Now I'm playing Wii again. It truly is a great system, and like the article said, all the killer apps are so close. Less than a month for PBR :)
Lotrfish @ Jun 1st 2007 12:22AM
@ Jared "But, Nintendo's strategy isn't exclusively geared toward the casual gamer. With titles like Manhunt, Resident Evil, and other FPS/excessively violent games coming out, there'll be plenty there for the more serious gamers too."
Why does everyone associate violence with serious gamers? It is obviously not true. There are plenty of good non-FPS/extreme violence games.
Phil @ Jun 1st 2007 2:29AM
I'm absolutely amazed at the number of friends and family that I've never thought of as even casual gamers that are staking out stores looking to get their own Wii after coming over and playing at our place. Of course, all my gaming friends have pretty much bought one as well.
I think I know one or two people that have an XBO360. I don't know a single person with a PS3. Not that I'm a reliable source of statistics, but in my circle the Wii is killing.
Neal Eaton @ Jun 1st 2007 10:02AM
While I do understand what the journalist from the LA Times is implying, I don't see that ANY 'casua' gamer that has dropped at least $300 on a system to play games is going to let that go to waste. They also are the least likely to know that they can sell the console back to a game store.
I do agree that there is a need for content to keep those kind of players interested in the long run, but I think that this will be a non-issue...I mean look at all of the new casual games that Ubisoft is planning...and Nintendo I am sure has some new casual type games in the works.
When games like Mario Galaxy and Mario Kart...not to mention the Mario sports games start hitting...the casual players are going to eat it up.
I also think that the DS really has had a 'halo effect' on Nintendo in general...like the iPod has done for Apple and the uptake of consumers buyng Macs. NOW...the real question is will these casual players stay with Nintendo after the Wii? I for one certainly hope so.
My ony real concern is that the 'hard core' will start bad mouthing the system vbecause os a perceived lack of games for them. I say perceived because so many people have been complaiging about the 'lack of games', but I just finished Twilight Princess last weekend...and I started playing it back in January! Not everyone plays through their games in massive long-term blocks and then waits for the 'next big thing'. Some of us like to take our time...I am still collecting the Poe Souls...only 10 left.
SO...as long as there is software, there will be buyers/player.