Sega: Wii hype will die down soon
by David Hinkle 
{ Jun 15th 2007 at 5:40PM }
"The Wii will start to look really dated in a couple years when developers get more value from the 360 and learn more and more about the PlayStation 3," Steinberg adds. But, isn't this the same for the Wii? Sure, we're getting tons of minigame compilations right now, but once developers become more used to developing with the Wiimote in mind, won't we see more original product coming for Nintendo's console?
Graphics aren't everything, y'know ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
hvnlysoldr @ Jun 15th 2007 5:51PM
You might want to update. And like we would listen to Sega console plans.
[Update: Responding to some of the negative reaction to his comments, Scott Steinberg has shared additional remarks with Reuters Blogs. His new comments can be viewed after the break.]
Says Steinberg: "SEGA has fully supported the Wii since day one and we continue to do so – it's no secret that we are close partners. Nintendo has done a masterful job of selling its vision and expanding the market. That said, it's a shared responsibility and opportunity for the whole industry to take advantage of the possibilities of the Wii. If we don't realize its true potential, we will have missed a great opportunity to expand creatively and that is what I was cautioning against in the Reuters interview. I'm not just putting the responsibility of innovation on Nintendo. It's on SEGA and all the publishers and developers as well to carry that flag."
pete @ Jun 15th 2007 6:01PM
the wii has a real chance of hitting a plato real soon and although i doubt it would loose all of its steam with a year two to three years down is a posibility. all the games going multiplat on the 360 and ps3 arent going to the wii, it cant handle'em. so orginal games would have to be created or stripped down versions of ps3, 360 games. thats makes me worry a bit, but if nintendo can pull of the third party support the wii will survice this gen and might even 'win' it.
SenorPotpourri @ Jun 15th 2007 6:20PM
I hate it when things that are riding high hit a plato. If only they could hit a socrates instead.
nintendolink007-entertainment @ Jun 15th 2007 6:22PM
You know, i'm loosing support for Sega, although they cant say much since their consoles have been failures. The wii is gonna be successful no matter how slow the games are coming.
joeluna123 @ Jun 15th 2007 6:32PM
If the 360 or the PS3 release a full on motion controller with IR, that indeed would mark the death blow to the Wii. Till then I will keep playing games like Godfather and Scarface on the Wii.
pete @ Jun 15th 2007 6:42PM
LOL @3 I know 'plateau'. thanks for the correction!
snipa4lyfe @ Jun 15th 2007 7:23PM
That is the sound of a man who just doesn't understand Nintendo's vision. The entire "expanded audience" demographic was NEVER going to purchase a PS3/360 in the first place. Nintendo will always have it's solid (much more solid that Sony's or Microsoft's) base of 5-7 million fans, plus the entirely new demographic that have just started playing games with Wii and DS, meaning they've never played anything else. They've been branded to Nintendo. I'd put the Nintendo "fan" base at around 10 million+ by year's end, with the rest along for the ride. Microsoft is destined to do as well this gen as last gen with Xbox: sub-par. The 360, in my estimates, will never reach over 25 million users, under 19 million of which use Xbox Live Gold accounts.
David W. @ Jun 15th 2007 8:35PM
Ok, some of these comments annoy me. I WORK retail, so I see the demographic of the people buying each and every console. While it's true the people who are buying the Wii's aren't "hardcore gamers," a good majority of them are. It IS true Nintendo is trying to tap a market somewhat untouched by the other consoles, the non-gamers. At the same time however Microsoft manages to bring in many people who've never owned a console.
I do see and hear many people annoyed with the Wii and it's utter lack of games. The Wii NEEDS some good games coming out and soon, especially something other then party games.
Stormkeep @ Jun 15th 2007 11:54PM
I'm a PS3 owner and not a big fan of the Wii (I'm one of those geeks that really do think graphics DO matter, although gameplay is certainly more important).
That being said, I think Wii owners have NOTHING to worry about regarding third party support. Certainly a lot of current "hotly anticipated games" are going to 360/PS3...but development cycles are time consuming. These have been in the pipe at development studios long before we hear about them on the streets in most cases.
Given the strong sales figures the Wii console is putting up, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that you'll see great 3rd party support with good, UNIQUE (i.e. not just ports) games coming to the platform.
Just my two cents and attempt to make sure my fellow gamers on the Wii side of the "console fence" keep the faith. We may not have the same systems, but at the end of the day, what we ALL want is great games to play. And I think you Wii fans have nothing to worry about for quite a few years on that front.
LaLa @ Jun 16th 2007 10:10AM
"Losing" is only spelled with one O. Just thought you guys should know.
Dan @ Jun 16th 2007 11:06AM
I think the criticism is healthy, if a little far fetched. It only helps Nintendo from getting egos that are too big, and assuming that they've already won this round.
What can Nintendo do to avoid the bubble bursting? (Indeed, what *will* Nintendo do?)
- develop stronger relationships with third parties
- continue to innovate more 'casual games'
- maintain credibility with the influential gamers (hardcore) through key titles, even if they cost more and sell less
PakieMak @ Jun 16th 2007 12:19PM
I AM the Wii demographic. I am not a hard core gamer and in many games graphics are not the biggest draw for me.
I bought the Wii because you actually have to MOVE instead of sitting. I feel part of the game and not just holding a controller. I like to be active and I like to move.
Point blank - Nintendo is on to something here, and yes, it will need work and 3rd party games/controllers but it's new. I applaud Nintendo for bring a cheap/interactive system to the market and not some over priced system that isn't interactive.
Exercise (even a little bit) is good you know!
Mr Khan @ Jun 16th 2007 12:48PM
Stormkeep is right
I know its been said umpteen times before, but most major publishers (with the exception of Sega and Ubisoft) were caught with their pants down either at E3 2006 or at Wii Launch, at some point having thier "holy shit we need to get in on this" moment, but realizing they had nothing with which to invest. Some may have gotten dev teams working on something original, but that takes time, 12-20 months or so
A good example is how Capcom gives us RE4 remake well before original works No More Heroes and Umbrella Chronicles
Sega and Ubisoft, of course, had original content there at or near launch, Red Steel, Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, Raving Rabbids, and Sonic and the Secret Rings
ssuk @ Jun 17th 2007 5:23AM
"Wii hype will die down soon" says SEGA as they laugh all the way to the bank after Sonic and The Secret Rings.
ron @ Jun 17th 2007 2:45PM
This reminds me when people said the ipod hype would die down, and look at what happened...