Wii Ware: developers are for it, vocally
by JC Fletcher 
{ Mar 18th 2008 at 2:15PM }
Under the cover of anonymity, Wii Ware developers are coming out in support of Nintendo's download service, to the detriment of Xbox Live Arcade. According to Develop Magazine, Nintendo has been marketing Wii Ware to developers as an alternative to Microsoft's popular store, citing advantages like flexible pricing and smaller budgets. Their most attractive pitch: more money. Microsoft recently changed the royalty structure for XBLA games, which results in a lot less income for many developers. Also, Nintendo's division of VC and Wii Ware titles makes it easier for original games to be noticed and not lost in a pile of retro games -- a problem from which both XBLA and the PlayStation Network suffer, according to the interviewed developers. This problem led one developer to declare XBLA "full of shit."
Wii Ware's developer-friendliness isn't just good for them, it's good for us. Wii Ware is a lower-cost, higher-profit alternative to XBLA on a system with higher sales. Who's not going to want to make games for that?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Roto13 @ Mar 18th 2008 2:23PM
Didn't I read somewhere that the maximum file size for games on WiiWare is lower than on Xbox Live?
Brian @ Mar 18th 2008 2:25PM
yes, that is true. But you can still do great stuff with a smasll file size.
Brian @ Mar 18th 2008 2:25PM
*small
Sonic_13 @ Mar 18th 2008 4:24PM
And WiiWare games are compressed and then uncompressed when in play, so the equivalent game on XBLA would take up less space on WiiWare.
Pointz @ Mar 18th 2008 4:42PM
Ocarina of Time 256mb (32MB) N64 Cartridge
Source: Wikipedia
Phantom Hourglass 64MB (NDS Card)
Which game felt bigger?
Mr Khan @ Mar 18th 2008 4:48PM
Plus, you don't have to meet their 720p minimum, which is a particular space-eater for 2D games, which have to be native 720p, while 3D games can natively upscale to 720p (Halo 3 says hi), and still meet the Microsoft-imposed requirements
Daniel Lawson @ Mar 18th 2008 4:56PM
please sonic... I understand how you think the Wii is teh awsome, but when it comes to compression and decompression the 360 puts the system to shame. I imagine almost every single XBLA original game and many others use compression to great extent. Also remember that less then 1/3 of games on Live are retro, but then again how do you compete against the Arcade version of TMNT with online co-op?
xeleion @ Mar 18th 2008 2:30PM
Haha, Microsoft's like, "Look at what we got, guys!", and Nintento's all like "But we give you more monies. And waggle!"
Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Mar 18th 2008 2:43PM
I read some of the comments on Joystiq about this: it was really pathetic. Why so much arguing? Are people that insecure about the product they purchased that they need to denigrate another? Arguing about products. Talk about rampant consumerisation. Or maybe the people are just really, really bored? Either way, it's rather sad.
Anyway, cheaper development costs can only be a good thing. Without the weight of funding on their minds, developers can get on to with pushing new ideas and creating fun games. Because that's what games are: fun.
Mr Khan @ Mar 18th 2008 4:44PM
This one is easier to explain
a developer for the console which has, inarguably, the worst online service, talked smack on the one which has, arguably, the best online service
Basically, the angry people saw "Wii Ware developer says Xbox Live Arcade is full of shit" and their brains skipped over the words "Ware & Arcade" assumed someone developing for Wii was calling Live shit, their brains were all "wtfbbq?!!? I am error!" and thus the argument ensued
vidGuy @ Mar 18th 2008 2:51PM
"Who's not going to want to make games for that?"
The developers whose games just got called "shit"?
manaman @ Mar 18th 2008 4:10PM
No, no,
If I read that correctly, an anonymous developer called the Xbox Live Arcade "full of $#!*" for reasons of poor differentiation between retro (Virtual Console) games and new content.
Peace,
manaman
CJLopez @ Mar 18th 2008 4:42PM
Hey Nintendo, me need SDK!!!!!
I got a doubt about this, for example, I want to develop a game using the Wii capabilities, specially the wiimote, will be something like SoulCalibur Legends GamePlay, but i want to use the WiiWare to distribute demos without a cost, would nintendo charge me for putting my demo on WiiWare and charge the people who want the demo even though i don't want any profit (yet ;) )
Daniel Lawson @ Mar 18th 2008 4:58PM
that would be cool if you could get an SDK, but you'd probably be better off messing around with XNA for now untill Nintendo launches aimed more at the user then the developer.
Daniel Lawson @ Mar 18th 2008 5:02PM
People were angry because good games sell well on XBLA arcade and crappy games do not... It's not the same as the regular games because you can play every single game before you buy it so you know what game is good and what game is crap
Phizzy @ Mar 18th 2008 7:06PM
The Wii's main install base of grandmas and four year-olds are going to hook their consoles up to a Wi-Fi connection, navigate to the WiiWare section of the shop channel, put in their credit card details and download Mario's Shovelware Bubblewrap Party 6: Return of the Squeeze? Developers moving from XBLA to WiiWare would mean moving from low profit to no profit. Morons.
Perverted @ Mar 18th 2008 7:45PM
they praise WW and hate on XBLA as they make more money of WW......It makes perfect sense...
Perverted @ Mar 18th 2008 7:49PM
I still need an edit button....
@Phizzy
Wii points card? easy to use. I highly doubt grandmas and four year olds play Smash Bros and that's selling by the truck loads.....
Also Getting my Wii online is about 15 times easier than my 360 which requires a wire plugged into it!
It's a channel it's on startup it's kinda hard to miss....
Oh and some of like bubble wrap.