Wii Music makes slow start, Nintendo hoping it has legs
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Nov 14th 2008 at 7:00PM }
Nintendo isn't about to panic, however. Rather, Dunaway thinks it could have the same long-term appeal already displayed by Wii Fit, Wii Play, and Mario Kart Wii, all of which regularly show up in the monthly NPD charts. "We're predicting that it's going to be an evergreen title, she told MTV Multiplayer. "And if you look at titles like Brain Age, it's about the same as what Brain Age did during it's first few weeks and went on to sell 2.5 million copies. Wii Fit certainly had a larger launch than that. But I think that people are starting to understand Wii Music."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mr Khan @ Nov 14th 2008 7:27PM
hmm...
It really seems like this game has failed to find its audience. Sad in a way, as its Miyamoto's most treasured project, but ultimately necessary
It will have legs, probably. The issue is it's not going to net the same people that love Wii Sports and Wii Fit, it just can't
TX2 @ Nov 14th 2008 7:28PM
Hmm... interesting picture of Cammie Dunaway.
Moojuice @ Nov 14th 2008 7:46PM
I just don't get the appeal of this game. They are marketing it to be fun for the whole family, and I think that this is a good direction to take if there are little kids involved, but the average 20-50 yr old is not going to be personally interested in flailing about to play (mostly) lame tunes. Keep in mind that I haven't played the title myself, just my two cents.
Maattp @ Nov 14th 2008 7:54PM
This serves Nintendo right. Making terrible games like this.
R_Fusion @ Nov 17th 2008 3:34PM
Ditto. Hope they learn a bit.
Sora @ Nov 14th 2008 7:51PM
That picture's just begging to have a penis shopped onto it.
halo 3 sucks. @ Nov 14th 2008 9:04PM
Great minds think alike.
haro500 @ Nov 14th 2008 7:54PM
i made the mistake of buying wii music, and discovered that its just not freakin fun, at all
did the wii meastro all the way through, got one more pitch perfect game to play, and unless that opens up more games i have no fucking clue how to open up more songs, and even though ive watched the "jam basics" tutor lesson, the second still isnt open
what im saying is that not only is playing it not really fun by any measure, there isnt a defined line to play, its just kinda something to fuck around with while recieving no gratification, no feeling of accomplishment, feels more like an add-on to a music game than the whole game
Ninbrendo @ Nov 14th 2008 8:21PM
Start saving videos of your jams to open up new lessons...
I hadn't intended on purchasing this title, but it was given to me as a gift. I've been enjoying it, but my expectations were rather low. I'm sure it will be much more fun to play with others.
haro500 @ Nov 14th 2008 8:56PM
thanks, i havent been saving them because i buy alot of wiiware and vc, and try not to use ny space i dont absolutely have to, but is it really worth it? do the new lessons open anything up?
Ninbrendo @ Nov 14th 2008 11:18PM
I have to admit that I don't know if saving more videos will take up more "blocks" of memory (or how many), but I do know that doing so will indeed open up new lessons, new songs, new instruments, and new backgrounds.
I've only been playing Wii Music since Wednesday, so all I can offer is what I've experienced so far. Hell, I was in the same boat as you are, and had to check out GameFAQs just to figure out how to "unlock" the second lesson! Saving Jam Videos? Who knew? Who cares?
I agree with you about the limited memory. I loaded up on the VC games long before WiiWare came along, and since then have been shuffling my games between the SD card and the console. It totally sucks, and it's been months since I've paid Nintendo for any new downloads, even though I really want World Of Goo.
warioswoods2 @ Nov 15th 2008 3:22PM
You're both missing the point of the game entirely, and I suppose that's the real reason for its sales problem. Everyone thinks they know what a "music video game" is: mindlessly hitting buttons at the right time according to a scrolling score, or, as was my first thought upon seeing Guitar Hero year ago, DanceDanceRevolution for the physically lazy. Behind this is the laughable notion of the rock virtuoso, where musical skill would somehow be measured by nothing but speed and accuracy.
That's not what Wii Music is at all, and if you even begin to approach it that way, you're wasting your time. Rather than approaching music from the perspective of an individual performer, this game puts you in the even more difficult position of a band leader. The challenge is to create an arrangement and recording that actually sounds good, that uses varied textures and rhythms, and that puts a different spin on an otherwise familiar tune.
That's a far, far harder task than playing GH or RBand, and it takes at least a half hour and usually more in order to turn one song into something truly interesting musically. It's not a casual game at all, in fact, and the GH lineage is what sells to the casual market in great volumes, not something like this.
If you want to see what can be done with the game, browse youtube or, even better if you don't want to wade through all the terrible recordings, check out This Week's Music Videos on the Nintendo Channel.
I bought this game full price and have enjoyed it more than just about any video game I've bought in quite a while, although it can be frustrating in a way that games generally are not - it frustrates your creativity and your musical inventiveness rather than your button-mashing. And sometimes you'll spend an hour but produce nothing you're proud of, yet you really have only yourself to blame. The breakthroughs, however, are well worth the work.
Abscissa @ Nov 15th 2008 4:00PM
"The challenge is to create an arrangement and recording that actually sounds good, that uses varied textures and rhythms, and that puts a different spin on an otherwise familiar tune."
Umm, yea, if I'm gonna do that, I'd rather just use Reason or Fruity Loops or Acid or something like that.
warioswoods2 @ Nov 15th 2008 4:30PM
@Abscissa
Go right ahead, if you only intend to produce one of those horrible but ubiquitous electronic remixes that think adding layered, syncopated noises is somehow clever.
That kind of remixing is not for those who even a vague interest in and understanding of the history of musical instruments and styles. Wii Music makes you ponder how a trumpet could be used effectively in a piano-led arrangement, or what sort of percussive instruments and approach might elevate the bridge section of a song. You know -- real musical problems, not how to put another unimaginative layer on top of a repeating loop.
If I sound arrogant, so be it - notice that those with some real background in the study of music have rated the game very favorably, including the A- from 1up and Christian's review at thetanooki.com , amongst others. Then take note of what sort of hacks tend to be obsessed with GH-style games.
Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 17th 2008 12:06AM
Keep drinking that kool-aid wariowoods. Your not going to have many gamers agree with your purist and borderline snobbish view of the games that have propelled the rhythm genre into the stratosphere (GH & RB). If you find Wii Music intellectually stimulating I'm happy for you, but honestly; if Wii music takes that type of attitude and understanding to reach it's audience then it's not doing it's job. Games are supposed to be fun instead of a second job.
Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 17th 2008 12:11AM
Warioswoods ...
Also, the PS3 version of Gh:World Tour has an actual full music track creator. The genre is evolving into more than accurate rhythm's and timing. I have enjoyed RB2 & GH:WT more than any other rhythm game I have ever played. Anyone who says the game is for the ultimate casual gamer has never played it. The purpose of Wii Music was to give people a casual take on the rhythm genre.
rvkremer @ Nov 14th 2008 7:59PM
The audience for this game isn't there. People who want casual musical games have already bought guitar hero or rock band for their Wii. Their market is people who say "I really want to play an instrument, but I don't want to hold one."
It's like AMD's grand idea to target the "triple core" market long after quad cores were available. Nobody was saying "I need more than two processors, but four just seems excessive."
m-p{3} @ Nov 14th 2008 8:05PM
This game was potentially interesting during the Wii tech demos, but with games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, I don't see anything appealing anymore to this game.
And that picture is hilarious.
Hamster @ Nov 14th 2008 8:24PM
I guess casual games don't sell quite so well unless their either half-price (Brain Age, etc) or bundled with a peripheral (Wii Fit, etc). In which case maybe the casual market isn't quite as rosey as some would have you believe.
And maybe with the current financial situation casual/non-gamers aren't going to be splashing the cash so willingly on games.
dswill79 @ Nov 14th 2008 8:25PM
I don't think you could have found a more appropriate picture for this post!
milan @ Nov 14th 2008 9:09PM
Hopefully this will discourage Nintendo a bit from its recent casual stuff..
cmere, cammie
Kilano @ Nov 17th 2008 8:40AM
for god's sake....please let the game EPIC FAIL, if franchises like that get the money.... wii will loose another important step to the finish line called "GOOD GAMES"
i tried wii music with a friend...its was the horror, awful midi sounds. and the synchronisation is just laughable.
Instruments sounds like Amiga and C64 tunes, you dont have any real control over your instruments to play free...it sucks...
really it does
mr.sniper @ Nov 15th 2008 7:00AM
just don't get the appeal of this game. They are marketing it to be fun for the whole family, and I think that this is a good direction to take if there are little kids involved, but the average 20-50 yr old is not going to be personally interested in flailing about to play (mostly) lame tunes. Keep in mind that I haven't played the title myself, just my two cents.
www.hams-a.com
themizarkshow @ Nov 15th 2008 8:46AM
I've been a longtime, diehard Nintendo fan up until the DS and Wii. I have both, but have been even more disappointed with them than I was with the GameCube. Eventually, when the casual market moves on to the next big thing, and Nintendo is left behind, guess who it will have to win over again.
Kid Nicky @ Nov 15th 2008 10:14PM
They should consider a price drop. I own this game,and it is NOT worth full price,at all.
Apothekari @ Nov 15th 2008 11:45AM
I totally agree with most of the comments here.
I believe going into this Christmas with NO games is really going to hurt the WII.
I work at a game store and we have absolutely NO pre orders for anything Nintendo.
Abscissa @ Nov 15th 2008 4:03PM
"But I think that people are starting to understand Wii Music."
I understand Wii Music. That's why I haven't bought it.
Elsin @ Nov 16th 2008 12:23AM
Ahhh the sweet sweet sound of the Wii's inevitable demise. While I truly feel bad for Shiggy I don't feel bad for what the Wii has become. Having owned one since launch I can truly say that I regret buying it. The Wii had and has a lot of potential but that's all it is... Potential... DAMMIT NINTENDO WHERE ARE THE CORE GAMES! I don't want to give up but you're forcing me to...
Ben @ Nov 16th 2008 2:05PM
hah, that picture makes me laugh.
Knoxximus @ Nov 16th 2008 2:07PM
Man, look at the Sternocleidomastoids on that chick....WOW.
john @ Nov 20th 2008 11:19PM
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Myspace Playlist