Wii sales are slumping and the associated software sales, in a word suck. Really really suck.
Wii games, outside of the core Nintendo staples a-la Zelda and such, have never really done that well.
Way back 2007-2008, when Wii hardware sales were ripping the charts, developers got caught with their pants down.
So they took the cheapest and fastest way back into the Wii market. Hoark, copy, and rip-off Wii Sports…trying to cash in on the waggle phenomenon.
What Wii owners got were an avalanche of crapware. I won’t even call those titles shovel-ware, they’re simply put crapware that listed for $29-$39 but quickly found themselves in the bargain bin of consoles past standing right next to Xbox and Dreamcast titles for under $15.
When gamers and media complained, developers took the easy way out and blamed Wii’s last generation hardware. And so, they continued with the deluge of crapware and cheap ports.
Wii has never been a platform where software attach rates were that good. There were and still are, a hand-full (maybe 6 or must have titles. Beyond that, there’s really nothing else regardless if you’re hard-corps gammer or casual.
I have a hard time believing that an industry’s issue is completely blamed upon a single console. Rather, the issue to me is gaming developers have gone the way of Hollywood. Rather than truly innovate and develop new properties, the effort is mostly placed on moderately upgraded sequels.
On the Wii, this has become commonplace. Rather than develop for a platform that’s sold really well, there’s half-assed efforts strewn throughout. Sure, a few developers truly take the time and effort to make games for Wii, but most continue the tried and true formula first found in Mario Party on N64. Small cutesy mini-games or quick-hit games on WiiWare.
Even Nintendo doesn’t take the time to push it’s Virtual Console titles. It’s not worth converting those, it’s easier just to push out crap.
Nintendo knows what’s up, I just don’t think they give a crap anymore. Success, it seems, does indeed breed laziness.
They’ve got issues on the Wii, but it’s been their cash cow for so long, it’s hard for them to find fault. Remember that they’ve spent year’s pissing off developers when Nintendo was king and you’ll understand that Nintendo just doesn’t want to rock the boat. Developers back in NES, SNES, and N64 days would find it hard pressed to throw a piece of crap title on the consoles. Nintendo’s quality seal meant something back then. Now? Not so much…
Wii is quickly losing it’s unique position. Now Sony and Microsoft are jumping in on the action with “motion” controllers on their HD-powered consoles at equally “HD” prices. Where’s Wii to stand after those, even though unimpressive upgrades, “motion” controllers roll out?
Wii Motion Plus is notable, but what’s next? A heart-rate monitor? Please…that’s just hard-crapware.
Software sales on Wii suck for a variety of reasons. Lazy developers, lazy quality control, and an even lazier Nintendo who is just happy making money hand-over-fist. Sure, we’ll get our Zelda, Metroid, Goldeneye, and a few other titles, but beyond updated retreads (no-matter how much fun they are), what else is there?
Wii HD had better be leaked this year, or Nintendo’s got 3DS and nothing.
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Wii Hardware To Software Sales Suck
Wii sales are slumping and the associated software sales, in a word suck. Really really suck.
Wii games, outside of the core Nintendo staples a-la Zelda and such, have never really done that well.
Way back 2007-2008, when Wii hardware sales were ripping the charts, developers got caught with their pants down.
So they took the cheapest and fastest way back into the Wii market. Hoark, copy, and rip-off Wii Sports…trying to cash in on the waggle phenomenon.
What Wii owners got were an avalanche of crapware. I won’t even call those titles shovel-ware, they’re simply put crapware that listed for $29-$39 but quickly found themselves in the bargain bin of consoles past standing right next to Xbox and Dreamcast titles for under $15.
When gamers and media complained, developers took the easy way out and blamed Wii’s last generation hardware. And so, they continued with the deluge of crapware and cheap ports.
Fast forward to now, and Wii gets blamed for lackluster game sales.
Wii has never been a platform where software attach rates were that good. There were and still are, a hand-full (maybe 6 or
must have titles. Beyond that, there’s really nothing else regardless if you’re hard-corps gammer or casual.
I have a hard time believing that an industry’s issue is completely blamed upon a single console. Rather, the issue to me is gaming developers have gone the way of Hollywood. Rather than truly innovate and develop new properties, the effort is mostly placed on moderately upgraded sequels.
On the Wii, this has become commonplace. Rather than develop for a platform that’s sold really well, there’s half-assed efforts strewn throughout. Sure, a few developers truly take the time and effort to make games for Wii, but most continue the tried and true formula first found in Mario Party on N64. Small cutesy mini-games or quick-hit games on WiiWare.
Even Nintendo doesn’t take the time to push it’s Virtual Console titles. It’s not worth converting those, it’s easier just to push out crap.
Nintendo knows what’s up, I just don’t think they give a crap anymore. Success, it seems, does indeed breed laziness.
They’ve got issues on the Wii, but it’s been their cash cow for so long, it’s hard for them to find fault. Remember that they’ve spent year’s pissing off developers when Nintendo was king and you’ll understand that Nintendo just doesn’t want to rock the boat. Developers back in NES, SNES, and N64 days would find it hard pressed to throw a piece of crap title on the consoles. Nintendo’s quality seal meant something back then. Now? Not so much…
Wii is quickly losing it’s unique position. Now Sony and Microsoft are jumping in on the action with “motion” controllers on their HD-powered consoles at equally “HD” prices. Where’s Wii to stand after those, even though unimpressive upgrades, “motion” controllers roll out?
Wii Motion Plus is notable, but what’s next? A heart-rate monitor? Please…that’s just hard-crapware.
Software sales on Wii suck for a variety of reasons. Lazy developers, lazy quality control, and an even lazier Nintendo who is just happy making money hand-over-fist. Sure, we’ll get our Zelda, Metroid, Goldeneye, and a few other titles, but beyond updated retreads (no-matter how much fun they are), what else is there?
Wii HD had better be leaked this year, or Nintendo’s got 3DS and nothing.