GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Activision launches Wii-specific 'Wee 1st' label

Initial batch of Nintendo-centric games due this holiday, will include Little League World Series 2008, Rapala Fishing Frenzy, and Dancing with the Stars.

75 Comments

Although some independent developers are trying to open a conduit of "core" games to the Wii, most major third-party publishers have been content to embrace the console's casual emphasis. This morning, Midway announced a sequel to its Game Party minigame compilation, and Ubisoft recently announced a posterior-powered, third Rayman Raving Rabbids title.

Electronic Arts has gone several steps further, giving all EA Sports Wii titles a pick-up-and-play option and incorporating Miis into select games such as FIFA 08. The megapublisher also rejiggered its multibillion-dollar Sims franchise for the console in the form of MySims, and has released the minigame compilations EA Playground and the rhythm game Boogie.

Today, EA's archrival Activision announced it, too, will be putting greater emphasis on Wii development. Less than a day after its shareholders overwhelmingly approved a merger with Vivendi Games, the soon-to-be half of Activision Blizzard revealed a new Wii-specific label called Wee 1st.

"The Wii is introducing new audiences to gaming," said Activision Publishing's Dave Oxford. "Clearly, the Wii's accessible controls are changing how the audience plays games and how we look at game design. This initiative is designed to showcase games that take full advantage of the Wii's capabilities."

Unfortunately for those impartial to casual games, Activision appears to be taking the same tack as its competitors. The first wave bearing the Wee 1st label, due in the fourth quarter, includes the less-than-hardcore Little League World Series 2008 and Rapala Fishing Frenzy, as well as the TV tie-in Dancing with the Stars: Get Your Dance On! However, Activision did say more holiday titles "will be announced in the upcoming weeks." That raises the possibility of new games being unveiled at the publisher's media event being held alongside--but not in conjunction with--the E3 Media & Business Summit next week.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 75 comments about this story
75 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
  • 75 results
  • 1
  • 2
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for Mindy
Mindy

245

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

haha dancing with the stars?!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for aduana69
aduana69

466

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 29

User Lists: 0

????? please next time

Upvote • 
Avatar image for lettuceman44
lettuceman44

7971

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 23

User Lists: 0

What is this?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for maybeehe
maybeehe

240

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

yeah...not bad

Upvote • 
Avatar image for huntervaneg
huntervaneg

519

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

.............................................................................................................(no words, WTF!!)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for grambyte
grambyte

3677

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Euhm... right... tnx for the update I guess...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for eddy96_1
eddy96_1

1388

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

k then

Upvote • 
Avatar image for gamah_killah
gamah_killah

13020

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Hmm.. okay

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Hungry_bunny
Hungry_bunny

14293

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Why so casual... -_-

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Cube_of_MooN
Cube_of_MooN

9286

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 14

User Lists: 0

Meh... whatever. I like my 360 best anyway.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Falcown
Falcown

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

mario113 don't worry about the PS3 fans, if they make jokes at us just remind them how horrible their system is doing compared to Wii. and i agree activision doesn't make very good games.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for hesel
hesel

2738

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Please no more mini-games, I can't take no more on the Wii.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mario113
mario113

45

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Please tell me this is'nt a real game activision face it your games have sucked over the years and now this they have gone from sucky to screw you! seriously ! do'nt make more wii games because those ps3 jerks re just going to throw the jokes like a pitcher

Upvote • 
Avatar image for playstation_wii
playstation_wii

5271

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I'd prefer Mario Sluggers.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for djdna514
djdna514

68

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Great news for those that don't get sick of the dozens of games that have come out that are complete failures because of the little thought that goes into them. And game party 2? really? So let me guess it comes with the free 20 dollars that it will be discounted by the week after its out. DecaSports, Summer Sports, M&M Racing...Seems like I can make a game, and as long as it requires shaking a Wii-mote, it'll be on the shelves tomorrow. So if this new advent means less crap games for the Wii, thumbs up. If it means more crappy games with a brand name backing them, shame on everyone. My game: Tooth Brusher-Shake the wii remote to battle tartar, plaque, and gingivitis! Up to 4 players, and 32 online!!!! What do you think Activision?! Hudson?! ANYONE!!!?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Falcown
Falcown

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Wazzap1 stay out of the Wii forums and go back to your failing PS3. I personally find this good and bad, its good because this could give Nintendo more family appeal and if blizzard decides to throw in a few games, *cough* warcraft *cough* it might expand the Wii's Market. but the only thing i find bad so far are the new games mentioned above. and as everyone else has complained about, the new name "wee 1st." I sense sony and microsoft fans writing their jokes as i type this...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TenP
TenP

3338

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

@jab692, I don't mean to burst your bubble but Okami was on the PS2 two years before it was on Wii. . . About the news, I hope this works out... My Wii's been gaining dust ever since I started to find Mario Kart and SSBB old.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for BontraXenderKyl
BontraXenderKyl

706

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@wazzap1. wii is for people who love it and for those whose brain keeps growing up - not for of course :P

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Dr_Corndog
Dr_Corndog

3245

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

Not all casual games are bad (see Guitar Hero, Boom Blox, Raving Rabids, etc.) We might get some good games out of this new label. But I agree, "Wee 1st" is an awful name.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jab692
jab692

60

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I hate when people say the Wii has no good games, when all the same people refuse to play Okami. It's adored by the critics, I loved it, it's hardcore, but people just ignore it and claim that the Wii has no good games. And how about Bully? Is that a family game. And Zelda, and RE4, and Metroid, and Brawl, and No More Heroes. Go ahead and call Galaxy a family game, but no little kid could ever beat it. So don't hate unless you have actually bought and beaten all the good games first. Because if there are any good Wii games you haven't played, you can't say that there aren't enough games. There's enough that I've been busy since the Wii launch, and there's Virtual Console too.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for LordAndrew
LordAndrew

7355

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

That's a terrible name. Activision should be ashamed.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for SonyGameHolder7
SonyGameHolder7

117

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

Time to take a wee...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for SolidSnake35
SolidSnake35

58971

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 3

These games seem to sell well where I work though. We don't even have the decent Wii games on the shelves, such as Paper Mario and Galaxy. Instead we have... Big Beach Sports. Yay. ^_^

Upvote • 
Avatar image for -Squirrel-
-Squirrel-

494

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

This is good for Wii. No these terrible casual shovelware games they just announced are not, but the emphasis being put on Wii exclusive development could turn into something really great as new titles are announced. Here's to hoping they have something special up their sleeves. Actually kinda interested in the Rapala fishing tho.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for MatthewNintendo
MatthewNintendo

177

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

okay there were jokes about the name wii when it was announced. But Activision have just taken it to the next level. Actually calling it 'Wee' first, is just utter stupidity.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Josepiphus
Josepiphus

571

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

NoooOOOOooooo more crap wii games.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for conformist
conformist

83

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Does Activision think that "wee" will care about their crappy games? My Lord I certainly hope not.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Kenji_Masamune
Kenji_Masamune

1012

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

"We only can depend on nintendo for wii games?" again.. people don't pay attention. Look at the game cube, look at the wii. See a similar pattern? 95% of games are 'family' games because 95% of all games made for nintendo are by nintendo.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-57fce817a4cf5
deactivated-57fce817a4cf5

4117

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 21

User Lists: 0

groan

Upvote • 
Avatar image for cspark809
cspark809

207

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

We only can depend on nintendo for wii games?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for hatieshorrer
hatieshorrer

1275

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

When are third party developers going to realize the last party game to become a million saler was Mario Party 8. Nintendo Wii fans like myself are tired of this casual gamer stuff "Show me more pro-games like CONDUIT"!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for kevscar2009
kevscar2009

34

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

The only reason I like my Wii is I save money since there are only a few games worth buying.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Kenji_Masamune
Kenji_Masamune

1012

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

"I'm tired of these "family" games" oh man, that was a good laugh. maybe you didn't notice on both the game cube and now the wii that 95% of all their games are 'family' games. If you want shooters you can always try out links crossbow trainer lawlz

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Thorpe89
Thorpe89

16902

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 52

User Lists: 0

I do like how the Wii works but I couldn't have it as my only console.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for AnGrYpHiL
AnGrYpHiL

226

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

... -.-

Upvote • 
Avatar image for lokokrema94
lokokrema94

48

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

Can wii have some good games plz? Man, why don't they make more shooters for the wii? I'm tired of these "family" games

Upvote • 
Avatar image for star77241
star77241

284

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

Give me a flipping real game for once! These games are great but come on you stupid third parties. I don't care if you copy or plagiarize someone else's good game. At least then you'd be making an effort instead of just being greedy.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ColdfireTrilogy
ColdfireTrilogy

4911

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 0

This doesn't necessarily mean they are going to be more lasting titles .... it just means more of these gimmick games are going to be released ... knowing three people who have a wii and all who play many games, i have yet to see over a handful of titles that had any longevity ... most of them are yes "pickup and play" games but after around 10 or so hours the novelty has worn out and unfortunately the games get boring fast .... it stinks but until devs start putting some backbone into their games its going to be continuations of boring party games ....

Upvote • 
Avatar image for cube-gage
cube-gage

377

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Wii, please. no COD4? no gta 4? no good fps? no good driving sim? no resident evil 5? NO!!!!!! Wii is a console that posh people buy for their kids. It is no good, apart from mario , zelda, even metroid if you like that. oh and ssbb is good i suppose. But it needs some good online shooters.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for xgalacticax
xgalacticax

2224

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Well, u cant get games like this on PS3 or 360 so someones gotta play it somewhere right?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ps360fan
ps360fan

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

4quarters Why don't they just say this system is only for babies........can't we have more than a few adult titles....I don't play anymore, there's very little on the horizon even.... Just buy a 360 or ps3. Problem solved.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for 4quarters
4quarters

397

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Why don't they just say this system is only for babies........can't we have more than a few adult titles....I don't play anymore, there's very little on the horizon even....

Upvote • 
Avatar image for CVM_123
CVM_123

1265

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

awesome!.....>_>

Upvote • 
Avatar image for black_ice23
black_ice23

1288

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

why dont they do what nintendo does make games that apply to both, like mario kart wii my friend she hates video games until her brother let her play mario kart with the wheel and now she plays for hours these guys dont need to dumb down a whole game to include everyone nintendo seems to have caught on why cant they take a page from their playbook

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ps360fan
ps360fan

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

What an absolutely terrible name for a games lineup.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Paul_TheGreat
Paul_TheGreat

9085

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

meh:roll:

Upvote • 
Avatar image for redskinStu
redskinStu

748

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 31

User Lists: 0

Sounds like a really serious, HARD CORE line-up of games.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for dangk
dangk

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

There's a MATURE HARDCORE Wii market for Action adventure games - ex. Zelda and OKAMI Adventure games - ex. Zack & Wiki and classic point & click games Platform games - ex. Super Paper Mario , Super Mario Galaxy Fighting games - ex. Mortal Combat, Super Smash Bros Brawl Puzzle games - ex. Trauma Center, Mercury Meltdown, Boom Blox All played by people over 20 years and up! The problem at the moment is that some developers target customers in the age of 12 and under. Not good for hardcore Wii gaming I think! The developers should just keep doing classy MATURE games also and we will all be happy buyers ;-) Personally I would like to see more action adventures. But first and foremost it would be nice to see really really FUN games. Games that you play with a smile on your face.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Mr_Tweedy
Mr_Tweedy

564

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

My heart breaks. Why, Activision, why?

Upvote • 
  • 75 results
  • 1
  • 2