A Change in Wii Software - What needs to be done!

The Nintendo Wii has few games from third party developers that can compete with Nintendo's own software. The reasoning for this is blamed on publisher's not taking risks on Wii software. Several of the Wii's best games from third party developers are from generations past such as Resident Evil 4 and Okami from Capcom, and Medal of Honor Heroes Two and Godfather: Blackhand Edition from Electronic Arts. According to videogame review congregation site GameRankings, there are currently four third party franchises originating on Wii that have a cumulative score above the eightieth-percentile mark. Those games are Boom Blox from Electronic Arts, Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaro's Treasure from Capcom, No More Heroes from Ubisoft, and Lost Winds from Frontier Developments.

The Wii has been on retail for what is nearing a year and a half. With so few established franchises on Wii, certain developers have taken notice. Director of Platinum games Shigenori Nishikawa felt, "… that the Wii Marketplace had too many of the same type of games - there was something missing in the line-up. That's why we created such a game as Mad World." David Braben, chairman of Frontier, stated his concern with the situation through his experiences with Lost Winds; "Experimenting with the Wii… scares publishers… there haven't been as many titles that you expect to use the Wii the way its designed to." High Voltage, the developing team behind the upcoming Wii exclusive The Conduit, has yet to secure a publisher for their title because they, "…just want to be far enough along that someone doesn't come in and monkey the whole thing up." – Eric Nofsinger, VP of Creative Content. Kerry Ganofsky, CEO and founder of High Voltage Software continues his disappointment with Wii software; "We think it's a real shame that publishers and developers aren't taking advantage of the technical possibilities of the Wii platform."

But who is to blame for this lack of effort from developers and publishers alike? Sega of America's VP of Marketing Scott Steinberg says that, "…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… 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." But few publishers and developers have yet to change. Some publishers, such as Square Enix have gone as far as job cuts to those development teams who create games outside of the mainstream circle of interest. Other publishers have promised more support but have yet to deliver. After Yves Guillemot, CEO of Paris, France-based Ubisoft promised that Ubisoft would create, "Nintendo-like quality," on the Wii only to demonstrate games of historically poor franchises such as "Imagine" and "Petz" at Ubidays, there is little hope for the future.

This petition is to demonstrate Wii gamers' unwillingness to allow this to continue. It is time for developers to create meaningful experiences on Wii and it is time for publishers to realize that there is a demographic for such games. Sign this petition to show your support for not only higher quality titles on Wii, but also titles that take risks and push all genres on the Wii, not only casual experiences designed for every family member. It is time for change.

In order for change to happen, publishers must accept the possibility of failure, but in the same respect, open to the chance that taking a risk and backing it up with an advertisement campaign could lead to success. For how could we know what works if none have ever tried it?

If you are interested, there is a petition that you may sign here.

I can see a change already from a number of companies. This year, No More Heroes, Boom Blox, LostWinds and even a port like Okami are solid Wii games and I can see a number of good sleeper hits coming from 3rd party developers.

You mentioned Madworld and The Conduit... seeing those games coming to the Wii is a sign that some developers are willing to take risks. Even a game like Spyborgs is going to get some attention.

The Wii might not get the big blockbusters like Resident Evil 5, but I see the Wii getting more attention in the coming months.

I can see a change already from a number of companies. This year, No More Heroes, Boom Blox, LostWinds and even a port like Okami are solid Wii games and I can see a number of good sleeper hits coming from 3rd party developers.

You mentioned Madworld and The Conduit... seeing those games coming to the Wii is a sign that some developers are willing to take risks. Even a game like Spyborgs is going to get some attention.

The Wii might not get the big blockbusters like Resident Evil 5, but I see the Wii getting more attention in the coming months.

TDLlama

sure, but then there is Ubisoft who creates amazing games for every other system but Wii. That is what I want to change!

who cares. Wii is in 1st place.

They can do whatever they want. They r #1.

who cares. Wii is in 1st place.

They can do whatever they want. They r #1.

-GhostMLD-

number one in sales perhaps. But who cares about sales when the only games you are playing are from Nintendo plus a few unique and awesome titles that never get an advertisement campaign to back them up. It's hurting developers and it's hurting publishers.

It's time to change that!

Nintendo needs to make more original IPs and not just a next iteration in its proven franchises. I mean another Zelda, Metroid, Mario platformer, every mario sports game, mario kart, and smashies.

People keep saying Nintendo is the best 1st party, but when they just keep updating their existing franchises I really don't think so.

I think Sony is doing better so far this gen with its 1st party and the reason is because for every next iteration of an existing Sony franchise there is another new original IP.

Anyway about changing their 3rd party it may get more even with good titles compared to crappy, but there will still be tons of developers and publishers looking for a few bucks.

Im just waiting for Ubisoft to come out with their Petz 3 Lineup

Nintendo needs to make more original IPs and not just a next iteration in its proven franchises. I mean another Zelda, Metroid, Mario platformer, every mario sports game, mario kart, and smashies.

People keep saying Nintendo is the best 1st party, but when they just keep updating their existing franchises I really don't think so.

I think Sony is doing better so far this gen with its 1st party and the reason is because for every next iteration of an existing Sony franchise there is another new original IP.

Anyway about changing their 3rd party it may get more even with good titles compared to crappy, but there will still be tons of developers and publishers looking for a few bucks.

Im just waiting for Ubisoft to come out with their Petz 3 Lineup

CajunShooter

Though I agree with you about Nintendo, I think more pressure needs to be put on 3rd parties. It's ridiculous what they have gotten away with. Publishing such terrible ideas and terrible games. It's going back to the Atari days, and that is unacceptable! The Wii is a platform that thrives on risk, and few risks have been taken on it other than by Nintendo.

Come on 3rd parties! Start making great games and start backing them up with advertising campaigns!

[QUOTE="CajunShooter"]

Nintendo needs to make more original IPs and not just a next iteration in its proven franchises. I mean another Zelda, Metroid, Mario platformer, every mario sports game, mario kart, and smashies.

People keep saying Nintendo is the best 1st party, but when they just keep updating their existing franchises I really don't think so.

I think Sony is doing better so far this gen with its 1st party and the reason is because for every next iteration of an existing Sony franchise there is another new original IP.

Anyway about changing their 3rd party it may get more even with good titles compared to crappy, but there will still be tons of developers and publishers looking for a few bucks.

Im just waiting for Ubisoft to come out with their Petz 3 Lineup

kansasdude2009

Though I agree with you about Nintendo, I think more pressure needs to be put on 3rd parties. It's ridiculous what they have gotten away with. Publishing such terrible ideas and terrible games. It's going back to the Atari days, and that is unacceptable! The Wii is a platform that thrives on risk, and few risks have been taken on it other than by Nintendo.

Come on 3rd parties! Start making great games and start backing them up with advertising campaigns!

Hey Kansas, I signed the petition. ;)

Although I wholeheartedly agree with what you've said about third-parties, have Nintendo really been making risks? Just seems like the same franchises over and over.

Zak and Wiki was a different experience, why didn't you buy it?

NMH was a comic inspired hack and slash with style, why didn't you buy it?

There's a reason game publisher's don't bring certain games on the wii, because the average wii consumers aren't interested in em..

When conduit and MadWorld come out I'm almost willing to bet that they sell like crap, even if they turn out to be great titles.. You can't blame everything on the publishers/devs when the consumers refuse to buy something..

Zak and Wiki was a different experience, why didn't you buy it?

NMH was a comic inspired hack and slash with style, why didn't you buy it?

There's a reason game publisher's don't bring certain games on the wii, because the average wii consumers aren't interested in em..

When conduit and MadWorld come out I'm almost willing to bet that they sell like crap, even if they turn out to be great titles.. You can't blame everything on the publishers/devs when the consumers refuse to buy something..

OhSnapitz

[QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

Zak and Wiki was a different experience, why didn't you buy it?

NMH was a comic inspired hack and slash with style, why didn't you buy it?

There's a reason game publisher's don't bring certain games on the wii, because the average wii consumers aren't interested in em..

When conduit and MadWorld come out I'm almost willing to bet that they sell like crap, even if they turn out to be great titles.. You can't blame everything on the publishers/devs when the consumers refuse to buy something..

GunSmith1_basic

Let's say your numbers are correct... Which Iwould find surprisingly because neither game made a splash on the NPD's or japanese sales charts. But just for this one time... considering that the wii has an installed base of like 24 million and the 360 has one of 19 million... selling 300k when most 360 games clear 500k in a month, is BAD. Hell LO sold more than those games initially and it wasn't even aimed at American gamers..

Nintendo needs to make more original IPs and not just a next iteration in its proven franchises. I mean another Zelda, Metroid, Mario platformer, every mario sports game, mario kart, and smashies.

People keep saying Nintendo is the best 1st party, but when they just keep updating their existing franchises I really don't think so.

I think Sony is doing better so far this gen with its 1st party and the reason is because for every next iteration of an existing Sony franchise there is another new original IP.

Anyway about changing their 3rd party it may get more even with good titles compared to crappy, but there will still be tons of developers and publishers looking for a few bucks.

Im just waiting for Ubisoft to come out with their Petz 3 Lineup

CajunShooter

What first party has sony released? folklore? thats not even Batallion wars 2 level.

[QUOTE="GunSmith1_basic"][QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

Zak and Wiki was a different experience, why didn't you buy it?

NMH was a comic inspired hack and slash with style, why didn't you buy it?

There's a reason game publisher's don't bring certain games on the wii, because the average wii consumers aren't interested in em..

When conduit and MadWorld come out I'm almost willing to bet that they sell like crap, even if they turn out to be great titles.. You can't blame everything on the publishers/devs when the consumers refuse to buy something..

OhSnapitz

Let's say your numbers are correct... Which Iwould find surprisingly because neither game made a splash on the NPD's or japanese sales charts. But just for this one time... considering that the wii has an installed base of like 24 million and the 360 has one of 19 million... selling 300k when most 360 games clear 500k in a month, is BAD. Hell LO sold more than those games initially and it wasn't even aimed at American gamers..

[QUOTE="GunSmith1_basic"][QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

Zak and Wiki was a different experience, why didn't you buy it?

NMH was a comic inspired hack and slash with style, why didn't you buy it?

There's a reason game publisher's don't bring certain games on the wii, because the average wii consumers aren't interested in em..

When conduit and MadWorld come out I'm almost willing to bet that they sell like crap, even if they turn out to be great titles.. You can't blame everything on the publishers/devs when the consumers refuse to buy something..

OhSnapitz

Let's say your numbers are correct... Which Iwould find surprisingly because neither game made a splash on the NPD's or japanese sales charts. But just for this one time... considering that the wii has an installed base of like 24 million and the 360 has one of 19 million... selling 300k when most 360 games clear 500k in a month, is BAD. Hell LO sold more than those games initially and it wasn't even aimed at American gamers..

Umm... you would have a point except that it's more expensive to make 360 games and they basically have to sell more units before companies make a profit. The Wii on the other hand is cheaper to develop for and thus requires less units sold to make a profit. So if Capcom and Grasshopper are happy about the sales of their games (which received 0 advertising mind you), then how can you say that the sales are bad?

Zak and Wiki was a different experience, why didn't you buy it?

NMH was a comic inspired hack and slash with style, why didn't you buy it?

There's a reason game publisher's don't bring certain games on the wii, because the average wii consumers aren't interested in em..

When conduit and MadWorld come out I'm almost willing to bet that they sell like crap, even if they turn out to be great titles.. You can't blame everything on the publishers/devs when the consumers refuse to buy something..

OhSnapitz

Neiter of those games had any advertising. How are the mainstream supposed to buy games they don't even know exist?

In order for change to happen, publishers must accept the possibility of failure, but in the same respect, open to the chance that taking a risk and backing it up with an advertisement campaign could lead to success. For how could we know what works if none have ever tried itkansasdude2009

[QUOTE="kansasdude2009"]

In order for change to happen, publishers must accept the possibility of failure, but in the same respect, open to the chance that taking a risk and backing it up with an advertisement campaign could lead to success. For how could we know what works if none have ever tried itTeufelhuhn

Well, considering it's cheaper to dev for the Wii, putting more money into a venture still would not equal the higher risk ventures on the other two consoles. In fact, it seems like more and more publishers like Ubisoft and Square Enix are reporting losses since they have really supported the HD consoles rather than the Wii. If stockholders should abandon ship, it should be now for their current strategies.

[QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

Zak and Wiki was a different experience, why didn't you buy it?

NMH was a comic inspired hack and slash with style, why didn't you buy it?

There's a reason game publisher's don't bring certain games on the wii, because the average wii consumers aren't interested in em..

When conduit and MadWorld come out I'm almost willing to bet that they sell like crap, even if they turn out to be great titles.. You can't blame everything on the publishers/devs when the consumers refuse to buy something..

goblaa

Neiter of those games had any advertising. How are the mainstream supposed to buy games they don't even know exist?

yeah. i agree. just like halo on xbox and gears of war on xbox360, good game needs good advertising

no TC fails.

There are more third party games coming out on wii than first party.

A petition is good, but polls are better. ATW_machine

No, the only thing that will really affect the developers is if people stop buying trashy games like Petz. Unfortunately, pretty much nobody on Gamespot buys those games anyway so there's nothing we can do! LOL!

[QUOTE="CajunShooter"]

Nintendo needs to make more original IPs and not just a next iteration in its proven franchises. I mean another Zelda, Metroid, Mario platformer, every mario sports game, mario kart, and smashies.

People keep saying Nintendo is the best 1st party, but when they just keep updating their existing franchises I really don't think so.

I think Sony is doing better so far this gen with its 1st party and the reason is because for every next iteration of an existing Sony franchise there is another new original IP.

Anyway about changing their 3rd party it may get more even with good titles compared to crappy, but there will still be tons of developers and publishers looking for a few bucks.

Im just waiting for Ubisoft to come out with their Petz 3 Lineup

Marth6781

What first party has sony released? folklore? thats not even Batallion wars 2 level.

no TC fails.

There are more third party games coming out on wii than first party.

rgame1

quantity is NOT the issue. Nice try though! ;)

[QUOTE="ATW_machine"]A petition is good, but polls are better. chutup

No, the only thing that will really affect the developers is if people stop buying trashy games like Petz. Unfortunately, pretty much nobody on Gamespot buys those games anyway so there's nothing we can do! LOL!

And petz games are only on the Wii, never made on any other system ya know.

who cares. Wii is in 1st place.

They can do whatever they want. They r #1.

-GhostMLD-

But then we would be like the PS2. We want to be better!

I chose "So."

I agree that third party developers need to step it up and take risks and that they need to realize that not all gamers are "casual". Making a petition isn't going to do anything though. Many developers only care about how much they can bank on a title. You can't FORCE them to make a game to your liking. The most any of us can do is boycott games developed by those developers in question.

no TC fails.

There are more third party games coming out on wii than first party.

rgame1

YEAH it's ridiculous nitendo can't even beat (how many devss) on their own i mean failo absoluto right?

I chose "So."

I agree that third party developers need to step it up and take risks and that they need to realize that not all gamers are "casual". Making a petition isn't going to do anything though. Many developers only care about how much they can bank on a title. You can't FORCE them to make a game to your liking. The most any of us can do is boycott games developed by those developers in question.

wiretoss

persuasion and disobedience are powerful allies. Refuse these games and spread the idea of meaningful Wii software, and you might be surprised. This petition is not set out to save the world, it is only one small part in a process that could take years.

I hope Ubi sees the petition, because there the main reason i signed.

Seriously, they make quality games with there first string dev teams on PS3/360 but have there 4th string teams making imagine and Petz for wiia and ds.

I think you put it perfectly. The whole situation is a bit disappointing. Unfortunately, commercialism tends to blunt art and creativity in the end, every time. Perhaps, by some magic, Nintendo will get the third parties to pull their fingers out, but with the Wii sales, I don't think so.

It actually hurts me to look in the shops and see all the cheapo shovelware with the Wii logo on, and even more, people must be buying it! I think we're going to see the start of the largest split in gaming communities for a long time.

My Oppions:

I think that the Devs will be having a hard time in thinking of good ways to use the wii mote, i mean there is such pressure for it to be implemented i dont feel its worht the risk in developing high quality AAA games for it when you can be more certain that a game will not only look better but play better ( for all games bar a few ) with a normal controller/console. Shooting games,RPG's etc etc i cant see how a wii mote ( and there is no games which have conviced me so far ) is better than using a normal console, its just like a glorified light gun for FPS. And in comparison the hardware for the wii is so far behind the standards of the 360 and the PS3 you would feel as a developer your making a game which looks and plays worse than what your creative vision has planned out.

So theWii mote is a great sales magnent but in terms of being useful for the games for hardcore gamers it is just usful forarcade/ party games which offer little to no depth but are fun. Every time i go into game i look at the wii shelf there is 90% junk, its hard to even see the good games between all the rubbish.

I personally wish nintendo had gone down the normal track instead of the creative track. But this was not a great route for sales etc as look how badly the gamecube did, the wii has already sold 50% more than it and its only 2years into its life!

All in all i agree with some of your points but i think people are avoiding the point that the wii mote may be a good idea but it is not suitable for the majoirty of games, even nintendos AAA games make little use of it, im unconviced with Zelda TP useage of the wii mote and at times it has hindered my gameplay experience by its unresponsiveness in comparison to a joystick. SMG also makes little use of it. Brawl, mario kart..... The wii mote is in its prime with games like wii sports.... but games like that get boring and its hard to make a million wii sports ( even though many devs have tried ) and party games.