Nintendo has, since its beginning, set out to change the the face of gaming. On several occasions it has succeeded. Nintendo has consistently and constantly challenged the gaming community with its impressive originality, and its clever marketing. With the Wii, Nintendo has focused on bringing society a consumer, family friendly console. Not only has Nintendo succeeded in this respect, they have changed how video game systems are viewed by a large majority of people. Before the Wii, this “large majority” wasn’t considered being part of the “gaming” world. However, with the inception of the Wii, this “majority” has begun crossing into the “gaming” world. Oddly enough, the original gaming community does not consider this new “majority” as part of their world.
There is an aura around the Wii of uselessness. Unlike the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, the Wii doesn’t have a gigantic platform to stand behind, a great online marketplace or immense storage space like the others do. Yet the Wii is incessantly in demand and non-gamers are going to extremes to get their hands on a Wii. Even more strange, it seems, these “non-gamers” aren’t buying the Wii for the same reasons “gamers” buy consoles. These new individuals are buying the Wii for the simple fact, they want to own a Wii. Nintendo has seen the Wii turn into something more than a next-gen gaming system; it has turned into a piece of artwork, a focal point in a room. The Wii has become a fine wine that is left to age. It has become more of a statement than a next-gen console, and with a constant state of demand its customer satisfaction will never suffer, no matter how useless the system.
It is true that Nintendo has made advances in the family friendly community with Wii Sports and Wii Fit, but it seems that, maybe to their dismay, they have abandoned, with the Wii, the idea of serving the “gaming” community. Nintendo has, with the Wii, began to focus on a new section of the population; a section which Sony and Microsoft have not focussed on. The Wii has strayed, considerably, from the usual releases and have promoted fantastic, friendly gaming. Since it’s not the average “gamer” the Wii and its games market to, Nintendo is offering basic, fun, group games. This has become a major turning stone in the next-gen console life, and the world of video games in general.
However, it should be noted that many of the individuals the Wii levitates toward are not continuing to use the system, nor are true “gamers;” who continue to play new and old video games on all other systems. The interesting thing about the Wii is that with absolutely no backbone it has become the most successful next-gen console. This is because people aren’t buying the Wii for the games, for the storage, or for the online play. People are buying the Wii because it’s the Wii. The Wii is as useless as a piece of artwork on the wall, and still people buy it. The Wii’s unprecedented demand has shaped its acceptance in the mainstream. As long as the Wii is not in high supply, it will always be in demand, and people will strive to buy it.
What a weird analogy to compare the Wii to, but I see where you’re coming from. Sounds like you just had enough with Nintendo and can’t wait any longer for a ‘hardcore’ game to drop or any other promises for the ‘core’ gamers to deliver? I smell a lot of raging from commentators coming…
Max makes some good points. How many non-gamers out there have gone and bought a Wii just because it’s the cool thing to do? I personally know a bunch of people who have it and own zero games for the system other than Wii Sports, which ships with it. People aren’t playing the Wii, they want it as a status symbol.
i have only played a Wii twice and I was not feeling it. If I wanted to wave a stick around I would become a magician or the conductor for a symphony.
I agree that a lot of people are buying it for the reasons you say. What I don’t agree with is when you say people are not using it. Game sales on the platform are very good. Attach rates are higher than the PS3. Everyone I know who owns one is enjoying it. Admittedly, they are more casual gamers, but you know what? Having 3 unique consoles all targeting the same market space doesn’t make a lot of sense. It splits the demographic up and makes success more difficult for everyone. And as to my demographic, the lapsed gamer, I applaud nintendo for creating a console that brought me back. I enjoyed the Wii so much that I got more involved in gaming and even bought a 360, which I also enjoy. I’ll probably buy a PS3 too when the price comes down, then I’ll have all three!
This article is a croc of bull. The Wii gets families and friends to play videogames together better than any gaming console ever has. Instead of overweight nerds playing cookie-cutter FPS games alone in their dark basement, the Wii gets everyone involved in the fun. And for those looking for more depth and challenge from their games, you don’t have to look far for gems like Zelda, Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime, Kart, Smash Brothers, etc. To call the Wii “useless” shows that the author either has no brain or no friends. Likely both.
While I’d like to disagree, I have to point out that I ‘ve owned the wii for approx. 2 months now and it does not get used in any where what so ever. I didn’t want one but the wife requested it for a b-day present and I couldn’t say no. ( I mean when does your wife ever ask for videogame anything?) We played it on her b-day (with some friends) and one more time the next night with our son ( a 3 year old toddler that loved wii baseball). She played a bit of Galaxies after that but since it has not been touched. The only thing I’ve done with it is use the usb ports to charge my ps3 controllers (as they are active on the wii when it’s in standby and the wii is a hell of a lot cheaper to leave on).
tl:dr
My wii has become a glorified charging station for my Dualshock 3’s.
[...] Check out the full article here [...]
I agree with the author on one point, at least- the Wii IS art. The fact that the author mentions that art is ‘useless,’ is a metaphysical conundrum who’s place to be explained or examined is not here. However, what an interesting stance to take towards the most visible piece of equipment in an industry that has long strived to be defined as art- as literature, film, and music are.
Moreso than art though, the Wii is a VIDEO GAME CONSOLE, not a computer. If I wanted 20-160 GB of storage space and a “great online marketplace,”…Dude, I’m getting a Dell…
While the other two systems seem content with building more powerful, more computer-esque versions of their previous consoles, Nintendo changed the routine. Increasing technological prowess is certainly important but lends essentially zilch to new, unique gaming experiences. The other systems are using controllers which haven’t changed nearly AT ALL since the SuperNES. Yet with the Wii you have the precision previously only afforded by a mouse and keyboard and with it, the opportunity to create compelling console versions of typically PC-only genres- RTS comes immediately to mind.
The Wii forces both consumer and developer to re-examine the status quo of video games. Higher, better, faster specs and ultra-realism can only take games and the people who play them so far- what we really need to further develop the culture and the industry into it’s own is propagate and support new, unique ways of playing. Then, the technological prowess isn’t useless because its being used on the newest version of a game we’ve seen three-four-five times, it enhances and engages us beyond what the core gaming experience of the title could do on its own.
“Useless” is maybe a little too harsh of a word, and although I don’t really know any personally, I’m confident that there are virgin gamers snapping up Wiis for the fun, but I definitely see where you’re coming from with this. Pretty much the only games I’m playing anymore (I have a Wii/DS with quite a few titles) are SSBB and GHIII.
If I were to expand of Josh’s list there, don’t forget: de Blob, Medal of Honor: Heroes 2, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil: UC, House of the Dead 2&3 Return, LostWinds, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King, Battalion Wars II, Fire Emblem, Endless Ocean, Geometry Wars: Galaxies, Boom Blox, Bully: Scholarship Edition, Warioland: Shake It!…
And with the likes of the Conduit, Tenchu IV, Onechanbara, House of the Dead: Overkill, MadWorld, Call of Duty: World at War (c’mon, pull it off Treyarch) in the coming year.
“People are buying the Wii because it’s the Wii. ”
So, the Wii has become the new NES?
Or the new Ipod?
“absolutely no backbone…”
This is just plain inaccurate. If anything, Nintendo’s got two backbones. It’s important to note that Nintendo have sold both ‘casual’ and ‘hardcore’ titles since the NES. If you loved Nintendo games, you probably played Zelda and Mario. If you didn’t know any better (because you didn’t subscribe to Nintendo Power), you could have played anything from Mario Teaches Typing to SESAME STREET ABC/123.
The bottom line is that everyone who plays video games started somewhere, with whichever popular system was available and just a game or two. Not one of us ’serious’ video game players was born with a 360/PS3 or a collection of rare SNES RPGs.
We’re all just fanatic consumers and Nintendo just want’s to introduce more people to the world of video games that we enjoy so much. Just get down off your pedestal and play more video games.
No backbone?? Either you are very young or clueless when it comes to videogames. Nintendo has, by far, the most loyal hardcore fanbase of all 3 players. There is always millions of people who will buy a new nintendo system just to play a new Mario, Zelda or Metroid, SSBB or MArio Kart Wii, even if those were the only games ever released on such console.
@Buko
I’m not saying that Nintendo has no backbone, I’m saying that the Wii has no backbone. Nintendo, as a video game company, has an immense backbone, like you said, greater than all the other companies. Furthermore, when I say “no backbone,” I don’t mean no fanbase, I mean the console in general.
I will respond in more depth later on tonight or tomorrow.
Wow, it’s nice that the internet will allow anyone to share their ideas, no matter how poorly thought out those ideas are.
I have a Wii. As I speak, my 6-year old is enjoying a game of 1080 snowboarding. Earlier, my 8-year old daughter enjoyed some pokemon snap. Tonight, after everyone goes to bed, I’ll start with a half-hour of Wii Fit (down 32lbs, thank you very much) and then end with some house of the dead. Tomorrow morning, my wife will start her day with Wii Fit (Yoga) and the day will pretty much repeat itself.
I don’t know how you can say “no backbone” and sleep with yourself tonight. There is more next-gen fun in a game of Wii Sports Bowling than in all of the crap-tastically beautiful games I’ve played on my friends PS3’s and 360’s.
You are a next-gen gaming snob and expressed your incorrect opinion – poorly.
Congrats on taking your opinions and attempting to express them as truth, but this article is pure fail.
If you think Wii sports bowling and Wii-fit yoga are a Next-gen games you’re an idiot my friend.
Next-Gen game? What the fuck is that? Are you saying that games designed for the Wii aren’t “next-gen”? When did you decide you can change the meaning of words? A game doesn’t have to have high-def graphics to be a “next-gen”.(unless we go with your retarded definition) Think whatever the hell you want. I don’t care if you like the Wii or not, but don’t make stuff up, calling it fact. “True gamers don’t continue to play Wii”…Whatever
I disagree. The Wii is not useless, there are several hundred games for the console, and several of those are for actual gamers. Also, “as long as the Wii is not in high supply…” This is something many journalists tend to say, but it’s simply ignorant. The Wii has been the number one selling console nearly every month since it’s release. Wii’s supply has to be at least better than Microsoft or Sony, or this would be impossible!!! Think about what you write! I do agree that many DO buy Wiis for the sake of having a Wii.
I think you are spot on. ALL of my friends that own Wii’s don’t use them AT ALL. I think you guys need to grow up here and actually post constructively. It is kind of hard to argue a point when you use the word “retarded”
. Point is, the Wii is cool so people want it but then realize after a month that it isn’t worth it.
btw this is Fragloser
MixB I have to agree with what you said “Point is, the Wii is cool so people want it but then realize after a month that it isn’t worth it.” and I’m pretty sure that’s a known fact.
As for the article, hehe I smelt unhappy commentators a mile away, who didn’t? Because they are just oh so sensitive about the author’s opinions. I mean you guys have the right to express your distaste in the author’s opinions, but don’t bash it as if he labeled them all as facts.
The art of boredom!
@TechGirl – wait wait wait wait wait wait wait wait wait wait. You have a portable stripper pole? My I inquire as to where you obtained said item and why the hell you’re bored with it?
Also, agree with the points you made.
[...] Wii is Art. While I don’t completely agree because I did buy it for the games, I do think he is a lot more right than people are willing to admit. I’ve got family members who own this and haven’t used it in months. Yet, it’s proudly displayed next to their TV. Why? So when they have parties or neighbors over, they get the “Ooooooh, you have a Wii. Very cool,” comments. Do they ever actually play it with these people? No. In fact the family member I’m referring to has 4 Wii games still in their shrink-wrap below the system. I liked where he was headed with the article, I just think “useless” is a little much. [...]