Nintendo release sales predictions

Warbie · 26 Jul 2006 at 14:36

I can't imagine any keen gamer not being interested in the Wii.

As much as I enjoy my 360, it really offers little more than the N64/PSX did years ago. Graphics are better, and Live is great, but the games are the same, and played in the same ways.

Each iteration of Mario/Halo/MGS/FF (insert game here) lacks the wow factor of the titles preceeding it. There's nothing new that smacks you in the face. Eventually we'll insert FPS X and realise we've been here a 100 times and have no reason or motivation to continue.

One of the reason I love the DS is how accessible the machine is to 'non gamers'. This has always been an area that Nintendo excells (i've fond memories of playing Monkey Ball with my mum, or Donkey Konga with my gf and her mates), but never more so than now. People who before had no interest in gaming are asking to play Brain Training when they come round (some take detours on the way back from work to get a few mins in). Some of them have rushed out and bought a DS. Others, who used to play games in the nes/snes days and 'grew out of them', have been brought back kicking and screaming.

Like a leach (or Lestat from Interview with a Vampire) i'm happily feeding on this enthusiasm and am enjoying gaming in a way I haven't for over 10 years. It's infectious, and has even spread to my more cynical gaming buddies - cue regular giggle filled MK and Band Bros. sessions - and online into forums and websites. Before I thought that if you played too many games for too long you'd just get bored of them - now i'm not so sure. The industry has become stale, and it's that that has become boring.

Hopefully the Wii will continue in this way - both attracting new gamers to enjoy playing with and injecting some much needed novelty for the rest of us.

pinkacidbootson · 26 Jul 2006 at 14:38

There's nothing new that smacks you in the face.

Dude... REAL TIME WEAPON CHANGING!!! GIANT ENEMY CRAB!! RIIIIIDGE RACER!!

Warbie · 26 Jul 2006 at 14:41

Johanson said:
Dude... REAL TIME WEAPON CHANGING!!! GIANT ENEMY CRAB!! RIIIIIDGE RACER!!

Silly me. Don't forget the weakspot and huge ***ing damage.

Cronox · 26 Jul 2006 at 15:19

Warbie said:
One of the reason I love the DS is how accessible the machine is to 'non gamers'. This has always been an area that Nintendo excells (i've fond memories of playing Monkey Ball with my mum, or Donkey Konga with my gf and her mates), but never more so than now. People who before had no interest in gaming are asking to play Brain Training when they come round (some take detours on the way back from work to get a few mins in). Some of them have rushed out and bought a DS. Others, who used to play games in the nes/snes days and 'grew out of them', have been brought back kicking and screaming.

I would argue that the same thing can be said for singstar or guitar heroes but that doesn’t necessarily make building a while system around music games a good idea, just because they are different and appeal to a more mainstream audience.

Caustic · 26 Jul 2006 at 15:25

The key thing to remember is that Nintendo are probably correct, they will sell ~6 million consoles within 9 months, however, the real question is how will it do in the long term. The GC sold really well at the start.

Warbie · 26 Jul 2006 at 15:52

Cronox said:
I would argue that the same thing can be said for singstar or guitar heroes but that doesn’t necessarily make building a while system around music games a good idea, just because they are different and appeal to a more mainstream audience.

The system won't be built around a single idea, though. If anything like the DS, the Wii should be home to a host of mainstream titles as well as those that feel new.

tsinc80697 · 26 Jul 2006 at 19:35

if i had to have 1 console, it wouldn't be the Wii, but if i could get 2, definitely have the Wii as the 2nd, cant beat it for party type games with all its colourful characters

and the fact its the most appealing to kids for all the snazzy mario-esque games.

dannyjo22 · 26 Jul 2006 at 19:45

tsinc80697 said:
if i had to have 1 console, it wouldn't be the Wii, but if i could get 2, definitely have the Wii as the 2nd, cant beat it for party type games with all its colourful characters and the fact its the most appealing to kids for all the snazzy mario-esque games.

Which is exactly how I see the Wii placed. Drunken party nights having a laugh. Plus it looks like being cheap enough to have as a second console.

Syph · 26 Jul 2006 at 20:15

Nismo said:
PS3 will still be the best seller as well IMO, despite all the 'negatives' surrounding it. The brand name alone will see it through this round again.

Wii will come in 3rd, with the 360 2nd at the end of this new generation.

+

Nismo said:
Fresh new ideas don't necessarily mean success, especially if you are talking mainstream. For the Wii to beat either the PS3 or 360 in sales, it will depend heavily on how the masses take to the new controller, and also (sadly) which 'big' franchises get developed for it.

I also don't think you can compare the success of the DS over the PSP, to what may happen with the PS3 and Wii. They are completely different markets.

IMO the general preferences and opinions on this board don't strictly mirror what happens globally, so just because the majority here say they will buy a Wii doesn't guarantee mass sales all around the world.

And before anyone says I'm poo-pooing on the Wii (nice thought!), I have a 360 and WILL get a Wii, more than likely on launch. The PS3 doesn't appeal to me in the slightest.

=

My opinion pretty much. I don't have a 360 (yet) as I'm waiting for a few more games and a pricedrop... a Wii is top of my list. Still don't see it overcoming either of it's rivals - but certainly will do better than the Gamecube.