Wii 2007: Slim Pickins?

jollydwarf

jollydwarf

CAGiversary!
So the 'Wi-Fi Wii in 2007' thread got me thinking--well, check that--reminded me of a major concern I have as an 'early adopter' and for Nintendo's 'new gen' console in general: Is 2007 going to be a desolate landscape for Wii gaming? I've looked up and down and long and far for upcoming title names and info, and I'm kind of concerned, frankly.

I know..."But it just launched a week ago! There are plenty of games NOW to keep you entertained, idiot!" Well, yeah, that's true, but again, this is merely a speculative thread and it's something to consider for those still on the proverbial fence about whether to get a Wii sooner than later (or at all).

The Wii is my 'second console' to the 360, the Robin to its Batman, if you will, and I'm sure there will be a healthy supply of VC games to plug the gaps and slake our thirsts through the droughts. It's not going to be devastating if there are only five or six games for it that I want in 2007. Thing is, with Nintendo's penchant for taking next-to-Duke Nukem Forever to get AAA titles out, I really feel like at least one of their 'heavy hitters' slated for next year will slip into 2008.

The other thing to consider is that the PS2/Xbox/GC will be all but dead by mid-'07. Many Wii third-party cross-platform games, as I understand it, are essentially ports of these versions, with the reworked (read: half-assed?) controls. So if companies can't make one version for four consoles and instead only one, will they even bother at all? Could this lead to an even smaller library than the Gamecube's?

I know Wario Ware is effectively 'in the can' and will hit in January or February, but I could easily see the next first-party blockbuster not hitting until May or June, be it Metroid or Mario (which for pacing reasons would probably push the next one even further back). And in between titles like these, I see a lot of crap. I don't know about many of you, but I'm not about buying 5s and 6s (and even 7s) of games just because they're the only thing going at the moment. I saw too much of that with the 360.

Anyway, maybe some of you share this fear, maybe many of you just don't care and will play Twilight Princess ten times over. Perhaps you just somehow know that we "uh-uh-uh-ain't seen n-n-n-nothin' yet." I don't have "buyer's remorse" (yet), but I am afraid Nintendo might be pulling the same s*** they have been for the last ten years. This console has so many possibilities, not just limited to the inevitable lightsaber game (also 2008, most likely), and I'd really hate to see it wither away because everything conspires to make its lineup strictly "slim pickins" appeasing only the Nintendo 'loyalists'. If the software falters, a lot of these trendy non-gamers picking it up now will treat it as such: a trend that wore out its welcome.
 
After looking at the predicted titles coming up, I'm going to have to say I agree. Nintendo has their cream of the crop games well spaced with filler in the middle. However, I think smaller developers are going to have a few surprises for us game-wise, which is what will be more interesting to me anyway.
 
This discussion has been brought up before, and the best answer I had was "well it's not like you're going to finish games immediately, such as Zelda, so it has some longevity." I also added in "Wii Sports rocks the casbah and you can play it forever."

The more I think about those things, the more I can understand how this might be an issue to people not-me. Personally I've got a huge backlog and I want to savor Zelda, and I can only do that so much in a day. Not to mention that everyone around me wants to bowl, box, bat, serve, and golf, so that limits it even further.

I dunno. Nintendo has said multiple times "we want to avoid a drought," but as of now it looks pretty minimal. I guess they are thinking a big title a month isn't a drought. For me it isn't, but I can see where it is for others.

However I'd imagine a newcomer to the Wii would have at least 3-4 titles worth playing if they purchase it sometime next year. Between Zelda and Wii Sports, and by then Warioware, that's a good starting point.

There's also the mystery of supposed new-IPs coming, particularly Miyamoto's new project, but given that we've heard a grand total of "nothing" on that front, I have to wonder if there is secret stuff in the pipeline. The adult in me says yes, the kid in me wants Kix cereal.

I dunno. Most systems in this period have droughts of themselves, let alone software, so I guess I can cut the Wii a little slack on that front since Nintendo is actually making the effort to get them into the hands of the public.
 
It's definitely going to be a long 3 or 4 months. SSB, Mario, Metroid, and Wario are all going to be smash hits when they come out... but the key is when do they come out?

Which is also why I can't figure out why Nintendo is releasing some big named VC games to hold us over.
 
I realize that all consoles have that 'launch window' push (with half the games probably rushed out of the oven too early) followed by two or three months of next-to-nothing, but at least you could see evidence of many other blips on the horizons for the 360 last year, through things like EBGames.com erroneously (and ridiculously) listing games like The Darkness and Alan Wake coming in January (2006). I don't see much at all out there, whether it's gaming store sites or GameFAQs.

I also don't want 'spruced up' DS ports to take over the Wii library. They might be fine here and there, but this is certainly another direction they could go (too) far in. I'm not sure it's the right one.

Which is also why I can't figure out why Nintendo is releasing some big named VC games to hold us over.

Who knows, that might be their plan for Q1 2007.
 
Animal Crossing should also hit in 2007 and that'll be a soul sucking experience. Furthermore, even though it may not appeal to most of us, Pokemon Battle Revolution can and will move a ton of systems. And in terms of droughts, take a look at December where the Wii still has Super Swing Golf and Elebits coming out while the 360 and the PS3 has Full Auto 2. I seriously doubt the Wii will have any period of significant drought the way we've seem game consoles in the past.
 
[quote name='jollydwarf']The other thing to consider is that the PS2/Xbox/GC will be all but dead by mid-'07. Many Wii third-party cross-platform games, as I understand it, are essentially ports of these versions, with the reworked (read: half-assed?) controls. So if companies can't make one version for four consoles and instead only one, will they even bother at all? Could this lead to an even smaller library than the Gamecube's?[/QUOTE]

This is a good point here. As the consoles with similar capabilities fade out, third parties are not going to just slap some Wii controls on a cross-platform game and call it a day. I honestly don't think these are the games we want to be playing on the Wii anyway, but it could greatly affect the number of games that will come out for the Wii.

For me though, I won't be buying anything but the Nintendo exclusives and the third-party games that truly take advantage of the Wii control scheme so I see the Wii as basically having the same pacing in releases as what was seen on the GameCube.

I think with the Wii controls, Nintendo opened up the gap even further for third-parties to try and compete against the Nintendo franchises on the Wii. Maybe with the lower development costs, we'll see some of the smaller companies become competent on the Wii though.
 
I haven't heard a damned thing about Animal Crossing, aside from some sort of acknowledgement that we can expect a Wii version. I, for one, am not holding my breath for it being released in the next year, let alone the next two.

I get the impression we could see Metroid Prime anytime between March and early Fall. Who the "F" knows?
 
[quote name='Strell']
I dunno. Most systems in this period have droughts of themselves, let alone software, so I guess I can cut the Wii a little slack on that front since Nintendo is actually making the effort to get them into the hands of the public.[/quote]

While not on topic, i thougth there were a steady flow of games for the 360 up untill summer. They had DOA, full auto/burnout, fight night, ghost recon, oblivion, hitman and tomb raider going up untill the summer months
 
I think like almost any console it sees a draught after its launch. Nintendo does know that they failed with the Gamecube from a lack of great software and also a lack in the steady stream of software. I think they have learned from that mistake (Hopefully!). Don't forget that in addition to the Wii games the Virtual Console will continue to get new software as well. I think the major hurdle is to see how 3rd party support will fair in the long run. I think if the christmas sell through numbers are good enough developers will look to the Wii because there is more money to be made on a Wii game than a 360 or PS3 game (cheaper development costs).

I think the delays won't be any more or any less than what the 360 had or the PS3 will have. I think the Wii is one system that it will be really hard to say I don't have anything to play.
 
Correct me if I am wrong, but weren't games on the DS originally a bit slim? Didn't it take about a year for the titles to really start coming out?

Wii games are, ideally, completely different from anything we've ever seen before. It will take time for third parties to get used to the new controller and to make some great titles. There may have been a little apprehension at first from third parties, not knowing how it would sell, but if they are smart at all and have been following the sales, they will know they can make a bundle on the Wii.


So I guess that yes, there may be a bit of a lull through early-mid 2007. However, I think whatever comes out afterwards will be well worth the wait. Nintendo has a great console that people are dying to buy and a completely innovative way of playing. There are so many different things that can be done with it, third parties would be stupid not to support the console. Not only that, but it is cheap for them to. It worked with the DS, it is going to work with the Wii.
 
Aside from the Nintendo releases, I'm waiting on Dragon Quest Swords and Sonic SS.

Hopefully more third parties hop on with strong titles and the VC gets more support. There is so much potential in VC, even with its current prices, it can become a huge success.
 
[quote name='ryanbph']imo the 360 has a steady flow of games up untill the summer[/QUOTE]

Yea, but you couldn't get the system itself.

That's the difference here.

Granted, the Wii is having a shortage as well, but it's not quite the same scenario.

The thing to remember above all of this is that part of this is subjective, because some people can be perfectly happy playing X game for a few months. Some, not all. Conversely, some people need a new game every week.

If you ask me, for example, I don't particularly care for the 360's lineup, primarily because none of them appealed to me. I can appreciate it - yes - that it had a steady stream, but if you're going to throw me games I don't care about, then that doesn't help your cause as far as I'm concerned. Which is the same argument here - if you don't give a shit about Warioware and Wii Play, then the Wii looks pretty lackluster at the moment. Aside from the meteoric giant that is Zelda, it really isn't all that great, and is a far cry from the promised Metroid/Warioware/Smash Bros launch fantasy that Nintendo paraded around for a while.

I agree with your point in the sense that 360 owners had a lot showing up, but they had delays also (Oblivion and DOA4) and had to contend with a more dire situation of system availability.

It's very simple - if you don't like Wii Sports and Zelda, then the Wii isn't for you right now. Come back when its got a title you really want, such as Smash Bros or Animal Crossing, 'cuz those are gon' be huge.
 
[quote name='drfunk85']Correct me if I am wrong, but weren't games on the DS originally a bit slim? Didn't it take about a year for the titles to really start coming out? [/QUOTE]

Well half a year about. The DS started really upping the amount of quality games they were publishing when they had Meteos and Kirby Canvas Curse come out in Summer 05. After that though you had Nintendogs, Advanced Wars, and a slew of other titles from the later summer months of 2005 through today.
 
[quote name='furyk']Wii still has Super Swing Golf[/QUOTE]
Oh snap! I forgot about that. I play Albatross18 and that game looks pretty much the same... but with uber controls.
 
Even if there aren't many games to be drooling over for Wii in 2007...keep in mind they can release any great classic game on the VC at anytime. The VC can keep us busy while we wait for some great games to come out.

But this is why I have a DS, PSP, and 360 also..so I shouldn't really have any time where there's no games to be played.
 
[quote name='furyk']Well half a year about. The DS started really upping the amount of quality games they were publishing when they had Meteos and Kirby Canvas Curse come out in Summer 05. After that though you had Nintendogs, Advanced Wars, and a slew of other titles from the later summer months of 2005 through today.[/quote]
I thought DS was going to flop after its first year. Then I ended up buying one when Meteos came out, and then the happiness began.

EDIT: Even without Nintendo titles, I still enjoy the third party efforts at launch.
 
Seriously, though, anyone else feel like until there's a Star Wars game on a new Nintendo system, something's just...missing? I either want a straight-up lightsaber game or another FPS with a mixture of lightsabers and blaster-play. Just nothing 'on rails', please.
 
Felt the same way as the OP.

I'll get a Wii either when the VC has a ton of hot titles (which could be soon, looking at the ESRB list) or when metroid / mario / smash brothers comes out.

It'll take most third parties another year at least to really crank out the awesome Wii games.

Look at the DS... dead for its first year, no third party really knew how to use it, then they got the hang of it and now the thing has tons of games.
 
I feel the same way, especially looking at the release dates on IGN. The worst part is that MOST OF THE DAMN GAMES ARE VC!

I also feel that if Wii sports used Mario, luigi, princess and toad faces, it would have been a much better game. Oh well!
 
Random tangents:

1.) What the hell is going on with Super Paper Mario RPG World Adventure, or whatever that game revealed at E3 was called? I've read that it's still considered a Gamecube game (ha!) by Nintendo, I've heard that it's actually more of a 2-D platformer, and that's about it.

2.) Is anyone else guiltily and shamefully crossing their fingers that EA can actually do something cool with the inevitable Goblet of Fire game for the Wii? Were it any other publisher, I might actually be openly excited about the possibilities.

EDIT: I also feel that if Wii sports used Mario, luigi, princess and toad faces, it would have been a much better game. Oh well!

That's for the 'fleshed out' versions, i.e. Mario Golf, Mario Boxing, Mario Tennis, and Mario Home Run Derby. Or whatever. There...your daily allowance of cynicism and snarkiness, all in one post edit!
 
Well, one would assume that, of course, but we got, what, a couple screens back in May...and then nothing? Maybe one of the most cryptic games I've ever heard of. I really don't expect to see it in 2007, but it's definitely one of the Nintendo first-party games I'm looking forward to the most. The last one was a classic and had more than just a few laughs involved.
 
I don't have a lot of time for games anymore, so the Wii and DS (still have the PS2 as well) are it for me this generation.

I don't forsee having any problems finding stuff to play. 2007 will have Warioware, Big Brain Academy, Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, and Super Smash Bros and probably a few more that pop up that are worth playing.

Add in the DS games and I'm sure I'll have more that I want to play than I have time to play. And if not there is the Virtual Console to help fill in gaps.

So IMO it will offer enough for all but the hard core gamers that log a ton of hours on gaming week in and week out. For those the Wii should just be a second console to a 360 or PS3 (or both).
 
Here's a list of Wii games I'm interested in 2007, (release dates not set in stone, obviously):

Tuesday, February/28th/2007:
Prince of Persia Wii.

Tuesday, March/7th/2007:
Sonic and the Secret of the Rings.
Mario Party 8.

Tuesday, April/4th/2007:
Super Mario Galaxy.
Disaster: Day of Crisis.

Tuesday, June/6th/2007:
Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Sadness.
Project H.A.M.M.E.R.

Tuesday, October/3rd/2007:
Necro-Nesia.

Tuesday, December/5th/2007:
Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles.
 
First Party Games:
Mario Party
Mario Strikers Charged
Metroid
Pokemon Revolution
Super Smash Bros
Wario Ware

3rd Party Games:
Batallion Wars 2
Cooking Mama
Dragon Warrior Wii
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers
Hajime no Ippo (Japanese Boxing Game)

I don't know what you're talking about but the Wii's going to break my budget along with the DS. And these are just the games off the top of my head.

But what's coming out for the 360 and PS3? All I can notice for the 360 is Halo 3 and Blue Dragon. PS3 has a few more in Metal Gear Solid 4, Devil May Cry 4, and maybe a new Final Fantasy.

Seriously - maybe I should just give Nintendo my bank account numbers. ;)
 
I'm prefectly fine with 1 game a month or even 1 every 2 months. I don't want to spend that much anyway lol...

Lets see, for 2007:
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers
Metroid Prime 3
Mario Galaxy
Fire Emblem
Mario Party 8
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Animal Crossing

err...and I think theres a couple I might be missing...but that should be around 1 every 2 months. Good enough for me.
 
along with most other consoles, there was def a dead zone with the 360. I remember before GRAW came out there was practically nothing of value released on the 360 for weeks prior. I think it wont bother most gamers, since many such as myself are having a hard time getting a Wii, so I will be a month or two behind all of you with the Wii, which helps the wait.
 
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA yeah right
Click to expand...

Agreed.....I think Nibris was all talk. They haven't updated their site all year and the video links are now dead.

They had some good ideas though
 
This was the single greatest reason why I've been apprehensive about buying a Wii. I bought a Gamecube for Rogue Squadron and sat with a nice little black cube next to my TV after that. Now I'm considering buying a Wii for Zelda and I'm worried that there not only won't be much in the next year that interests me, but that there will be very few games that I ever want to play on the system. I just don't know...
 
Don't forget Wii Play is coming out sometime in the winter/spring, too; that will definitely ease the pain of "too few titles coming out".
 
[quote name='jollydwarf']Well, one would assume that, of course, but we got, what, a couple screens back in May...and then nothing? Maybe one of the most cryptic games I've ever heard of. I really don't expect to see it in 2007, but it's definitely one of the Nintendo first-party games I'm looking forward to the most. The last one was a classic and had more than just a few laughs involved.[/quote]
It was one of the many games in the Wii montage at the Wii Press Conference in New York. It was supposed to come out for the GC this fall, but it'll likely come out next year.
 
I agree. I was gonna get a Wii but now I'm happy I wasent able to score one because I compared it to the 360 and now I've decided I want that instead due to its library and technology.
 
Every system has a post-launch lull. PS2 had it, Gamecube had it, Xbox had it, DS had it, PSP had it, 360 had it...etc. More good games should arrive scattered throughout 2007, but there probably won't be a consistent flow until fall 2007.
 
[quote name='SilverPaw750']Every system has a post-launch lull. PS2 had it, Gamecube had it, Xbox had it, DS had it, PSP had it, 360 had it...etc. More good games should arrive scattered throughout 2007, but there probably won't be a consistent flow until fall 2007.[/QUOTE]


PSP still has it.. :whistle2:?
 
[quote name='SilverPaw750']Every system has a post-launch lull. PS2 had it, Gamecube had it, Xbox had it, DS had it, PSP had it, 360 had it...etc. More good games should arrive scattered throughout 2007, but there probably won't be a consistent flow until fall 2007.[/QUOTE]
I think the OP's point wasn't that there will be a post-launch lull but rather that the post-launch lull will be worse than usual because 3rd party software developers seem to be merely porting games over to the Wii from the other systems with goofy controls. The first party games seem to be the only games that are handling the Wii control scheme correctly and they may end up being far off.

A lot of us are buying or considering buying the Wii as a secondary console (mostly to the 360) and when a particular game comes out on both the 360 and the Wii, the 360 is going to look a little more promising due to the game being designed originally with a traditional control scheme. The Wii's first party titles will be WHERE IT'S AT for this system, just like the DS.
 
True, once Super Smash Brothers come out, most if not all of us would be hooked on that for quite some time.

Animal Crossing, I think this might be released late 2007 or into 2008. With online capabilities, it'll be another huge hit for Nintendo and keep us playing for awhile.

For me, 2007 is looking good on games. Heck, even 3rd party games are starting to look interesting. I'm sold on Disaster - Day of Crisis, Resident Evil, Sonic - they'll be more.

Plus, plenty of 1st party games to pick from as well.

2007 is shaping up to be an extremely fun year! And there are still more surprises that none of us even know about.
 
Not for nothing but even if it is a slow year for Wii...doesn't anyone have other systems??

There's always something to play. Always. If there isn't, go buy another console.
 
The games I'm looking at in 2007:

Animal Crossing Wii
Battalion Wars 2
Big Brain Academy
Cooking Mama Wii
Disaster: Day of Crisis
DK Kongo Blast
Fire Emblem: Goddess of Dawn
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Project H.A.M.M.E.R.
Sonic and the Secret Rings
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Paper Mario
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Wii Play

Slim pickins my ass.
 
On DS, Tetris DS and New Super Mario Bros were announced a few mere months before they were released, so maybe Nintendo will pull something like that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top