Why the Wii won

[Sewblon]

I have heard a lot of complaints about the Wii And I don't get as much use out of mine as I would like to but it outsold the Xbox 360 and the Playstiation 3 combined. How did nintendo do it? I think it was the marketing and the expectation of gameplay innovation instead of just glistening graphics and Havoc physics.

 

[Altorin]

Well, the Wii hasn't won yet

but if it does win (and it may), it's because it catered to the absolutely lowest common denominator.

Sony looked at who the 360 were selling to and were like "Idiot fratboys! Screw that! We're catering to the elites!"

then they both saw who the Wii was selling too and laughed "Old men and housewives? You can have them! LULULUL"

Then the Wii started outselling them and they're like "OH SHIT! MAKE SOME SHITTY GAMES LIKE NINTENDO DID FOR THE WIVES AND OLD MEN TO PLAY! Hey! Nintendo Fans! We have crappy games too! Just like Nintendo!"

but it was too late.

 

[Chickenlittle]

I'd imagine because the games were family-friendly, and because it was cheap.

 

[EzraPound]

1) the Wiimote
2) Zelda & Mario & Metroid
3) the price
4) GC backward compatibility & Virtual Console
5) pre-Christmas launch and good advertising

 

[Altorin]

In short, they tapped into a demographic that was completely untouched by the other companies.

But I wouldn't say they've won yet. The second part of their plan (and yes, this is their plan, they haven't been quiet about it if you've been listening to them) is to bring that new demographic into real gaming, with games like Animal Crossing, and then bring them up even higher, and then start stealing some of the other companies players.

But if they don't succeed in that, they won't win just by selling housewives housewife games. They need to make housewives more interested in better games, games that the regular gaming public enjoy as well

 

[Ultrajoe]

Won is a relative term, and depends on what you call a 'win'.

In sales, certainly, but in sales to actual 'gamers'? Well, i haven't seen the statistics to make a call on that.

 

[EzraPound]

But if they don't succeed in that, they won't win just by selling housewives housewife games. They need to make housewives more interested in better games, games that the regular gaming public enjoy as well

Housewives are hot

In sales, certainly, but in sales to actual 'gamers'? Well, i haven't seen the statistics to make a call on that.

[sarcasm]Yeah because everyone knows real, true, 'hardcore' gamers buy Xbox 360s and PS3s...[/sarcasm]

 

[Altorin]

But if they don't succeed in that, they won't win just by selling housewives housewife games. They need to make housewives more interested in better games, games that the regular gaming public enjoy as well

Housewives are hot

They sure can be..

They shhhhure can be..

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Birdman article explains it.

http://malstrom.50webs.com/birdman.html

The basic gist is... They tapped a demographic that had been left alone for years by making high quality lower stream games to disrupt the current trend of high stream, high end value games. They're quite simply, NOT making games for the "hardcore gamer", they're making games like they made them back before gaming was a big deal. This isn't to say all of their games are lowstream- all of their established IP's (Mario, Metroid, Zelda) all cater to higher stream tastes.

There are people who play games, and there are gamers. Nintendo is producing for people who play games. Microsoft, for Gamers. Sony, for Entertainment buffs. It falls into a neat tier system.

Nintendo: Less complex, focus on simple easy to grasp mechanics with solid gameplay. This reaches out to those who would usually never play games/lack the desire for experiance the suspension of belief most games require. Volkswagon Beetle.

Microsoft: More complex, focus's on those who enjoy/follow games or are willing to play online/at lan parties/for several hours. This demographic includes hardcore gamers and yes, Fratboys. Toyota Camry.

Sony: More complex, focus's on those looking for the next big thing and the maximum experiance. Adiophiles, visualphiles, technophiles. People who want the high end premium experiance. This demographic encompasses mostly the uppermiddle class or higher, those with the disposable income to care and afford the very best in tv's or entertainment. Also snatches movie buffs with the whole Blu-ray thing. Rolls Royce.

 

[curlycrouton]

I think I'm missing out.

The Wii won?

 

[RYjet911]

The thing is, I've talked to 'hardcore' PS3 and 360 owners about this, and they say "They catered to the lowest common denominator" like it's a truly bad and horrible thing. Then they go on about how PS3 and 360 are the best consoles evar and condemn me because I like the Wii. Until I told them I'm a major PC gamer anyway and everyone knows PC > consoles.

I think it's great to see a console trying to pull in some new gamers. Look at the other two. They're just bringing out the same shit they had last generation, just with glossier graphics and new physics engines, catering mainly to the hardcore gamer, not really suitable for anyone knew to gaming to get in particularly easily.

So also, why is the lowest common denominator those people who don't already game? Because the group of people mentioned in the second paragraph are a bunch of elitist arseholes (I REFUSE TO CORRECT MY WORSE TO ASSHOLES, FIREFOX!!!) who are unable to accept the concept of new gamers entering their territory. Surely the whole point of a console, specifically one that brings people together (Man, that sounded tacky...) to play games, is to have fun with friends and family. The idea I get when I hear the words 'hardcore gamer' or the phrase "I'm a hardcore gamer" is someone locked up in his basement, secluded from society apart from his XFire/360/PS3 buddy list twitching while not playing CS:S/Halo 3/(Insert a standard PS3 game here) and twitching even worse when doing so, especially when he/she gets killed. The kind of person who says on forums:
"I'm better at this game so my penis > Your penis."

I'd prefer to be of the first description myself.

To say "The Wii only did well because of its gimmicky controller" is ignorant in both the fact they're properly advertising their product this generation, the gimmicky controller has got a whole host of people old and young into gaming, and they had a bunch of fans from the last two generations. Yes, to us 'hardcore' gamers, the games are crap. But they're suitable for people getting into the swing of video games these days, considering the complexity of most current hardcore games we need some games to teach new gamers the subtle art of being twitchy button mashers!

(Lemme just say, I could probably be considered a hardcore gamer with my current interest in games. I just refuse to use the term on myself, because it's a stupid phrase to use on gamers.)

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Won is a relative term, and depends on what you call a 'win'.

In sales, certainly, but in sales to actual 'gamers'? Well, i haven't seen the statistics to make a call on that.

Yeah, actual gamers build their PCs and buy and play on Steam.

Apparently i've gotten fat sitting inside and playing videogames for well over a decade for nothing, i'm not an actual gamer! Fie and fiddlesticks, I shall now go and play this shooty hoops game everyone seems so witherdither about.

 

[Nazulu]

I just got me a Wii because I like Nintendo, but that has all changed now! Damn them and their crappy games, I would say it was because of the upgrade to make everything like the wave bird. And I also wanted it because I could buy points to get classic games I could no longer get my hands on.

I would of sold it by now if I couldn't buy the classic games, guess you can't always win. Oh, I also cannot forgive Brawl for letting me down, 2 years waiting in excitement like a 10 year old kid and then I felt like I turned 40 in one day!

If I could swap it for another I would get the Xbox 360, their games are improving now!

 

[Ultrajoe]

I think you rather missed the point of my comment. I have a rather expansive view of what constitutes a gamer.

I inserted the quotation marks to highlight the dubiousness of the claim, i think i went over some heads.

 

[Dommyboy]

In short, they tapped into a demographic that was completely untouched by the other companies.

But I wouldn't say they've won yet. The second part of their plan (and yes, this is their plan, they haven't been quiet about it if you've been listening to them) is to bring that new demographic into real gaming, with games like Animal Crossing, and then bring them up even higher, and then start stealing some of the other companies players.

But if they don't succeed in that, they won't win just by selling housewives housewife games. They need to make housewives more interested in better games, games that the regular gaming public enjoy as well

Best and most spot on story ever. That goes into the gaming bible.

 

[EeveeElectro]

The different approach to controls.

 

[Altorin]

Yep! It's just like how Wii gamers aren't actual gamers; it's rather ironic how most of the people who say that are also on platforms which aren't for actual gamers.

icwatudidthere

 

[KingPotato]

Well last i read Xbox 360 had a 10:1 games to console attachment ratio while the wii had a 1:10 ratio, in my books the Wii is a failure as a gamesconsole.

And everyone knows wii gamers aren't real gamers hell just look at what they bought a gimmicky console with the worst load of trollop ever served as games i've ever seen in a consoles line up, but hey thats my opinion. Still i am yet to find a real or "hardcore" gamer who thinks the wii is actually a decent purchase and they can't be the only ones (with that opinion) with an attach rate like that....