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Analyst: Wii Might Not Be A Fad

kotaku.com — DFC Intelligence has a theory. David Cole, analyst at the firm, says that the Wii "does not appear to be a fad and it has the chance to be one of the best selling systems of all-time" according to new report.

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  • GuitarHeroDenn, on 07/02/2008, -7/+46"Phew...I sure am glad that's all sorted now!" - 2nd comment on that page

    I feel there will be a lot of this going around with the fanboys taking this and wringing it dry. I do like the Wii, yes. Its my favorite of the three current-gen consoles, but I'm not a fanboy that shuts out every other console there is.

    This will in no way be all sorted just because Kotaku says so. It is, however, a nice little boost for Nintendo and saying its doing well against its competitors.

    Sure it doesn't have flashy graphics. I mean, I'm paying $4-$50 to play a game, not to look at something for 40+ hours while I play through it. Graphics have reached a high point and the gaming companies need to take note of that and slow it up for a while and focus on new ideas and gameplay, and how to captivate people.

    In all honesty, the most fun I have is when I play all the throwbacks on my NES, Genesis, SNES, PSX, and even the 64. They didn't have much to work with graphic-wise, and the rest of the game makes up for it. Other than Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox I to this day have yet to find a game that forces me to throw my controller across the room in anger and frustration because its a challenge (as in those olden days), and knowing I will go back to it because even though its a right pain in the ass, its ***** fun.

    Now excuse me while I go play Legacy of the Wizard on my NES.
    • BoonTobias, on 07/02/2008, -17/+3let's see, no call of duty 4?
      FAIL
      • CollapseControl, on 07/02/2008, -8/+3COD4 without Rumble = FAIL
      • latova, on 07/02/2008, -8/+29FPS on a console = FAIL
      • Zettabyte, on 07/03/2008, -0/+4CollapseControl, you believe the PC version of COD4 is a failure. You are so wrong.
      • Kappa00, on 07/03/2008, -0/+5latova wins!
    • NecroSexy, on 07/03/2008, -4/+4"Phew...I sure am glad that's all sorted now!"

      y hello thar sarcasm
    • sanman, on 07/03/2008, -2/+8Look, Nintendo is now THE largest company in Japan -- even bigger than Toyota, even bigger than Japan's largest bank.

      They weren't anywhere near that big before they launched Wii.
      This one product has vaulted them through the roof.

      Whatever your feelings are about the Wii's shortcomings, you've gotta recognize that the Wii-2 is going to be the most heavily funded console ever to be developed so far. It will have graphics and other features that will devastate the competition. That's because the Wii-1 has given Nintendo the deepest pockets in the videogame industry.
      • zeebo, on 07/03/2008, -0/+5They're dependant on their gaming business though, they don't have anything else to fall back on unless they do something like buy Apple that would allow them to sell machines for a loss. I just don't see NIntendo trying to sell people on a $500 purchase like Sony did, and I bet we'll see Nintendo's PSP and iPhone killer before we see their next-generation Wii.
      • EtherGnat, on 07/03/2008, -0/+4"It will have graphics and other features that will devastate the competition."

        No, it will continue to focus on fun rather than teraflops and gigapixels. Nintendo's been dominating the portable gaming market for 20 years, but the DS is still modest in terms of technical specs. The Wii 2 will undoubtedly offer a significant increase in graphics, but its not going to try and compete with the Xbox 720 or PS4 on graphics.
      • Elranzer, on 07/03/2008, -0/+4Nintendo already has a PSP killer... the DS.
    • poiuytrewq44, on 07/03/2008, -0/+4Ever play Jak 2? That one was damned hard.
    • Zephkiel, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2He was being sarcastic. Analysts seem to mess up more often than they're right.
    • daridave, on 07/03/2008, -0/+4Want hard? Go replay Ghosts & Goblins or Super Ghouls & Ghosts. I still HATE those games ... argh.
    • staticneuron, on 07/14/2008, -0/+1"Sure it doesn't have flashy graphics. I mean, I'm paying $4-$50 to play a game, not to look at something for 40+ hours while I play through it. Graphics have reached a high point and the gaming companies need to take note of that and slow it up for a while and focus on new ideas and gameplay, and how to captivate people."

      I hate it when people talk like this. Developers CAN and HAVE push the limit on good looking graphics while bringing about awesome and thought provoking gameplay. Make no mistake about it, if a dev makes a game with pretty graphics and bad gameplay mechanics its not a focus issue. Not worrying about graphics doesn't mean they would or could fix their gameplay design. Chances are working with the wii would only result in a game with wii graphics and bad gameplay.

      Besides being very honest here, only a very few games on my wii has different gameplay mechanics thank to the wiimote. The majority of games just use motion control as a substitute for button presses. Great gameplay seen in Super mario galaxy, and titles like bioshock are just an example of thinking outside the box and cannot be used as a slight against the progression of graphics. In the case of Bioshock the devs worked very hard to bring the graphiics to the forefront because the atmosphere of dread was hightened by the ocean looking like it was coming back to retake rapture. It worked and I was in awe with the graphics and really felt like Rapture was real.

      And frustrating gameplay is not a staple of all gameplay. To be more specific titles like Contra, ninja gaiden and ikaruga are difficult by default but to be easier for a wider audience to accept the majority of games have been toned downed in difficulty. If you want a maddening experience just turn up the difficulty on these games. They are still here so there is no need to blame generation or graphics for the mechanics that you prefer.
  • eyepatch100, on 07/02/2008, -9/+29You'll see, when the new "Cooking Mama" game comes out, this console's eternal dominance will be galvanized.
    • Jeremyz0r, on 07/03/2008, -12/+2Story buried for inaccuracy, the Wii has (and will) always been a fad.
      • foofightrs777, on 07/03/2008, -1/+6Western culture is a series of fads with your precious PS3/360 included.
      • Jeremyz0r, on 07/03/2008, -6/+1I don't recall stating that I buy things because others do.
        I own a PS3, not because someone else does, but because I want FFXII & VS.

        So diggers can eat my ass out.
      • Narrwald, on 07/03/2008, -1/+1How does it feel to finally be in the minority, Sony Fansheep?
    • EddieStarr, on 07/03/2008, -1/+2I don't like "Cooking Mama" but I can see how some people do. I really like my Wii Fit though, it is awesome. However, I would give the new "Cooking Mama" a try just for the heck of it.
  • tj241, on 07/02/2008, -13/+9Love the fact that "Intelligence" is part of this company's name.
  • daishin, on 07/02/2008, -10/+4THANK GOD. I'm waiting on some solid games to come out. BTW aren't we supposed to get some indie developer games released through Nintendo's online thing? I would much prefer smaller games like that than those Wario Ware-style games that have me waving my controller all about!
  • dbsmoker, on 07/02/2008, -27/+37It may not be a fad but it is a gimmick. I think we all had our dreams slightly crushed when we played boxing on Wii Sports.
    • KaiUno, on 07/03/2008, -1/+41And then we played Metroid Prime 3 and Boom Blox and realized it wasn't JUST a gimmick.
      • Doomsan, on 07/03/2008, -0/+20and Super Mario Galaxy.
      • staticneuron, on 07/14/2008, -0/+1It still is a gimmick because it is soley dependand and the controller working well (which it does in many cases) but that doesn't change the fact that the controls are pretty much the only thing that sets it apart therefore it is a gimmick.
    • trackerbishop, on 07/03/2008, -1/+9tell me about it, did nintendo forget about the Punchout franchise or something??? I've been waiting for Lil' Mac to follow my moves since the Powerglove came out!
    • DreKor, on 07/03/2008, -1/+24Of course it's a gimmick, but as Tycho says:
      "We must to endure this conversation over and over as adherents of the medium, this "innovations versus gimmicks" thing. The truth of this is very straightforward, actually. Innovations are just gimmicks you happen to like."
    • tavisjohn, on 07/03/2008, -2/+3Gimmicks do not last as long as fads do.
      So it is not a gimmick either. It is something completely different, and that stands out in a world when all the consoles and games are similar.

      People said that the DS was a gimmick, and the PSP would dominate because it is more powerful... However the DS's unique gaming experience has made it really popular.
      • staticneuron, on 07/14/2008, -0/+1"In marketing language, a gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries. However, the special feature is typically thought to be of little relevance or use. Thus, a gimmick is a special feature for the sake of having a special feature."
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimmick

        It is not considered a gimmick because of staying power on the market but because the selling feature is the wiimote. Considering that a bevy of games for the Wii can be played with the classic controller or the gamecube controller just simply reinforces the idea that it is a gimmick.

        Being a gimmick is not in direct relation with how successful it is.

        Take for instance the DS is not a gimmick because there isn't a way to recreate the touch movements.
      • dbsmoker, on 08/25/2008, -0/+1Just because a lot of people buy it doesn't mean it's not a gimmick. How many people do you know who played their Wii for the first few weeks then let it collect dust? I'm just glad I own a 360 and a Wii, because owning just a Wii would suck. Especially for those of us with HDTV's. The fact it didn't support 720p/1080i just blows.
    • stretch611, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2Some of us had not even had the opportunity to buy a Wii yet...
    • ButchersBoy, on 07/03/2008, -0/+3It's no more a gimmick than a 360, a PS3, an iPhone, a Walkman.
  • Snuff99, on 07/02/2008, -9/+45You don't say...the damn thing is still selling out almost two years after release and we need an analyst to tell us it's more than fad?!
    • stretch611, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2This looks like a job for Captain Obvious!!! :)

      Seriously, why do these so-called analysts get paid? They are supposed to be predicting future trends, noty historical ones. It was pretty much well known at the start even by people outside the normal gaming audience that the Wii was the start of something different. I mean who wants to use a joystick, when you can use the controller the same way you would use a tennis racket, sword, or baseball bat.
  • gamergod42, on 07/02/2008, -15/+5Damn straight its not a fad just ask these people: http://mapwii.com - The gamers have spoken and they've picked fun over graphics. Wii FTW! The next PS and XBOX will be modeled after the Wii, but with better graphics - just watch.
  • shoover, on 07/02/2008, -10/+1Wow, nice catch there Captain Obvious!
  • ontain, on 07/02/2008, -10/+2I wish i could get paid for stating the obvious. Instead, I can only hope for diggs.
  • nkozyra, on 07/02/2008, -9/+3Video games in general are a fad. Once we have a cure for Pac-Man Fever we can all resume normal lives again.
  • WhereAmI, on 07/02/2008, -19/+1The Wii is a fad and the only reason it hasn't gone away is because nothing that does what the Wii does and better has come around.
    • aookay, on 07/03/2008, -1/+0Not a fad.

      What the Wii does and better? I don't think are forced to buy a system. *****, you can buy lots of stuff for the price of a wii that will provide entertainment.
      • WhereAmI, on 07/04/2008, -1/+1I don't think you understood me. The Wii doesn't have competition. PS3 and 360 have totally different crowds. The people I know with a Wii buy it for those gimmicky games and one kid has it because he's a Nintendo fanboy but the main point here is there has not been such a family oriented gaming machine that a 4 year old and a 40 year old can play together and have lots of fun in a long time. The Wii will easily be replaced but Sony or Microsoft or someone in Nintendo's crowd like Tomy or Mattel need to make a game system of their own with simple game mechanics and tacky gameplay. Then all of the sudden no one will talk about the Wii, hence being a fad.
      • aookay, on 07/04/2008, -0/+0"The Wii doesn't have competition"
        The Wii has plenty of competition, and there are plenty of alternatives if you are looking for what you call "gimmickicy games" , like the numerous amounts of gameshow and triva games that come out on the Playstation 2, or Scene-It for the xbox 360. Stop making it seem like families have NO other choice but to buy a Wii.

        "The people I know with a Wii buy it for those gimmicky games and one kid has it because he's a Nintendo fanboy"
        Yes, because a group of people you know is a GREAT sample group. The fact that you used Nintendo Fanboy shows your judgment is skewed from the beginning. My friends all say it isn't a fad, and that you are an idiot with bad teeth, see what I did there?

        "but the main point here is there has not been such a family oriented gaming machine that a 4 year old and a 40 year old can play together and have lots of fun in a long time"
        How is that a fad? They bridged the gap between the generations, are we that fickle of a society that that idea in itself is a fad? It seems you just want to write the Wii's success off only because it will derail your argument. I dare you to find a "fad" that has the sustainability that the Wii has, as it's coming up to it's 2 year mark and STILL being sold out everywhere.

        "The Wii will easily be replaced but Sony or Microsoft or someone in Nintendo's crowd like Tomy or Mattel need to make a game system of their own with simple game mechanics and tacky gameplay."

        There has been many of systems to attempt this same feat , dating as far back as 1978 , even mattel did it! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellivision_II . They were not successful, wonder why?

        Then again, neither of us can predict the future, but I still claim to my position that your argument is faulty.
    • Narrwald, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2So everything that goes away when something similar but better comes along is a fad?

      Huh...
      • WhereAmI, on 07/04/2008, -1/+1Yeah, haven't you ever heard any rap song?
      • aookay, on 07/04/2008, -0/+0yeah, the Xbox was just a fad too, because the Xbox 360 came out and was better and just like it. Crazy.
  • kinseyincanada, on 07/02/2008, -21/+25well i still regret buying one, i havent touched it in months, there is no games coming out in the future that im looking forward too. So it looks like ill be selling it and buying a PS3
    • bongo, on 07/03/2008, -10/+1I sold mine right before GTA IV came out. And if you look at the prices on ebay, you can really gauge the resale value of the systems. Wii's go for far less than their original price, while PS3's don't get discounted much. That speaks volumes to me.
      • Walgreenz, on 07/03/2008, -2/+6Yeah, look at these Wiis selling for under $250.

        Idiot.

        (Need a Ebay account, I think.)

        http://preview.tinyurl.com/4pr8yy
      • chicagospur, on 07/03/2008, -2/+8What are you talking about? The Wii is $249 in stores. All the Wiis on ebay with auctions ending in the next couple of hours and WITH bids are all higher than that.
      • bongo, on 07/03/2008, -1/+1You people don't read very well. I said "resale" value. Take a look at all the used Wii's. If they are near $250 it's because they have a ***** of games and controllers. Used PS3's all sell near their original price.
    • johnnyblazepw, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2same thing happened to me after I beat mario galaxy so I sold mine and got a 360.. Ill probably get a ps3 also but the wii just doesnt offer enough to hold my attention
    • sremick, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Future games you should be looking forward to:

      Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse
      Tenchu 4
      Rune Factory Frontiers
      SimCity Creator
      Ghostbusters
      Tomb Raider: Underworld
      Castlevania Judgement
      Sonic Unleashed
  • CollapseControl, on 07/02/2008, -8/+13I had a Wii since launch and I barely play it... alone. My favorite game is Resident Evil 4: WE, it is just really fun to play. I also like Zelda & Mario games. But when I go from the 360 to the Wii I feel lonely, none of my friends know i'm gaming and I feel like i'm missing out on COD4 invites.

    I would never think about getting rid of the console tho. I have my Gamecube Resident Evil games that work with it along with the Zelda GC editions. And then I got all the Mario VC titles along with various other titles I used to love playing like COMIX ZONE & 1080 Snowboarding.
    • h0ly, on 07/03/2008, -0/+3I also feel that being the Wii a "social" console (remember when they first called it "Wii", as in "we"), they should have put much more effort on their online offer... and not only individual games, but as a more socially connected console overall. Imagine how cool it would be to receive an invite for online gaming with the blue light blinking, you could check it out by pressing the Home button, even from inside another game... they could have implemented so many cool ideas.
  • shauntacular, on 07/02/2008, -8/+2So does this mean that I should go ahead and sell my Wii now or wait until around Christmas time?
  • heysuburbia, on 07/02/2008, -2/+4Direct Link:
    http://www.dfcint.com/wp/?p=222
  • Christbait, on 07/02/2008, -3/+20I hate these pointless articles by self-appointed "analysts", they only get any attention because it's what fanboys want to hear.
    • craighoxton, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2An analyst is a ***** with a spreadsheet
      • hellsing47, on 07/03/2008, -0/+1The absolute worse are the facial expression analysts you'll see on TV.

        Basically, by judging the arch of somebody's eyebrows they can figure out how much they hate America.
  • Hellman109, on 07/02/2008, -14/+29Everyone I know who owns one doesnt actually play it basically at all though.

    I play my 360 atleast once a week (I mainly game on a PC) but my Wii was on 2 weeks ago, and before that was well before Christmas that it was used!
    • zeebo, on 07/03/2008, -1/+15I'm the exact opposite, I have a 360, it just tends to sit there till I get the urge to play some DOA (then I just tend to curse at the ***** d-pad), or play Mass Effect again (then I curse at the ***** analog stick aiming, RE4 Wii has forever spoiled that control scheme for me). I have other games for it but I barely touch them. If the 360 had a better controller I'd probably play it more. I should probably buy an arcade stick for it, since I'm sure that I'll want one when the new HD KOF game comes out.

      As it is, I've played Boom Blox a lot lately (its really addictive, but then I'm a sucker for puzzle games), RE4 still gets occasional play from me. I binge on Mario Galaxy and No More Heroes from time to time, and whenever I have guests Wii Sports almost always comes out (rarely at any other time though, I don't want to be 'that guy').
    • sremick, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I play my Wii all the time. Maybe you and the people you know need better games.
  • BelatedHero, on 07/03/2008, -0/+7I'm still waiting for a real tennis game for Wii. The one on the Wii Sports disc was fun but got old fast and has limited re-playability. However, it did show the potential the system has for a serious tennis game. Wii developers: Please bring me Roger Federer Tennis '09!
    • petemorley, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2You checked out Top Spin?
      • BelatedHero, on 07/03/2008, -0/+1No I haven't. But thanks for the heads up.
  • SpaceDreamer, on 07/03/2008, -3/+12in other news,
    according to one of our top analysts, cellphones might not be a fad after all, you might even see one near you in the near future!
  • Inohavehalos, on 07/03/2008, -20/+29Crap. I bought one and I STILL don't see why people like it

    It's essentially a manipulating product--it tricks you into thinking you're buying a system that does more than just push buttons to win, but it's merely being replaced with flipping your wrist to win

    and the games? what games? subpar games.

    I haven't used it in 3 months now--when brawl came out and dissapointed me that it was merely a melee clone, before that it was never used
    • BradOFarrell, on 07/03/2008, -1/+4Yeah, what's the deal with the fact that mimicking the action you're supposed to be doing anyway isn't actually REQUIRED even though it makes the game more fun! It's almost like they want me to suspend disbelief... In a VIDEO GAME no less!
      • dynelol, on 07/03/2008, -1/+4I figured it was common sense that we were REPLACING button presses for motions. Hell, that was the basis for the whole ***** thing.
    • thebellmaster1x, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2Before that it was never used? Twilight Princess? Corruption?
    • sremick, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1There are plenty of above-par games out now and even more on the way in the near future. You just need better games.

      Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse
      Tenchu 4
      Rune Factory Frontiers
      SimCity Creator
      Ghostbusters
      Tomb Raider: Underworld
      Castlevania Judgement
      Sonic Unleashed
  • Biohazard6601, on 07/03/2008, -14/+10wii gets boring real fast, the games are beatable in less the a week and have no replay value, now excuse me while i go play through mass effect, for the sixth time.
    • WaRdRivR, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2i agree. though people seem to enjoy beatable games. i mean without the sense of completion what's the purpose of playing a games that won't reward your efforts throughout the experience; especially if you're a casual gamer. The Wii functions like a portable system on your TV. It's simple enough to pick up, play, and leave it as is. Nintendo has the right idea, even if I'm still waiting on that USB hard drive! Waiting....
      • noerrorsfound, on 07/03/2008, -0/+1Waiting... waiting on the world to change.
  • F9Phoenix, on 07/03/2008, -11/+4For "real" gamers it sure is.
    • siggyfawn, on 07/03/2008, -4/+3luckily for the wii the "pretend" gamers outnumber the "real" gamers by 1000 to 1.

      its impossible to find the wii in stock. ive been trying to buy a wii fit for 4 weeks.

      im sorry but ive never seen a product be this hard to buy, that is constantly sold out for 2 years.
    • Aieces, on 07/03/2008, -3/+1haha yea the wii gamers might out number other console users 1000 to 1 but of those 1000 800 are probably under the age of 12.

      Youve never seen a product sold out for 2 years? What about beanie babies? Just because a fad lasts for more than a year doesnt mean its not still a fad.
      • EtherGnat, on 07/03/2008, -0/+3"Just because a fad lasts for more than a year doesnt mean its not still a fad."

        fad: (noun) a temporary fashion, notion, manner of conduct, etc., esp. one followed enthusiastically by a group.

        Yes, yes it does.

        "of those 1000 800 are probably under the age of 12."

        Actually the average age of Wii gamers is 29. People of all ages enjoy the system, it's even popular in nursing homes.
      • AVigorVermin, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2beanie babies are NOT a fad!
    • dynelol, on 07/03/2008, -1/+4LAWL "real" gamers. Get your priorities straight. Start caring about something that matters.
    • aookay, on 07/03/2008, -0/+3lol @ real gamers.

      You are so the man, forgive us. Please link us your hardcore gaming youtube videos so we can worship them please :D
  • YellowSnowDemon, on 07/03/2008, -4/+7Surfing Digg, laying on a comfy couch, from my Wii. All the Wii needs is more vidya formats for pr0nz.
    • MrFisty, on 07/03/2008, -2/+2All the Wii needs is a free browser. I'm not gonna pay 500 Wii Points for a browser when the PS3 right next to it has it for nix.
      • Snuff99, on 07/03/2008, -0/+5If you got a Wii in the beginning it was a free browser.
  • Seidoger, on 07/03/2008, -2/+7"according to new report."
    Thank god for the new report. The old one left me all confused.
  • proficient, on 07/03/2008, -4/+1New and exciting.
  • tama00, on 07/03/2008, -3/+3I swear this new digg beta thing is encouraging some ***** articles to hit the front page
  • vancanucksfan, on 07/03/2008, -1/+17i used to hate on the wii and call it a gimmick and stuff like that, but i've come to realize that its not a fad, just a cheap priced console for the average joe who wanted something new and fun, and someone who doesnt particularly care about having the best graphics in the world. I mean, i will never buy it because its not my thing. I own a PS3 and like the type of games and graphics on this particular system. I know alot of old people bought the wii,and these people would have never bought any kind of playstation or xbox. I don't necessarily think the wii is stealing marketshare from the playstations and xboxes, i just think its bringing in a new market and that's why it's numbers are so high.
    • dragon76, on 07/03/2008, -3/+8I think for most people the biggest thing Wii has going for it is THERE IS ONLY ONE MODEL AND IT DOES EVERYTHING. There's not a version of the Wii that comes without the ability to use the SD card, or without WiFi, or with 1GB of internal memory, or without ANY internal memory or with a Wiimote that doesn't rumble, or etc...what the ***** is it with Sony and Microsoft and their 5,000 ***** models that don't do the same thing???
  • PainToad, on 07/03/2008, -0/+11DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS!
  • travist120, on 07/03/2008, -0/+21I think Wii has revolutionized "invite your buddies to beat the virtual ***** out of each other" It's the kind of console you HAVE to have a social life (which means meatspace friends) to enjoy the full pleasure of it. (ie. Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Super Mario Kart... etc.)

    That said, it is understandable why I don't play it that much (COD4 has absorbed my social life)
  • gryphon50, on 07/03/2008, -3/+3I have a Wii but haven't been using it...Partly because I don't have much time but also because there's not that many good games. I already played Zelda Twilight Princess on the gamecube and the controls for Metroid Prime are driving me crazy.
    • dynelol, on 07/03/2008, -1/+3After beating it on the Wii, i couldn't imagine playing TP on a damned gamecube.
      • Shadic, on 07/03/2008, -0/+1I'm one of those weird people that owns both. And I greatly prefer it on the Gamecube.
  • batmanz, on 07/03/2008, -2/+5Captain Obvious to the rescue.
  • D14BL0, on 07/03/2008, -1/+6No *****?
  • Trifold, on 07/03/2008, -0/+1oh wow DFC, ya think?

    Wall Street doesn't understand gaming. Anybody who invested in Nintendo in the tail end of the Gamecube years right before the Wii came out (ding!) knew this.
  • Doomsan, on 07/03/2008, -0/+43ยบ party games, that's all wii need.
  • phosphor112, on 07/03/2008, -3/+7"Best selling systems of all-time" does not mean "best system of all-time." Just because something says well doesn't mean that it is good. Furbies is one example of a fad. Millions, if not billions of those were manufactured and sold creating one of the biggest toy sales to date, unquestionably, most consumers did not see what was so special about a Furbie other than possible collectivity.

    Wii is still a console that is poorly supported by games that target the "hardcore" gamer. Even my "casual" gaming friends have not played their Wii other than to play Brawl.
    • vawksel, on 07/03/2008, -2/+4"Best" is an opinion, "best selling" is a fact.

      Trust which ever phrase you want when making your purchase.
    • vawksel, on 07/03/2008, -2/+2All my hardcore gamer friends think the 360/PS3 is a sad excuse for a gaming machine.

      "FPS with joysticks? Lol."

      To each his own, my PC is for serious gaming, my 360 is for Rock Band, I don't own a Wii.
  • R34C7, on 07/03/2008, -0/+24Playing video games with girlfriend: Priceless
    • vawksel, on 07/03/2008, -9/+1Fuk Dat. I want my girlfriend/wives as far away as possible when I am gaming.
    • MJDub, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2Bingo. The Mii channel is great to make fun of chicks with as you make a Mii for them, too.
  • poet, on 07/03/2008, -15/+2Buried as Inaccurate.
    Wii = Gimmick
    Wii > N64
    Wii < SNES
    Wii /=/ Best-Selling System of All Time
  • CrimsonBlur, on 07/03/2008, -2/+3The Wii IS defined solely by its controller. The only reason the Wii stands out from the other consoles is because it has motion-based controls. The Wii Fit follows that design principal, the only difference is you stand on it instead of hold it in your hand. There is another major factor to consider though: it's the cheapest gaming console on the market.

    Just because it sells the most units doesn't mean it is not a fad. There are tons of examples of "gimmick" products that sell extremely well that end up collecting dust a few years later. For example, I would love to see a comparison of how many people purchased a Wii specifically because it has motion controls versus people that are casual gamers and just decided to get the cheapest system.

    Because the Wii is defined by the motion controls, you can't evaluate whether the Wii itself is a fad or not, it's whether motion control for video games is a fad or not. We won't know the answer to that until at least the next console generation has passed.
    • dwu182, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2i gotta agree with you.
      the good things about the wii is the nintendo-exclusive games, and the motion controls (mainly RE4 and wii sports, wii fit)

      everything else disappoints me, including graphics, weak hardware (including harddrive), and the lack of some anticipated releases (because of hardware shortcomings) (see: RE5)
    • h0ly, on 07/03/2008, -0/+3"people that are casual gamers and just decided to get the cheapest system"

      But those people would not have bought a videogame system in the first place. So the price just sweetens the deal, the real motivator for newbies is the "accessible-social-healthy-fun" factor, it's what people instantly realize the first time they play Wii Sports at a friend's place.
  • Farmer77, on 07/03/2008, -7/+6If you need someone to tell you it might not be a fad, then it's a fad.
  • Kingmichael, on 07/03/2008, -5/+3Call me when Nintendo fixes the online system and releases a game that doesn't get boring after a week. Then I'll believe that the Wii isn't a fad.
  • joey368, on 07/03/2008, -1/+10I don't get why people say that it has no games. Wii has a ton of games. Oh so if they've been out for a while doesn't make them "Games" anymore? New games don't make them good games. But I can see that there aren't a lot of games I'm looking forward to.
    • djpray2k, on 07/03/2008, -1/+2I've had a Wii for 3 months and a 360 for two years and as far as I'm concerned the Wii has one great game every couple of months at best and that ends up sitting around in a sea of crap games. Where as the 360 there is always something new I want.

      Good games are old or new on the wii are in the minority - there is only so long people can play wii sports.
      • Darkangel754, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1I've had my 360 for like 3 years now and I only own 3 games, I've owned my Wii for about a year and own about 5. I found most of the 360's games are just shooters that are very similar to each other, I'd probably have bought more games but most of the ones I rent I end up beating.
  • calroot, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2C'mon! Analysts? When they're wrong, they can't even admit it, they give excuses and glibly pass their explanations as being anomalies or unforeseen outlying factors. Give me a freakin break. Leave it to analysts to provide anything insightful.
  • cellocase, on 07/03/2008, -1/+0How much does an analyst at that firm make? I'm thinking of getting my LITTLE brother an interview. He just told me that my iPhone isn't a fad and I think he's right.
  • C00LI0, on 07/03/2008, -0/+32 years later: "wii might not be a fad" .___.
  • rsHoratio, on 07/03/2008, -1/+1*****. I am still waiting for this interweb fad to end!
  • aserer511, on 07/03/2008, -6/+1i beg to differ. I don't think it has the same cache as the X360/PS3 and I still think many associate it with younger, less mature gamers
  • WaRdRivR, on 07/03/2008, -0/+14this isn't news

    1) Nintendo shouldn't ever be associated with the term "fad" because they are the sole pioneers of what console gaming is today regardless of what "hardcore" gamers expect from a modern game console. Nintendo is responsible for the viability of every console preceding the NES including the original Playstation, XBOX, and beyond. And if Sega was still making hardware I could even vouch the same argument for them as well.

    2)Analyst + Kotaku = Angry Post!

    Nintendo was NEVER a fad
    • frepnog, on 07/03/2008, -1/+1i don't think preceding means what you think it means.

      but your sentiment is correct.
  • toytoyota, on 07/03/2008, -0/+3Since it came out I have not been able to go to amazon.com, ever, and find one for sale from them. They only have 3rd party sellers selling it for more. That's ridiculous that a huge warehouse like them cant get enough Wii's.
  • quamb, on 07/03/2008, -1/+7I dunno... I'm the opposite of folks here.

    Am always playing games on Wii - sure there is the occasional drought but that is just like any console. So far the Wii is probably the best console I've ever owned - as it really does feel like you are playing fun console-games. The more hardcore stuff I'd rather play on PC anyway.

    Though do realise that me and my girl are suckers for old school games from the past and puzzle games like bloom blox, dr. mario, zack n wiki etc. So can see why more "hardcore" (12 year old boys??) gamers would get bored with the system.



    • h0ly, on 07/03/2008, -0/+4As we get older, we turn a bit casual, even if we spent our childhood playing Contra. Other priorities get in the way, we just don't have that much time to play anymore.
      Someone that quickly gets bored and needs a constant influx of games that take 40 hours to complete is either probably too young, have too much time or too much money in his hands. Not that every disappointed wii owner is like this, but I've seen a lot.
  • jshhmr, on 07/03/2008, -0/+3I'm surfing Digg on my Wii now. I love the Wii but I want better games.
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