Is the Wiimote a Trojan horse for developers?
Monday, May 14th, 2007 at 2:08pm by Jack
People talk and talk some more about how the Wiimote is the part of the Wii that is revolutionizing gaming, but what if it isn’t? What if it was something less obvious, yet completely obvious at the same time?
Take it away, Kyoshi Shin (of Japan’s International Game Developers’ Association:
Kyoshi Shin of Japan’s International Game Developers’ Association was less positive, suggesting that many developers are shifting their focus to Nintendo Wii.
“When people talk about the PS3 on chat forums, they say it’s like going to a very expensive restaurant and not getting anything to eat,” he added.
What if the “killer app” of the Wii is not the controller that people laud for its innovation, but instead is the hardware that people love to continually bash for being so inferior? This is just wild conjecture from here on out, but who’s to say the Wiimote isn’t a Trojan Horse for Nintendo to get an insanely easy to develop for system into the hands of developers?
Think about it. The Wiimote is the obvious method to spread hype about Nintendo’s new system. Without it, we really do have nothing more than a GameCube on steroids. Without the Wiimote, no one gives Nintendo the light of day with the Wii — especially not with the perceived failure of the GameCube sill lingering in the wings. But they do take notice of this strange new Wiimote thing, and Wii Sports, and how this system is ravaging sales forecasts and setting the word-of-mouth channels positively ablaze.
So the curious developers get a few development kits, and begin to make a game with the Wiimote in mind. Then they discover how ridiculously easy it is to develop for the Wii, especially when compared to the PS3 kit that’s gathering dust in the corner. Oh, and they realize they can finally go out for lunch a few times because their wallets aren’t being drained with development costs. And then they start realizing that if they fail with this one idea they have, they won’t go belly up because they have resources left over to begin anew. They start to create first and set the check books aside until the brainstorming is 100% done. What a wild idea, huh?
Like with the DS and its touch screen, the Wiimote is just the icing on the cake of an easy-to-develop for system. If developers want to use it, they can. If not, they don’t. Or maybe they mix in some quirky controls here and there but don’t rely on them 100%. Regardless, before they know it they’re developing games without worry of failure or line item budgets that have skyrocketed to $20 million or more like they have for other systems. Things that typically bloat the budget of today’s “games” — like voice acting and cinematic HD sequences — become secondary issues behind game play and story. When the foundation is solidly in place, only then do developers begin to add in the extras. Too many games begin at the top today, I think. This dynamic changes that back to the way it once was.
In the end, the Wii allows developers to create new IP without constraint. And who knows, they could be doing it all while the Wiimote itself gathers dust in a corner. Thanks to the Wiimote, you see, they have been “tricked” into developing for an “inferior” system. And they’ll make mad money doing it.
May 14th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
I agree. HD gaming is still very expensive to produce and these companies are making big budgets and getting less profits. I also hate the fact that Sony announces the Ps3 as the trueHD when 1% of the HD are able to run 1080p. HD was rushed, and proof is how the Ps2 is selling, Ps3 not selling, Xbox360 blowing up after weeks of use and Wii selling out since launch.
May 14th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Yes, Wii is selling like hot cakes, but as a previous blog mentioned, only because of Wii Sports, not because of any other game. Wii doesn’t have any “killer app” other than Wii Sports.
As for development costs, it is true that developing a game exclusively for Wii is a few times cheaper than developing for PS3 or 360, but only if the developer is not aiming high on quality, and if the game is going to be a Wii exclusive. I’m guessing that trying to port a PS3 or 360 game to Wii is far more costly, if done well, than porting between the PS3 and the 360. Heck, a “port” to Wii (or DS, for that matter) is really not a port, but a completely new game altogether!
So, platform-by-platform, I would agree that Wii is easier to develop for, but I’m not so sure when it comes to developing multiplatform games that have to include Wii!
May 14th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
I think the most compelling thing you said was that developers don’t have to use the Wiimote if they don’t want to. Sure it may have tickled their fancies, but after they start development and realize that the Wiimote isn’t a good fit for their game then they can just use the classic controller or a gamecube pad and throw the Wiimote out the window.
May 14th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Developers need to start pushing the boundaries of the system. I know it’s early, but so far they seem more interested in getting the Wii controls down. Personally I’d rather them try to make the visuals look better than PS2 port visuals. I know it’s “gameplay over graphics” but come on…the Wii is more powerful than the PS2 and GameCube. We should be seeing some difference.
May 14th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
****yawn****
Sorry, but I would be happy if the just would reach GameCube 1.5 graphics (read: Resident Evil 4 x 1.5 = 6) ok?
May 14th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
I agree. If I were a developer, I would chose the Wii. The reason: It’s cheaper, and easier. Even still, I would try to make some reasonable graphics. I would say a lot of the Wii’s graphics are shameful.
If I were to port a game to other systems, I would start with Xbox 360 or PS3. Then, I would do some texture replacements, ect., ect., for the Wii. Last, I would give the Wii exclusive ways to control it. The reason I would start with a 360 or PS3 instead of starting with the Wii is this: Let’s say my game involved flipping a pancake. In the Wii version you would flip the Remote over, Like a spatchula. The results on the 360 and the PS3, however, may not have as good results. You would have to press a couple of buttons. That doesn’t sound fun.
So, anyway, that’s why I would develop with the Wii.
May 14th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
I’ve always found it amusing to watch Sony and Microsoft bicker and fight over which console is more-HD-than-thou, like adolescent boys whipping out their members and comparing sizes. Meanwhile Nintendo quietly sits in the background, watches the two competitors hemorrhaging money on development costs, and laughs all the way to the bank with the profits they make from each cheap to produce console sold.
The Wii could help foster more creativity in the video gaming market once developers realize that, with the Wii, they don’t HAVE to make the next Gears of War in order to turn a profit. With less money at stake they have more breathing room to try new and original ideas. Maybe then we won’t have to end up playing the 12 millionth first person shooter based on WWII and watch the Okami-developers of the world go out of business.
May 15th, 2007 at 1:42 am
I think you have a limited grasp of how development works, and are grasping at poorly thought out cliche fantasies of what happens during game development. You made one comment I wish to amuse myself on, and that is the pecieved failure of the GameCube. Despite the fact that the GameCube sold the fewest units, it always had the highest profit margin. In the previous generation, while Microsoft was hemorrhaging cash from its XBox division, and Sony fought to make up for poor sales in its TV and DVD Divisions, Nintendo put money away hand over fist. The success of the GameBoy for over a decade, and the birth and exploision of the DS, coupled with the fact that most popular Nintendo games are first party, Nintendo only ever really has to pay itself, AND Nintendo only has to make games. They never have to make up for poor sales on another front, as games are their only front. Nintendo never suffered last gen, that is a perception they don’t mind living with, as it does not change their bottom line.
I used to work for Nintendo, in Marketing. It was always the best kept secret in the world. Nintendo never bragged about it, because they were happy to sit idly by, pouring money into their accounts.
I would love for you to show facts, you know facts, those things true journalists use to seperate themselves from petty bloggers? Yea, I’d love to see facts to back up your claims that the developers are leaning more towards the Wii for development. Then again, I’m sure you’ll sooner delete my comment than back up your conjecture with proof.
May 15th, 2007 at 3:18 am
i disagree, it is the wiimote. well its the main reason. the concept has always been an exciting one that both the initiated and uninitiated in gaming can understand. the mere concept attracts gamers. it makes sense, its intuitive, it gets peoples attention. everyone loves the idea, and its the future of gaming. well there are a select few that don’t like the motion control, but its due to playing one way for 20 years and not being able to adapt or change. the devs see that as well; that the wiimote is the future. to be honest, game graphics last gen were quite good. i mean the next gen has improved on them, but the jump in improvement is a lot less this time around. the reason being….because last gen the graphics were decent. i guess a good analogy would be to watch star wars. in some ways the special effects are dated. but because it was done so right back in 77, it still stands up today. and most consumers can see that in regards to graphics. they see that wii as a great overall product, a fun product, with a new and exciting concept. that’s my 2 cents.
May 15th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Matthew, that’s a great point about the GameCube, and I agree 100%! That’s why I attempted to show my disdain for detractors to the GameCube’s success by saying perceived. It was an indeed a successful system for Nintendo.