Sega exec: Don’t excommunicate Wii hardcore players
Friday, March 7th, 2008 at 12:34pm by Jack
Don’t let the wild success of Sega’s Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games fool you — the developer/publisher is still very much aware of the so-called “hardcore sect.”
Sega of America president Simon Jeffery said as much this week. He thinks western developers would be foolish to ignore the hardcore gamers on the Wii as they instead flood the market with casual fare that appeal to a wider demographic. “There’s no reason why [hardcore gamers] should be excluded or excommunicated from the Nintendo world,” he said.
First of all, Sega talking nice about Nintendo still feels wildly ironic to me, but that’s just my 80’s and 90’s blood talking. Second, he might be partially right, but personally I still believe in the shovelware theory addressed on Infendo this week. Crappy, casual games or whatever don’t keep people from buying more mature games, just as it is in the DVD section of Best Buy. Again, please see the DS library and sales figures to further bolster this theory.
That said, does anyone out there feel slightly less hostile today toward Nintendo’s current strategy than they did last year? Or, are you the type of gamer that feels more angst toward Nintendo today than you did six months ago? Why?
March 7th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
personally i’ve been very happy with the Wii and it’s game library. sure there’s a bunch of crap, but there’s a bunch of good games too and things that are new to me. i guess i’m as happy as can be right now.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
all great consoles have a lot of crap. look at the ps2, the ds, and even the gamecube. there were definitely gems underneath those piles of shitty games, and the same holds true for the wii.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I’m happy with Zelda and Metroid and Mario Galaxy. Wii sports is also very fun. That’s not enough.
I’m bored to death with the Wii, and neither of my kids ever ever ask to play it. Everyone I know with a Wii says it collects dust.
They need to get XBOX Live going and connect with their handheld for content and demos.
Look at what Sony is doing with the PSP and Apple is doing with the iPhone and iPod Touch - they are constantly improving the firmware and adding new features. Where is my DS firmware update?
Nintendo is not wowing me with substance right now.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
While there is indeed a lot of crap software for Wii, there definitely is a fair amount of great titles as well, and only a year and a half in. I have about 15 games so far, more than I’ve ever had on any other system in such a short time after launch, and I’ve had practically every system. I also play Wii almost daily, unless I am just too busy with other things. Anyone saying their Wii is collecting dust either A) is not a gamer, B)forgot how to use ‘it’, C) doesn’t know what a good game is, or D) should instead go play with their boring ass dual-analog game system and so called ‘hardcore’ game. With games like Galaxy, Zelda, Metroid, Godfather, Blazing Angels, Heatseeker, Alien Syndrome, Geometry Wars, WarioWare, Mercury Meltdown, Resident Evil 4, Umbrella Chronicles, Crossbow Training, Cooking Mama, and Superswing Golf (I know I have more but can’t think of them) there is more diversity and fun to be had than on any other platform. Literally something for everyone. Me and my 5 year old son love the Wii and I have not once been bored with it. I’ve been a gamer my whole life and the only thing that bores me is advances in graphics only. I for one feel like a zombie anytime I try to play with a standard controller anymore. Talk about a snooze fest. What good are shiny graphics if you’re not awake to see them and are yourself ‘collecting dust’.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Thank you Twhite, spot on.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I’m with actraiser. I suppose my situation is unique enough so that it doesn’t really represent a “share of the market”, so to speak, but I still have so many games that I wanna buy, and more on the horizon, that even if I managed to get them all I still wouldn’t have the time to play. I mean, I have a wife, a son, work, and other hobbies to balance with my “Wii life”. I currently own 2 games (Zelda and Ultimate Alliance), and I borrowed Ravin’ Rabbids from a friend. I haven’t completed any of them. Not to mention VC games. So I’m more than happy with what’s out there right now, as I’m clearly able to pick what I want, organize my “wish list” and buy whenever I can.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
What the heck?
I like the Wii as much as the next person, but if people aren’t playing their Wii they’re not a gamer? What a load of BS.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
If people aren’t playing their Wii, they’re not a gamer cuz they wouldn’t know a good game if it came up and bit them on their Wii. I can however picture soccer moms and clueless dad’s who picked up the device to try and fit in, thought it was fun for awhile, and moved on. Those people are definitely not ‘gamers’.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
@TWhite How’s Blazing Angels? I have Heat Seeker and love that, but I’ve been avoiding Blazing Angels because the reviews for it said it was boring and nearly unplayable.
If I’m angry at anyone, it’s probably EA. Where’s our SSX Blur sequel? You know you’re itching to release another one soon, don’t go against your nature EA, release it, with both the commercial and techno sound tracks, I like them both.
March 7th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
“What the heck?
I like the Wii as much as the next person, but if people aren’t playing their Wii they’re not a gamer? What a load of BS.”
Not just a load of ” BS”, a pathetic load of FanBOY BS to be precise, the most stinky kind there is…lol! Gamers come in all shapes and sizes, that is afterall, the point of the Wii itself
The Wii has some GREAT games like Mario and Zelda, Metroid and Wii sports. And here comes SSBB !! = ) But that’s really about it for me, unfortunately.
Godfather- A remade, rehashed ,last gen game with Waggle added on. No thanks. I want better for this ” inovative system”.
Crossbow Training- nothing more than a glorified, short, tech demo. I hear it is a great ” little game”, but it is still just a demo. If a short tech Demo instead of a full fledged game is all you need for a “great game” in your opinion, maybe you should expect more out of this great little system called the Wii.
Cooking Mama- A DS remake with waggle? No. Not good enough.
Geometry Wars- You mean an X-box LIVE arcade game? Ported to the Wii with…wait for it… waggle? Sorry, another port is not going to get me excited, even with a little more content to it. I know the wii can do so much more.
Resident Evil 4- An amazing ,great game. On the gamecube. LAST generation. On the Wii it is a REhashed, REmake with waggle added on. Here is an idea for a GREAT game from Capcom… A NEW RE GAME?! Yeah built only for the Wii. Once again, RE4 is not acceptable as a ” great Wii game” , no matter how awesome the original Gamecube version was. That was then. Imagine a NEW RE game…now.
Wow. DS PORTS. Gamecube PORTS. PS2 PORTS . X-box live arcade PORTS…. but hey hey guys ! The now have extra waggle!!
To put these games in the same league as Mario, Metroid, Wii Sports or Zelda is absolutely ridiculous. They simply are not great Wii games.
A great Wii game is Metroid and Wii Sports. Built form the ground up.
A great Wii game IS NOT a DS PORT with Waggle or a PS2 Port.
A great Wii game is Mario Galaxy and Zelda. Great playing and looking.
A great Wii game IS NOT an X-box live arcade game PORT with Waggle or a GameCube game port with waggle.
I , as a gamer, expect the BEST and latest from what ever system I play on. NOT rehashed, remade, LAST GEN games with lazy assed developers adding Waggle.
Calling people who love the Wii ,such as myself, but hate all the garbage that is on it ” not a gamer” is redicious, blind, FanBoy BS. And it is typical. We are all different gamers, really. Me, I just want the best from my Wii. And amazing Nintendo titles aside, there has been a LOT of 3rd party sh!t.
March 7th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
SSX Blur…that’s another game I have…and a good one it is also, assuming you take the time to learn the controls. I want We Ski from Namco using the balance board more than a Blur sequel. As for Blazing Angels, if you like Heatseeker I’m sure you would like BA also. It has lot’s of different control options, more so than Heatseeker (although it lacks the fly where you point method). The main obvious difference is instead of flying Jets you are flying WWII planes. And the main weapon is your machine guns although a ways in you get non-heatseeking rockets (bombs and torpedoes also). And believe it or not a bit further in the game there are a few jet engine planes as well. Some missions are nearly impossible, one in particular was when you lose the tail fin of your plane and then need to land and change planes…I must have tried about 100 times before I finally landed the nearly uncontrollable plane. But Heatseeker has it’s tough moments also. I like both games equally and on the flight sim deprived Wii I think these 2 are the best ones. Oh and BA has multi-player dogfights, but no Wi-Fi like the box states.
March 7th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
@ wii wii boy you’re ruthless. I was simply demonstrating the variety of GOOD games on Wii, and if you can’t find something you like amongst all Wii games then you are blind.
Godfather - a good game that puts gesture based play to good use. Aiming with the pointer is a lot better than using a thumbstick. No ‘waggle’ as you call it here. Oh and it’s a ‘mature’ title which some people seem to think there is none on this kiddie system. Definitely the best version of the game.
Crossbow Training- never claimed it was a great game, but for 20 bucks plus the fact you get the Zapper with it it sure as hell is a great and fun add-on to TP.
Cooking Mama- more for the kid, but can be fun in short bursts.
Geometry Wars- ok Xbox fanboy, no waggle here, just the IR pointer, or if you have the classic controller traditional dual analog boredom at it’s finest. Kidding, this is one game that benefits from dual sticks…and a good game deserves to be on the system that will expose it to the most people.
Resident Evil 4- Yes, possibly the best game EVER on any system, then, now, and tomorrow. Still hardly waggle, unless you call actually swiping the remote as if you were swinging a knife waggle. But there is the cutscenes (and boss fights) which call for a teency bit on a very rare occasion. Great use of minimal waggle and the absolute best version of this incredible game which was underreceived on the GCN and has a fresh chance to reach a lot more people on Wii.
Ok, with the exception of RE4, none of the other games compare to Zelda or Mario or Metroid. But they are definitely the BEST versions of these games solely because of so called waggle being added on. Hell, Zelda has more waggle than any other game, but it’s one of the best games I have ever played. The point is, Wii has games, lots of games, lots of crap, lots of refreshed experiences, lots of fun. How could you possibly be bored with IT but not be bored playing the same crap as last gen only with better graphics? AH HA! Same crap with better control, or same crap with better graphics. The choice is yours I guess.
March 7th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I don’t know what the fuss is all about. I have no shovel ware for my Wii do you? I’m use to looking at large walls of games just to find odine sphere. I found all of my games just fine sitting there on the shelf. Shovel ware is hurting the developers who shovel it. They may not believe it yet these new comers will remember the name ubisoft if they ever buy far cry…LOL
Gamers are not being hurt by this at all. You just get lots of people complaining on the internet about it. In fact you hear more about this than what is actually coming out. Seriously if you have nothing to play because you best it all then go buy ninja spirits… it will kick you and laugh at you many many times…LOL I mean really metroid is no joke at all very challenging and I’d have to say a good 50% of the owners of that game never got past 27% or the sky town.
Yes it would be nice to have 3 No more hero clones coming out yet I’m fine like most other gamers. The complaining always stems from 3rd parties not putting say a GTA on the system or some thing. Really if thats what you want flood their email or sign up for Wiiware and make your GTA killer. It’s actually not that hard if you get a good engine.
March 7th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Thank you SEGA for looking out for my best interest. Please also make another RPG as good as Skies Of Arcadia. Then I will be very happy.
March 8th, 2008 at 6:42 am
lol @ anything Sega has to say about good games.
Maybe we’ll get a Shadow the Hedghog Port for Wii! That’ll shut critics up!
Seriously, great post Wii Wii, echoes my thoughts on the Wii to a dime.
My “not-a-gamer” ass is about to drive 8 hours to a SSBB launch party to meet up with a bunch of other “not-a-gamers”
I think “not-a-gamer” is my favorite new word.
March 8th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
gametaku
i have blazing angels, bought it because it had a discount on it. It’s alright, but the graphics aren’t as sharp and better looking on the Xbox and PS3. And IMO, I do share Sega’s point of view, I’m a hardcore gamer. I need something like dynasty warriors/god of war/etc sort like that. I don’t mean to swing my wiimote like a maniac but I”d like to try!
March 8th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
To clarify - I think the Wii has revolutionized gaming, and I think it has some of the greatest games ever made. I played Zelda all the way through in just a few weeks, and never picked it up again. Same with Metroid.
The problems that I, and all of my serious gamer friends, have is that when you have a Wii next to a 360, there’s just too much gravitational pull towards the 360. Games are crucial, but if both systems have great games, you’re going to pick up and play the one that has the most complete experience. 360 looks better, sounds better, has access to hundreds of downloadable demos and trial games, along with a bunch of free ones, and it has serious multimedia capability.
But the biggest push towards picking up that “old school dual analog” is the community. I’m surprised in these days of myspace, youtube, facebook, etc that this isn’t obvious. I know that at any given time I have friends waiting for me on the 360 community, and that they can see my gamercard illustrating what I’ve been playing and how well I’m doing. That community is critical to long-term value on a gaming system - for me (and my friends).
Nintendo has to get community-savvy. They have a great console with great games - it just isn’t enough anymore.