Fils-Aime promises Wii games

By Tom Bramwell Published 20 December, 2006

In a reasonable timeframe.

If big first party Wii titles like Metroid Prime 3 and Super Mario Galaxy take longer to arrive than expected, Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime could well be left looking a bit silly, after a transcript of an October interview emerged where he promised their swift release in 2007.

Speaking to Newsweek's N'Gai Croal, Fils-Aime offered the two Nintendo titles - along with Zelda: Twilight Princess - as proof that Nintendo Wii would not be afflicted by the same kinds of "drought" that caused problems for GameCube. Citing Metroid as coming out "early in 2007", he said Mario Galaxy would also be "strategically" timed "to make sure that we continue driving momentum through 2007."

Further asked if he'd repeat the old-days George Bush's infamous "read my lips" pledge to deliver games at a steady pace, Fils-Aime added, "I thought I just did."

Speaking to MTV News last month, the charismatic Nintendo of America president said that Metroid Prime 3: Corruption would be the next big first party title after WarioWare: Smooth Moves (January) and Mario Party 8 (March), while Mario Galaxy would arrive sometime between March and Christmas 2007.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (69) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Eighthours #1 5 years ago

    I love it when a plan comes together.

    This is really the only worry for Nintendo, and it's a fairly big one considering the "quality" of Wii third party releases on the horizon. Surely they can't make the same mistake they made with the Gamecube AGAIN?!

  • el_pollo_diablo #2 5 years ago

    They better start making some above average Wii games too, to be honest.

  • Talha #3 5 years ago

    @Eighthours: Sadly, to my mind, that's EXACTLY what they are planning. Repeat the same mistakes they made with GC, in hopes of faring better this time due to the collective glow of praise and feel-good factor towards the Wii.

  • mazzl #4 5 years ago

    well you start to see a patern here,
    make a profit on hardware, so there's no need to make good sellable software.
    with the xbox360 and ps3 price point, the least thing you can say is, that there is faith in the software portfolio to sell!

  • MadMirko #5 5 years ago

    Ooooo... a negative Nintendo article... one for the collector's album!

    How is it negative?

  • Roamer #6 5 years ago

    Aye, can't quite see the negativity myself....

  • Blerk #7 5 years ago

    Rubbish third party stuff, poor European support and an almost silent first-party release schedule.

    Business as usual for Nintendo, then!

  • groovychainsaw #8 5 years ago

    Yeah - this is why I've stayed my hand over the Wii - I'll probably get one eventually, but only when there are 10 games i genuinely want to play. So far there's about 1 1/2. It's the same rule i used for the gamecube, and by the time that had 10 games worth playing it had been out for 2 1/2 years and cost me £50!

  • Muddtallica #9 5 years ago

    Metroid's taking a bit longer than I expected...wasn't it originally slated for launch? I was kind of expecting Feburary, March...well, reading this article again, maybr it still might.

    I do think that will be a very important release - not only is it a big, lengthy title of the sort that Nintendo wants to prove the Wii can still do, it's also looking increasingly likely that it's going to be MP3 that has the task of actually realising Wii's first-person control potential, before users start to get disillusioned with the flawed early attempts...

  • Darren #10 5 years ago

    I was just thinking the other day about how I was sure Nintendo had promised that the Wii would get plenty of first-party games and wouldn't suffer the same droughts that afflicted the N64 and GameCube and then this article turns up to prove I didn't imagine it.

    Yet here we are now, the Wii has one superb (GC ported) Nintendo game, one fun-but-shallow one (Wii Sports) and a whole load of third-party titles ranging from poor to reasonable and with little on the immediate horizon to make amends. Not the best of launches really...

    Sorry to be so negative but I can't shake off the feeling that once I've thoroughly completed Zelda in around a month's time that my Wii is going be sat mostly gathering dust while I wait for Nintendo to release some good games for it. I don't hold out much hope for third-party games since most of them so far have been passable at best. :(

    It's painful being a fan of Nintendo games as I know from having owned an N64 and GameCube. Nintendo DO make great games but the wait for them is sometimes unbearable and they're few and far between. Yes, quality IS better than quantity but the limited number of games Nintendo release means that public interest in the console quickly wanes along with developer support and ultimately you end up buying no games at all for it. I haven't bought a GameCube game in well over a year since there was nothing of interest released on it this year. Is the Wii going to go the same way? :?

  • Darren #11 5 years ago

    Blerk - "Rubbish third party stuff, poor European support and an almost silent first-party release schedule.

    Business as usual for Nintendo, then!"

    Unfortunately that sums up my own thoughts perfectly... much as I hate to admit.

  • wizbob #12 5 years ago

    Finish Zelda after Christmas? I'll be jonesing for a new game next week! Super Mario Galaxy being available sometime between March and December isn't filling me with confidence either. Maybe I can just load up on DS games, alcohol & roofies until then.

  • MadMirko #13 5 years ago

    Yet here we are now, the Wii has one superb (GC ported) Nintendo game, one fun-but-shallow one (Wii Sports) and a whole load of third-party titles ranging from poor to reasonable and with little on the immediate horizon to make amends.

    Huh? Wario Ware is out in less than a month, the Wii has been out for about two months and already has a Zelda game (which is superb, as you noted), and another one has been in production for about a year. It seems that Metroid is going to be around in March, and the Wii has a first quarter release list that is almost as long as that of the DS, which already sold milions more units of hardware.

    Maybe you have been reading to much doomsday comments?

  • Blerk #14 5 years ago

    Metroid certainly won't be here in March. It's not on the Q1 releases list, so it'll be April at the earliest.

    And that first-quarter release list is mostly bilge.
    Edited by 1 at 20/12/06 @ 10:41

  • trevd72 #15 5 years ago

    so 3 good games in 6 months.....ah! but this is aimed at non-gamers who would take an age to beat a game that is why they don't need to stuff the schedules.

    A game normally lasts me week unless its on live so its a good job i am not relying on the wii. good for my mam but not good for me. My mam loves special beat agents on the ds.

  • Rambaldi #16 5 years ago

    I'm sorry, but since when were Warioware and MarioParty "big" games? They're fucking party games with limited appeal dumbass!!

    I mean it's not as if they're having to think of new IP! How can it take soooooo long!!!
    Edited by 1 at 20/12/06 @ 10:48

  • playgen #17 5 years ago

    Metroid 3, Wario Ware, Mario Party etc just arent major releases to look forward to for a lot of people. Mario Party has had far too many sequels and most people are bored of it by now, and Wario Ware is heading the same way - how many wario ware games have there been already?. Metroid certainly is an aquired taste, personally ive never liked a Metroid game, and neither do a lot of other people.

    Nintendo really really need to get some quality ORIGINAL titles done, not the same old games but with a wiimote in them. They need something to fill the void once the launch hype dies down

  • Zomoniac #18 5 years ago

    They promised exclusive Cube games as well. I'm still waiting...

  • AcidSnake #19 5 years ago

    I'm hoping they've got a few surprises in store...
    They certainly have the IP
    Pikmin, F-Zero, Mario Kart to name but a few...
    Also smash brothers should join Metroid and Galaxy as a big gun right?

  • #20 5 years ago

    Nintendo really really need to get some quality ORIGINAL titles done

    I know what you mean. Unfortuntely for Nintendo they've missed two huge franchises at the same time that their fortunes started dipping on home consoles.

    First, they missed out on the whole Tomb Raider craze in the N64 gen (I thought they'd counter this with Samus on Metroid but when Metroid did arrive on GCN I could care less).

    Second, they also missed out on the entire GTA franchise which helped sell a ton of PS2 consoles.

    The problem with Nintendo (ever since Mario 64 was first unveiled) is that although they are their systems' biggest asset, they're also their own biggest liability. Nobody else wants to seem to compete with them.

  • JetSetWilly #21 5 years ago

    Anyone else get the Nintendo email newsletter yesterday? I gleened from the style of the email and the picture (an attractive 20-something woman) that video-game enthusiasts just aren't the people they want to sell to. Secondly, Nintendo really does think Wii Sports has got the legs to carry the console for a long while.

  • Talha #22 5 years ago

    Wow. I guess the guys above have summed up the situation perfectly, but I'd still pitch in my two bits. Which is this:

    Why did Ninty bother with the Wii in the first place? In hopes of making a quick buck? Scanty first and third party support, party focused games...this is PRECISELY the oppostie of what they're doing for the DS. Can you guess which one is selling by the boatloads? Can't they see that PSP is suffering for the same reasons?

    Simply being profitable is one thing, keeping hapless console buyers waiting is another. In a way Ninty have ripped off Wii buyers pretty bad - they're charging a lot for ordinary hardware, their games are few and far between, and as most posters here have noted, their Wii's will likely gather dust after Zelda has been done.

    What gives? That hardly sounds like a business plan to me.

    EDIT: And hey, Fils Aime is becoming as bothersome as a certain Mr Kutaragi. That's saying something!
    Edited by 1 at 20/12/06 @ 11:19

  • playgen #23 5 years ago

    If Mario doesnt come out untill next christmas then theres nothing i would buy a Wii for. Why is it taking so long? apparently since mario sunshine was a side project and not the true sequel to Mario 64 the game has been in development for like 10 years! Seriously i think they need to hire more developers to get their games finished more quickly. I wouldnt be suprised if Mario is already finished and they are only delaying it because they wont have anything else to release then

  • JediMasterMalik #24 5 years ago

    The Wii will do fine, it's market is, sadly, not us. It is the tickle me elmo crown, the people who buy boardgames, the ones to whom this isn't a gaming system, but purely a toy. That said, it won't last as long as a regular console, just like any other toy.

  • el_pollo_diablo #25 5 years ago

    Hey!

    I buy boardgames!

    :)

  • playgen #26 5 years ago

    Im fed up of hearing the excuse - "but its not aimed at gamers"
    Because people who have already played some games will have a totally different experience to someone who has never played a game?, if its a good game it should be enjoyable to all.
    And really how many people have never played a videogame in their lives? - i dont think i know any.

  • LeD #27 5 years ago

    Personally I bought the Wii as the perfect complement to my other console. I'm happy with the party games I bought for it, and Zelda will keep me occupied for a good while.

    After that, there's the second reason I bought a Wii for: GC compatibility. I will soon pick up a 2nd hand copy of RE4, Metroid Prime, etc.

    Nintendo can take the time they need to get the ball rolling, I'm perfectly happy with what the Wii got so far. Remember, the DS took its time too.

    Having said that, if the Wii is your only console, it kinda sucks.

  • Talha #28 5 years ago

    @bengalibengali: Sadly, the 'dream lineup' you mentioned still just doesn't cut it for most people investing in a home console. For PS3 and 360, it is safe to assume that in addition to the AAA titles there will be a lot others, some good, most bad, and some real gems that will keep the release schedule ticking.

    With the Wii's image, Ninty's insistence on targeting non-gamers, and to some extent, hardware limitations, will the release schedule keep ticking? Because as it turns out, doing a port for XBox, PS2, GCN or even the Wii is going to get inreasingly difficult over time.

  • MadMirko #29 5 years ago

    I'm sorry, but since when were Warioware and MarioParty "big" games? They're fucking party games with limited appeal dumbass!!

    Hehe, hit a nerve or what?

    Mario Party is in its umpteenth incarnation, which it wouldn't be if it was a title of limited appeal. It may be limited to you, but you are only 1 and Mario Party buyers are many.

    Wario Ware is also the fifth title (?) in line and opposed to Mario Party garners very high reviews.

    If you don't like the genre, fine, says more about you than the genre, though. :)

  • peterfll #30 5 years ago

    @Jedi "The Wii will do fine, it's market is, sadly, not us."

    Really? Again, you're so right, no EG readers are Wii owners at all. It's a toy and we're clearly too adult to enjoy such a thing.

    Getting back on topic.

    I agree - Nintendo are going to find it hard to find mass-market penetration on the back of half a dozen 1st party titles each year, backed up by 3rd party mediocrity.
    Edited by 1 at 20/12/06 @ 11:58

  • JediMasterMalik #31 5 years ago

    You obviously missed my point mate. I mean, the Wii will appeal more to people who don't play games regularly, rather than to those who do. Those who do are looking for more Zeldaesque experiences, not the mini-games thye Wii has been getting so far. Or are you saying you are fine with onlyplaying mini-game orientated games on a brand new console? (Zelda excluded of course)

  • playgen #32 5 years ago

    As i said before this assertion that non-gamers will like it is rubbish
    People who dont play games are going to get fed up of Mini-game compilations too, after all these mini-games were new to all of us fairly recently
    Edited by 1 at 20/12/06 @ 12:05

  • spongebob #33 5 years ago

    See, this is why Nintendo made Wii profitable for them on the first day. They're aiming to make it a DS like toy that most buy with one or two games only. The idea is to sell as many hardware as possible, the software is not that important.

    Casual gamers will enjoy Wii Sports and Wii Play and they don't need more in a long time. Hardcore gamers are left crying for steady flow of quality titles. And since Ninty has only the usual IP (plus Project Hammer or something) they'll want to drop the awaited Metroids, Marios, F-Zeros etc every 4-12 months not more often.

  • MadMirko #34 5 years ago

    The idea is to sell as many hardware as possible, the software is not that important.

    It's the classic chicken and egg problem: If you don't have a substantial installed base you'll have a hard time convincing developers to target your platform. If you don't have good software for your platform you'll have a hard time getting people to buy you platform, therefore it's difficult to get the substantial installed base.

    Of course the idea is to sell as much hardware as possible. That has always been the case, because that also means much software sold. As soon as you reach a certain critical mass, it starts running on its own.

    The beginning of a console cycle is a critical time, and someone (I think from MS) once said that the winner in the past always was the first one who got to 10 milion hardware units sold.
    Edited by 1 at 20/12/06 @ 12:16

  • Steroyd #35 5 years ago

    They're aiming to make it a DS like toy that most buy with one or two games only.

    That plan could backfire if they're basing it off the DS.

    Instead of having a family of four people having a DS each it'd be one family having one wii in the house, this could lead to significantly less wii's sold than the DS meaning less support for the wii leaving 3rd party devs fighting Nintendo's juggernaut titles again.

    Though they would make a killing in extra wiimotes.

  • melw #36 5 years ago

    People here keep whining about games... But seriously, which (current gen) console has had better launch line-up? X360 had Project Gotham 3, which was a decent racer and pretty much nothing else for months. PS3 has Resistance, rather standard FPS that won't be interesting after a while (not to mention it hasn't even launched yet over here). Wii has Zelda and bunch of fun party games, which is not a bad bundle for holiday season.

    Of course I'd hope to see both Metroid Prime and Super Mario Galaxy as soon as possible, but well... it's not like these delays are a new thing - with Nintendo or any other console publishers.

  • playgen #37 5 years ago

    It really doesnt matter what the 360 launched with now, that was a year ago. The Wii is competing with all the games it already has, its new games like Gears of War that people are going to want, and sadly these games just arent going to be released on Wii

  • MadMirko #38 5 years ago

    Instead of having a family of four people having a DS each it'd be one family having one wii in the house, this could lead to significantly less wii's sold than the DS meaning less support for the wii leaving 3rd party

    A Gamasutra article covered and debunked that, back in the day. It seems that Wii and DS customers are either not the same or buy them both.

  • MadMirko #39 5 years ago

    It really doesnt matter what the 360 launched with now, that was a year ago.

    That's exactly why it matters. The other guy compared launches, and the Wii has had a better one than the 360.

    The Wii is competing with all the games it already has, its new games like Gears of War that people are going to want, and sadly these games just arent going to be released on Wii

    It's good for MS that they launched a year before the competition and they deserve success for that. But the Wii isn't competing with the 360, the PS3 is (and that has Resistance to take care of the shooter needs). Nintendo is aming to provide DIFFERENT games on their platforms, not what you could also have on 360 and PS3.

    That's good for us, as it provides us with more choice. Otherwise you could play "racing game" or "fps game" on all consoles and the only difference would be graphics. So, if you want Gears of War and bought a Wii..., sorry you made a mistake.
    Edited by 3 at 20/12/06 @ 12:48

  • playgen #40 5 years ago

    Bollocks the Wii isnt competing with the 360 or PS3, its a games console isnt it!
    Its competing for the money in peoples wallets just as much as the other two, its like saying the DS isnt competing against the PSP - when it very much is
    Edited by 1 at 20/12/06 @ 12:50

  • MadMirko #41 5 years ago

    Its competing for the money in peoples wallets just as much as the other two

    I'm not arguing with that. It's only about the way to get at it.

    One side (MS, Sony) tries with horse power to deliver what you liked for the last 10 years in shiny new clothes (that's not bad! I love that stuff and have done so for more than 20 years). They compete for the hardcore gamers who gamed maybe all their life and have well formed tastes and expectations.

    The other side (Nintendo) tries to make the way bigger crowd of non-gamers into gamers. They do so with the promise of easy to learn controls and a low barrier of entry: They do not ask you to buy a HDTV or a next generation video player, and their systems is considerably cheaper.

    So while they all want money, they are not after the same people. Hence it is said that Nintendo is not competing with MS and Sony. That's not my idea, BTW, google around and find the same from nearly all the news sites and even MS, Sony and Nintendo themselves.

  • manic_mouse #42 5 years ago

    "Ninty have ripped off Wii buyers pretty bad - they're charging a lot for ordinary hardware, their games are few and far between, and as most posters here have noted, their Wii's will likely gather dust after Zelda has been done."

    Indeed. Only Nintendo could come up such with a brilliant idea and then utterly cock it up so spectacularly.

    "People here keep whining about games... But seriously, which (current gen) console has had better launch line-up? X360 had Project Gotham 3, which was a decent racer and pretty much nothing else for months. PS3 has Resistance, rather standard FPS that won't be interesting after a while (not to mention it hasn't even launched yet over here). Wii has Zelda and bunch of fun party games, which is not a bad bundle for holiday season. "

    You seriously think one GC port, Wii Sports and a lot of crap is better than the 360 lineup or the Euro PS3 launch line-up?

    EDIT: "The other guy compared launches, and the Wii has had a better one than the 360. "

    In terms of games? I don't think so.

    "low barrier of entry: They do not ask you to buy a HDTV or a next generation video player, and their systems is considerably cheaper. "

    Neither do MS, and the Wii is an entire £20 cheaper than a core 360. What about £45 per extra controler for "considerably cheaper"?
    Edited by 2 at 20/12/06 @ 13:02

  • playgen #43 5 years ago

    Fair enough but its not a long term strategy.

    They are going after non-gamers, but once these non-gamers buy a console what do they become? yep thats right Gamers!

    So all the valid complaints about the wii from gamers now, will also be made by non-gamers who buy it too in time

  • erp #44 5 years ago

    repeat the gamecube mistakes? well, i love the gamecube. so nintendo, repeat away, please.
    and frankly, if metroid and mario are of the same quality as zelda, then nintendo can take as long as they damn well please with them.
    Edited by 1 at 20/12/06 @ 13:02

  • ManicDrunkMonk #45 5 years ago

    Although i'm confident the Wii will have a good selection of games in a years or so, its launch line up has been pretty much as weak as the PS3/PS2 and most other consoles.

    The 360 looking back actually had a pretty strong line up. However sales over a generation have rarely been decided by early release titles. PS2 deserved its massive lead in the last generation due to the amazing selection of games. This generation is far from decided, and won't be for over 2 years.

  • manic_mouse #46 5 years ago

    "This generation is far from decided, and won't be for over 2 years."

    +1

  • playgen #47 5 years ago

    Only took a year for Gamecubes fate to be decided
    While comparisons don't tell the whole story, the Wii is an extended gamecube, and im not convinced Nintendo have changed their attitudes towards game development enough

  • Aria #48 5 years ago

    I wonder why Eurogamer doesn't set up an ‘online advisory committee to all console manufacturers’. Surely they can, with the number of analysts predicting the future of gaming in their news threads everyday…

  • AcidSnake #49 5 years ago

    Wasn't this about the initial game drought?
    As many people have pointed out january has WarioWare...
    Those defending the 360 line-up should note how long microsoft left it without a first party release...
    I liked PDZ quite a bit actually, but the months afterwards were scandalous...

    Oh and as for the PS3 euro line-up someone mentioned earlier, if the Wii launched in march it'd have a better line-up as well...

    Why can't we all agree that the initial batch of games has never been reflective of the entire catalogue of games to come in a consoles lifespan?
    Nor have they ultimately decided a consoles fate...

  • MARKIV #50 5 years ago

    When Nintendo lost me as a fanboy to the XBOX in mid 2004 and then the 360, I've never looked back. I'll wait til next Xmas before I buy a Wii, by which time I can imagine it will be £99 and available in black aswell as even platinum!

  • #51 5 years ago

    Only took a year for Gamecubes fate to be decided

    True. Though the GC (like the N64 before it) launched a full 18 months after PS2/PS1 respectively.

    I wonder why Eurogamer doesn't set up an ‘online advisory committee to all console manufacturers’.

    Excellent idea!
    Edited by 1 at 20/12/06 @ 14:27

  • playgen #52 5 years ago

    "I wonder why Eurogamer doesn't set up an ‘online advisory committee to all console manufacturers’. Surely they can, with the number of analysts predicting the future of gaming in their news threads everyday… "

    Well gamecube would have done better if i was in charge....
    GTA III would have come out
    Mario Kart double dash would have proper free online play - and the network adapter would have been cheap and avaliable
    Resi 4 would have stayed exclusive
    Zelda would have been the game people actually wanted
    Rare wouldnt have been sold, and all the close links with developers wouldnt have been broken

    i could go on, and yes i actually said these things at the time, not the benefit of hindsight here
    Edited by 1 at 20/12/06 @ 14:27

  • jglover4 #53 5 years ago

    "it could compete with PS3 Which is releasing GTA aand Metal Gear Solid 4 and Xbox 360, Fable 2, Gta, HAlo 3 Project Gotham racing, Forza etc."

    Half of those will be 2008 not 2007.

  • playgen #54 5 years ago

    "People say they'll buy one when there are 5-10 decent games for it. So you really gonna spend £200-£400 on Wii games"

    You wouldnt buy all ten, but at least youd have ten to choose from - which is the whole point

    I dont want to buy another version of mario party, metroid, wario ware, smash bros, ive got them on Gamecube, so theres little reason for me to buy a Wii as theres not a variety of quality original games to choose from, and im not convinced Nintendo is going to come up with many, or make sure 3rd party developers do either since they dont pay them to do so.

  • jglover4 #55 5 years ago

    "Nintendo just need to get some of their staff to other developers offices and help them. Help Sega, Squae, EA, Activision, Ubisoft and others, until they've proved they can make a decent game."

    How wonderfully patronising and unknowledgable of you. Well done.

  • peak_performance #56 5 years ago

    Sadly, third party developers doesn't seem to take the Wii seriously. Ubisoft promised a lot, and has delivered one exclusive title - the rest are basically ports from other systems, and come spring a port of Prince of Persia: TTT will arrive. Just about no real hard core games are on the way from mayor third party developers - leaving Nintendo just about alone to fill that gap. Nintendo tried with Ubisoft, but one truly exclusive game is not serious support. Where is a game of Assassins Creed-calibre?

    At least there are some games to look forward to. Resident Evil UC, No More Heroes, Fire Emblem, Project HAMMER, Disaster and Trauma Center will hopefully all be good. The thing is just, when will they show up?

  • freedumb #57 5 years ago

    Nintendo really need a Rare, a second party developer which will develop games big games regularly and take the heat off their need to produce 1st party stuff quickly.

  • playgen #58 5 years ago

    Thats exactly what they need - N64 would have been rubbish without Rare

    Nintendo stupidly severed a lot of links with developers during the Gamecube years, they seemed to just give up on the Gamecube very early on

  • peak_performance #59 5 years ago

    Yeah, what was up with them breaking ties with Silicon Knights, for instance? I understand if SK wanted to go their own way, but no new developers joined in their stead. Overall, Ninty seem to have big troubles getting developers to work for them - either they're not trying very hard, or developers just don't bother because of the image Ninty systems have.

  • MadMirko #60 5 years ago

    Nintendo really need a Rare, a second party developer which will develop games big games regularly and take the heat off their need to produce 1st party stuff quickly.

    Haha, that was the Nintedo-Rare you are talking about. The Microsoft-Rare doesn't produce big games, and also not regularly.

    Oh, and I just happen to see the 9/10 Trauma Center got on EG, and it brings a fat smile to my face. How many 9s does the PS3 have on EG? None? Oh noes! They have teh HD and teh Cell and teh BluRay, but no good games...

  • jimmyboo #61 5 years ago

    Sweet Jeebus, people, the console has been out for, what, 10 days (here Blighty)? And we're already complaining that "it's taking too long to bring out xxx"???! Good Heavens, get a grip. IT'S ONLY JUST LAUNCHED!

    and @ MrT... The event of Nintendo exiting the console market has been predicted for 10 years. Hasn't happened. Companies only exit a market if 1) they lose money, and/or 2) they see no room for growth/competition too strong. Clearly, neither of these is true for Nintendo. I doubt they're going anywhere.

  • AcidSnake #62 5 years ago

    Rare lost its shine on the gamecube...Starfox adventures?

    Still, I'm sure that they'll redeem themselves...

    Silicon Knight was a big loss indeed...
    A new-gen eternal darkness just sounds fantastic...

  • freedumb #63 5 years ago

    'Haha, that was the Nintedo-Rare you are talking about. The Microsoft-Rare doesn't produce big games, and also not regularly.'

    Ever since Starfox Adventures Rare have been flitting between Gamecube-Xbox-360. Viva Pinata and Banjo Threeie are the first games designed for the 360 from the ground up I think.

    EDIT:The Microsoft Rare is also devoid of a lot of ex-Rarer staff that left after the takeover, the Free Radical guys being some of the high profile ones.

    But where are Nintendo's second party developers? Microsoft have Bizarre Creations and others Rare (1st party), Sony have Insomniac, Naughty Dog, Level-5 etc.
    Edited by 2 at 20/12/06 @ 17:30

  • peak_performance #64 5 years ago

    Well, they have Intelligent Systems, whom accounts for lots of gaming brilliance. Retro Studios, as well.

  • freedumb #65 5 years ago

    Both of those are more fisrt party than second, (retro used to be second but was bought by Nintendo, IS are an internal team within Nintendo) since they create stuff from Nintendo's own IP's like Metroid, Fire Emblem and Paper mario. I mean the likes of Insomniac and Naughty Dog, who have their own IPs separate from those owned by Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft etc.
    Edited by 2 at 20/12/06 @ 19:39

  • smelly #66 5 years ago

    " im not convinced Nintendo have changed their attitudes towards game development"


    I hope they havent!!!

    I'd much rather have a few really good nintendo games than lots of crap ones. Let the 3rd parties generate the crap.. I buy nintendo to play high quality nintendo games - i dont care if they're few and far between.

    If i wanted endless crapola fps/racing games i'd get one of the other 2.

  • onyxbox #67 5 years ago

    we don't have to worry about a thing... we've got NES Soccer comming to the VC!

    what more does anyone need?

    ;-)

  • Starmaniac #68 5 years ago

    Problem is that traditional art driven games like sequels to Eternal Darkness and those from Rare would greatly benefit from next-gen visuals, physics, AI etc. I do seriously think it was a big mistake to base Wii on last gen technology. Who honestly thinks that great technology does not matter? The difference is obvious now and will become extreme as the development on PS3 and Xbox 360 will progress in next 1-4 years. If Wii is really based on well known technology we can assume its hardware is already used in a very effective manner. Therefore there wont be a major technological progress for Wii during its life cycle. And by technology I mean looks as well as influence it has on gameplay mechanics.

  • hybridial #69 5 years ago

    I think I'll just say this. Nintendo never made the Wii to be the only console someone owns. I know they said they did, but that was market posturing. The Wii is a complimentary console you would own for party games, multiplayer games and creative titles, as well as the virtual console and first part Nintendo games. The Wii pretty much does whay it says on the box, but the fact is the Wii can be a success without you... yes, I mean "you" as in the gamer, who pretty much selfishly thinks he is the only person in the world that all these companies cater for.