Wii Worms drops DLC, online battles

By Robert Purchese Published 16 January, 2008

Otherwise shaping up well.

Sadly, Team 17 has done away with promised downloadable content and online battles in Worms: A Space Oddity on Wii.

Notable absences were spotted by IGN in a hands-on with the finished product. Many tears.

But you will still be able to blow your friends into invertebrate pieces in four-player local battles, and encouragingly Space Oddity appears to be shaping up rather well.

The 2D action is set atop 3D backgrounds and looks as bright and colourful as you might expect, although struggling at 30 frames per second rather than 60.

Controls sound well implemented too, and utilise Wiimote gestures to gauge the power of your shots or steer homing missiles. Not gimmicky or forced, we're told.

Promising prospect then, coupled with planets featuring different gravity and unique rules, as well as lots of fresh weapons and equipment to use and a map editor to build your own levels with.

Hopefully the return to form an ageing concept needs.

Worms: A Space Oddity is due to be released on 28th March.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (47) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • viper_h #1 4 years ago

    You could play Worms 2 online. 10 years ago.

    What gives?

  • kissthestick #2 4 years ago

    a worms game with no online or dlc?

    hmmm....

  • ostrasized #3 4 years ago

    So tedious 'gestural' control spoiling the basic aim-shoot mechanic, and no way to play online?

    Can we say 'Wii shovelware' kids?

  • GamesConnoisseur #4 4 years ago

    The limitation of GC 1.5 hardware and Nintendo inexperiences with online components compared to MS and Sony. Team 17 doesnt have much to work with! I have yet to see successful rollout of online gaming for Wii.

  • seasidebaz #5 4 years ago

    hehe online + microsoft = error

  • gingerlink #6 4 years ago

    @GamesConnoisseur

    Mario Strikers is done well, but 3rd parties seem to be having all sorts of issues, I've noticed a fair few multi-platform games have online on 360 and ps3, but not wii, which is just ridiculous, I really want to know what's going on...

  • JonFE #7 4 years ago

    Such a strange omission. I do hope that spadge from Team 17 will come by and clarify this.

  • JonFE #8 4 years ago

    @seasidebaz:
    Did you actually read the article? What has Microsoft to do with this?

  • sam_spade #9 4 years ago

    Well, that's a purchase killer.

  • Eighthours #10 4 years ago

    Well, this is all a bit lazy.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #11 4 years ago

    Another partial success for the Wii then.

    As much as I like it, and I really do, it looks like the effort is just not there when it comes to third party games development. The urge to get the quick buck seems to be overriding any sense of actually making a good game.

  • budd #12 4 years ago

    won't be getting it now.... another kick in the nuts from uncle mario, just peachy!

  • symbiote #13 4 years ago

    Que spadge and his small violin...

  • erp #14 4 years ago

    Remember everyone: Nintendo ARE in the online game, it's just none of us have noticed yet.

    Yeah, thanks Reggie.

  • spadge #15 4 years ago

    The decision was taken some time back in conjunction with our publishing partners, who are THQ.

    Content is generally decided way before we get anywhere near finishing the game (for pretty bloody good reasons) and the integration and widespread testing of online does have major implications for any project, especially on Wii. It's not as simple as saying "oh delay it 3 months and it'll be ready", games are built to schedules and financed accordingly. I'd imagine that the long delays of Super Smash Bros 2 is partly due to online complications and there are many examples where online content causes huge delays - it pretty much always does. You can't really compare Nintendo 1st party titles to 3rd party ones in the main stream, it's a different league for a bunch of reasons.

    The decision has little to do with actual technical feasibility (PSP, DS, 360 recent titles have all been online) and primarily more to do with where and whom the game is aimed at - to focus on social party play to a more casual marketplace that's still maturing. It was felt that online may compromise that focus and potentially long delays on a platform with little or no online titles at the time this was discussed (i.e. this isn't something that's just "dropped out" recently).

    The Wii IS more casual and it IS a younger demographic, hard-core gamers might wish to argue about that, but here's a platform where they're right in the minority. The Wii is still relatively new and brings with it is a new audience - exactly who they are yet, is still not 100% clear. Given that, our title has been designed around the Wii rather than simply ported (I'm sure that would have ticked people off more - although someone always finds something to have a pop at).

    As someone points out, there currently isn't a huge range of online Wii titles currently and there are fair reasons for that, especially as a 3rd party which I won't go into. I'm sure that this will be addressed in the fullness of time and I'd like to see more communication online otherwise you might as well be playing a CPU bot :-)

    The Wii version is really aimed to played socially (up to 4 players) rather than online and make the most of gesture controls rather than simple gimmicks - it's not 'shovelware' by any means. Lack of online function hasn't prevented Worms titles from being either successful or popular in the past and in many cases ensures that it's a better environment to play the game than suffering online idiots who quit out when losing or abuse you whilst you're at it. It's almost a case of 'be careful what you wish for'.

    I'm not sure where any comments about DLC have come about since everything that's being built for the Wii edition is being shipped with it, I'm not aware that the plan was to do anything other than that - so no one has lost anything nor are they being asked to fork out any more. We did do some DLC for 360 Worms, mostly due to the file limit being 50mb at the time (and we gave away the biggest bunch of DLC). I can't say that personally I'm a big fan of DLC although I'm currently busily availing myself of Guitar Hero & Singstar tunes... (the latter I already own for PS2).

    All this certainly has nothing to do with any laziness on our part (whatever anyone might think) the Wii market is still maturing and everyone is still getting to grips with the play patterns and demographics of its users.

    As for not running at 60fps (or 50fps), I'm not sure of any Worms game that has needed to do this (and few games do these days, 2d or 3d) in order to provide an entertaining experience. Talking about frame-rates is pretty hard-core when all said and done... and many people who are grumbling don't even have a wii yet :)

    Worms titles have always attempted to offer good value, highly replayable entertainment wherever possible and this new Wii title is no different, with quite unique content based firmly around the Wii's gesture interface. The Wii is a social platform, Worms is a social game. Get some real friends & family around, open some cans and enjoy.

    Martyn, Team17.

  • Biggles #16 4 years ago

    Good sales pitch, spadge, might buy this.

  • Retroid #17 4 years ago

    The argument of "there's bugger-all online so we won't do online" is a bit circular, isn't it?

    Also: this has lost two guaranteed sales, as my (very casual gamer) sister-in-law was wanting this for her Wii so she could play against her sister across the country.

    /Slow clap

  • The_Inquisitor #18 4 years ago

    I don't play many games two player at home so the idea of just having AI to play against (in this day and age) doesn't bode well for me. Pity.

  • pyrat6 #19 4 years ago

    "The Wii IS more casual and it IS a younger demographic, hard-core gamers might wish to argue about that, but here's a platform where they're right in the minority."

    This may or may not be true. But the majority of people who are aware of the worms 'brand' have been gaming a fair while.

    In brief. No onlone play. No f'ing point. No purchase from me - at least.

    I hope you can make up the shortfall in purchases from people like me - with new gamers. Cos Team 17 are great. Just cos this decision sucks doesn't change that.

    @GamesConnoisseur - Spadge's detailed response proves you have the most inappropriate username. Ever.

  • bioreit #20 4 years ago

    Ta Spadge.

    Still buying it - Worms is awesome and is always at its best as a gather-ye-round-the-lightbox multiplayer fest. Wii online stinks in terms of ease-of-use, so much so I doubt many would actually bother too much.

    Like most party-style games, Worms is greatly enhanced through the ability to laugh in the face of your opponent when their overly-ambitious play fails.

  • symbiote #21 4 years ago

    OK, so it was a big violin, but at least it played a convincing tune.

    I especially liked the inference that hardcore gamers need not apply.

    Perhaps we, the unloved, can get some kind of standard sticker put on Wii boxes to that effect?

  • stampax #22 4 years ago

    i don't care about online play. i'll buy this if its any good

  • Waldo #23 4 years ago

    Online gaming is just a fad anyways.
    Edited by 2 at 16/01/08 @ 13:03

  • BobsUncle #24 4 years ago

    It's lucky new consoles keep coming out for Team 17 to re-release worms on, there's fuck-all else keeping them going! I don't know how they do it.

    Seriously now, Worms was one of my favourite games ever, 4 player matches with friends are some of the most fun I've ever had with my clothes on. The 3D ones were utter shite, so I'm glad they got over that. Not really fussed about no online, Wii is for having your mates round.

    I will buy this (and a Wii) if and only if, when you throw the grenades you actually have to make a proper throwing action in the direction and angle you want it to go. So if I play my nephew I know he cant hit me because he's not strong or quick enough to throw it that far! MUH HA HA HA HA!

  • Kropotkin #25 4 years ago

    Mr Spadge,

    I know this is asked of you every time a Worms game appears on Eurogamer and we do appreciate your presence here as I don't know of any other developers that read what we EGer's spout on about on almost every news story but I have to ask, are there any plans for Team 17 to plunge into its not inconsiderable back catalogue of games and release them on XBLA/VC/PSN? You know stuff like Alien Breed or Project X or any of the other titles you produced in the late '80's, early 90's until you began flogging the now rotting corpse that is Worms. I have to say for a game that was demonstrated to you by some teenager at ECTS many moons ago Worms has probably been the greatest cash cow any developer has ever had with the possible exclusion of The Sims.

    All I'm asking is please release something else. Just something, anything but another sodding Worms game. You used to be a haven of creativity and innovation and now well, you just keep on churning out Worms games which was not even that original seeing as it was ripped off from Scorched Earth or was it Death Tank, I can't remember. On reflection Death Tank had the better theme tune if a bit 'metal'...

  • BobsUncle #26 4 years ago

    Oh, and by the way, my worms were all named after characters from Predator in the XBLA version. BY DEFAULT! How cool is that?

    I had to manually set them to Dutch, Mac, Billy etc. in my last version of worms, so you can imagine how surprised/chuffed I was to see that! I seem to remember being a bit confused thinking, "But, I havn't done it yet, what's happened here?".

    Awesome. Awesome to the max.

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #27 4 years ago

    No online = no sale for me.

    Send that to your employers spadge.

  • spadge #28 4 years ago

    Actually we've been very busy for a while on a number of non-Worms games, one is our own IP and one is a 3rd parties.

    There should be announcements a little later this year. Worms remains part of our business and it does pretty well, but it's been a while since it was the only source of income however, I can appreciate how you jump to the conclusion of "all we do is worms" though (even though we did Lemmings on PSP, PS2 and PSN not so long back). The success of Worms on XBLA (and great handheld sales) demonstrates it's ever-green status.

    Pac-man; THQ are our publishing partners, not employers as such. Whilst I can't speak for THQ directly, they have very focused thoughts and directions on the marketplace and like many of the top publishers, are keen to ensure that they deliver appropriate content. With Worms on those platforms we work closely with them to achieve those aims.
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/08 @ 13:49

  • daz_john_smith #29 4 years ago

    Mr Spadge

    Did you ever consider releasing Worms: A Space Oddity on the upcoming Wii Software channel?

  • spadge #30 4 years ago

    No, the games for that are pretty small in terms of content - and I also think Nintendo are looking for more unique offerings to put aside their ports/retro titles. We are looking at opportunities for that, but it'll be much smaller titles.

  • Mr_Bison #31 4 years ago

    ...NO ONLINE!!!

    If its not possible for this game..I am really starting to wory about Mario Karts online capabilities.. It will probably turn out as leaderboards only.

  • Mr_Bison #32 4 years ago

    No online = no sale for me.

    pretty much sums it up!!!

  • Daryoon #33 4 years ago

    That's okay, I have friends in the real world :)

  • spitfire1945 #34 4 years ago

    -1 in the purchase list: w/o online this game is no fun!!

    What a waste!!!

    I qoute daz_john_smith: it would be better bring it ti Wiiware channel for a lot less bucks!

  • spadge #35 4 years ago

    I've not suggested it's not possible, it just won't be in Worms: A space oddity. I'm sure that 1st party titles will be online! In my long response, I tried to explain the reasons for it's omission, not suggest that the future for Wii online titles looks bleak... our title was started in the early days and as time goes on, the market and it's online side especially, matures.

    Edited by 1 at 16/01/08 @ 16:09

  • smelly #36 4 years ago

    Without online, there's no sale for me.

  • smelly #37 4 years ago

    And as for the "demographic" not wanting online - that's just bullshit marketing speak. The translation is : "there is no other games currently out there like ours which have online play - so therefor the public dont want it"

    Loop goes something like this:

    (launch) "wii was released with a load of mini-game sport titles.. therefor all that's going to sell on the wii is minigames, lets make a minigame game"

    (6 month later) "everyone is making mini-game games on the wii.. therefor that MUST mean the ONLY thing wii gamers want is mini games.. lets make more"

    (A year later) "wow, look at all these minigame titles... The wii demographic MUST be young casual gamers who dont play games much.. lets not bother putting in online play"



    (You can replace the above text and put the words "360" and "fps" game in - to describe lazy marketing men in that area too).



    But regardless of that, worms is turn based, it doesnt exactly require a lot of complicated code/work arounds to get it working online. It's a complete no-brainer.

    If ever a game was perfectly suited for online play, worms is it.

    Without online play, you've just lost a customer (me).

    Oh, and ditto goes to the crappy idea of gesture controls to fire weapons! Yes I realise your marketing men wanted to tick a box saying "gesture controls" - but COME ON! Just because something is there, doesnt mean you have to use it.

    Worms would've worked just by using the wiimote to point and click like a mouse.

    So, Gesture controls + no online play = a complete missed opportunity.


    The crazy thing is, WHEN (not if) this game doesnt sell - it wont be because of those two things.. oh no.. the "powers that be" (coke snorting marketing men) will say:

    "it's because this type of hardcore experience is obviously not suited to the wii - we were right in not putting in online play and wasting the money on it - as this game would never have sold anyhow.. lets make a collection of mini games the kids love that!"

    Edited by 1 at 16/01/08 @ 19:14

  • clockworkzombie #38 4 years ago

    The lack of online play is a bad thing as most of my real life friends have taken jobs in different towns and we play online together. Worms was going to be a good purchase.

  • Nookyalar #39 4 years ago

    WTF man, Wii is cheesing me off with lack of online >[

  • daz_john_smith #40 4 years ago

    Mr Spadge

    Having read the IGN Hands On Preview the games sounds interesting. However, taking away the new gesture/motion controls the gameplay is fundamentally a lot like previous installments.

    My question is, will Worms: A Space Oddity be a full priced title or can we expect it to be below the £30 mark, preferably £25.

    Having owned multiple Worms titles on multiple formats over the years I'm finding it difficult to justify paying £30+ on a similar title when there are so many other great and unique titles coming to Wii this year. Although the lack of online isn't a big issue for me, it's definitely a feature that would have made the game more alluring.

    I'm glad DLC has been dropped. There's just something sinister about the way it's being employed. It should be a way of extending the life of a game or reinvigorating it with new content. It seems however that the men in suits with dollar signs in their eyes are milking it for all that it's worth, at our expense
    Edited by 1 at 17/01/08 @ 00:22

  • smelly #41 4 years ago

    >WTF man, Wii is cheesing me off with lack of online >[

    It's not Wii..

    It's the people making the games thinking wii owners arent going to want online (basing their judgement SOLEY on the fact that games on the wii with online arent selling .. i.e. no-one else is making online games for the wii).

    The minute an online game does well on the wii, and wii online is really succesful (I imagine this will happen with smash bros), then every developer and his dogs will jump on the "online" wagon.

  • smelly #42 4 years ago

    "
    The limitation of GC 1.5 hardware and Nintendo inexperiences with online components compared to MS and Sony. Team 17 doesnt have much to work with!"


    That's quite possibly the most retarded post i've read on here.. And that includes posts from kryon!

  • spadge #43 4 years ago

    Developers have actually very little to do with the retail price of games - that's the publisher who also has to pay for the production and marketing and all manner of other things - its a very costly business hence the price of games. When we self-published Worms on XBLA, the price was less than £7 - but thats a market without all the trappings of retail, marketing, physical goods and actually a much smaller production in terms of the game itself.

    Smelly, you've a lot to say, but only some of it makes some sense. Using the wiimote as a mouse just isn't practical, it's not nearly accurate enough for constant use as a mouse replacement in practical terms, but it wasn't really built to be. From what you're suggesting you want a port with online play, which is pretty much what's available on other formats and making little or no use of the Wii, which would really have caused uproar.

  • mechamonkey #44 4 years ago

    After the outrageous fun of XBLA worms online there is absolutely no way I'd buy another offline worms game (yet) again.

  • sneetch #45 4 years ago

    "The Wii version is really aimed to played socially (up to 4 players) rather than online and make the most of gesture controls rather than simple gimmicks - it's not 'shovelware' by any means. Lack of online function hasn't prevented Worms titles from being either successful or popular in the past and in many cases ensures that it's a better environment to play the game than suffering online idiots who quit out when losing or abuse you whilst you're at it. It's almost a case of 'be careful what you wish for'."

    Be that as it may, I personally was really looking forward to Worms online. Worms offline? No thanks.

  • sneetch #46 4 years ago

    @Daryoon

    "That's okay, I have friends in the real world :) "

    So do I, most of them live in different cities and countries though... commuting hundreds kilometres to "pop" over and play games isn't really an option.

  • Mr_Bison #47 4 years ago

    Anyone else hate the geometry wars Wii AD on this page???

    Personally i think its the worst one in years...