Another point to consider: many 3rd party developers have been part of the multimillion game budget arms race for the past 5 years. As part of that race, they have built up sizable infrastructure: expensive graphics departments, cutting edge facilities, massive support staffs, and well payed CEOs. Unfortunately for them, these things are not easy to just shut off. Firing people, downgrading company assets, etc. is a painful process that no CEO willfully wants to execute.
It seems to me that many companies were not only unprepared for Wii to be such a success but also are unable and unwilling to make the kinds of changes to be a competitor in the Wii market. Which leaves Wii 3rd party support in a strange situation: companies with the resources to make polished games for the Wii are afraid to do so, companies with the creativity and ingenuity to make games that truly deserve to be on the console are not yet able to polish their games to the level that the hardcore audience expects.
I still think the issues discussed in this thread are the most interesting facet of the new generation of consoles. Sit back and enjoy the show.
