what do you think "fad" means?

you have pretty much confirmed it isn't a fad due to the fact that it is after TWO YEARS popular enough for people to simply buy one to say they have it

Hmm. Some interesting thoughts here.

As others have pointed out here, fad really isn't the right word. Certainly there are people buying the Wii that really wouldn't normally buy any kind of gaming hardware (ie. Playstation or Xbox or even any of Nintendo's previous offerings). But really, is this in anyway a bad thing. I don't think it is. If these same people weren't going to buy a PS3 or XBOX ever anyway, it's cool that new people are at least getting into gaming of some form.

I don't own a Wii. Right now, the PS3 is my main gaming front (with the PC in close 2nd). A friend of mine has a Wii and he likes it very much. I have played on it quite a bit, but I have decided for now that it isn't for me. Some more games that appeal to my tastes can swing that easily, though.

If new people are playing games, then cool.

If Blood, death, big boobs, guns, knives and crappy dialog is the future of "mature"gaming then we have a sad future looking forward too.


For most Ps360 owers the Wii is a fad but fore millions and millions of "hardcore" gamers who have bought the Wii it's sure as hell isn't a fad.

hell there might be even more "hardcore" Wii owners out there then there are PS3 sold.

What's wrong with 'kid-like' adults?

I find it very funny for an adult to play videogames but calling other adults 'kid-like'.

It's 'mature' to shoot zombies but it's kid-like to drive online on MarioKart?

Since when we should stop like nice colours and cartoony settings? 

What's next? To be doomed to never smile again because we're 'adults'?

Do you have any evidence of that?

Looking at previous console generations many people would argue the complete opposite ... Most people who owned it or played it would argue that the Gamecube and N64 were excellent gaming platforms that had some of the best experiences of their generations but sold poorly because the insecure nature of most gamers prevented them from getting past the image Nintendo built for themself in the 1980s. How many gamers didn't play Mario 64 or The Legend of Zelda: OoT because they thought those were "Kiddie" games?

The Wii is doing so well in a large part because Nintendo has made image irrelevant ... The Wii isn't designed to be a "Cool" system, it is designed to be the fun system that is accessable enough that you can play it with anyone. While Sony and Microsoft have spent Millions of dollars trying to make their system (and gaming in general) cool, Nintendo has gone out of their way to show people (who are not normally gamers) playing videogames and having fun.

Now, you might say that everyone enjoying playing games on the Wii is image ... What I will say to that is it would be image if it wasn't true, but the fact is that I have personally seen everyone from my 3 year old nephew to my (nearly) 60 year old mother (as well as 'Core' gamers) enjoy playing the Wii. Most people who own a Wii will share similar experiences with you.

If Apple can (magically) start producing games which my nephew and mother both enjoy while still being enjoyable to conventional gamers; and they can release a system at a low enough price for these gamers to consider buying it, while at the same time entirely rejecting the Wii, I would suggest that they do it. The fact that massive developers like Ubisoft who have decades of experience can't understand the market well enough to produce a decent game makes me think that this is unlikely ...

wow cant believe people still think its a fad.
if its a fad then why are MS and sony trying to make their consoles like the wii?

If that's true, then I just might have to remain 'immature'.  Too bad...

Definition of fad: something popular that you don't like.

Impulsivity:

You seem to take it upon yourself to define what is "adult" and what is not. I don't think you have that authority.

Many of the "childish adults" that you seem to malign aren't regressing, or anything like that. What it is, is that there are folks who grow up to believe that "maturity" doesn't require the cynicism, bitterness, and seriousness that others tend to equate with old age.

Indeed, you're caught in an interesting middle. You want to pretend to be mature (you watch Sopranos!), but still play things like Heavenly Sword? I have news for you: most of the "I'm an adult now -- I don't play childish things" crowd consider the PS3 a child's toy, too. There are a lot of people who think that video games, in general, are childish, and that your playing them at all is a sign of your immaturity. But I would never judge you in that manner; I think that a mature adult can enjoy the PS3 for what its worth... and, too, the Wii.

What really requires more maturity to appreciate? Super Mario Galaxy? Or GTA4? I feel that GTA rides a lot on a 13 year old's blood-and-boob fascination. While SMG is accessible to all ages, I don't think less of an older person who keeps the ability to appreciate it, but I think more of him, because it takes something to be able to see quality in works where others (like yourself) say there is only childish nonsense.

My personal life doesn't matter much to these points, but so we're clear: I'm 31 years old, have a BA in History and have taught High School English. My circle of friends (and fiancee) are all in their 30s. We own homes and cars, are married or engaged, have (in cases) children on the way, hold down stable jobs & read Shakespeare for fun.

If you think that playing, owning and enjoying a Wii, as I and several of my friends do, makes us "immature," then you need to seriously re-examine your own maturity.

I was talking about that casual crowd. They buy wiis because of those commercials which make it look cool to own a wii. :) Young people wearing white and having a lot of fun with over-exaggarated motions. Like they were actually bowling or stuff. :) Or wii fit, the game which makes your fat go away.. for that kind of people, image is everything. That is a bad joke, wii made image irrelevant. Haha. :D

I find it really funny that you nintendo-fans keep saying that it is the insecurity of gamers why they don't like nintendo games. Those games just don't appeal to everyone. Is it so hard to understand? There are a lot of adults who like for example pixar movies as there is a lot of adults who find them too childish.

I did not say that everyone owns wii because of the image, did I? But ok, since your 3y nephew AND your mother plays wii is enough evidence. I am convinced. About what? That the wii appeals to those who would not play with 360/ps3 because those games are too complicated for them. Of course there are a lot of core (nintendo) gamers who enjoy their wiis. Nothing wrong with that. It is just not for everyone.

Now why couldn't a company make games like wii sport, wii play, carnival games, mario party, mario kart or mario&sonic at the olympics? They aren't too complicated.. of course those with mario on the title cannot be done. ;) You are right though, they would not appeal to the same gamers that core nintendo games appeal. They just would not be nintendo games.

Oh and ubisoft have made a LOT of decent games, just not for the wii.