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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Are companies being short-sited about the Wii?

c0rd on 19 October 2008
The_vagabond7 said:
I think it's just the opposite. I think they are taking the distant view.

The wii is a flash in the pan, but it's one that will last for 5 or 6 years. A relative flash in the pan, it's only a single generation and it will end. Major strides are being made in graphics technology, AI, complex physics, new kinds of motion capture, online networking, ect ect. Methods of programming and how games are made are moving forward. Those strides are not being made on Wii. To NOT learn these new skills, techniques and programming methods is suicide when the next generation comes. What happens in 8 years when all the new consoles are out and none of your staff knows jack about how to make games on them because they spent the last six or seven years building games off an upgraded gamecube architecture with virtually no network support? They end up waaay behind the technology curve.

So the solution? Put your A teams, the best you've got, working on learning these new techniques, methods, keeping up with the industry as it develops. Put your B teams making wii games that make money on whatever demographic, you don't really care. Then when the next gen comes out Team A will still know what's going on and team B can be integrated and trained that much easier.

Hrm, interesting thought. However, I don't think I agree with this.

True, the HD consoles offer more experience on newer technology. However, if this generation has taught us anything, it's that newer technology will not necessarily keep you "ahead of the curve." Rather, it is new, innovating ideas that takes the most importance. This is proven by the soon to be best selling (non-bundled) console game of all time in America (GH3), the Wii Series, the Touch! Gen series, etc. Establishing new IP's also become great cash streams, as even Ubisoft knows quite well.  The first one to come up with the idea is the one that reaps the rewards (GH, GTA3, Ninty games).

While this isn't impossible on the HD consoles, it is easier to manage on the Wii due to lower costs and a new control scheme. Also, by sticking to HD consoles the developers will be behind the curve when it comes to intuitive controls. Besides, what do you figure will happen with Nintendo's developers when the gen finishes? I doubt they'll be struggling to keep up with the technology curve.

I suppose it's a possibility that even the A teams have "forgotten" how to innovate. The PS2 generation didn't bring about all that many new ideas, after all. In that case, they really do need to stick to the HD consoles, as their large budgets and old franchises are the only thing keeping them afloat.



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The_vagabond7 on 19 October 2008
c0rd said:
The_vagabond7 said:
I think it's just the opposite. I think they are taking the distant view.

The wii is a flash in the pan, but it's one that will last for 5 or 6 years. A relative flash in the pan, it's only a single generation and it will end. Major strides are being made in graphics technology, AI, complex physics, new kinds of motion capture, online networking, ect ect. Methods of programming and how games are made are moving forward. Those strides are not being made on Wii. To NOT learn these new skills, techniques and programming methods is suicide when the next generation comes. What happens in 8 years when all the new consoles are out and none of your staff knows jack about how to make games on them because they spent the last six or seven years building games off an upgraded gamecube architecture with virtually no network support? They end up waaay behind the technology curve.

So the solution? Put your A teams, the best you've got, working on learning these new techniques, methods, keeping up with the industry as it develops. Put your B teams making wii games that make money on whatever demographic, you don't really care. Then when the next gen comes out Team A will still know what's going on and team B can be integrated and trained that much easier.

Hrm, interesting thought. However, I don't think I agree with this.

True, the HD consoles offer more experience on newer technology. However, if this generation has taught us anything, it's that newer technology will not necessarily keep you "ahead of the curve." Rather, it is new, innovating ideas that takes the most importance. This is proven by the soon to be best selling (non-bundled) console game of all time in America (GH3), the Wii Series, the Touch! Gen series, etc. Establishing new IP's also become great cash streams, as even Ubisoft knows quite well.  The first one to come up with the idea is the one that reaps the rewards (GH, GTA3, Ninty games).

While this isn't impossible on the HD consoles, it is easier to manage on the Wii due to lower costs and a new control scheme. Also, by sticking to HD consoles the developers will be behind the curve when it comes to intuitive controls. Besides, what do you figure will happen with Nintendo's developers when the gen finishes? I doubt they'll be struggling to keep up with the technology curve.

I suppose it's a possibility that even the A teams have "forgotten" how to innovate. The PS2 generation didn't bring about all that many new ideas, after all. In that case, they really do need to stick to the HD consoles, as their large budgets and old franchises are the only thing keeping them afloat.

Not everything is going to be the next guitar hero, or touch series. 99% of games made are not the next big series. Steady income comes from being able to churn out cutting edge quality games, or now from producing mediocre games with mass appeal. Sure everyone would like to make the next guitar hero but most know they won't and aren't even attempting it.

Aside from wii sports and a handful of other Nintendo titles have been runaway successes on the wii thanks to motion controls? Motion controls haven't contributed anything to the market aside from waggle control. Swinging left to swipe left sounds cool for a game like force unleashed, but in actuality ads little other than physical effort. In most cases what is done with waggle can be done with a button much easier. And learning how to program motion controls is a much quicker easier process than learning everything else that isn't being done on wii.

Who's to say Nintendo won't have a hard time keeping up with the technology curve? The only way I can foresee that they won't is if the wii 2 is about as powerful as a PS3. In which case they will make the next logical progression.

 

It's not a matter of "if" developers are putting their "A" game on wii, because by far and large they aren't. It's a matter of why.

 



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c0rd on 19 October 2008

Yeah, I get it. I guess most of my thoughts are more theoretical, since Nintendo is the only one actually trying on their systems. It just makes me wonder how different things would be if A teams were on games like Red Steel, RRR or even Carnival Games. Anyway, while there aren't yet many new IPs, the Wii is only two years old. I guess I'm expecting big opportunities for its future with Motion+ and all. It's also a great opportunity to hit it big with the new audience, like the Imagine series on DS - sure, it's successful as it is now, but I feel it could be much more if they put more effort into it. Only Nintendo is doing this, and they're making tons of cash.

As for Nintendo not keeping up with technology... I guess we'll see. I know it isn't impossible, I just find it hard to believe that actually becoming a problem.