You keep bringing up your age and experience, as if that might be the answer. I don't think so.

Wii gave me an enthusiasm for games I hadn't had since I first got the Atari 2600. Remember that this system was geared for all ages - including our age range (30's). The other systems focused only on teenagers and early 20's.

One word.
Simplicity.

Your question deserves a serious and well thought-out answer. It has been discussed back and forth on this forum before, and everyone has their own spin on it. You might get an answer of sorts from Sean Malstrom's Disruption Chronicles, but that might be a bit long-winded and highflying for your taste (not to mention offensive).

In short, I would say that the reason the Wii is succesful is BECAUSE it does not appeal to you. How many "hardcore-gamers" do you think is out there, really? Not that many, in comparison to the amount of people there are. Why should one go after such a small group of people, really, when there's a massive group that is uncatered to?

Those that do not play games (mothers, grandfathers, teenage girls... everyone except for the 14-35 year old male, really) have never really been considered by the industry. Because they don't play games, so why make games they want to play?

The answer to that question, naturally, is to simply point at The Sims, the Touch Generation games, Guitar Hero and Singstar. When games try to really do something fun or useful for the people outside the traditional group of gamers, they succeed big-time.

All in all, I think that you should not be worried about the Wii's success. What it will do is that it will open more people up to gaming as a concept, and you'll be getting less stares at work when you say you own a PS3, and someone might even want to join you in a game of Buzz or Singstar.

Isn't it better overall if all types of people can enjoy gaming rather than just a tiny group of people (like you)?

It sells because it instantly grabs your attention and makes you think "woah, I gotta try that!".

That's why I bought one. In retrospect, it wasn't the best decision I've ever made...

I did not mention every system I had because i didnt want to bore you, but i also had supernintendo and sega genesis (in my country it was called "megadrive"), a neo geo, a atari 2600, many handgames, a dremcast and a gamecube...i did not own the n64..

my question was "after having played to many games of different genre in different systems in 30 years, it is hard to understand the success of wii." it's not a polemic, it is a fact. I don't think it is for the price, there must be something else.

why the game industry has changed so much? why after ps2, the world of games has changed direction?

'there must be something else'

ITS A SECRET ;ooooo

only Austrians know the answer to this.

Guys this is obvious. The videogames market attracts more revenues than movies now... but is still relies on an hold business model with expensive hardware and elite hardcore games (the eternal struggle : PC/360/PS3).

But Nintendo took a different approach and his offer adress a new community of non-gamers. Mass-market gamers.

People who never bought or played a videogames because it feels too far from their hobbies/occupation.

The wii is a cheap, straightforward package with minimal leaning curve. It really takes its distance with the traditionnal gaming industry model.

Nintendo is successful because it created its own new market.

 I hate people like u. 

I'm in your same boat TC, I grew up playing all sorts of games, then moved unto PC gaming, and back to console gaming

I own both the Wii & PS3, and I haven't touched my Wii for atleast a month or so...

For me its more about the way its played... I bought it because of its motion controller, but now thats why I dont play it

When I feel lazy, thats when I game... and I really dont like moving my arms around, i want to sit back on a couch with a controller in my lap, being as lazy as I possibly can

I have 200+ Wii Games, and only a few of them I could really play a lot, the others I just got real sick of

i love the Wii, but id much rather game on a 360/PS3 :/

Great, another whiner on the site.