*UPDATED*

Gone are the days platformers and fighting games are king, only recently sandbox games and RPG's were top and right now I'd say the king of the hill genre wise are FPS's and Rhythm games. Now sooner or later another break out success in a particular genre will capture the mainstream and become a big genre with many games that eventually gets stale and we continue the trend..

Wii is the mainstream console of choice being market leader and has seen quite a few on rails shooters in its short life including: Ghost Squad, House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles and most recently House of the Dead: Overkill. With todays announcement of Dead Space Extraction for Wii this Autumn having a 'guided' camera, I couldn't help but think well hey, they've been selling well for what they've been so far:

Link's Crossbow Training - 3.78 M

Ghost Squad - 620k

HotD: 2&3 - 940k

RE:UC - 1.26 M

Also HotD: Overkill 130k (on track to become a million seller)

And also they seem to be a perfect fit for Wii. They have the ability to be played only using the Wii Remote which means greater accessibility, they seem more graphically potent with a on rails camera which is something that can make a Wii game seem much sharper, they can also allow for much greater story telling to draw in the player. 

Personally I think that the genre will be innovated in the next couple of years and hopefully grow up a little. They'll be many more games with guided cameras to aid players or to allow for greater scripted sequences. I don't believe they'll become the next big thing however as they seem to have limited gameplay opportunities.. I guess that's why I see the need for innovation..

So what do guys think? With the mainstream appeal of Wii and how this genre seems made for it is there a chance? Could it take just one break out hit to send this genre into thee stratosphere? On rails or a guided camera a genre with potential?

If not then what other genres may take over being top dog?

Now we have news of Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles releasing later this year or early next year. Does this give more weight to the theory?

They sell pretty well on the Wii and it´s a perfect genre for the system...but I don´t know what kind of innovation would be possible for this genre, what else can a developer do with it?

For the love of God i hope not! A video game that plays itself is no bueno.

Well innovation in the genre.. I thought balance board dodging from left to right and I guess use of Wii MotionPlus for different gesture based melee attacks? What about having a camera guided (I'm using this term as the whole balance board thing would make it still in your control somewhat) fighter? I don't know, the devs could figure it out if these are crap ideas :P

I can see the problem being the fact that it's not a genre with a lot of room to move and most games would seem a bit same-ish..

So, how far have you gotten into any of the games without doing anything??

@topic

No, I don't think they'll be the next big thing, however, it does look like they will make a nice comeback on home consoles. Back in the good old arcade days you could go out and play one of these for hours. I couldn't tell you how many $100's of dollars I spent on Time Crisis II. At one point I got good enough to beat the game with 1 credit

It's funny you bring up the arcade nordlead as arcade style games seem to be what Wii is best at and another reason why its doing so god damn well.

I think this will be next 'big thing' on consoles. Core players won't like it, but masses will like it. For me even current console games are way too simple. Simpler games = less time/money for development and currently thats what developers need.

I think you are right and they are becoming the next big thing... Wait its not 1996? Oh...nevermind.

I still love on rail shooters but House of dead 2, Virtua cop 2, Time crisis 2, Silent Scope...thats when they were the next big thing.

Ahhhh no.  What developers need is to do take the Wii seriously and give the masses a game people want to play.

@ BOLD:Ahhh be likely that idea.

...On the topic, I think I agree with Nordlead that it's may make a comeback but not be a "broad" next big thing. Idky, but I can't see on-rails catching on or being fun on traditional controls. :P