ProctorArgea

In Wii bowling the motion control is great. In Resistance: Fall of Man the motion control is great. Sure in Resistance, and even to a degree in Wii bowling, the motion control is not necessary, but it fits perfectly and allows the player to do a motion that emulates the real world motion. In these cases I am all for motion controls, because they enhance the experience instead of hindering it.

The Konamunist

Deadbolt543

taomaster99

That alone is worrisome.

gregly

L_K_M

Well Eternal Darkness was back in 2002, Endless Ocean I'll give you, and the rest are DS games. Though they "count" you have to wonder why the only games they've been investing in lately are hand held (lower dev costs maybe?).

Also notice how the DS has a pretty impressive library. Maybe if they did the same with higher risk games for the Wii, the trend would continue on that system.

Guitaratomik

Grind_Axis

Krytha

Ampillion, Dayman. Fighter of the Nightman.

Name Sign 「Metadae's Screen Name」

Stormrider

Benjo

apu95

I don't see your point. Financially backing the creator of Final Fantasy's new studio to help fill a genre gap on their system was a BAD thing? What do you suggest they do? Hope and wait that some Japanese RPG makers are just going to happen to start making games on the system?

I'm sure you'd make a fine executive.

Guitaratomik

HAGE

(Feel free to say that Super Mario Galaxy was designed around the Wii controls if you wish. This is not entirely true, because although some Wii specific tasks have been thrown into it the game still contains a great many gameplay elements that were originally designed around using a normal controller.)

The Konamunist

smitty1123

Guitaratomik

They are published by Microsoft but my point is that it's a 3rd party developer developing a new IP on their system that was probably pitched to the MS or Sony. Sometimes MS ends up owning that IP (ie Crackdown) but other times they don't (Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Mass Effect). I'm trying to say that MS (and again Sony) reach out to h3rd parties for these new IPs and help develop games from 3rd parties.

I'm looking at a list right now of games Nintendo published for the Wii since 2006 and other than Eyeshield 21 (which is based on an anime and only released in Japan) and possibly Endless Ocean, they are ALL Nintendo IPs (Mario, Excite Truck, Metroid, Donkey Kong).

Do you think the 3rd parties approached Nintendo first about making a new Mario Strikers? No, Nintendo wanted to make a new Mario Strikers and decided the best person to make it was a 3rd party. That's the extent of Nintendo's 3rd party support. Dishing out it's own IPs instead of developing new ones from 3rd parties.

Guitaratomik

:)

r0Be

As a Zack and Wiki owner, I don't agree that it would have sold better on one of the other systems. The Wii interface was ideal for the point and click style. I think Capcom chose to not market the project, but probably still made a decent profit off of it. I doubt (but aren't certain) that it cost them all that much to put together.

And regards to all the shovelware....it goes where the mass market goes. It used to be on the PS2. It's not going to go anywhere because there is far too much money it it.

r0Be

I was actually referring to both. So you were both right.

If Nintendo shows more serious interest in them, they will show more serious interest in Nintendo. Unfortunately it is the gamers that ultimately win or lose, so get on the ball already Nintendo.

Game on!

EnigmaNemesis

This is exactly what I am talking about, with them needing to be more proactive and not a lame duck.

@Tonx:

Agree, was nice chatting with you and Stormrider900 ... I think we had a healthy and delightful conversation. We all gave some very good constructive feedback on the situation and hopefully gaming just keeps getting better and better from here.

If you excuse me though, I have all these games piling up, and have yet to get into the core of them for the most part. And have 3 months left to my winter break from work ... and 1 month of December went by and I have yet to dive fully into any of them. Darn Kotaku and leaching all my time away!

(and that is another problem we are running into now, so many great games, so hard to manage time with Kotaku around ... Kotaku a bane on gamers? That is for another article and discussion to decide)

Cheers!

EnigmaNemesis

Is it bad that I want that nearly as much as I want Brawl?

ncsbert

Stormrider

Tonx

Anyway, onto your more recent post... each particular gaming company has decided what's best for their company. Some companies want to post profits, some want to gain market share, and some want to just make good games. The companies that want to post profits first and foremost will always give us crappy games that burn out in the shortterm, and it doesn't matter which system is in the lead, they will always have shovelware. If Nintendo insisted on quality control, they would have rejected half of their library - which would have flocked in droves to Sony or Microsoft. And then we'd have the same problem.

Personally, I'm fine with shovelware. I don't buy it, and these game developers that are working on the Petz games are like minor soft-ball players - they make a salary, but they're either there because they're not good enough for the big league games, or they need to cut their teeth a little before they get their big break. And in the meantime, the companies make some money off of suckers. Everybody wins.

Except... you know... the suckers.

Tonx

Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, and Crackdown are all published by Microsoft but they're not 1st party (ie Microsoft Gaming Studio) games. Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon are from Mistwalker (who is also making a Blue Dragon for DS NOT published by MS) and Crackdown is from Real Time Worlds. But that's kind of the point I was trying to make and I think EngmaNemesis is too. MS (and Sony) reach out to other 3rd party developers to get them to make games for their systems. It goes beyond marketing.

The only example I can think of Nintendo doing this is Retro Studios, but Retro has only made Metroid games which is a Nintendo IP and Nintendo actually owns stock in the company.

Guitaratomik

Irenicus-the one and only

Name Sign 「Metadae's Screen Name」

Stormrider

Or Nintendo could throw money at them. I'd prefer the second one - I'm a gamer, not a stock holder.

But then again, what do I care if the Wii or the DS gets third party support? Turns out that there are other systems to play video games on! Who knew?

Great point indeed, I agree here. I only care, because I think it is better for the industry to have quality games on all three consoles from the third parties ... for the sake of gaming to survive and not just be shovel ware they profit off of because casuals and grannies are the target for the Wii! And dont want that stuff to "bleed" into the industry so to speak.

EnigmaNemesis

Knukleur

"Do you have an example of where Sony or Microsoft went to such extensive marketing efforts on their own dime for a 3rd party title?"

Just on the X360 side off the top of my head, Lost Planet, Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Crackdown.

Also, have you noticed how pretty much every 3rd party game for a "next-gen" system ended with either a X360 logo or a PS3 one? That's because one of them paid or helped pay for the commercial.

Guitaratomik

So what if they "buy"? I personally can care less if company A) buys games to be on the system from company B) ... as long as I the gamer, have a plethora of great games to play, and not twiddling my thumbs waiting for the next great game. There is two sides to this equation, depending on whether you want and like games, or want and like gaming politics more.

Side A) MSFT and Sony are so wrong for "buying" these games {which I as a gamer benefits from, because they are some sweet games there for me to play) and Nintendo is so honest and doesn't buy these games, kudos.

Side B) Nintendo cares about their wallet more than gamers needs, and thus knows their NEW audience will get buy on the so so party games coming out, while the loyal still go nuts for the Nintendo only products.

I also think the low attachment rate has lot to do with companies thinking about their profitability more than "caught off guard with" systems sold. You can make good game a) on the 360, where over a million will buy it easily, where as it may take almost 50 million Wii's sold in order to match those same numbers. Case in point. Zak and Wiki, it should have sold a ton compared to systems out there.

@Tonx:

This is where it gets subjective. Your view on "genre-king" will be different than mine. If we group the games in the main genre, racing and fighting, I don't see them as "kings" of that genre. Maybe also I am just looking for more different and interesting ideas out of them, other than another Mario Kart and Smash Bros., where you are happy with them, and that is fine.

Not saying they are bad games by any stretch of the means, but for me, they don't fill a void ... since my excitement for them has faded over the years. Over-saturation to me personally. Which is fine, and I respect how you feel about them. But I also refuse to over glorify this as some "feat" when I know A) most likely Kart will be delayed into infinity, and B) I am looking for Nintendo to get more active in the third party side of things, for the sake of gaming most of all.

EnigmaNemesis

`

Stormrider

Foxstar Sixtail

But then again, what do I care if the Wii or the DS gets third party support? Turns out that there are other systems to play video games on! Who knew?

Tonx

Considering the attention Wii is now getting from publishers, Wii owners have nothing to worry about.

Hansel

here are some of the better titles you might have missed:
Jan. 21: Advance Wars: Days of Ruin from Nintendo/Intelligent Systems
January: N+ from Atari
Feb. 5: Nanostray 2 from Majesco Entertainment
March 1: Project Exile from Graffiti Entertainment, LLC
March 8: Harvest Moon DS Cute from Natsume Inc.
March 11: FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Rings of Fate from Square Enix
March 25: Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword from Tecmo, Inc.
March: Drone Tactics from Atlus USA
March: Myst from Empire Interactive
April: Super Dodgeball Brawlers from Aksys Games
June 8: Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness from Natsume Inc.

NeoAkira

As for the arguement that other platforms have had stronger lineups... yes. The XBox had a stellar year in '07. As I said myself, the PSP is amazing this year, and I'll add that if you're in Japan, it will only get better. Prior to that, late PS2 titles are so good that they're being remade for this generation(Okami). We all get spoiled when excellent games consistently hit a platform. Hurrahs all around!

What else... oh, 'fierce'. Yes, I do think that Mario Kart, Smash Brothers and Wii Fit is a fierce basis for a lineup. Smash Bros Melee has sold at an average price of at least $45 for six years. Mario Kart DS is the most played game online for the DS's Wi-Fi service, and that came out before the DS Lite. And Wii Fit is unstoppable in Japan it's so popular. With these three games, in only half a year, I wonder what they're going to do for the other half - it's really that strong.

Here, let's try an exercise - name three (no - two, I'll be generous) triple-a, top shelf, genre-king games that appeared on the same console in a six month peroid. Or not even the same console, from the same publisher if you like. Then, tell me that during that time period, the line-up wasn't 'fierce'. You could choose titles within the launch period, but that's not really a true representation of a software line-up.

Tonx

I think the best thing in your post was your freudian slip:
"Unlike Sony and MSFT, that will help third parties with being proactive buy getting them to publish games"

They "buy" get them (hehe).....So nintendo doesn't throw money at them. No big deal. I feel like the real reason that there aren't as many of the big name 3rd party titles hitting the Wii is that those developers just guessed wrong on which console would come out on top in the mass market. They haven't had time to develop new Wii efforts while their sweating over whether they'll recoup their investment on their current projects.

r0Be

I hope Excite Truck II can compete with Motor Storm. I have now played Motor Storm in first-person using the six-axis as a motion controller, and it is probably the most fun (and possibly best-looking) racing game that I have ever played. Seriously, this game deserved much better reviews.

Since I am currently playing Motor Storm in 480p, there should be little reason why Wii games shouldn't look as good (unless there are serious hardware limitations).

bornonce

On a side note, I'm surprised to see how boring I found that list. Seriously, I found maybe three games on that list of any interest.

Sinnix

It's simply not viable to spend money on a 'approval' board, not then Nintendo has been working from the GC on to get devs to put out something, anything for the system. The second they start trying to impose QC is the second those same devs turn right around and release the games for PS3 and 360 they would have released on Wii, crap or not.

And say what you will, but a lot of those crap games sell and sell well and the people who buy them are happy with them.

Foxstar Sixtail

r0Be

Yes and No, but before that, is they need get more ACTIVE with third parties and support them more. They are a lame duck in the gaming industry in this regard. It is competition for them. And they have no "need" for them really since they profit off their own stuff, their core fanbase drools over their own stuff, and the third party stuff that IS coming out, is good enough in their eyes for their new target audience.

There is no motivation for them. Unlike Sony and MSFT, that will help third parties with being proactive buy getting them to publish games, helping them with resources and ideas to make those games good, and then obviously advertising those games with them, by promoting them in emails, and their own websites. Cause they have to.

It is a double edged sword basically. Nintendo doesn't do it because they don't need to, Sony and MSFT do it because they need to. So Nintendo not needing it is their gamers loss, Sony/MSFT's loss is their gamers gain.

You know?

EnigmaNemesis

Torgen got his apology faceplate but not his fixed GH3 disc

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

And in the end, how is any motion that you can easily do on the Wiimote better than just pushing a "spin" button?

The Konamunist

Stormrider

Shaoko

Eh, all systems get shovel ware, it's nothing new. Check out the PS2 and NES for a good couple of laughs to see the attempt for a quick buck, and if you want to see this on a a current console, in disc form, the Wii has a lot of it, in data form the XBOX 360's Live Arcade has some, and yeah... I don't really look at Sony's section due to it being so small next to the massive PS2 section in stores.

Shaoko

r0Be

Irenicus-the one and only

@SMITTY1123: Well, I can see the games being less expensive, but a lot of people aren't in the position to buy a new PC all that often. Add to that that a whole lot never update their PC once they get it and PC gaming gets pretty expensive.

r0Be

Oh I agree my friend ... thus why I own both (360 and Wii) as well as the PSP and DS.

Just stating that "STRONG LINEUP OF GAMES" and people frothing (talking about the sole Wii owners) is sad (on Nintendo's part) for them as a company not doing better with third party interaction.

It is my common belief, that over the years of gaming on Nintendo, and being there with the NES and old enough to follow their arrogance ... that they can care less for third party now, no matter how much Reggie spouts his BS about it. And it is all do to the fact that Nintendo profits on every console and game they make sold. They dont "need" 3rd parties to rely on like MSFT and Sony do, so their interaction and support with them isnt as substantial.

Now I am not saying that is a "bad thing" for Nintendo, because it obviously isnt, since their wallets get ever so fatter. But it IS BAD for the Nintendo gamer, who wont get another system from their gross loyalty, or ones that can only afford the Wii (but still would get other systems). Becuase Nintendo can do more (like Sony and MSFT) to get nice 3rd party gems on the system, to benefit their gamers. But why should they, when they [their core gamers] are so loyal and it is competition in a way for their own products.

Not pursuing third party efforts, to help enforce and make their quality better, only makes Nintendo games look even that much more better.

But that is my opinion I came to, over the years of reading about their practices, and seeing how they acted in the gaming realm when they had control.

Example ... Zak & Wiki ... great game, overshadowed by another Metroid and Zelda. Where as MSFT or Sony are not afraid to push the third party competition, knowing it will sell, even if it means competition for their own games (like Halo 3).

EnigmaNemesis

No More Heroes
SSBB
Okami
Wii Fit
Mario Kart Wii
Star Wars: Force Unleashed
LEGO Indiana Jones
Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin

Aside from those, the rest of the pack looks marginal at best. I honestly think the Wii and DS receive some of the best - and worst - games on market. Of the 195 Wii games available, at most I see about 10 worth buying (I'm being generous here!)

What I really hope happens this is that major 3rd parties start devoting their top tier developers to produce content for the Wii. I was really looking forward to games such as NiGHTS, Manhunt 2, Battalion Wars 2 and Mario & Sonic at the Olympics. Yet, I'm amazed at just how average (or below average) these games turned out to be.

Please Nintendo, bring on the quality in 2008!

PaulHunter

Naia

No problem....like I said before, the rest of your post was fantastic.

r0Be

Foxstar Sixtail

Sgoast

smitty1123

I dunno what it is, I own all the current systems, home and portables. When I bought the Wii, I knew just like the GC, I was buying it largely for first party, third party is not to be counted on. So that way i'm never let down.

Foxstar Sixtail

Stormrider

Irenicus-the one and only

Torgen got his apology faceplate but not his fixed GH3 disc

Mrmoo2002

GREAT POST!

But... "The detractors of the Wii are correct when they say that owning only a Wii would mean that you wouldn't always have something fun to play."

I hope you also understand that as much as that sentence means to you, it is really only your/their opinion and can't really be "correct". For a lot of serious gaming types the same sentence holds true whether you put 360, PS3, or PC in the sentence. Their appetites for gaming are just insatiable.

For me, I am just like you. Wii60 owner. But, I spend way way more time on my Wii and my PC then I do on my 360. My 360 is almost exclusively an EA sports machine, and it is great at it. My main time gaming though is playing Nintendo titles, odd 3rd party games on Wii (I loved Kororinpa and Zach and Wiki) and then Counter Strike Source. Which I have yet to find a FPS that I enjoy more than CSS online.

MOST people that bash any system online are simply doing so because they are trying to justify themselves and their personal choices.....to strangers....over the web.....for god knows what reason....

r0Be

That said, I am excited about Bangai-oh, as I haven't really ever played it and I love all the other Treasure games I ever did play. Maybe if it sells we'll get a Radiant Silvergun port, it makes more sense as a disc game anyway.

DaiMacculate

There's been a rumor that at least two classic games will be revived to appear on Nintendo platforms. Also, Nintendo Power said it has an big RPG announcement to be revealed in its next magazine issue. Hopefully, its something new and exciting.

As much as I'd to see more impressive third-party games , there's honestly more than enough games coming out this year that interest me and more than I can afford to buy anyway.

Hiltz

lol@you.

Foxstar Sixtail

I do have to ask though, did you really think that swinging the Wiimote felt good for actions such as the spin, throwing fireballs, climbing vines, etc? These were all actions in which I felt that a button would have sufficed, and actually given the player more precise control over the action. In each of these cases the motion control just felt like a gimmick rather than a necessary play element.

As for the star pointer, I could see arguments for and against it as good use of motion controls, but for me it did not feel essential to the experience.

I guess for me the main thing with Mario is that I do not think that the game has really benefited from (or needed) motion controls. Sure the star-grabbing sequences would have needed to be removed or modified, but the basic gameplay of the title could have functioned without motion control.

For me, I just want motion control to make sense, or add an element to gameplay. No More Heroes does a good job of this with its motion control high low stance selection. Sure, a button could do this, but not as well, as the motion control here works like a toggle switch. Folks Soul (Folklore) is another good example. While I do not feel that the motion control is essential in that game at least it makes sense to jerk the controller up to rip the ID from your enemies.

Can you honestly say that it makes sense (or is more intuitive than a button press) to swing the Wiimote straight down to do a spin move in Super Mario Galaxy?

The Konamunist

And everyone blames Nintendo for all the shovelware on the Wii, but let's put this in perspective: Nintendo does not make all of those games themselves. Third parties, as with the Gamecube and to a lesser extent the N64, simply want to shove out crap on the Wii that they can make for low cost and effort to make an easy buck. That's not Nintendo's fault, it's theirs. And there's shovelware on every system, including craploads of it on the PS2, the 'winner' of the core market last generation. If you do not like all the crappy games on the Wii, don't buy them. Just bitching and moaning about it constantly solves nothing, because these third parties don't care about you or what you want, they care about money, plain and simple. Because the Wii has wider appeal than most game consoles, there are more Wii owners who are less accustomed to gaming in general and therefore less discriminating about the quality of the games they buy. That doesn't make the Wii a 'bad system', it just means that 95% of the time third parties don't want to take advantage of what the Wii can do well, because that requires time and effort and money that they don't want to risk if they can make something on the cheap and get an easy profit. That's basic economics.

In other words, don't blame Nintendo for the shovelware on the Wii, blame Activision (among others, of course, this is only an example) for making Dancing with the Stars because they don't want to really do something creative with the console. The solution, if you want more third-party 'hardcore' games on the Wii, is to buy the good ones that do come out, like No More Heroes and Okami. Who knows, if Okami can find an audience on the Wii that it couldn't get on a system with a massive install base on the PS2, maybe that will be a signal to third parties that a truly creative game built for what the Wii does right will be worth their while to invest in. Or maybe smaller, independent developers will make games for the Wii because they can't afford the massive amount of capital a 360/PS3 game requires. The point is, third parties will never abandon the Wii entirely as they did with the Gamecube because it's still selling so well and they want to reach those consumers. The only thing we as gamers can do now is try to vote with our money and get them to make more quality core gamer fare.

/end rant

Stormrider

So to Nintendo, I say rock on. You clearly know what your doing better then a load of backseat boardroom C.E.O's across the internet.

Foxstar Sixtail

daknight

Torgen got his apology faceplate but not his fixed GH3 disc

Rygar and KOF are those that I am interested on (being a fan of KOF and having played Rygar in the PS2 at a friends house and enjoying it made me interest on this one). Still plan to read up a bit on them and see how much I wait before buying. I kind of follow my way of 'at 20 this game is good...but at 50 dollar is stealing from your hand' way of seeing games. I will probaly have the same fun if I bought it at 20 or 50, not saying cause of the price a game will be better, is more of a meter of 'Is good, but you can defently wait till it comes down to 20 before getting it' instead of it being an 'instant buy'.

Was just trying to point out there are some interesting games in that list, at least for me. Speaking of Odin Sphere I am just praying Atlus picks up the new game from the developer of Odin Sphere (there Wii game) and bring it to the states!

daknight

xgenius

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

You've got two big first party titles with online play (Brawl and Mario Kart) plus exciting games like No More Heroes, Okami, de Blob, WiiWare and new channels like the DS demo download service. The virtual console may aslo get some new platforms on it.

Also, a couple of announced games still may come out in 2008 like Disaster, Final Fantasy:CC, Wii Music and Oboro Muramasa Youtouden (released outside of Japan). Retro Studios may announce its new game this year. Hell, even Nibris may surprise us with something good.
Nintendo will most likely announce some new games during the next big game event planned for late 2008 and/or 2009.

Hiltz

@daknight: interesting list. Rygar, I'm not too sure about. It's all going to come down to the controls and updated presentation and graphics. Too many of those games on that list are "meh" or "could be good but could easily suck" column. King of Fighters? Nah...I'll just wait for the VC versions.

Castle of Shikigami looks hot to death though. Odin Sphere is the bomb diggity. Add that to my list.

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

Foxstar Sixtail

If it wern't for the Nintendo titles, the Wii and Gamecube would fail after 2days, trust me.

@Sixtail: Thank god Nintendo ignores the gamers, ty nint...

Irenicus-the one and only

Foxstar Sixtail

Saxboy

Foxstar Sixtail

Sasuntsi|Davit

Gam3r

I'd like to see a REAL Soul Caliber on Wii. FF:CC on wii would be nice too since it looked like a classic RPG effort instead of the 4 player affair that is the GC and DS versions. But last I heard Square was having problems with it. I also heard that UBI was having issues with Red Steel2 and outsourced it. Like I mentioned before, a Project Number 3 sequel would be nice that's not a hack rush job like the first one. Capcom could show some love with a real Resident Evil instead of UC or a port. All this is wishful thinking.

PS3 has the lineup that has me interested more than anything else.

There isn't anything on Wii I'm planning on buying this year except for SSBB and Mario Kart. Actually, Mario Kart is a maybe. I need faster races, slick track design and beyond Gamecube graphics with robust online to match. If Nintendo can't provide that then I may have to pass.

Jeez, I'm more excited about the DS line up than the Wii lineup. It's horrible.

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

Jan. 21: Endless Ocean™
Jan. 22: One Piece™: Unlimited Adventure™
January: No More Heroes™
Feb. 26: Baroque
Feb. 26: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
March 9: Super Smash Bros.® BrawlMarch 25: Okami
March: Obscure: The Aftermath
April 15: Castle of Shikigami III
May: King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga
June: Rygar: The Battle of Argus
Spring: Mario Kart Wii
Spring: Don King Presents: Prizefighter
Spring: Top Spin 3
Summer: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Of course, some of this I probaly wait for them to lower in price, but for it just being the first half of the year, they already have a good list of games I want.

daknight

Brawl, Kart and Wii Fit are all top tier titles, if the hype is to be believed. Three top tier titles in six months (if they hit their respective releases) is pretty fierce.

Holy crap, what has Nintendo done to you people to make you so appreciative of (2/3) "top titles" in "6 months" [this year?], as being "fierce"?

Ohhh, looks at the Gamecube comment ... gotcha!

Maybe I was just spoiled with the PC and 360 last year. And the PS2 before that.

/shrug

EnigmaNemesis

Stormrider

jeffx

Nintendo should just make lists like, "Oh yeah, we're working on a new Super Mario Brothers, Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, Mario Baseball, and a Zelda adventure. They'll totally be out eventually."

Gomerboy

@altgod: No... I'm concerned that they're going to still allow snaking at all after it ruined the online component of Mario Kart DS. If it's going to remain, I'd at least like to see a menu option to say whehter you want it or not, and then keep those groups separate in online games. I like driving straight on straightaways, not frantically drifting back and forth.

Mezodon

Sasuntsi|Davit

Torgen got his apology faceplate but not his fixed GH3 disc

The DS's lineup looks fairly descent, but not near what it's been in the past. Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough and this is also coming off of last year's STELLAR lineup for just about everything. Seriously though... Winx Club? Come on Konami...

Maybe some of the originals will be sleeper hits, but the Wii's track record doesn't give me much hope. However, if we did get a few sleeper hits this year, that would give me alot more hope for the future. Puzzle Quest anyone?

jackal27

phinehas

hahnchen

Mukatsuku

Speaking of Okami, it would be pretty neat if Amaterasu ended up in Brawl in some form or another to hype its release later in the month of March. Of course, you'd have to work your way around the third party and cel-shaded issues though.

The future looks bright for gaming. Especially if FF13, Star Ocean 4, Metal Gear Solid 4, and Grand Theft Auto 4 are released later in the year.

Aiwokote

Mukatsuku

FyroniK

They're games people. They don't have to be AAA for you to have fun - and if you can get your enjoyment's worth out of a $10 shovelware game or a $30-40 mediocre game, then why not?

Saxboy

xgenius

altgod

Sloopydrew

Personally, there's a lot of these that I am interested in - but that doesn't mean I'll be getting them. They might suck! In which case I won't. But I'll be watching the reviews on:

No More Heroes™ from Ubisoft
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation™: Hard Evidence from Ubisoft
Agatha Christie And Then There Were None from DreamCatcher Games
Okami from Capcom
Alone in the Dark from Atari
DeBlob from THQ
Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel from Nintendo
LEGO: Indiana Jones from LucasArts
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts

If I were to get all of those, obviously that would be too many games. If about half of them suck, though? That's about right...

(On DS, only Apollo Justice is an obvious must-buy for me, but if I feel like getting something else I'm sure there are several good options.)

quen

Mario Kart Wii will be a welcome rebirth after Double Dash....which was by far the worst entry of the series. My only wish is that they gave you two Wii Wheels with the game.

r0Be

Rika Aiuchi is SeXXXy

Consider me Sold. I knew there was a reason their symbol is a bullseye

Maddogdw

perhaps, but if we don't see/hear anything new by this E3, I am going to assume it's vaporware which is a shame. I haven't touched my wii since around the time SPM came out. That might have something to do with me not getting Galaxy yet, but I've tried it twice at kiosks and still don't like it.

Lot Krotan

HyperWrench

Are you people brainwashed? lol

Well, I guess... if it helps having someone to count for you makes you get more excersise then im all for it. Still, it is a piece of equipment or a toy or a home shopping network excersise piece, but it is not a game, it is NOT a AAA game that will be "played". I give up...

Irenicus-the one and only

Why this still excited me is because unlike most genre kings, Nintendo strives to make new iterations of their franchises very accessible to a new audience, which in turn means new mechanics and toys and features on an existing genre for me to try.

Basically, I feel the same way about this line up as... say... a PS3 owner would feel about Final Fantasy XIII, Grand Theft Auto 4, and Little Big Planet all dropping within a six month straight - two genre kings and a new champion for a new genre.

Tonx

SMG had a lot in it that was specifically designed to be used with motion control and really did work well with the control setup. I wouldn't compare it with Zelda, as Zelda was built for the GameCube and the motion-control was pretty bad (I sold it halfway through and bought the GameCube version). Super Mario Galaxy was built from the ground up for the Wii and it shows, control-wise. But if you didn't like that one, I sincerely doubt you'll like anything with motion-control and should probably stay far, far away from Mario Kart with its Wii-Wheel.

Sloopydrew

I suppose I shouldn't complain -- or comment, for that matter -- because this is what I've come to expect: three or four great games on the Nintendo console, per year.

I'm glad I have the other two's systems.

judas04

Well we might toss in a Zelda for a nail in the PS360 coffin.

yeah, thanks big N.

velvet396

Hansel

The Konamunist

Hansel

Saxboy

As for Wii Fit, you are joking right? I mean, I can see people that would like it and want it not to mention get it when it does come out. But it is not something you hype, wait for and then "play". It is excersise, I'l tell you what, you can do push-ups without Wii Fit today!

Irenicus-the one and only

eugaet

Also, Cooking Mama or Trauma Centre make good fits to bring to the DS because of the touch screen, and then to the Wii because the touch screen is the same kind of player input as the Wiimote - the mechanic is proven, the sales are good, the console sequel is made. Minimize risk, make money.

It's by no means the only strategy for making money in this industry, but it minimizes the chance of a Daiktana on your hands.

Tonx

Thank you for your support of the Konamunist Party!

The Konamunist

I remember when the N64 was ripe, nintendo made the comment, "At Nintendo, we choose quality over quantity" Strangely it seems they have changed their position "We choose money over quality."

This is sickening.

Note to nintendo:

Quick, get the herbicide, the yard is being overrun with WiiDs.

fallingdove

DigitalHero

Nintendo has proven itself capable of some pretty awesome stuff with motion control (Mario, Metroid, Wii Sports), so I wouldn't panic yet. But if this is remotely like Excit