However, we can’t forget the broken promises that have been an ugly stain on the last decade of Nintendo’s past. It’s imperative that they learn from this storied history to avoid a mass exodus of fans, and an even bigger “I told you so” from critics. What do they need to do to stay afloat?
The Controller: The biggest thing with Wii is the controller, and Nintendo needs to ensure it doesn’t become a gimmick. There are quite a few titles, like “Madden 07” and “Wario Ware Smooth Moves”, that make very creative use of the Wii remote to add new aspects to the gaming experience, but it needs to become standard practice to ensure we don’t get a bunch of cookie-cutter FPSs.
Variety: Right now, a huge list of third-party developers are on board for Wii projects. This is a huge shift from the days of 64 and GameCube, where games were constantly being dropped or taken to other systems. Gamers want variety. While we love Mario and Zelda, a system can’t survive on the vision of Miyamoto alone.
Extras: Wii has huge potential as far as peripherals, channels, and other add-ons. Make sure your consumers get them. For example, right now the Channel screen looks pretty slim on my Wii, and I’m praying it fills up as the console matures. I can only check the weather so much in one day.
Online: The online capabilities of Wii are most robust of any system Nintendo has ever released. By effectively and efficiently implementing it, Nintendo could have the beginnings of a huge online community bolstered by fanatics looking for friends and rivals as devoted as them.
By sticking to the promises and potential of Wii, Nintendo can turn around its bad image and regain the market share it lost to giants Sony and Microsoft. They so far have been doing it pretty smoothly, letting Wii speak for itself. It’s a system that touts simplicity, elegance, and fun; and all you have to do is pick it up and play. This is a radical view compared to the rest of the industry, giving them a new kind of arrogance. It’s an arrogance that tells you to just play. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t ever played, don’t like video games, or are a hardcore gamer. You’ll love Wii.
It’s a refreshing kind of pride compared to that of Sony, a company that says the PS3 is worth the enormous price tag just because it is the cutting edge of technology. That’s great, but is it fun? Many people don’t care, but Nintendo is proving that many more actually do.
