Wii to get unique Spider-Man 3 version
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ May 2nd 2006 at 6:25PM }
According to WiiSpot.com, the Wii
version of the multiplatform Spider-Man 3 title will be different than the versions that end up on the Xbox 360
and PlayStation 3. The question is, how different?3rd party developers that are used to churning out 3-way (or 4-way) ports of the same title are going to be faced with some decisions. Big publishers might choose to split duties between two different developers, as looks to be the case with the Madden franchise. But don't be surprised if Wii owners start getting gypped because of the console's shortcomings (when compared to the technical power of the PS3 or Xbox 360). The ability to motion to a point on the screen with the Wii controller and fire off a web shot, for example, is certainly no consolation.
Without an obvious advantage, publishers/developers are not going to take risks (i.e. spend millions) to develop truly unique Wii versions of multiplatform titles.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
RP @ May 2nd 2006 6:32PM
I'm pretty sure IGN reported this like 5 or so months ago.
Hopefully it won't be different in the same way that the PC version of Spiderman 2 was different...
Grindstone @ May 2nd 2006 6:33PM
Will they change the font? I mean, that is the PS3 font, right? So would that be put on the cover of a Rev, er, Wii game?
Hmm, the word(?) Wii might come in handy on talk-like-a-pirate day... Arrr, y'er just a Wii little lad.
Genius, Nintendo!
Jordan @ May 2nd 2006 6:37PM
you apparently don't get it joystiq, the system is freakin only $2000 for a development kit, a ds or psp development kit is more than twice that, and let's just guess how much a ps3 or xbox 360 kit is? So is it really going to be that difficult to pay for a system that is this cheap to make games for? Let's think about things the OTHER way around... Some developers from the LAST generation, may not be able to afford the more expensive kits from sony or microsoft, meaning LESS 3rd party support for them. And yes, playing with the web-slinger himself with the controllers etc. is going to be very enjoyable! I don't think you realize this, but um, E3, HASN'T HAPPENED YET. We don't know what all the graphics of ps3 or wii are going to be like completely. Redsteel was running on development hardware, not final hardware. OH YEA, and MADDEN, some of my friends, WHO HATE SPORTS GAMES, have already thought about playing it for Wii, because it is going to offer something NEW, imagine that!
hepme @ May 2nd 2006 6:40PM
"The ability to motion to a point on the screen with the Wii controller and fire off a web shot, for example, is certainly no consolation."
really? I'd say that would be pretty sweet
Jordan @ May 2nd 2006 6:42PM
last time i checked their 3rd party support was already doing much better than Gamecube...
patrick @ May 2nd 2006 6:43PM
you get paid to write shit like that? i hope not.
you start off by saying wii will get a custom version of spidey three, and finish by saying "Without an obvious advantage, publishers/developers are not going to take risks (i.e. spend millions) to develop truly unique Wii versions of multiplatform titles."
great journalism. i hope you get hit by a car.
Kevin Parrott @ May 2nd 2006 6:43PM
Way to write off a system before it's even out, guys.
Master X 24 @ May 2nd 2006 6:44PM
3rd party support sucked 4 the gamecube and i think the same for the wii (LOL thats gay) its an updated light gun if u ask me and if i want to jump and move my hands ill go play real football and if i want to play madden ill play it on my 360
D @ May 2nd 2006 6:46PM
The font is not original to either of those two brands. In fact, it's a squished form of the font used in the title of the old "Animorphs" series.
....oh man, why did I just say that
patrick @ May 2nd 2006 6:46PM
you get paid to write that kind of junk?
you start off by saying that the wii is getting its own custom version of spidey 3, and finish it off with "Without an obvious advantage, publishers/developers are not going to take risks (i.e. spend millions) to develop truly unique Wii versions of multiplatform titles."
astounding journalism. really.
/sarcasm
hop @ May 2nd 2006 6:47PM
Jordan, the price of making a game for any decent developer doesn't come from the price of the devkit...
The cost of paying people to work on the game and publish it far outweigh the devkit cost. In fact, it will probably initially cost more for developers to make games for the Wii because of its new features (which is true for any new system but probably moreso for the Wii).
Jordan @ May 2nd 2006 6:47PM
it's ok to be ignorant Master X 24, what COOL NAME THERE!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAAHA, where'd you think that up??? I wish I could own a Master X 24 system, that'd be awesome!!! It's ok, I'm just glad I didn't pay $400 for a bunch of PC ports that I can get $20 cheaper for my PC that runs better than a 360, it's ok, you'll learn eventually
had2comment @ May 2nd 2006 6:49PM
"But don't be surprised if Wii owners start getting gypped because of the console's shortcomings (when compared to the technical power of the PS3 or Xbox 360)."
That is my biggest concern with the Wii. If consumer demand turns on which system puts out the best looking graphics possible with next generation machines, then the Wii will be left in the dust. This in turn means a small selection of games for those who do buy a Wii. (I will never get used to this name. Ever.)
"The ability to motion to a point on the screen with the Wii controller and fire off a web shot, for example, is certainly no consolation."
Actually, I think that's a pretty big consolation for any graphics that may be lacking in comparison with the beefier Xbox 360 and PS3.
"Without an obvious advantage, publishers/developers are not going to take risks (i.e. spend millions) to develop truly unique Wii versions of multiplatform titles."
The only way publishers/developers are going to make games for the Wii, exclusive or otherwise, is if the Wii moves enough units to make it a profitable system to develop for. And the only way the Wii is going to move off the shelves is if consumers prefer the controller (Wii exclusive) over pretty graphcis (Xbox 360 / PS3).
I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Jordan @ May 2nd 2006 6:52PM
ACTUALLY, you might want to rethink that, many 3rd parties have already talked about the ease of development, it is a mouse in 3d space, with a base platform of the Gamecube hardware... just to get things straight here, the UNREAL 2 engine, NOT 3, but two cost $750,000, multiply that, just for the engine alone, and wait, um, how many CORES does the ps3 have? oh yea, 8, so you're telling me, it is cheaper to make a ps3 game? with 8 cores, totally new architecture, when companies haven't even worked with developing with a dual core pc hardly??? Are you kidding yourself??? They have at least already have had a similar mouse setup made by gyration, you might want to rethink that hop, add it up
haegen @ May 2nd 2006 6:56PM
what's to keep sony or microsoft from coming out with a controller like the wii remote? it seems like it would be pretty easy and it would scam some of the 'revolutionary' aspects of nintendo's console. but it would also make porting games easier since there wouldn't be the difference in control schemes to deal with, which would be good for the wii. which, now that i think about it, is probably why it won't happen
Geoff @ May 2nd 2006 6:58PM
Jordan says:
"you apparently don't get it joystiq, the system is freakin only $2000 for a development kit, a ds or psp development kit is more than twice that, and let's just guess how much a ps3 or xbox 360 kit is?"
Well, there were a lot of rumors at GDC that the xBox 360 dev kit was going to come in a $100 version. (http://news.com.com/2061-10797_3-6052255.html)
Here are some quotes from John Carmack over at Ars Technica about the xBox's dev kit being pretty nice. (http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2005/10/18/1556)
I think the main point of the post is that the Wii is going to have to be popular enough to create a large market to justify companies developing games exclusively for it that use all of its cool gadgets. However, it is going to need cool games specially designed to take advantage of the wiimote to attract a large market.
Also, new does not necessarily mean better. There are really cool ways to use the Wiimote in games. There are a lot of really bad ways. We are just going to have to wait and see what the developers do with it.
tactics @ May 2nd 2006 7:01PM
seriously guys, most development studios will set up seperate teams for Wii because it's cheap as shit to develop for, and is going to seel a TON of units.
I imagine (since its the same basic framework as the 'cube) that most studios will simply move their gamecube guys (who have tons of experience in this environment) over into a Wii team and let them do their thing. cheap and easy, and fast, with the potential to sell a lot of games.
'cube owners have been shown to buy the most games per person out of the 3 last gen consoles... (i think they determined that by # of systems sold vs # of games sold for that system) and i expect that to be no different with the Wii. i am already planning on getting as many games as possible at launch. while xbox360 boys were, for the most part, interested in 2 or 3 launch titles, i'm interested, literally, in over 10 (supposed) launch games for Wii...
i think you'll be surprised at how many companies are going to do exclusive content for Wii, as soon as they see how many people buy one.
-"superfan" tactics.
Karmakin @ May 2nd 2006 7:03PM
Yes, it's the same font. The Spider-Man font came first however. It jumped out at me when I first saw the PS3 mock-ups.
As for the rest of the discussion...
Prior success does not make the PS3 a lock. It also doesn't make the Wii a failure.
This isn't so much a marathon as it is a drag race. The first company to reach 50% of the next-gen marketshare will get the lion's share of the games, similar to the PS2's position this generation.
With the three systems positioned so, it's anybodies game. And considering the lower price-point and higher interest levels, I would actually put the Wii at the biggest odds of hitting 50%, if anybody does. (It's possible that none of the consoles will hit 50%, and if so, you'll see things distributed a lot more evenly).
darryl @ May 2nd 2006 7:07PM
"you apparently don't get it joystiq, the system is freakin only $2000 for a development kit,..."
Well, apparently neither do you. The cost of a dev kit is less than a drop in the game budget bucket. $2000 or $20,000 makes no difference when you have to pay $500,000 in salaries + $??? for marketing + $??? for publishing... and so on.
Jordan @ May 2nd 2006 7:19PM
it's a lot when you are a small 3rd party company getting started... what is this bash Jordan day? ok, whatever, but my OVERALL point is the fact that Joystiq is acting like the whole thing is costing developers tons of money compared to the competition, i'd say all of them are used to developing games for all three systems plus 2 new handhelds called the DS and the PSP, and you can't sit here and say that they're not counting every penny of it, they have to turn a profit, all of these 3rd party companies, contrary to popular belief, are NOT giants like EA games
Artimus @ May 2nd 2006 7:19PM
I'm confused. The Madden team announces what is likely going to be the best Madden game in ages. Then this (very old) report comes up. And Mr. Ransom-Wiley therefore deduces that because of the Wii's graphics being less, the games are all going to suck? What?
Ugh. Ransom-Wiley is turning Joystiq into a pain to visit. Another piece of incomprehensible logic. Someone start a petition to get this guy fired from this site. Ugh. Lame, unprofessional and obnoxious is what this entry is.
S-kay @ May 2nd 2006 7:20PM
"Well, apparently neither do you. The cost of a dev kit is less than a drop in the game budget bucket. $2000 or $20,000 makes no difference when you have to pay $500,000 in salaries + $??? for marketing + $??? for publishing... and so on."
Yes, in this current generation of consoles. However, with the advent of online content delivery this will change. It is perfectly reasonable for a small development team to develop a game and distribute it via one of these online content delivery systems. Such as Nintendo Virtual Console, X-box Live Arcade, PS3 Hub or Steam.
You need only look at the success of games such as Geometry Wars or Darwinia that independent developers have an opportunity in this new market that's arriving.
Of course, these independent developers won't be able to offer the depth or perhaps the asthetic polish of big developers but do they need to? They need only turn a profit to survive and succeed.
Loban @ May 2nd 2006 7:22PM
"But don't be surprised if Wii owners start getting gypped because of the console's shortcomings (when compared to the technical power of the PS3 or Xbox 360). The ability to motion to a point on the screen with the Wii controller and fire off a web shot, for example, is certainly no consolation."
Who gives a $h!t about ports and multi-platform games. I have a PC already which already gets it's fair share of crappy console ports (Halo anyone?). I'm looking for proprietary kickass games on the Wii, that's why i'm gonna buy one. I don't need to play Grand Theft Auto 7.
Jordan @ May 2nd 2006 7:24PM
i second that... thanks, finally someone agrees, i'm not trying to be a jerk, but this is just rediculous, you can't tell me playing madden isn't going to be fun or spidey for that matter with a totally different way to play, oh, so it has like some polys that are a little less, when did it matter last generation? ps2 was the pure victor! who was complaining then? suddenly it's a "my system has a bigger **** than yours" so that makes it more attractive to develop for? take a look at the previous generation, and think again
moomer @ May 2nd 2006 7:24PM
I think everyone convieniently forgets what Nintendo traded the graphics for. They didn't trade it for the controller. They traded it for the costs. The costs get handed to the customer. Plenty of people will get Nintendo's system over the competitors just because it's cheaper (significantly cheaper). Cheaper system = more money for games. Cheaper game development = more money for devs without hiking costs. Everyone's happy.
Nintendo did a very simple cost benefit analysis.
They said to themselves "So if we made a super system like our competitors then will we get 3rd party support? and will gamers buy our systems because of it?"
Answer: No. They learnt from experience powerful systems haven't won the market for the last 2 generations. They didn't win developer support either.
Once they figured out the benefit was lower than the risk they said; "OK, we gotta differentiate some other way". Hence the beginnings of Nintendo's battle plan.
The interesting graphics point raised is, while everyone likes nice graphics if they can get it, graphics don't always win, as evidenced by DS VS everyone, PS2 VS everyone and PS1 VS everyone.
Plenty of people have bought graphically inferior PS2 games and been happy. They could now play graphically inferior Nintendo games with a new control setup and be even more happy.
Having said that there are other factors: for instance, there's no beating Sony at their own game. Hence the dismal sales failure of Xbox1. A Monopoly cannot be displaced by simple immitation. Nintendo have realised this and have chosen not to compete for the same market.
And no, the control cannot now be easily copied. The technology is integrated in all boxes and all games. Significant R&D money was spent. Patents have been filed. Copying does actually look bad. Competitors can't afford to start bundling ANOTHER feature.
MosquitoControl @ May 2nd 2006 7:31PM
Most people here are dead right.
Let's say each system sells evenly. You have 33 million PS3s, 33 million 360s and 33 million Wiis.
A game developed for the PS3 can be easily ported to the 360 and vice versa. For a little more than the cost of one game you have 66 million potential buyers.
If the Wii doesn't have a more conventional input then nothing can be easily ported. Developing a game for it is a bigger risk as you can only reach 33 million people. Less opportunity to recoup the costs.
A shell and whathaveyou isn't an excellent alternative. Developers tend to not develop for hardware not included in the box. If there's a chance you don't have it there's no chance they'll support it. That just limits the installed user base even more.
mike @ May 2nd 2006 7:33PM
I think the main point of the post is that the Wii is going to have to be popular enough to create a large market to justify companies developing games exclusively for it that use all of its cool gadgets. However, it is going to need cool games specially designed to take advantage of the wiimote to attract a large market.
---
Nah, they've already addressed this, there are Gamecube controller ports on the Wii.. for standard ports (read: old games, rehashed with better graphics) we can just use the old controller.
Dead Issue. The only reason companies are making Wii-exclusive titles is because they WANT TO.
Did it ever occur to you that maybe the rehashed Madden games are seeing diminishing sales (incentive to own 6 different madden games plummets)
Nate @ May 2nd 2006 7:34PM
Not to be that guy, but saying "gypped" is offensive. It's a slur against Gypsies, and isn't any different than saying that "...Wii owners start getting Jewed because...", which, presumably, you wouldn't say.
ecchichuu @ May 2nd 2006 7:35PM
I'm... I'm sorry. What is this article about? You lost me at "Wiispot". Hahahahahah
Jordan @ May 2nd 2006 7:40PM
"A game developed for the PS3 can be easily ported to the 360 and vice versa. For a little more than the cost of one game you have 66 million potential buyers."
umm, no, 360 is well 3 cores, ps3 is 8 cores, 360 has been compared to developing for a pc, ps3, never been done before, wii has been compared to developing for a gamecube, and you can look at previous generations, which system was cheapest last generation, gamecube, that is a fact, and check out this link, if someone has possibly forgotten about what DEVELOPERS have said, http://www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/read_article.php?topic_id=24353317&union_id=2029
Joe @ May 2nd 2006 7:43PM
Master X 24:
Hey, at least originality and innovation still exist, while you go play your 400 dollar "entertainment system" I'll have at least 100 dollars for games.
And not to mention online. I won't have to pay 70 dollars a year to play online, and I get SSBM Wii to boot.
Jordan @ May 2nd 2006 7:46PM
by the way, Eidos just added themselves to the Wii lineup, another company that didn't support the cube
Wari0 @ May 2nd 2006 7:58PM
Isn't the whole point of the Wii having less horsepower than a 360 or PS3 that the is exponentially cheaper to develop for than its competition while still providing a Next-Gen experience, (gameplay over graphics while not totally blowing off graphics)?
Squeek @ May 2nd 2006 8:03PM
The matter of the graphics is claimed to be the final secret to be revealed at this year's E3. My personal speculation has been posted here before and ignored, so no need to post the entire thing again. I just have the feeling Nintendo is doing SOMETHING special with the means of displaying this device.
I mean, have any of you seen how the remote correlates with what happens on the "screen"? Also, can't throw out the fact that Mr. Iwata has been quoted as saying that he hates the confines of the four edges of a television screen.
According to a few people from Nintendo, the graphics are that of a souped-up Xbox. It's just not going HD because there won't be a need for it with the potential gameplay.
AJ @ May 2nd 2006 8:06PM
OMG OMG OMG!!!
If there was one game I wanted to see a special version for Wii it was this one. Words can't describe how happy this makes me.
I sooo hope they don't screw it up. Hopefully they can just scale down the assets from the other versions and concentrate on the gameplay.
The Mole @ May 2nd 2006 8:07PM
Joystiq, way to slip a horribly written blog post in there. Maybe it's hard to stay objective when you have a particularly favorite system, but since when do better graphics mean better games, or even more game sales? Looking at the PS2, it was the LEAST powerful system of the current generation and it sold the most. Both the Gamecube and the Xbox were more powerful and had better looking games. Yet, the PS2 trounced them. It wasn't even close. GTA 3/Vice City/San Andres were pretty ugly games and they sold like wildfire.
As far as the "nobody will develop unique games for the Wii" arguement, you seem to be wrong there too. Even EA, the consumate undiferentiated multi-console sequel master, has learned its lesson with the Nintendo DS and is working to make compelling games for the Wii.
If anything Nintendo is going to get better 3rd party support because their system is going to be unique and cheap. Think of it as Nintendo taking the lessons learned from the GBA/DS(their most successful gaming systems) and applying it to their next console.
In the end people don't care that much about graphics. Sure, hardcore gamers go crazy about pixel shaded, bump mapped, specular lighted prettyness, but most people don't play games for the graphics. The shinyness wears off of every game over time. The real reason people play games is for fun. Nintendo consistantly offers people fun in a low-cost way. That's why the Game Boy is still the champion of gaming.
epobirs @ May 2nd 2006 8:08PM
The primary consolation for developers and their publishers is the potential to produce a game so distinctive from the PS3/X360 version that it might be purchased in addition to that more graphically impressive version.
Getting into the same consumer's pocket twice with the same property is a highly desirable goal.
Nort @ May 2nd 2006 8:10PM
The funny part is the SpiderMan 3 game could really suck (hey, it's possible, right?), and this argument would be pointless.
I think first party, original, and VM titles are what are really going to sell the Wii.
Nin.Wii @ May 2nd 2006 8:11PM
Wii had it first:
http://blog.myspace.com/nintendo_wii
Dont worry, Wii won't tell anyone ;)
Big_J @ May 2nd 2006 8:13PM
Seriously joystiq, why do you have to hate so much? i would rather be immersed in the gameplay then just press buttons and see awesome graphics. stop hating Nintendo its geting old.
Ghetto Assassin @ May 2nd 2006 8:30PM
Uhhh guys... all the bitching and moaning wont do any good here. everyone is a "fanboy" in one way or another. I personally own all 3 last gen systems and will do the same for the next gen systems. While I agree the PS2 had alot more bad ass games then the xbox, after getting halo 2 I never touched my PS2 for like 5 months. My poor gamecube hasn't seen any action in about 8 months.... So I obviously prefer my xbox. I now have an xbox 360 and I saw somone make a joke about how 360 just plays PC ports... yeah? I didnt pay $6000 for my xbox 360 and if you didnt pay about that for your pc, your pc can't touch the 360's performance PERIOD. So who's the moron? Not me thats for damn sure.
You can rest assured my lil cousins will get more use out of the Wii then I will, cause frankly... I already hav an xbox 1 and well the Wii is basicly and xbox 1.5 with a new powerglove, lol.
I hope the system rocks... cause I WILL buy it, I just hope I dont regret buying it like I did with my gay-m cube. DO NOT SCREW WITH ME AGAIN NINTENDO, or you can just play with your own Wii!
Yododo @ May 2nd 2006 8:31PM
OMG!!
What the heck are you people complaining about. We're not the flippin' developers, so it doesn't matter if we have to pay another 10 bucks to buy a game. I don't care as long as it doesn't suck. So stop whining about development costs and the number of cores a console has, because it doesn't matter unless you want to play games where clothes flap around realistically in the wind. I guess what I'm trying to say is SHUT UP!!
darryl @ May 2nd 2006 8:33PM
"...stop hating Nintendo its geting old."
What are you talking about!? Joystiq LOVES Nintendo. Just have a look back at the articles... Joystiq NEVER hates on Nintendo like they rip at every ps3/xbox piece. Grow some skin man.
Ninja Monkey Lover @ May 2nd 2006 8:35PM
This post was clearly written by someone who doesn't understand Nintendo fans (Wii-ners). The whole point of the Nintendo's new console is that it is better to have a new way to play games than it is to play in HD.
I for one don't think I would notice any difference on my measly 23" SDTV between a 360 game and a Wii game except that the 360 game would have small, unreadable text due to my "sub-par" setup.
I don't care if Mr. Ransom-Wiley doesn't like Nintendo's strategy. I don't care if he posts derogatory or doubtful statements about Nintendo's strategy. I do think, however, that this post is offensive to anyone who agrees with what Nintendo is trying to do, and that it encourages Wii-ners to find some other place to get their news.
And for the record, it is probably just as difficult to port games from the 360 to the PS3 as it would be to make a similar game for the Wii using fundamentally different controls but re-using old 3-D models and textures. As has been mentioned, it is also more probable that someone might buy the PS3 and Wii versions than that they would buy the PS3 and 360 versions.
Brandon @ May 2nd 2006 9:07PM
How do you know that other consoles aren't getting gypped in the category of controls?
I know its a blog, not a news site, meaning that you're free to state all opinions, but I mean come on, do you have to alienate readers?
Slize Kalfer @ May 2nd 2006 9:32PM
Okay Bad pun coming...
Wii all seem to mostly agree that this Wii exclusive port sounds like a great idea. So with all due respect to the author (im not gonna bother scrolling up) The graphics arent everything. I mean, the 360 isnt really that amazing, at least I dont think so. But if all you want is the exact same football with nicer graphics and the exact same fps with nicer graphics, then whatever. Ill take a new experience. Thats why I own a DS and not a PSP
vc @ May 2nd 2006 9:34PM
Brandon: we challenge readers. If anybody's getting alienated, they need to assess their zealotry and maybe take it down a notch.
You are not the console you play. You are not the brands you wear.
Emotion and passion are fine, but getting so wrapped up in a console that you become blind to flaws in the business plan or the marketing is a mistake.
We are not a blog for blind partisans. We're a blog for people who like to really think about how the games industry is evolving for consumers.
vc @ May 2nd 2006 9:36PM
"How do you know that other consoles aren't getting gypped in the category of controls?"
You're not taking into account how the business of development works, Brandon.
Do some basic math. Let's assume Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo each sell 50 million consoles.
You're a developer with a limited budget. Do you develop one game for an install-base of 100 million (Sony + Microsoft), or one game for the console with the specialized controls?
Jesse @ May 2nd 2006 9:36PM
We should probably take this news just like the ones about the Spider-Man for DS: It will be different, but not flagship different. I just want to play nintendo's games anyway, i'm not in games for all this filler.
hepme @ May 2nd 2006 9:43PM
"I mean, have any of you seen how the remote correlates with what happens on the "screen"? Also, can't throw out the fact that Mr. Iwata has been quoted as saying that he hates the confines of the four edges of a television screen."
I'm really suprised at the lack of rumors going around that the Wii will be displayed in 3d. I've been thinking about this for months now, and this just seems like the logical answer to Iwata's hint. I really wouldn't mind wearing 3d glasses and looking like an idiot, because 3d with that remote would be reeeeeediculous.
Then again, Iwata or someone over at Nintendo stated that they won't be using any silly vr helmets or glasses. So I dunno, maybe theres a way to display 3d without having to look through any filters. Holograms?