Midway, Ubisoft jump on Wii bandwagon
by Joystiq Staff 
{ Aug 2nd 2006 at 10:55AM }
Gamasutra brings word that Midway and Ubisoft are planning to contribute a healthy lineup of games to the Wii console. Midway has six planned, thus far, and Ubisoft is gonna throw in another seven.Besides the already announced Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, the other titles have yet to be officially unveiled. Ubisoft is also staying mum, with the only two titles we know so far including Rayman Raving Rabbids and Red Steel.
The reason for the recent surge in interest? Gamasutra puts it best:
In general, however, it appears that extremely positive reaction to Nintendo's Wii at E3, alongside the realization that many "hardcore" game consumers will buy the console in addition to either an Xbox 360 or a PlayStation 3 has meant notably increased publisher support for the platform in recent weeks.
[Thanks, Cabbage]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
KBeat @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:17AM
It looks like Wii is going to have a great deal more third party support than the GameCube. By support I don't mean poor ports from the Xbox or Playstation, but innovative titles built with the Wii in mind. I think developers are just as excited to do something "different" with the controls and mechanics as gamers.
I for one am looking forward to putting a Wii next to my 360 this Christmas.
Disposable Hero @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:18AM
If it weren't for E3, the wii wouldnt be getting so much support.
So E3 is indeed essential to some companies and their products. Lets hope E4 is too.
darryl @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:18AM
Rehashing old news? Having a hard time finding something to shill for Nintendo today?
Ubisoft's line-up/support, old, old, old, news...
Midway, just old news.
If this is what you mean by a "surge in interest", it doesn't bode well for the Wii i'm afraid. Perhaps no bigger than the "surge of interest" in your pants?
Cabbage @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:33AM
darryl:
Considering these announcements were both made at the Ziff-Davis Electronic Games Summit YESTERDAY and Midway's first Wii game was announced only this week as well, this can hardly be considered "old news."
If you are looking for a show of interest in Wii, just look at SNK who are making a launch title for Wii but won't be making games for PS3 until roughly 2009 according to the company's Overseas Marketing Manager Yoshihito Koyama. He says that PS2 is good enough, cheaper, and has a good install base. Yes, I'd think that Wii is getting quite a bit of support.
Jdoki @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:33AM
@3
Some people are so negative. Any declaration of support for the Wii has to be a good thing. The Gamecube suffered hugely because of a lack of third party support.
@1
I think you are right. Dervs can't ignore the 360 or PS3, but it must make a nice creative and technical change to work with something more than fancy graphics and physics calculations.
As much as I like my Xbox360 if next-gen means nothing more than pretty graphics, I'm more excited about innovation than how many particles and polygons my console can shift.
I'm not sure anyone has mentioned so far, but there are some distinct parallels between E3 and the next-gen crop of consoles.
Just as E3 was too big and flashy with little return on investment perhaps this could be equated to the PS3 - just as the new slim-line, focused and cost-effective E3 could equate to the Wii. Maybe we are seeing a market shift towards innovation and cheaper development costs.
Just becasue Sony and MS tell us (and developers) we need HD gaming doesn't mean it's true.
JimmyHACK @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:34AM
nice to here that if i get a Wii it will prolly be a better investment than my useless Gamecube.
what is kinda sad though is how Nintendo needs these developers to come out and say they will actually support their systems. with teh other Microsoft and Sony systems, it is a given that people like Midway and Ubisoft will develop and support them without having to release a statement. (i am not saying that the 2 are great publishers)
unimental @ Aug 2nd 2006 11:38AM
"extremely positive reaction to Nintendo's Wii"
Hehe. I still laugh at Wii jokes, months later.
But seriously... the note about hardcore gamers buying multiple systems is true. My 360 is getting lonely, and the Wii is a perfect companion. The 360 is my true "gaming machine" and I'm imagining the Wii as my "fun box", which is more likely to be used when groups of friends are over and don't want to watch me playing Halo. I think the Wii is destined to be a party machine for gamers and non-gamers alike.
That said, Nintendo has got to nail this approach in the launch and holiday marketing campaign. And making it look like an Apple product doesn't hurt, either.
crono141 @ Aug 2nd 2006 12:00PM
Anyone else hoping for a GOOD gauntlet game for Wii.
Seven sorrows was a sorrow all in itself, bring back the style of Legends and Dark Legacy, I say!
Zebra Danio @ Aug 2nd 2006 12:36PM
Actually, most of the games have been named, though perhaps unofficially. Here's the rundown:
Midway:
Blitz: The League (rumored launch)
Happy Feet (2006)
Ant Bully (2006)
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (early 2007)
TNA iMPACT! (2007)
Rampage: Total Destruction (rumored, but probable)
UbiSoft:
Rayman Raving Rabbids (launch)
Red Steel (launch)
Rainbow Six: Vegas (rumored, 2006)
Open Season (2006)
Killing Day (2006)
TMNT (Q2 2007)
Lost (2007)
Many of them are cheap cash-ins, but support is generally sub-par until Nintendo's first party shows the others just how it's done.
Korexz @ Aug 2nd 2006 12:40PM
@5 EXACTLY! WOW, someone else sees the parallel.
Marty @ Aug 2nd 2006 1:06PM
Wow, Now that I think of it, Does anyone think that the PS3 could also be hurt not just because of price, but because of the high install base of the PS2? Apparently there are tons of new games coming out for the PS2 beyond 3's release... Wonder how this will turn out.
Yes I know people are going to say PS1 blah blah blah. But there wasn't as huge of a price difference with PS1 vs PS2. The games were also the same price. Also, there really isn't that much of a leap as there was PS1 - PS2 power and graphic wise (no matter what anyone says) Yes the PS3 is powerful... but how much of that is really going to be used or even be able to be accessed!!!! It make make it look a lot prettier, but .....
Aran @ Aug 2nd 2006 2:07PM
I wiiilly hope Ubi can make Red Steel controls work well. Successful fps game at launch would have very positive effect for the whole Wii phenomenon starting this oct/nov.
@ 5 (Jdoki):
Well said there.
Josh @ Aug 2nd 2006 2:13PM
Nice to see so much support for the system. I plan to get a PS2 (yes, PS2, not PS3) and a Wii this Christmas, so things should work out quite nicely for me. ^^
geostar @ Aug 2nd 2006 5:46PM
^^^^^Josh
That's funny, I just bought a PS2 and am happy to have it and the library of reduced price games that come with it. The Wii will make a great, relatively low cost, addition to my gaming setup this fall.
FSK405K @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:43PM
Josh, me too. My machines currently hooked up are Atari 7800, NES, SNES, & Gamecube. Honestly I think the SNES is the most fun. (Tetris Attack, Super Bomberman)
This winter I'll get a Revoluti--frickin Wii--as soon as they allow preorders, or have some special bundle package, and also will be getting a PS2 sometime in the next few months. I hear there's a couple of good games, like Guitar Hero and Dragon Warrior 8.