Business Week examines Nintendo's Wii strategy

Guess we'll see, won't we?

i'm sensing someone doesn't like the Wii...

constantly ending posts with loaded questions is getting annoying now. you should all have a little aligence icon next to your posts, so i can just skip them.

I've got the money, it looks like it could be fun, I think I'll get a Wii.

I'd buy a PS3 if I had a lot of money and a really nice television (I'm stuck with standard), so I think I'll try Nintendo's new system this year.

hahahahaha! Alliance Icon!

I really got into this site earlier this year, but the loaded questions have become more pronounced, and recently I've seen a lot of quotes taken out of context.

I'm not saying its quite a Retard Rodeo or anything, but the site has become more like a Blog than a videogame news aggregator (which is what I thought it kinda was when I was first on here. of course, it is a blog, so there's nothing wrong with oppinions at all naturally, I'd just to see them expressed in a pure-oppinion entry, not weaseled into everything else)

:)

Nintendo Wii is their attempt at bringing the DS to the console masses. The Stylus functionality is duplicated in the wiimote, and many of it's games are aimed at broadening the gaming world to non-traditional gamers. Coupled with that is the lowcost and easy/inviting new controller scheme and a packin of family/non-hardcore gamer games. It's a well thought out strategy that should server them very well in this go round.

One has to wonder if xbox360 at the same pricepoint plus a Blue Dragon packin is enough to stop this juggernaugt.

"constantly ending posts with loaded questions is getting annoying now."

I noticed that trend too, but it's pretty common to a lot of bloggy sites where audience participation is really the main event. Slashdot is pretty infamous for it.

Really, though, there does need to be a crumb to get the discussion started. If you just ended the post with the BW quote, we'd all be like "yeah... great." End of discussion. Asking a loaded question at the end of a post may seem a little too transparent at times, but it is often a good way to get us talking (and arguing).

It took over a year for the DS to make Japan assplode.

But the DS didn't have a lot of compelling software early on but it gained it fast and Brain Training series helped it gain enomorus tracking with the nongamers.

The Wii may very will be helped by it's association with the DS so that the Wii sells like hotcakes during it's first year and remains sold out week after week instead of taking a while like the DS did. Certaintly seems to if you were to ask random Japanese DS owners.

Of course the US and Europe are steadily embracing the DS more and more as the months go by. Already the DS is outselling the psp by a two to one margin in American and in several countries by a three to one margin.

The PSP performance and PS3 announcements seem to have soured a lot of people. Also there is the price.

I mean will the people that buy Singstar in Europe fork out three times the cash to do the same on the ps3 when the Wii or Xbox 360 could give them the same karoke expierence for far less cost?

to add to that. i went to sharebuilder dot com and bought a good amount of stock on nintendo. i am an admited fanboy but do own and plan to own whatever console is on the market. i do feel that nintendo really is getting it right this time though with the appeal to the masses. my two cents

If you really think about it, on a mechanical, technical level, the Wii is basically a bigger version of the DS.

Just give it some thought.

How do you think a game like 'Trauma Center' translates over so well? That Wii remote is basically a large stylus. If you think about it, the only thing the Wii really has on the DS as far as controls go is depth perception and an analog stick.

Keeping this, and the rampant success of the DS in mind, let's ask this question again: will a new DS-style system be enough to meet Nintendo's expectations?

I THINK so, but again... we'll have to wait and see, now won't we?

Is a loaded question good journalism though? There is space for news and space for editorialising. Loaded questions just land on bad newstelling or opinions.

But I suppose this could just pander us for something to talk about in the comment section.

Im getting one for sure. Only wish they could've released them in the 5 colors they showed in all their promotional materials. But hey, its whats on the inside that counts, right?

"If you think about it, the only thing the Wii really has on the DS as far as controls go is depth perception and an analog stick."

Meant to write "the only things" and "ARE depth perception and an analog stick."

I should go back to school. >_>;

@6 Jeff

Yes, making a point for discussion entry is nice and all, but there comes a point when it gets so overbearing and obnoxious that the conversation ends up being more about the loaded questions and opnions then about the actual news and reason for the post to begin with.

One of the older engineers that I work with came over to me this morning. He had in his hand a copy of Brain Training. He asked me if he needed to buy a nintendo product to play it, and I explained to him about the DS and where he could find one. He said he was going to pick a DS up after work.

I think Nintendo's strategy is working. If they could get that guy to "game" then they are doing something right.

Shaun: I actually really like the Wii and hope it delivers. Don't confuse my criticism (although I didn't think I was critical in the above post) with dislike.

I do like to end my posts with questions, not to have them come off as loaded, but merely to get group think, err, I mean community commenting started as Jeff stated above.

Re: allegiance icons, they are coming very soon in the form of Joystiq blogger bios that will state what potential conflicts of interest and bias any given blogger has. You can currently browse posts by the author (just click on their name) to follow writers you particularly enjoy.

Cheers!

Blake....nice info. Much appreciated.

And if The Wii is just a console DS.....

Will I have to stack two TVs on top of each other? :(

I would say Jeff is completely correct (as he tends to be, note the stars). :)

Adding an authors comment at the end of the article is what blogging is all about. Its like, "Hey guys, here's this bit of news/info/trivia that I find interesting and I thought you might too. This is what I think, what do you think?"

Without that type of insight and personalized touch combined with a call to action (in the form of comments) this would be nothing more than a news site. BO-RING!

As for the allegiance icons, that would be sweet. And anyone claiming Blake is anti-nintendo is just plain silly. If anything Blake is PRO nintendo and he does a damn fine job of not letting it skew his posts, not that I would mind if it did really.

Blake runs a very high quality Nintendo related blog and the kid pulls no punches. In the end, I agree with Blakes "unstated" opinion that often tough love is the best thing a fan can give their preferred gaming company. Feel free to correct me if I've misrepped you Blake, but I don't think I have, and I read you here and on your blog frequently. Keep up the good work.

just pointing this out......the ds is doing so good becuase nintendo was already dominating the handheld market when it came out
and that is why the ps3 is gonna do well because sony is dominating the console market with the ps2

You know what makes me laugh? It maes me laugh that their are dork that actually care so much about the video game lifestyle, that they try to influence others opinions on a console that hasn't even come out yet. Every article regarding nintendos new console, or box art what have you, there are always these sony or microsoft fanboys.. who are SO threatened that the Wii might actually eclipse their favorite branding that they say really intelligent things such as: "Wii will be for kids, it's plain and simple." Or something to that effect.
I can tell you that I have been dissapointed in gamecube. hell I havent even touched mine besides a few rare occasions in like 2 years. Nointendo FAILED with the cube. It had a few GREAT 1st party games, and that was that. But Wii looks to be very different. The fact that preorders are already sold out, and people are going nuts for the system, even though it is going to have only slightly better graphics than the cube really says something.
So my message to the immature fanboy dorks of other companies, is that if the Wii comes out and is a success, get ready.. because it will be back to the way it originally was and prob should be. Nintendo on top, and your company behind. Sorry. But who cares!? Go play some sports or something.. get some fresh air. Does it really matter if Sony squeaks Ninty out? jees

sorry for the typos.. I was typing fast on my way out from work.

An enginneer wouldn't see that the Brain Training box says only for Nintendo DS? What does he think it would play on that would replicate the DS hardware? Nothing exists that would give the best DS expierence besides a DS. Maybe this engineer really needs the memory improvement that Brain Training appears to give to people.

Maybe there could be a market for both high end graphically powerful consoles and cheaper less powerful more userfriendly consoles!

Shock horror both the Wii and Ps3 could be successful.

idioteraser step out of your head for a second. Not everyone knows what DS stands for. For all he knows DS stands for digital sextant. He's an old engineer. Probably like 70. He has a brilliant mathematical mind, but he's not a technophile.

Re: allegiance icons, they are coming very soon in the form of Joystiq blogger bios that will state what potential conflicts of interest and bias any given blogger has. You can currently browse posts by the author (just click on their name) to follow writers you particularly enjoy.

Thank you Blake.

That's a great idea. I lost some confidence in one of your writer's abilty to be unbiased after I had heard he spent the summer working for Microsoft. Having this sort of information about the writter's will be helpful to your readers.

I do hope in the future when articles's need to be written about a specific company maybe someone with no bias or conflict of interested can be chosen to write the articles.

Karen, is there any way I can get in contact with you? I think I may know you... but... I'm not sure.

Any IRC channels or anything we can go to if you'd rather not email or IM?

If not, and I just come off as weird, let me know and I'll shut up. :D

I think that from the hype the Wii has received so far, there's only a slight chance it will be a failure. Add the hype and the cheapest of the next-gen war, Nintendo will greatly profit from this. Let's just hope that when the next-next-gen is around the block, Nintendo would focus on both innovation and graphics since HDTVs will be more universal by then.

For me, it's a Wii60 combo to satisfy my wants. PS3 will come when it gets a major price drop.

PS. #25 sounds so creepy.

Yeah, I know. -_-;

"consolized DS"?!

guess you're not too keen on all those folks calling the PSP nothing more than a "portable-ized PS2"

Deep down inside you all know Wii is gonna be a runaway train.

DS was the litmus test for this concept.
It succeeded in the face of much skepticism I might add.

Wii will naturally follow suit.

People are very conservative with next-gen predictions & don't want look fanatical...
...but I am TELLLING you...

The Wii is the Future of Gaming.
Quote me on that.

And Wii will DOMINATE the 7th generation of game consoles all throughout the next 5 years.

And yes I'm going out on one MORE limb.
Wii is the second coming of the NES.
And I predict that it will SUPERCEDE the success of that legendary console worldwide making it the most popular console of all time.

It will redefine what gaming is, how gaming is played, and who makes up that gaming audience.

Wii is nothing short of a phenomenon in the making.
The only question is will it be a phenomenon?
Or a phenomenon-and-on-and-on-and-on?

Factor in the upcoming cross pollination of the DS & Wii audiences & amaze yourself.
TWIN phenomena working in tandem.
You've never seen nothing like that before.

Those with stock in Nintendo are about to become millionaires.

The generation to come will be a sore spot for those believing wholeheartedly that Nintendo was almost finished in the world of gaming like Sega in hardware.
Quite the contrary actually.
Nintendo is about to reclaim their lost dominance of the total marketshare they still control.

Instead of 60% overall look for 90%.
I'm dead serious.
John Lucas

i think the 250 pricetag is the one thing that'll keep the Wii out of "impulse buy" range for joe casual gamer..the DS lite on the other hand almost seems like steal for 130...hell i bought one and i havent owned( or wanted to own) a nintendo product since the N64...

but the wii...not so much...i feel nintendo will do ok on the back of the eerie loyalty of the nintendo fanboys...but i dont think it'll do much better commercially than the cube, since it basically *IS* a cube with a new alternative control scheme(which imo has yet to prove itself as the *better* control scheme, but i'll save my final judgement till i play it)...the only way it will gain ground from last gen is if the ps3 is a HUGE failure...which...at this poin...doesnt look so far out of the question...

i just think your typical madden/gta/halo/FF fans will decide who wins this generation...not joe casual gamer...the DS had the luxury of having only one true competitor in a market they owned for years...the wii doesnt have that same luxury.

WOW. look i like nintendo as much as the next guy and i bekieve that they will win this so called war, but think about it... sony has the advantage with the playstation name and all the technology packed under the hood. and microsoft has halo3 which judging by the massive following to halo2 will sell a little more than a couple 360s. Now don't get me wrong nintendo has some great franchises, and the controller sounds great. ( though i am reserving judgement untill i use it.) nintendo needs to get in the game. online smash bros. would be great! but if it uses the ds friend codes, it might equal more frustration. i think that in 5 years from now when we are speculating about the ps4 xbox1080, and the nintendo whatever, nintendo might have a grasp on the whole online/hardcore thing while still catering to the nongamer target of this generation. that is all, i hope you have found this enlightening.

"Nintendo is clearly trying to position the Wii as a low-budget alternative."

Ugh. That's like saying Harley Davidson is positioned as a cheap alternative to Cadillac. Yes, they compete somewhat within the same marketplace, but each has a markedly different aim. The majority of people who buy motorcycles are unlikely to buy a luxury car, and in the same sense, Nintendo's ideal Wii customer isn't likely to buy a PS3 or Xbox- they're both completely different experiences.

Any one else wondering what a "World of Warcraft moment" is? Especially in context?

If you read the comments here, all they need is to drop the price fifty bucks and include a second controller.

http://jw63.blogspot.com/2006/09/033-your-mom-not-included.html

#31: Block paragraphs of doom = online credibility -1.

What worries me about Nintendo's plan is that they're banking on a controller. Let's say that the new control scheme is a giant hit. Theoretically M$ and Sony could easily adapt their machines to a new controller. Sony's already half way there. Obviously M$ can make firmware changes, made evident by the 1080p support announcement.

Where would this leave Nintendo? Basically it all comes down to games and 3rd party support. The fact that all games on the Wii would use that control scheme may be enough to deter M$ and Sony from being total copy cats. Developers won't want to make a 360 or PS3 game using a control scheme that not all of the install base has. Who's to say they can't have multiple control modes though? We'll see.

For #35, if you look into the copyrights and also the technology in the wiimote, you will know that it has gyro's in it and also some other type of space measurement technology inside of it(there for the price of the controller), aside from that you will also have to take in that it is 2-3X's more powerful then the cube/ and also on top of that, nintendo needs to make a profit off the system(though I would have to say it sucks for me as a consumer, though I would rather have the biggest bang for my buck, which in the case seems to be the wii.) As far as graphics, RE4 was amazing on the camecube and it is worth to say that was one of the most amazing looking games on the systems. I have to say I was done with gaming, dust growing on my consoles, since I like bars & women a lot more then games, this might bring me back to my fanatic days of 007 goldeneye tourneys for hours, 1st time I played it it was worth a thousand words, house party, masses of people then a room dedicated to bond... ahh man amazing... I hope that happens again!