=( I'm really not noticing this drought, but then again I don't game 10 hours per day.

Meh, its good enough for me. And to say we aren't going to see any good titles untill christmas is a little premature. We do have super paper mario and other games with potential. For my own tastes I would consider the 360 in a drought too. The only games I'm interested in on that system are Elder Scrolls and Viva Pinata (I would like to try Gears but I don't ussually go for that type of game).

I wouldn't make a big deal about the drought. The 360 and the DS both had it much worse, and the PS3 has it worse than the Wii right now. What was it? Three months until a single new release came out on the Ds? One month intervals for the 360s game releases?

The Wii's not getting a motorstorm or a virtua fighter, but it's getting games. Sonic and SSX this month? People always seem to forget them. Next month the Wii's getting Super Paper Mario.

Mountains out of Mole hills at this point.

Man, I almost wish the wii novelty would wear off so that I can FINALLY buy my own unit >_

Apparently you don't remember what happened with the DS launch. Drought and then a creative explosion. The first year for this console will be its worst, the best is yet to come I tell you.

i still dont even HAVE a wii and you whiners are bitching about a drought? h8 u all!!!

Well I don't think the console was built on novelty anyway. Yes, it looks like a fun system, and its main hook is motion controls, but the word novelty implies something that will be popular for a short time and disappear. And the Wii isn't going to disappear.

The drought is painful. But, personally, I'm not worried. 2007 is a huge year for the Wii, not only in 1st party releases but also some stellar 3rd party releases, both cross-platform and exclusive to Wii.

I'm still into Zelda, Rayman, Wii Sports, and Madden, plus I haven't really touched Trauma Center or Super Monkey Ball. I've got a few GC games to work through, including the awesome Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. The VC releases have been slow but steady, and it's hard to deny the appeal of some of the recent offerings.

Am I ready for new Wii releases? Hell yeah. Am I bored with the Wii? Not at all. I haven't really picked up anything other than the Wii since November. Is the Wii in trouble? Nope.

the thing is, PS3 isn't in a drought anymore. Virtua fighter this week, F1 next week, motorstorm a week after that, oblivion a week after that, virtua tennis and splinter cell after that, rainbow six in april, lair in may, warhawk and ninja gaiden in June. That's a pretty strong lineup even if most of them are ports. Most PS3 owner probably don't own a 360 as well cuz the two systems are so expensive.

As for the Wii, sonic LOOKS good, but whats the last sonic game that's actually been good? Moreso than with most games, we have to reserve judgment on that one until it comes out. Super Paper mario is a GC game that was turned into a Wii game in 6 months. It'll probably be good, but probably won't show off the Wii's potential like a proper Wii game like Metroid or Mario Galaxy, which aren't coming out till the 2nd half of the year.

I still don't know why some gamers put so much faith in Sonic. Sonic games have been lousy for the past several iterations with absolutely zero signs of fixing, let alone addressing, their problems. And the GBA Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis confirms that they can't even get the classic side scroller right.

The best thing that could happen to Sonic is for Sega to commission an accomplished third party developer to put a genuinely new spin on the franchise and put Sonic Team on hold. Under Capcom, Mega Man descended into the seven levels of crud and somewhere around the fifth iteration of the X franchise, the majority of gamers had enough and abandoned the series.

To handle the GBA and DS Mega Man games (Zero and ZX), Capcom commissioned Inticreates. While keeping the same tight controls and gameplay formula, Inticreates breathed new life into a tired franchise by introducing new mechanics, a compelling new art direction, and a story that makes sense. These games consistently score in the 80%-90% range.

Sonic could benefit from the same approach. Sega has lost its focus and the series needs to go back to basics to figure out what used to be fun.

I think the Wii will pick up steam much like the DS did. One might think it is unfortunate that we are in a drought, but keep in mind that casual gamers and parents playing with the Wii seem perfectly happy to bowl 500 frames of Wii Bowling. XD

I feel like the only console picking up momentum is the X360.

I couldn't wait for a Wii before it launched, but now that it's been out for a few months, I already see it headed for an existence worse than the Gamecube's. Why?

Well, the Wii lacks the power necessary to run true next-gen game engines/technologies such as UE3, DMM, and Euphoria. I don't think developers are going to be so excited when, in a year or two, the only thing they have to work with is a controller.

Second, online gaming. People (*cough*fanboys*cough*) can debate whether or not this topic is important, but as XBL proves, online gaming is the future, and the future is NOW. Sadly, Nintendo doesn't see online gaming as being of any importance, and they frankly don't seem to care about creating a good service (I won't even get started on friend code restrictions).

Someone will probably flame me, but whatever. It's just my two cents.

Well, I just bought Excite Truck, and currently that's making me happy. Plus I'm only half way through Monkey Ball. Here in the UK we've got Trauma Centre coming out NEXT month, so nothing to worry about looking into the near future either, what with third party releases like Heatseeker, and Medal of Hono[u]r Vanguard keeping things busy.

And then of course there's sonic, which may or may not be good. My main problem with that game is the sound: the music is terrible, and the voice acting awful, and they combine into a pretty embarrassing mix really.

Anyway, yeah, so January was slow with just Warioware, but that was just a month, things look to be picking up now. Isn't that puzzle game Kororinpa coming out next week or something anyway?

Far cry got it all wrong?

Sorry, the graphics are TERRIBLE, but the way it controls trumps both Call of duty and red steel - by far.

let's hope MP3 gets it RIGHT (which I think it will)

I think there is a drought. At least for those who don't want to play mini-games. Granted there are lots of games out right now, but how many of those are games aimed at kids (Happy Feet, Cars, Spongebob, etc.)? As of right now, I own 5 games, but I'm looking for something new to play. I have my eyes on Sonic, The Godfather, and SSX: Blur right now. Two of those games come out this month, so this drought is just about over. Things should be pretty steady after that.

The real problem is that too many games are coming out in March. Where are people going to get money for all of those games? Heh, heh.

Also, I don't see the novelty wearing off. I usse the Wii just about every day. Whether it's checking the News Channel, surfing the net (Youtube videos on the TV is just too awesome), or using the Everyone Votes Channel, the Wii keeps me pretty much entertained. Just waiting for some longer games to play or maybe something online. Trying to beat Elebits right now (I'm almost done...I think.), too.

Overall, I'm satisfied.

The other day I was in Wal-mart while there were getting a shipment of Wiis. Almost immediately people starting buying them including an employee who had been waiting for it. I overheard this employee speaking with a young female employee who had purchased a Wii a few months ago. She said that she never plays it now and she doesn't even know why she bought it. I think that the novelty wears off with the non-gaming crowd while the rest of us continue to enjoy the console. I saw this first hand with my relatives a month or so ago. I had barely purchased a Wii and took it over for all of them to try. I couldn't believe how much they loved it. Wii sports is what won them over. After a few minutes at least 3 of them were ready to buy a Wii. After a weekend of playing they got sick of Wii sports and weren't interested in any of the other games that I had. I think that they like the idea a lot but I don't know how long they would actually continue to play. I personally have fun with the Wii but I wouldn't get one as my only console. That is why I have both the Wii and the 360.

This is simply an editorial rant based on sloppy journalism. The article starts by saying that Wii sales are down by quoting an article by gamepro that looked at last week's sales data that only sold 65,000 Wiis that week. Yes, that was true. But that was last week. This week it sold 78,550 Wiis - an increase of 12,810 (19.49%). So the demand is back - time for Gamepro to go back and write another great news item. Great let's try to be controversial to be newsworthy. What are they trying to be like, the U.S. media?

Has the novelty worn off? Yes. But not the fun. Zelda is still awesome. Trauma center couldn't be done on another system, and red stell is worlds better than most give it credit for. I'm enjoying it immensly.

There is abit of a drought, but we are getting sonic, mario, metroid and smash brothers this year. It doens't beat the awesome lineup the 360 has, but makes up for the "a new 360 3 month old 360 port every month" release catalog that the ps3 has.

drought??? how much time do you spend gaming? how many games do you need? how many systems do you need?....get a life hardcores. its just a gaming system that everyone in the world wants. it doesn't represent life. and give developers time to get the controls right for future games. many 'hardcores' don't realize the complexity of 3D motion; i highly don't many 'hardcores' have ever taken calculus to appreciate the complexity of the wii controls.....graphics aren't the only thing that take a lot of time to perfect. and wii novelty?! come on now, motion sensing control is the foreseeable future. don't think MS and sony won't come out with theirs....oh wait, sony already has with a half-assed effort.

"The Virtual Console games are rolling out slowly, but old games to those who don't need to ask for mom and dad's credit card do not a console make."

What is this supposed to mean? It doesn't even make any sense to me grammatically.

@ #18:

Do not speak Yoda, you do?

I would say that 80% of the people who own a Wii dont notice a drought. The three people I know that own Wii's are more on the casuel side of the gameing spectrum. And they are still playing through the games that are out. But If there is no progression by late spring, i think thats when more Wii Owners will notice something.

Drought? i own 7 wii games which i enjoy imenseley. there could be 0 wii games for the next 6 months, i would still be working through these 7.

same for the 360, i have about 20 unfinished games that could last me through any drought, should one come up.

ps3, now.....yeah, resistance and full auto.......yeah

I played Wii for the first time on friday night and to be honest was dissapointed, even though I was drunk I still got bored quickly.. I cant imagine playing for long while sober!!

For the record played warioware, sports, Wii play and red steel.. I was primed to buy one the moment I saw one in the shops but now I dont feel the need.

I think we've pretty much debunked the whole "drought" thing by now

Unless people are expecting 1 AAA first party release per month (something NO console has EVER been able to do) i don't see why people keep bitching, you're getting at least 1 game worth owning a month (not AAA, but good titles nonetheless)

I have no holes in my purchasing schedule until the end of 2007 (and all i own is a Wii and a DS)

Novelty wears off fast, sure, but then actual FEATURES (you know, games like Wii Sports, the Mii Channel, and Virtual Console) sustain the platform

I havent really been feeling any drought,

i don't have enough time to play all the wii games i already own, i havent finished elebits or call of duty 3, ive hardy even started downhill jam and DBZ, and theres still plenty of play time left in my other titles too ...

then add the all the virtual console games ive downloaded, (i never owned a genesis or turbografx)

then pile on the gamecube games i still would like to play, (just started tales of symphonia)

im drowning in games ... my problem is that i dont have enough time to play everything i want to ...

and thats just the Wii!


I play PC games too, picking up Supreme Commander this week ...
my problem is only going to get worse when the 360 gets a price drop and i pick one of those up ...

in all seriousness though ... if you are complaining about a "drought" of games, you must have way too much time on your hands ...

Well maybe that's cause developers SHOULD HAVE GIVEN THESE GAMES THE OPTION FOR THE CLASSIC CONTROLLER!

But that would have been a good idea wouldn't it.

@REUYL
I have to disagree with you. I think Xbox tends to attract a very specific type of person just like gamecube did and PS3 has so far. The reason PS2 did so well is because it managed to attract all types. Maybe it's gaining momentum in terms of the type of things you like to see and that's cool everyone has their thing. But I don't think it's going to be too long before the Wii catches up to the 360 in sales. It's for this reason that I think developers are probably already scrambling to get things out for the Wii. And online is cool but I think the place it will reach true mainstream success is in a more social type of game I still hold some hope that Nintendo will manage this with Animal Crossing (it has potential to be a sort of MySpace without the whoreiness).

The second they release Star Fox 64 for VC I'll forget all about this alleged "drought"

I agree on the drought, only because.. well, this is always a time for drought. It's on ALL consoles, 360, PS3, Wii, DS..PS2... This is when things slow down after the holiday rush. But a few A-AA titles hitting every few weeks is the way it is.

Has the Novelty worn off. For some of us yes, myself included.. but that just leaves the games to live on thier own. And as my motto goes, innovation is in the software. The games are still enjoyable and good. Do i still feel like I'm playing the revolution? no... not really... but i feel like i'm playing a fun game... just like i'd feel if i was playing a great game on my 360 or PS2.

I own Trauma Center, Rayman RR, and Zelda. I haven't finished any of those games b/c I'm busy in real life. When I do play, I have a great time. I couldn't afford to buy a new game every week or even month if one came out. Who can? And if they do, are they finishing the games they already have? Having new hot games come out every second is only useful for a system that already has a giganto user base, like the PS2. When the user base is that big and only 5% buy a new game that comes out, that's still good sales for that game.

@ comtar

i agree some developers are being pretty lazy on the control option front ...

take a look at "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2"
DBZ may not be everyone's thing,
and admittedly its one of those PS2/Wii games

BUT Atari did one thing absolutely right with this game - control options

this is the only Wii launch title i can think of that lets you use either Wii-motes & Nunchucks OR Classic Controllers OR Gamecube Controllers

I really wish other developers would consider adding that sort of flexibility to the games ...

Different responses to this article than i thought

I figured this thread would be swarming with Nintendo haters, dumping all over the Wii's lack of any compelling game outside of Zelda or Wii Sports (2 must have titles is pretty good for only being on the market 3 months, 360's had 5 must-haves across its span, PGR3, Oblivion, R6Vegas, Gears, and Dead Rising)

Instead, you get a bunch of people saying the "drought" is BS, with a few expressing legitimate concern about the Wii's staying power

Of course there is a drought because no one thought Nintendo could do it so they made their games for the PS3. Now they see the PS3 is hard to make for and no one owns it so they are moving to the Wii.

I don't see the problem with not having a lot of games the first year, there never is. Hopefully the Wii can do what the PS2 did and just make people play Gamecube games until the great Wii games come out. Nintendo needs to step up and release a huge game like Mario or Metriod or Smash Brothers. How long does it take to make a fighting game? They need something huge and now.

get some friends to play with your Wii with you and stop whining.

Need For Speed: Most Wanted isn't a Wii game. I think you mean Need For Speed: Carbon. It has so many different control options, that you can find one that works for you. It's a great game.

I wish the Wii would just die off.

360 fanboy to the fullest!

Here are some Flash games you can play on your Wii:

http://www.wiicade.com/

You can access the site via the Wii/Opera trial Internet browser (and your PC/Mac when you are away from your Wii)

It works well with the wiimote.

Isn't there a drought this time of year every year? Big titles are pushed to come out in November to capitalize on the holiday season. It's never until mid Spring or Summer that things start to rebound.

all I know is my brothers wii has been sitting under a dirty pile of clothes, unhooked for some time. He only has zelda for it, and now that thats beat, theres nothing at all to play. 1 game. And its on gamecube too. Wii sports was just crap (it mearly replaced a button press with a wrist flick, how is that innovative?)

I told my brother to sell his wii but he said he will just keep it until mario galaxy comes out. That should last him another 2-3 days before he has to wait 6 more months for a good game. The wii is a pile of crap. I was so dissapointed with my gamecube that I chose not to get a wii when my brother did.

Instead I have switched to xbox 360 where I can buy a game, and have it last a long time after I first beat it. I bought 360 at launch, and played PDZ for 9 months that I didnt even notice a drought. Now I have been playing gear of war since it came out in novemeber. If It where not for xbox live, I would of been done with GOW before december even came around, and complaining of an xbox drought. The key is online gaming. Untill nintendo gets that through their heads, I will not buy a wii for myself.

It all boils down to a matter of time. If you have a lot of time on your hands and spend a lot of your free time gaming, then I can logically see how someone can view this as a drought. However, if you try to squeeze in a bit of gaming every day amongst your other responsibilities, the already released titles are probably enough to last you a great deal of time. I fall into the latter group ...

@10, REUYL:

"I don't think developers are going to be so excited when, in a year or two, the only thing they have to work with is a controller."

And yet somehow, on 360 and PS3, the only thing developers have to work with in a year or two are graphics. Woowee.

That's the real problem. All of the developers are graphic whores, brought up on graphically intensive gaming. It pervades the industry and perpetuates itself.

Until we get some creative interaction designers working in the videogame industry, you'll see this problem continue.

havent played with my wii for ages ....
they just dont get old do they !

if im being honest tho, i really havent played with the system since i clocked Zelda , maybe wii sports on the odd occasion of mates comming over , but that got old fast , probably due to how simple it is .

looking back, i wish id just bought the gamecube twilight princess , i got caught up in the hype and promises from nintendo of not forgetting about us again, but there upcomming games list is party game heavy with only a couple of decent games worth buying and not renting imo .

the past 2 ninty machines for me have most definately been zelda playing boxes .

The Xbox 360 post-christmas "drought"

Feb 19 - NBA Homecourt
Feb 20 - Crackdown
Feb 27 - DDR
Mar 6 - GRAW2
Mar ? - Stranglehold
Mar ? - Two Worlds
Apr 3 - GH2
May ? - FORZA

And plenty others. No matter what your tastes, you'll find a AA/AAA title coming out less than a month after the last one. And unlike the PS3 they aren't all out already.

There are so many games that we can go back play that the drought is over overrated. If you own atleast 2 consoles then that means atleast 6 or more great games come out over the holidays and following months. Well either you couldn't afford them all or or had time to play them. Its time to go back and complete or buy those games at a discounted price. Iust found Tomb Raider for GC at 14.99 at fryes. Also I have zelda and Finfal fantasy XII that is just a few. I hope nothing that is a must have comes out soon cause I got so many games I haven't played or finished from last year.

I consider myself a casual gamer and I enjoy the Wii greatly. Obviously it is relative to the user, but I enjoy it nonetheless. I never thought of the novelty wearing off, only because it's fun and the whole drought aspect doesn't affect me much, if at all. I play with the Wii when I can and it's great for when I have friends or family over who haven't experienced it yet.

Here's looking forward to Cooking Mama, Mario Party and Super Paper Mario in the next couple of months.

I'm not feeling the drought, either.

Over the past 10 years, I've had gamer's ADD. I maniacally jumped from one game to the other, never taking the time to play a game fully like I did with NES games when I was a kid.

Now I'm spending more time mastering Wii Sports. I'm approaching Gold Medal status in the Training modes and slowly working my way to Platinum. There's so much depth in Wii Sports that it's impossible to claim that it's just a tech demo.

On top of that, I have Super Castlevania IV, Bonk's Adventure, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Super Mario Bros., and the Everybody Votes Channel to fill in the rest of my time. I also own WarioWare, Excite Truck, Twilight Princess, and Call of Duty 3. That's an AMAZING lineup for a console that launched just 90 days ago. Unbelievable.

The problem is that Wii is a Nintendo platform for Nintendo franchises.. people are waiting for the next Mario, Metroid, Smash Bros, Mario Party, Zelda, etc (seriously, you know its true). But, they can only do so much, and they need to artificially space out the release of their games.

And, third parties, for the most part, have finished porting over their last gen ports to the wii with tacked on wiimote controls (Ubisoft especially). Whats left to port?

From here on, they have to develop specifically for the Wii.. and given whats scheduled for 2007, there isnt a heck of a lot of third party games coming out. Or, they can develop for the PS2 and port to Wii.

The Wii is going to have to get some decent 3rd party content (not PS2 port shit) or it will slip into the same alternate reality as the Gamecube where people use the most bizarre rationalizations to justify not having many games. Nintendo is seriously its own worst enemy sometimes - 3rd parties don't want to compete with Nintendo so most of them don't even bother or knock out half assed junk.

Why are people acting like every other console that came out and never had any droughts?? 360 wasn't a big deal until late summer when Dead Rising came out. PS2 was crap for a long while too.

There are PLENTY of game s coming out for Wii (both discs, and VC) that will keep gamers busy. Sonic and SSX Blur come out in less than two weeks.

Anyways, Ppl said the same thing about the DS around this time of it's life span. I guess it's true that some people just never learn.

"Wii sports was just crap (it mearly replaced a button press with a wrist flick, how is that innovative?)"

I think you're confused. What you're describing is a problem with the console, but Wii Sports is the prime example of a game that -doesn't- have this issue.

Bowling would be ridiculously boring on any other system. Here, it becomes an intuitive, accurate simulation of the real game.

In tennis, with a swing of your arm, you simultaneously determine the speed, direction, angle, and spin of the ball. That kind of control will never be possible with a button press.

Golf isn't great, but simply being able to control the speed of your swing with an actual swing puts it lightyears ahead of traditional controls.

Baseball and Boxing do basically replace buttons with motions, yes. Not surprisingly, they're also the weakest parts of the title. At the same time, they show potential for where games like these could go in later versions.

Anyway... yes, I'd say Wii is in a games drought, but no, the novelty is not wearing off (people pointing to sales figures seem to forget that those figures are directly determined by how many consoles are shipped that week - they still fly off the shelves as soon as they're put up). I expect great things from this console, even if 2007 is merely "alright."

"42. The Xbox 360 post-christmas "drought"

Feb 19 - NBA Homecourt
Feb 20 - Crackdown
Feb 27 - DDR
Mar 6 - GRAW2
Mar ? - Stranglehold
Mar ? - Two Worlds
Apr 3 - GH2
May ? - FORZA

And plenty others. No matter what your tastes, you'll find a AA/AAA title coming out less than a month after the last one. And unlike the PS3 they aren't all out already."


Wow you must be a very blind man/woman or a huge Xbox 360 fanboy to not see the title that are coming out that now old 360 titles over Feb to March.
Virtual Fighter 5 - feb 20th [Timed Exc]
F1 Championship - Feb 26th [Exc]
MotorStorm - March ? [Exc]
MLB 2K7 - March ? [Same time as 360]
NBA HomeCourt - March ? [Same time as 360]
Def Jam - March ? [Same time as 360]
GRAW 2 - March ? [Same time as 360]
Armored Core 4 - March ? [Same time as 360]