Brother Bleszinski fears Wii, gives publishers terrible ideas
by Jared Rea 
{ Jun 7th 2007 at 7:32PM }
Not that we're any better in the ideas department (see: right), but Tyler Bleszinski (President of SportsBlogNation, older brother to Cliff) is stating the obvious a bit too loudly for our liking. Publishers can turn a larger profit with a mini-game fiesta for Wii with significantly less development time than games for the "hardcore" audience? Do you not realize they are listening?Invited to the floor by one N'Gai Croal, Bleszinski weaves a tale that we've seen plenty of times, but not so much recently now that the Wii is really picking up steam. Anecdotal evidence of gaming grannies plunking down cash for games like Cooking Mama and Wii Play, instilling fear of the casual market crushing our beloved past time.
While he makes it clear that he doesn't believe bringing new gamers to the fold is bad, or that games designed for the core players will die out, he does believe that the former can not become the latter. Let's face it: your grandpa playing Wii Bowling is not going to lead him into playing Gears of War or The Legend of Zelda anytime soon.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
chukz @ Jun 7th 2007 7:49PM
For a console that hasn't even been out for 1 year, people sure are quick to jump to conclusions about what kind of games Wii will have for the rest of its life cycle. As I said, wait until the Wii has been out for 1 full year, then compare "hardcore" games on the Wii, Xbox360, and PS3, and tell me which will have more.
Don't look for the companies that want to turn a quick profit (to make some money they may have lost making PS3/Xbox360 games) in the first 8 months of a console to dictate how the system will be in 5 years. By that logic, PS2 should have stopped after 6 months.
Do companies want money? YES. Do they want to spend little development time and high returns? YES. Don't blame Nintendo because it's selling well and developers are trying to make money.
When Barbie Horse Racing adventure came out for PS2, how many of you considered it to be the end of 'hardcore' gamers? Companies WILL release these games are cookie-cutter type games over and over to try and bank money from a licensed name, just because you see a lot of it on the Wii now, doesn't mean it's going to be a haven for ONLY those types of games...
GameCube barely had games not made by Nintendo, and people complained. Wii has a lot of games from a variety of companies, and people complain. I don't get it...
Gausser @ Jun 7th 2007 7:49PM
Lets see. New gamers = more games , more variety of games, bigger profits. Hell, we need to stop this casual games thing right now!
Thomas Evans @ Jun 7th 2007 7:52PM
Hey Metal Gear Solid Party is coming to PS3, and it is really good.
Grey Acumen @ Jun 7th 2007 7:53PM
There is one thing stopping this. People WILL get tired of the minigames.
Meanwhile, nintendo will also be working on the larger scale stuff because they already realize that a couple minigames are good, but too many are not good, and will be coming out with really good games while all the 3rd parties are left with crap and going "Nintendo is driving out the 3rd party titles because their too good"
blah blah blah... it's amazing how stupid a company can be.
LowerHouseMember @ Jun 7th 2007 7:53PM
I'd let Hannah Montana play with my Wii.
Morisato @ Jun 7th 2007 8:02PM
@4 "I'd let Hannah Montana play with my Wii."
LoL. Child predator alert! She's like 14!
Chris Hansen @ Jun 7th 2007 8:04PM
#4 - You mind telling me what you're up to here?
pukerua @ Jun 7th 2007 8:17PM
"Let's face it: your grandpa playing Wii Bowling is not going to lead him into playing Gears of War or The Legend of Zelda anytime soon."
Who's to say he wont? He may in fact realise he really enjoys games and wants to experience more and different types of games. He may not want to play GoW today but maybe next year.
Matt B @ Jun 7th 2007 8:18PM
"Now with Waggle!"
XD
Kunikos @ Jun 7th 2007 8:23PM
@6, depends if the poster is above the age of 16, doesn't it?
31 Flavas @ Jun 7th 2007 8:25PM
Heh... so it's OK to bring bring new gamers into the fold, but just don't embarrass the "Gamers" by having casual games that out sell "Gamer-games".
"Gamers" have a reputation to uphold after all. It wouldn't be good for their image if Wii Play, Wii Sports, Cooking Momma, Nintendogs, or Brain Age outsold Zelda or FF or GTA.
Tron Knotts @ Jun 7th 2007 8:36PM
"hardcore" games are/were getting really stale. GTA clone, FPS, Survival Horror, Spy game. Those are the only four types of games that any Western game company was making for almost the entire lifespan of the PS2.
That sort of monotony and blandness is what we should be afraid of, not a few mini games on the Wii.
Lee @ Jun 7th 2007 8:43PM
Sheesh! God forbid we should let everyone regardless of age, experience or skill enjoy games and have fun!
Geist @ Jun 7th 2007 8:50PM
@12,Tron Knotts: You forgot the JRPG.
Anyway, I forgot who said it, but there are no new genres. It's really all about how developers work with it, and the small changes they apply to it.
Ghost Box @ Jun 7th 2007 8:58PM
You people act like all casual games are AAA+ titles or are all worth playing.
What Bleszinski is trying to say that the success of casual games can give developers the idea that they can push garbage on gamers.
Take a look at the nightmare that is the "Cars" video game. 7 million copies and counting! It's a piece of garbage and for time it was outselling everything.
That's what Bleszinski is talking about, not bringing new gamers into the industry or predicting the end of core gaming.
Developers are lazy and publishers LOVE to cut corners. And Wii gamers should hate the idea that their console could become the casual gaming dumping ground.
Here's a quote for those too lazy to read-
"I'm not saying that the videogame industry shouldn't strive to bring in as many new people as possible. It most definitely should, because new gamers mean a nice, healthy business. My problem is what this new crowd appears to be drawn to. Games like Wii Sports, Wii Play and Cooking Mama have become some of the biggest sellers, and that is what has me worried. If these are the type of games that become blockbusters, then you can count on other gaming companies who cater to the more hardcore gamer--aka me and the milions of others who've been driving this business--to promptly change direction"
Gavin @ Jun 7th 2007 9:10PM
I agree with what he has to say. Bringing in new gamers isn't what the Wii is doing. It is WATERING DOWN gaming by bringing in gamers at the expense of new and interesting concepts. The Wii games are dumbed down for the most part. Many are made easier to help widen their appeal, or even worse...made into half games that coddle the player.
Nintendo fans crow about the DS and the Wii, but look at the library for these games. As much as the PS2 was flooded with licensed titles based on movies and kids shows, they have nothing like what Nintendo has when it comes to total percetage of titles resulting from those types of deals. Nintendo is the KING of movie ports and cartoon games. If you think that this is going to drastically change, then you are just in denial.
Nintendo hasn't been able to break out of their own mold for generations now. A Wiimote isn't going to change this. They will still be dumbing down the game industry.
I used to be a huge fan of Nintendo, then I grew up and learned to appreciate a wider array of deeper gaming options. Nintendo is great when it comes to their niche, but outside of Zelda they haven't offered me a truly deep and rich gaming experience in years.
Everything on the Wii is pretty much shallow and disposable gaming. By disposable, I mean you pick it up and play for a few minutes and then forget about it. If I want that, I'll play flash games on my computer for free.
Geist @ Jun 7th 2007 9:22PM
@16, Gavin:
Perhaps you haven't played Super Paper Mario. I'm looking forward to the upcoming titles, myself.
The problem, and the boon, is the lower development costs. Companies know that they can make cheap games for the system, so they do. Saying that it's the console's fault is a little ridiculous. I think more of the onus should be on the developers to solve this.
pukerua @ Jun 7th 2007 10:15PM
" then you can count on other gaming companies who cater to the more hardcore gamer--aka me and the milions of others who've been driving this business--to promptly change direction "
Why is he calling himself a "hardcore" gamer when he only plays a few genes? To me a real gamer doesn't care about the game gene or what system they're playing on, what the visuals are like or if it's "next gen", those people are narrow mined gamers. If you were really into games you'd play anything that resembles a game on any system, from the DS to the PS3 ...even the little snowboarding game on the end of my pen. It's all about the satisfaction you get from playing the game.
There will always be the traditional games with deeper gameplay. There are also lots of games out for the Wii that suit his so called "hardcore gamer" profile, maybe he should try them.
freelancer @ Jun 7th 2007 10:21PM
I think his only valid point in the whole article is that publishers will always follow the money. Nintendo made an underpowered console this generation and to compete changes the focus of some games to appeal to a wider audience. After the Gamecube who could blame them? It was superior to the PS2 in tech but still languished in weak sales and third party support. Casual gamers have always been the largest segment of gamers I think we are just hearing more about them now as Wii Sports is such an easy game to jump right into. They will never spend as much money or be as loyal as hardcore gamers are.
If he says hardcore games will never die out than what really is the point of his rant? Everyone knows the Wii is inferior tech wise to its competition but if he thinks that epic and hardcore games are not possible on the Wii than what was he playing 3 or 4 years ago? While almost anything on the PS3 or 360 can blow the Wii out of the water graphically it is not impossible to create hardcore games for the system. Minigames and the like will run their course especially with cheaper alternatives on the PC it will always be the hardcore gamers who drive the industry forward that's why Zelda is the bestselling game on the Wii. What is stopping more games like that from becoming the norm.
samfish @ Jun 7th 2007 10:27PM
I'm so tired of this stupid fanboy line of thinking.
The only way this argument holds any water is if developers MAKE it come true.
Nintendo's goal is to expand the market. Not change it.
So when these developers say, "Our game won't sell with the Wii's audience", they're completely missing the point of the system.
The Wii's audience is EVERYONE, regardless of taste. Whether they like FPS games or crappy mini games.
Put some "hardcore" games out on the Wii FIRST and THEN see how it sells. If it still flops, then complain.
Pablo carpio @ Jun 7th 2007 10:37PM
Anyone remembers 1984?, videogames almost got die, sickened by mediocre games, that were "cheap", games made for casual gamers, are ok as long as 1 or 2 come out every three months.
l8on @ Jun 7th 2007 10:49PM
The writer of this article does bring up some interesting issues. While I may not be as afraid as he is, I think articles like his and market flops for a lot of Wii crap games (like the Ubiports) will ensure that companies still focus on the core gamer. Also, I don't think the more casual gamers will buy that many games if their limited gaming needs are already met. But, who knows, maybe all of the second gen Wii games will be franchise minigame bonanzas.
*PS: The following rant is mainly directed at commenter #6, but applies generally to people who make broad, sweeping claims.
It always bothers me when people complain about how every single game on a console is terrible/bad for the industry/not worth playing/watered down. Especially when the console is less than a yer old.
If you are going to say everything on the Wii is terrible and watered down, then I hope you and your team of professional game critics have played every single Wii game at length while taking copious notes. Then your team would need to play every other game on competing systems while using your notes to legitimately compare Wii games to every other game. Only after finiding a statistically significant deficit in the depth and quality of Wii games, would you be able to say that the Wii games are watered down.
Some Wii games are terrible. Some Wii games are incredible. How much more can one person say for sure about the quality of every game on a system?
l8on @ Jun 7th 2007 10:50PM
sorry, I meant #16
Rubang B @ Jun 7th 2007 11:11PM
Wait, so this guy thinks developers are just about to start flooding the industry with shovelware for a quick buck? He must not have been around for oh... the entire history of the video game industry. 99% of games are shit, and this clown finally opened his eyes and noticed.
hoagie @ Jun 7th 2007 11:22PM
Isn't Manhunt 2 coming to Wii? Resident Evil 4? Are those 'hard' enough?
Yeesh, dish out variety, broad appeal, and innovation and people still moan and complain.
Tron Knotts @ Jun 7th 2007 11:43PM
The thing that really wrecks Cliff's brother's argument is Red Steel.
That game sold like hot cakes, even though it sort of sucked. Why? Because people were dying to play an involved, violent, reality based FPS on the Wii. Red Steel was all they got at launch, and they bought it up like crazy. If and when there are better looking, better playing games of this nature, you can bet that they will sell even better.
People want traditional "gamers" games on the Wii. It's an obvious fact. The only reason why there aren't more "gamer games" on he Wii is the same reason there are also none on the PS3.
The console is only seven months old.
At this point in the PS2's life cycle, the only games for the damn thing were Street Fighter EX 3, Dark Cloud, Okage Shadow King, and Fantavision.
It takes time to make more involved games. You can't judge a console's future direction by it's launch window library.
When Metroid Prime 3 and No More Heroes come out this year and make tons of money, that will finally soothe (or just shut up) these sorts of guys.
tactics @ Jun 8th 2007 12:47AM
thank you, tron knotts. thank you.
-"superfan" tactics.
GD86 @ Jun 8th 2007 4:13AM
Wow I think this guy is wrong but for a weird reason. Even if what he says comes to pass and every company is putting out minigame collections the market can only support so many of the differing types. You've got the Sport sim type (Wii Sports), the reproduce a certain action type (Trauma Center and Cooking Momma), the brain training collection (Brain Age), and then the random collections (Mario Party and Raving Rabbits). People won't buy three different ones of the same type I mean just looking at the DS.
Brain Age set off a storm and then every company that could created some sort of brain training DS game. Take a look in any Walmart DS Game case. There are at least 4 to 5. But they don't exactly fly off the shelves. They are the off brand store brand cola of this only with out the price difference. Which would you rather pay for 50 dollars for Raving Rabits which you enjoyed or 50 bucks for some knock off.
At some point the market will decide which minigame collections get to survive and become franchises and people will pick up on that. All Nintendo did was bring awareness to the idea that minigame collections can be fun to the main stream. Something that FF7 did on the playstation. We now get a glutt of JRPGs but for the most part now you've gotta stand out to really sell. Or how FPS's are now.
At worst you'll get a push and then the winners are picked and then other then budget minigame collections it gets left to the big boy's of the genre or the ones who think they are really doing something new.
Casual minigame collections won't kill the current games. Actually let me rephrase. Casual minigame collections are unlikely to kill off the current idea of games. It's in the likely hood of being struck dead by lighting while cross dressing and watching the second season finale of Lost. Its
Burnt Meatloaf @ Jun 8th 2007 5:40AM
Casual games aren't the problem. It's bad games that are the problem.
It's just hard to tell the difference, sometimes.
incrediblebulk92 @ Jun 8th 2007 6:20AM
Lol I thought this was a story about a monk, I'm gutted now
Mikeo @ Jun 8th 2007 7:46AM
@l8on:
You mean Nintendo fans have HIGH standards? Wow!
Wait- didn't "ALMOST EVERYONE" praise that otherwise mediocre Sonic game just because it was on the Wii?
Look how it gets no mention.
Trust me, most of the Wii-exclusive owners don't play much games, pretend they do, and hail every game they see/ that's coming as the next big thing.
Now, Bioshock's actually getting fire from stealth fans because they can't stand that game officially owning Metroid through, through, through and through.
That's what most spectators are sick off: sheep.
Developers love these kind of gamers. Eaaaasy money.
Mikeo @ Jun 8th 2007 7:48AM
No mention nowadays*
Ugh- missed the important word.
samfish @ Jun 8th 2007 9:41AM
"Wait- didn't "ALMOST EVERYONE" praise that otherwise mediocre Sonic game just because it was on the Wii?"
Most people DIDN'T praise it. Any "praise" it got was solely because it was a playable Sonic game...especially coming off the 360/PS3 version debacle.
And for what it's worth, I think Sonic is the best game on the Wii, aside from Zelda.
eeble @ Jun 8th 2007 10:19AM
You know what worries me: Summer blockbusters.
If movie companies are successful with blockbusters they will stop making Oscar caliber movies.
What, you man both can coexist? Unfathomable!
"If Nintendo has its way, young males will no longer be the dominant segment of the console audience"
As a young male I welcome the change. I've played enough FPS and GTA style games. CHANGE OR DIE!
A true gaming fan would be swelling with pride if a grandma wanted to game. I remember back in the day showing my grandma a Gamegear Jurrasic park game and she was impressed with how it looked, but not enough to want to try. This random grandma WANTS TO PLAY. Lets take a second to acknowledge that.
You know, brother of Cliffy, it seems like you aren't a "videogame" fan, rather you hate Nintendo. A fan of non-Nintendo videogames perhaps would be better. With a quote like "converts to worship at the altar of Mario" I think you show your hand. Or name checking Hannah Montana - get it? all Wii players are 7 year old girls! Hilarious, right, huh, do you get it?!
Wait the REAL issue is "...what this new crowd appears to be drawn to" Damn kids today with their mini games. Back in my day people shot each other - AND WE LIKED IT.
And new IPs? Yes I really enjoy new FPS #94898 & racing game #11225 for the PS3 and FPS #94899, Pokemon wannabe # 515, and FPS #94900. Totally original. But a Cooking Mama, no we've seen that exactly once before (on the DS). It has been done. Move on.
Vidikron @ Jun 8th 2007 10:57AM
@12
["hardcore" games are/were getting really stale. GTA clone, FPS, Survival Horror, Spy game. Those are the only four types of games that any Western game company was making for almost the entire lifespan of the PS2.]
You mean other than the Jak & Daxters, Rachet & Clanks, SSX series (and other EA Big titles), Twist Metal Black, God of Wars, various racers, etc, etc... that Western devs were also cranking out during the PS2's life? Yeah, you're right, those were only 4 types of games being produced.
Crono @ Jun 8th 2007 11:36AM
A great point Vidikron:
And its for the very same reason that wii won't get ONLY shovelware.
miles foreman @ Jun 9th 2007 9:31AM
The Sims games have been out for years and were/are casual games for casual gamers. They hardly sounded the death knell for PC gaming.
Besides, The Sims paved the way for Spore.
Shagittarius @ Jun 11th 2007 12:48PM
"You know what worries me: Summer blockbusters.
If movie companies are successful with blockbusters they will stop making Oscar caliber movies.
What, you mean both can coexist? Unfathomable!"
The problem with that statement is in the movie industry the blockbusters usually cost more money to make than the 'Oscar Movies'. In the game industry its the opposite (of course there are exceptions to everything). This depends on of course your opionon of what a 'blockbuster game' is.
Mr Khan @ Jun 11th 2007 1:28PM
@ Shagi
It can go either way, you can get award-winning low budget stuff like Katamari Damacy and Wii Sports, and you can get shitty high budget shit, like Sonic the Hedgehog 2006
And i like Sonic and the Secret Rings, the game's only flaw was the fact that it had a level up structure that left the reviewers with a bad taste in thier mouths in the early stages of the game. They deliberately made the controls awkward in the beginning, but by the end (where i am, lvl 50) the game really feels like the old, fast, seamless Sonic gameplay, plus that game's GUI was a complete mess