Famitsu publisher says 67% of Wii owners aren't playing

by Kevin Kelly { Oct 16th 2007 at 12:27PM }

Are you reading this on your Wii right now? Have you fired it up and played anything lately? According to Famitsu, almost seven out of ten Wii owners aren't using the system at all, which seems like a fairly high number. This came out in a report from Enterbrain President (and Famitsu publisher) Hirokazu Hamamura which was praising Nintendo and citing big things ahead, especially for the DS platform, which he predicts will have 30 million units in Japan in 2009.

However, it makes it hard to understand how the Wii will continue to be a success if the majority of people who bought one aren't playing it. He goes on to say that part of the problem is that the Wii hasn't had a second hit that was as big as Wii Sports. In other words, he's calling the Wii a novelty. A fad that is starting to wear thin. Remember how big Tamagotchis were? If not, then we've just dated ourselves, but if so, then you'll probably also remember how quickly they vanished after they rolled in.

While he cites the attention that Wii Fit is getting, and the coming (sometime) Monster Hunter 3, we'd like to know what sort of a polling system they're using to get these numbers. It seems like these figures are pure speculation at best. We'll start our own very unofficial Joystiq poll:

Tags: Enterbrain, Famitsu, Monster Hunter 3, MonsterHunter3, Wii Fit, Wii Sports, WiiFit, WiiPlay, WiiSports

Reader Comments (Page 4 of 5)

fuzzy @ Oct 16th 2007 2:07PM

You do realize that it's eating up power and producing heat, right?

I turned mine OFF, not to standby. I don't need it to glow blue when it has some minor update when I don't play it.

timnc @ Oct 16th 2007 3:37PM

But the blue light makes my den have a warm-fuzzy feeling.

Alan @ Oct 16th 2007 2:09PM

Mine's actually stuffed away in the closet. My PS3 is hooked up but collecting dust. My 360 gets the love everyday.

batzarro @ Oct 16th 2007 2:12PM

It makes sense. Wii captures the great Nintendo tradition of having all good games be 1rst Party. It's been on since N64... wich is coincidentially the time I left them for good. Only now, the control and graphics manage to limit even more the possible apearance of a good 3rd party game, even a port! So, if you're a "shitty hardcore gamer that grew up between 1998-2001"(feh. cursed by birthright, I am), you might not get much Wii time(in fact, I'm surprised you got a Wii at all). And the casual gamers don't play that much, because, well, that's what casual gamer means. So this isn't a surprise. The Wii was meant for Nintendo fans who can stand in a wasteland waiting for the next Mario title, and, indeed, females and old folks who don't generaly play. Nothing wrong with that, but that's not everyones cup of tea.

Craig Ravitch @ Oct 16th 2007 2:14PM

And why would we be playing our Wii's?? There's nothing to play and everything that has come out in the last year has been luke warm at best!! Even the mightySamus couldn't get me to stop playing Bio Shock and now Halo 3!! Past Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. what's there to look foward to in 08'??

Jon @ Oct 16th 2007 2:16PM

The last time I turned it on was last week for a system update. Noticed nothing new so I switched it off. Never turned it on since.

Beginning to regret the purchase. So far it is PS2+DS that consumes my gaming life.

Andy S. @ Oct 16th 2007 2:24PM

Actually, I fired up the Wii last night to try out the Opera browser with the new wireless keyboard I just bought.

So for the record, the BTC 9019URFIII wireless keyboard works like a champ with the Wii.

SimonBob @ Oct 16th 2007 2:30PM

Wii Sports got a lot more fun when I realized I could use Baseball as a drinking game. Get to first, take a drink. Score a run, take a drink. And of course, the third inning is the drink inning.

I don't think it's wrong that I've been using different Miis so I can get on base more often, either.

*hic*

Hohlraum @ Oct 16th 2007 2:30PM

the graphics are just really poor imo. lot of the problem is probably just the fact that i have a large tv, but its just very unappealing compared to my ps3 (which i play every day).

aka Prof Chaos @ Oct 16th 2007 2:31PM

I think that we need to take some of the comments on here with a grain of salt. I mean, how many fanboys are going to lie and say that they have a Wii and don't play it?

That being said, I DO have a Wii and haven't turned it on in months (not even for the update). I have nothing against those who like the Wii, but it just doesn't have much of an appeal for me. Somebody offered to buy mine (let's face it, they are still hard to find), but I'm holding out because I know the first party games are pretty spectacular. You may disagree, but I just don't think the Wii has that many great games right now.

Rob @ Oct 16th 2007 2:45PM

Mine sat dormant for months and months. Then Super Paper Mario came out here in the UK. And now I'm fitting in that and Halo 3. Then we have Orange Box on Friday and Metroid Prime 3 next Friday. So it's actually been receiveing the same amount of play time as my 360 in the last couple of weeks. Before that however, I used it to view my holiday photos on a 42" screen. And that's no joke for a highly anticipated £175 console that I queued up for for 8 hours a year ago.

AstroZombie @ Oct 16th 2007 3:05PM

I think a lot of the "haven't played it" votes are coming from the UK. You guys are getting screwed on the release dates.

Wonderflex @ Oct 16th 2007 2:54PM

I honestly don't use my Wii at all, and haven't for a long time. There are just too few games that keep me coming back and playing. Wii sports was awesome for a long time, but now I just don't seem to play even that.

I find that most of the time I'm on my DS or my PS3 (which also has few games at the momment - but at least I can still keep going with Puzzle Fighter and Rainbow Six).

Maybe things will change here come the holiday season, but if it doesn't then I'm not all too sure how much use it will see in it's lifetime.

dunnypop @ Oct 16th 2007 2:54PM

the Wii is still going to sell like hot cakes this Christmas.

Personally I haven't played the wii for the last (I don't know) months... 4 of my friends haven't touched it as well. I do have about 6 games for the system and I have no desire to play it.

But I will say, for the people who haven't played the system, and when they try it out they will be buying the system! It's so easy to play. My uncle even bought one... eventhough he didn't know how to set it up.

United Artists @ Oct 16th 2007 2:58PM

I have a Wii, but latley I hardly use it because I have so much school and a social life that is on the verge of destruction.

rokerovakero @ Oct 16th 2007 2:59PM

50% owners are women.
30% owners are above 20 years old.

Only kids have that much free time available to play. I use a lot my DS than my consoles.

rokerovakero @ Oct 16th 2007 3:01PM

did Famitsu asked about the Ps3 and Xbox360? it would be interesting to see what japanese are playing.

Neil @ Oct 16th 2007 3:09PM

This is what I'm afraid of and why I haven't been able to bring myself to buy a Wii. There just aren't any games on the system that I want to play. Twilight Princess is great, but it seemed easier and cheaper to get it for my Gamecube (which I did).

I played the original Metroid Prime game for 10 mins. and never played it again. The New Mario game looks interesting, but I still have misgivings about it so I'm taking a wait and see approach to it and the Wii.

borntokill @ Oct 16th 2007 3:09PM

lol, i guess the kool aid that nintendos been serving is finally wearing off. I really hope the halo kool aid runs out soon too.

WiNG @ Oct 16th 2007 4:02PM

The Halo Kool Aid is actually called

Mountin Dew GAMERFUEL.

daddycool @ Oct 16th 2007 3:14PM

I voted "Wii is for girls and old people" but that's not a dis, that's really what I want to use it for.

I haven't got one yet because there aren't even enough party games out yet.

I'm sure I'll get Galaxy and SSB when I eventually get a Wii, but I'm not buying ANY system just for two or three games. Not for $250. $99 maybe.

Fullmetal Salchemist @ Oct 16th 2007 3:15PM

This news isn't surprising considering how few games we have to play on the console.

CubeGuy @ Oct 16th 2007 3:21PM

I use it for powerpoint presentations.

GoldenS1104 @ Oct 16th 2007 3:34PM

Relative to my 360, I haven't been playing my Wii as much, not due to a lack of games, but due to a lack of time. I still haven't finished Twilight Princess, but when I play that, I like to have at least an hour and a half set aside so I can enjoy myself without having to rush or save at awkward points in the game. With my 360, most of my games are online so I can pick them up an play for 15 minutes and then be done. Once winter break comes along, and I have no homework, I'm going to being playing it a lot (especially since SMG will be out). Not to mention Brawl (if it can live up to Melee) will be my favorite game of all time, so I'll definitely be getting a lot of play time out of that.

Russell @ Oct 16th 2007 3:43PM

I know that it is more than likely that nobody is going to read this comment, seeing as how there are already almost 150 comments to this article. I must say, however, that I still occasionally use my Wii. I haven't managed to bring myself to beat Zelda since it came out last year. I just got bored and sorta quit playing. I'm at the very end, I just can't seem to beat it. I also am in the middle of MP3, which I also need to finish playing before I just completely give up.

The most use that I have seen with my Wii has been my playing Gamecube games. You see, I never owned (or even really played) a Gamecube last generation. I have been playing a lot of Gamecube games because there are simply more of them and they are of higher quality than most of the stuff that has come out on the Wii thus far. Stuff life Super Mario: Sunshine (which I just beat about two days ago), Viewtiful Joe, Eternal Darkness, Killer 7... you just can't beat that stuff. Well, the Wii can't seem to beat it just yet anyhow.

I know for a fact that if it weren't for the backwards compatible capabilities of the Wii, the only time I would have played the Wii at all this year would have been the couple of hours that I have spent with Metroid Prime 3.

crazyman813 @ Oct 16th 2007 3:57PM

this is absolutely true. i haven't played my wii in at least 6 months. NO. FUCKING. GAMES.

that will change, however, when super smash comes out ;)

Jason R @ Oct 16th 2007 4:06PM

Honestly, after I got a PS3 the Wii hasn't gotten any attention at all. Even before that I was playing PS2 games after the initial fun of Wii wore off. I used to turn on Excite Truck for some mindless fun every now and again, but I haven't even done that in the past few months. Sad to say but I think the Wii has proven more gimmick than anything, hopefully some new games will turn that around, but I'm not holding my breath.

Rawnblade @ Oct 16th 2007 4:13PM

Haven't touched it since Super Paper Mario. Before that, it was Zelda.

I think I spent roughly a week playing each. You know those purchases you regret, but keep telling yourself someday it'll pay off?

Someday..

Mark A. Hill @ Oct 16th 2007 4:45PM

I bought the Wi for its potential. It's far too early to make any predictions on it. Just like any other Nintendo platform, 95% of its games are complete crap, but it's the awesome 5% that makes it worth having. The Wii just needs a little more time.

Mr Khan @ Oct 16th 2007 4:46PM

Well, its been off about 1/2 a month now, but that's just because of Phantom Hourglass, i have no problem finding things to do or play

But then again, i am an unashamed Nintendo-only owner since the Dreamcast's untimely death

Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Oct 16th 2007 4:50PM

I've been busy with school, so I finally got into Metroid Prime 3 this week, and it's pretty badass. I got my older sister into Big Brain Academy, and everybody else into the Everybody Votes Channel and Wii Sports. I recently did a slideshow for my friends with the Photo Channel to show all the photos I took in Japan recently. I use it more than my DVD player, and I'm pretty sure I'll be playing Guitar Hero 3 and Smash Bros. Brawl online for a million years.

I'd like to see a similar poll in a couple months, where the question is "360 owners, have you bought a game SINCE Halo 3?"

bm @ Oct 16th 2007 5:05PM

Uhh... alright joystiq, what's the deal with the retarded poll? No, I haven't been playing Wii Sports, I've been playing other games. Where's that option?

Fanboy blogs, ugh.

nintendoc @ Oct 16th 2007 5:18PM

I'll start by stating that i grew up in the nintendo revolution in the 80s. I have come to the conclusion that people my age and older have somewhat different tastes in games than people who are from the playstation generation. I have been a nintendo-only gamer since i tried the ps1 and found it wasn't the kind of gaming machine i was used to. Therefore I sold it, got a 64, and enjoyed it despite the dearth of games for it. I haven't been disappointed with the wii so far. It will have a zelda, metroid, and mario game within a year of release. I don't really understand what everyone was expecting. This is still nintendo we're talking about. I think a lot of you have grown up on playstation-type games and are having trouble enjoying nintendo-style games. This is similar to my experiences with the ps1. Different people will always enjoy different games. I think people are criticizing the wii a a little too much. It just may not be your thing. That's perfectly fine, ps3 and 360 aren't my thing. And guess what, I still consider myself "hardcore".

Sean @ Oct 16th 2007 5:18PM

Mine has been sitting unplugged for months now.

PinkSpider @ Oct 16th 2007 5:19PM

I leant to my mother (I dont really play much). She is enjoying Zelda and I am enjoying doing the odd bit for her. But I wont be playing it much myself until Mario is out.

deaddays @ Oct 16th 2007 5:20PM

That's lame. All the Nintendo haters are clicking the "NO" vote just to make it look worse. I QUESTION THE VALIDITY OF THIS POLL!

Chaotic (FDF - Fry) @ Oct 16th 2007 5:24PM

I haven't turned on my Wii except to play SSB:Melee (I gave my Gamecube to a friend), or Punch Out!.

Then again, I've been pretty much broke for a few months now. Don't know how I'm going to afford Super Mario Galaxy when that comes out.

Ah well, eating is overrated.

Evan @ Oct 16th 2007 5:36PM

It's been a very boring year for games. Outside of console shooters, very few quality AAA games were released in 2007. Most of the hyped games have either failed to impress, or been delayed to 2008. There hasn't been any (non-shooter) games for any console that has demanded my time. Most of my gaming time has been spent going back and finishing old PS2 games.

Evan @ Oct 16th 2007 5:37PM

(I'm talking about ALL consoles, not just the Wii.)

i_hate_mtv @ Oct 16th 2007 5:37PM

Man, I'm always late to the party.

I didn't vote because none of those choices are accurate as far as I'm concerned. I just started playing RE4 on my Wii again.

Zantac @ Oct 16th 2007 5:39PM

It was amazing how one awesome week with Prime 3 made up for 8 months of crap.

Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Oct 16th 2007 5:40PM

Since Joystiq slaps more or less on every second Wii game a "non-game" sticker, then the statement may be very well true.

Classical game console is targeted to teenage audience which plays say 4+ hours a day.

Casual demographics (e.g. me) composed mainly from adults has absolutely different gaming habits. They have no spare time to kill. Wii is more like entertainment to them. Like going out to movie theater.

I played a lot four months ago - WiiSports, Excite Truck. Right now I have changed jobs and I plainly do not have time to game at home. While commuting I do kill some time with help of DS. But that's all I can afford right now.

Dio @ Oct 16th 2007 6:16PM

Then why are people making Wii cakes? HOW DO YOU ANSWER THAT MISTER STATISTICS PANTS?!?

benjamin @ Oct 16th 2007 6:54PM

I'm playing mine. Metroid Prime 3 and some VC games.

MosquitoControl @ Oct 16th 2007 7:02PM

I've been saying this for months.

We got ours in February. We stopped using it in March. We really haven't touched it since.

rokerovakero @ Oct 16th 2007 7:02PM

The reality is Nintnedo doesn't care about this detractors, they are sitting right now in a vault like the one owned by Scrooge McDuck, thinking of buying Famitsu.

Burnt Meatloaf @ Oct 16th 2007 7:19PM

What is the current attach rate? For any platform to continue to attract developers, game sales are what matter -- not the estimated playtime per person.

(01) @ Oct 16th 2007 8:35PM

And the world slowly remembers it's about the games, not the system... So far there has been a pretty lackluster release offering for the Wii. Don't get me wrong, MP:3, RE:4 were great, and Super Paper Mario and Marvel:Ultimate Alliance were definitely entertaining, but there hasn't been more great titles like the first two I mentioned. I feel like this will (hopefully) change as developers see the backlash of too many mini-games and start actually making some content for the system. Monster Hunter 3 is a step in the right direction, lets hope there's more of it.

Zsavior @ Oct 16th 2007 9:05PM

Seriously, one, if nobody is playing the WII, why hasn't PS3 and Xbox 360 garnered more system sales from disgruntled owners? Second, the fact is the WII is not getting games nearly as good as Orange box until that changes(which it will) people will continue to complain.

What I find more disturbing, is that nobody wants to talk about the fact that even without games that interest people, consumers are still willing to pick up the WII rather than the PS3 and the Xbox 360. And thus my problem with gaming critics and mags, nobody is going to comment on the scary truth that none of the competitors are pulling any new market until it is too late and there is a slump in the console industry as a whole.

It is not that these systems are too expensive, just look at the Iphone. The thing is selling like hot cakes. Matter of fact, Apple in a whole is a good example. Apple products are expensive but people buy the products because they have a perceived high value. They have a lot of choices when it comes to other computers and PMP options but people still choose Apple because the value seems to be there and not somewhere else. This idea of value also includes the "it" factor, something Sony sold its products on for years, i.e based purely on the strength of the Sony brand name. There are agruably better phones out there than the $600 Iphone yet people lined up around the block to pay for one.

Nobody notices that people see Xbox 360 and PS3 as less of a value? That doesn't worry anybody that is the state of video game console industry? But hey as long as we are going against something popular, I guess it is ok. World Of Warcraft with dated graphics is able to be more recognizable, showing up in advertisements for Cars and other products toward college age and older individuals, than the PS3 and Xbox360, still nobody cares even though reports are saying the WII, the most popular next generation system, is selling no games. At which point do gaming critics, and such notice a problem in consoles, and address it?

fnc @ Oct 16th 2007 10:12PM

I seriously doubt the Famitsu poll reaches the 'casual' market that is so prominent on the Wii. That said, I wonder what the casual market is buying or playing, if anything, these days. Nintendo needs to get on the ball and release an entire line of Wii Sports titles that dig a little deeper into the individual games. That'll keep the grannies lapping software up.

Disclaimer : I own a Wii, and like Wii Sports.

How long till SM:Galaxy comes out, anyway?