Pachter: Publishers Jumping Ship Is Hurting the Wii

[Logan Westbrook]

Pachter: Publishers Jumping Ship Is Hurting the Wii

Wii software sales have fallen from last year, despite a significant rise in its install base.

Do you think that there aren't enough good games on the Wii? Well, analyst Michael Pachter agrees with you, and thinks that the reluctance of publishers to support the console makes overall industry growth very difficult.

"Wii software sales were down 19% year-over-year and DS software sales were down 13%," Pachter said. "We think this is remarkable, given growth in the Wii hardware installed base of 44% and growth in the DS installed base of 33% over the last 12 months ... In our view, this indicates that Nintendo's customers either are not finding enough software to satisfy their needs, or need less software than the typical Sony or Microsoft customer."

"We think that Nintendo will continue to dominate sales on its console, with its first-rate lineup of games, but fear that other publishers have prematurely abandoned the very large Wii audience, and see further year-over-year software sales declines for the Wii for the next several months. These declines will make year-over-year industry sales growth difficult to achieve."

With an install base greater than the either Microsoft or Sony, it seems strange that publishers are seemingly so ready to ignore the console. While there is obviously a very large number of casual gamers who own a Wii, there are also hardcore gamers who own them, and would welcome games from quarters other than Nintendo itself.

Source: Industry Gamers [http://www.industrygamers.com/news/wii-being-prematurely-abandoned-by-publishers-says-pachter/]




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[Kevlar Eater]

It's kinda tough to ignore the shovelware pile that is the Wii software.

Then again, Nintendo is swimming in pools of money, so I doubt they care who jumps ship, since more may be waiting for an opportunity to prove their worth.

 

[Timbydude]

In our view, this indicates that Nintendo's customers...need less software than the typical Sony or Microsoft customer."

It's pretty much completely this. Most Wii owners rarely feel the need to buy any more games after they already have "that tennis game".

 

[JoJo]

Unfortunately he is right, I've only bought two 3rd party Wii games this year (Red Steel 2 and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories), when I must have got at-least 5 for the Xbox 360...

 

[Phenakist]

He makes a valid point, I only care about my Nintendo made games, I don't have any other games on the Wii aside from the Nintendo made games, (Metroid, Mario, Zelda etc.) so that's about 5 games, and frankly there isn't anything worthwhile buying for the Wii that Nintendo did'nt make themselves.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

In our view, this indicates that Nintendo's customers...need less software than the typical Sony or Microsoft customer."

It's pretty much completely this. Most Wii owners rarely feel the need to buy any more games after they already have "that tennis game".

Actually, many Wii owners don't need to buy games. Period.

I bet that a large number of them just play Wii Sports.

Not to mention those who got the Black Wii, which comes bundled with Wii Sports RESORT.

OT: I don't see what this has to do with the DS, though. The DS has a large number of good games, in fact, the library is beginning to rival the PS2 in terms of overall quality.

 

[Jared]

It as Nintendo has admitted...they dont have the 3rd party support for it...if they could more developers intrested in it, and gamers hardcore games that worjk...like RE4 did!

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

He makes a valid point, I only care about my Nintendo made games, I don't have any other games on the Wii aside from the Nintendo made games, (Metroid, Mario, Zelda etc.) so that's about 5 games, and frankly there isn't anything worthwhile buying for the Wii that Nintendo did'nt make themselves.

Poke around. You'll find Okami, Sin & Punishment 2, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, and a surprising number of titles. It just gets hidden in the mountains of shovelware.

In fact, I only own 2 Nintendo titles on my Wii. Metroid Prime Trilogy and...Twilight Princess.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Lack of substance hurting a console? Who would've thought.

 

[The Lunatic]

I think the only game I've bought for my Wii was Monster Hunter.

The rest just don't interest me.

And the vast majority are just shovelware.

 

[brunothepig]

While there is obviously a very large number of casual gamers who own a Wii, there are also hardcore gamers who own them, and would welcome games from quarters other than Nintendo itself.

Damn right we do. I like Guitar Hero. I have Resident Evil 4. I want Red Steel 2 and No More Heroes. Honestly off the top of my head that's all I can think of that's worth mentioning.
EDIT:

He makes a valid point, I only care about my Nintendo made games, I don't have any other games on the Wii aside from the Nintendo made games, (Metroid, Mario, Zelda etc.) so that's about 5 games, and frankly there isn't anything worthwhile buying for the Wii that Nintendo did'nt make themselves.

Poke around. You'll find Okami, Sin & Punishment 2, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, and a surprising number of titles. It just gets hidden in the mountains of shovelware.

In fact, I only own 2 Nintendo titles on my Wii. Metroid Prime Trilogy and...Twilight Princess.

It's funny you mentioned Okami actually, it's a game I've been trying to get my hands on for a while, but just can't for some reason :/. I know there ARE other good games, such as Resi Evil 4 (My preference to Silent Hill, just never got into it really) but due to unavailability or simply not worth buying I haven't got them.

But yeah, the shovelware makes it hard to pick out the gems, it's only been out of recommendations I've found other games on the Wii, nothing ever says "look at me, I look good, buy me instead of that 360 game"

Actually I would like to check out Silent Hill. As for Okami, I have it on PS2, but it may be worth buying on the Wii just so that the paint brush is easy to use. I also find it incredibly difficult to find. I know there are a few others. As I said, all I can think of off the top of my head. Point is there's not a lot.

 

[Gladion]

He makes a valid point, I only care about my Nintendo made games, I don't have any other games on the Wii aside from the Nintendo made games, (Metroid, Mario, Zelda etc.) so that's about 5 games, and frankly there isn't much worthwhile buying for the Wii that Nintendo did'nt make themselves on the mainstream market.

There you go.

 

[Phenakist]

He makes a valid point, I only care about my Nintendo made games, I don't have any other games on the Wii aside from the Nintendo made games, (Metroid, Mario, Zelda etc.) so that's about 5 games, and frankly there isn't anything worthwhile buying for the Wii that Nintendo did'nt make themselves.

Poke around. You'll find Okami, Sin & Punishment 2, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, and a surprising number of titles. It just gets hidden in the mountains of shovelware.

In fact, I only own 2 Nintendo titles on my Wii. Metroid Prime Trilogy and...Twilight Princess.

It's funny you mentioned Okami actually, it's a game I've been trying to get my hands on for a while, but just can't for some reason :/. I know there ARE other good games, such as Resi Evil 4 (My preference to Silent Hill, just never got into it really) but due to unavailability or simply not worth buying I haven't got them.

But yeah, the shovelware makes it hard to pick out the gems, it's only been out of recommendations I've found other games on the Wii, nothing ever says "look at me, I look good, buy me instead of that 360 game"

 

[Danpascooch]

Yeah, I'd imagine a gaming system would be hurt by having all of the people who make games stop making games for that system.

 

[Mysnomer]

I think developers need to look past the Wii's gimmick of motion controls, and just start making games for it. Basic, classic controller using games. Just focus on making a good game, and think of the Wii as any old console. Now, if you're in development, and you look at your game, and you think, "Wow, this could really be enhanced and simplified by the Wii's motion controls," then you have found a legitimate time to use them. But if you approach development for the Wii with an attitude of "How can I cram my game into the motion-control mold?" you will only create more dross for gamers to wad through.

 

[NickCaligo42]

In our view, this indicates that Nintendo's customers...need less software than the typical Sony or Microsoft customer."

It's pretty much completely this. Most Wii owners rarely feel the need to buy any more games after they already have "that tennis game".

Actually it's the bowling game.

Really? They needed an analyst to explain this? I've been hearing this on forums for... what, the last two or three years now since the Wii was released, and only NOW the official industry fuckwits are catching on to this?

 

[10BIT]

I must be an odd person owning 2 first party games (wii sports & resort), 2 second party games (SSBB & metroid prime 3) and 20+ third party games (not even bothered enough to count them, so no list).

 

[tcurt]

Hooray! I've saved the industry. I purchased a copy of EA's Boom Blox for Wii. Of course, it is a rental copy that was 40% off from my nationally closing Hollywood Video store.

My kids like it. And I think it make an alright drinking game.

If Nintendo needs any more help, they can call me.

 

[Tom Phoenix]

Right on. Everyone keeps telling them they need more hardcore games, but they keep refusing to listen. Nintendo is going down!

You haven't seen this year's Nintendo E3 press conference, have you?

Anyway, it is indeed interesting that such a backwards state of affairs exists. Having said that, with upcoming titles such as the GoldenEye remake, Donkey Kong Country Returns and Kirby's Epic Yarn, this will return some public focus back to the Wii. With that, we could see more third-party developers decide to develop titles for the console.