Wii Needs a Price Cut and Better Third Party Support, Says EA Boss

[JUMBO PALACE]

And this gets filed under "no shit."

 

[Darkong]

I really think it is time for Nintendo to unveil their new console. While Microsoft and Sony can get away with their current gen consoles for a few more years, the Wii is truly dated at this point.

And yet continues to outsell both its rivals, which is a trend in the console market frankly, the PS2 was technically inferior to both the Gamecube and Xbox, it thrashed them, the original Playstation was inferior to the N64, yet thrashed it, the original Game Boy whupped the more poewrful Game Gear and Atari Lynx consoles and the DS has completely dominated the PSP. At this point I'd expect to see Microsoft tip their hand first.

Back on topic, I've got to agree with people asking how Nintendo are supposed to support third parties, maybe by telling them that if they actually make decent games rather than shovelware they might just sell.

 

[Andronicus]

Yeah, I can see that. What with Metroid and now Donkey Kong Country Returns on the Wii, all it'd take is a $50-$100 price cut and I'd grab a Wii in a heartbeat. I've always scorned the Wii for being exceptionally gimmicky and for having a trashy selection of (mostly third-party) game, but now it's title selection has grown and diversified since launch, and the PS3 and 360 have become very hard to buy for; most of their lineup is rubbish shooters and brawlers and half-assed generic action titles. Bleh. Plus, Skyward Sword comes out soon, and I haven't even gotten around to playing Twilight Princess.

I still think motion controls are gimmicky though.

 

[Rect Pola]

Well gee, Mr. President of one of the biggest third party game making peoples. I wonder where better third party support is going to come from? Dur

Hmm. If only people didn't steer towards first party games and focused on the third party stuff that isn't half as slick.

 

[someotherguy]

Nearly everyone on the planet already owns a wii though.

99$ price point is insane.

By more third party support, He doesn't mean more 3rd party games, he means more support for the developers, making sure only quality ones get published.

 

[CrystalShadow]

Well, my Wii cost me £199. - with Wii sports

Current Wii bundles cost £179, and come with the upgraded Wii remote (motionplus built-in), and depending on the package, Wii Sports resort, Mario cart, or Wii fit.

So, the current Wii is cheaper, and you get more for the price.

I'm sure a price drop would help matters, but would it be worth it to Nintendo to drop the price that much?

 

[nilus2k]

Lets be honest. Just about everyone has a Wii now who wants one. Mom and Pop already got one, and dropping the price to $100 is not gonna grab any hardcore gamers.

The fact is the system was/is a Fad. The Motion control made it fun but its built on extremely aging hardware(its essential a Gamecube on steriods). Ninetendo needs to take all the good will they earned with the Wii and get cracking on a Wii 2.0. With hardware that is at or better then what the PS3 and 360 bring to the table.

 

[Flying-Emu]

Uh

I'm pretty sure that if they cut the price in half, Nintendo would be making NO profit off of the system.

 

[Rainforce]

hm :/

will EA ever stop talking? O.O'

 

[thahat]

My question would be: What are Sony/Microsoft doing that supports third-party titles which Nintendo doesn't?

Also: In before obvious knock on the Wii having lesser graphics capabilities as the "answer".

not just graphic capabilties. also just simple computing power XD.
everything needs to be dumbed down if you want it on the wii. not to mention controlls >.<

 

[Unhappy Crow]

Lower the system price = No. If the Wii back then was 250 compared to the price of a PS3 and 360, why does it need to be even lower? Nowadays, 200 dollars for the Wii isn't that expensive. Especially when they come with free games (one that cost me 50 bucks when it was first released).

Better third party support = Yeah. I admit I buy a couple of third party games for the Wii, but I do see and hear a couple of crappy games (especially rereleased ones with motion control added).

 

[Covarr]

Dear EA,

Is it really Nintendo's fault that you keep releasing incremental sports games and inferior ports of games designed for other systems? Don't blame Nintendo for the Wii version of Hot Pursuit sucking, or for you selling crap like "Family Game Night 3". The reason Nintendo's games are the best is because they try and you don't. You are perfectly capable of producing something every bit as good as Twilight Princess on the Wii.

System power doesn't even really come into the equation, because in spite of that low cap, developers still rarely even do enough to hit that ceiling. The Wii is far more powerful than the PS2, yet we're seeing games that wouldn't even push the Dreamcast, board games, minigame compilations, etc.

Don't get pissed at Nintendo for making system sellers like Mario Galaxy 2 and Donkey Kong Country Returns. Your attitude is akin to a lazy student getting pissed at the smart kid for making everyone else look bad; do your homework and you'll get good grades, it's not Nintendo's fault you keep cutting classes and failing to study.

Sincerely, Covarr

P.S. Thanks

 

[mParadox]

It would make the Wii a lot more accessible to people. But Nintendo is doing great as it is. The Wii is it's creation after all, it gets the right to do whatever it wants with it. Right?

 

[Xiorell]

129 quid.... it's cheap enough man I earn that in a night. And it's got 2 games out of the box ffs