Author Topic: Analyst sounds bullish on Wii? Criticizes 3rd parties that aren't on wagon? Wow! (Read 7966 times)

Kairon · « **on:** May 15, 2006, 08:54:50 AM »

Usually analysts are relegating Nintendo to third place, but Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter seems to have apparently taken a rather bullish stance on Nintendo's prospects after E3!

http://next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3014&Itemid=2

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Pachter said that the wait-and-see attitude that most third-party publishers are taking with the Wii means that if Nintendo were to experience robust hardware sales in the first year, no publishers would be able to take advantage of the installed base because they haven't fully committed to the early life of the platform.

"I can't name any US publisher games that are going to launch on the Wii that are going to make a difference," Pachter said. "Certainly there will be Spongebob, but big deal. Seriously, that's great, but if you buy the Wii as your second console, as I really think most people are going to do, you're probably not going to give a damn about Spongebob."

However, Pachter did acknowledge that Sega and Ubisoft are two of the few third parties that could benefit from robust Wii launch sales. Sega is aiming to release Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz at the Wii's launch, and Ubisoft has been heavily pushing the gun-and-sword first-person action title Red Steel, even demonstrating it at Nintendo's press conference last week.

He continued, reiterating that very few third parties have announced real system-mover titles. "If the Wii sells -- I'm just being ridiculous here -- 10 million units in the first year, who benefits? Well, clearly Nintendo, and clearly Ubisoft will capture that higher-end mature audience, and clearly Sega will be there and do well, but can I say [THQ] would sell 5 million copies of Spongebob? No way."

"That's not a slam on the US publishers," said Pachter, "But I, like everybody else, don't know who's going to capitalize on Wii.

"I didn't think publishers [knew how cool the Wii was] until they got their hands on it. I don't know how Ubisoft figured it out. Let's give them a lot of credit. Their ahead of everybody right now."

So... good news?

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

KDR_11k · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2006, 09:10:28 AM »

They haven't "fully committed". I.e. they aren't making only Wii exclusives.

Has this man never heard of Madden? He lists Sega and Ubisoft, why not EA? I'd say a special version of Madden should be considered commitment.

The Omen · « **Reply #2 on:** May 15, 2006, 09:28:58 AM »

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Has this man never heard of Madden? He lists Sega and Ubisoft, why not EA? I'd say a special version of Madden should be considered commitment.

Definitely, to go along with some other notable franchises too.

Crimm · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2006, 09:36:40 AM »

Thats not really what he's talking about. He's talking about a major system seller that is exclusive to the console. He's right, there aren't a lot.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2006, 10:00:45 AM »

Ubi is the only 3rd party I can think of who is creating a true exclusive IP for the Wii.

Konami's Elebits isn't really an IP so much as a concept game. If Red Steel does well, I know for a goddamn fact that we'll see 2-3 sequels from it.

Crimm · « **Reply #5 on:** May 15, 2006, 10:04:21 AM »

Oh yea, Ubisoft will start pumping them out annually if it does well.
Elibits is a...it's a game, that's for sure!

Almost all the exclusives are Nintendo made or Red Steel.

couchmonkey · « **Reply #6 on:** May 15, 2006, 10:21:19 AM »

I don't know, Madden and Tony Hawk both sound like they make pretty good use of the Wii, who cares if they aren't exclusive new franchises? I see this as being similar to the N64: it didn't matter if you'd already played Mario or Zelda a million times, the sequels were quite different from anything you'd experienced before. For that matter, Super Monkey Ball is neither new or very exclusive...

Then again, exclusives do perform really well on Nintendo systems. This is interesting, I was actually considering which publishers will cash in on Wii just a few minutes ago, because I'm thinking of buying some stock. Ubisoft is definitely the forerunner, but Red Steel seemed to get iffy impressions from the show. Then again, expectations may have been higher for that game than for Tony Hawk, Madden, or Sonic.

In the end, I have a feeling I may just buy some more Nintendo.

The games that I've heard getting the most praise are mainly Mario and Metroid.

MysticGohan · « **Reply #7 on:** May 15, 2006, 10:24:18 AM »

Meh, I wouldn't worry about it. He's crazy after all:P

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #8 on:** May 15, 2006, 10:39:59 AM »

Ah, wait, THDJ I believe IS a Nintendo-only, on DS and Wii.

My bad.

Michael8983 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 15, 2006, 11:06:01 AM »

We're getting an exclusive Sonic and Monkey Ball title from Sega.
Exclusive FF and DQ spin-offs from Square-Enix.
An exclusive RE title from Capcom.

These are some of the biggest third-party franchises. I don't see what the problem is.

Tony Hawk and Madden have already been mentioned. Two of the most popular franchises in the US.

I believe Rayman is exclusive as well.

Kairon · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2006, 11:10:13 AM »

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Originally posted by: couchmonkeyUbisoft is definitely the forerunner, but Red Steel seemed to get iffy impressions from the show.

Personally, I think Ubisoft is in a position to benefit greatly. Not because of Red Steel, but because of Rayman Raving Rabbids. I am almost as pumped for Rayman as I am pumped for Nintendo titles.

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

couchmonkey · « **Reply #11 on:** May 15, 2006, 11:47:03 AM »

Rayman has been announced for other consoles....but it looks like the Wii version has some custom-designed gameplay. Does anybody know if that game was shown at E3? I know there was video during the press conference, but I haven't seen any impressions. I'm really interested in it myself, but it seems like Red Steel is the one that Nintendo and Ubisoft were really pushing, so it's too bad that it may have some control issues. It seems perfectly suited for the controller, too.

Oh yeah, meant to mention in the last post, Nintendo's share price has risen from about $19.50 US to $21.50 US since last Monday - a pretty big spike. Investors think Nintendo is on to something.

jasonditz · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2006, 11:47:16 AM »

I don't think he's referring so much to companies like square enix as to the american companies like Take Two and THQ. THQ's offering nothing but cash-in titles from movies and TV shows, and Take Two hasn't announced anything at all.

UncleBob · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2006, 12:00:56 PM »

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Originally posted by: jasonditz
I don't think he's referring so much to companies like square enix as to the american companies like Take Two and THQ. THQ's offering nothing but cash-in titles from movies and TV shows, and Take Two hasn't announced anything at all.

To be fair though, all THQ ever offers *anyone* is nothing but cash-in titles from movies and TV shows...

TrueNerd · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2006, 12:07:01 PM »

I think I'll be buying many more 3rd party games for a Nintendo system this upcoming generation then I ever have before. It seems to me that devs seem interested in making games for the Wii that put it's unique features to use. Madden, Tony Hawk, Red Steel, Rayman, Sonic, Super Monkey Ball (maybe), etc. all look at least somewhat promising to me.

jasonditz · « **Reply #15 on:** May 15, 2006, 02:42:43 PM »

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Originally posted by: UncleBob
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Originally posted by: jasonditz
I don't think he's referring so much to companies like square enix as to the american companies like Take Two and THQ. THQ's offering nothing but cash-in titles from movies and TV shows, and Take Two hasn't announced anything at all.

To be fair though, all THQ ever offers *anyone* is nothing but cash-in titles from movies and TV shows...

Not true, they also do cash-in titles for professional wrestling.

IceCold · « **Reply #16 on:** May 15, 2006, 03:33:41 PM »

I want Day of Reckoning on Wii.. they won't be able to use any excuses like the "limitation" of the GameCube hardware.

BlkPaladin · « **Reply #17 on:** May 15, 2006, 05:03:02 PM »

I wasn't able to get into the Wii part of Nintendo's booth because of the long lines. But I can say that in Ubisoft's booth they had a trailer running and little corner for Rayman and the only one being showen was the Wii version.

I like scientific facts about bunnies. I also seen a Tee shirt around the convention center but I think it was only for Ubisoft reps with the Rayman bunny with a dialog "bubble" going Wii! Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

.... I want that shirt.. (My brother has the Red Steel shirt, he went with me to help with my meeting with Nintendo.)

Kairon · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2006, 05:28:52 PM »

Bunnies don't close doors... BUT.THEY.CAN.DANCE!!!

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

Dryden · « **Reply #19 on:** May 15, 2006, 10:32:34 PM »

I think Pachter really hit something here that other publishers are considering after E3 - how do we capitalize on the Wii's rather overcoming success?

If they don't have something ready for the 3-month launch window - I can definately see re-worked Virtual Console titles coming out of devs like THQ or Take Two. Just to have *something* to start selling gamers on their games.

BlkPaladin · « **Reply #20 on:** May 15, 2006, 11:01:34 PM »

Bunnies can't cook. BUT THEY CAN DANCE. (I like that one the best.)

Mario · « **Reply #21 on:** May 15, 2006, 11:03:09 PM »

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"I didn't think publishers [knew how cool the Wii was] until they got their hands on it. I don't know how Ubisoft figured it out. Let's give them a lot of credit. Their ahead of everybody right now."

Ubisoft had foresight, foresight which analysts -who are paid to forsee the future- didn't. Also "they're", not their.

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Oh yeah, meant to mention in the last post, Nintendo's share price has risen from about $19.50 US to $21.50 US since last Monday - a pretty big spike. Investors think Nintendo is on to something.

Worldwide it's actually the highest it's been since early 2002. I wish I could have bought stocks a year or two ago, i should get into this!

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #22 on:** May 15, 2006, 11:06:03 PM »

I think Nintendo's 3rd party support is pretty dang good so far with Wii considering companies are taking a big risk to develop for it since it isn't made for slapped together ports. If Wii does well then I think we will see more exclusives, heck there be even some now after companies looked at the reaction towards Wii at E3.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #23 on:** May 16, 2006, 12:49:02 AM »

This guy is talking about US publishers only. How many are there? The ones that count are EA, Midway, Activision and THQ. None of these are really into giving exclusive support and as such it's not surprising they don't offer many. THQ is known for living by selling crap to unsuspecting grandmas. Activision has the occasional hit but publishes mostly overhyped shovelware. Midway has made a resolve to make better games in the future but they aren't exactly system seller caliber yet.

So why are there no US made exclusive system sellers for the Wii? Because "we don't do that kind of stuff". Epic has a few system sellers on their hands but who else?

couchmonkey · « **Reply #24 on:** May 16, 2006, 07:48:41 AM »

Bioware? I guess they don't publish, though. I agree that the big publishers are like that, but some of the smaller devs/publishers do build exclusive software.

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Author Topic: Analyst sounds bullish on Wii? Criticizes 3rd parties that aren't on wagon? Wow! (Read 7966 times)