Topic: Wii Predictions for the Next Year

[ProtoNY]

The press coverage has been better than Nintendo could have possibly hoped for, so far.  The Wii is now in the spotlight and all eyes are on how it does.  The potential market is now there, but I see that Nintendo is going to need to follow through to keep momentum rolling.

For fun, I thought I would share my predictions for the coming year and see what anyone else might have to add...

1.  Phenomenal Increase in Graphic Quality

Over the next year, not only will developers be more familiar with the system, you will see games that have been in development for longer periods of time.  Look for stunning visuals from Capcom's newest Resident Evil product, and Square Enix's Crystal Chronicles project.

Recently, there has been a lot of the "slightly more powerful than the original XBox" talk going around about the Wii.  But, at the last E3, ATI had said that we had yet to see what the GPU could do.  Let's be honest.  Games that are currently released now are not considerably better in graphics quality than they were at E3, probably due to how late the dev kits were made available.  Developers were using GC kits and switched over later.  Common knowledge.

Here is the original article:
http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=12859

The biggest thing to take notice of is in the second to last paragraph:

"Industry sources have said that the Wii GPU would be moderately more powerful than the GameCube's GPU, but how much more we don't know. Conservative estimates from developers have placed the Wii console as a whole at 2 - 2.5 times more powerful than the GameCube."

I tend to believe that is more accurate and that we will start to see it during the next year.  Look for Nintendo to provide an upgraded series of dev kits that will make tapping this potential easier for developers.


2.  Third Party Lovefest

While some developers are taking a wait and see approach with the PS3, a lot of developers are putting a lot of faith in the Wii.  Not only are companies dedicating resources to the Wii, some of them are creating full blown Wii studios, like Buena Vista Games (a Disney company).  With growing popularity, it is practically a lock that we might to start to see franchises that previously have not graced a Nintendo console, or have been absent for a long time.

Things that I would predict might make it to the Wii, or at least be announced in the next year:

a.  Kingdom Hearts.  Square Enix's public support of the Wii and Disney setting up shop just screams for a collaboration between these two companies again.  KH is already one of the most immersing games out there, it could come to a new level on the Wii.

b.  Final Fantasy.  Not CC.  A real, honest to goodness FF.

c.  Castlevania.  What's his face, at Konami, might not think using the Wii controller for a whip is a good idea, but I can see minds being changed.  Expect a new type of Castlevania that still has great fighting action, but also incorporates more of a puzzle aspect.  I see Castlevania reborn in the same style of gameplay that Zelda games now employ.

d.  Sports Games.  Just in general.  Expect to see franchises follow the lead of Madden 07 on the Wii.  The potential is enormous and sports games are social activities.  A fleshed out boxing game is a given, seeing the popularity of Wii Sports Boxing.  Honestly, the only sport I have a hard time seeing translate well to the mechanics of the Wii is hockey.  Not that it can't be done, just visualizing the controls - it doesn't seem to work.  Maybe that is just me, though.  I dare some developer to just go out there and prove me wrong.  :-)

3.  Quality 3rd Party Controllers

Yes.  I said it.  Honestly, this makes sense, too.  The Wii controller is more of a digital appliance than an actual controller now.  Electronics are easy to duplicate.  Every time I had a third party controller, it was ultimately the moving parts that would break down.  The first company that comes out with a rechargeable controller is going to make a ton of cash.  Have a cradle that you set the controller in that runs out of the Wii's USB port, and I'll buy four of them.

That's about all I have for now.  It will be interesting to see what else people think might be happening in the next year.

[31 Flavas]

Quote
Originally posted by: ProtoNY

3.  Quality 3rd Party Controllers

If you want rechargeability, just get some AA rechargeables. They'll last longer and you can pop in freshly rechaged ones when the current pair run low or out of power.

The rest of your posts sounds good. It'd be awesome to see KH or FF on Nintendo. Understandably, i'm not holding my breath though. I certainly do want to see another CC though. I'd be disappointed if CC got cancelled.

[ProtoNY]

Quote
Originally posted by: 31 Flavas
If you want rechargeability, just get some AA rechargeables. They'll last longer and you can pop in freshly rechaged ones when the current pair run low or out of power.

Already went the rechargeable route.  I will have to admit, though, that it is a royal pain to switch batteries with the controller glove on.  ;-)

Quote
Originally posted by: 31 Flavas
The rest of your posts sounds good. It'd be awesome to see KH or FF on Nintendo. Understandably, i'm not holding my breath though. I certainly do want to see another CC though. I'd be disappointed if CC got cancelled.

I would be more surprised to see FF over KH.  I really do think that CC is going to do well when it comes out.  The fact that Square Enix is taking their time with it (as well as DQ) can only be good.  

[couchmonkey]

I think Kingdom Hearts and Castlevania are quite possible - in fact, isn't the Castlevania guy already starting to change his tune?  I don't think he said he'd do a CV game for Wii, but he was beginning to think about developing for Wii in general.  It would work really well.

Final Fantasy, I'm beginning to theorize that Square Enix will save this one for PS3/Xbox in the hopes of keeping Nintendo from becoming too dominant in the industry.  Wii is set to take Japan by storm and I think Square Enix is tired of being roped into the hardware companies' agendas - but anything could happen.

I'm not holding my breath for a phenomenal graphical increase.  I think the latest Metroid Prime 3 shots are about as good as Wii will get next year, but it will improve, like any system.

My predictions:
- Wii will close in on Xbox 360's sales quickly next year.  It will be in a close second by the end of the year, maybe around 21 million to 18 million.
- There will be no Player's Choice titles from Nintendo next year or the year after (but the "Wii" series of games will be a bit cheaper than regular games).
- People will begin buying Wii just for Wii Sports, sometimes with Wii Play.  Wii Play will be a hit.
- Metroid will be pushed back to Christmas, along with Super Paper Mario.  Mario Galaxy in the summer.
 

[31 Flavas]

Quote
Originally posted by: ProtoNY

Already went the rechargeable route.  I will have to admit, though, that it is a royal pain to switch batteries with the controller glove on.  ;-)

I understand this would be a bit destructive, but couldn't you just cut out the portion of the glove covering the battery cover? If you still want that rubber grip you could use double sided tape to attach the cut out portion to the battery cover. I'd be cheaper then new controllers and would allow easy battery swaping.

[Magik]

Quote
Originally posted by: ProtoNY

1.  Phenomenal Increase in Graphic Quality

I'm pretty sure everybody is expecting that.


2.  Third Party Lovefest

While some developers are taking a wait and see approach with the PS3, a lot of developers are putting a lot of faith in the Wii.  Not only are companies dedicating resources to the Wii, some of them are creating full blown Wii studios, like Buena Vista Games (a Disney company).  With growing popularity, it is practically a lock that we might to start to see franchises that previously have not graced a Nintendo console, or have been absent for a long time.

Things that I would predict might make it to the Wii, or at least be announced in the next year:

a.  Kingdom Hearts.  Square Enix's public support of the Wii and Disney setting up shop just screams for a collaboration between these two companies again.  KH is already one of the most immersing games out there, it could come to a new level on the Wii.

I don't see that happening at all.  Kingdom Hearts is a series that Sony will throw money at Square Enix.  Sony will do whatever it takes to keep that series.

b.  Final Fantasy.  Not CC.  A real, honest to goodness FF.

Same reason as Kingdom Hearts, Sony will give Square Enix enough money to keep it on the PlayStation platform.

c.  Castlevania.  What's his face, at Konami, might not think using the Wii controller for a whip is a good idea, but I can see minds being changed.  Expect a new type of Castlevania that still has great fighting action, but also incorporates more of a puzzle aspect.  I see Castlevania reborn in the same style of gameplay that Zelda games now employ.

Look at how the previous 3D Castlevania games have turned out - ugh... - I don't think we will be seeing any 3D castlevania in the works for quite some time.

d.  Sports Games.  Just in general.  Expect to see franchises follow the lead of Madden 07 on the Wii.  The potential is enormous and sports games are social activities.  A fleshed out boxing game is a given, seeing the popularity of Wii Sports Boxing.  Honestly, the only sport I have a hard time seeing translate well to the mechanics of the Wii is hockey.  Not that it can't be done, just visualizing the controls - it doesn't seem to work.  Maybe that is just me, though.  I dare some developer to just go out there and prove me wrong.  :-)

Hockey won't translate well and neither will Soccer.  I do however think a Lacross game might work quite well since it can follow Madden 07's example.

3.  Quality 3rd Party Controllers

Yes.  I said it.  Honestly, this makes sense, too.  The Wii controller is more of a digital appliance than an actual controller now.  Electronics are easy to duplicate.  Every time I had a third party controller, it was ultimately the moving parts that would break down.  The first company that comes out with a rechargeable controller is going to make a ton of cash.  Have a cradle that you set the controller in that runs out of the Wii's USB port, and I'll buy four of them.

Forget 3rd party controllers, how about Nintendo reducing the prices for the controllers instead.  And while they're at it, make a better strap than the dinky threaded ones they are using now.

That's about all I have for now.  It will be interesting to see what else people think might be happening in the next year.

[ProtoNY]

Quote
Originally posted by: 31 Flavas

I understand this would be a bit destructive, but couldn't you just cut out the portion of the glove covering the battery cover? If you still want that rubber grip you could use double sided tape to attach the cut out portion to the battery cover. I'd be cheaper then new controllers and would allow easy battery swaping.

I had thought of that, too.  Only problem I can see is that it won't have the snug fit on the bottom anymore, possibly meaning it would not sit flat on the face and interfere with some of the lower buttons.  I've actually thought about ways to rig my own recharging unit that I could just hook up directly to the controller when I wanted to, but haven't come up with anything elegant enough yet.  ;-)

[Arbok]

Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
- Metroid will be pushed back to Christmas, along with Super Paper Mario.  Mario Galaxy in the summer.

All eyes will be on Smash Bros next year, every other title will bow down before its hype...

[couchmonkey]

Quote
Originally posted by: Arbok

Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
- Metroid will be pushed back to Christmas, along with Super Paper Mario.  Mario Galaxy in the summer.

All eyes will be on Smash Bros next year, every other title will bow down before its hype...

Bah, Mario Galaxy FTW!  But the real reason I didn't guess on it is that I have no idea when it will be done.  I probably shouldn't even have guessed the others, I'll be totally wrong anyway.  Here's a better guess: Everything will be delayed except for WiiPlay, Wario Ware, and Mario Party 8.

As for Magik's huge list of comments...I personally liked Castlevania "64', I think it's really underrated.  Not to mention that Konami could make a 2D Castlevania for Wii.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Quote
a. Kingdom Hearts. Square Enix's public support of the Wii and Disney setting up shop just screams for a collaboration between these two companies again. KH is already one of the most immersing games out there, it could come to a new level on the Wii.

I don't see that happening at all. Kingdom Hearts is a series that Sony will throw money at Square Enix. Sony will do whatever it takes to keep that series.

Mushroom Kingdom Hearts? I think that would sell twice as much on Wii than KH on PS2

[NWR_pap64]

Quote
Originally posted by: BlackNMild2k1

Quote
a. Kingdom Hearts. Square Enix's public support of the Wii and Disney setting up shop just screams for a collaboration between these two companies again. KH is already one of the most immersing games out there, it could come to a new level on the Wii.

I don't see that happening at all. Kingdom Hearts is a series that Sony will throw money at Square Enix. Sony will do whatever it takes to keep that series.

Mushroom Kingdom Hearts? I think that would sell twice as much on Wii than KH on PS2

Don't be so sure on that...

First, Kingdom Hearts is one of Square's canon series (along with Final Fantasy and Dragon quest). Both FF and DQ are making appearances on the Wii and DS, so a KH game will appear sooner or later.

Second. Square has said that they don't want Sony to be the leader. If they truly meant what they said, that means that they aren't afraid of porting over their franchises onto other consoles.

Third, the KH series has already appeared on a Nintendo console as Chain of memories for the GBA. True, they are remaking it for the PS2, but that doesn't completely rule out the possibility of a KH spin off or remakes of the first two games.

EDIT: Not to mention that the ONE that makes the final decision regarding the KH series is Disney and its games division Buena vista games. Square and Sony may want to make the games Sony exclusive but if Buena Vista says they want it on the DS and Wii they have to comply because the franchise is technically theirs.

There is also the possibility that even if Square doesn't port the games themselves that new Wii developer could do it.

True, I could see number 3 hitting the PS3 only, but I don't see the series NOT appearing on any other console. Just because a third party franchise started on a console it doesn't make it console exclusive (Bomberman, Mega man and Castlevania, just to name a few).  

[Louieturkey]

Nintendo mixed with Disney?  I think Nintendo would need themselves or Square Enix to develop it to allow such a thing to happen.

[Magik]

Quote
Originally posted by: pap64

Quote
Originally posted by: BlackNMild2k1

Quote
a. Kingdom Hearts. Square Enix's public support of the Wii and Disney setting up shop just screams for a collaboration between these two companies again. KH is already one of the most immersing games out there, it could come to a new level on the Wii.

I don't see that happening at all. Kingdom Hearts is a series that Sony will throw money at Square Enix. Sony will do whatever it takes to keep that series.

Mushroom Kingdom Hearts? I think that would sell twice as much on Wii than KH on PS2

Don't be so sure on that...

First, Kingdom Hearts is one of Square's canon series (along with Final Fantasy and Dragon quest). Both FF and DQ are making appearances on the Wii and DS, so a KH game will appear sooner or later.

Second. Square has said that they don't want Sony to be the leader. If they truly meant what they said, that means that they aren't afraid of porting over their franchises onto other consoles.

Third, the KH series has already appeared on a Nintendo console as Chain of memories for the GBA. True, they are remaking it for the PS2, but that doesn't completely rule out the possibility of a KH spin off or remakes of the first two games.

EDIT: Not to mention that the ONE that makes the final decision regarding the KH series is Disney and its games division Buena vista games. Square and Sony may want to make the games Sony exclusive but if Buena Vista says they want it on the DS and Wii they have to comply because the franchise is technically theirs.

There is also the possibility that even if Square doesn't port the games themselves that new Wii developer could do it.

True, I could see number 3 hitting the PS3 only, but I don't see the series NOT appearing on any other console. Just because a third party franchise started on a console it doesn't make it console exclusive (Bomberman, Mega man and Castlevania, just to name a few).

I wouldn't be surprised if KH does make an appearance on other systems, but only as spinoffs and not the main series.

Neither Disney/Buena Vista or Square makes the final decision on their own.  All parties have to agree because the characters in the game are owned by different companies.  Obviously the Disney characters are owned by Disney, but the rest are owned by Square.  One side can't just go ahead and decide everything without the consisent of the other group.

Disney has already said they want KH 3 to be developed at this moment, but Square flat out said no because they have their hands full.

[Magik]

Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey

Quote
Originally posted by: Arbok

Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
- Metroid will be pushed back to Christmas, along with Super Paper Mario.  Mario Galaxy in the summer.

All eyes will be on Smash Bros next year, every other title will bow down before its hype...

Bah, Mario Galaxy FTW!  But the real reason I didn't guess on it is that I have no idea when it will be done.  I probably shouldn't even have guessed the others, I'll be totally wrong anyway.  Here's a better guess: Everything will be delayed except for WiiPlay, Wario Ware, and Mario Party 8.

As for Magik's huge list of comments...I personally liked Castlevania "64', I think it's really underrated.  Not to mention that Konami could make a 2D Castlevania for Wii.

Castlevania 64 was an odd game to me.  Especially some of the enemies.  Anybody remember the motorcycle riding skeleton? lol

[segagamer12]

I just want Mario PArty 8 to be online thast all I ask. Galaxies, like sunshine, hasnt won me over yet and wont till I play it. Well maybe sunshine didnt even after i played it. Smash BRos is a winner for sure Ill get that no questions asked.


So when does Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil appear on Wii? Those are two I am waiting for and still hloding out hope for a new Virtua Fighter game cus Sega hasnt made a single VF for a Nintendo system (VF Quest doesnt count.)

[couchmonkey]

Ha ha, well some of the enemies were crazy, but the game was still decent, I thought.  People make it out like it was a travesty against everything Castlevania when personally I'd rank it above a few of the older 2D games, and probably all of the newer 3D games as well (but I haven't actually played the newer 3D games, so I'll shut up. )

I thought the controls needed tuning, but the basic gameplay and design was pretty cool.  There are still a few scenes that I remember even though I only rented it once many years ago.  I hope it comes to the virtual console.

Umm, getting off topic.  Kingdom Hearts:  I think we'll see the series in some form on Wii.  Maybe it won't be the "main" series, but at least a spin-off, or, who's to say there couldn't be a port?  I think people ignore the possibility of ports from PS3/360 to Wii because of the power difference, but it would still be cheaper than making the game from the ground up.

[ShyGuy]

Mortal Kombat is this spring, IIRC.

[Ceric]

I don't see KH being a good fit for the Wii.  I think a game of similar vain might be, like say... Captian N.  Plus as I've stated many times if KH3 is to KH2 what KH2 was to KH1 I don't want it.  Also I could see a different FF coming.  A new series actually.  Not FF:CC but a series that is actually like the FF of yore continuing on.  I also believe and hope that the the new CC will take more elements from traditional FF's, like say being able to enter houses and talk with people.  Though I do hope they keep the general feel but ditch things like repeating levels.

Konami and Capcom hasn't been showing any love as of late and messed Nintendo over on exlusives, at least Capcom.  I want to see DDR Mario Mix 2 for it ironically is my favorite in the series because you weren't just dancing to dance and the breaks with the mini-games where nice.

I like to see a Guitar Hero.

I beleive that the graphics will indeed get better.  I am very impressed by TP especially considering it is suppose to be using the older WW engine.  I think that TP can easily hold its own against most 360 and PS3 games.  I'll be interested in seeing how an engine built from the ground up to maximize the Wii potential will look.  Also there is a truck racing game I saw the other day on the PS3 and I though it only looked slightly better then Excite Truck.  In fact the environments while a little more details where pretty barren.

The Dragon Quest game will be released.  I'm looking forward to that.

[SixthAngel]

Everyone says FF and Kingdom Hearts.  Kingdom hearts seems plausable because of the Disney connection but FF seems pretty impossible since it is currently being developed for ps3.  Supporting multiple consoles I would think could mean moving the main Dragon Quest series to the Wii.  They are releasing a bunch of spinoffs on the DS and the swords game could be used to test the waters.  What better way to stop one console domination then to put your 2 biggest series on different consoles?

[couchmonkey]

Quote
Originally posted by: SixthAngel
Supporting multiple consoles I would think could mean moving the main Dragon Quest series to the Wii.  They are releasing a bunch of spinoffs on the DS and the swords game could be used to test the waters.  What better way to stop one console domination then to put your 2 biggest series on different consoles?

That's what I've been thinking too...it's all speculation of course, but I think it could definitely happen.

[Magik]

Why hope for another Mario DDR when what we should be hoping for is a true DDR game.  

[Ceric]

Nah.  Don't get me wrong I own almost all of the DDR games but I like that fact that Mario had a storyline, weak but it was their, and the minigames to break things up.  It had me play songs that I normally wouldn't touch and actually enjoyed.  So ideally I like a DDR with a storyline and minigames.

[BlkPaladin]

I see them putting DQ onto the Wii especially if they don't want Sony to lead this gen. That is their "money" franchise in Japan, and it does rather well outside of Japan also.

[Kairon]

Quote
Originally posted by: Ceric
So ideally I like a DDR with a storyline and minigames.

People like you are the reason that games like Tetris aren't made anymore.

j/k!

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[Adrock]

Square-Enix announces FFVII remake. It makes more sense on Wii.