Topic: So, Wii Sports is the best selling video game of all time

[Plugabugz]

....but is it really deserving of that title?

Excluding its "win win" factor by being bundled in 75% of the markets alongside its parent console (thus guaranteeing sales and that title, if you don't like the game tough you paid for it and guaranteed a sale!), did it really advance gaming forward enough to have apparently sold 60 million copies?

Metroid Prime 3 showed FPS could be done properly. Mario Galaxy, IMO, showed the potential of the system and took platforming and camera systems completely differently. Wii Fit, like Lindy, Director of Nintendo World Report dotcom, said on RFN it "was created out of thin air" to cater to a new age of health-conscious people. Carnival Games popularised (*ahem* popularized) the party genre and Boom Blox made physics seem interesting.

While none of them have sold 60 million, i guess the thought i'm having is that Wii Sports has little replay value to me. Aren't there better games (even compiled together) to show off what the Wii can do and be deserving of that label?

[BeautifulShy]

I don't like where this topic is going to head to. Count me out.

[Chozo Ghost]

I'm not a Wii Sports fan. I only own it because it came with the system, but I never would have purchased it on its own. The same is true with Wii Play. I'm not a "non-gamer", I'm a real gamer, so these sorts of "games" don't interest me at all.

But with that said, I have to say there are lots of people out there who DO like these sorts of games. But would they have purchased this game if it didn't come with the system? Many probably would have, but definitely not 60 million. If the game wasn't bundled with the Wii its sales would be considerably less. Maybe only 20 million or something like that...

[vudu]

I think Jonny said it best on the last episode of RFN--packing Wii Sports in with the system was the single smartest thing Nintendo has done in the history of the company.  There is no debating this fact.  Regardless of your personal opinion about the game it has likely saved the gaming industry from the death spiral it was certainly headed towards.

Does it deserve the title of best video game of all time?  Probably not.  Does it deserve the title of best-selling video game of all time?  Probably.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Ifit wasn't bundled with the Wii, the Wii wouldn't be as successful as it is. WiiSports is the showcase for the potential of the Wiimote and the initial draw for the Wii.

I've sunk more hours into WiiSports than more than 2/3rds of of all the games I own, mostly due to the competitive nature of the game, but it's still worth the price of admission and 10's of millions of new owners every year seem to be agreeing.

[Ian Sane]

Wii Sports greatest accomplishment was making the Wii a huge success and the market leading console for this generation.  It had enough appeal that once people saw it they had to buy a Wii to play it.  Right now that's the only accomplishment we can really give it.  We don't know what impact that will have.  It isn't like Super Mario Bros. where we have 25 years of perspective.

The sales figures though are tainted.  By bundling it with the Wii, Nintendo rigged the game.  Wii Sports is an asterisk.  That doesn't mean it wasn't successful but it's not a true record.  Super Mario Bros. also can't lay claim to this record.  Neither can Wii Play.  And to go beyond Nintendo neither can something like Sonic the Hedgehog since it was the Genesis pack-in.  To truly be the best selling game of all time the game has to have been sold in a manner where it could achieve high sales on it's own merits, not because it was packaged with something else people would want to buy.

How well has Wii Sports Resort sold?  That will give one an idea of how valuable the Wii Sports franchise is.  How many people who own a Wii liked Wii Sports enough to buy the sequel?  That determines the appeal of it as a standalone product vs. a fun game that comes with your system.

Wii Sports' Japanese figures though are completely legitimate since it wasn't bundled there.

[TJ Spyke]

I would like to point out that in Japan, where the game is NOT bundled with the Wii, it is still the best selling Wii game.

While the game is not the best game ever, it is a good game and helped show what the Wii Remote could do. The game is the main reason so many non-gamers bought the system, which was Nintendo's strategy. Wii Sports Resort has already sold over 14 million copies (it sold 13.58 million as of December 31, 2009).

Ian, I disagree that Wii Play can't hold claim to the record. Just because you get a free Wii Remote with the game doesn't change anything.

[GearBoxClock]

You know, theSuper Mario game that sold so much on the NES only sold so much because it was bundled.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Bottom line is that lots of people bought the Wii for WiiSPorts
just as lots of people bought the NES for Super Mario Bros.

WiiPlay is different, because most people bought that because it was an extra controller with a cheap game thrown in.

[Chozo Ghost]

So what is the best selling game of all time that WASN'T a pack-in? Whichever game that is deserves greater credit, imho.

[Stogi]

Super Mario 3 I'm guessing.

That said, even if Super Mario and Wii Sports were pack-ins, I doubt there success would be minimalized (sp?). They are killer apps in every sense of the term and people would have bought a cheaper Wii or NES and bought those games first.

[ejamer]

...
Does it deserve the title of best video game of all time?  Probably not.  Does it deserve the title of best-selling video game of all time?  Probably.

Not sure if I think it "saved" the industry, but I definitely agree with the statement above.
 
Despite not being a big fan of the game, it's gotten played for 33 hours and 56 minutes on my console according to the Nintendo Channel statistics.  That's not out of line either, since the average "per person" numbers listed are 32 hours of playing time over 27 sessions.  When friends come over, it's still one of the best multiplayer choices because of being immediately intuitive and enjoyable.
 
While far from my favorite game, I can totally understand why it sells well.  This is reinforced when you realize that people have a tendancy to buy what is popular regardless of how "good" it might be.

[TJ Spyke]

So what is the best selling game of all time that WASN'T a pack-in? Whichever game that is deserves greater credit, imho.

Wii Play (no it's NOT a pack-in, it is not bundled with the Wii anywhere) at 26.71 million. After that, you have Wii Fit at 22.56 million (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games#Top_20_console_games_of_all_time).

[Ian Sane]

Ian, I disagree that Wii Play can't hold claim to the record. Just because you get a free Wii Remote with the game doesn't change anything.

I think it changes EVERYTHING.  I'm pretty sure every single person on this forum that owns Wii Play bought it because they wanted another controller and the price difference between a standalone and Wii Play was so minor that they figured they might as well get the controller that came with a game.  Every person I know personally who owns Wii Play bought it for that reason.  That's like regarded as the thing to do.  Salesmen in stores point you in that direction when you buy a Wii.
 
You don't get a free remote with it.  It's the remote pack-in title.  They just offer standalone remotes as well because someone who wants four controllers wouldn't have need for three copies of Wii Fit.  If Nintendo didn't plan it that way they fluked their way into one of the most successful strategies of all time.
 
I look at Amazon.com's user reviews and I get:
 
"this is a 10$ game bundled with a remote. Only worth buying because it comes with remote"
 
"The whole package was the same price as just the remote from Wlmart. So it was worth it. The games arent all that much fun...just ok"
 
"I don't believe my grandchildren play the games that came with this remote."
 
"I bought this really because it had the remote with it, but the Wii Play game is actually not bad."
 
"We bought if mainly for the remote and count the games as an extra benefit."
 
"I bought this game because it came with a free controller. I played each of the mini games once. They are beyond bad. My kids played once and never put the game into the Wii again. Good for controller, but I could have saved a few buck by just buying an extra controller by itself, because the game is worthless."
 
"The main reason I bought this game was because it was a bargain with the Wii remote."
 
These don't appear to be written by disgruntled core gamers.  There's no "rrrgh Wii Play sucks" here.  This is the mainstream Wii audience and the message is loud and clear: you buy Wii Play for the remote!
 
If Wii Fit is number three behind Wii Sports and Wii Play then it is the best selling game of all time and its record is completely legitimate.

[TJ Spyke]

No, Wii Play is. Just because the general public sees Wii Play as a pack-in with the Wii Remote doesn't make it so. The FACT is that you are technically buying the game and and getting a Wii Remote free with it. So the biggest selling non-bundled game is Wii Play.

[Plugabugz]

If i'm reading Wiki correctly then Nintendogs is the best selling unbundled-with-hardware game of all time at 22 million, but this is all semantics.

That said, why is there no update to Nintendogs?!

[Chozo Ghost]

Like everyone says, the only decent Wii Play game is Tanks. Nintendo needs to make a dedicated Tank fighting game, with online play and more levels and the ability to customize your tanks and so on. That sort of game would easily be worth $19.99 as a stand-alone with no remote.

[BlackNMild2k1]

No, Wii Play is. Just because the general public sees Wii Play as a pack-in with the Wii Remote doesn't make it so. The FACT is that you are technically buying the game and and getting a Wii Remote free with it. So the biggest selling non-bundled game is Wii Play.

You've got it backwards. you are buying a wiimote with a cheap game bundled in.

And Tanks and Targets are both good games.

Both could work as expanded standalone WiiWare games.

[Chozo Ghost]

If i'm reading Wiki correctly then Nintendogs is the best selling unbundled-with-hardware game of all time at 22 million, but this is all semantics.

That said, why is there no update to Nintendogs?!

Good question. By now Nintendo should have released a version of it for the Wii.

I remember in another thread someone mentioned R.O.B. and said Nintendo should bring it back. Well, since we know bundled hardware makes games sell, what if Nintendo created a robotic dog peripheral with a Wii version of Nintendogs?

Guaranteed multi-million seller, right there.

[TJ Spyke]

No, Wii Play is. Just because the general public sees Wii Play as a pack-in with the Wii Remote doesn't make it so. The FACT is that you are technically buying the game and and getting a Wii Remote free with it. So the biggest selling non-bundled game is Wii Play.

You've got it backwards. you are buying a wiimote with a cheap game bundled in.

And Tanks and Targets are both good games.

If thinking that makes you feel better, go ahead. Don't let facts get in the way.

[BlackNMild2k1]

if you think WiiPlay is a $50 game with a $40 wiimote bundled in for free then it is you who isn't letting the facts get in the way.

Ian even posted the casual non-gamer reviews of the product who understand that the game was bought because it's added price to the Wiimote was worth adding another game to the collection even if it had little value as a stand alone.

[Mop it up]

This happened sometime last year. Isn't there already a topic about this?

What is the best-selling game that wasn't subject to any marketing gimmick like packed in with hardware or an accessory, or have multiple versions? Was Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas ever a pack-in with a PlayStation 2 bundle? If not, then it is the best-selling no frills game.

I have a somewhat related question: Why isn't Duck Hunt also considered to be tied as the "most successful videogame"? After all, it was a combo cartridge containing both Super Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt. I know that both games were available separately for a short time, but... how much did each of them sell? Shouldn't Duck Hunt at least be second (or now third)? And then there was the triple-game cartridge which also had World Class Track Meet...

[UncleBob]

I think once the NES started getting sold without SMB people still bought it... no one bought Duck Hunt stand-alone.

[Ymeegod]

Sports is 100% free.  There's no price to pay so you really shouldn't count that, along with WII Play.  WII Fit again is bundled hardware, did you buy it for the game FIT or did you just want the balance board?  Most people wanted the game but you're still going count the people who just wanted the board.

Think Mario Kart is the better example considering it's $45 with a $5 wheel.

[BlackNMild2k1]

W.T.F?

who would buy just the balance board? that makes absolutely no sense.
you buy WiiFit which is the game that uses the balance board. They are one in the same.
It's impossible to play the game without it and buying the BB by itself isn't even an option.
You can't even use the BB by itself so why would you even ask if you bought it fot the game or the BB? The BB is part of the game.