Topic: Episode 219: The Happiest Podcast on Earth

[TJ Spyke]

Maybe in overall totals, but not if you look at the best selling games. Four of the five best selling games in 2009 worldwide were from Nintendo (Wii Sports Resort, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Wii Fit Plus, Wii Fit. The only non-Japanese game was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 from Activision Blizzard, which was the best selling game of 2009 (at least if you combine the SKUs from all three versions).

[Sundoulos]

Don't forget that PS2 has been out on Japan for almost 11 years now (March 2000) while Wii has been out for about 4 (December 2006), if Nintendo keeps Wii around for as long as the PS2 then I have no doubt it can catch up and even surpass it.

During this episode, I noted the fact that the PS2 had already reached up into the high teens of millions sold in Japan by the end of 2004, so Wii at 11 million is very significantly behind the PS2 at roughly the same point of its life cycle, and appears unlikely to catch up unless a hardware refresh radically alters the current sales trends. Contrast this with the global picture where Wii is still trending similarly to the PS2, and you see how much more vibrant the Western console markets are today than Japan (especially when you consider the truly massive East-West disparity in the 360's success as well). 

It's also very unlikely that Nintendo will repeat Sony's foolish mistake of pricing itself out of the market with the Wii's successor.  Sony let the PS2 stick around because it was the only system that was making money for them at that point.  Nintendo will more or less completely abandon the Wii once it's successor hits the shelves.

[KDR_11k]

What, none of you played GoldenEye? Weaklings!

Maybe in overall totals, but not if you look at the best selling games. Four of the five best selling games in 2009 worldwide were from Nintendo (Wii Sports Resort, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Wii Fit Plus, Wii Fit. The only non-Japanese game was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 from Activision Blizzard, which was the best selling game of 2009 (at least if you combine the SKUs from all three versions).

You can practically separate Nintendo from the Japanese game industry because they are a massive outlier.

[Pandareus]

Just some input on the shape of console sales in Japan.

You mentioned Wii is at 11 and PS3 is at 5ish. Whereas last gen PS2 is 22 and GCN 4ish. So PS3 is a "better" 2nd place than cube was. However, Wii is way behind ps2 as a first place.

Don't forget that PS2 has been out on Japan for almost 11 years now (March 2000) while Wii has been out for about 4 (December 2006), if Nintendo keeps Wii around for as long as the PS2 then I have no doubt it can catch up and even surpass it.

I don't know if any of you guys listen to Warning A Huge Podcast, it's a podcast by Nick Rox and other Gamefan alumni about Japanese gaming. It gets really depressing when they read the release lists for Japan: 5 week gaps between Wii title releases are not uncommon.
 
And I don't mean "5 week gap between worthwhile releases" here, I mean 5 weeks without any new Wii games, usually shovelware.
 
The Wii is already dead in the water over there. It has absolutely no chance of having the PS2's longevity.
 

Here is a disturbing comment from the Sonic Colors review on Destructoid:

The thing to keep in mind when reading the comments to a Jim Sterling article is that 90% of the posts there are made to troll him.
 
If the guy took shots at Kirby and Enslaved, it wasn't at random: his comment was tailored specifically because Sterling gave those games high scores.
 
In short: you're better off not reading comments on Destructoid.

[Shaymin]

What, none of you played GoldenEye? Weaklings!

You didn't get enough of that last week? At the very least, the hopefully-soon-to-be Dr Metts will have more details next week.

[NWR_insanolord]

In short: you're better off not reading comments on the Internet.

I fixed that for you.

[sambskn]

When I was listening to the discussion about remakes, re-imaginings, etc., I couldn't help but think of Resident Evil 4 for the Wii. From what I've heard of it, while being the same game, it had the bonus "Ada" missions and new controls. I think thats a pretty good example of a game showing up again in a new form.

[TheYoungerPlumber]

Yeah, listening to the podcast today I'm surprised we didn't mention the Wii remakes.... I'm a fan of those that used the pointee well, but DKJB and a clumsy Mario Tennis didn't make sense.

[NWR_insanolord]

If the Wii had more horsepower, Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop would have been a great reimagining. I really liked the gameplay changes they made, but the Wii hardware just wasn't capable of running it.

[NWR_Neal]

My review of Donkey Kong Jungle Beat Wiimake is deceiving. It only has a decent score because the core of the game is so good. The GameCube version is infinitely better than the stupid ill-advised remake.

Also, where's my Pikmin 2 NPC? Dammit Nintendo!


EDIT: I heard they took out the camera in Dead Rising CTYD. I never liked that in the original. I've always been secretly interested in trying out CTYD.

[NWR_insanolord]

Not only that, they changed it up so there was more of a focus on gunplay, in the style of RE4 Wii Edition, in addition to melee combat. That made for more interesting combat than the 360 version. They also streamlined the story so that it was less open-ended and more focused. The Wii's hardware limitations meant fewer zombies on screen and worse AI (though it's zombies, how much AI do you really need?), but I still had a lot more fun with it than I had with either HD Dead Rising.

[NWR_Neal]

Not only that, they changed it up so there was more of a focus on gunplay, in the style of RE4 Wii Edition, in addition to melee combat. That made for more interesting combat than the 360 version. They also streamlined the story so that it was less open-ended and more focused. The Wii's hardware limitations meant fewer zombies on screen and worse AI (though it's zombies, how much AI do you really need?), but I still had a lot more fun with it than I had with either HD Dead Rising.

That paragraph made me more interested in that game than I ever have been before.

I really don't like the HD Dead Risings. I feel like I should, but I just don't.

[NWR_insanolord]

I didn't like the HD Dead Risings either; I bought Chop Till You Drop (not right away, mind you; I think I paid about $13 to keep it from GameFly) because it let me shoot zombies in the RE4 engine. If you take it for what it is and not just compare it to the 360 game I think it's an underrated, fun game.

[KDR_11k]

What, none of you played GoldenEye? Weaklings!

You didn't get enough of that last week? At the very least, the hopefully-soon-to-be Dr Metts will have more details next week.

Last week was all about the N64 game, not the current one.

Also, where's my Pikmin 2 NPC? Dammit Nintendo of America!

fixed

[Olimar77]

This week's podcast inspired me to go back to Super Mario Sunshine after almost three years to find the last blue coin in Noki Bay that eluded me for hours. I refused to move forward without that blue coin. I'm happy to say, I found that blue coin within five minutes (three minutes of that time spent getting used to the control scheme again).

[greybrick]

They already are.

How so?

Call of Duty? Halo? Grand Theft Auto?

[NWR_Lindy]

After having played some Super Meat Boy, I can say with confidence that it's definitely a game in which you'll beat your head against a wall, then come back to a level and see the "solution" almost immediately.

[Jonnyboy117]

Good to hear that Jon is playing games again!

By the way, I have indeed been playing the new Goldeneye and will have lots of thoughts on it for the next episode. I haven't played deeply into any one mode, but I have tried all three main parts of the game for at least an hour or two each. Would have liked to get in more of it already, but certain people keep voting for RPGs on RetroActive.

[noname2200]

It's also very unlikely that Nintendo will repeat Sony's foolish mistake of pricing itself out of the market with the Wii's successor.  Sony let the PS2 stick around because it was the only system that was making money for them at that point.  Nintendo will more or less completely abandon the Wii once it's successor hits the shelves.

There's precedent to the contrary.  The SNES was released in Japan in 1990, but NES games continued to see release until 1994.  In fact, the last two games officially published for the system were both made by Nintendo.

[Crimm]

I gathered that it was a football reference, but thought I would feign offense anyways considering the context of the joke.

I just take any excuse to use the phrase Sexy Rexy, if only to remind myself and anyone else that he started the Super Bowl less than four years ago (yes, the Bears team apart from him was THAT good).

Just to be clear, I actually have bet against Rex Grossman simply because he is Rex Grossman.

[Kytim89]

I would like to invite the RFN and NWR crew over to my topic "Wii Successor and Glasses Free 3D" to read their opinions on the subject. If you are interested, you are more than welcome to comment. 
 
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=32069.msg644076#new

[Mop it up]

It's also very unlikely that Nintendo will repeat Sony's foolish mistake of pricing itself out of the market with the Wii's successor.  Sony let the PS2 stick around because it was the only system that was making money for them at that point.  Nintendo will more or less completely abandon the Wii once it's successor hits the shelves.

There's precedent to the contrary.  The SNES was released in Japan in 1990, but NES games continued to see release until 1994.  In fact, the last two games officially published for the system were both made by Nintendo.

In Japan, the Famicom (NES) was manufactured up until 2003, which makes a total of 20 years on the market, although it was available only in specialty shops for half of that time.