Topic: Could Nintendo Bring Wii Sports Back This E3?

[NWR_Neal]

It’s been a year since Wii Sports Club finished development. That team is likely working on something new.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/40363/could-nintendo-bring-wii-sports-back-this-e3

It’s been a while since a Wii Sports game was a focus at E3. You’d have to go back to E3 2009, when Wii Sports Resort was a few weeks away from release, to when Nintendo paid mind to the series that helped launch the Wii. They tried to capture the same magic of Wii Sports and Resort with Nintendo Land in 2012, but it didn’t quite come together, as the big Wii U launch title released with a whimper. They followed that up by remaking Wii Sports for Wii U, adding new control functionality, HD graphics, and online play. While the Wii U collection was well made, it was ultimately forgettable. Could E3 2015 be the year that Nintendo brings back Wii Sports in some capacity? The more I think about it, the more it adds up.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be Wii Sports. As we’ve learned with Wii Sports Club, Wii Fit U, and Wii Party U, the Wii series name doesn’t carry the same mystique these days. Over the course of one console generation, Wii Sports went from the game that changed everything in 2006 to an overlooked HD remaster in 2014. Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort, both directed by Takayuki Shimamura, were great successes, showing off how the Wii Remote could be used in interesting ways. Shimamura’s work on Nintendo Land (with Co-Director Yoshikazu Yamashita, who is currently working on Mario Maker) and Wii Sports Club (with help from Bandai Namco) didn’t seem to resonate in the same way.

It’s been nearly three years since Nintendo Land launched, and while Shimamura certainly spent some time the following year on Wii Sports Club, he could have easily been starting production on a new, bold entry in his motion-controlled legacy.

In my opinion, I don’t know if you use the Wii Sports name again, even if I desperately want to see Nintendo make something ridiculous like Wii Sports Galaxy that might take place on Planet Wuhu. Still, Shimamura is very likely heading up development of a new project and the timeline fits so that it could be revealed at E3 2015, likely for a spring 2016 release. We’ll find out soon enough, though, as there are only two weeks until E3 2015 kicks off.

[fred13]

I hate that Nintendo Land SHOULD HAVE BEEN the huge success. To me it was just as fun as Wii Sports maybe more. We've loved playing it. In fact, I bought my system at launch and we still pull Nintendo Land out sometimes and play it.

[Ian Sane]

While I have no idea IF Nintendo is working on such a title I don't see much reason for them to do so.  The Wii Series time has come and gone.  The audience has moved on to mobile.

Plus much of Wii Sports' appeal was in how it used the unique features of the Wii.  Motion control isn't the hot new thing anymore.  It's really just a legacy feature on the Wii U.  Something like Nintendo Land made more sense because it demonstrated the Gamepad which Nintendo was hoping was going to be the "next" motion control.  I think Nintendo would have to make a Wii Sports that somehow made clever use of the Gamepad or there really is no point.  Not that I think there is a point anyway because of the lack of an audience.

[jarodea]

On the one hand I definitely agree that Wii Sports' time as a big deal has come and gone, but on the other if it doesn't cost much to make and is digital with varying payment options I can't see it being much of a risk.  Nintendo could toss a few million at it and sell it for $20 on the eshop (or break it up, charge by the day, make it f2p with 1 free hour a week, whatever).  Not hugest source of profit nor a game that caters to a major audience but then not every game has to or should be, especially when they're cheap to make.

[Catutie]

I don't think a Wii Sports like game would work any more. The only reason that Wii Sports worked in the first place was because the Wii was a smash hit and that it was easy for anyone to play. If they tried to do it again, the Wii U isn't that much of a hit, and casuals don't care about it for Wii Sports to every work again. They have moved on to Candy Crush or other garbage like that. Nintendo Land was a perfect example of that. It tried to capture that audience again but it failed badly. Even though it was easy to pick up for the most part and friendly looking casuals didn't care any more since they hadn't touched the Wii they bought for years and they didn't want to be fooled again. 

[Spak-Spang]

An engaging Wii Sports motion controlled game would of course still work.


Why was the Wii a smash success?  It was precisely because Wii Sports was so much fun to play.  It was not that Wii Sports was successful because the Wii was successful...it is literally the other way around. 


I think Wii Sports could grow up though.  Add a few more layers of complexity without over complicating it.  If the packed in a wireless nunchuk adapter that could do the trick.


It could add movement to the any sport that could have control of players. 


Nintendo just needs to pick smart games and they could make a new Wii Sports work.

[Phil]

I'd prefer more fleshed out sports games with motion controls. A whole game of golf, doesn't need to be Mario-related even, with MotionPlus controls would be nice from Nintendo.


At the same time, you get something for everybody with a Wii Sports game with multiple sports. Then again, I'm selfish, so...

[Evan_B]

Oh man, I'm totally with Phil here. There were specific parts of Wii Sports that were immensely satisfying to me and I would love to see then expanded into full titles- golf in particular.

I could see Nintendo making some sort of Wii-titled game that tries to take advantage of the Gamepad, but I think they've run out of sports to implement. Also, I just don't see a Sports game working all that well with the Gamepad- if Nintendo can barely put together some 40 dollar games with good Gamepad integration I can't see a mini game collection in the cards.

I'll take Nintendo Land 2 any day though.

[Spak-Spang]

I think at Nintendo could embrace a package of creating a retail package with a little taste of everything, and then allow DLC to enhance the experience of certain sports.


So take the original Wii Sports and Resorts Package.


Maybe I really like Tennis, I could buy a DLC package that adds different court types, and a single player tournament and other enhanced modes.


If I really like Golf, I can buy more golf courses.  Perhaps the game comes with 3 courses, but you can buy additional content.


Or Fencing can come with different styles and character with different types of swings...or even allow for two sword fighting 


At any rate a package to introduce all the sports and allow you to buy what you like ala carte would be good.

[Enner]

I've been thinking about it as E3 2015 approaches, and I would really love to see a big Wii Sports 3 on the Wii U. Mainly and selfishly, I want to play a new, HD take on the sword fencing and air sports. I find it even more unlikely to see a Pilot Wings Wii U in the future than a Metroid or F-Zero game, so I'll take my flight action as a subsection in a Wii Sports title.

[broodwars]

Personally, I don't want to see resources wasted on another Wii Sports that could go to a game that might actually matter in the Wii U's last year. If we must have another one, save it for NX and another E3.

[Ian Sane]

I'd prefer more fleshed out sports games with motion controls. A whole game of golf, doesn't need to be Mario-related even, with MotionPlus controls would be nice from Nintendo.

That was actually a big problem I had with Wii Sports.  We got a taste of everything but for the most part there wasn't a full game.  I'd play baseball but I wanted something that let me control base running and fielding as well.  Oh and play a full nine innings!  The game just was so restrictive.

The expectations also was that Wii Sports was just a taste of things to come but I find it's practically the peak of motion control on its own.  I was wondering if the games were limited because this was just an early tech demo or because motion control just was too limiting to give me a "full" game.  I think part of what restricted Nintendo is this need they had to appeal to casuals.  "No we can't flesh this out more because casuals will be confused and intimidated!"

The casuals are gone so what if they made a Wii Sports for core gamers?  They probably shouldn't call it "Wii Sports" then but just imagine if the goal was to make a motion control sports game for dedicated gamers with no need to simplify things.  If they did that they might have something cool.  Or Wii Music.  Wii Music is pretty much a useless noise maker but think of where Nintendo COULD have gone with a music creating game if they didn't feel the need to dumb it down so much.  I felt like the Wii Series treated the audience like helpless idiots and that really turned me off.  What if they did those same sort of concepts where they gave the audience some credit?

[Luigi Dude]

Wii Music is pretty much a useless noise maker but think of where Nintendo COULD have gone with a music creating game if they didn't feel the need to dumb it down so much.  I felt like the Wii Series treated the audience like helpless idiots and that really turned me off.  What if they did those same sort of concepts where they gave the audience some credit?

They actually did exactly that and the games are amazing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daigasso!_Band_Brothers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jam_with_the_Band

Of course these was never released in North America and the one released in Europe bombed over their so the 3DS game has remained Japan exclusive with no English version of any kind unlikely to happen.  But still, the point remains Nintendo does have a music related series that's aimed at core gamers and allows them to even make their own songs, the complete opposite of Wii Music.

[Adrock]

Wii Sports was such simple, stupid fun. It's good for what it's meant to be. That's why I went out of my way to buy Wii Sports Club. Sometimes I want to relax with some friends and play a game without it turning into a competitive **** show. I have no delusions once what Wii Sports is supposed to be. I wouldn't mind Nintendo revisiting it, but I don't think it should be more than $20. Wii Sports Club was too much. I would have waited longer to buy Wii Sports Club on sale, but it became stupidly difficult to find.

[Mop it up]

I feel like Nintendo "wasted" the Wii Sports card with Club, it just didn't offer enough new content to be worth it. I want to see one that expands on the sports and maybe add some new ones too. There's a reason why bowling was the most popular of the bunch around here: it was the most "complete."

[Ian Sane]

I feel like Nintendo "wasted" the Wii Sports card with Club, it just didn't offer enough new content to be worth it. I want to see one that expands on the sports and maybe add some new ones too. There's a reason why bowling was the most popular of the bunch around here: it was the most "complete."

It is rather strange that last gen's ultimate killer app got such a low key debut on the next generation.  It's supposed to be this mass market title but it gets released in segments as a download-only title before later getting a physical release.