Topic: Reggie: No Wii Software Drought

[WindyMan]

NOA's figurehead says there won't be holes in the Wii's release schedule this time around.

Nintendo of America's President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime chatted with Newsweek's N'Gai Croal earlier this week.  The topic at hand was Nintendo's history of delaying AAA games and creating voids in the release schedules of previous consoles, and whether or not it would happen again with Wii.    

It won't, according to Reggie.  He cites the already-released Zelda: Twilight Princess as the first reason, Metroid Prime 3 coming out in early 2007 as a second reason, and Super Mario Galaxy arriving after that as a third reason.    

While that isn't really a direct assurance that Metroid or Mario won't be further delayed, Reg does have this exchange with Croal:    

Newsweek: So are you willing to make a "Read my lips" pledge right here?    

Reggie: I thought I just did.    

We all know what happened the last time a president said that phrase.  Here's hoping Nintendo's Wii blockbusters will keep us entertained through both halves of 2007.

[Ian Sane]

Early 2007 for Metroid Prime 3, huh?  We'll see.  I was reading rumours yesterday that both Metroid and Mario were delayed until late 2007.  Now there is no actual basis for these rumours other than one web site's say-so but it's something to keep an eye out for.  What does Reggie consider early 2007?  I'd say March is the last month I would count in the "early" period.  If they can pull that off that'll be great.  I'll get a Wii the day Metroid Prime 3 comes out.

[NWR_pap64]

He only mentions the big 3 (Mario, Zelda and Metroid). What about the in between games like Wario ware, Wii play and the third party games? They may not be as big as the big 3, but they are games and help significantly to prevent software drought.

And what about SSB Brawl? I know the title hasn't even been confirmed for an US 2007 release, but that's a very important Wii titles too.

[MattVDB]

I'm kinda saddened to see this posted as new News on NWR.  I read that article a couple of days ago, and it was said the interview was conducted in October.  Things can change in that time period.  I look forward to an early release of MP3, but at the same time I want them to make it right.  I don't know what to expect out of Metroid now, other then it will be a good game.  I've heard the "no drought" comments before, but other then Wario Ware and SSX, I'm not really seeing that just yet.

[ShreddersDojo]

Also, it does not really address the main issue, does it?  These are all games that have been worked on for the last two years.  The real question is, are we going to have a long wait inbetween THESE games like has happened in the past?

I don't care if we don't get a new mario game that's in 3D every year.  A 2.5 D game in between the big releases would suit me just as well..

[Smash_Brother]

There are already too many Wii games that I can't play because I don't have time.

I'm not worried.

[Spak-Spang]

Actually he only states Metroid Prime 3 as being early 2007.  Then he states that Mario will be after that.

I see the launch lineup being this:

January/Feb.
Wario Ware: Smooth Movies

Feb.
Wii Play

March
Metroid Prime 3

June
Super Mario Galaxy


Now, the drought between March and June can be filled with something like BWii or another one of the lesser Nintendo games.

[willie1234]

"June - Super Mario Galaxy"

I'm sticking with q4 2007 for Galaxy - prove me wrong Nintendo!

[Spak-Spang]

Willie:

Mario was supposed to be a launch game.  They had the game running in demos at E3, so I think progress is moving along quite well.  June would mean that Nintendo gave the game over a 6 month extention in development time.  

So I think the game will be ready by June the latest July, but Nintendo usually has a June game available for summer.

Now, the game I expect to be out Christmas is Super Smash Brothers Brawl.  That game is getting the entire year of 2007 to be polished and perfected.  It will be the game that Nintendo pushes hard for online play.  

I also believe that 2008 will be the year of the Wii...with huge franchises coming out from Nintendo to push sales through the roof.  

2008 will be the year of

Mario Kart,
Zelda,
Pikmin,
Nintendogs,
True Pokemon RPG,
Mario Sports,

ect.

Oh, I final prediction 2007 Christmas big game along side Smash Brothers will be Wii Sports 2.  

The franchise will go either one of two ways.  All the original games back and polished with more depth, with an additional 3 Sports.  Or 5-7 Brand new games.

I would love the game to keep its simple approach but add more depth.

Baseball have the game control the people again, but allow the player to select a base throw to and have limited field control in that regard.  

Golf More courses and take an approach similar to Super Swing Golf.  I like not having to select clubs though.

Tennis select two separate Miis for single player games, and perhaps expand the series with Tennis like games like Racketball.

Boxing:  Needs a world of work...so anything would be better.  I would like dodging to be done with the analog stick or a button.

[jasonditz]

While I'm sure Mario will be a great game sometime before the next Presidential inauguration in the US, I sure wouldn't take Reggie's word for anything at this point.

[UncleBob]

I never heard that SMG was supposed to be a launch title... ?:|

Anywhoo, the proof is in the pudding... I'll believe it when I see it.

[Smoke39]

I'd prefer droughts to rushed games.

[Rize]

When Wind Waker was delayed, it ended up being released on March 25 which is my birthday.  Metroid Prime 3 would be just about the best birthday present I could possibly get.

[jasonditz]

droughts aren't the end of the world... we endured a pretty ugly one early in the DS life and it's been a fabulous system.

That said, I don't like being sold a bill of goods. I'd much rather hear more conservative street dates and see more realistic lists of upcoming titles. Don't tell me I'll be playing a game at launch if it isn't even in development yet. Don't give me a list of launch window titles if you're going to end up spreading them out over the year (ostensibly to prevent droughts).

There are some fascinating games out right now, and there are going to be lots more over the next 5 years. I just wish Nintendo would be straight with us instead of feeling like they have to make all sorts of promises that history shows they have no intention of keeping.  

[IceCold]

Quote
I'm kinda saddened to see this posted as new News on NWR. I read that article a couple of days ago, and it was said the interview was conducted in October. Things can change in that time period.

That's what I thought too - I clicked this thread expecting that someone bumped it from earlier. As it stands, I really think that Metroid Prime will be pushed back a bit. I was also sure that SSBB would be a holiday 2007 game, but it's now looking like it'll be a 2008 game..

The Galaxy issue is a bit odd. Miyamoto said it should be done within 6 months of launch. However, it's my most anticipated game on the Wii, and they can take as long as they want to make it perfect. The x-factor is Super Paper Mario - it was supposed to be released for GameCube this autumn, so it must be pretty far into development. Obviously they don't want to release it close to Galaxy's release, so one of them will be pushed back.

[Kairon]

We already know Nintendo's Q1 schedule up through March, and neither Mario NOR Samus are anywhere in sight.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[Ian Sane]

Droughts can be dealt with by a patient userbase.  But they can kill a console's momentum.  I think the Cube's drought really hurt the console's overall success.  The PS2 just gained too much ground in the meantime.  It didn't help that their was bias against Nintendo going in.  Because of the N64, people assumed that the Cube would be more of the same with a lack of games and huge spaces between big titles.  Well the six months of nothing just confirmed that.

The PS3 will have a drought too but the Xbox 360 is at a point where it can have a steady stream of releases.  So the X360 could gain a lot of ground while Nintendo twiddles their thumbs with no games available.  And it's best for Wii owners if the Wii is successful.  We don't want third party support to bail or anything like that.  Nintendo gaining market share is a good thing.

Though one thing that can help the Wii oddly enough is that it isn't widely available yet so the drought may go unnoticed by most people as they'll like buy it just as things start picking up.  Plus the Japan factor plays a role since unlike the PS2, the Xbox 360 can't gain ground in that region.

[Ceric]

I agree with Ian.

[KDR_11k]

I think it's beneficial for third party support if Nintendo doesn't release quite as many titles since it means people are less "well fed" with great titles and might be willing to buy less good titles which translates into more profits and more third-party support. Look at Red Steel, how many NWRers bought that? How many would have bought it if MP3 wasn't delayed?

[King of Twitch]

I'll go with "old habits die hard" and assume he's lying. They can always cover up delays by claiming they're for quality reasons. They're not going to give up extra profit so easily if they can get away with it.

[jasonditz]

Third party support goes to the system that's got the biggest install base. Always has, always will.

Sandbagging in an effort to get people to settle for inferior software might work on a handful of early adopters, but eventually it's going to cut into system sales.

[Rize]

jason, it goes to the console where devs can make the most profit.  with the wii. nintendo has changed the rules a bit because the wii should generally be far cheaper to develop for.  there's no HD and no mega powerful GPU to deal with.  with that kind of edge, the wii should attract serious third party support even if it does sell less units than the other guys.  if it is a strong second, third party support should be great.  if it's first, it'll naturally be through the roof because they'll have the base combined with inexpensive development. as long as nintendo doesn't shoot themselves in the foot by making their license fee too high that is...

[Mario]

Quote
So the X360 could gain a lot of ground while Nintendo twiddles their thumbs with no games available.

There are games available.

[IceCold]

Quote
Originally posted by: Rize
jason, it goes to the console where devs can make the most profit.  with the wii. nintendo has changed the rules a bit because the wii should generally be far cheaper to develop for.  there's no HD and no mega powerful GPU to deal with.  with that kind of edge, the wii should attract serious third party support even if it does sell less units than the other guys.  if it is a strong second, third party support should be great.  if it's first, it'll naturally be through the roof because they'll have the base combined with inexpensive development. as long as nintendo doesn't shoot themselves in the foot by making their license fee too high that is...

Exactly. I'd also like to add that third parties look at the number of software sold (especially third party software) rather than the install base. Most of the time the market leader sells the most software, but if the race is close this time around, the tie-in ration will be really important. Nintendo consoles have historically had a great tie in ratio, since they focus almost purely on the games. Even the GameCube had a ratio of 12.. Something like the PSP, on the other hand, with all of its multimedia functions, is a horrible prospect to third parties. What does a big userbase mean if they never buy any games?

The ratio may actually be lower this time around for Nintendo, with their Internet browser, weather channel, Virtual Console games and whatnot, but third parties have the chance of making a lot of money with the Wii.

[Infernal Monkey]

The DS' four hundred million games a week fills in for the Wii's stillborn-no-Lunar stage.