Topic: The Unending Viral Chain?

[Smash_Brother]

A thought just occurred to me...

We all know the Wii has viral marketing power, yes, but how far does that power extend?

Here's a simple question to ask yourself which can likely determine the answer: how many people have you shown the Wii to who then opted to go out and get one of their own?

Better question: how many people have you shown it to who did NOT show some interest?

In my personal experience, when I show it to non-gamers, they're immediately hooked, and when I say "$250 and it comes with Wii Sports" they're DEFINITELY ready to go.

In theory, the Wii's viral chain never has to end. Even when it's shown to the most lonely, friendless people, even they have relatives who can and very likely will get to try it (especially since I know the Wii has been a huge hit with my relatives and the relatives of others). The Wii isn't a console which your average otaku will just squirrel away in his room. It's more the type to be out in the living room, adjacent to the TV where it can and will be played by all manners of people who may visit the house.

I think it's almost safe to say, with the Wii's universal appeal with Wii Sports, that a Wii has a higher chance of selling additional Wiis than NOT selling additional Wiis, and that in itself is absolutely incredible.

I noted that there was a very brief period after launch in which Wiis were easier to get, then they became nigh-impossible to get and still are today. I think it was the viral effect taking hold. That said, it's no wonder Nintendo can't make these fast enough.

Am I alone in this thinking? I just can't help but feel that the Wii could easily be sold out for most of next year, especially as the virus continues to spread...  

[NWR_pap64]

This is what happened to the DS (in Japan, don't know about Europe and the US). Everyone bought it, but once the viral marketing kicked in, it became nigh impossible to find one. Now even when more than a billion people have DSs its still selling like crazy.

[Rancid Planet]

I'm going to go old school here and refer to the phenomenon as "word of mouth" advertising. Since that's what they used to call it way back when I was a youngster. Back in 1998. Anywho, I agree that the instant accessibility of the Wii and Wii Sports in particular is really driving sales in a big way.

In a much bigger way than those creepy, weird ass PS3 commercials. I mean what the hell is the one where the birds shoot out of it trying to tell me? The PS3 has the power of a flock of crows? I'm just not getting it. And what about that creepy ass baby melting ad they had to edit? "PS3. It will MELT your baby!" WTF?  

[Requiem]

I agree that the Wii has viral power, but sold out most of next year?

That could only happen if there are viral games. You see, a system is nothing without games and if Nintendo wants the Wii sales to continue, there going to have to pump out some magic throughout the year (especially around March-July) and never let the chain lose interest. They need to have games that are even more shocking in their innovation. They need to make people giggle at how innovative and fun it looks (like that WarioWare footage I linked to).  But more importantly, they need something that will crossover into a market untouched. Especially if they want DS-like viral activity.

Videogames have always been about fun and fun alone, but that's exactly what limits it. As technology becomes more advanced, why can't videogames do the same. What I am saying is: why not make a game that has another outcome other than having fun?

The diet and excersise market is one of the biggest markets in the world. People are always looking for better, faster ways to lose weight, eat nutritious, and lead a more organized life. Well, why not a build a "game" around that concept? Why not make a suite of tools that help them do that?

One channel can help them excerise with Wii based activity and afterwards, provide a detailed analysis of the workout. Another channel can resemble a cook book and provide instructions on how to cook, and maybe even a way to virtually cook the meal. Another can be a calendar that shows how much you excercised, and what food you ate.

And that's the beginning. What about vast market of the education industry? Make games to help teach kids how to read, teach adults another language.

Does anyone else see the potential?

Oh snap...I just hi-jacked the hell out of this thread. Sorry SB

So what was I talking about again, oh yeah, either way I feel very confident for next christmas season. Even if word of mouth (good looking out rancid) slows down, I know Nintendo will release something to talk about. But where's the third-party games? They must see the potential in the Wii, and if they don't, how cheap it is to developer for. Let me see some games!

Oh snap,

I got myself hyped for E3!  

[Crimm]

I have shown the Wii to two households extensively.  In other words, people I have convinced to sit down and play it.
Neither took much convincing.

Final Report:

Wii Sports is like crack.  One is going to buy it for Wii Boxing (I know, wtf) and the other is thinking about it.

[Ian Sane]

"Videogames have always been about fun and fun alone, but that's exactly what limits it. As technology becomes more advanced, why can't videogames do the same. What I am saying is: why not make a game that has another outcome other than having fun?"

Isn't that what software is?  A videogame is just a computer program.  A computer program is defined as a videogame if its purpose is to entertain.  Otherwise it isn't classified as a videogame.  I wouldn't really call a diet program, for example, a videogame.  It's a diet program.  This web brower I'm using to view this site isn't a game, even if I was running it through a videogame console.

What you're really asking for is for the Wii software to expand in such a way that it's less of a videogame console and more of a personal computer.

[Kairon]

No, personal computers are productivity tools. And in that field they can't be beat, much to the disappointment of set-top-box visionaries.

The Wii needs to become a LIFESTYLE tool, much like cellphones (and to a lesser extent, the DS) have become.

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

[Requiem]

Exactly Kairon.


Ian, whose to say you can't make a diet program fun and entertianing? If you could, wouldn't that constitute it to be, by your definition, a videogame?

You can disguise exercise to be fun, just look at Wii Sports. In fact, what do you think sports are? So why can't you make an fun exercise program?

I admit, the other parts are more like software, but that's exactly what I'm getting at. If Nintendo can get people to come back to their system everyday, then they got it made. A diet "game" would do that.

Teaching people things though, would be pure genius. Making a fun interactive way to learn is an even bigger market than to help people excersize. Wii's could easily end up in class rooms.  

[Arbok]

Requiem has the same idea I do in terms of where I think Nintendo needs to go next. The concept of the "calorie counter" in the next Wario Ware game is moving closer to that idea I feel too. If Nintendo, or a third party, can make a "work out intensive" style game that people can play in the comfort of their home, break a sweat doing so and have a grand enough time that they can't wait to play it again... that will be the real ticket to success, and will introduce something unheard of outside of DDR.  

[Ceric]

I like my Videogame console to Play VIDEOGAMES.  Not try to get me to eat fatting vegetables.

K, Thanks, Bye.

[Requiem]

Who's stopping you? Play whatever game you choose.

There is nothing stopping Nintendo to NOT make the games you love, but does that mean they have to stop there?

And whose to say it can't be fun and exciting? Isn't Brain Training literally excersize for the brain? Why can't you make one for the body, if your system allows it? Isn't that the next logical step?

[Zach]

Back on topic.  The Nintendo virus has spread with me as well, without me even having to try.  I brought my Wii to my dorm room, and went to class without even taking it out of the box.  My roommate found it, told my buddy down the hall who promptly texted me to see if he could set it up.  When I came back, I found about five people taking turns playing WiiSports, all of them having so much fun.

Then this christmas, my mom told my cousin that i got a wii, so we played WiiSports, and while they were on the fence before, now my cousins (three brothers) are each gonna chip in $100 and buy one.  

Crimm said it best WiiSports == crack

[segagamer12]

My Wii has been on tour ever since I got it, it hardly ever stays home and it goes all day and all night every where it goes. I have now convined five of my closest friends, four DIE HARD PS FANBOYS, and 1 xbox 360 fanboy, to all go out and get one. OF course they are all waiting on restocking as Wii is impossible to find around here.  

[ThePerm]

just wait, either metroid prime 3 will be the next gta 3 or some little company is going to develop a sickass shooter

[Nephilim]

Well I think mid next year, they need to replace wiisports with wiibrain training, or something
As they need a fun, yet appealing game for the wii
I dont think slapping on free zelda, would sell as much as a game like brain training

[RampanT]

I agree with the viral marketing point. I personally have NEVER seen a reaction to a gaming platform as I have with the Wii, and I've pretty much been here since the start of gaming.

The clincher for me was when my Dad was playing Wii Sports golf when I wasn't even there. That is unheard of - my Dad has barely ever played a videogame in his life even with my encouragement, nevermind playing the game with his own free will and desire.

Add to this the fact that all my family members, including my MUM - who can't even work the TV remote - have all been playing the Wii and having so much fun, it's just amazing. Nintendo's vision of a 'family' games console has never looked so real and convincing. I never thought it possible to be honest. Add to this the fact that the console appeals to both hardcore gamers, and casual gamers - and it doesn't take a genius to see that Nintendo's gamble with shifting their gaming focus, has paid off spectacularly.

It's not all roses though. I'm not the kind of person to get too worried about the fact that the Wii can't compete with the High-Def abilities of the PS3 and 360 in the visuals dept - but it has to be said that some of the games look awful right now. I'd say some of them look comparible to an average looking N64 title. And I'm not talking about games like Wii Sports - with their simple use of the Mii characters - because I think Wii Sports looks great. I'm talking about games like Far Cry - with it's extremely low-res muddy texturing and frame rate slow down. Even Zelda's visuals are technically very average, although it still does have many moments of beauty. I'm not saying that the lower spec of the visuals is detrimental ALL of the time. But in a years time, when the second wave of PS3 games hit the shelves, the Wii  may well look pre-historic in terms of it's graphics processing abilities. And no matter how much someone argues against it - this DOES affect someones enjoyment and experience of a game.

If Nintendo had put a bit more emphasis on improving the tech of the Wii's graphics processing, I think the Wii would have been able to compete side by side with the PS3 and 360. But the reality is that it can't. The reality is that the Wii will, for the most part, assume the role of becoming most peoples 'second console'. With the PS3 and 360 battling for the same consumers, with very similar product - the Wii becomes a fantastic alternative. I just wish it could be a fantastic alternative that could run games that looked better than the Gamecube.  

[segagamer12]

I thought COD3 and DBZBT2 looked good. I am on the fence abotu graphics, so they dont look as good as ps3, they dont all look bad either. but I thought red steel looked like crap and TP so far reminds me of Harvest Moon, not that thats a bad thing I love harvest moon.  

[Caterkiller]

"...this DOES affect someones enjoyment and experience of a game."

You know there are people out there who this will effect. I am very happy that as long as i've been playing my DS I never ever, not a single time, thought to myself, "man I wish these graphics could just be a little closer to PSP's"
It just doesn't cross my mind. But either way it doesn't seem to be hurting sales of the DS at all.

[Smash_Brother]

Quote
Originally posted by: Requiem I agree that the Wii has viral power, but sold out most of next year?

That could only happen if there are viral games. You see, a system is nothing without games and if Nintendo wants the Wii sales to continue, there going to have to pump out some magic throughout the year

Thing is, I've yet to sell a Wii using anything other than Wii Sports.

I understand that, for continued longevity for gamers, yeah, the Wii needs more games.

However, in the viral sense that I've witnessed, the Wii could have only ONE game and these people would still go out to buy one.

Wii Sports is the ultimate proof of concept and I need show people no other game in order to convince them. Excite Truck has impressed some, but everything else would go over lukewarm. Sports is IT.

Much like Brain Age, people will go out and pick up the console for $250 for only one game and the game comes with the system.

So like I said, I don't see why the chain will end. The word of mouth advertising will continue to place Wiis in homes which in turn will spread Wiis to OTHER homes, homes which might not even have gamers in them yet would buy a Wii regardless.  

[Aussiedude]

Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother

Quote
Originally posted by: Requiem I agree that the Wii has viral power, but sold out most of next year?

That could only happen if there are viral games. You see, a system is nothing without games and if Nintendo wants the Wii sales to continue, there going to have to pump out some magic throughout the year

Thing is, I've yet to sell a Wii using anything other than Wii Sports..

I have to agree 100%. So far ive shown the Wii to 3 groups of people and have sold 4 Wii's (WHERE IS MY COMMISION NINTENDO!). This NEVER happeneded with the gamecube.

And the game that sold it to them was Wii Sports, to a lesser extent Rayman. Apart fromm one (who was waiting to buy a PS3 but now isnt), none were gamers and I was amazed at how everyone wanted to play. Another major selling point was the Mii's. None really cared about lack of DVD playback (I was surprised about this).
I really thought Nintendo were just hyping this but I've been proven wrong.

[Smash_Brother]

Yeah, the Miis make the games in WS so much more personal.

When you actually feel like it's YOU in the game, it becomes far more enjoyable than it would have been with generic players.

[Requiem]

Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother

Quote
Originally posted by: Requiem I agree that the Wii has viral power, but sold out most of next year?

That could only happen if there are viral games. You see, a system is nothing without games and if Nintendo wants the Wii sales to continue, there going to have to pump out some magic throughout the year

Thing is, I've yet to sell a Wii using anything other than Wii Sports.

I understand that, for continued longevity for gamers, yeah, the Wii needs more games.

However, in the viral sense that I've witnessed, the Wii could have only ONE game and these people would still go out to buy one.

Wii Sports is the ultimate proof of concept and I need show people no other game in order to convince them.

That's exactly right....Wiisports PROVES the concept. But would I be wrong in saying that most people that want a Wii after seeing WiiSports, want one for the concept and not neccessarily the game? Sure, they most be excited by the game and how awesome it is, but are you sure what pushed them over the edge to buy one wasn't "Wow, I can't imagine what else will come out for the system!"

My point is: If Wiisports sells them, then what will keep them happy? Wiisports? Throughout the year, sales will decline if Wiisports is the only game that thoroughly proves the concept, even though more people will have Wii's and more potential to viraly market it.

Nintendo needs to keep them happy throughout the year, much like how they need to keep you happy. They need some new exciting, head-spinning games at crucial times in the year to keep the hype up.

[Smash_Brother]

Quote
Originally posted by: Requiem My point is: If Wiisports sells them, then what will keep them happy? Wiisports? Throughout the year, sales will decline if Wiisports is the only game that thoroughly proves the concept, even though more people will have Wii's and more potential to viraly market it.

Nintendo needs to keep them happy throughout the year, much like how they need to keep you happy. They need some new exciting, head-spinning games at crucial times in the year to keep the hype up.

I understand where you're coming from, as I too salivate at the thought of the hours of innovative and enjoyable gaming my Wii will hopefully provide both myself and my friends.

However, I think what we're seeing is the true beauty of Nintendo's blue ocean strategy.

Let's look at the DS as an example. The biggest proof of concept for the DS was Brain Age, followed closely by Nintendogs, agreed?

I know plenty of people (and I've heard of plenty more) who have bought a DS for only one of these games and yet never lament their purchase afterwards even if they never buy an additional game.

For starters, I think we owe that to the quality of these games, but beyond that, it's because the people buying the DS (and those who are/will buy the Wii) don't view the purchase for the long term like gamers do.

When I buy a console, I buy the mindshare of future games more so than initial launch offerings, as do you and as does anyone who bought a PS3 already. But we're gamers, hence why we look at bang per buck for the long run.

For your average non-gamer, mindshare isn't part of their concern when it comes to gaming. For them, a cool toy which costs $250 is its own reason to buy one.

I can safely state that as a fact because the Wii sells itself to people who don't PLAY games, to people who don't even stop to think about a gaming "library", only that this sports game is hella fun and this, my friends, is the true beauty of the blue ocean.

Maybe they'll buy more games for the Wii and maybe they won't, but the only thing that really matters is that Nintendo made an immediate profit off the sale and can claim with honesty that their userbase has increased by 1.

[Requiem]

Hmmm...That's an angle I haven't seen before. Interesting...

I'd like to see what the game attach rate is for the Wii. More importantly, I would like to see if people are buying the Wii for Wiisports alone, or if they get another game as well.

I know in Japan that Wiisports is the highest selling game, but for how long?

[Kairon]

Depends... how long has Nintendogs been a best seller? And how long have Animal Crossing and BOTH Brain Age games torn up the charts in Japan?

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