Why Wii will Succeed

Previously on Maunderlust, we’ve looked at why the GameCube failed to capture the hearts and minds of the gaming public.

We’ve also taken a stroll through the minefield of disasters that could destroy the newborn Wii.

And now we arrive at last at the Paradiso, Why Wii will Succeed. Read on for mystic crystal revelations.

1. Wii knows what it is: A big part of what defines a product are the features that it doesn’t include. A well designed product will do exactly what it is meant to, and no more than that. The iPod is a good example. There’s a million things it could have been used for. But instead of being a general purpose pocket-sized digital device, it’s focused entirely on making it easy to enjoy your media on the go. Similarly, the Wii doesn’t incude a lot of the features that the Xbox 360 and PS3 do. Instead, it has it is totally focused on delivering new and immersive gameplay experiences. Wii has an identity. It’s a machine for playing great games that put you in the experience like never before.
2. Wii knows what it wants: Moms, Wii is coming after you. Girls, you too. Lapsed gamers, yeah, you guys who used to play video games before they got complicated and lame, Wii’s got your number. And kids, you better believe that Wii’s coming for you too. Wii was designed from the ground up with certain people in mind. It’s not for the hardcore gamers. Sure, the hardcore guys can come to the party if they want. Wii will have something for them too. But this is a console for people who like to have fun with friends and family, rather than people who want to spend 20 hours a week tea bagging each other online.
3. Wii knows how to get there: Touch Generation proved that Nintendo can reach the broader audience. Nintnedogs, Brain Age, Animal Crossing: Wild World, and other DS games transcended traditional gaming demographics. They spoke to the young, the old, and the elusive… female. For the lapsed gamer, Nintendo’s got a steady tap of classic games flowing through the virtual console. And for the hardcore guys, we’ve still got Zelda, Metroid, and other traditional games to look forward to. The DS blazed the trail and now Wii can reap the benefits.
4. Nintendo can afford to lead the way: As you may already know, Nintnedo is an extremely profitable company. Some people gave Nintendo flak when they announced that, unlike Sony and Microsoft, they would make a profit on every Wii sold. Sure, it would be nice if Nintendo subsidized our hobby. But, here’s why a profitable Nintnedo is good for you: it means that they can take risks. Because Nintendo makes money on everything they sell, they can afford to put out stuff that pushes the envelope. If it falls flat on its face, they’ve got a big billowy mattress of money to land on. This is good for you, and good for games in general. There are very few companies who have the luxury to really push things forward. Sure, Sony and Microsoft have giant money bins too. But for them, gaming is just one profitable slice of the pie. For Nintendo, they either figure out how to grow the audience, or they die.
5. Wii is a Cheap Date: For consumers, Wii is not quite an impulse purchase, but it’s still a whole lot better than the alternatives. That’s great for reaching a broad audience. But even better, Wii development tools are pretty inexpensive for developers. Now, keep in mind that the Wii is essentially a suped up GameCube. This may seem like a bad thing, but consider that programmers already have six or more years experience building GameCube games. That means they can hit the ground running on the Wii and come up with great ways to design the game and use the controller, rather the struggling with new and complicated technology. It’s easy for consumers to justify buying it, and easy for developers to build for it, and those are two major advantages.

Bottom Line: Wii has an identity. It is the “alternative” platform. It’s the platform for non-gamers. It’s the platform for gamers seeking a different kind of entertainment experience. It can cheerfully co-exist with both the PS3 and the Xbox 360. Whether it comes out first, second, or third in the overall console war, the Wii has already won. This sleek white box designed for Japenese moms has arrived on its own terms, and it is challenging fundamental assumptions about gamers and gaming. Years ago Nintendo, with some hyperbole, promised us a revolution. Who knew that the revolutionary concept would be, “More people would play video games if you made video games more fun to play.”