MS: Wii is for kids

[GillianSeed]

Oh, sweet mud-slinging, how we love you. It would be impossible to count how many times company reps poked fun at GameCube, just as it would be a difficult undertaking to calculate how many times former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi spoke ill of his hardware competitors. Nowadays, though, publishers rarely speak badly of Nintendo or Wii as both are overwhelming success stories.

But Microsoft's group product manager for Xbox and the Live platform, John Rodman, recently took a stab at it. According to a report by Daily Tech, Rodman insinuated that gamers would outgrow Nintendo's new console just as soon as their voices started to change.

"We don't feel like the Wii customer and the Xbox customer are the same thing," Rodman reportedly said. "We think that as soon as the Wii customer turns 14, they want something else."
-- IGN (http://wii.ign.com/articles/776/776545p1.html)

I think they're mistaking "fun for all ages" with "fun for kiddies only." My little six-year-old nephew amused the hell out of himself making Mii versions of our extended family last weekend (his dad in particular was singled out for torment) , while my 60-year-old dad and I had fun playing a few rounds of bowling and golf.

What's the beef? I wonder how many of those 14-year-olds will burn out on a string of uninspired FPS, sports and sandbox games.

[djbeatmongrel]

as a 20 (almost 21) yr old with a wii as my first next gen console i find this guy to be full of it. 360 is good but outside of online there isn't much new. atleast the wii is something fresh.

[Sotenga]

Merely another example of the petty crap that goes on with console wars. But hey, if that's his opinion, he can have it... biased as it may be.

I'm not going to say I disagree, as I own a Wii, but not an X360. :)

[GillianSeed]

Don't get me wrong, my nephew also enjoys Cars and Marvel: UA on the 360 -- I just get sick of the notion that something has to have a lot of blood and cursing to be appealing to "adults". Something like Brain Age or Wii Sports has a much broader appeal than games like GoW (or Zelda) to the public at large, and there are a heck of a lot more of them than there are of us.

[heybtbm]

To the easily offended: Everytime a competitor says something negative about your "pet" console, please start a post here at DP and complain about it. Can't you at least try to have a sense of humor?

Wii fans: Get used to your console getting slammed on a regular basis. Do yourselves a favor and prepare yourself now. The Wii-backlash in the gaming media is just getting started. By the end of this year the Wii will replace the PS3 as "most hated". As I've said here before...yes, I can predict the future.

[TurboGenesis]

once again its on.....

PlayStation 3 Rules them all! Can't afford one, get another job, work some OT, or sell blood.

[GillianSeed]

To the easily offended: Everytime a competitor says something negative about your "pet" console, please start a post here at DP and complain about it. Can't you at least try to have a sense of humor?

As I said I also own a 360, and I'm significantly less than offended. I just think it shows a staggering lack of insight as to where the market could be headed. MS is basically saying that they're targeting the teen/young adult market, whereas Nintendo is casting a much broader net -- as they did for the DS, and look what's happening there. Who'd have ever thought that a handheld game like Brain Age would crack the top 10 sales chart for 2006?

[Flack]

The other night we had three generations (my dad, myself, and my son) playing bowling. Before I had one, I would have said the Wii was for kids. Now that I own one, I would say the Wii is for people who like playing unique games and don't really care about the HD graphics battle.

[NinjaJoey23]

MS is basically saying that they're targeting the teen market, whereas Nintendo is casting a much broader net -- as they did for the DS, and look what's happening there.

It's true. It seems as if Microsoft is boasting that their target audience is mid-teens to mid-twenties males. While I understand that this is the largest demographic of gamers, I think it is a mistake to be so exclusive. I know a fair amount of female gamers, including my fiance, and these women are not attracted to 360-esque games. They all play DS or GameCube. I'm not any sort of Nintendo fanboy, but I'm just observing what I'm seeing around me.

Honestly, I love the 360. The 360 is impressing me the most right now, of the 3 new systems. The key to the 360's popularity is the online play, at least from what I've seen. Anyone I know who does not have their 360 on Live doesn't really play it all that much. Of all of my college friends who own 360s and who live in dorms where they cannot get Live, their 360s are really only used as overly-expensive DVD players.

I don't own a Wii, nor do I plan to get one in the near-future, but the comment made does seem to be very short-sighted.

[PallarAndersVisa]

I love the idea of the Wii and I havent played one yet. I wanted one for Xmas but my rents couldnt find one, so I said fuck it "get me a 360 instead" and I couldnt be happier. The 360 blows my mind, and there are a shit fuckload of games, AWESOME games out there to play.

The PS3 is, to me, everything that I dont like in a gaming system. Too much emphasis on throwing every entertainment medium in one (like the psp as well). Its just too damn expensive to be worth it for me. I love Final Fantasy and Metal Gear, some of my favorite games ever. But I wont buy a PS3 for those games, no way, no how.

I really want Wii still, but to me, its a different type of gaming, a different type of audience. I'd play a Wii with my friends, I'd play little arcade/party type games, I dont think I'd ever get sucked in to an FPS on a Wii or an RPG, because I've already been wowed by what the 360 and my beefy PC can offer technically, and I would have a hard time trading all that in so I could go play a game with PS2 graphics and innovative controls.

[snes_collector]

Wonder if the dude has actually played a Wii?

[chicnstu]

and I would have a hard time trading all that in so I could go play a game with PS2 graphics and innovative controls.

Did you really say "PS2 graphics"?

[heybtbm]

As I said I also own a 360, and I'm significantly less than offended. I just think it shows a staggering lack of insight as to where the market could be headed.

My guess (an obvious one) is that MS is trying to hype up the Wii as "kiddie". They see Nintendo as a threat and are trying to give the Wii the same stigma as the Gamecube. The Gamecube's stigma as a "kiddie console" worked to MS and Sony's advantage last time, so why not try it again?

[mdk]

I hate to admit it...

but I am over my Wii already. Yes it is fun...and yes it is somewhat innovative. Problem is that that the fun doesn't last long. I don't see any sort of depth in any Wii title outside of Zelda, which I preferred to play on the Gamecube.

The audience for the Wii is either young (can easily grasp simple games) or old (can easily grasp simple games), which leaves us in the middle wanting some depth in our gaming.

My 2 cents.

[boatofcar]

I wonder how many 11-year olds will be playing Manhunt 2 when it comes out on the Wii...

[Snapple]

Microsoft can pat themselves on the back all they want. I'm sure Nintendo will get over it every time they look at their sales.

[jajaja]

The Wii is definitly not for kids only. Me and my dad tried it at a store some weeks ago and he seemed to enjoy it. The game was Wii Sports. But there is no denying that the whole gfx image of the game is "kiddie" tho.



I wonder how many 11-year olds will be playing Manhunt 2 when it comes out on the Wii...

Too many unfortunatly. Many parents dont give a shit :(

[atari_overlord]

I hate to admit it...

The audience for the Wii is either young (can easily grasp simple games) or old (can easily grasp simple games), which leaves us in the middle wanting some depth in our gaming.

My 2 cents.

I dont think the target audience for the WII is an age at all but a mentality. I think it is looking for a social audience. I have seen people of all ages enjoying the wii like I have seen with no other system. Mid 20s to early 40s couples that my wife and i hang out with have all made it there first video game purchase EVER / in years. And the common denominator amongst all is they have people to come and play. Kids other adults etc.... Family gatherings,game nights.

When people talk to me about video games and ask me my opinions on what they should get. (This just happens because people know it is sort of a hobby for me, I am posotive others here get that) I always ask about there social situation. I think that has more to do with whether they will get the most out of each system.

I completely understand why MS is saying this kind of thing but it is kind of sad. It is a sad way of thinking. Wii may not be able to hold its own right now in the 1 player department it probably never will but everytime I go over to someones house or they come over here it seems to be all people want to do. And these are all people who have them at there houses as well.

With all that being said, I plan on buying a 360 sometime fairly soon but I have to admit, this quote puts me off a little.

[GillianSeed]

I hate to admit it...
The audience for the Wii is either young (can easily grasp simple games) or old (can easily grasp simple games), which leaves us in the middle wanting some depth in our gaming.
My 2 cents.

So everyone in their 20s to 40s automatically loves FPSs and RPGs? Believe it or not, there are a lot of people out there who enjoy video games in moderation, but wouldn't touch something like GoW or Final Fantasy or GTA with a 10-foot pole -- simply because of the complexity and time commitment you mention. It's not a 4-hours-a-night, 20-hours-on-weekends hobby for everyone -- some people just want to pick up a controller and have fun for half an hour a few days a week. For that the Wii is perfect.

[walrusmonger]

The problem with the Wii is that once everyone gets over Wii Sports (which hapens to be very fun) what else is there? The best game on the system is a single player adventure. The other games are either gamecube ports with a tacked on motion sensor, or mini game style compilations. Yes, yes... I forgot about the FPS games. Red Steel gave me a headache (and I never get headaches from FPS games) and I heard Far Cry was so bad that I wouldn't go near it.

Why on earth would I play Call of Duty on the wii when the 360 or PS3 versions are not only easier to play, but look much better.

I'm not looking to crap all over the wii, I understand there are many people who love it to death- but it's not for everyone. I sold my wii, and agree with the person who said the wii fad will be over soon.
Of course that's unless they actually release something killer for it. Smash Brothers and Mario aren't what I mean, I mean a Wii- Nintendogs or something to that impact.

[Stark]

He is wrong wrong wrong. Wii is for kids and Women. No man plays something called Wee. If you are a Wee playing man go ahead and tuck it in and put on a thong.

[atari_overlord]

The best game on the system is a single player adventure. The other games are either gamecube ports with a tacked on motion sensor, or mini game style compilations. Yes, yes... I forgot about the FPS games. Red Steel gave me a headache (and I never get headaches from FPS games) and I heard Far Cry was so bad that I wouldn't go near it.


I dont think that Zelda is the best game on the Wii. I play Wii play more than zelda and that game is borderline terrible (IMO). But it is simple and fast. You dont have to get involved. Just shoot some targets and try to beat your high score. I am going to go ahead and say that I think the wii is going to be real successful. It will lose a little hype but the people who are loving this system and the ones who are going to continue to support it are the people that dont care about zelda and dont have 60 hours to put into a game.

It might be way too early but I think the wii is the pac-man of now. Everyone can get there feet wet.

so between the "hardcore" crowd buying it as a second system. And at 250 clams I dont know why you wouldnt. If you can find one good game on the system it would be worth it.
And the casual to moderates buying it because of the simplicity I dont see it as a kiddie system or a fad. Just something different. A great supplement and a fantastic multiplayer experience.

I also wouldnt hate to see some great 1 player games show up for it but besides a handfull in the last two generations for Nintendo, I wont hold my breath. They will be here, just not soon. (IMO)

[XYXZYZ]

All these company reps slinging mud is kinda pathetic, I think.

Whatever happened to the good old days of Johnny Turbo beating down those FEKA goons... We need Johnny Wii, that's what.

[ubersaurus]

Super Paper Mario comes out in like 2 weeks, so that should be a good single player game :P

I've also heard good things about Elebits and Sonic in terms of single player gaming. Really single player isn't my complaint about the wii at the moment, it's the fact that there aren't any new multiplayer games out yet! Wii Sports and Wii play are alright. Raving Rabbids is alright. But I'm waiting for something more along the lines of mario kart or smash bros. I know Smash and Mario Strikers are both coming along this year, but that doesn't help me now!

[ShenmueFan]

All Nintendo systems are generally aimed at a younger audience.

I don't see this as a bad thing, but I don't necessarily see it as a strength either. What Nintendo has done have made a clear divide in gaming types - hardcore/serious gamers who want all genres and kid/casual gamers who feel comfortable with sequels of sequels that are mostly party or attention-deficit-disorder-designed titles.

I'll play a Nintendo system when I want something relaxing, easy and upbeat/fun. For anything else, 360 or PlayStation (or PC).

[jcalder8]

WAIT just a second, someone said a Nintendo system marketed for kids?
Holy Shoot this is the first I've heard of this, since when did Nintendo start marketing to a younger audience?

[8-bitNesMan]

360 is hands down the best machine for the money this generation. I've got all 3, and the 360 gets the vast majority of my play time. And I'm a hardcore Nintendo nut from way back. My $0.02...

[bangtango]

"We don't feel like the Wii customer and the Xbox customer are the same thing," Rodman reportedly said. "We think that as soon as the Wii customer turns 14, they want something else."

That doesn't make sense. Even though someone might turn 14, that is still the same person playing a Wii and a 360. So it is the same "customer."

I don't own the Wii, so I don't take Wii bashing personally. However, it seems dumb for Sony and Microsoft to bash Nintendo when Nintendo helped cultivate a market that the two of them just waltzed into. It isn't like they had to try and build an audience of gamers from the ground up which is what earlier companies who released consoles in the 70's and 80's had to do.

Especially when you know Sony and Microsoft would want to get their hands on Zelda or Mario games (old or new) a lot more than Nintendo wants any of their exclusives. For all they've done right or wrong, Nintendo has managed to stick around in the video game industry a lot longer than those two have been in it and continue making hardware with varying degrees of success. They might not have faced adversity like Sega but they've had their challenges. The next major challenge or setback Sony or Microsoft face will be their first.

I tend to think that Sony and Microsoft figured they'd be able to run Nintendo out of the hardware business, sooner or later, like they did Sega and having failed to do so, they've gotten a little insecure. Hence the remarks about their target audience.

[Imstarryeyed]

All Nintendo systems are generally aimed at a younger audience.

I don't see this as a bad thing, but I don't necessarily see it as a strength either. What Nintendo has done have made a clear divide in gaming types - hardcore/serious gamers who want all genres and kid/casual gamers who feel comfortable with sequels of sequels that are mostly party or attention-deficit-disorder-designed titles.

I'll play a Nintendo system when I want something relaxing, easy and upbeat/fun. For anything else, 360 or PlayStation (or PC).


I am sorry but I see it this way..

Nintendo has made a clear divide in gaming types - Gamers who like games on other consoles.. and those gamers that like games on Nintendo consoles..

Oh wait a minute.. Playstation and MS kinda feel that way too.. all wanting you to play games on their respective consoles..

What to do, what to do... humm.. well I would say, in my opinion, that unless one owns all 3 and a PC, and at least 44 other consoles dating from the 70's to today, you really cannot be a true gamer or even.. gasp.. hardcore. I ask however, is this a fair assessment? I'm not sure...

I can't see how people can give labels to things like "real gamer", "true gamer", "hardcore gamer" without any real standard to refer to..

I think Nintendo is doing some real fun stuff with the Wii, I really enjoy playing it, but then again so does MS and the PS3 as well.

I am not really down with the old argument that Nintendo is just sequels and such, I think ALL consoles have rehashes of everything we have seen over and over and over and over again. Wii is just trying to make that experience a little bit more different with an innovative approach to the controls.

In my opinion, the last console that really had a nice selection of really creative games was the Dreamcast, with its library of off the wall quirky, arthouse, and avante guard titles I was in gaming heaven.

I am not trying to start an arguement here, just want to question many of us here who feel the need to be too attached to particular hardware and platform.. come on a "hardcore" gamer is willing to play anything and give an opinion from "Halo" to "Final Fantasy" to "Wild 9" to "Mr. Do!" to "Barbie Horse Adventures".....

Just my take on the console war front that seems to be brewing as of late.

[ShenmueFan]

No, Imstarryeyed...I wasn't meaning that you won't find good, fun games on the Wii. But the Wii, like the Gamecube and the N64 before it is more of a "secondary" console to developers who want to make games that really further graphics or push the envelope technically in some other way or can reach a wider range of people.

Nintendo has become a niche market company. Some people might not see the initial success of the Wii as "niche" anything but it really is. From the way they market their products to the type of products they produce, Nintendo has been saying for years now that unless you are a certain type of gamer, you won't enjoy their system. How else can you explain the Rockstars and the ids and the Squaresofts and the Konamis of the world purposely avoiding Nintendo systems like the plague? Nintendo = Young Kids, Inexperienced Gamers and Casual Players.

I'm not saying the 360 or PS3 provides a wonderful lineup of games or potential either but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the difference between what Nintendo and their competitors offer is like night and day.

If you're a Nintendo fan, great. If you're a 360/PS3 fanboy, great. But don't hold your breath for a lot of technically cutting edge or mature games on the Wii and the other group shouldn't expect a bunch of party games and mascot-oriented titles on the 360 or PS3.

[GillianSeed]

Nintendo has become a niche market company.


TOP TEN SALES FOR 2006

PS2--Madden NFL 07, Electronic Arts--2.8 M
NDS--New Super Mario Bros., Nintendo--2.0 M
360--Gears of War, Microsoft--1.8 M
PS2--Kingdom Hearts II, Square Enix--1.7 M
PS2--Guitar Hero II, Activision--1.3 M
PS2--Final Fantasy XII, Square Enix--1.3 M
NDS--Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, Nintendo--1.1 M
360--Madden NFL 07, Electronic Arts--1.1 M
360--Tom Clancy's GRAW, Ubisoft--1.0 M
PS2--NCAA Football 07, Electronic Arts--1.0 M

Funny, I don't see too many "hardcore" games here, maybe three. Are you sure that casual games are a niche market?

[chrisbid]

MS should worry more about burying sony rather than going after nintendo. if a competitor is reeling (sony), raising your price just allows said competitor to get up and keep fighting.

this generation has been surreal so far. sales have been flat, so the solution is raising prices... wtf?

[GillianSeed]

The problem with the Wii is that once everyone gets over Wii Sports (which hapens to be very fun) what else is there?

Let's not forget that the system has been out for less than six months -- what was there for the 360 this time last year other than Oblivion (and maybe GRAW)? People seem to forget the horrible drought of titles that didn't really ease up until late last summer with the arrival of Dead Rising and Marvel: UA.

[spanks_4]

here is my 2 cents on the situation. when nintendo did the Wii all the games seemed like party games right? HELLO people think about it! if you get party games you get more people playing your console. Which in turn means more people are interested which also means you sell more damn consoles! yeah the hype for single player on the Wii is over at the moment, but wait until metroid, mario paper, the other mario game, smash brothers, or even another zelda comes it. nintendo had a great strategy when they released this thing. we will all see who is kicking ass and taking names later when the popular games come to Wii.

have a good day!

[TurboGenesis]

I am sorry but I see it this way..

Nintendo has made a clear divide in gaming types - Gamers who like games on other consoles.. and those gamers that like games on Nintendo consoles..

Oh wait a minute.. Playstation and MS kinda feel that way too.. all wanting you to play games on their respective consoles..

What to do, what to do... humm.. well I would say, in my opinion, that unless one owns all 3 and a PC, and at least 44 other consoles dating from the 70's to today, you really cannot be a true gamer or even.. gasp.. hardcore. I ask however, is this a fair assessment? I'm not sure...

I can't see how people can give labels to things like "real gamer", "true gamer", "hardcore gamer" without any real standard to refer to..

I think Nintendo is doing some real fun stuff with the Wii, I really enjoy playing it, but then again so does MS and the PS3 as well.

I am not really down with the old argument that Nintendo is just sequels and such, I think ALL consoles have rehashes of everything we have seen over and over and over and over again. Wii is just trying to make that experience a little bit more different with an innovative approach to the controls.

In my opinion, the last console that really had a nice selection of really creative games was the Dreamcast, with its library of off the wall quirky, arthouse, and avante guard titles I was in gaming heaven.

I am not trying to start an arguement here, just want to question many of us here who feel the need to be too attached to particular hardware and platform.. come on a "hardcore" gamer is willing to play anything and give an opinion from "Halo" to "Final Fantasy" to "Wild 9" to "Mr. Do!" to "Barbie Horse Adventures".....

Just my take on the console war front that seems to be brewing as of late.

Thats a good take. Good post here ^^

[PallarAndersVisa]

as for my PS2 graphics comment on the Wii

Everything I've seen on the Wii doesn't look a whole lot better than say.. God of War 2 or FFXII. Its last gen as hell, Far Cry is down right dispicable.

and I love the wii.

[Push Upstairs]

-_-

That comment means nothing really, I'm not sure why people are getting their panties in a knot over it.

[swlovinist]

Well, I am 31 and still I guess I am a "kid at heart". I guess that is what MS means. Looks like the Wii is perfect for me. Honestly, every console has their market. Every competitor has the job of making the other market players look bad. MS knows that the Wii is taking sales from them and that while the Wii is underpowered and has a "family audience". This is a threat to the 360. I dont blame them at all for saying what they did, they are just saying what any rival would say. I want them to fight more so that the console wars can heat up and we can see some real values surface!