[Wii] Virtual Console & WiiWare Games - Doing wonders for illegal emulation since 2007

Regarding the release strategy I believe I understand Nintendo's logic.

#1 They don't want the VC to overshadow Wii software sales. If they roll out all of the A+ titles people will just be content playing their mound of 5 and $10 titles.

#2 Saturation. The way that the current titles are rolled out they're more of an impulse buy. 5-$10 a week doesn't seem like much. If everything were to be posted up from the outlet people would be much more conscious of spending $100 or more in one chunk.

#3 Lastly with Nintendo eeking out the games some of the B and C titles are likely to be purchased. A game like Kung-Fu (don't know if it's an actual title) is more likely to be seen as a novelty pickup for the week. If it were up against all the Marios, Zeldas, Castlevanias etc, it would be easily overlooked.

As a long-term strategy I believe Nintendo is correct.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I can't claim to have all the answers, but I have to say that a response like that ^ tell me you don't have a good head for business. It's always about the long term. If the fans are really fans they'll buy at least what they would if Nintendo released everything now, but rationing them out has more benefits than a DO IT NOW! strategy. In cases like this a smart company doesn't give a damn about the biggest fans because they'll be there regardless. It's the consumers who don't play video games 50+ hours a week and post at VG related message boards that they care about. Hell look at summer movie releases. If the industry wanted to it could have 5+ big movies debut in the same weekend. Why do you think that is never the case?

Originally Posted by BlueMikey

Yeah but:

#1 Nintendo isn't exactly rolling out Wii titles. The game support hasn't been as poor as it is for the PS3, but they haven't saturated the market and neither have third-parties.

#2 I get that, but it doesn't change the fact that there are only four N64 titles and they only release 3-5 games a week. You're telling me the most impulse buys the N64 market can bear in 6 months is 4? I mean, how many of those games does the average gamer want a week...1 maybe? 1 every couple weeks? If they released, say, 40 games a month, I don't think that is too much for all but the staunchest collectors.

#3 This makes sense, but, again addressing the N64 releases, they've released arguably 3 of the 4 best titles for the N64. Surely they could sprinkle in a few more crappy ones if this is their strategy.

To re respond:

#1 I see it as a marathon. Sure they could pick up the releases to plug in the always slow summer gaming season, but I'd have to assume they're applying the "always keep them wanting more" strategy. When the good Wii titles do hit anyone who's been keeping up with VC releases wont be too preoccupied with those purchases.


#2 The N64 is a special case. There weren't alot of big games for that system anyway. They could release more, but picking up the pace there too much would effectively shoot their load. Furthermore there's much more to the VC than just N64 games.


#3 The only reply I can think of here is that people are much more conscious of paying $10 for crap than a non double-digit figure. Customers are stupid like that. From the little marketing I know I'd say this is the case here.

To add a final point I can't help but wonder if they want to get the response out of other customers they're getting from you. I'm not suggesting that you're going into cold sweats over the lack of N64 releases, but it's enough to keep you checking back, and looking through the list of what they are pumping out. When there finally is another N64 release I'm sure they'll get a burst of publicity out of it.

Furthermore I'm sure Nintendo is fully aware that a GREAT deal of the people who do want Wiis still can't get them. It could be entirely possible they they don't want to overwhelm them when they see the VC list. Of course that will be the case with those folks who buy the system 2-3 years from now, but they already know they'll be behind the game anyway.

On another note how does the Wii point system work? I take it you go to the store buy a card and that's got 2000 points you've got to buy stuff right? What's to stop somebody from entering in random numbers and buying stuff from a not yet purchased card that some unfortunate bloke across the country hasn't picked up yet?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Slash

I'm extremely interested to see how they'll do duck hunt

Nintendo should do a mega huge release either on September 23rd or November 19th for the US

Duck Hunt = Wiimote as lightgun.

As for SMRPG I wonder if that wont follow the precedent of TMNT and be an extra buck because of the liscensing.

How ya doing, buddy?

Just because it was better than the PS2 version doesn't make it good. The reversal of the jump and shoot buttons is blasphemy to anyone who's kept up with that series and games of its type since the '80s, and either control pad blows for quick-twitch gaming.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?