by: Reinout te Brake
Wii Fit has now been out for about a week in the States, and already many stores and online retailers are reportedly sold out of all stock and waiting for more from Nintendo. So, what exactly is the appeal? And how can the PS3 and Xbox 360 compete with a machine which has become more of a lifestyle device than a mere games console.
The Nintendo Wii has been derided in many quarters as not a true contender in the next generation console war. “It’s not a real console, it’s a toy!” and “My Dreamcast is more powerful!” are just two such examples. But so what when the Wii is the machine capable of getting more people in to gaming than any console ever before? Wii Fit is a brilliant example of this. It’s already been a huge hit in Asia and Europe, and is now repeating that phenomenal success in the US. According to Tom’s Games, most retailers, both online and off are now out of stock, just a week after the game went on sale. That’s a pretty shocking result for what is essentially a game that makes you exercise, something which many of us try to avoid at all costs.
While the PS3 and Xbox 360 fanboys fight over which shooter is best, what exclusive games are heading for their particular console, or who has the best version of Grand Theft Auto 4, the Wii is beating both consoles hands down in terms of sales month on month, and with releases such as Wii Fit, that shows no sign of abating.
I think it’s time to accept that gaming, both as a hobby and as an industry is changing. It’s becoming more casual, more mainstream and more open to groups usually not seen as gamers. Graphics may still have the ability to wow people, but the Wii proves that it’s not the be all and end all.
Wii Fit and Wii Sports have succeeded like no other games ever released because they are inclusive and open to all, and you don’t need to read a huge manual or have a degree in games controllers to play them. You literally just pick the Wii Remote up, or stand on the Balance Board and away you go. Which means that everyone, from your six-year-old niece to your 80-year-old gran want to have a go.
The Wii, like it or loathe it, will change the gaming landscape for ever. Sony and Microsoft will want a piece of that market, and won’t be happy to let Nintendo continue dominating the casual space.
Original Post: http://reinouttebrake.blogspot.com/2008/05/wii-fit-already-sold-out-in-us-ps3-xbox.html
consoles // Nintendo // Reinout te Brake // US // Wii
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