The Nintendo Wii is a money-making console for Nintendo – no one can deny that. However, publishers after noticing how the Wii was the fastest selling console in the market decided they wanted to cash-in. The results have been less than stellar. Yes, there have been a lot of party-games made for the console as quick cash-ins, but there have also been good third-party games that have failed to deliver the goods. Now companies like Ubisoft and Electronic Arts (EA), who are big supporters of the Nintendo Wii, are pulling out and focusing their efforts on the Xbox 360 and PS3.

The Nintendo Wii has recently seen a sales slow-down keep in mind though that everyone and their grandmother – quite literally – own a Wii. So sales are bound to slow down. Although, this doesn’t mean that Nintendo isn’t doing well. EA recently announced, that in order to save money, they will have to lay off 1,500 employees and will close Pandemic Studios. John Riccitiello, Electronic Arts’ CEO, has publicly expressed his frustration with Nintendo, because of their lack of spurring interest in the console.

“To be honest with you, I think the Wii platform has been a little weaker than we had certainly anticipated. And there is no lack of frustration to be doing that at precisely the time where we have the strongest third-party share,” John Riccitiello, Electronic Arts’ CEO

Ubisoft also announced that it’s games sales are low, however, it’s big titles such as the recently released Assassin’s Creed II are doing great. What seems to be the issue? The Nintendo Wii. As Kotaku reported: [Ubisoft] Reporting its full first-half 2009-10 financial results today, Ubisoft stresses its confidence in franchise titles like Assassin’s Creed II, while its Wii titles continue to under-perform.

Nintendo should consider their strategy carefully, they may be getting tons of revenue out of selling the Wii, however, as Nintendo and other hardware/software developers know, the big money comes from selling software and Nintendo is doing a horrible job at that. They may boast that their games are for everyone, but when companies like EA and Ubisoft start seeing their game sales go down – and in this economy – you can expect less support of them in the future. For example, Ubisoft has already announced ten new games that will take advantage of the Xbox 360 Natal controls and five new games that will take advantage of the PS3 motion controller. That’s 15 new games – none of them – coming to the Nintendo Wii.

Nintendo had a good thing in their hands with the Nintendo Wii. They wanted to change the way we play, and they did. They did it so well in fact, that other companies want a piece of the action and they will get it. In ways that Nintendo won’t be able to match with it’s current console. It’s time for Nintendo to listen to their consumers, both new and old – even those who they alienated – and bring the Nintendo Wii up to current console standards such as: HD, real online gameplay, voice-chat and better games. They also have to start marketing more “obscure titles” better. Advertising for “games” such as Wii Fit and Wii Sports Resort should be as much as advertising for Dead Space: Extraction and The Conduit.

As I said earlier, they need to bring the Wii up to standards with other consoles, so they can alsobring back those “hardcore” gamers that they have lost. Not only that, but shift – even if it’s slightly – their focus to keep working on franchises such as Zelda, Mario, Metroid and Star Fox. Yes, it has been announced that there’s a new Zelda game in development and a new Mario Galaxy will be released next year. This was after all, gamers complaining that there was nothing for them on E3 2008. Even with these franchises, which won’t be able to be released every year without them being rushed and sloppy, Nintendo needs to focus on creating new franchises to give both new, old and future gamers more reason to keep/buy the Nintendo Wii.



