WiiLoaded.com - Wii Forum and News

Well, according to Square Enix president, Yoichi Wada it is.

GameIndustry.biz
“In a recent interview with CNET Japan, you said that consumers are purchasing the Wii as a toy…”

Square Enix president, Yoichi Wada-san
“That particular article interpreted what I said in a rather coarse way. To fill in the context, with this generation of consoles, people take it for granted that all of them should be and are multi-functional. So it is each manufacturer’s responsibility to communicate with potential customers, and let them know which of them would make the best use of which function in each console.

“In that context, Nintendo seems to place a great emphasis on Wii Sports and Fit rather than Zelda, a role-playing game. In my opinion, if they expose the functions in this way, they are making the Wii look like a toy. With PlayStation 3, Sony are not appealing to consumers with strong messages that say this kind of user can make use of PS3 in this particular way for this particular kind of fun. That, they are quite weak at.”

GameIndustry.biz
“You did however note that software attach rates are lower for Wii than for other consoles. So does that make it a less appealing platform for Square Enix to develop and publish games on?”

Square Enix president, Yoichi Wada-san
“No, that’s not the case. What we have to do to start with is ask what kind of consumers are buying Wii for what purpose. When we’ve finished that analysis, then we have to work out what kind of games we should create for Wii. For DS, Square Enix publishes both traditional games like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, and also more casual software. The DS is managing to get through to a really broad range of people at the moment, and I think the Wii can follow in its footsteps.”

While I necessarily don't agree, you had to have noticed Nintendo's steeper shift in focus. As a side note, I'm gonna follow a slight rabbit trail. You may not know this, but I used to run track. On the team there were sprinters and long-distant runners. Obviously the sprinters got places very fast in a short amount of time, while long-distance runners got very far, at a steady pace. After seeing all of these party games and their new "fitness" approach, it leads me to the question: Just how strong are the Wii's legs? Is their new strategy an annoying gimmick or is it really the way of the future?

What's your opinion?
(opinion on the article that is.)

Right now?

My Wii is a toy-- I can take it anywhere and set it up for a room of people to enjoy all at the same time. Most of the games I own have a marginal learning curve and simple controls.

The games I know for a fact I'll be buying? Brawl. Mariokart. They're... party games, essentially, meant to be enjoyed with a room full of people.

So yeah, I can definitely see that. It doesn't have bells and whistles, it isn't fancy... it's an uncomplicated toy.

And I work at KB Toys. I'm a professional. :-P

and toys are fun...yippee

Videogames in general are toys that people of all ages can enjoy from kids to adults. Nintendo has done a good job at attracting the casual crowd and keep focus on their "hardcore" fans. Square is trying to do the same with their games for Wii and DS along with other developers.

Wii is a games console, like it or not.

But is a games console a toy?

Yes, in a way consoles are toys. But the Wii actually looks and feel more like a toy then a Playstation 3 or a 360.

I think the Wii is seen more as a toy than the 360 and the PS3 because of the type of games it has.

No, it's a personal computer that can only run its own software i.e. Wii can only run Wii games.

I think the word "toy", here, is being used to undermine the Wii's importance or significance to the gaming world. By dismissing it as a mere toy, PS3 and XBOX can continue with the charade that Nintendo is no longer a contender, when in fact Nintendo is securing their future, and the future of ALL games, by expanding their audience. The direction that Nintendo is taking video games at this point, is ushering a new age where people learn hands-on from computer simulators(actually been in practice for some time, within the surgerical and aeronautical world). By trivializing it as a toy, you deflect from this new reality that PS3 and XBOX have simply not addressed.

Video games are toys, but the wii isn't "childish" where you should be embaressed if you are playing it.

wow, this is positively profound

Thank you.

Just wanted to add, the trivialization of Nintendo right now, in part, is so vital to Sony and Microsoft, because they're not going forward. Nintendo recognized that people would be at least curious, if not enthusiastic, about a control system where you did not simply rely on smashing buttons. Every person here has had that moment where they're trying to get their video game character to jump a particularly direction or achieve a certain speed, and actually end up moving the controller itself, as if that'd have some bearing on the character. Well, now it does. And they've managed to, as always, put a new spin on an old thing, making it both unthreatening and completely fresh, and for the most part, loyal Nintendo fans were able to pick up where they left off. This is VERY vital to the endurance of these Nintendo systems and their franchises! And they're getting DOGGED? These people have managed to impliment innovative and fresh ideas regularly, but they keep their core audience, maximize profit, and keep the consumer happy by regularly addressing and adapting to the concerns of the public, such as obesity or mental agility. They should be applauded for their business model, not dismissed!

Off soap box now.

Holly ...i <3 you. in a...non-troublesome way >.>
* ...i repeat what she said

Watch out, you. Havent you heard? I steal souls

wow, another gem...if they werent so long...this would be my new sig

Aren't video games toys in general? The Wii is just different, which is why it is getting singled out. You have a nunchuk and remote, it is very unorthodox. But it is new and hip and all that good crap. Change doen't always have to be a bad thing...