It's no secret that the Wii's enjoying the limelight in this leg of the next-generation console race, all thanks to its motion-sensing capabilities with the Wiimote that had not only gamers off the couch and moving around, but also got the non-gaming demographic into the hobby of playing video games. However, David Braben, veteran games developer and the mind behind titles such as A Dog's Life, Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 and Thrillville, thinks that the Wii is merely a fad, and will fade into obscurity after the public has had enough about it.

In an interview, David Braben compared the Wii with the EyeToy, in the sense that people also thought highly of the PS2 camera, but soon got tired of it. His statement, snipped from the interview and in verbatim:

What's interesting is that people are talking about the novelty of the Wii as if it’s something completely revolutionary but actually we went through this same process with EyeToy, which allowed for gaming where you can stand up and do active physical things, but the EyeToy as a device lasted maybe eighteen months before people got bored with it, so that’s something that we should bare in mind with the Wii.

While I personally can agree that the EyeToy was indeed revolutionary for its time, it didn't get quite the amount of software support from Sony. Of course, there are the titles such as Eyetoy: Play and so on, as well as the games where they feature the EyeToy as an optional control device, but it didn't really get the sort of support that the Wiimote's having right now. We need only to look at some of the games (i.e. Manhunt 2, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Super Mario Galaxy) to see how well the "gimmick" is supported.

Well, that's Braben's and yours truly's two cents about the Wii. How about you, dear reader? Have anything to share about the Wii being a fad? Let us know by your comments!


via wii.qj.net

I agree with you or the author that Wii could be a fad if there is no 3rd parties supports. What I mean by that is if there are great games coming up with great implementation of wiimote then hardcore gamers will stay with the wii. Then, 3rd parties will make more games and the cycle will continue. I hope wii wont become a fad... only time will tell.

The Wii will definitely die out, don't worry about that. Due to mainly the fact that most hours that a Wii Owner spends playing is Wii sports, just to use the remote functionality. Sure, it's flashy and cool, child friendly, and pretty much any friend you know can get together for a party playing the Wii. But let's face it. The average gamer is going to look for games that suck him in, not just some friendly flashy game.

The developers of continued series games (Metroid Prime, Super Smash Bros) are insisting that the player uses a normal controller. Why? Can you play an action paced fighting game with a remote? I think not. The Wii will die out, for sure. It lacks the equipment that the real player needs to enjoy a console. They focused too much on the casual gaming audience and those 12 year olds that want a Wii for christmas cause it has all these kiddie games. (Not implying that everyone who owns a Wii is a 12 year old, no offence meant here.)

If Wii sports and the occasional remote action-orientated game (Resident Evil 4 wasn't bad) all that Nintendo has to offer, they will seriously lag behind in the next few years.

But that's just my opinion.



... PS3 ftw.

You got this wrong at least with Metroid prime. You cant play metroid prime with your normal controller. If you go read an article at IGN about "E3 2007: Hands-on Metroid Prime 3: Corruption", they say that "It plays better than any first-person console game ever..." due to the Wiimote! Like I said, if the developers can come up with good games then Wii will still dominate the sale chart

OfficerTJHooker, I'd have to say in my own opinion you hit the nail on the head. Sure the 3D motion censoring is fun, but after awhile it becomes tiring and repetitive. The controls are annoying, and after awhile the games can get down right confusing with the 3D motion control, and insane camera angels on most games. I don't feel Nintendo stepped up much graphic wise from the GameCube. Personally when I play the Wii at my friends I feel like I'm playing the PS2 except instead of a standard controller it's 3D motion. I realized after the Wii's launch the craze had already died. Noone seemed to talk too much about their Wiis other than to brag that they had one. I am a 360 owner and future PS3 owner. I have played the Wii, and while I think Nintendo may have done something fun for the youth generation I do not think the console will last for nearly as long as the other nextgens. This is all just my opinion think as you wish.

It's because the potential of PS3 is still hibernating.

Who needs a Wii when the 360 can use the wii remote =). 360 will or already has a wii emulator so 360 pwns, ps3 is good too =D.

well Nintendo consoles were always big for their first-party releases, and i think the situation is the same here; the nintendo fanboys will once again save a dying console.

How can people say the Wii is a dying console, when it has almost caught up to 360 sales, which had a 12 month+ headstart?
The facts are the Wii is cheap AND fun to play. This, coupled with Nintendo's quality first-party releases is a recipe for winning this console war!

how can wii be a dieing fad? the only problem they have is having a short amount on hand. but look at it, every time a store gets wiis..they sell out, ps3s i am not seeing get sold out at all, maybe the release day but i know more people who own wii than ps3 and xbox 360. i hate xbox, not anything to do with the games but just the controller..it looks retarded and i hate holding it, ps3..def. not worth how much it costs, that'd be why they lowered 100$. the wii is on top with a lot of promises in store.

The Wii isn't for hardcore gamers at all, I suppose you get what you payed for.

i honestly think that the wii is the best and cheapest 3rd generation console!