27 Wii Launch Titles?

[.Automatisch]

Wow... (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3152817)

[K-S-O]

Is the number twenty-seven considered cool these days? I always hear people liking to use it a whole lot.

Still, that's a whole lot of games to launch with! I don't think I've ever seen a launch this huge!

[Chad Bonin]

"Twenty-seven! In a row?"
Yes, the actual number is "37" for the Clerks reference, but I like how Nintendo obviously has the most support out of the gate.

I'd say that's a good mix. Racing, FPS, RPG (including the double knock-out of fan favorites Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy [And before anyone says they're not "REAL" iterations, they still have that name attached that sells units]).

EDIT-
I wonder how legit this list is. 16 have been completely confirmed, and the other nine are the "Expected Launch" titles from Wikipedia.

[.Automatisch]

Well, some of the multi-platform games I will consider buying for the Wii if they retain their online... But man, I'll be breaking out a lot of cash come launch day if this is true. I was going to be content with Zelda, but...

[ZeroFate]

The only titles I'm interested in are the Metroid and Zelda games. Those two games look amazing. The rest seem like typical launch filler to me.


"Twenty-seven! In a row?"
Yes, the actual number is "37" for the Clerks reference, but I like how Nintendo obviously has the most support out of the gate.
Well, the Wii only has two launch titles over the PS3 and just as much filler. Both consoles probably only have a couple "system sellers" at best.


I'd say that's a good mix. Racing, FPS, RPG (including the double knock-out of fan favorites Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy [And before anyone says they're not "REAL" iterations, they still have that name attached that sells units]).
The hardcore fans of those series (which are probably the only ones) know that these titles being released on the Wii most likely won't live up to their "Main Franchise" counter parts. FF:CC on the GC was horrible, to even suggest its sequel is gonna be moving any systems is laughable. The DQ game should be given a fair chance but I wouldn't even hold my breath on that one since it's being made by the same folks.

[Zyzzybalubah]

That's a largely impressive number if they all actually come out before, on, or a week or two after the launch. :) Let's not forget the inclusion of Gamecube and Virtural Console titles. :)

PS3 might still hold the advantage of most available titles (PS1/PS2 playable on the PS3) but if that many titles really come out at launch for Wii, then that is real good!

[Dogbert]

PS3 might still hold the advantage of most available titles (PS1/PS2 playable on the PS3) but if that many titles really come out at launch for Wii, then that is real good!Actually, the backward compatibility might be a bigger selling point for the Wii. How many people getting a PS3 don't already have a PS2? Not many; with the $600 price, Sony's banking on the Playstation name helping out a lot. There'd be a backlash if it couldn't play PS1 & PS2 games, but I don't think anyone's getting anything new from the compatibility.

In contrast, the Wii will likely have lots of customers that didn't get a GCN. For those people, the backward compatibility is like getting a whole system for free. Sure, these are people who didn't want the GCN, but when it's a free bonus that might change.

[Eidan]

None of the Wii launch titles interest me.

[Invader_Spooch]

Here's something I find funny:

Every major video game specialty store (including Gamestop/EB, Gamerush etc) that is doing Wii game reserves doesn't list a single Nintendo first-party game as even having a release date. All they have are third party fodder like children's show games or cross-platform stuff like Call of Duty (with the exception being Trauma Center).

Now, as a manager of a Gamestop (3 years running), the company knows not to put out a release date until it's confirmed by the publisher (to avoid any potential issues, unlike Best Buy and their ilk that do reserves for games that haven't even been announced). They've been reliable on not doing pre-orders until they are damn sure it's going to come out (by word of the publisher).

This leads me to believe that Nintendo has yet to confirm any of their launch games officially, since if LoZ and Metroid were indeed launch titles, then you better believe Gamestop/EB would be all up on that preorder biz.

What is the deal? Is Nintendo just being all secretive for no good reason? I mean, it's not like the release date for the Wii is some big mystery (a ton of third parties have set their game's launch day to coincide with the system release). I would like to know, mainly as a salesman, because if I get asked one more time "Can I pre-order Twilight Princess on Wii yet?", I'm going to go crazy. Which is it Nintendo? Launch titles for real, or TBA?

It's sort of unprofessional of them to not have more solid info out at this poiint, since it's already almost September, with no real announced release date, price, or on record launch list (kinda stickin' it to retailers who have supported them in the past).

[Chad Bonin]

What is the deal? Is Nintendo just being all secretive for no good reason? I mean, it's not like the release date for the Wii is some big mystery (a ton of third parties have set their game's launch day to coincide with the system release). I would like to know, mainly as a salesman, because if I get asked one more time "Can I pre-order Twilight Princess on Wii yet?", I'm going to go crazy. Which is it Nintendo? Launch titles for real, or TBA?

It's sort of unprofessional of them to not have more solid info out at this poiint, since it's already almost September, with no real announced release date, price, or on record launch list (kinda stickin' it to retailers who have supported them in the past).
Wait. The release date for the Wii IS A BIG MYSTERY. Nintendo has said September will be the big "Here's all the info!" announcements. If they release it too early, Sony changes their plans and moves it up a week.

[Invader_Spooch]

Nope, if you go to various third-party companies web sites, all the "tentative" launch games are set to release November (15th to be exact), so unless publishers and retailers are just somehow collaborating a faux date, there ya have it.

[Chad Bonin]

Nope, if you go to various third-party companies web sites, all the "tentative" launch games are set to release November (15th to be exact), so unless publishers and retailers are just somehow collaborating a faux date, there ya have it.
Nintendo has made three confirmations on the date.

Fourth Quarter 2006
Before PS3
Before ThanksgivingLogically, November 15th fits all of those. But if it's "November 15th", I will officially eat the entire dollar menu at Wendys in one sitting.

Nintendo doesn't release consoles on a day other than Sunday, being the main reason I doubt that.

[Invader_Spooch]

Then logically November 12th would fit in all three. Point is, why the hell be so secretive about the actual release date, especially since Sony already announced theirs (moving up their release date by a week is sort of stretching it)? Also, why no official date for any of their supposed "launch games"? I mean, even an official "November" would be fine, but nothing. I mean, what do they have to lose if they guarantee that LoZ:TP and MP3 are launch games? It honestly makes me wonder if they can deliver with those games on release day at this point.

It's really screwing over retailers (not to mention customers) by being so needlessly quiet, especially Gamestop/EB, where pre-orders are a large part of their business (not to mention a requirement for keeping your job there).

[Yash]

Why wouldn't Twilight Princess or Metroid Prime 3 be launch titles? They were announced as launch titles, they've been confirmed as launch titles, almost everyone wants one or both of them (heck, Twilight Princess was voted by MTV of all networks as the best new game of 2006), and Nintendo knows they're going to be praised and sell hugely.

Nintendo also knows that if they had announced the release date, Sony would probably want to get the jump on them. The last time Sony did that, the Xbox and GameCube were crushed in sales and they were able to snatch up all of the third party developers and exclusive licenses, building up a lot of support.

While everyone is a bit antsy about when the price and date are going to be revealed, Nintendo will announce it when they announce it.

[Chad Bonin]

Nintendo's Nintendo. They'll do it at their own pace. I would rather them not announce the launch date until a month before, than Sony deciding that they can launch already and screwing Nintendo's pooch.

Also, heavy rumors are that Nintendo will pull an Apple and have it ready to go the week after... what is it, the modern equivalent of Spaceworld in Japan?

[Artimus Gigan]

Nintendo's Nintendo. They'll do it at their own pace. I would rather them not announce the launch date until a month before, than Sony deciding that they can launch already and screwing Nintendo's pooch.

Also, heavy rumors are that Nintendo will pull an Apple and have it ready to go the week after... what is it, the modern equivalent of Spaceworld in Japan?
More or less I think that many of the games still have kinks they need to work out

being that Metroid Prime 3 was one of the games that did not react well with the Wii Remote at E3, and if the games don't work with the main gimmick they're pushing, then that could be far far worse than any pre-emptive launch from another company. I mean if you can't play the game with the controller itself it defeats the purpose.

[Invader_Spooch]

Nintendo's Nintendo. They'll do it at their own pace. I would rather them not announce the launch date until a month before, than Sony deciding that they can launch already and screwing Nintendo's pooch.

The main concern, like Artimus said, is whether or not either of those games will really be ready to go come launch day. Just because Reggie and Miyamoto say they are going to be launch titles, doesn't mean they will be.

I mean, Metal Gear Solid 4 was supposedly going to be a launch game, but clearly that isnt the case anymore.

These companies always throw claims around at E3, yet, like politics, they rarely ever follow up with it.

The fact that they haven't announced (even to retailers) a date for either of those games specifically (or hell, any first party game), makes me wonder if they are even going to be ready to launch with the system.

[Chad Bonin]

Artimus-
You do realize controls are something that can be tweaked until the eleventh hour, right? Red Steel's controls were busted at E3, and that wasn't even the most-current build of the game.

Just making sure that you do know that it can be tweaked. Hell, Capcom, a week before Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting came out for the XBox Live Arcade, could have decided to make everyone charge-based in their movements if they felt like it.

Graphics, level design, etc. are being finalized. Controls can easily be tweaked.


I mean if you can't play the game with the controller itself it defeats the purpose.
Speaking of Street Fighter, this was my main flaw with Alpha 3 Max. Can't play the game with the controller itself.

(Sue me, I'm on a Street Fighter kick. Writing up a review on the movie as we type.)


The fact that they haven't announced (even to retailers) a date for either of those games specifically (or hell, any first party game), makes me wonder if they are even going to be ready to launch with the system.
They release the date of the game, they release the date of the Wii, and they don't want to do that until September.

[.Automatisch]

Speaking of Street Fighter, this was my main flaw with Alpha 3 Max. Can't play the game with the controller itself.


Yea, it's not that great stock... But if you do the NES-sleeve mod, which is very easy... It fixes a lot of problems. There's also an Italian ebay seller that sells stick-ems for about $11...

[Artimus Gigan]

Artimus-
You do realize controls are something that can be tweaked until the eleventh hour, right? Red Steel's controls were busted at E3, and that wasn't even the most-current build of the game.

Just making sure that you do know that it can be tweaked. Hell, Capcom, a week before Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting came out for the XBox Live Arcade, could have decided to make everyone charge-based in their movements if they felt like it.

Graphics, level design, etc. are being finalized. Controls can easily be tweaked.


Speaking of Street Fighter, this was my main flaw with Alpha 3 Max. Can't play the game with the controller itself.

(Sue me, I'm on a Street Fighter kick. Writing up a review on the movie as we type.)


They release the date of the game, they release the date of the Wii, and they don't want to do that until September.
Except the Wii's controller is set up differently

it's not so much the buttons on that remote than the signal reciver itself that was causing the problems. And that's the part you put ontop of your TV, that's essentialy part of the console itself. It wasn't recognizsing the commands from the controller accurately. It's more of a hardware issue than anything.

[Chad Bonin]

Except the Wii's controller is set up differently

it's not so much the buttons on that remote than the signal reciver itself that was causing the problems. And that's the part you put ontop of your TV, that's essentialy part of the console itself. It wasn't recognizsing the commands from the controller accurately. It's more of a hardware issue than anything.
So, you're saying that Nintendo quit working on the sensor bar at E3? Nintendo's officially stepped back and said "that's good enough", even though that most likely wasn't the most current build?

If you're saying the sensor bar is faulty, say that, as it would affect all games and the launch of the system. If you're saying that Metroid Prime 3's controls were faulty, say that, as it would affect only that game and the launch of that game.

[mammy2shoesfan]

But wasn't the Wii software running on GC hardware at E3. So I can give them a little break if that was really the case (has that rumor been confirmed). The hardware really wasn't made for the GC so if it was working the way it should thats the reason right there.