But as 2010 creeps from February on, Wii faithful are wondering if Nintendo has forgotten about them. Sure they haven’t. Nintendo has graciously allowed for copious amount of mini-game collections and video games based on license movies to creep out onto their system. Remember that Nintendo Seal of Quality? Take a second look. Nintendo has slowly but surely ignored their Gamecube owners for the quick and easy route of capitalizing on the same market demographic that can sit and play bejeweled on Facebook for several hours on end or appeal to gamers who aren’t really gamers. The Wii is still somewhat of a gateway console and is struggling to shed its child-like appearance of being nothing more than a toy in the eyes of Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 owners. But, there have been numerous titles that appeal to these crowds. Dead Space: Extraction, MadWorld, House of the Dead: Overkill and Metroid Other M are all titles that have a more mature lending to them. But is this enough to pull in gamers who still haven’t crossed the line and purchased a Wii? Probably not.
Worry not for there are games that are system sellers. Games like Uncharted 2 and God of War III on the Playstation 3 as well as Mass Effect 2 and invariably Halo: Reach on the Xbox 360. But, the elusive killer-app titles are still a bit too and far between for the Nintendo Wii, even in 2010. Being a Wii owner myself, I have played Wii Fit and Super Mario Galaxy and I routinely check and see what new offerings there might be that would make me set down my other controllers in favor of wielding a ‘wii-mote’ once more. Sadly, I’m not sure I can say there is anything on the horizon that pushes me to do so. Super Mario Galaxy 2 seems just like a bit more of what we’ve already seen. Additionally, there have been discussions about a new Zelda title. But aside that, all the gaming community is concretely aware of is Metroid Other M, which has achieved so because it is being developed by Team Ninja.
Aside from more peripherals like the Wii Motion Plus and the Vitality Sensor, I’m not so sure Nintendo has much left in them. Seriously, how many more nerf steering wheels do we need? I’m aware they want to make the Wii remote be just about anything, but when it requires more peripherals and attachments than I have space for in my ‘Rock Band Closet’, I think there is a decidedly huge issue. Sincerely, I’m hoping I’m wrong and can amend this article come E3 2010, but so far, I’m only left wondering if this might be the year that Wii owners discover that Nintendo has genuinely become okay with disappointing their community. Sony and Microsoft are currently doing so much publicly and behind the scenes that it is almost difficult to keep track of it all. In the meantime, Nintendo is sitting tight lipped and chasing after software pirates while being content in the knowledge that everyone owns a DS, DSi or Wii. So, Nintendo, I beg you, show us something to get excited about, but if it’s New Super Mario Bros. Wii 2…I swear I’m going to smash my Wii.
