Nintendo Wii – Redefining an Industry

Executive Summary of Nintendo Wii – Redefining an Industry By Jennifer S

Nintendo’s latest home console system was released in North America on November 19th 2006. Nintendo’s goal seems to focus on casual games which entertain a broad demographic of gamers and non-gamers. Nintendo’s product is the cheapest new generation home console system on the market, retailing for USD $249.99, and challenges to change the way people think about gaming.

A Kid’s Console?

Historically, Nintendo has produced “kid safe” console designs where most games were innocent and cute. Nintendo has changed their target audience to a broader audience with different styles of gaming. This “kid’s console” has morphed into the “casual gaming console.” A father of two can find time to play Tennis in Wii Sports or get in a game of nine-ball in Wii Play. The Nintendo Wii is well suited for kids but it goes beyond children. It might be for a golf game or a racing game, but it shows the attractive nature of the Wii. The Control Scheme

Nintendo, and their customers, have invested a huge risk in the Nintendo Wii controller, known as the “wiimote” by fans. Although the Wii controller can be tilted sideways to play in “classic” mode this isn’t the intended interface for the majority of games. The Wii controller is unique and requires special attention to detail and design to be implemented in a game correctly, especially a game ported from another system without such a control design. The game is only as fun as its design and implementation. A game which utilizes the controller in a poor fashion will push customers away. Too many games utilizing the controller badly can look bad on the system overall.

The system offers gamers an experience unlike a standard console, primarily because of its unique control scheme. The gamer is controlling the game in true 3D by moving the Wii controller and its secondary Wii nunchuck in 3d-space. Console demand will give rise to game demand.

Third Party Support

Many people look at the last few Nintendo consoles as market failures. Ported games will take longer to produce to satisfy the controller design or the game will be more frustrating than fun.

Nintendo should use their successful game titles as proving grounds for full bodied release titles. Wii Tennis and Wii Bowling are two great examples of a franchise that could draw in casual gamers.

Nintendo has relied greatly on their franchises: Mario, Zelda, Metroid and Donkey Kong.