Is The Wii Really An Impulse Buy?

Wiiaretheworld

I've been gaming for a while as well, and I can tell you that once the hype dies down, Nintendo will suffer. That is why they are milking the shortage hype.
The Wii needs a killer app quickly. Something with slightly better graphics than Halo 1 would do it for now. How about a GoldenEye Sequel!

Haywire

Thats exactly how I feel right now. I like the wii but its only surviving on hype most people have not even had a chance to play a wii since most stores only have a non playable demo setup where you can only watch a video being played. The controls are innovative but that does not mean squat if the games suck because developers are too lazy to take to perfect there controls and in game graphics.

To make matters worse every title that would help boost the wii hype and keep people interested have a ? 2007-2008release date. This system has been out almost 6 months now and we are still getting nothing but junk ports that are horrible. Its bad when the best game your looking forward to is a port of Resident Evil 4.

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Mii since 8 February 2007

31 Games Owned:
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Hickeroar

Impulse buy? Give me a break. The only way you're going to get ahold of a Wii is if you PLAN around it. The chances of someone just happening across one and buying it are just about nil. Most places who get them in stock already have them spoken for, there's a large line, or they're kept secret and only given out to people who specifically ask if they have any.

There's absolutely NOTHING impulse buy about the Wii.

Hickeroar

This really all depends on what you're looking for though and the audience that is being catered to. For tons of people, Wii Sports, Raving Rabbits, and Wario ARE killer apps and they're the only games they're going to buy for a long time. You have to realize that the Wii is appealing to a FAR broader audience than any console EVER has and a lot of people are more than happy with minigames and things of that nature. That's what they WANTED in the first place and that's what they're GETTING right now.

It's worth noting that *I* don't really fall into that category, but I'd venture a guess that MOST of the people with Wiis DO. I REALLY enjoy that type of game and it's very likely to keep me occupied until something else shows up that's a "true/traditional" killer app.

A Goldeneye following would, of course, be a no brainer. That and Starfox all-but MADE the N64 (subject to debate of course). SSBB is coming out this year as well, and that is going to throw sales absolutely through the roof.

Haywire

I'm not knocking your view just commenting on it so nothing is meant against you. With that said I'm not sure many people would agree on warioware or rayman being killer apps, yes the wii is garnered to a large casual base but even casual gamers are going to get sick of minigames. So far we have Warioware, Wiisports, Wiiplay and Rayman Raving Rabids and coming soon we have Mario Party and not to mention every game is full of minigames like Monkey ball and Sonic. They have absolutely flooded the minigame market but have held off on their killer apps that appeal to the same audience such Smash Brothers and Mario Galaxy.

Besides all the numerous minisgames we have great titles that appeal mainly to children like Open season, Chicken Little, Ant Bully, Avatar, Ice Age 2, Meet the Robinsons, Grim Adventures, Rampage, Happy Feet, Barnyard, and Cars. Then we have a few more adult orientated games like Red steel, Farcry, SCA, COD3, MOHV while still fun they each have serious problems ranging from controls to graphics. Lastly most of the other games not covered yet have according to reviews just been plain bad such as Cooking Momma and Wing Island.

I do enjoy the wii I really do like Zelda, Excite Truck, Monkey Ball (single player only), Trauma Center, DBZ the most out of my collection of games but I do have fun with Red Steel and Far Cry even though they are seriuosly flawed. But most of my other Games Likes Warioware, Rayman, Chicken Little, Wiisports, Wiiplay, and Sonic are just family diversions.

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31 Games Owned:
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Haywire

One last thing I like the wii but if it doesn't get some orignal IP's and better games this system is basically going to crash on its own hype.

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Hickeroar

^^^

I do understand what you're saying. I guess I'm referring to a PER PERSON basis. There are loads of people who buy Wiis just for those games and the few games like them. Because of how HUGE the market is (45yr old soccer moms, to grandparents, to 6 year olds) those are EXACTLY the kind of games that sell the system for many (if not MOST) people.

You don't find soccer moms, grandparents, or 6 year olds pining away about SSBB or some other "killer app" simply because what they can do with their console IS their killer app and IS the whole reason they bought the thing. They want to flick it on and play bowling, tennis, or a Rayman minigame when they have company over, not break out pokemon or SSBB.

From an OVERALL standpoint I do agree that they need some original IPs and killer apps. I was just talking on a "personal" level regarding what a lot of buyers are REALLY interested in. Had there been nothing but teenage boys lined up to get wiis, i'd totally agree with you, but there were plenty of middleaged moms standing outside of stores buying for THEMSELVES when this thing launched. That is something NOBODY can say about their console but Nintendo.

Haywire

I also agree with your points its just my defintition of killer app is very different then yours. To me a killer app are titles like Halo, Gears of War, God of War, Gran Tourismo, Metal Gear, and Mario games that are just outstanding, sell a million copies, push the fans expectations and increas econsole sales and interest. Zelda is the only game out so far that I would consider a killer app the others are great since it is drawing in new players with there casual play but even casual players will get bored with them if every game is full of the same minigames.

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Haywire

Actually many people have just been lucky enough to be there at the right time to get a wii. Thats what happened to me one morning after taking my son to the dr's I went to a Best Buy and was lucky enough to grab the last one. It came down to a decision to buy it now which is impulsive or risk not getting one for months I had to reopen a Best Buy account just to even purchase it and I'm a person who hates using credit cards.

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Mii since 8 February 2007

31 Games Owned:
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Hickeroar

Impulse buy implies you weren't really planning on getting one in the first place, you see it, and then decide it might be cool. Impulse buys are when you snag a candy bar from the shopping line. Most, or all, people who make that instant decision regarding the wii were already planning on buying one and are just waiting to happen across one, or totally planning around it. Nobody says "oh, that looks cool! I might like it!" and then buys the thing.

Haywire

Verb 1. impulse-buy - buy on impulse without proper reflection

Wanting and planning to get a wii does not necessarily make it a a non impulse buy. In my case it was an impulsive buy because even though I wanted it and planned to get one in the future I did not have the cash for it at the time, and it was an impulsive buy because I took out a line of credit just to get one because if I didn't I would not find one for months.

The very nature of console shortages make them an impluse buy if you want one during the high demand.

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Mii since 8 February 2007

31 Games Owned:
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marioatemyhamster

Sony Computer Entertainment of America spokesperson Dave Karraker recently commented: "Wii could be considered an impulse buy more than anything else,"

…there's the simple answer.

Haz

No it's not an impulse buy. The conscience decision time is too long to be classified as an impulse purchase. An impulse buy is widely accepted as a decision made in the time that it takes for an original transaction to be completed. e.g. if you were out buying a magazine and as you were paying for it you decided to purchase some gum that was displayed on the counter.

As the Wii is classified as a purchase that is made with disposable income rather than every day cash, it is not possible to see it as an impulse purchase.

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Rolex

If it is an impulse buy then there sure is a lot of folks out there with some mighty quick on the draw credit cards...."Yall come back now!!"


http://www.playfuls.com/news_07088_Nintendo_Wii_The_Triumph_of_Innovation. html

Found on Google news - ref: playfuls.com

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---Smithy...
"This IS the difference over the other systems....graphics can make you believe you're there to some extent but motion gesture can make you believe you're doing it!"