We receive lots of emails from readers. Some full of praise for the impressive vocabulary skills and intricate imagery provided by our crack team of This started the hamster to run on the steel wheel in my head, which is an analogy for my brain. Remember folks, intricate imagery. I started to think back to what Nintendo's launches had been like in the past. The NES launched with Super Mario Bros. The SNES launched with Super Mario World. The N64 failed to launch with a game, as well as the GameCube, and if you're a superstitious person, you might think that the lacking launch of the N64 was the start of the downhill trend of hardware launching without proper software to back it up.
Now, there could've been any number of reasons as to why the GameCube didn't launch with a game. This feature isn't about analyzing the hits and misses of that console, but seeing the lackluster performance of the system in contrast to its competition on the store shelves, Nintendo might look back to its previous launch efforts and see a tradition they wish to uphold yet again. Even late in the console's life cycle, Nintendo started bundling in Metroid Prime and Mario Party with the console in an attempt to sell more units.
Why would they decide to bundle in Wii Sports with their newest console though? Well, for one, it would serve as a wonderful introduction to the new control scheme for gamers. The Wii Sports games were incredibly intuitive at E3, and with the already mass-appeal of some of the sports in general, along with the knowledge of the rules of each sport that the general American citizen possesses, be they gamer or not, it's a good way to get an enjoyable product available for use on the console from the first second it's turned on.
Including these easy to play games could also help cause a thirst for more of this experience with the console in the player. If someone is sitting down and trying Wii Sports Tennis and starts to really get into that experience, standing up and moving about, swinging with intensity as if they were there on the cartoonish court them self, they would really start to appreciate the possibilities of the control scheme. Sure, all of us are looking forward to the console because of our undying love for Nintendo's products, but the average person who never or rarely plays games, which again is Nintendo's intended target, could honestly start getting addicted to the experience. This would then drive up sales of software, as they'd start to think of all the other scenarios they'd enjoy the Wiimote with.
So someone enjoying the Wii Sports Baseball could then be interested in third party baseball titles on the console. If a player had spent some time with Wii Sports Airplane and found the ideas it presented enjoyable, then perhaps they could move on to a more action-oriented flying game or a flight-simulation title. Wii Sports seems like a kind of gateway game experience, that if included in the system, could very well escalate the player's use of the console from just a passing interest in seeing what it's all about, playing for a handful of hours each week into a full-fledged obsession of gaming for hours each day.
People who aren't normally into gaming would then become gamers, having had their initial tour of duty, so to speak, with Wii Sports and progressing onto Nintendo's excellent first party games, or onto those from third parties. Sure, just about everyone knows the name Mario, but how many of those who know the name and recognize his iconic status actually buy and play his games? This would cause these new gamers to get in on established franchises and join the rest of us, which would show Nintendo achieving their goal with the Wii. Then if said gamer enjoyed their time with that title, their small interest and base of knowledge around that character and product would bloom into a continued effort to take part in future titles bearing the presence, in whichever way, of that character.
Including Wii Sports with the console would also do more for the company than just training gamers to the new control style and bringing in new talent to the gaming world. It could be a powerful marketing tool for the company. Think about how many parents that are sick of shelling out ridiculous amounts of money for a system, accessories, then high-priced games. Also, with the promised affordability of the console, combining a game with it adds so much more value, increasing the console's appeal on the shelf in stores that much more that when sat next to an Xbox 360 or PS3, the price tag is going to weigh heavily on the consumer when they choose which system they're going to purchase.
And what is stopping Nintendo from going ahead and including the game with the console? Absolutely nothing. These games aren't costing them Halo-like resources. It's not like they have 15 dedicated artists charged with rendering each section of turf on the tennis court in 3D or working on the lighting effects of the stadiums in Baseball. Surely a small core team are putting out these minigames individually, combining them to create a total package, which is a very cost-effective process.
It's a rational prospect for Wii Sports to be included with the console. Honestly, how could Nintendo not include it? What would they even charge for it as a stand alone? 30 bucks? 40 bucks?! So if this game, above all others, is ideal in shaping the player to know and understand the mechanics of the Wiimote not only for the fun games Wii Sports presents, but for other stand alone titles on the system in the future, how could they afford to not bundle the collection with the console? As a gamer, I want this to happen and as an objective journalist I think it will.
[Update: Cleared up confusion regarding the N64 launch.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-26-2006 @ 2:29PM
Arex said...
For us really old timers, the NES first launched with Duck Hunt and Gyromite (and the Zapper and R.O.B.), not Super Mario. The Mario bundle didn't come about until a bit later if I recall correctly.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 2:30PM
Shiboom said...
Mario 64 was not a pack in title. Although I am starting to believe that Wii Sports may be.....
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 2:32PM
vidGuy said...
That's a long blog post!
Wii Sports should be packaged with the console to get the mainstream audience excited. If it is, I expect two Wii remotes, if not two nunchucks also. I agree with the post, though, Nintendo has nothing to lose with a package deal and a whole lot to gain.
If it's not packaged with the console, I expect Wii Sports to sell for no more than $19.99.
I've been saying for weeks that two packages should be made available:
$199 Action Pack
Wii console
2 remotes+nunchucks
Wii Sports
$249 Action + Retro Pack
Wii console
2 remotes+nunchucks
Wii Sports
VC controller
512MB - 1GB SD card
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 2:33PM
r-deezy said...
Nothing new here, people have been saying this since it was unvieled at E3. I agree 100% - but i am VERY surprised this article has just now surfaced.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 2:35PM
Marc said...
Nice read. Now I think I'm convinced that I'd want Wii Sports as a pack-in launch title.
This is off topic but, can someone tell me wether or not Nintendo reveled the "shell" for the Wiimote. You know, the one that looks like a "normal" controller that is used for normal gaming when you plug the Wiimote into the shell.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 2:42PM
David Hinkle said...
Shiboom,
Are you absolutely sure, I recall my brother coming home with the N64 containing Mario? He could've bought it seperately, but for all intents and purposes, he played it off as being bundled.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 2:51PM
vidGuy said...
I'll second that Mario 64 was not a pack-in, at least where I bought it the N64 only came with one controller, no game.
Irregardless, I think going back to a pack-in could really launch Ninty into first place.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 2:54PM
sether134 said...
I would like to see Nintendo package Wii Sports with their system. But since the DS has been the Wii's forerunner and primary example for the Wii's eventual success, it would appear perhaps that Nintendo will not include a packaged game, at least not initially. Also, I seriously doubt Nintendo will be so generous with controllers.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 3:09PM
PhoenixGeek said...
If they are trying to reclaim past glory then why not mimic the launch of the NES or SNES. I for one would love to see it bundled with Wii Sports AND a new Duck Hunt. When I got my NES way back when it came with Mario/Duckhunt and a controler and light gun. So they might as well go ahead and bundle 2 controlers with nunchuck in there as well. I would have no problem spending 249.99 on such a bundle. I could also see them selling the retro controler separately, and bundling it with a Virtual Console game download card for a free game or two.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 3:17PM
Shiboom said...
David,
Positive. I wish it were a pack-in title, and I know they had bundled deals later on that came with Mario64, but you had to buy it seperately at launch. Much to my wallet's dismay :)
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 3:42PM
CartoonBeaver said...
The Nintendo DS did launch with a game demo of Metroid Prime: Hunters and quickly had Mario packaged in not to long after its release. The Wii could very well launch with Wii Sports and like everyone else I hope it does!
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 4:15PM
Jon said...
I think that Nintendo should return to its roots of selling games as a packed in, without charging us extra. Iwata always gave me an impression that he is a common gamer like most people that I know, and those people would want a game packed in.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 4:41PM
Pat said...
They way I see it, they will more than likely have 2 controllers included because of the whole 'Wii' concept. It is also very likely that they will include Wii Sports because it will make the system seem more affordable, since that was another thing they were going for (and I can't see people like myself going out and getting Wii Sports otherwise when there's so many other great games.)
However, when it comes to the extra controller attachments, I don't think they will be included. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the Nunchuck is needed for Wii Sports. Including a pair of those with the system wouldn't make much sense if it's not needed to play the packaged game. Also, including more extras would ony drive the price up, something no one wants to see happen.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 6:13PM
Mohan said...
This would icing on the cake. I am already going to be getting the Wii, whit this bundled with the system on a SD card or built into it would be great introduction to the system and it's new controller.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 6:45PM
vidGuy said...
Pat, you're right, Wii Sports doesn't require the nunchuck... simple, right? So why would they package it with the console?
The thing is, the Wii remote by itself can't play many of the launch games. It can't play LoZ:TP or MP3, surely to be the bigger launch games. This means that, before a Wii purchaser can play all of the launch games, he or she has to buy an add-on (nunchuck attachment). That doesn't look good, and no matter what the price is, requiring another purchase to play launch games doesn't satisfy consumers.
If the Wii is really such a derivative of the GC like Nintendo says, it shouldn't cost Nintendo THAT much to make. N makes a profit on the $99 GameCube... even if the Wii is much more powerful, it can't cost N more than $120 to make. Package two complete controller setups and Wii Sports, and MAYBE the cost is up to $175. At $199, that's still an almost $25 profit per console. Package the VC controller and an SD card (cost ~ $30 ) in and charge $249, it still looks like a bargain, but Ninty makes even more profit per console.
Fact is, Nintendo has to really distance it self in the package deals, at least the way I see it. A $199 console with one remote and no nunchuck, VC controller, SD card, or game doesn't look like much of a bargain (pretty much par for the course). Two complete controllers and a game in the box with the console at $199 looks like a heck of a bargain.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 7:07PM
Cowlix said...
Add in Wii Orchestra and the Drum game and you've really got yourself a sweet deal.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 7:12PM
Ryan P. said...
David Hinkle writes, after a totally annoying and long-winded intro:
"One such email arrived recently where the sender proposed that Nintendo could very well include Wii Sports with the console at retail."
I think the 'journalist' is going to specifie the validity of the source. Wether it's an industry insider or retailer making this claim. Then i have to read through the whole article before realizing it's just a wishful thinking editorial:
"As a gamer, I want this to happen and as an objective journalist I think it will."
Don't waste my time with this sort of teasing non-news just to put a post up. And even when you do have a real news item, just get to the point. I hate having to scan through filler to get to the point.
No offence, Ryan.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 7:37PM
Marc said...
So no one has heard about that "shell" yet, huh? Well I'm just hoping that Nintendo didn't forget about it, I really want the Wiimote and "shell" at launch.
Like anyone cares.....
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 9:21PM
Vincent said...
Ryan, I seem to remember this being a blog. They may post news as well, but it is a blog, and thus is subject to both "filler" and opinions. This post is merely stating that an email from some guy got him thinking about Nintendo's past, and the mistakes they have made by no longer including a packaged title. If Nintendo wants to broaden their audience, they are going to have to package *something* with it. I think it will be 1 complete controller set + 1 more Wii remote, no nunchaku for the second one. I doubt the virtual console control will be bundled, as that will probably be its own like.. "retro starter kit" with like 5-10 downloads and a VC controller attachment.
But anyway, as I was saying. No need to be angry with a post like this, which in your opinion was put up "just to put a post up." It's a blog, get used to it.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 9:35PM
Gamer_Domeni said...
marc, there is no shell. There is the controller for the Virtual console which has been discussed here before. I assume they might announce a change soon though, the controller looks awkward.
Reply
6-26-2006 @ 10:56PM
vidGuy said...
Marc, on the controller shell:
The Virtual Console controller has two slots in the back, with the top of the controller having a release button. I suppose that the Wii remote could have a cradle (see the indents on the side of the remote) that would lock into the back of the VC controller, holding the Wii remote on its back.
You would then have:
D-pad
Two analog sticks similar to Dual Shock in placement
ABXY buttons in SNES shape
etc
plus the motion sensing of the Wii remote. This would also fix the "wii remote dangle" issue when using the VC controller. So far, that's the only possible "shell" we've seen (excluding the Zapper, which doesn't provide 'traditional' controls).
Reply
6-27-2006 @ 8:36AM
Marc said...
Maybe, the "shell" could just be a GC controller. Cuz the normal GC controller has all the buttons of both the VC controller and Wiimote (besides buttons 1 and 2). A GC controller would also just plug into the Wii from the top. The Wii is based on GC hardware so it would recognize it.
And an example that I have would be SSBB. Nintendo said that for the game you just use a GC controller, because it would get confusing to use the Wiimote.
I think that this setup would be better cuz most people have a GC, the controllers aren't expensive, and they look much more comfortable than the VC controller.
(I know it's not really a shell, but I like to think that "shell" was a code word, cuz remember when they announced it? The Revolution was still in development. So maybe they decided on GC controllers as a shell)
Reply