Nintendo Wii Fanboy

GameSetWatch has been running an interesting two-part column on the success and failure of the Wii in its first two years on store shelves (2nd anniversary arriving soon, read our 1st anniversary theme week here!). The second part of the piece, which focuses on the negatives, has a couple of interesting tidbits worth pointing out.

The first thing the piece focuses on is waggle and how the early promises of a more immersed experience for the gamer have not been fulfilled. We're willing to concede that, because of how great the console has sold in such a small period of time and how many developers and publishers have proceeded to churn out shovelware and dirty ports just in an attempt to cash in. There are always exceptions to the rule, however, with not only Nintendo showing us the amazing and unique things that can be done with the control scheme, as well as some other third party developers and their titles (Zack & Wiki, Let's Tap, and No More Heroes, just to name a few).

We won't spoil the rest of the piece for you, but, to be honest, it's really good. It calls the Wii out for a lot of its shortcomings, and not in a totally biased tone. And, if bashing the Wii doesn't sound like an interesting topic for an article to you, read the first part, where it's nothing but Wii love.

Source - Two Years In - The Wii's Successes
Source - Two Years In - How the Wii Has Failed

With the Wii being out on shelves for some time now, the system has had plenty of time to surprise us. A few of its games that we've been pleasantly surprised by are now among some of our most treasured gaming experiences. What games have released on the system and surprised you? Was it in a totally good way, like us, or have things surprised you in a negative way? Let's hear it!

Sure, there's tons of shovelware on the Wii, but there are some genuine third-party gems, as well. Zack & Wiki, Boom Blox and No More Heroes are just a few of the quality, non first-party titles available on the console. More or less, have you been satisfied with what third-parties have done on the Wii? Do you think they're turning things around when it comes to releasing quality product on the console? Do you think third party titles will never be able to live up to the quality standards of Nintendo's own first party titles?

For all of you looking to get a free copy of Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure , which is easily one of the best Wii games, then head on over to the original contest post. The giveaway ends this evening, so you're running out of time. Best of luck to you all and, as always, thanks for reading Wii Fanboy!

What's this? We're giving away one of the console's best games? You bet we are! After seeing the sale for the game during last week's E3, the team leaped into action to scrounge up as many copies as we could to give away to those of you who refuse to listen to us. It was only $10, folks! But, if you still didn't get a copy, now's your chance to partake in one of the Wii's most fun and challenging games.

We have a total of 5 copies of Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (retail value is $10 each) to give away. What do you have to do to enter for your chance at one of these five copies? It's simple, just leave a comment telling us how many times you check Wii Fanboy each day. Simple enough, right?

Now, you can enter only once per day (leaving more than one comment in a day automatically disqualifies you for that day) and the giveaway is only open to current and legal residents of the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec). You also have to be 18 years of age or older. The giveaway will be open from now until 11:59pm ET on Sunday, July 27th. We'll announce the winners (selected via random drawing) on the next day. Remember, folks: keep an eye on your email!

If you meet all of this criteria, then we suggest you hit up the official rules and get to entering! We wish you the best of luck and thank you for reading Wii Fanboy!

Following up those recent screens from We Love Golf, IGN has put up a bunch of new trailers for the game. If you're still anxious to hit the green with your Jill Valentine costume, we suggest you play golf at night (her outfits aren't good for golfing, we hear). But, if you want to play as Jill Valentine in a golf video game, then head past the break for more trailers from We Love Golf. One even shows the Zack costume in play.

Why do we love the Wii with friends? Because we want all to share the splendor and majesty that comes from playing the best home gaming console around. So that's why we set out to bring you a nice, easy package of great multiplayer games for the Wii.

Both online and local multiplayer is covered, as well as games that have released and those that are still in production. We hope you find this useful in your own life, in some small way, or at least a good place to link a friend who has no idea what they're getting into with the Wii. So read on and see what we have in store, then come back here and tell us what multiplayer experiences you enjoy most on the Wii!

As we all sit up straight and proper in anticipation for Capcom's port of Okami for the Wii, the folks at the official Capcom blog have decided to snap up some pictures of random things about their offices. Too bad they don't travel around the entire office, because then we wouldn't get so few pictures of so few things.

Hit up past the break to see the other side of the fan, as well as a piece of swag from another Capcom game.

Gamers down under are getting a treat come February 21st when Capcom's stellar title Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure hits retail shelves. Australia, we have one thing to ask you: will you please buy this game? Seriously, you need it.

When we reviewed the game, we found it to be one of the absolute best games on the system. It's such an amazing game on all levels that we're incredibly surprised that nobody else thought so, as the game's sales were incredibly poor. We wondered if complex games such as this would even have a future on the Wii. Actually, we still do.

So, Australia, do your part. Make sure you buy this amazing game.


[Via Go Nintendo]

Looking over this week's releases, we're not all too excited about any of the offerings. And, looking at the previous week's releases, we've completed just about every other game we wanted to play. But, good thing we have yet to finish Super Mario Galaxy, so we'll have that to play. What about you all? Are you working on anything?

Maybe you followed our advice and picked up Zack & Wiki or you're waiting to win our latest Fanswag giveaway so you have something new to play?

Well, our giveaway has come to a close and it's time to crown a winner. We're sad, to be honest, because we would have liked to have held onto these games for just a bit longer. But, such is our lot in life. Oh well, at least we can enjoy making one of our readers the happiest person ever!

The winner of our giveaway is:

• Ankabut, who wished the Wii a very happy birthday!

Congratulations, Ankabut! We'll be in contact to get all of your info. For the rest of you, better luck next time and thanks for reading Wii Fanboy!

To celebrate the release of the Wii on this day a year ago, we're hooking one lucky fan up with a bunch of sweet gaming action. While we would've liked to give away a free Wii to mark this special occasion, alas we could not find one (who can, anyway?). So, you'll have to settle for a bunch of free games, instead!

We're looking to make one lucky winner the happiest person on the planet by hooking them up with:

• 1 copy of Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure
• 1 copy of Namco Museum REMIX
• 1 copy of Dancing with the Stars
• 1 copy of Battalion Wars 2
  

Before entering, please hit up the official rules page. Also, as usual, you have to be 18 years of age or older and live in the United States. Only one entry per person, so multiple comments will get you disqualified. Also, be sure to get your comment in before Thursday, November 22nd at 11:59PM EST. We'll select the winner come Friday.

Best of luck to all of you and, as always, thanks for reading Wii Fanboy!

Following our review of Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure, we were immediately smitten with the game. It's so damn good, it feels like we were swimming in a gigantic pool. Only, the pool's water is replaced with chocolate sundae. As you make your way through the delicious, thick substance, giant smile on your face, you realize that life can't get any better than this.

So, what's stopping you from knowing that feeling? Seriously, the game might be a tad on the difficult side to find, but we suggest you hit up one of the various online retailers should you have trouble finding it out in the wild. If you already have it, then welcome to the club. Your membership card is in the mail.

For the rest of you who aren't interested, we have a pretty good idea which of this week's releases you're currently engaged in. Are you just going to navigate the stars, or will you take our advice?

They're on a quest to pay off their considerable debt.

Er, scratch that.

They're on a quest for treasure.

It's jokes such as those that are running rampant throughout the entirety of Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure. And, this blogger can easily say it is one of the best games to grace the Wii yet.

During its first four days on sale in the US, Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure sold approximately 30,000 copies. A week later, it had added 15,000 to that total. Hardly breathtaking figures in a nation with over 3.7 million Wiis in its bedrooms and living rooms, and the game also struggled to leave a mark in its homeland, where it is known as Takarajima Z: Barbaros no Hihou. There's no doubt about it: Capcom's splendid piratey adventure has, as much as it saddens us, flopped.

On the face of it, the game's commercial failure might seem odd. After all, Zack & Wiki earned eye-catching scores from a number of reviewers, while IGN's Matt Casamassina loved it so much, he frothed and raved about it non-stop for four months, before slapping a 90% on it come review time. Its bright, attractive visuals, cute character design, and puzzley action were seemingly the perfect ingredients for massmarket appeal. Ultimately however, it sank faster than a holed galleon.