Both of Nintendo's gaming consoles are extremely popular, mostly with casual and atypical gamers. One of the big differences between the two -- other than one is handheld and the other is not -- is that the DS covers most gaming genres fairly well whereas the Wii seems to primarily cater to the casual gamer.
From the Nintendo 2009 gaming preview that Nintendo Power colorfully provided, owners of either console can expect more of this distinction, especially when it comes to role-playing games. According to the January 2009 issue of Nintendo Power, the Nintendo DS can expect at least ten rpgs while the Wii will receive four by Spring 2009.
Wii Has Always Been Short on RPGs
This probably shouldn't be all that surprising. According to the game guide on Nintendo's own site, the Wii only has 12 RPG games whereas the DS has 54. Nintendo just has not cranked out that many RPGs for the Wii, and this could be for a variety of reasons:
- No interested third-parties for development;
- Exercise, music, and family games are doing so well, why invest in the RPG genre;
- RPGs have not sold very well on the Wii; and maybe
- RPGs have done so well on the DS, Nintendo would rather focus the genre on that console.
Is the Wii Not Made for RPGs?
The Wii is obviously made for games that can use some form of the motion-sensing technology the console thrives on. So games like first-person shooters, sports games, racing games, exercise games, music games, and even real-time strategies are a more natural fit for the Wii. With RPGs, developers may need to be a little more creative in how to utilize the motion-sensing gimmick.
Aside from finding ways to utilize the Wii-mote, the graphics capabilities may be another turn-off for developers, as well as RPG fans. Since the Final Fantasy series introduced stellar graphics on the PlayStation 2, fans have high expectations for exceptional graphics and developers want to appease their fans.
As pretty as the Wii's graphics are, as seen in Fire Emblem and Tales of Symphonia, it cannot handle the depth of graphics found in other next-generation RPGs such as Lost Odyssey, Mass Effect, or the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII. While fans enjoy graphic levels found in Eternal Sonata, most don't want to play this style all the time. Game developers know this, so therefore they will not focus their time on producing RPGs for a console that cannot handle the graphic content fans desire.
Lack of Wii Role-Playing Games Causes Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
For whatever reasons there are -- if there are any in addition to the ones already explored -- the end result is few RPGs on the Wii. As a result of that, few RPG fans will buy the Wii, which means RPG sales will be low. Because sales are low, developers are not apt to create new RPGs. And the cycle spins on and on.
Unfortunately, the only thing that will break the cycle is an enriching RPG with graphic content at least as high as the Wii demonstrated in Twilight Princess, a deep and intriguing story, unique and fun gameplay mechanics, and more than thirty hours of play time.
But as long as Nintendo's focus for the Wii is on other genres (and honestly, with its success, why should it change), nothing will stimulate production for a role-playing game of this caliber. For now, the Wii console will remain a secondary, possibly tertiary console for the RPG fanatic.
So Nintendo Power's 2009 preview for the RPG genre on the Wii is hardly surprising, although it's still rather unfortunate. But at least Nintendo isn't forsaking the genre completely; the DS should have plenty to keep fans happy.
Keri Honea - Keri Honea is all over the place. She's involved with video games, animation, strategy guides, and fantasy books, and not just on Suite ...
