Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus selling well, and Wii Sports Resort ain't even out yet

For a device that took a solid year to go from "debuting at E3" to "shipping," we're pretty surprised to see that Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus held as much steam as it did. With overall video game sales dropping in June for the first time since 2000 (when looking at year-over-year figures, anyway), the Big N still had a few hundred thousand reasons to smile. Aside from the 361,700 Wii consoles and 766,500 DS units that shipped in June, the company also managed to sell 169,000 Wii MotionPlus dongles -- and that's not including the ones that were packaged with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, of which 272,400 units were sold. The real kicker, however, is that the accessory's real partner in crime (that'd be Wii Sports Resort) has yet to be released. It's good to be king, ain't it Mario?

[Orbital @ Jul 19th 2009 3:26AM]

inb4 Sony/Xbox fanboys bashing this with everything they got.

[Cody @ Jul 19th 2009 3:32AM]

Like how Nintendo fanboys bash any Microsoft or Sony story?

[Orbital @ Jul 19th 2009 3:34AM]

If there was a more recent Xbox or Sony thread, I would go 'inb4 Nintendo bashes the crap out of this'.

Happy?

[Cody @ Jul 19th 2009 3:47AM]

Yes...although I'm pretty sure Nintendo wouldn't be doing the bashing. :P lol

[Orbital @ Jul 19th 2009 3:48AM]

Usually it's the ones making fun of the RRoD or the price of PS3s. (Although the latter I really have the agree with.. Come on, Sony. You almost sell more PS2s than PS3s at the moment.)

[Adderz @ Jul 19th 2009 3:52AM]

When talking about the Wii..the Nintendo bashing is WELL deserved.

[Cody @ Jul 19th 2009 3:53AM]

I guess that even though I own all three consoles, I'm closest to being a Xbox fanboy because it's the only console I don't really see anything wrong with, since the newer consoles don't get the red ring. The Wii doesn't really have but one or two games I enjoy and I agree with you that the PS3 is over priced.

[Orbital @ Jul 19th 2009 3:57AM]

Agreed, actually.. PS3 is overpriced, Wii is a good price, but the wiimote is really a gimmick (that other console-makers seem to enjoy trying to make their own version of..) And has absolutely NO GAMES unless you like playing movies-turned-into-games which usually suck ass. (No I do not like wii sports or wii fit. It's amusing for maybe 2 minutes.)

Xbox seems to be the only thing remotely interesting as of late. Which, is odd, since I hated the original Xbox to all hell. (Almost entirely because of the controller. And don't give me that 'use a third party controller' shit since everyone hates third party controllers and give them to their friends when they are over to play games with you.

I see the PS3 as I see the Atari 2600 and the Atari 5200.

[Cody @ Jul 19th 2009 4:05AM]

I didn't have a problem with the original xbox controller....i just only liked a few of the exclusives. (Halo series and Conker: Live and Reloaded) On another note my dad got more fun out of Wii Sports than I did. He likes bowling.

[lawyer bird @ Jul 19th 2009 6:12AM]

The Wii is worth its weight in gold if you play a little outside the rules and install the homebrew channel. I Haven't bought a game since SSBB...sorry devs!

[John @ Jul 19th 2009 6:42AM]

@lawyer bird

Because the wii doesn't weigh very much, amirite?

I seriously hate the wii. Every time I go to blockbuster to rent a game for the wii, I end up trying to decide which one I'll hate the LEAST. Usually it's between "Redneck Olympics" and "Cooking Mama". Strangely, the only game I'm interested in playing on the wii is Tales of Symphonia 2, which NOBODY IN TOWN CARRIES.

Meanwhile, while glancing at the 360 or PS3 wall of games for a moment, I find several that I would love to BUY.

P.S.: I bought Twilight Princess on gamecube so I wouldn't have to suffer with the wiimote, Super Mario Galaxy was fun the first time through, I didn't care for Metroid Prime, and I hated the controls for SSBB. Note how the best Wii games either use the wiimote like a regular controller (Galaxy and Metroid Prime), or they would play better with a regular controller (Zelda, SSBB).

back to the article: I hate the Wii because everything for it sells really well and makes the Wii look awesome, even though once you buy one you find out that it really isn't. The Wii may have the largest market share, but it really REALLY doesn't deserve it.

[Andrei Vassiliev @ Jul 19th 2009 11:56AM]

The Wii is a great console (that is, all the tools to make a great, fun game are always there for devs to use) but no developer has really tapped into its features to make a truly deep and interesting game that uniquely uses the motion controls...

It's either a game that's built around waggling the wii remote that has no real depth, or a deep game that can can be ported to the xbox 360 and enjoy higher resolution graphics while still being fun because the wii remote is not necessary for it.

There needs to be a happy medium to make the wii less of a gimmick as far as a console.

Also, it has a goddamn DVD drive. Why exactly did nintendo decide to make us jump through hoops to actually play movies on it?

[Peter @ Jul 19th 2009 12:21PM]

The children that actually play Wii can't go on the internet without parental permission, much less bash anything

[Kiv @ Jul 19th 2009 10:40PM]

@John

Bought Zelda on GC so you wouldnt have to suffer with the Wiimote? Wowzer... And here is me who thinks that Zelda and Metroid Prime 3 really showcased how much fun it could be when done right!

Yes, the number of games that really make use of motion control well is extremely limited, however those two games did it so well! If it were not for the fact that even though I typically hate console shooters I still call Halo my favorite FPS just because I loved the storyline, I would say MP3 was the best console shooter experience I've ever experienced. In terms of pure gameplay, it definitely was the best console FPS.

I am no company's fanboy, I just feel like no one gives credit where credit is due. I own Xbox and Wii, with no plans for a PS3 as I don't see it fulfilling a purpose beyond what I already have.

[Cody @ Jul 19th 2009 3:31AM]

Slap a Nintendo logo on anything and it'll sell. I want to try this out, but I'll wait for Wii Sports Resort. I'm not a golf fan.

[Rocky @ Jul 19th 2009 3:59AM]

I was not impressed with either Grand Slam Tennis or Tiger 10.... neither felt like they even used the Motion Plus. Either Motion Plus is very overrated or the games just sucked.

[Cody @ Jul 19th 2009 4:07AM]

Or maybe a little of both? I'll save my judgment until a company releases a compatible game that isn't in the sports genre.

[B3astofthe3ast @ Jul 19th 2009 3:34AM]

its selfish of me, but i liked nintendo better when they were they underdogs, the n64 and gcn days were awesome.

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Jul 19th 2009 4:00AM]

yeah, way better then those snotty SNES & NES days.

[B3astofthe3ast @ Jul 19th 2009 4:50AM]

not that those days weren't awesome, but n64 is my fav system of all time, and im one of the few people that liked the gcn.

[El Capitan @ Jul 19th 2009 11:22AM]

Oh, I completely agree. The gamecube was a good system, which unfortunately had little developer support. But there were those games that just blew me away. And the N64 is my favorite system of all time. What a lot of people don't realize is that the N64 was SO far ahead (technologically) of the PSone. There were a hand full of games that pushed the 64 to the absolute max, and look better than even some games from the following generation.

In relation to this post, I'm hoping the motionplus turns out well. The Wii is good, but it needs more...of what? I am not sure yet,

[Uncontrol @ Jul 19th 2009 3:34AM]

Nintendo's arrogance will end up biting them in the ass just like it did with the N64.

[Cody @ Jul 19th 2009 3:47AM]

I can't wait to see the sales figures of the Vitality Sensor.

[Uncontrol @ Jul 19th 2009 3:48AM]

ughhh fuck you i'd forgotten about that thing

[Cody @ Jul 19th 2009 3:54AM]

lol Sorry to bring up bad memories of future accessories.

[SEVENim @ Jul 19th 2009 10:10AM]

just like what happened with sony?

[zalcron @ Jul 19th 2009 11:36PM]

i actually think the vitality sensor could be used for some good. like say, horror games? a game tries to scare you depending on how fast your heart is racing, etc. but i also see the main reason for it, more fitness games a shovelware. but to me, just like the motion+, i think their will be some actual quality games that come out for it.

[lettcco @ Jul 19th 2009 3:38AM]

you got your itard, and then you got your wiitard

[CaramelZappa @ Jul 19th 2009 3:40AM]

I owned a wii, but after beating the handful of titles really worth playing through (since they're all single player), it just sat and collected dust. So I sold it, it's been a year or so and there still hasn't been a single release that made me think "damn, I wish I still had my wii"

Though to be honest, I'll probably buy a new wii when No More Heroes 2 comes out.

[Cody @ Jul 19th 2009 3:49AM]

I still own my Wii only because if a great game comes out, I won't have to buy a new Wii.

[nintendo fanboy hater @ Jul 19th 2009 4:35AM]

you will be waiting past the next console cycle for that

[CityZen @ Jul 20th 2009 1:43PM]

The Wii is the best console to play socially when you have people over, especially when your friends are not all hardcore gamers.

The Xbox 360 may be the best to play with people (other hardcore gamers) over the net.

I'm not sure where the PS3 fits in here.

So if your Wii is collecting dust, you need to start having more parties. Seriously.

[Adderz @ Jul 19th 2009 3:44AM]

I just sold my Wii after just over a year of torture. Shit games, shit controls, shit graphics pretty much sums it up.

The Wii can burn in hell, im sorry but it has to be the most overhyped, shit-tastic console that everyone owns yet no one plays.

[nintendo fanboy hater @ Jul 19th 2009 4:33AM]

i salute you sir

[kojo87 @ Jul 19th 2009 4:38AM]

but Nintendo got your money

[Adderz @ Jul 19th 2009 5:20AM]

Thats correct, i bought into the hype. I even bought over 10 games but when your resorting to buying Gamecube games because there is simply NOTHING to choose from on the Wii side...its pretty sad.

I remember trying to play a "shoot em up" on the Wii. Red Steel. It was so much fun trying to aim the stupid thing when the receptacle is flying all over the screen. Also bought Quantum of Solace and it was obvious their budget consisted of any change they found around the office and simply had no time to do it.

I bought No More Heroes and the graphics were horrific, i knew they were going for the whole Arcade feel but the graphics were still horrific and that was with a component cable. Invisible walls everywhere, choppy jagged edges...

Resident Evil 4 showed how much potential the Wii had. Great graphics, engrossing story, managable controls, but it was lost in a sea of shit party games, half baked movie tie ins and developers looking for a quick buck. Even first party titles like Mario Kart offered nothing new, it was pretty much a compilation of previous tracks and everyone who was a "hardcore" player knew the controls worked better by using the nunchuk instead of the wheel.

The 360 and PS3, while taking the "safe route" offer much more polished systems and a more focused market to sell games to. I was only gone for a year and i missed out on some great titles like GTA IV and Fallout 3.

Needless to say im much happier now i have my 360 back.

[Thunda Chunky @ Jul 19th 2009 6:12AM]

@adderz

If I may quote Jor-El, "Welcome home, my son."

[Ethan @ Jul 19th 2009 5:45AM]

It'd be better for everyone if they just build this into new wiimotes from now on.

[John @ Jul 19th 2009 6:43AM]

but then they couldn't charge $50 + $30 for the nunchuck + $30 for the motion plus!!

[THRILLHO @ Jul 19th 2009 8:42AM]

Wow, you need to find a store near you that sell things for retail price (wii remote is 40, nunchuk and wii motion plus are 20)

[sven vollstag @ Jul 19th 2009 6:14AM]

...um, Zelda?...
...Mario?...
...Metroid?...
...Smash Bros?...
...no games?...
...one in house Zelda title is worth a million crappy halo games...

[nintendo fanboy hater @ Jul 19th 2009 6:46AM]

yea... if they had made a new one in a year. you are why i have this profile name

[Zorque @ Jul 19th 2009 7:57AM]

Wow, 5 games worth playing! What a great system!

[Wewtaco @ Jul 19th 2009 7:58PM]

After you beat Zelda, Mario, and Metroid, they get boring. No multiplayer = little replay value. That means all you have left to play is smash bros, which gets old easily. This is exactly what happened to me, and why I sold my Wii.

[sven vollstag @ Jul 19th 2009 7:11AM]

...what a miserable existence you must have...
...sad, because others are so happy...

[TheOnlySaneOneLeft @ Jul 19th 2009 8:03AM]

Why do people insist on peddaling lies about the Wii. I know we're on a really geeky website where the majority of you go home and pleasure yourselves about your 1080p graphics, but this is getting silly.

I would suggest that if somebody plays enough computer games to become bored with the Wii's offerings, that they need to get a life. Seriously.

The Wii has easily the best game of the current gen (Mario Galaxy). Not to mention the best Resident Evil game of all time. Controls are important you know.

Not to mention Zelda, SSBB, World of Goo, Okami, Mario Kart, No More Heroes, Rock Band, Guitar Hero, the best version of Tiger Woods, Wii Sports, Grand Slam Tennis, Excite Truck (brilliant game), Metroid, Wario Ware, Punch-Out!!, Little King's Story, Boom Blox, the best Pro Evolution Soccer on any console ever.

Not to mention many other semi-decent party games if you are in to that sort of thing. Plus we've got SMG2 and NSMB coming out, not to mention NMH2 etc.

But if you're a geek, and can't see past graphics, then unlucky, but that doesn't stop millions enjoying the games. Millions more than enjoy your boring cliched FPSs on the other consoles.

And they don't care what you have to say on your geeky website because ultimately they don't read it.

[sven vollstag @ Jul 19th 2009 8:08AM]

...right on...

[SEVENim @ Jul 19th 2009 10:31AM]

Replace Grand slam tennis with Bully
Replace Little King's Story with Madworld
Replace Boom Blox with that Zelda collectors edition thing for gamecube
Replace Pro Evolution Soccer with Super Metroid

Congratulations, you just named off my wii collection.

[mikia @ Jul 19th 2009 10:41AM]

thanks for being smart in a sea of hate.

[kingofwale @ Jul 19th 2009 11:00AM]

what a sad list of games you have there... and seriously... Rockband and Guitar hero?? why are you listing games that are done BETTER on other consoles?

and Little King's Story?? Grand Slam Tennis??? You aren't doing yourself any favor there. If we are going to list all the B- games on every console, There are way more on PS3/360/PC.


Seriously, we ALL know that software isn't Wii's strongest suit. Just save yourself the trouble and focus on why most people bought Wii...... Control and gimmicks.