Wii's 2007 line up sucks ass

[Himu]

Nintendo Announces 2007 Wii Lineup
Smash Bros., Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3 and much more all set for release this year?
by Matt Casamassina

April 30, 2007 - Last week, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata held a conference to talk about company financials and to outline its plan for the year. At the Japan-hosted event, Iwata noted that the Big N had 45 Wii games and another 79 DS titles in development. Now, through officially released financial documents, we've gained a much deeper understanding of which titles players can look forward to this year - both in Japan and in America.

Nintendo officially states that the following games will be coming out for Wii in Japan in 2007:

* Donkey Kong Taru Jet Race (DK Jet or DK Bongo Blast, US) - June 28, 2007
* Wii Health Pack -- 2007
* Disaster: Day of Crisis - 2007
* Mario Party 8 - 2007
* Project H.A.M.M.E.R. - 2007
* Wii Music - 2007
* Super Mario Galaxy - 2007
* Super Smash Bros. Brawl - 2007
* Battalion Wars II - 2007
* Forever Blue - 2007
* Mario Strikers Charged - 2007
* Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - 2007
* Mario and Sonic at the Olympics - 2007

In a word, wow. The list confirms that, at least in Japan, Nintendo is planning to release all of its big Wii guns, including Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, this year. In addition, the list reaffirms that the company is underway with Wii Health Pack and Wii Music, two games destined to follow in the footsteps of the ultra-popular Wii Sports. Wii Health Pack is allegedly an exercise-focused game that rates players' health scores in the same way that Nintendo's brain titles rank brain ages. Meanwhile, Wii Music will very likely include both Wii Orchestra and Wii Drums, as demonstrated or shown at previous events, such as the Electronic Entertainment Expo.

While skeptics may argue that Nintendo carelessly listed all of its major games for 2007 without much thought, or to remain vague, it is important to note that it also made a distinction for two projects. Both Animal Crossing Wii and Hoshi no Kirby (Kirby Adventure) Wii are listed in the same documents as "TBA," or to be announced. Clearly, some separators were set for the official list and Nintendo still chose to define the majority of its Wii projects for the 2007 time frame.

Of the games listed, only four have been officially confirmed to debut this year in America. Mario Party 8 is set for May 29 in the States; Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree for June 11; Pokemon Battle Revolution for June 25; and Mario Strikers Charged for this summer. SEGA has revealed that Mario and Sonic at the Olympics will ship this year, but no specific date has been set. However, readers should remember that titles like Metroid Prime 3 are set for 2007 in Japan and these games have always shipped in America first, suggesting that Corruption is certain to debut in the US before the end of the year. In addition, we have to think that fans would riot if Japan got Smash and Galaxy in 2007 and the Americas did not.

Nintendo has historically shied away from releasing too many major games during a single year and as a result fans have become accustomed to bracing themselves for software delays. Beyond the second quarter, though, this year's Wii release schedule is anybody's guess and there is now real hope that the company could actually debut many of its biggest games before the holiday season.

While PlayStation 3 may not yet be a threat to Wii, Xbox 360 sales are continuing at a steady pace with no visible signs of slowing. The house that Mario built could choose to counter some of Microsoft's kings with aces of its own - Smash, Galaxy and Metroid can certainly compete with titles like Mass Effect, Halo 3 and Too Human. And Nintendo may be able to do this without losing sight of the mainstream crowd, dishing out efforts like Wii Health Pack and Wii Music.

Furthermore, Nintendo's 2007 Wii schedule consists of only 13 titles -- a far cry from the 45 projects the company has in development.

For now, the release schedule is not speculation, but truth - at least overseas. What remains to be seen is whether or not Nintendo will stick to the schedule or delay one or more projects to next year. If it does indeed move ahead as currently planned, 2007 may prove to be one of the biggest years in company history.

In separate, but semi-related news, rumors began to circulate late last week that Nintendo was interested in hiring former Sony head Ken Kutaragi, who, having fathered the PlayStation and its predecessors, is leaving the company. But speaking with the Japanese press, Nintendo's president said that such rumors were unfounded.

Hahaha. You gotta be kidding me. "Wow"? We knew all of those games were being released this year.

If that's the Wii's line up for 2007, that's really really weak. I knew it was weak before but I expected better than that, especially since Wii has been selling so well. But there's still no game announcements.

The list is weak especially compared to ps3 and 360. I'm definitely not impressed if the only original IP on that list that interests me is Forever Blue, and that may end up sucking.

Fire Emblem was delayed, I take it.

[Van Cruncheon]

MARIO IS RACING A KART
MARIO IS ATTENDING A MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE CONCERT
MARIO IS FUCKING HIS FANS IN THE ASS

[Himu]

Hahaha

[Cheebs]

This is why 360 is my main console. Mario Galaxy will be AMAZING and SSBB will be fantastic, but like GCN that is still only a handful a year.

[tiesto]

All I care about is getting Mario Galaxy and Smash this year... as long as Wii has that, I'm happy.

[Himu]

All I care about is getting Mario Galaxy and Smash this year... as long as Wii has that, I'm happy.

Mario Galaxy for me.

[Flannel Boy]

If that's the Wii's line up for 2007, that's really really weak.

It's Nintendo's Wii lineup, not the overall wii line up. Though, as we know, the overall line-up won't be noticeably larger.

[Phoenix Dark]

Meet the new Gamecube, same as the old Gamecube

[Vizzys]

SSBB = +1 wii sold here.

[Yeti]

Smash Bros., Metroid Prime, and Mario Galaxy make a pretty good triple threat. That will make for four games that I'm dying to play for the Wii. 

[Phoenix Dark]

Smash Bros., Metroid Prime, and Mario Galaxy make a pretty good triple threat. That will make for four games that I'm dying to play for the Wii. 

I'll believe it when I see them on the shelf this year.

But yea if all three games come out that's a great triple threat. But this basically means there will be no games worth buying until maybe September.

[Himu]

Am I the only person who goes "meh" when someone brings up Mario Galaxy, Smash, and Prime 3 as a solid line up? I mean, it's okay.

[Phoenix Dark]

Honestly the only one I want is Mario Galaxy. It's the only Wii game that can convince me to buy that system. At E3 it was omg amazing

SSBB is cool but I got tired of the other one after a few years. My brothers will go crazy over it, not me.

MP3 is very interesting to me because I want to see if it shows the Wii's FPS controls are good. I doubt Iwata even knows what he's talking about when he claims it's close to mouse/keyboard. Matt said he'll be playing the game later this month so we'll see

[The Sceneman]

Whats wrong with that line up? Galaxy, Brawl and MP3 should all be fuck awesome.

Michelle, MP3 controls will be awesome, if the aiming in Zelda was anything to go by FPS should wlork extremely well with the Wii controls

[BlueTsunami]

360

[Van Cruncheon]

360

[demi]

PS3?

haha just kidding

you bought a $600 paperweight

[Beezy]

If Brawl, Mario Galaxy, Prime 3, and Fire Emblem Wii all released in the U.S this year, then I'm buying a Wii.

[Himu]

Whats wrong with that line up? Galaxy, Brawl and MP3 should all be fuck awesome.

Michelle, MP3 controls will be awesome, if the aiming in Zelda was anything to go by FPS should wlork extremely well with the Wii controls

MP2 kinda made me wary of future Prime games. Zelda's controls are good for ZELDA. I'm not so sure if an fps would be as responsive and it certainly felt wonky as shit in Red Steel. Even then, there are a lot of kinks in Zelda's control scheme that don't register at all depending on your situation (shield bash move among things). It is beyond annoying and in an game like Metroid Prime 3 you're not going to want to settle for such bullshit because those games, unlike Zelda for the past 10 years, actually have difficulty.

Never been a Smash fan myself.

Mario Galaxy looks hot though. Now, the REAL question is why did Fire Emblem get pushed to 2008? The Jap versoin has been out for quite some time.

[etiolate]

Galaxy + Smash Bro + Metroid > Bioshock

Don't care about GTA and Halo really, but I bet those both outsell Bioshock because the MS userbase is so distinguished mentally-challenged. GUNZ AND CARZ!

[Beezy]

Now, the REAL question is why did Fire Emblem get pushed to 2008?

It did?

[Cheebs]

Meet the new Gamecube, same as the old Gamecube

except people are buying this one. lol

 ?

[Van Cruncheon]

i'll take guns and cars over kiddy mascot games and nostalgia

[Yeti]

If Brawl, Mario Galaxy, Prime 3, and Fire Emblem Wii all released in the U.S this year, then I'm buying a Wii.

If you can find one. 

[Himu]

Now, the REAL question is why did Fire Emblem get pushed to 2008?

It did?

It's not on the article I linked in the first post.

[Himu]

Galaxy + Smash Bro + Metroid > Bioshock

Don't care about GTA and Halo really, but I bet those both outsell Bioshock because the MS userbase is so distinguished mentally-challenged. GUNZ AND CARZ!

[Scurvy Stan]

Didn't you guys learn anything from N64 or GC?

[TakingBackSunday]

i'll take guns and cars over kiddy mascot games and nostalgia

OMG TEH MATOOR

[Vizzys]

"game with mascots, nope cant play too kiddy & my balls dropped already lulz."

bring on the "ssb is not a fighting game" bs next.

[tiesto]

i'll take guns and cars over kiddy mascot games and nostalgia

I wouldn't because I'm not a 14 year old thug wannabe...

[Himu]

This has nothing to do with being 14 years old. It's about having FUN! I honestly don't have that much fun with the Prime series. I loved the first half of the first, but hated the second. The second game is average poo poo. I've never understood the love for Smash. It never really clicked. It's fun, but not anything I'd want to spend my hours playing. I like Mario, but the more I play his games the less I like them compared to how much I used to.

So yeah, I would take Mass Effect, likely to be rpg of the year after Persona 3; Bioshock, fps of the year; GTAIV, possibly to be the game of the year for me, over Smash, Prime 3, and Galaxy.

The notion that GTA and Halo (as average as it is) are only for 14 year old thug wannabes is silly.

[Prost]

This has nothing to do with being 14 years old. It's about having FUN! I honestly don't have that much fun with the Prime series. I loved the first half of the first, but hated the second. The second game is average poo poo. I've never understood the love for Smash. It never really clicked. It's fun, but not anything I'd want to spend my hours playing. I like Mario, but the more I play his games the less I like them compared to how much I used to.

So yeah, I would take Mass Effect, likely to be rpg of the year after Persona 3; Bioshock, fps of the year; GTAIV, possibly to be the game of the year for me, over Smash, Prime 3, and Galaxy.

Not really meant to be offensive, but if you always play games alone and on your own like you do, of course you're going to go with the ones you chose.  The Wii is for people who want to play with other people mostly, and the other systems are playing on your own.

If you've never understood the smash bros hype, then you've never had 2-3 friends over playing a ton and having a ton of fun.  galaxy and prime 3 will be fun on one's own, but most everybody plays sports or will be playing SSB most of the time with everyone else.

[Himu]

If you've never understood the smash bros hype, then you've never had 2-3 friends over playing a ton and having a ton of fun.

I have. It was about as fun as the Naruto fighting games because you can play 4 player on that too.

I think playing GTA with a bunch of people is funner than playing Smash with a bunch of people. Everyone I know loves them some GTA, even if they aren't playing but merely watching, because it's so damn fun. If GTAIV has co-op it will probably be the best co-op game of all time, because almost everyone I know that plays the games does the "if you die, it's my turn" thing with GTA. This would make replayability shoot up the roof when it's higher than average already.

Plus, Halo 3 has co-op so I don't get where you got this idea that Wii is the only system designed for playing with other people.

[Van Cruncheon]

grown adults don't play smash brothers. period. you wanna play a competitive fighting game -- which smash brothers isn't -- and you're over the age of 15? pick up vf5. leave the cereal box character antics to the dragonball z and bratz set.

[MrAngryFace]

Grown adults play fucking Virtua Fighter 4 Evo/5

Also, im too lazy to shop a new one for the Wii, but we've seen this before. N-fans are so fuck stupid.

[tiesto]

Most of the "grown adults" I know play Smash Bros and only Smash Bros... I tried introducing them to the SF series but they weren't interested at all, and I guarantee VF is much too complex for them. That was back in college, and I only know one kid over here still into fighters, but a couple of my other friends expressed interest in learning Smash Bros when Brawl comes out. I don't care much for playing online, it feels so antisocial to me (especially on weekend evenings, the only time I really have a chance to play online coop), and its definitely more fun to play with friends over (either coop or competitive)... playing online with some random redneck in Oklahoma doesn't do it for me.

I didn't like Prime either... awkward control setup and wayyyyyyyyyy too much backtracking. I don't like the GTA series much at all as we all know by now, the other games definitely seem to be geared more towards the single player. Halo 3 should be pretty fun though. Owning pretty much every system aside from PS3 (still absolutely worthless in my eyes) means I don't have to worry about being bored at all this year, but I have a feeling I am gonna be playing a LOT of Brawl, since I've had such good times in college with the first 2 Smash games (i.e. 40 kids, both guys and girls, at my friend's house eating shitty Buffalo pizza and good Buffalo chicken wings and drinking and stuff), and I've always liked the series mechanics; easy to pick up and play, with quite a bit of depth, that doesn't require memorization of arcane combo strings or anything and lots of little nods to retro gaming.

[MrAngryFace]

They aren't adults just cause the Govt takes money from their paychecks.

[Himu]

Most of the "grown adults" I know play Smash Bros and only Smash Bros... I tried introducing them to the SF series but they weren't interested at all, and I guarantee VF is much too complex for them. That was back in college, and I only know one kid over here still into fighters, but a couple of my other friends expressed interest in learning Smash Bros when Brawl comes out. I don't care much for playing online, it feels so antisocial to me (especially on weekend evenings, the only time I really have a chance to play online coop), and its definitely more fun to play with friends over (either coop or competitive)... playing online with some random redneck in Oklahoma doesn't do it for me.

Similar situation for me, which is why I want my fighters to have online paly. Most people I know are into fighters I don't particularly care for so I'm stuck playing single player modes.

[Van Cruncheon]

yeah, how you can say "i'll pick pikachu and you pick starfox" when your testicles have descended is beyond me. if i asked ANYBODY in my office -- even the obese manchildren -- to come over and play a game where we get to be MARIO or LINK or PRINCESS ZELDA or KIRBY and OMG FIGHT EACH OTHER, i'd be volubly mocked and pelted with pocky until i fled in tears.

[Yeti]

Drinky, are you the warden at a prison? 

[tiesto]

Online play is pretty nice for fighters, agreed (as long as there's not a lot of lag), but I'm not the greatest at the genre, and it seems that the type of people who play fighters online are really hardcore and amazing at it... I've gotten close to beating a few people but I just don't really have the time to just play one game and get extremely proficient at it. I went to EVO 2k6 in Connecticut last year (and am going to the one this year... which has Smash Bros Melee, woot!) and got my ass promptly handled.

Do people have that many hangups about their manliness that they really give a fuck about playing some of the more "kiddie" franchises? I got over that shit when I was like 15...

[Himu]

Tiesto, the players who play fighters online aren't the hardcore guys. It's mainly the guys like you and me who just like fighters but aren't so dedicated and wanna have some fun, even if there's slight lag.

Plus, when you DO play the hardcore guys, this builds up your skills a lot.

On DOA online, you can choose to fight people who are your skill level, so you can fight people at your level.

[Van Cruncheon]

it's not about hang-ups. kiddie cartoon critters annoy me and most other well-adjusted adults not drenched in their own nostalgia. would you play smash brothers melee if it featured care bears, hello kitty, the lucky charms leprechaun and my little pony? 'cuz i ain't seein' the difference.

[Himu]

What about the versus fighter series?

[Van Cruncheon]

not seein' the gamut of anthropomorphic animals, pink powder puffs, pokeymans, twinkly green elves, and chibi plumbers in that series, duder.

[Himu]

It's got chibi robots. But then again, it's got AWESOME chibi robots who shoot lasers.

[Himu]

This whole convo reminds me of something that happened in irc once.

I'm Team Venture. We're talking about Odin Sphere.

[13:04] <thetrin> it's story im worried about
[13:05] <Team_Venture> if OS' plot is anything like Princess Crown's I really won't give a shit  about the plot.
[13:05] <thetrin> well that's true
[13:05] <thetrin> i started playing princess crown today actually
[13:05] <thetrin> im loving it so far
[13:05] <Team_Venture> but then again, OS looks like a darker and more interesting take.
[13:05] <Team_Venture> PC is fucking girly to the max.
[13:05] <thetrin> yea
[13:05] <thetrin> so?
[13:05] <Team_Venture> but the gameplay and animations omg omg
[13:05] <thetrin> who the fuck cares if its girly?
[13:06] <Team_Venture> thetrin: i'm talking about the story
[13:06] <thetrin> afraid its going to turn you into a cigarillo?
[13:06] <Team_Venture> No, I just don't like girly stories.
[13:06] <rk> <Himu> Fucking cooties!

What's wrong with preferring things that's more mature and not kiddy?

[Van Cruncheon]

PC wasn't terribly girly outside of Gradriel's character design, and got really fuckin' dark quickly.

[tiesto]

it's not about hang-ups. kiddie cartoon critters annoy me and most other well-adjusted adults not drenched in their own nostalgia. would you play smash brothers melee if it featured care bears, hello kitty, the lucky charms leprechaun and my little pony? 'cuz i ain't seein' the difference.

I dunno, I'm not really annoyed by those characters, I deal with enough annoying people on a daily basis (LI rush hour commuters, guidos (you guys may laugh at pictures off njguido.com but count your blessings you don't have to deal with them), JAPpy girls, Italian princesses,  suburban white kids who are convinced they are from the ghetto -- a typical day on the island) so overly cutesy and kiddie stuff hardly phases me. The question I'd ask you is: Would you play Smash Bros if it had a bunch of generic martial arts stereotypes, or bald space marine Fred Durst wannabes in place of the Nintendo mascots? I know I would, since I like the core gameplay of the series and I follow enough about video games to know what type of gameplay I'd like or not like, but the nostalgia angle is an easy hook for me and plenty of other people.

[Oblivion]

WE ONLY PLAY GTA AND OTHER MATURE RATED GAMES CUZ EVERYTHING ELSE IS FOR feggits! BAAAALLIN


Sometimes I feel Drinky is is just saying this stuff on purpose. I mean, being afraid to play a game because you worry about your sense of masculinity is pretty much the epitome of immaturity and insecurity. Don't you like Yoshi's Island? Doesn't it have crayon-like 'kiddy' graphics? I'd assume you like it cause it's a good game (as how a game SHOULD be judged). Yeah, the fact that SSB has Nintendo characters is a plus for most people, but more importantly, it's a good game. You 'might' have made a case for something like Mario Party or something to that effect.

[Himu]

Sometimes I feel Drinky is is just saying this stuff on purpose. I mean, being afraid to play a game because you worry about your sense of masculinity is pretty much the epitome of immaturity and insecurity. Don't you like Yoshi's Island? Doesn't it have crayon-like 'kiddy' graphics? I'd assume you like it cause it's a good game (as how a game SHOULD be judged). Yeah, the fact that SSB has Nintendo characters is a plus for most people, but more importantly, it's a good game. You 'might' have made a case for something like Mario Party or something to that effect.

No, it's really just because it's unappealing.

[Oblivion]

Sometimes I feel Drinky is is just saying this stuff on purpose. I mean, being afraid to play a game because you worry about your sense of masculinity is pretty much the epitome of immaturity and insecurity. Don't you like Yoshi's Island? Doesn't it have crayon-like 'kiddy' graphics? I'd assume you like it cause it's a good game (as how a game SHOULD be judged). Yeah, the fact that SSB has Nintendo characters is a plus for most people, but more importantly, it's a good game. You 'might' have made a case for something like Mario Party or something to that effect.

No, it's really just because it's unappealing.

Yeah, I don't care about that, and it's not the impression I got from Drinky. Like I said, if you don't like a game based on the game itself, it's one thing. But just cause it has Nintendo mascots? Not so much.

[Beezy]

I've never met a gamer who had a problem with playing multiplayer Smash Bros or Mario Kart...