June 27, 2007
Nintendo to sell user-generated video games (http://thebrowser.blogs.fortune.com/2007/06/27/nintendo-to-sell-user-generated-video-games/)

In a nod to the content-creation strategy that made YouTube a phenomenon, Nintendo (NDOY.PK) announced today that it’s giving the masses a chance to develop video games and sell them over the WiiShop channel on the company’s super-hot gaming system, the Wii.

Not a lot of details available yet about the so-called WiiWare program — e.g., what kind of tools and templates Nintendo will provide — but for the pimply-faced kid (or frustrated corporate stiff) with a great game idea but little time, money, or energy to go through traditional development and retail outlets, this could be a significant opportunity. For Nintendo, it seems like an no-brainer move. The company already sells games from its rich historical catalog. Setting up one additional channel would seem to cost the world’s stingiest company (I mean that as a compliment. For more, read this.) a pittance, and the potential upside is huge. How long before we see a Lazy Sunday moment in video games?

Nintendo can seem to do no wrong these days. Its market cap, at an all-time high, briefly passed Sony’s (SNE) earlier this week — a company with a diverse product line and a much larger reveue stream. The Wii continues to trounce the PlayStation3 and Microsoft’s (MSFT) Xbox 360 in the marketplace. By tapping into the creativity of the crowds, Nintendo could have a nice low-risk, high-margin business on its hands with WiiWare. And if it fizzles, it still looks good for giving its fans a chance at their dream.

So…got a great idea for a great Jurassic-era combination RPG/first-person shooter? Get cracking on your storylines. The first content will be available early 2008.

well, SOMEBODY should come up with a new game.....I'm really getting disappointed with the lack of good games for this system. Could be selling it soon....

So are you saying I should not be looking for a Wii right now?

My wife actually wants one and she hates video games. My theory is that if I can get her hooked on Wii I can play video games with her, instead of when shes not there/asleep.

So I could create a George Blaha basketball game?

I already have the title, " 'Off the high glass!!' Basketball with George Blaha"

or OTHGBWGB, for short (although I'm pretty sure all of the "gamers" will just go with "OTHG").

wtfchris: My prediction is that you'll both enjoy it for a couple of weeks, then forget about it because there's no good games... unless you keep buying her the crap that's on the market right now, she might keep entertained (since you said she wasn't a gamer at all). But, that's probably not even likely...

But they at least have the EA games right? Madden and such. I have an original xbox so the graphics have to be an upgrade, right? Although I'm sure I'd have to get other controllers to play madden (the numchuck and remote won't be good for that will it?)

Well, I don't have a Wii, so I can't speak for that, but I think the only EA game out right now for Wii is Madden. The graphics are not much better than 360 versions, and I think you probably have to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuck for it. People seem to think that since its price is lower than 360 and PS3, then hell, I'll buy it. But I'm not about to fork over 350+ (Wii, peripherals, game) for a console for which I won't be buying games for a long, long time.

Chris, unless you are a very casual console gamer (which you might be as I think you are rocking PC games mostly from your WC3 posts) then I would consider it a "family" console meaning "not really for Dad".

That's currently. There are some very fun games on it and playing with my kid is great, but so far there is nothing to keep you occupied for 40+ hours or multiple hours on a regular basis playing solo.

Chris, unless you are a very casual console gamer (which you might be as I think you are rocking PC games mostly from your WC3 posts) then I would consider it a "family" console meaning "not really for Dad".

That's currently. There are some very fun games on it and playing with my kid is great, but so far there is nothing to keep you occupied for 40+ hours or multiple hours on a regular basis playing solo.

Pretty much.

I mean, there's Zelda but eventually you'll beat that.

I mean, there's Zelda but eventually you'll beat that.

yup, and now it's just sitting there....mocking me....looking very nice and not being a DVD player

Chris, unless you are a very casual console gamer (which you might be as I think you are rocking PC games mostly from your WC3 posts) then I would consider it a "family" console meaning "not really for Dad".

That's currently. There are some very fun games on it and playing with my kid is great, but so far there is nothing to keep you occupied for 40+ hours or multiple hours on a regular basis playing solo.
That's the plan. I play my games on my PC (the shooters and strategy type games like WC3).

The Wii would be something the family could enjoy. If they come out with enough sports games (apparently they are with all the EA games soon), I can dump my xbox (not a 360) to use the Wii for my sports games as well.

I don't sit in front of the console for hours (I used to back in college), I just don't have time and probably never will. I only play my xbox when I have friends over to play it multiplayer. So I'm not concerned about that really. I just want something that my wife will actually be hip to, that my young cousins and in laws can have fun with when they are over, and my kids (when we have some).

Then I would definately say you are looking at the right console. That's pretty much how I've used it. My 3 yr old school's people in Wii boxing, neices and nephews come over and play Warioware because there is zero learning curve (literally, none at all), ex-wife loved Super Paper Mario and Mario Party. Almost everyone I know (parents, friends, Jehovah's witnesses) has a Mii character.

ill probably buy a wii just for mario kart when it comes out. i like metroids on gamecube, and mario should be fun, but i wont buy it till mario kart. if mario kart has a great online mode, it'll be well worth the cost. im one of the most talented mario kart racers in the world, i suspect, dating back to me killing the "best times" nintendo power used to publish for the snes. i'd bet my life that i could beat any time trial time in the world for any race involving the snes or gamecube version (never played much n64). my big gripe with game cube was that the items completely dictated the race, so i could lose even though i raced so well. i really hope wii's version isnt just about who gets the best item on the last race. i can definitly see mario kart wii online ruining my life nearly to the extent heroin would.