CORBIE'S GAME BLOG

I thought it might be nice to sit down and come up with three things that each console manufacturer needs to do in order to make their console successful. Today we’re looking at the Nintendo Wii and what Nintendo needs to do to close the gap between them and Sony that’s gradually grown over the past two console generations. Keep in mind, these are just my random thoughts on the situation, and if you have any comments, please feel free to post them or email me. Don't worry, I can take it.

1. The first thing Nintendo is going to have to do is convince gamers that the new type of game control they’re bringing to the table is viable and functional. You can’t just show someone waving around the Wii remote and expect people to accept it at face value. You have to show that not only is this new type of interactive control fun, but that there will actually be games that put it to good use in a non-gimmicky way. E3 was a great start in proving that the new style of control actually worked quite well, but most casual gamers weren’t at E3 and many don’t even know what went on there. This is where marketing is going to play a very key role in showing the world what this new control system is all about and convincing gamers that it’s something they just have to have.

2. We know that the Nintendo Wii is going to be priced at under $250. In fact, many sources point to a $200 price tag, although that might be being a bit too optimistic to me. Either way, we know the Nintendo Wii is going to be more than half the cost of Sony’s Playstation 3 system and that’s something Nintendo needs to focus on when they begin marketing the Wii to consumers. Let gamers know that not only are you getting a great new system with one of the most innovative controllers ever created, but they’re also getting all of this at a bargain price. It might even be a good idea to keep the Wii games priced at under $50 as yet another way to up-end the higher cost of the PS3 system and games. As I’ve said before, make all of these gamers and parents that go to Walmart take a look at the prices of the PS3 and Wii side by side. I can promise you that $600 PS3 price tag is going to look much worse when it’s sitting next to the Nintendo Wii’s $250 price tag.

3. We know that Nintendo is planning on making many of the classic 8 and 16-bit games available for download via their “Virtual Console” function on the Wii, but Nintendo needs to really make sure that this function isn’t just a forgotten aspect. Nintendo needs to make as many classic titles available as possible in order to make their Virtual Console stand out up against Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade. Having locked up both Sega Genesis titles as well as NEC and Hudson’s TurboGrafx-16 titles, Nintendo is in an excellent spot to turn the Virtual Console into a really outstanding all-in-one classic gaming machine. But for that to happen, Nintendo is going to have to offer up more than just first-party titles and needs to make a serious play at getting as many third party 8 and 16-bit titles as they can muster if gamers are going to take the Virtual Console idea seriously. The Virtual Console has all the makings of being a real ace-in-the-hole for Nintendo and their Wii console if it’s done right.