Ok that's not really what he said. But the point still stands. Nintendo has adopted a new policy: games will literally not be revealed until they feel that the market is ready to expect them.

We have heard literally NOTHING of Pandora's Tower, and yet it's about to be released in a couple of months. Same thing happened with Excitebots, as well as many other games. Anyway, this is what we know so far:



Iwata said:

One of the Wii titles scheduled to be launched this year is, as you know, “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Iwata said:

Also for Wii, we are planning to launch a new title called “Pandora’s Tower” (translation of Japanese title). The development of the software is nearing the end, and we are scheduled to launch this title in the early half of this year. Please look forward to further news as we will make additional announcements later.

There has also been an announcement for a Pokemon Wii title in the works.

Iwata said:

"Rhythm Paradise" is known as a big hit title on Nintendo DS. Now, we are making a new "Rhythm Paradise" game on Wii...We are also planning to sell this software this year.

Iwata said:

You know that we launched “Kirby’s Epic Yarn” late last year in Japan and in the U.S. But it’s been a while since we launched the previous home console version of the Kirby game where Kirby can inhale enemies, spit them out and morph, but a team at Hal Laboratory, Inc. is developing a new Wii game from the "Kirby’s Dreamland" franchise now. Please watch this.

We are also planning to release this new Kirby software this year.

Iwata said:

Other than these games I mentioned, Nintendo is preparing for several more Wii titles to hit this year. We will make these announcements at later dates.

SOURCE

In other words, YES THEY ARE MAKING GAMES FOR WII TO BE RELEASED IN 2011. However, THEY ARE STILL FOLLOWING THEIR POLICY.

Now I understand that it's natural to assume that there wasn't going to be much support for Wii for 2011 due to lack of announcements. But considering Nintendo's policy, we should have enough sense to realize that that doesn't mean that Nintendo aren't making any games for the system!

Hopefully, this information will be helpful to those wondering if Nintendo is going to support the Wii this year.

URL to share (right click and copy)

If they add Starfox and F-Zero with Kirby, then I think fans will be satisfied with this year's first-party line-up.

Posted by

Paleo_Orca

on: 01/29/11, 04:27

@Simbabbad

Then perhaps you missed this.

Iwata said:

Other than these games I mentioned, Nintendo is preparing for several more Wii titles to hit this year. We will make these announcements at later dates.

How can they have their work-flow split between 3DS and Wii 2 if the above quote is true?

Posted by

casper884

on: 01/29/11, 04:37

While on one hand not having a media overload on games before they come out is nice, Nintendo should at least announce these games sooner, so that we know they exist. You mention Excitebots, but was that game's release really planned out well at all? Most people never heard of it, it only came out in one region, many people who saw its cover without ever having heard of it assumed it was some shovelware ripoff of ExciteTruck, and it sold marginally.

Posted by

X-pert74

on: 01/29/11, 04:37

@X-pert74

The only reason I wish that Nintendo would make their announcements sooner is so that we wouldn't have these silly discussions in the first place.

Posted by

casper884

on: 01/29/11, 04:40

It's hard for me to get excited about games when it doesn't even sound like Nintendo is that excited over them. Their game releases don't really feel like "events" in the way that they used to.

Posted by

PogueSquadron

on: 01/29/11, 04:41

@PogueSquadron

But that's the point. They don't want to lead people through the path of 'Twilight Princess Hype'. This new policy ensures that that doesn't happen.

Posted by

casper884

on: 01/29/11, 04:43

Edited:

01/29/11, 04:44

@casper884

Their switching of strategies seems veeery familiar...

"Oh my god, we can't win, you guys say 'bring us some of your old franchises,' we do that, 'well, no, no we want new IP' come on, ah, oh my god, we can't satisfy, tell me that we can satisfy you guys?!"


Nintendo will never satisfy their fans... because their fans are spoiled rotten. We're sorry... :C

Posted by

Paleo_Orca

on: 01/29/11, 04:53

We want to have our cake and eat it too! Basically, we want both IP revivals AND new IP's. In other words, we expected Nintendo to have unlimited resources!! LOL

Posted by

casper884

on: 01/29/11, 05:04

@casper884

Well if 3rd party devs gave a rip about Wii the same way they care about 360/PS3 Nintendo wouldn't have to do it all themselves.

But by now Nintendo should have experience carrying a whole console by themselves. They've been doing it for three generations now?

Posted by

NoMoreMIDI

on: 01/29/11, 05:42

I'm happy with Nintendo...I don't have enough time to play all the games I wanted to the last few years.

Hell, I just wish they would announce the Wii 2 or whatever hell thier next console will be so this little discussion about Wii's lack of games, ect, ect can be finally over.

Seriously though, I really cannot fathom a new Nintendo console soon. Reason being, what they hell is going to be the "gimmick" this time around to make people want to run out and buy the machine? And by using the work "gimmick", I'm not knocking the motion controls or anything like that.

Nintendo definatly wants thier next console to sell just as well, if not better than the Wii. And even though Wii sales have slacked off some, the Wii is still outselling the 360 and PS3 worldwide.....so it really makes me think, why would they want to release a new console? And other than thier next console displaying HD graphics, again...that alone is not going to make people run out and buy it like they did for the Wii.

Yes, I would love for Nintendo to release a HD console, so don't get me wrong, but there has to be more to it than just HD graphics and a beefier system to make it sell like hotcakes.

I also think its kindof a bad idea to wait to the last minute to announce new games/products. Just like with excitebots, that game would have sold more copies if there was some type of good marketing behind it. When people don't know about a game or the company gives them no reasons to buy it, then its not going to sale...except maybe to the few people who really knows what its about and loved Excite Truck.

Here is the deal when it comes to new consoles..and I think Nintendo, Sony and MS knows this already. Its really not about the consoles anymore. Its really more about new and interesting software that will capture the gamer's attn. Yea, back in the day people couldn't wait for more realistic graphics, ect, ect. But now that we are at the point where graphics are pretty damn realistic, what else is there to really make a person want to go out and buy a new console. I'm pretty damned content with the HD consoles and its really only Nintendo's next console that I want.

Posted by

gamewizard65

on: 01/29/11, 05:54

Here's the problem - NoA doesn't localize most of the games Nintendo publishes in Japan. If they did, I wouldn't be annoyed with the company's treatment of their console. But since they refuse to publish about half of their own software in North America, I can't really get too excited about Wii this year, as much as I'd like to.

It's becoming increasingly clear to me that Nintendo truly is a "Japan first, everyone else second" corporation and as such I am becoming increasingly less interested in my once favorite video game company as a whole. I simply refuse to get excited for Nintendo software these days when I have absolutely no idea if I'm ever going to be able to play it.

By the way, if NoA drops some huge announcements this year, I will be the FIRST person to eat the biggest plate of crow known to man and I'll allow you to all laugh and make fun of me. But I really doubt that's going to happen.

Posted by

OrbitalBeard

on: 01/29/11, 06:22

Edited:

01/29/11, 06:25

I think it's going to be a pretty slow year for the Wii, but for sure there will be games that have not been announced yet. And some will probably be pretty decent. I'm not expecting any big announcements for Wii though.

Posted by

Zero

on: 01/29/11, 07:20

Am I in the wrong for thinking this is a terrible strategy on their part? I miss the hype and anticipation, and as an adult, I MUST plan my purchases and limit spontaneous spending.

Posted by

autokymatic

on: 01/29/11, 07:43

@Orbital74 NOA's lacking localization rate has definitely killed a lot of my like for Nintendo over the past few years. I too just plan on either waiting for specific confirmation of a game's North American release, or I assume I'll be importing it.

Posted by

X-pert74

on: 01/29/11, 07:58

@auto

I wouldn't say it's a terrible decision. It can also be argued that many people can lose interest in a title if it's announced too far in advance. Especially if the title has a steady stream of coverage from announcement to release. This can lead to over-exposure and the consumer may feel like they've experienced the whole game before it's even released (this is why there has been so little information on Skyward Sword).

Announcing surprise titles can rake in more impulsive sales, and be available while the title is still fresh in the consumers' minds.

Posted by

casper884

on: 01/29/11, 08:07

I think they are right to keep things untill the are ready. Fans just complain if things shown early are not in the final game (Sunshine) or the game changes a lot (Wind Waker). I think it's also good that players don't see too much of the game before release, with a lot less media on it. We don't need a hundred videos and a million screen shots really.

Posted by

Cube191

on: 01/29/11, 13:06

Yep, this is obviously their new marketing strategy. For years now they have held onto information as long as they can. I can only seem to imagine this is b/c they've found that hype fades with time and sales suffer. I believe the only reason we saw Zelda:SS last E3 was a result of the core demographic crying out for it. Paleo is absolutely correct, Nintendo fans are spoiled brats.

Posted by

Abdooooo

on: 01/29/11, 15:14

I at least hope Pikmin 3 is revealed at E3 or something. Cripes it feels like I've been waiting for this franchise all gen.

Didn't Miyamoto admit that it was in development years ago?

Posted by

New Forms

on: 01/29/11, 16:30

@Paleo_Orca
That link was pretty funny. This news gives me hope that the Wii won't be running on fumes until Wii 2, but I don't think this strategy ultimately works for Nintendo. Has it resulted in huge sales success? Not for Excitebots, right? For anything else?

I think the minimum they should do is just throw out titles and development teams and genres and then publicize the actual details closer to release. As it is now, there is seldom a solid argument to counter "Nintendo haz no gaaaamez!"

Maybe they are wary of doing that after publicizing all of that crazy shit a couple of years ago in Japan, and then cancelling a lot of it. Or maybe just Cosmic Walker. Stuff like Tact of Magic and Line Attack Heroes eventually came out, right? Nobody clamors for those games, haha.

Nintendo could actually PACK 2011 with niche, unreleased games. Just throw them out and let gamers find them. But they won't.


I want Zengeki. What the fuck.


EDIT: According to that source, the eShop, DSi Transfer, and Browser are coming in Late May worldwide. I guess I can't trade in my DSi just yet...

Posted by

Anand

on: 01/29/11, 16:33

Edited:

01/29/11, 16:48

Simbabbad said:

I'm pretty sure there will be one somewhat important game on the whole, probably something like a F-Zero or Starfox or Mario Golf game, but everything else will be B stuff like Odama or some JRPG magically imported to our shores. While nice and worth of interest, that won't do for a year.

Actually I could live with Nintendo using this year to bring over JRPGs and the likes, since they have some pretty big stuff. But I'm predicting that, at least in North America, we never see Xenoblade or Pandora's Tower and I think The Last Story is probably 50/50 (though it shouldn't be.)

Simbabbad said:

This is a terrible strategy that killed interest for the console for everybody I know in real life, and they all bought HD console, and I do mean all, and it's making it harder for the forum. Luckily we talk about gaming in general.

I dunno, if the forum has been slow in recent months I'm not sure if this can explain it, because 2010 was probably one of the best years for Nintendo yet, and we got not only a bunch of games worth talking about but a whole new upcoming platform (3DS) to discuss. But... the forum seems about as fast to me as whenever, excepting the period immediately following the great IGN exodus. Which makes sense, basic forum logic is you need to find a way to bring people in equal to or faster than they leave, because people will leave... a truth every forum has to deal with. I never expected to hold onto everyone who came from IGN, I just wanted to hold onto a significant portion, and we have!

Posted by

Zero

on: 01/29/11, 18:32