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    The Nintendo Wii is a home video game console released on November 19, 2006. The Wii's main selling point was the innovative use of motion controls that its signature Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers allowed for. It became the best selling home console of its respective generation of hardware.

    The Wii is three years old! Happy Anniverary! LET'S CELEBRATE!

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    Willy105

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    #1  Edited By Willy105

    It has been three years since the Wii came out. Meant to completely revolutionize the game industry from geeks to EVERYONE. But one day before release, it was pretty obvious that the system would be a commercial disaster and would plunge Nintendo as a third party developer.
    It has been three years since the Wii came out. Meant to completely revolutionize the game industry from geeks to EVERYONE. But one day before release, it was pretty obvious that the system would be a commercial disaster and would plunge Nintendo as a third party developer.
     
     

     The Wii, to everybody's surprise, took the world by storm, and became the fastest selling videogame system in history. For two continuous years, Nintendo had trouble keeping the Wii's on the shelves. Even worse for third party developers, who put all their budget on HD projects, which ended up losing a lot of money, causing many developers to close when the depression hit late 2008. Meanwhile, Nintendo was on top of the world, both critically, and for the first time in a decade, financially.
     The Wii, to everybody's surprise, took the world by storm, and became the fastest selling videogame system in history. For two continuous years, Nintendo had trouble keeping the Wii's on the shelves. Even worse for third party developers, who put all their budget on HD projects, which ended up losing a lot of money, causing many developers to close when the depression hit late 2008. Meanwhile, Nintendo was on top of the world, both critically, and for the first time in a decade, financially.

    The game milestones.....
     

     Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, the first Zelda launch title, although a Gamecube port, became the first adventure many gamers went into when they got the system. It went to become a critically acclaimed (although controversial) game, mostly due to it's inspiration from Ocarina of Time.
     Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, the first Zelda launch title, although a Gamecube port, became the first adventure many gamers went into when they got the system. It went to become a critically acclaimed (although controversial) game, mostly due to it's inspiration from Ocarina of Time.


    Usually named the most important release of the seventh-generation of consoles by industry analysts, Wii Sports became the best selling videogame ever, and for the majority of the Wii's population the first videogame they have ever played. More people know and played Wii Sports than even heard of Modern Warfare 2.
    Usually named the most important release of the seventh-generation of consoles by industry analysts, Wii Sports became the best selling videogame ever, and for the majority of the Wii's population the first videogame they have ever played. More people know and played Wii Sports than even heard of Modern Warfare 2.



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    By now, the Wii was unstoppable, but the games never went away.....
     

     The highly anticipated conclusion to the Metroid Prime trilogy came out to critical acclaim, showcasing some of the Wii's strengths in graphics and atmosphere, including being the showcase for the Wiimote as a superior way to control first person games compared to a dual analog gamepad. A similar control system was implemented in almost every Wii shooter since.
     The highly anticipated conclusion to the Metroid Prime trilogy came out to critical acclaim, showcasing some of the Wii's strengths in graphics and atmosphere, including being the showcase for the Wiimote as a superior way to control first person games compared to a dual analog gamepad. A similar control system was implemented in almost every Wii shooter since.


     Miyamoto's latest creation, Wii Fit, also became a grand commercial success, getting even more people into the Wii than ever before. Due to it's popularity, a ton of games were released with balance board support, from minigame collections to fighting games.
     Miyamoto's latest creation, Wii Fit, also became a grand commercial success, getting even more people into the Wii than ever before. Due to it's popularity, a ton of games were released with balance board support, from minigame collections to fighting games.


     
    The new 3D mario game, Super Mario Galaxy, took the game industry by storm, rocketing to become the best reviewed game of the generation, and stood at #2 in Gamerankings game of all time, behind only Zelda Ocarina of Time. (right now, it's at #3 due to a review for GTA4 from Playstation magazines)
    The new 3D mario game, Super Mario Galaxy, took the game industry by storm, rocketing to become the best reviewed game of the generation, and stood at #2 in Gamerankings game of all time, behind only Zelda Ocarina of Time. (right now, it's at #3 due to a review for GTA4 from Playstation magazines)


     At the time, it was the most anticipated game in history, and became a great critical and commercial success, Smash Bros. Brawl continues to be #1 as the most played games on the Wii according to usage data from the Nintendo Channel. Like it's predecessors, this game continues to be an anticipated event at many game tournaments.
     At the time, it was the most anticipated game in history, and became a great critical and commercial success, Smash Bros. Brawl continues to be #1 as the most played games on the Wii according to usage data from the Nintendo Channel. Like it's predecessors, this game continues to be an anticipated event at many game tournaments.


     Mario Kart Wii, one of the longets running and most critically acclaimed racing series in the history, became a huge franchise on the Wii, selling over 17 million units worldwide. Not only was it critically acclaimed, it set examples on how a game can be good for casuals and nail-bitingly hard at the same time, as well as sporting lag free 12 player online play.
     Mario Kart Wii, one of the longets running and most critically acclaimed racing series in the history, became a huge franchise on the Wii, selling over 17 million units worldwide. Not only was it critically acclaimed, it set examples on how a game can be good for casuals and nail-bitingly hard at the same time, as well as sporting lag free 12 player online play.



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     Suda's very violent No More Heroes makes it's debut on the Wii, showcasing the boundaries of weirdness you can put on a videogame.
     Suda's very violent No More Heroes makes it's debut on the Wii, showcasing the boundaries of weirdness you can put on a videogame.



     Capcom's masterpiece, Zack and Wiki, failed at selling in the market, but became a critically acclaimed game, showing just how many things you can do on the Wiimote, as well as a return to the point and click genre, all but dead before this release. The genre started seeing a rebirth, especially on Wii after this game was released.
     Capcom's masterpiece, Zack and Wiki, failed at selling in the market, but became a critically acclaimed game, showing just how many things you can do on the Wiimote, as well as a return to the point and click genre, all but dead before this release. The genre started seeing a rebirth, especially on Wii after this game was released.



     The developer's first game after being re-formed from Clover Studios, Platinum Games's Madworld quickly gained media attention for it's high amount of violence and gore, as well for it's innovative graphics, utilizing stark contrast between environments with a black and white color palette.
     The developer's first game after being re-formed from Clover Studios, Platinum Games's Madworld quickly gained media attention for it's high amount of violence and gore, as well for it's innovative graphics, utilizing stark contrast between environments with a black and white color palette.


     Although not the first game to use Wii Motion +, Miyamoto's Wii Sports Resort, the sequel to the Wii pack-in (for some markets), became the defining example of 1:1 motion control in games, as well as becoming both a critical and commercial success. Various games later started using Motion +, from sports games to shooters.
     Although not the first game to use Wii Motion +, Miyamoto's Wii Sports Resort, the sequel to the Wii pack-in (for some markets), became the defining example of 1:1 motion control in games, as well as becoming both a critical and commercial success. Various games later started using Motion +, from sports games to shooters.


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     After years of development, Project IO emerged as Little Kings Story, a console RTS. It was released to critical acclaim and showed how much the genre fit the Wii. However, due to lack of advertising, this and many other third party games failed to penetrate the market, causing them to publicly show disappointment in their games.
     After years of development, Project IO emerged as Little Kings Story, a console RTS. It was released to critical acclaim and showed how much the genre fit the Wii. However, due to lack of advertising, this and many other third party games failed to penetrate the market, causing them to publicly show disappointment in their games.



     The first new 2D Mario game on a home console in almost two decades came out to critical acclaim, adding four-player co-op to the Mario gameplay.
     The first new 2D Mario game on a home console in almost two decades came out to critical acclaim, adding four-player co-op to the Mario gameplay.


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    The Nintendo Revolution ended up an awesome console, but did it really revolutionize the industry? After all, that was it's primary reason. Let's see....


    Months after Nintendo unveiled the Wii controller, Sony quickly removed the rumble of it's PS3 controller to add room for a tilt sensor. This created a lot of controversy, which Sony rectified by releasing the DualShock 3 a few years later.
    Months after Nintendo unveiled the Wii controller, Sony quickly removed the rumble of it's PS3 controller to add room for a tilt sensor. This created a lot of controversy, which Sony rectified by releasing the DualShock 3 a few years later.


     
     
     Not to be left in the dust, Microsoft quickly went to the drawing board for a way to compete with Nintendo, and resulted in a new way to play games that blew everybody, even Nintendo, away. Time will see if Microsoft delivers on this ridiculously awesome device, but it is proof the the industry is heading into a new direction. Sony also came out with a more Wiimote-like controller for their console as well, to be released next year.
     Not to be left in the dust, Microsoft quickly went to the drawing board for a way to compete with Nintendo, and resulted in a new way to play games that blew everybody, even Nintendo, away. Time will see if Microsoft delivers on this ridiculously awesome device, but it is proof the the industry is heading into a new direction. Sony also came out with a more Wiimote-like controller for their console as well, to be released next year.


    The thing to predict would be if the old style of games will live on along with the new, or start to slowly dissipate into history. Predictions arise of the next Microsoft and Sony consoles to just be marginal upgrades of graphics while having motion control the main feature, much like the Wii. Either way the industry goes, it will be interesting to watch.
     
    But either way, all that was in just 3 years. What will the Wii do next?
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    breadfan

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    #2  Edited By breadfan

     Happy Birthday Wii!
     Happy Birthday Wii!
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    flaminghobo

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    #3  Edited By flaminghobo

    Happy birthday. Now, release some titles I care about.

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    Scooper

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    #4  Edited By Scooper

    No Caption Provided
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    teh_pwnzorer

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    #5  Edited By teh_pwnzorer

    "What will the Wii do next? "
     
    I hope it will DIE.
     
    " It has been three years since the Wii came out. Meant to completely revolutionize the game industry from geeks to EVERYONE.  "
     
    The psone was already popular among non-"geeks".  The Wii is popular among women who watch Oprah.

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    JJOR64

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    #6  Edited By JJOR64
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    toowalrus

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    #7  Edited By toowalrus
    @JJOR64 said:
    " I'm going to feel like an ass but, this has already been posted. "
    Yep... looks like he went through alot of effort though. I think it's cool to let it slide... this time.
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    deactivated-5f00787182625

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    #8  Edited By deactivated-5f00787182625
    "Not to be left in the dust, Microsoft quickly went to the drawing board for a way to compete with Nintendo, and resulted in a new way to play games that blew everybody, even Nintendo, away. Time will see if Microsoft delivers on this ridiculously awesome device, but it is proof the the industry is heading into a new direction. Sony also came out with a more Wiimote-like controller for their console as well, to be released next year.  "   
     
    Quickly went to the drawing board? Don't you think if they "quickly went to the drawing board" it would have taken them less than 2 years to announce something?  
     
    Also, this blog is awesome:   http://www.wiihaveaproblem.com/   
     
    Happy Birthday Wii. 
     

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    TheHBK

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    #9  Edited By TheHBK

    The Wii still has not addressed the issues Nintendo had since the N64, that first party games are the only ones worth buying on the system.  Third party games have increased, but the quality has not.  Now its a dumping ground for crappy games and developers are not putting much effort into making good games for the system. EA reevaluating its strategy on the wii?  Try making games that dont suck ass.
    But I digress, I love my Tiger Woods 10, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. So all thats left then is...

     Hey, the Wii is 3 years old.  Let's fuck to celebrate.
     Hey, the Wii is 3 years old.  Let's fuck to celebrate.
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    Willy105

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    #10  Edited By Willy105
    @zudthespud said:

     Quickly went to the drawing board? Don't you think if they "quickly went to the drawing board" it would have taken them less than 2 years to announce something? 

    Believe it or not, most big hardware takes a console life span to design and finalize. Development on the next console always begins with the last one.  2 years is a relatively short time for things like this, especially something as incredibly complex as Natal.
     
    @JJOR64 said:
    " I'm going to feel like an ass but, this has already been posted. "

    Drat.
     
    @FlamingHobo said:
    " Happy birthday. Now, release some titles I care about. "

    @TheHBK said:
    " The Wii still has not addressed the issues Nintendo had since the N64, that first party games are the only ones worth buying on the system.  Third party games have increased, but the quality has not.  Now its a dumping ground for crappy games and developers are not putting much effort into making good games for the system. EA reevaluating its strategy on the wii?  Try making games that dont suck ass.


    @teh_pwnzorer said:
    " "What will the Wii do next? "   I hope it will DIE.  " It has been three years since the Wii came out. Meant to completely revolutionize the game industry from geeks to EVERYONE.  " The psone was already popular among non-"geeks".  The Wii is popular among women who watch Oprah. "

    Listen. If after three years and you still don't want to like the Wii, then you will never like it, period. There will be nothing to convince you otherwise, especially with what already has come out on the system and that didn't work. So instead of complaining, try ignoring, and stop annoying the rest of the people that do like it.
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    teh_pwnzorer

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    #11  Edited By teh_pwnzorer
    @Willy105: Natal is vaporware.
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    HandsomeDead

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    #12  Edited By HandsomeDead

    I completely wasted my humour on the earlier, but inferior, thread.

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    Willy105

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    #13  Edited By Willy105
    @teh_pwnzorer said:
    " @Willy105: Natal is vaporware. "
    Not if Microsoft makes it happen.
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