Wii

[illbenooneelse]

Seriously, where is Rock Band Wii?

If $6.10 billion in hardware sales profit the last six months isn't enough reason, then what is?

[MeleeMan]

Please check the n00b survival guide by Xzyliac.

[MartyMcFly]

lol I sooo wanna see Xzyliac reply to this thread hehehe

[AeroTrain]

I don't think the Wii version is delayed as a result of Harmonix lack of interest. There are several things likely slowing down we development.

1) The ground work for Xbox360 and PS3 was already laid out when Harmonix worked on Guitar Hero I & II. Harmonix code monkies are already familar with those systems. With Wii they have to learn an entirley new system in order to port the game.

2)Poor online support from Nintendo. This is my guess as the main reason for the delay. Harmonix is looking at an on going income from DLC. They really want that in the game and as a fan I'd really like to see it in the game. However Nintendo doesn't currently have any kind of a system in place for third party digital distribution. I think they're probably trying to get somthing worked out to that end.

3) They can only do so many things at once. Because the existing fan base for the genre is made up of Microsoft or Sony console owners they prioritize to those markets and had to put potential Wii fans on the back burner because they've already got their hands full with the other consoles.

4)There is likely also issues about game price vs. price of console and the percieved casualness of Wii owners.

[tucsonovernite]

Seriously, where is Rock Band Wii?

If $6.10 billion in hardware sales profit the last six months isn't enough reason, then what is?

Can that number be correct? 6 Billion in hardware profit in 6 months....sounds a wee bit high....where did you see that profit figure?

[CableCarrier]

I think Rock Band for the Wii will come eventually. Harmonix is currently occupied with getting the PS3/360/PS2 versions out the door right now, it's safe to say.

[Nilsen31]

in the mean time, go get Powerpros.

[thorn_9]

I think it's cause the WII is NOT a rockin' system, lol.

[angry_jonny]

It's a legitimate question, though, and one Harmonix could (and should) address with more than just an offhand remark from back in April. I'm not sure how uncertainty around this benefits them; if anything, it benefits GHIII, as Wii owners give up on RB and then become invested in GH + peripherals, with potential compatibility issues down the road. It's a big market out there, bigger than PS3, and this sort of game (played casually) exactly fits in with the Wii demographic.

Even something vague like "RB is coming to Wii, it will be summer 2008 at the earliest, we have no idea on DLC" is better than nothing, right?

[Bakkster]

Anyone else of the opinion that just because they would "absolutely" LIKE to put it on the Wii, there is probably no Wii development yet, nor have the dev plans even started?

[angry_jonny]

I don't doubt that's the case, but I wish they would come out and say *something* definite, instead of all this "like to" and "relevant platforms" talk, where you have to parse the terms and end up with nothing meaningful actually being said.

I just think it's kind of hilarious/ironic/ridiculous/surprising that a game like this, with basically no significant processing requirements, is slated for the 360 and the PS3. I'm sure it's mostly Nintendo's fault for their ill-defined online support and lack of a HD (though the SD card should work, esp. for smallish things like music downloads).

[Thrashdragon]

Anyone else of the opinion that just because they would "absolutely" LIKE to put it on the Wii, there is probably no Wii development yet, nor have the dev plans even started?

Well, they've made it for the PS2, and as I understand it (and as a lot of really crappy Wii games have shown), it's a pretty small jump from the PS2 to the Wii.

I think part of the problem is that one of the Wii's selling points is the price. Rock Band costs 2/3 as much as the console does. There's also the recent poll showing something like 70% of Wii owners haven't played anything on it in months. As a Wii owner, I can attest to this. Also, most people willing to spend almost two hundred dollars on a single video game probably have a 360 or a PS3 in addition to the Wii, and are going to buy it on the more powerful system.

Nintendo's horrible online system is another stumbling block. The Wii technically supports online play, but there's no space on the console to store anything, and relying on gamers to go out and buy SD card to store DLC on isn't a smart business strategy. Plus the awful friends codes...Honestly it would be easier if the Wii had no potential for online, because what's there is poorly implemented and just confuses the whole issue.

Maybe if they get enough demand for it they'll port it, but Wii sales are already slowing down...Wii Sports is great and all, but they don't have any other system sellers out there. It still remains to be seen if the craze over the Wii was just a fad. It was for me, I'll buy rail shooters like RE:UC and Ghost Squad on it (and only because that's all I can get my fiance to play), but anything else I'd rather play on my 360. They need to get off their butts at Nintendo and get Mario Kart out to revive some interest in the system.

[Apples]

I don't think the Wii version is delayed as a result of Harmonix lack of interest. There are several things likely slowing down we development.

1) The ground work for Xbox360 and PS3 was already laid out when Harmonix worked on Guitar Hero I & II. Harmonix code monkies are already familar with those systems. With Wii they have to learn an entirley new system in order to port the game.

2)Poor online support from Nintendo. This is my guess as the main reason for the delay. Harmonix is looking at an on going income from DLC. They really want that in the game and as a fan I'd really like to see it in the game. However Nintendo doesn't currently have any kind of a system in place for third party digital distribution. I think they're probably trying to get somthing worked out to that end.

3) They can only do so many things at once. Because the existing fan base for the genre is made up of Microsoft or Sony console owners they prioritize to those markets and had to put potential Wii fans on the back burner because they've already got their hands full with the other consoles.

4)There is likely also issues about game price vs. price of console and the percieved casualness of Wii owners.



Quoted for truth. And the trumping factor on all of these is quality. Based on experience, Harmonix is not known for rushing out a release or doing a sloppy port.

[angry_jonny]

Well, they've made it for the PS2....
Nice post, and I can see your reasoning. I like the Wii more than you, though. I think there are a number of good games coming for it (Mario Galaxy is coming, and is a system seller, as is Smash Bros., and you already mentioned Mario Kart). A lot of the lousy stuff is rushed PS2 junk, but I think as developers build for it from the ground up, it will get better. Still casual, I'm sure, but...isn't RB a casual product? I mean, I can see being intense about it from the music perspective, but surely one of the points of the current tour and what little marketing I've seen is that this is really easy to just pick up and get jamming. Maybe I'm off there, just my impression.

Also, I really don't agree with the 2/3 cost "problem" you bring up. It certainly doesn't apply for me, and if you look at the Wii's demographic, it's all over the map. There are tons of non-gamers in their 30s and 40s who would love this song list, and the fact that they don't have to spend $500+ (I'm factoring in WiFi + extended warranty for 360) on the console alone to play it should appeal. Again, I see RB as having a big "crossover" appeal, and perhaps most people here don't.

[Pandacon]

I would assume they would want it on the Wii, but resources at the moment might not allow them to do so. If they can do a PS2 version, I don't see how a Wii version would be difficult. And concidering how well it's selling, I think Harmonix would like a piece of that pie.

[Royges]

They already said that RB is Absolutely coming for WII

http://card.mygamercard.net/ES/gelsig/ROYGES.png (http://profile.mygamercard.net/ROYGES)

[Bakkster]

They already said that RB is Absolutely coming for WII


When asked if there was any chance Rock Band would arrive on Wii, Rigopulos said without hesitation, "Absolutely."
...
No Wii version has been officially announced.
http://wii.ign.com/articles/777/777553p1.html

So it absolutely could come the the Wii. Not will, there's a chance. As in, confirming they haven't ruled it out.

[psyborg]

It will come eventually, in the meantime get Guitar Hero 3. If GH3 Wii is as successfull as pre-orders indicate EA will insist on a RockBand port, plus that'll be one guitar towards your RB setup.

RockBand is really a perfect fit for the Wii though, especially if Nintendo sorts out a harddrive but even if they don't the game is coming to the PS2 afterall.

[psyborg]

There's also the recent poll showing something like 70% of Wii owners haven't played anything on it in months. As a Wii owner, I can attest to this. Also, most people willing to spend almost two hundred dollars on a single video game probably have a 360 or a PS3 in addition to the Wii, and are going to buy it on the more powerful system.


LOL dude, that was a study in Japan. The reason why they don't play Wii is because they hate hardcore games like Resident Evil and Metroid Prime, basically they need a Wii Sports 2 over there. That survey was not done in US or EU



Nintendo's horrible online system is another stumbling block. Plus the awful friends codes...Honestly it would be easier if the Wii had no potential for online, because what's there is poorly implemented and just confuses the whole issue.


Horrible online? I have zero problem getting online and playing against people. Friend Codes are annoying but you only need them to add friends, you can still play online without them.



Wii Sports is great and all, but they don't have any other system sellers out there. It still remains to be seen if the craze over the Wii was just a fad. It was for me, I'll buy rail shooters like RE:UC and Ghost Squad on it (and only because that's all I can get my fiance to play), but anything else I'd rather play on my 360. They need to get off their butts at Nintendo and get Mario Kart out to revive some interest in the system.

LOL WOW, SUPER MARIO GALAXY is set to be the best game since Mario 3, not too mention Metroid Prime 3, Medal of Honor: Heroes 2(32 player online, no friend codes) GH3, No More Heroes!, the brutal Manhunt2, I could go on and on. Even Wii owners are uninformed on the type of games on the system.

[malisp]

Well the GH3 bundle for the Wii has been the top seller in the entire video games section for the last 3 days at Amazon, so they would be missing a great opportunity if they don't make a RB for the Wii. I know I ended up buying GH3 since I had no idea when RB would come out for the Wii.

[blackjack]

Just think about it for a second, a weak graphics engine, crappy online, and most of all nintendo wouldnt let it in because theyre money whores, who think $170 is too cheap and would make you pay an extra $50 to get it. Also If it doesnt have the wii-mote in they are not interested. Also the wii couldnt handle even the relativley weak graphics and create a rocker.

[Finncognito]

Just think about it for a second, a weak graphics engine, crappy online, and most of all nintendo wouldnt let it in because theyre money whores, who think $170 is too cheap and would make you pay an extra $50 to get it. Also If it doesnt have the wii-mote in they are not interested. Also the wii couldnt handle even the relativley weak graphics and create a rocker.
That was a pretty mediocre troll, it's obvious your heart's not in it. You have to either be subtle or completely outrageous and that's just not cutting it.

[TheRocker]

He does make a point RockBand the Wii is 250 , the full bundle its 170 thats more than half the price of the console and the Wii has a weak online sorry but its true.

[Oathbreaker]

Well the GH3 bundle for the Wii has been the top seller in the entire video games section for the last 3 days at Amazon, so they would be missing a great opportunity if they don't make a RB for the Wii. I know I ended up buying GH3 since I had no idea when RB would come out for the Wii.

Bingo! My brother and I had been waiting for an Official Wii RB date before buying GHIII and finally gave up. We now both play online GH3 on the Wii with each other and it works great!

In regards to the sales, I had to call every EBGames, FutureShop, Bestbuy in town before I finally found six copies for sale at the third Blockbuster I called... So obviously the demographic is fine with the game concept.

I think this thread is the first time someone has claimed it is easier to make a game for PS3 than for the Wii...

As for all the hurdles and roadblocks to why it would be bad on the Wii... you have to realize if Wii owners cared that much about weaker graphics, weaker online, no Hard drive, etc - they wouldn't have bought a Wii in the first place. So those points are moot. As an aside, it is possible they will use WiiWare system to provide the track purchases, which itself isn't slated until 2008.

As for the RB Bundle to Wii console cost ratio... who cares? I bought a Wii because it was innovative and would be fun to play with family and friends of all ages that happened to visit... Something like RockBand is a perfect for that.

Trust me.. build it and we will buy. Unless it takes you so long to do it that Neversoft makes one first. :rolleyes:

[Bakkster]

I think this thread is the first time someone has claimed it is easier to make a game for PS3 than for the Wii...

As for all the hurdles and roadblocks to why it would be bad on the Wii... you have to realize if Wii owners cared that much about weaker graphics, weaker online, no Hard drive, etc - they wouldn't have bought a Wii in the first place.

The difficulty is taking a game written to take advantage of the 360 and PS3 and rewriting the code to run on a Wii (this can of course be done, since RB is also on the PS2, per rewriting from another developer). The other difficulty is remaking all of the hardware, since Nintendo wants developers to use the wiimote in every game. This means a new guitar, drum, and mic.

I'm sure once they have time, they will work on getting it on the Wii.

[toefer]

He does make a point RockBand the Wii is 250 , the full bundle its 170 thats more than half the price of the console and the Wii has a weak online sorry but its true.

People keep saying this, but I don't think it's true. People aren't buying millions of Wii's because it's the cheapest console. Sure, some people are, but there are a lot of "casual" gamers that picked up a Wii because it seemed like a fun thing to play, and not just your typical video game console. That being said, Rock Band seems like an extension of this. It's not just a "normal" game where you slouch on the couch with a bag of chips and some beer, and play for hours at a time. Though you could, I guess. But I think that's a part of why GHIII is doing so well on the Wii right now.

Why not make the argument that since the Wii is the cheapest, Wii owners have more money saved to spend on an expensive game? It's just as logical.