Can you believe that a full year has already passed since the Nintendo Wii was released? In fact, at the time of writing this article, it has officially been over a year! Feels like yesterday, doesn’t it? Although the Wii has been out for over a year, that doesn’t officially make it the oldest “next-gen” system. That spot actually belongs to the Xbox 360, which is over two years old by comparison. The incredible thing about the Nintendo console is its undeniable success and how fast it has achieved it. To give you an idea of the extent of its success, even though the Xbox 360 was released a year before the Wii, the Wii had officially outsold this year!
The success that this system has had up to this point has been completely unprecedented. Even after over a year, you’d still have trouble finding this console in stores. After a whole year! As soon as the system is on store shelves, someone is there to snatch it up! Due to the frantic demand for the console, it might not seem practical to buy the system in person, unless of course you don’t mind playing the potential “chasing and catching” game. However, if you do, buying the popular video game system online may be your best bet to get it. So, over the course of the year, the Wii has been in high demand and there’s no sign of it slowing down. While this may not be great news for consumers looking to buy the system, it’s certainly great news for console maker Nintendo.
Until recently, video games in general have been geared more towards the “hardcore gamer”, leaving little room for those casual games that might attract people with less interest in video games to try them out. The great thing about the system though is that it essentially closes that gap. It brings together both hardcore and casual gamers. Wii sports, a game included with the Nintendo console, makes you swing your arms and move your body. Instead of using complicated button combinations to play a game of tennis, for example, with the Wii, all that is required of you is motion or flick of the controller, making it easy for people of all ages to enjoy.
Just because the Wii may seem simple in controls doesn’t mean you can’t play games that are more complicated. The console offers titles for both hardcore and casual gamers. Those who have played games for several years will quickly get used to titles like Super Mario Galaxy, The Legend Of Zelda, Red Steel, Call Of Duty, and the list goes on. Quite to the contrary, those who are new to the gaming scene will find fun in games like Wii Sports, Wii play, Big Brain Academy, Wii Fit, and the list goes on and on. Looking at the system’s software library, it’s not hard to notice the diversity of games, making it easy for consumers of all ages to find what they like.
The reason for the massive success of the Wii is that it has managed to reach audiences beyond those who have normally been playing the game. It has simplified controls, but at the same time it uses cutting-edge technology. The available software has expanded beyond titles that are available only to the most experienced gamers. It has games that can be played online at no additional cost. However, the most important thing is that it is easy to use. It’s these combinations, and more, that have made the Wii the must-have video game system for over a year.