Sega's Scott Steinberg sceptical of Wii

Wii News | UPDATE: Steinberg clarifies his statements.

Speaking in an interview with Reuters, Sega vice president of marketing, Scott Steinberg, voiced his concerns over the Wii's "creative depth" and where it will stand in the next few years.

"I am a little concerned about the creative depth of the Wii pool," Steinberg told Reuters. "I'm not sure if they will top out in 2008 or 2007. The Wii will start to look really dated in a couple years when developers get more value from the 360 and learn more and more about the PlayStation 3."

Currently, Sega have several titles in development for the Wii including Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, Ghost Squad and NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams however, Steinberg raised his doubts over the motion sensing technology behind Wii.

"How much value can developers and creative folks get out of this wrist motion two years from now, or 5 years from now, or 10 years from now?" Steinberg questioned. "How can they design products that aren't too derivative of what's already out there?"

UPDATE
Possibly in damage control mode, Stenberg 'clarified' his remarks in a statement sent to Gamedaily, basically stating that what he meant was that developers must rise to the challenge of developing for Wii.

Beginning with the standard "SEGA has fully supported the Wii since day one and we continue to do so – it's no secret that we are close partners. Nintendo has done a masterful job of selling its vision and expanding the market." he continues by calling the possibilities of the Wii "a shared responsibility and opportunity for the whole industry"

Steinberg says "If we don't realize its true potential, we will have missed a great opportunity to expand creatively and that is what I was cautioning against in the Reuters interview. I'm not just putting the responsibility of innovation on Nintendo. It's on SEGA and all the publishers and developers as well to carry that flag."

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68 Comments

arbok

4 years ago

The developer said it so succintly - how long is the wrist motion going to last 2 years, 5 years, 10 years?

I don't have time to elaborate, but Wii is caught with the same problem as the previous two machines - the controls, the gamecube controller was awful, the N64 controller was even worse.

But Nintendo did manage to fool everyone with Wii Sports and the potential the Wii could have.

The way I see it is we'll get two genres of games that really use the Wiimote well.

The Sports games -

Wii Table Tennis, Wii Squash, Wii Cricket, Wii baseball, Wii Golf, Wii Jockey

The Household games like

Cooking mama, Vacuum mama, Sewing mama, Car wash mama...

ugh the boot

4 years ago

Car Wash Mama? I'd hit her...I mean...oops..

Karai Pantsu

4 years ago

ugh the boot wrote

Car Wash Mama? I'd hit her...

Australia says No, Ugh...

I'd like to say that you're getting a little ahead of yourself there Arbok, and that just maybe there might be some different games down the track that use the Wii Remote as good or better than the given examples... but your cynicism impresses me, so I'll leave it be.

doofus

4 years ago

arbok wrote

the gamecube controller was awful, the N64 controller was even worse.

What was wrong with the N64 controller?

El Taco

4 years ago

arbok wrote

I have to disagree there, I thought the GCN controller was one of the more comfatable controllers of the last generation, the Xbox was the worst, so big...

Jaws

4 years ago

arbok wrote

I don't have time to elaborate, but Wii is caught with the same problem as the previous two machines - the controls, the gamecube controller was awful, the N64 controller was even worse.

This is personal opinion. I found the N64 controller to be excellent as did many others.

The machine has barely been out for under a year; so as far as games go, Wii Sports wasnt there to full anyone, just to showcase some of the Wii's potential. Mission accomplished really. Developers have said the Wii is ridiculously easy to program for, so its up to each and every dev to get their synapses going and come up with something special. The platform is right there infront of them. Idea is key here.

poweroffarts

4 years ago

doofus wrote

arbok wrote

the gamecube controller was awful, the N64 controller was even worse.

What was wrong with the N64 controller?

The anoluge stick in the middle buttom and the z button. GC controller was fine minus the Z button, it was not in the best place.

doofus

4 years ago

poweroffarts wrote

The anoluge stick in the middle buttom and the z button.

You hold the middle handle if you are using the analogue stick, or the left handle if using the D-Pad. Simple.

The Z button was easily accessible with your left index finger - what's the problem with that?

realitybites

4 years ago

S.Jaworski wrote

Hence the Wii. Hardware will always be the sacrifice, but given time; the Wii has the foundations to stay strong for a long time. Software companies still havent found 'it', but give them time. Gains in what a system can put out are rarely utilised at their peak from the start of a console's 'life' so to speak.

I have no problem with that.

All businesses have to worry about the now in terms of cash flow, the mid term for the strategy and the long term with the vision.

Nintendo are fortunate at present the PS2 is so strong and the games appearing on it are similar in calibur to the Wii (yes the Wii is more powerful but by how much??).

But what happens in 3 years when there is light years between the consoles and the others have motion sensor devices?

What happens in 5 to 7 years when the PS4 and XBox 720 are announced?

Do Nintendo make a slightly cut down model again? If they aren't investing in terms of engineering how are they going to react to what the universe would like?

Or will they always remain a generation behind? Because Sony and MS aren't stupid they will make sure Nintendo use a different strategy next time.

Anyway lets live in the here and now

ugh the boot

4 years ago

doofus wrote

You hold the middle handle if you are using the analogue stick, or the left handle if using the D-Pad. Simple.

Any controller where you have to change the way you are holding it for certain actions etc is flawed. Simple.

One of the reason I hate the wiimote....pressing the 1 and 2 buttons requires you to take different grip on the controller and even just pressing the directional pad is a chore because my fingers have to stretch to reach it and that requires a slight adjustment on the way I hold it. The 'A' button is fine aswell as the 'B' trigger, also the nunchuck works perfectly aswell.....but damn the 1 & 2 buttons and the directional pad.

?oe?oe

4 years ago

ugh the boot wrote

just pressing the directional pad is a chore because my fingers have to stretch to reach it and that requires a slight adjustment on the way I hold it.

Weird, That's not a problem with me, you must have small hands, then again, I don't have big hands either. Weird.

Qbert

4 years ago

I'm with Ugh about the Wii-mote. The d-pad and 1 and 2 buttons can be annoying to press, especailly in games such as FPS where moving your hand/fingers to press the buttons makes the wiimote move, hence making you character or the camera move without you meaning to. A, B, and the 2 C buttons are fine for quick access though and the 64 controler rocked.

Jaws

4 years ago

realitybites wrote

But what happens in 3 years when there is light years between the consoles and the others have motion sensor devices?

What happens in 5 to 7 years when the PS4 and XBox 720 are announced?

Do Nintendo make a slightly cut down model again? If they aren't investing in terms of engineering how are they going to react to what the universe would like?

Or will they always remain a generation behind? Because Sony and MS aren't stupid they will make sure Nintendo use a different strategy next time.

I think Nintendo would have made enough profit to take the hardware up a few notches by the time next gen rolls around given that's the direction they want to take. This is the first notable instance in the history of consoles when it comes to a system being released with significantly less horse power than it's direct competition in a current generation, so I think this is ultimately a learning experience for the home console gaming industry as far as what the future holds for such a venture.

Work or fail, im sure that Nintendo will take winning elements out of the Wii experience and utilise them for a future system towards the benefit of the consumer.

I agree.. here and now is the way to go. Apart from keeping the 'bastards honest' so to speak, this fierce competition over our hard earned dollars gives us all such diversity from each company involved in the console war. Here's to enjoying the fruits of their creations!

*Clink*

werecow

4 years ago

Any controller that comes in a variety of colours, is comfortable for all ages and implements an anologue stick is great in my opinion.
It just so happens that the N64 controller is my all time favourite controller.

And on the wiimote.
Changing hands is hard work?!
Dudes and Dudettes it really isnt that hard to move your hand is it?
If it is call a doctor!
There is obviously something wrong that can probably be fixed.

The wiimote is the perfect controller for the wii.
Yes, I can empathise with the whole 1 and 2 buttons...they're a bit out of the way...but not completely.
Nintendo wouldn't have put it out in a mainstream market without it being perfect.

As to hating the N64 controller.
Thats your problem.
But it was one of the pioneering controllers in the gaming world...and it works perfectly for me...even to this day.
10 years after it came out.
What does that say about it?!

Quote

I think Nintendo would have made enough profit to take the hardware up a few notches by the time next gen rolls around given that's the direction they want to take.

Yeah..thats all fine and well
except for the fact that Nintendo already had a profit of 70% before the release of the wii, infact even before core development stage.

The Next Next Gen gaming consoles will most likely feature Motion sensing and probably a pointer and Nintendo knows that if they want to keep their fanbase they will need new ideas to keep the audience captivated.

Nintendo will most likely add a full HD graphics card in the next 'Wii', with native support for all the shaders available and being planned for release.
We can also expect a huge boost in horsepower....probably running a dual core setup inside a small box.

The box itself will be sleak, the menu gui crisp and the game support, awesome.

This is of course coming off a victory in the current Next Gen Wars.
(Side Note: Nintendo has sold 8 million Wii's since November, Xbox 360 has sold 14 million since a year ago and PS3 has just hit 4 million)

This is where the fine line comes in...

Will Nintendo change their marketting strategy?

Is it all about the gaming, even in the future?

Will the extra HP and Graphics provide a deeper experience to play Mario and Zelda?

What will the future of gaming look like?

All these answers will be answered in time....but for now....lets debate future gaming!

Mod (thebigm) edit: don't double post

SMASHED

4 years ago

Well I believe that the Wiis controllers are quite allright. Its up to developers whether they decide to utilize those buttons.

Motion Sensing also means there can be a sacrifice of buttons. Zelda used button 1 and 2 for stuff you would hardly touch throughout the game such as Map configuration etc.

Please guys don't tell me there are no developers for PS3 and 360 that have screwed up the way the game plays ,because of the controller.

But anyways controller arguments is all opinion.

ugh the boot

4 years ago

^ You realise there is a difference in hardware and software problems right? Developers stuffing up the controls on games is not uncommon, but stuffing up a controller? Well that it unfortunately. There aren't many buttons on the Ps3/360 controllers that you can't press without changing your hand position on the controller....infact there are NONE.

werecow wrote

And on the wiimote.
Changing hands is hard work?!
Dudes and Dudettes it really isnt that hard to move your hand is it?
If it is call a doctor!
There is obviously something wrong that can probably be fixed.

The wiimote is the perfect controller for the wii.
Yes, I can empathise with the whole 1 and 2 buttons...they're a bit out of the way...but not completely.
Nintendo wouldn't have put it out in a mainstream market without it being perfect.

Well firstly you contradicted yourself there by saying the 1 & 2 buttons are a little out of the way but then go on to say that Nintendo wouldnt've done it if it wasn't perfect. The fact that the 1 & 2 buttons are a little out of the way doesn't make it perfect so Nintendo stuffed up didn't they?

And changing your hand position on the controller is not hardwork.....no one said it was but it is definately akward! For example if I had to change seats while I was driving....don't you think that would be a little akward? Same applies with a controller if you have to change the way you hold it it affects your control/precision while playing a game and that's the last thing you want. On the N64 controller this wasn't a problem because you usually stuck to one way of holding the controller for a particular game but on the Wiimote on Twilight Pricess for example if I wanna press the map button or go into the save menu I have to shift my hand down the controller a little bit to be able to even press it let alone press it comfotably (to press it comfortably I basically have to hold the wiimote right at the bottom and the thing was designed to be held around the middle).

joejoe wrote

Weird, That's not a problem with me, you must have small hands, then again, I don't have big hands either. Weird.

No infact my hands are quite normal in size, if anything they are much bigger than the average Japanese person's hands and the Wiimote (and basically every other Nintendo thing ever made) has been desinged with Japanese hands in mind so it's definately an issue.