Why isn't there more Wii Balance Board and Wii Speak support?

[Rocksteady33]

I find it somewhat ridiculous that in spite of both Wii Fit, and Animal Crossing being pretty large successes that neither peripheral has seen much attention from developers. Aside from a slew of other fitness type games, and interesting attempts like Skate It and the We Ski series, nothing has taken advantage of the balance board to full extent, and really nothing has been all that innovative. I mean I understand that once gamers buy a balance board they already have a game to go with it, but you'd think they might want something else to do with it, and yet no developer has stepped up to take an innovative approach with the damn thing.

And then Wii Speak has... Animal Crossing. And it's own channel. And a promise from The Conduit developer that it will show it support. Since the damn system launched everyone whined of a way to communicate in games and now that we have it no one takes advantage of it, yet there has to be millions of players with a Wii that own the accessory.

What blows my mind too is that once Motion+ makes its way out why is any developer even going to go back trying to make innovative strides with these peripherals when Motion+ will be the next big thing? Or hell that might follow similar suit with little developer support behind it.

How the hell is that it seems like the most unlikely of all of Nintendo's "add-ons", the Zapper, seems to have seen the most developer support?

 

[farnham]

there are a lot of games that use the balance board..

not sure bout wii speak though

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

I'm of the opinion that the balance board has seen a surprising amount of support in a short time.

 

[evilromero]

Was Animal Crossing Wii a big success for Nintendo in the US? I don't recall it doing particularly well but if could be picking up for all I know.

Balance board support has been pretty good actually.

 

[Duxxy3]

I'm of the opinion that peripherals not included with the system should not see support aside from the games they were packaged with.

 

[Fuzzy]

Tiger Woods should use the Balance Board, Wii Speak and M+ for the ultimate golf simulation. I want to yell out "Four!" while I play.

Spoiler

Joking about WS but serious about the other two.

 

[BravoSuperStar]

I'm of the opinion that peripherals not included with the system should not see support aside from the games they were packaged with.

Why?

 

[Xav]

Why isn't there more balance board and Wii speak support?
Because it would require some effort which is something developers are not interested in doing when it comes to the Wii. Then again I don't think Nintendo is doing much to encourage developers anyway.

 

[Freyjadour]

 

[Vinci]

Why isn't there more balance board and Wii speak support?
Because it would require some effort which is something developers are not interested in doing when it comes to the Wii. Then again I don't think Nintendo is doing much to encourage developers anyway.

Leaving them, what, eight months of open window wasn't enough to 'encourage' them? What would you like them to do?

 

[stuminus3]

Why isn't there more anything that follows the examples Nintendo set?

Seriously.

They have provided top-notch examples of "how it should be done" for all kinds of games and genres.

They have put additional peripherals in probably almost every home with a Wii... steering wheels, balance boards, light gun attachments. Nintendo are making a fortune with this stuff, yet practically no-one else is cashing in.

No, they all just sit around and bitch all day about how the Wii is underpowered and all other kinds of crazy irrelevant shit.

It's infuriating.

EDIT: though it's a better situation recently than it has been, that's something to be thankful for. Hopefully Shaun White and House of the Dead Overkill are examples of the future, not exceptions.

 

[Rocksteady33]

I'm not denying the fact that a lot of games support the Balance Board, but very few are built around it. Which just shocks me considering the attach rate of the thing per Wii console owner. Clearly people want to use the thing, yet all they can really choose from are the titles I mentioned in the original post.

[edit] This post sort of contradicts my original statement, but I don't really see having little mini-games in Babyz Party as support of the damn thing, just a fun extra if you own both the game and the board. Maybe a better way of getting my point across is that, yes, a lot of people make use of the Wii Balance Board, but very few support the thing as a primary component of the game.

 

[beje]

Well, in this case, the moot point is about having to buy some software you probably don't want in order to get the accesory, and then being unable to sell the software because the accesory is mandatory. I won't waste my money on WiiFit, neither I will on Wii Sports Resort, no matter how better get other games using them.

If Nintendo allowed third parties to bundle such accesories, they would get more sales in the end as people buying the board for Wii Sky, RRR TV party or Skate It would be tempted to get Wii Fit in the end. It rarely works the other way round.

 

[markatisu]

Balance Board Support has been pretty good, almost every game that has used it has been a sales hit (I think the exception is We Cheer)

Games which were devised from the ground up to use it like Jillian Micheals Fitness game was in the NPD Top 20 last month, Shaun White Snowboard was in the NPD Top 20 the month before that, Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party did very well in the US and UK, We Ski did very well in the US and Japan

I think a big part is developers (besides ignoring the Wii) do not really know what to do with it yet

As for Wii Speak, well since most games refuse to include online its kinda hard to utilize it

The Conduit coming out in June will have it, I would hope any future online game has it enabled as thats it sole purpose

 

[Basileus777]

Wii Speak doesn't have that large of an install base. And there is pretty good support for the balance board, especially since it hasn't even been out in the west a year yet.

 

[AndresON777]

I got shawn white coming in the mail from gamefly. I cant wait to dust off the old balance board!

 

[Chinner]

Because the profit has already been made.

 

[markatisu]

I got shawn white coming in the mail from gamefly. I cant wait to dust off the old balance board!

Its really good, you will need to mess with the sensitivity (an option when you are starting the game) because it will determine how much weight you need to put into turns and jumps

 

[Gazunta]

Can I start a thread asking why forum members assume they know how game development works?

Guess what geniuses, sometimes publishers don't want developers to include peripheral support into the game. Sometimes peripherals add a ton of extra work from a code / QA point of view. Sometimes there just isn't time to include it. Sometimes peripherals increase the cost of the game being made for little return. Sometimes hardware manufacturers don't release the development tools and support to third parties until after their own launch game is on shelves. Sometimes peripheral support doesn't fit into the particular game.

But hey, let's just assume developers don't care about the Wii or some such nonsense. Yeah, they really don't care about one of the biggest platforms the games industry has ever seen.

Pfffft.

THAT BEING SAID, it's easy to see that games that have Wii Fit board support see increased sales because they included that feature. I know as a Wii Fit owner I'd love to see more games support it - provided it makes sense.

But Christ, can GAF really stop the whole 'DUR DEVELOPERS AM DUM AND DON'T CARE ABOUT WII AS MUCH AS ME WAAAAH' nonsense?

PS: Well done to Ubisoft for their Balance Board support efforts.

PPS: I care about the Wii.

 

[Azure Dream]

Why isn't there more anything that follows the examples Nintendo set?

Seriously.

They have provided top-notch examples of "how it should be done" for all kinds of games and genres.

Nintendo have been self-centered, barring third parties from making certain types of accessories (like mics for online chat) until they developed their own, and even then not telling other developers about the specifics until Nintendo's product using it is out. City Folk wasn't announced until July 15th, and it's probable that Nintendo didn't tell third parties about the mic beforehand, or only a select few, let alone communicate how to implement it, both in policy and actual mechanics and network protocols. That's less than 8 months for it to be integrated into development, and voice chat is something they'd have to figure in pretty early on. This is presuming Nintendo gave clear details to developers at E3, and not much, much later on. Which isn't entirely out of the question, given their actions this generation.

Just look at the MotionPlus. Most developers didn't know it was coming. Most didn't know how to use it in their projects months after Nintendo announced it, citing an honest confusion or lack of knowledge when asked about it. It's not even clear Nintendo would let them include support this early. Who knows how many developers today are aware how to implement its functions, and when the peripheral is going to launch?

They have put additional peripherals in probably almost every home with a Wii... steering wheels, balance boards, light gun attachments. Nintendo are making a fortune with this stuff, yet practically no-one else is cashing in.

You can't guarantee people will have these, and besides:

Wii Wheel: Piece of plastic that just means a better grip, and Ubi initially beat them to the market with one packed in a game.
Balance Board: A surprising number of games do support this, within reason.
Wii Zapper: Most agree this is an awkward, horrible setup for a light-gun frame, and even then, several games specifically support it.

 

[Rocksteady33]

Can people please enlighten me what balance board support there has been? I don't really consider four or five games huge support, especially when the majority are in the fitness or extreme sports category.

I mean I look at the Zapper, which saw fairly high production values with games like House of the Dead and RE:UC developed for it. While they aren't entirely innovative, we've seen very little effort like that, from established IP's or heavy budgets (Shaun White probably being the exception to this) on the Balance Board.

 

[markatisu]

We know more people own Balance Boards then PS3's in the US and Japan and we know that more than 2m people own the Wii Zapper, Nyko also reports super sales on Perfect Shot

I wonder how many people got the Mario Kart Wii bundle or the AC Wii Speak bundle, that would give us a clue as to where that level is

 

[ShockingAlberto]

I'm actually pretty surprised Punch-Out isn't supporting the balance board.

That seems pretty obvious.

 

[Vinci]

I'm actually pretty surprised Punch-Out isn't supporting the balance board.

That seems pretty obvious.

Especially after the boxing exercise in Wii Fit. Yeah, I was shocked by that - and a little pissed.

 

[markatisu]

I'm actually pretty surprised Punch-Out isn't supporting the balance board.

That seems pretty obvious.

Makes sense though, they wanted to retain the arcade feel of the original and not move it into realistic mode. Probably want to utilize that kind of development for Wii Sports 2

 

[Ranger X]

It's not a focus for most devs. Face it, it's not the main controller, just an option. They are gadjets and not taken seriously. Also, since the schedule of most devs is so tight, I prefer they make their games better before making it compatible with 34 gadgets. Even with their present schedule most devs totally fail at game's options and especially control options so I wouldn't get my hopes up about seeing such peripheral being truly supported.

.

 

[AndresON777]

Especially after the boxing exercise in Wii Fit. Yeah, I was shocked by that - and a little pissed.

I didnt like the boxing in wii fit. It was confusing

 

[pakkit]

 

[billy.sea]

There are way more balance board supported games that you think.
I was looking at the list of games supporting the board when I got Wii Fit several months ago, and there was a pretty good list of games (does not necessarily mean good quality) that support it.

Wii Ski
Skate It
Shawn White Snowboarding
Rayman Raving Rabbid TV Party
Wii Music
Kororinpa 2
Tetris Party
Even Baby Parties support it. :lol
and a lot more

 

[M3wThr33]

We're working on one. Maybe. That supports one of these accessories.

 

[Teknoman]

I'm of the opinion that peripherals not included with the system should not see support aside from the games they were packaged with.

Its just for voice chat. It should be supported by EVERY game that would benefit from it. As a matter of fact, every single online multiplayer game releasing for the Wii from Animal Crossing's release date onward should support wiispeak. Wouldnt make sense not to.

 

[PusherT]

Can I start a thread asking why forum members assume they know how game development works?

Guess what geniuses, sometimes publishers don't want developers to include peripheral support into the game. Sometimes peripherals add a ton of extra work from a code / QA point of view. Sometimes there just isn't time to include it. Sometimes peripherals increase the cost of the game being made for little return. Sometimes hardware manufacturers don't release the development tools and support to third parties until after their own launch game is on shelves. Sometimes peripheral support doesn't fit into the particular game.

But hey, let's just assume developers don't care about the Wii or some such nonsense. Yeah, they really don't care about one of the biggest platforms the games industry has ever seen.

Pfffft.

THAT BEING SAID, it's easy to see that games that have Wii Fit board support see increased sales because they included that feature. I know as a Wii Fit owner I'd love to see more games support it - provided it makes sense.

But Christ, can GAF really stop the whole 'DUR DEVELOPERS AM DUM AND DON'T CARE ABOUT WII AS MUCH AS ME WAAAAH' nonsense?

PS: Well done to Ubisoft for their Balance Board support efforts.

PPS: I care about the Wii.

I think Ubisoft/Namco made some series $$$ on those wii balence board games Sean White and Rayman Rabbids TV must be close to a million worldwide. I know for a fact that Namco made some bank on We Ski as well. I just hope that now that know money can be made the Publishers will allow the developers more freedom on there next wave of Wii balace board games. I would also like to see Nintnedo allow the Balenceboard to be bundled with 3rd party games like a Rayman Rabbids TV Party + balence board SKU

 

[markatisu]

You guys have to keep in mind Wii Fit does not stay in stock as it is, its kind of hard to make Balance Board sku's when there are no Balance Boards available

I do think though that Nintendo should have allowed Sega to use the Zapper for HoTD 2/3 Returns, Ghost Squad and HoTD Overkill in the US, they partnered with EA, Sega AND Capcom in Japan to release zapper bundles so why not do it in the US

 

[PusherT]

It's not a focus for most devs. Face it, it's not the main controller, just an option. They are gadjets and not taken seriously. Also, since the schedule of most devs is so tight, I prefer they make their games better before making it compatible with 34 gadgets. Even with their present schedule most devs totally fail at game's options and especially control options so I wouldn't get my hopes up about seeing such peripheral being truly supported.

.

But come on there are more Wii Balance board out in people's home in NA then there are PS3s for crying out loud. I think its the same situation in Japan aswell. Add in the fact that Shaun White,We Ski,Rayman Rabbid TV Party are are huge sellers and yeah the BB should be getting more new game announced like We Ski & Snowboard

 

[GitarooMan]

But Christ, can GAF really stop the whole 'DUR DEVELOPERS AM DUM AND DON'T CARE ABOUT WII AS MUCH AS ME WAAAAH' nonsense?

This would cut out 30 percent of the posts though.

 

[herod]

I think usage of the Wii Speak device requires a very specific kind of online game that there simply will never be very much of.

I would be surprised if there are very many other online- centric titles that will make "correct" use of it. Nintendo will be very anxious to avoid the kind of idiots you get on Live at all costs.

 

[Teknoman]

I think usage of the Wii Speak device requires a very specific kind of online game that there simply will never be very much of.

I would be surprised if there are very many other online- centric titles that will make "correct" use of it. Nintendo will be very anxious to avoid the kind of idiots you get on Live at all costs.

Thats true, but all games say online experience may change. Needs to be compatible with Excitebots, know its compatible with The conduit, needs to be compatible with whatever Pokemon console game they make to pair with Platinum, and any other third party online title in the future.

 

[Stumpokapow]

But come on there are more Wii Balance board out in people's home in NA then there are PS3s for crying out loud.

not quite. it's on track for the streams to cross as of the april npd, but it'll probably be a month or two delayed from there.

 

[AndresON777]

Any of yall have the Jillian Michaels fitness game?

How is it?

 

[markatisu]

Any of yall have the Jillian Michaels fitness game?

How is it?

My wife got it, its actually a pretty intensive workout. It looks graphically like ass but the log jumping and running is done quite well. Some people have reported they had problems getting the Balance Board recognized but we have not had one issue, we turned on the game and it recognized the board.

Its a lot more physical then Wii Fit, a LOT

 

[Pachael]

Can I start a thread asking why forum members assume they know how game development works?

There is precedent - all over the forums there are threads asking why members assume that they know how sales work, or the gaming economy, or gaming journalism. This isn't new, and is to be expected. The OT's another animal in itself, which I won't get to here (OT).

 

[AndresON777]

My wife got it, its actually a pretty intensive workout. It looks graphically like ass but the log jumping and running is done quite well. Some people have reported they had problems getting the Balance Board recognized but we have not had one issue, we turned on the game and it recognized the board.

Its a lot more physical then Wii Fit, a LOT

Yeah I thought wii fit was pretty disappointing, I really dont like the yoga stuff either...the mini games and step were prolly my favorite part but I was expecting something more intense.

I'll have to check it out thanks for the impressions

 

[pvpness]

Developing a game for the Balance Board ground up, that literally requires the balance board is a pretty sizable risk. You're cutting the user base pretty significantly at that point, thus eliminating the main draw of Wii development itself. Hence the reason you see a lot of games supporting it, but not making it the primary focus. It makes sense too. But there are a lot of games out already (and plenty more on the way: Kororinpa!) that support it, which is cool for those of us that own it.

I don't think it's fair to compare it to the zapper. After all the zapper is a controller shell and even if a game supports it or is built around it (is that really even possible) people can still purchase and play the game without actually owning the zapper. This logic applies to the Wii Wheel as well.

As for Wii Speak... I'd say give this one more time, but it's really a toss up on whether or not developers will use it for all online titles in the future as some would like. People will use it though, it's just a matter of Wii gamers being patient. Which I understand is difficult for some people who have been patient for what seems like an eternity already.

TBH I really don't care if devs only use Wii Speak sparingly as I'm not a huge fan of anonymous chat with internet idiots, but if they shun M+ I'll be pissed. Don't let us down!

Edit: I think the lack of the balance board use in Punch-Out!! is pretty obvious at this point. They don't want to make people stand to play a game as many, many people (including mainstream media outlets) have (or used to regularly) bitch about, "waggle hurting my arms, wah". An option to use the balance board would be nice though.

 

[Struct09]

Just you wait for HAWXZ

 

[Jaded Alyx]

How the hell is that it seems like the most unlikely of all of Nintendo's "add-ons", the Zapper, seems to have seen the most developer support?

I believe there are more games utilizing the Balance Board in some way than there are that support the Zapper effectively.