Videos
(12)Screenshots
Cheats and Walkthroughs
(25)
Videos
(12)Screenshots
Cheats and Walkthroughs
(5)
Videos
(12)Screenshots
Cheats and Walkthroughs
(4)
Videos
(12)Screenshots
Cheats and Walkthroughs
(3)
Videos
(12)Screenshots
Cheats and Walkthroughs
(13)
Videos
(12)Screenshots
Cheats and Walkthroughs
Videos
(12)Screenshots
Cheats and Walkthroughs
(110)
Videos
(12)Screenshots
Cheats and Walkthroughs
(13)
Look at the top-selling Wii games in December: New Super Mario Bros., Wii Fit Plus and Wii Play. Nintendo has turned Wii into a brand you can trust and Mario -- well, he's Mario. Capcom failed to get an original Wii franchise off the ground last summer with Spyborgs and Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles hasn't proven nearly as popular as its predecessor, Umbrella Chronicles.
At CES, I spoke with Capcom's VP of strategic planning and business development Christian Svensson about the company's lessons from Wii development in 2009. Capcom has been an avid, aggressive supporter of Wii development, but 2009 wasn't the stellar year they'd hoped.
"One of the things we've learned is that known franchises matter a lot to a Wii consumer," he said.
Spyborgs, for example, was not a known franchise. Capcom was trying to make it one.
"I would say Spyborgs was a challenge for us," said Svensson. "We knew it was high-risk [investment] in terms of doing new IP with a 'gamer game' on the Wii and it disappointed us, candidly. At the same time, we do have some bright spots here and there."
Those bright spots were Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop, a port of the popular Xbox 360 zombie action game. Critics were especially harsh on Chop Till You Drop, a point that Svensson admitted without question, but the game "did not do badly sales-wise." Additionally, while Resident Evi: Darkside Chronicles is proving a slow burn, "it's not a disappointment, either."
Svensson made it clear Monster Hunter Tri is one of Capcom's big Wii hopes for 2009. The series has experienced trouble gaining traction here in the US, despite the rabid popularity in Japan. Monster Hunter Tri, however, introduces a long-missing feature: online multiplayer.
"We're hoping to use Tri to grow the brand overall in the West," he said. "We're making a major investment both in marketing and in partnering with Nintendo on it. We're cautiously optimistic that we're gonna have some success there."
Unlike Monster Hunter Tri, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom already has notable buzz for Capcom. The latest in Capcom's long-standing versus fighting titles pits anime characters against some of Capcom's greatest combatants. Svensson said fighting fans have rallied before the game.
"I fought tooth and nail to bring it over," he said. "But we did so with very conservative forecasts [for sales]. Slowly but surely, the hype train kept rolling along and rolling around and our forecasts kept slowly, slowly, slowly kept climbing up and up and up and it's now...the forecasts are now -- everything is relative -- relatively high from where we started."
"What we through we were gonna do [in sales] is now three to four times what we thought we were gonna do," he continued. "It'd be a moderate hit for us if we managed to do those volumes. Again, the fighting game community has been exceptionally supportive of what we're trying to do there."
So, tell me. How interested are you in either Monster Hunter Tri or Tatsunoko vs. Capcom?
Have something to share? Sitting on a news tip? E-mail me. You can also follow me on Twitter.
Comments
Displaying 1–20 of 20
teshazman
i really hope monster hunter is finally picked up in the US. i definitely think it will with the online. everyone should get it.
M6000
I just want Tatsenoku vs capcom already hurry up.
Lucifer6972
Tatsunokoe va Capcom, now that one me like. But Monster Hunter? never played the series but did consider it once but maybe it ain't my type.
For the record, if brands sold as much as its proclaimm to be, then they're actually doing a good job. I doubt the time for change will make any impact on their audience and if they do, is too late.
The Wii is a casual system, it is. Is an easy system, yet unique too from other ones. People wanna see something uself and reliable on it. While I didn't like Umbrella Chronicles, they have an idea but it doesn't mean it translates into a nice concept or brand of style. Put it this way. For wii plyers and owners, all of their games are based on practicality and actuality, is more platform than anything else. Because they are easy, is more flexible, reliable. Look at what they're doing to fat people. having all these type of exeecises for someone who is planning to lose weight but in all honesty, why is it a good sell? Because is easy, anyone can workout, anyone can do push ups or pull ups, it don't matter. If Machines can teach us many things, is that they are more resilient than you(evidence shows) but if there's one thing machines can't teach you is to like things that you may not like at all. Yuo may not like a racing game on the Wii but on the PS3, that racing game is the best of the best. It really is an generalization on all three consoles, people expect the easiest and most reliable aspect in them.
Triaxx2
Seriously? How about bringing us a new Mega Man Legends game? Arm Cannon plus Wiimote means awesome.
V_Translanka
I'm glad they got the cross-company series back on track (though I still wish they had ported Namco x Capcom because I enjoy SRPGs too)...Now give us Capcom Vs Square-Enix already! :P
dantastic4
I think why the hardcore aka mainstream 2.0 complain about third parties on the wii is because they would rather have games like Monster Hunters Tri on a console for the sole given right of better graphics and virtal meaningless points and trophies.Wow now I can brag about a total collection of points and trophies that for the most part give me nothing unlockable.Oh yeah I can now get some goofy costumes and play Barbie dress up with my avatar after acomplishing some of these points.Speaking of Avatar,I would not be surprised if some hardcore gamers bought it along with Kung-fu Panda just for achievements yet laugh at their parents for acting like fools over frailing their arms in Wii sports.Well at least they bought a game console and games to have fun vs trying to complete with a bunch of self absorbed elitists for ridiculous points.I buy games reguardless of console loyalty and points.I simply am glad just to see Monster Hunters Tri and Tatsunoko soon to make it over here reguardless of the platform.
Spybreak
Well of course a Mario game sold a lot, lol. I think a casual Wii audience is going to be more comfortable with a first party game than a third party game any day. (I highly doubt these are the ones that check out Metacritic to see if the questionable game is worth a buy.)
SiK
comeon capcom house of the dead overkill, madworld, capcom vs tacasuku or w.e. bring some of these games to a good console
TMW001
Well I say just wait until MHtri comes out and try it I mean from the videos I've seen really dosen't look like it has any serious problems I mean I can't argue that Friend codes will be a bummer but that's Nintendo's fault not Capcom.
cursedseishi
Xfrod, MH started off as a console game. The PSP games are, in fact, just ports of those games, updated slightly.
Capcom is insane if they think Monster Hunter Tri + Wii + US Audience = success. As it is, Monster Hunter isn't exactly a big name brand. Casual players would be put off by the fact anything can and will kill you, and often times if you aren't playing smart, thats what will happen. The major audience in the US for the Wii (no offense to anyone) is mainly the casual market who think Wii Sports is the next big thing since sliced bread. They have not heard of MH 3, and will not care. The whole idea of it having "Online Play" is not going to help it (neither will the Wii's horribad friend code system and general lack of communication).
The PS3 and 360 were, and are, the best choice for MH3. They have the necessities to make sure the game reaches a more well-matched audience, integrated voice communications, and well-established friend and online systems. The PS3 would be preferable, as its free, but having it on the 360 would be a big reason for me to stay a gold member.
Not only that, but MH is in dire need of a face lift. The graphics of Tri, while they are nice, are still rather close to its PS2 brethren. A graphical (and HD) facelift would be a godsend. Come on, try telling me you wouldn't want to see Gravios's dreaded death beam in glorious Hi-def.
That's right, you can't huh?
emceelokey
I'm very interested in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom but I have lost interest in my Wii and am probably going to sell it before that games comes out. I liked Umbrella Chronicles but couldn't find Darkside Chronicles worth a $50 purchase. I don't know why but Wii games just feel second rate and I can't justify paying more than $30 for ANY game on that system. I'm not too sure on the reasonings why TvC is coming out on the Wii exclusively, first at least, but I have a feeling that if it does anything decent on the Wii, they will realize that they if they put in a decent online component, they can probably make a lot more money by selling it as a downloadable game on XBL or PSN, so once again I just can't justify buying that game for more than $30.
Joe22
I still don't understand a thing about the monster hunter series, and fighting games are really my style, I have no one to fight and I don't trust online connections since I have no friends with Wii and relay on strangers.
zenmastersamuraimonk
im probably more of a tatsunoko fan than the average american so im really excited about that game however im a little skeptical on how good of a game monster hunter will be on the wii so ill have to wait for reviews. Some of the other titles mentioned like spyborgs and resident evil DC were actually really good games so its a shame they didnt sell well. Hey capcom you know what would sell well a fps style megaman with motion controls on the wii.
ptr_lapp
I'll tell you what went wrong: their marketing campaigns were pathetic. I ask you, who the hell even HEARD about Spyborgs until a week before its release (if that)? But then again, given comments like the one made by Ekaj2113, I can see why new IPs from third-parties don't sell. If even the 'hardcore' gamer isn't willing to take a risk with a new IP, who the hell would?
My suggestion to everyone who owns a Wii and complains that they never use it, go out and rent a game that came out last year like Madworld, Dead Space, or the Conduit and give them a try. There are, in fact, honest attempts to very good games for the Wii, but the childish attitude of "if it isn't Nintendo, it's crap" will mean that those attempts become less and less every year.
The state of the Wii is the result of a violent feedback loop. Gamers assumed that all third-party games sucked because they saw Cooking Mama on the shelves, so they didn't buy any. The good games that came out didn't sell. Less publishers decided to make quality titles. Shovelware took up more physical space on the shelves. Gamers assumed that all third-party games were in the same camp. The cycle began anew.
That's what's been happenning for nearly four years now. If you want the Wii to put out more quality games, then the only way to break the cycle is to support developers that actually try. Does this mean go and blindly buy anything made by Capcom? No. But at least give these games a rental and see if you like them. If you do, then buy them. That's all I'm saying. The status of the Wii won't fix itself. The only reason developers would begin making AAA titles for the Wii again is if they have some kind of incintive to do so. And for a company, that usually means sales.
DAREALGUMMY
I cant wait for BOTH of these titles. I've played the Monster Hunter tri Japanese Demo and it's awesome.
Ekaj2113
I haven't touched my Wii in over 8 Months! I have a feeling the relationship is being strained. I hope we can finally see a good Wii games that involves lots of motion control, a veteran series (Mother series reboot anyone?), and NO THIRD PARTY CRAP!!!!!!!! Bring on the Monster Hunter Tri!
Bomblord
I hope the game does well and I'm happy monster hunter is on the wii I need more games like that on my wii good violent and challenging I hope it sells well so I can see more of them.
PkrPlr4LIFE
I have to agree with Sizzlewick on this. If Capcom is serious about getting more of a western audience they need to release it on a platform like 360 or PS3. From someone who owns all 3 systems I have access to my 360 and my PS3 at all times since they are located in my room. The Wii however is in the main living room in my house where my mom and daughter tend to watch TV. The Wii is more of a family console and if Capcom want the real games to embrace Monster Hunter they will need to release them on the 360 and PS3, otherwise I believe that this franchise won't flourish the way they want it to.
XFRod
Hmmm. Monster Hunter will always be a game geared towards portable gaming and, while I play a lot of import games and AM actually looking forward to TvC... I don't see enough mass appeal in the US market for it. Hope it does well, though.
SizzlewickMagicfart ShowHide
well now that they know that. how about making Monster Hunter tri for the ps3 again?
Displaying 1–20 of 20
Add a Comment