Todd Howard’s thoughts on Wii: “It’s a toy” |
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| BY Aaron Yorke Feb. 6th, 2009 | More on: |
So I was hanging out at Comic Con in Manhatten today and I just couldn’t help overhearing…
No, actually Todd Howard expressed his opinion on the world’s most popular console in front of a microphone and a room full of journalists. When the Fallout 3 developer was asked by MTV’s Stephen Totilo about Nintendo’s little white money machine, Howard said that he was “not threatened” by the Wii and that “it’s a toy.” He went on to explain that consumers viewed the Wii as a “kid’s toy” and that the public thought PS3 and Xbox 360 were “for evil killfests.” So at least he went to both extremes when interpreting the public’s view. However, it didn’t help his case in the mind of Nintendo fanatics that he compared the Wii’s popularity to the cabbage patch craze of the 1980’s.
N’Gai Croal of Newsweek responded by pointing out the obvious sales advantage of the Wii over bigger, badder consoles, to which Howard responded that again, Wii is not a threat and that it is for games that are different from what his team is making.
Personally, I don’t think Howard has anything against the Wii. He might be upset that a bunch of games for Nintendo’s “toy” are outselling Fallout 3, one of the finest games of 2008. Howard did mention World of Goo when asked what he was playing right now, and it is true that Fallout 3 is way, way too big for the Wii to handle. So it’s not like he could have released his game on the Wii and chose not to.
All that said, maybe a great developer such as Howard should show some respect to this generation’s juggernaut, especially as The Conduit, MadWorld, and (further down the road) a sequel to No More Heroes loom in the horizon.
February 6th, 2009
at 8:29 pm
Hes right, it is a toy. Look at the thing! Its a dvd drive with a remote control. For kids.
I think sales of various other toys vastly outsell consoles (and their games), so the Wii really competition so much as another league. Many people own both a Wii and a 360/PS3, its competitive aspect is simply “Do I buy a Wii game or a 360/PS3 game?” And when it comes down to it, that is more about the games than the console.
So when you compare the Wii to the PS3 or the 360, there are so many differences that you can’t call it *better* than the 360 or the PS3 based on sales - because lets face it, it is an inferior console. It is a toy and it is no threat to anyone or anything
February 6th, 2009
at 9:54 pm
Newsflash! ALL video game consoles are toys,
February 6th, 2009
at 9:54 pm
Meh. The wii is every bit a game console as the ps3/360. i enjoy the games on all three. i have more for the wii though just because i like the controls better.
February 6th, 2009
at 10:30 pm
Oh lawd, he really needs a disclaimer to say that it’s his views alone, because right now his trolling is just showing what they really are like as a dev team. I’ll take my Super Mario Galaxies and my No More Heroes over generic Brown and Bloom. Stop being so butthurt about Wii’s success and maybe contribute to their console. If 3rd parties actually spent more time giving the Wii some interesting IPs to work with, then maybe it wouldn’t get so hypocritically slated. Graphics aren’t an issue, just look at some of the quality that has been developed through Capcom (minus Dead Rising: Non-photojournalist edition), Ubisoft, and dare I say it, even EA have tried to support Nintendo a little this time round.
When you stop pointless downloads like Operation Anchorage and stop becoming part of Microsoft’s big DLC agenda that is killing the free industry, then you shall have my full respect again. Just look at Criterion for example, now they’ve known ever since the original Burnout how to make fans happy, and have maintained it even in this DLC generation with loads of free content!I will be sure to support this new party pack for a fee if it’s worth it, they have justified it for me. As for you? Well I won’t be buying back Oblivion any time soon, or Fallout 3, until I see a GOTY edition going cheap.
February 6th, 2009
at 10:39 pm
Well at least Todd didn’t call it the biggest joke in game console history.
February 6th, 2009
at 11:49 pm
The Wii IS a toy. So are the 360 and PS3. So what? I hated Fallout 3 but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect the guy.
February 7th, 2009
at 8:21 am
Beteshda and fallout 3 are shit.
So are the PS3/XBOX360.
February 7th, 2009
at 8:53 am
seem like what sony would say but sony said ps3 wasnt a console but a enteremnet center! :o
February 7th, 2009
at 8:56 am
Trevelyan- really or is that your opioion? just cause you think its “inferior” Dosent make that a fact at all.
Somehow i think he never even work on a wii so i wont listen to him. capcom said resi evil 5 would be diffuclt but they never said it wasnt impossible.
o.O
February 7th, 2009
at 9:09 am
Maybe Bethesda should spend more time learning how to build a decent, current gen quality engine for their games and less time worrying about toys.
If their opinion of the wii is ‘toy’ I would hate to know what their opinion of PS3 is after the appalling version of Fallout 3 they had the audacity to release for it.
February 7th, 2009
at 9:20 am
“HE SLAYED THE MIGHT DEMON!”
*all chant “THROGA, THROGA”
Anyway: the wii is not a toy, but a piece of trash!
It’s not a serious console, just for new people to get into gaming.
A complete waste of time
February 7th, 2009
at 11:10 pm
“Anyway: the wii is not a toy, but a piece of trash!
It’s not a serious console, just for new people to get into gaming.
A complete waste of time”
Ohhhh, I see. So games like Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, No More Heroes, Deadly Creatures, multiplatform games (that developers ‘bother’ to release on the Wii) such as Call of Duty: World at War, the Rock Band & Guitar Hero series, Skate It, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, upcoming games such as The Conduit, MadWorld, No More Heroes 2, Dead Space Wii… those aren’t “serious” games, therefore the Wii isn’t a “serious” console. Or perhaps the Wii isn’t a “serious” console because you can’t see every blade of grass in 720p or 1080i/p. Or maybe the Wii isn’t a “serious” console because it offers a brand new way to play and interact with games, unlike the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3? Yes, I see it now! You are absolutely right! You’ve enlightened us all!
Besides idiotic fanboy comments, and in response to the actual article, I must reiterate what Monty, genjensons, and Mike said: the Wii is indeed a ‘toy’. As are the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. All three consoles were designed to be played with and provide entertainment. If that isn’t the definition of a ‘toy’, then I’m Jimi Hendrix.
February 7th, 2009
at 11:40 pm
@xino,
Yeah, you’re right, gaming is serious business. The 360 and PS3 are totally stone faced serious soldiers yo. As if millions of 12 year olds didn’t get 360s for christmas too. No, you have to straight up shoot somebody to earn a 360 is that it? Oh, wait, no, you can buy em in walmart right next to the gameboys. Seriously what are you even thinking? A serious console. Wow.
February 8th, 2009
at 9:53 am
I think we the Wii owners together, must be FORCE AND PUSH BETHESDA TO START MAKING THE AAA HARDCORE GAMES ON Wii that we want!!
This is for you Todd Howard!!
February 9th, 2009
at 9:30 pm
“It’s a toy.”
You are a sad, strange little man. You have my pity.
Seriously, the Wii, PS3, 360, yeah, they’re all “video game consoles.” Trumpeting one as an “electronics” and belittling another by calling it a “toy” is just more fanboy drivel. Trying to make the HD consoles as if “hey, they’re movie players and media centers” isn’t some attempt to mask some insecurity that you own a “toy” and playing video games, is it? Own up to it. Just because you watch movies on it too doesn’t suddenly up some street cred as a “sophisticated” entertainment viewer. You’re still a bum on a couch staring at an idiot box. Pot calling the kettle black as they say.
February 10th, 2009
at 7:41 pm
Wii was intented for casual gamers as well as family entertainment, whereas PS3 and XBOX 380 were designed for hardcore gamers. Of course, this is a generalization that does not apply to a number particular cases; hardcore gamers can and probably will enjoy Wii, not every PS3/360 user is a hardcore gamer and good games can be found in the Wii repertoire. Anyway, what Howard tried to say -or at least my understanding of his words- is that, from a hardcore gamer’s perspective, Wii is not a serious console because it does not host a significant number of games that the most hardcore gamers long for. And for that, it is a “toy”.
March 20th, 2009
at 8:40 am
The wii is just for kids in their 13’s and little girls. Worst console ever along with N64