# How deep is the Wii's lineup of games? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 18, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560 "2009-04-18T20:47:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/61 "2009-04-21T17:00:54Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > The Wii is (not my words, but I’m paraphrasing) for people that don’t have friends. It’s very clear that I’m a strong proponent of multiplayer play, and based on that alone, the Wii isn’t my choice for playing video games. Are you for real? The Wii is for people who have real-life friends. That’s the go-to system in my house, as well as many others I know, when we want to play games with our friends in the same room (which is an experience online still can’t rival). Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Boom Blox, Wii Sports, Dr. Mario, ExciteTrucks, Mario Strikers–are all games that are amazingly fun with local co-op and is something few titles on the 360 or PS3 can offer with their emphasis on online play. I’m not a big online gamer anymore–I’ll be up front about that. I used to be, when original online titles were still coming to the Xbox (such as Crimson Skies, Pandora Tomorrow, Burnout 3, Halo 2). But there are so few online games on 360 that actually interest me these days, that I’m considering cancelling my Live subscription (I’ve kept it thus far mostly for Netflix). However, when I do find myself hankering a quick online bout, it’s usually with the Wii. Although its selection of online games is far less than the other consoles, they’re the games I most want to play–Mario Kart, Strikers, and Smash Bros. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/62 "2009-04-21T17:06:31Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Are you for real? The Wii is for people who have real-life friends. That’s the go-to system in my house, as well as many others I know, when we want to play games with our friends in the same room (which is an experience online still can’t rival). Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Boom Blox, Wii Sports, Dr. Mario, ExciteTrucks, Mario Strikers–are all games that are amazingly fun with local co-op and is something few titles on the 360 or PS3 can offer with their emphasis on online play. > > I’m not a big online gamer anymore–I’ll be up front about that. I used to be, when original online titles were still coming to the Xbox (such as Crimson Skies, Pandora Tomorrow, Burnout 3, Halo 2). But there are so few online games on 360 that actually interest me these days, that I’m considering cancelling my Live subscription (I’ve kept it thus far mostly for Netflix). > > However, when I do find myself hankering a quick online bout, it’s usually with the Wii. Although its selection of online games is far less than the other consoles, they’re the games I most want to play–Mario Kart, Strikers, and Smash Bros. No, I don’t think that, but that’s the criticism. We differ on online play versus having 4 people over to play a game. The pool of competition is much greater outside of the living room and you’ll find a better matchup out there as well. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/63 "2009-04-21T17:14:55Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > No, I don’t think that, but that’s the criticism. We differ on online play versus having 4 people over to play a game. The pool of competition is much greater outside of the living room and you’ll find a better matchup out there as well. I care about one thing: fun. And online has never come close to rivaling local play, imo. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/64 "2009-04-21T17:20:51Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > No, I don’t think that, but that’s the criticism. Also, I’m not sure why you even brought that up, considering you don’t believe it (apparently?), but this is an argument I can’t recall hearing from anyone, let alone en masse. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/65 "2009-04-21T17:26:45Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Also, I’m not sure why you even brought that up, considering you don’t believe it (apparently?), but this is an argument I can’t recall hearing from anyone, let alone en masse. I’ve heard it from a few sources. Usually, they’re of the fanboy variety. Also, your opinion on playing with people in your living room and playing with people online differ. To me, it’s more fun if you have better games and better competition. Perhaps we’re getting to a place where “hardcore” and “casual” can be defined. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/66 "2009-04-21T17:30:19Z")
> [@Erasmus\_Darwin](#): > > That sounds nice until you start comparing it to other consoles. The 360 has 138 games with an 80+ score, and a total of 233 (95 more) with a green (75+) score. That’s over 3 times as many games with a green score on metacritic. Even the PS3, which seems to be the least successful of the 3 consoles of this generation, has 143 green score games. This thread, as you point out in your later post, was started to debate the assertion that Wii “doesn’t have any deep games” or that its games “aren’t for real gamers”. Clearly, both of those statements are incorrect. The Wii does have deep games - probably more than any of us will ever buy - and it does have games that hardcore gamers - people serious about their entertainment - might enjoy. > [@Least Original User Name](#): > > I’d say that the Wii is not as “deep” because you don’t get the same replayability because the online capabilities are so gimped and the pool of players to play with are much smaller. See, now I’m really a PC gamer and _I’d_ say the 360 is gimped because it doesn’t allow user created mods in games like Fallout or Oblivion and that the _real_ hardcore gamers are all playing Dwarf Fortress. All you console kiddies are such a bunch of lightweights. 😉 But honestly - it’s possible to not enjoy the Wii while acknowledging that there’s worthwhile fun to be found there. It’s possible to prefer gaming with strangers online to gaming with friends in the same room without insisting that the later are lame newbs who can’t face real competition. It’s possible to like one thing without needing to define the other as a worthless refuge for losers. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/67 "2009-04-21T17:33:47Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I’ve heard it from a few sources. Usually, they’re of the fanboy variety. Also, your opinion on playing with people in your living room and playing with people online differ. To me, it’s more fun if you have better games and better competition. I should clarify: I often play games locally with people who are very competent at them (after all, I work in the industry) and we are all very competitive. However, when we want to play, and the choice is online or locally, we will go locally every time it’s feasible. Of course, if you don’t have any friends who like games, then I can see why online would be a draw, but as one who has plenty of local gaming buds, online holds very little appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/68 "2009-04-21T17:46:00Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I’ve heard it from a few sources. Usually, they’re of the fanboy variety. Also, your opinion on playing with people in your living room and playing with people online differ. To me, it’s more fun if you have better games and better competition. Fanboy sources are not real sources when it comes to video game debate. Period. And you (and others who claim the Wii doesn’t have a deep lineup) keep moving the goalposts on what does and does not qualify as a “hardcore game” and how many games are required to say a platform has a “deep lineup.” ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/69 "2009-04-21T17:49:54Z")
I only have a Wii. BUT I just got a new computer and started on Bioshock. WooHoo. I am a little intimidated though… I heard Bioshock was a good game to start with if you’re not accustom to those brand of games. Anyway, Wii fulfills most of my need. I’m torn between which version, (if any), of the new Ghostbusters game I will get. They both look great imho, I think the clincher will be how well the Wii controls are implemented. They certainty went out of their way to work in quality and stylized visuals for the Wii. But the PC version looks amazing. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/70 "2009-04-21T17:57:25Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > This thread, as you point out in your later post, was started to debate the assertion that Wii “doesn’t have any deep games” or that its games “aren’t for real gamers”. > > Clearly, both of those statements are incorrect. The Wii does have deep games - probably more than any of us will ever buy - and it does have games that hardcore gamers - people serious about their entertainment - might enjoy. > > See, now I’m really a PC gamer and _I’d_ say the 360 is gimped because it doesn’t allow user created mods in games like Fallout or Oblivion and that the _real_ hardcore gamers are all playing Dwarf Fortress. All you console kiddies are such a bunch of lightweights. 😉 > > But honestly - it’s possible to not enjoy the Wii while acknowledging that there’s worthwhile fun to be found there. > > It’s possible to prefer gaming with strangers online to gaming with friends in the same room without insisting that the later are lame newbs who can’t face real competition. > > It’s possible to like one thing without needing to define the other as a worthless refuge for losers. Meh. Mods aren’t worth it for me. It’s not very often that I’d find a mod for a game that’d make things better. Then again, I’d get Oblivion/Fallout for the 360, so I’m not the target audience. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/71 "2009-04-21T17:58:43Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Fanboy sources are not real sources when it comes to video game debate. Period. > > And you (and others who claim the Wii doesn’t have a deep lineup) keep moving the goalposts on what does and does not qualify as a “hardcore game” and how many games are required to say a platform has a “deep lineup.” I’m not moving the goalposts. I think the Wii has a decent lineup, and I hope the lineup gets better. The lineup is very bottom-heavy for me, though. The 360 just has more titles that I like playing. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/72 "2009-04-21T18:04:48Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > I should clarify: I often play games locally with people who are very competent at them (after all, I work in the industry) and we are all very competitive. However, when we want to play, and the choice is online or locally, we will go locally every time it’s feasible. > > Of course, if you don’t have any friends who like games, then I can see why online would be a draw, but as one who has plenty of local gaming buds, online holds very little appeal. That’s very understandable, but industry friends notwithstanding, the pool of players is still greater online. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/73 "2009-04-21T18:06:36Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > That’s very understandable, but industry friends notwithstanding, the pool of players is still greater online. Yup, so? Obviously online has its merits–no one’s arguing that–but on a match-by-match basis, I find local multiplayer to be more fun, and as such, treat that with more importance than I do online play. As an aside, or rather further proof of most reviewers catering toward the 360/PS3 crowd, they’ll often ding a game for lacking online multiplayer, but rarely will they do the same if it lacks local. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/74 "2009-04-21T18:08:32Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Yup, so? Obviously online has its merits–no one’s arguing that–but on a match-by-match basis, I find local multiplayer to be more fun, and as such, treat that with more importance than I do online play. So we agree to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/75 "2009-04-21T18:11:58Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > So we agree to disagree. I don’t think that was ever in question. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/76 "2009-04-21T18:25:15Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > And you (and others who claim the Wii doesn’t have a deep lineup) keep moving the goalposts on what does and does not qualify as a “hardcore game” and how many games are required to say a platform has a “deep lineup.” Keep in mind though, that you might very well be moving the goalposts _forward_ as to what qualifies as a “hardcore game” (your listing of COD3 is laughable considering its critical reception). Blaming it on games journalists that “don’t understand” is ridiculous considering all the awesome reviews for titles like Mario Galaxy, Twilight Princess, World of Goo, and SSB. Look, I’m pretty picky about what games I want to fork over $50 for. That means that out of a console’s lineup of “great” games (85% score or higher), I’ll maybe end up buying 20% of them. And, what-do-you-know, out of the 360’s 56 (\>85%) games, I have about 12 of them. On the Wii, (18 \>85% score) I have **4** games. I figure that’s more than fair, relatively speaking. But still, when we’re looking at _my individual games library_ the Wii portion is hardly “deep.” And that’s where most of us are coming from. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/77 "2009-04-21T18:36:54Z")
> [@YamatoTwinkie](#): > > Look, I’m pretty picky about what games I want to fork over $50 for. That means that out of a console’s lineup of “great” games (85% score or higher), I’ll maybe end up buying 20% of them. And, what-do-you-know, out of the 360’s 56 (\>85%) games, I have about 12 of them. On the Wii, (18 \>85% score) I have **4** games. I figure that’s more than fair, relatively speaking. But still, when we’re looking at _my individual games library_ the Wii portion is hardly “deep.” And that’s where most of us are coming from. I hate that Metacritic has become the be-all and end-all of game discussion online. For example, I love **Excite Truck** , it is one of my favorite Wii games. It has a Metacritic rating of _ **72** _. But I love it, and think it’s amazing, so why should it’s Metacritic score disqualify it from a discussion of whether or not the Wii’s lineup is deep and has hardcore games? Metacritic is slowly edging out the B-Games from the great video game discussion. But you can take **Excite Truck** or **Earth Defense Force 2017** or **Culdcept Saga** when you pry them from my cold, dead hands. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/78 "2009-04-21T18:39:52Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Meh. Mods aren’t worth it for me. It’s not very often that I’d find a mod for a game that’d make things better. Then again, I’d get Oblivion/Fallout for the 360, so I’m not the target audience. Yeah, see, my actual point in all that is - what you, Least Original User Name Ever, likes or doesn’t like is completely irrelevant to anyone who’s not named “Least Original User Name Ever.” What you, LOUNE, like is not a standard for what is or is not good, or fun, or interesting. So you don’t think mods add anything to your enjoyment - who cares? This is not a thread about what you, LOUNE, enjoy. Mods, like those made for Oblivion & Fallaout, are a feature which consoles lack. Crazy-ass garage-dev projects like Dwarf Fortress are a feature that consoles, which require corporate dev kits and authorization, lack. The point is that there are many features to gaming. Some aspects and types of games will naturally appeal to different people. That’s not a basis for declaring that the other portions all suck. For example, here: > [@Least Original User Name Ever](#): > > Also, your opinion on playing with people in your living room and playing with people online differ. To me, it’s more fun if you have better games and better competition. Here, you’re not talking about what you like - you’re insisting that what you, LOUNE, like - is just better. It’s not better - it’s just different. Yes, even if you, LOUNE, like it better - it’s not actually better. It’s just a difference in taste. The 360’s online matchups suit you better than the Wii’s real life games. Fine. It doesn’t mean the people you play with on the 360 are better than all the people Red knows in real life. It doesn’t mean the games are better, objectively. It just means that it has the different features that appeal to you. Similarly, YamatoTwinkie - no one gives a hoot what your personal game library looks like. Seriously - we’re supposed to use your personal buying habits as the standard for judging the depth of console’s lineup? And we’re supposed to just know that’s what you mean when you talk about the library? ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/79 "2009-04-21T18:54:23Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > Dunno. if I had to pick the thing that sells me games on XBLA (often, like you, games I already own) it’s the addition of Netplay. When your favorite Samurai Shodown partner is 7 states away, and your favorite Virtual On opponent has moved to the opposite coast, netplay means a whole heck of a lot more than “nice touch”. It’s a critical feature. I didn’t realize that VC games weren’t updated at all. That’s kinda weak, honestly. =/ Well, sometimes they have the intern try to localize a previously Japan-only game (denoted by a Japanese flag next to the game name), but it’s not really that exciting. And I’m 98% a single player gamer on consoles (as far as online goes, I play local multi a bit), so I don’t really notice if they add online play, nor do I really care. I do admit if I did it would be nice. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560/80 "2009-04-21T19:21:39Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > But I love it, and think it’s amazing, so why should it’s Metacritic score disqualify it from a discussion of whether or not the Wii’s lineup is deep and has hardcore games? To a large extent, I agree with you. I have played a lot unique games (Mount & Blade, Sword of the Stars to give some examples) that lacked the polish of an AAA title and suffered mediocre reviews as a consequence, but still ended up being more fun than a big-budget title. But we can’t quite use the “Justin\_Bailey’s personal standard of hardcore games”, can we? Mediacritic might overlook a lot of flawed gems out there, but that should effect all consoles equally. When your argument is that the Wii lineup is somehow filled with _nothing but_ flawed gems, you start sounding a little fanboyish. [QUOTE=Merneith] Similarly, YamatoTwinkie - no one gives a hoot what your personal game library looks like. Seriously - we’re supposed to use your personal buying habits as the standard for judging the depth of console’s lineup? And we’re supposed to just know that’s what you mean when you talk about the library? [/QUOTE] Of course not. I’m just one anecdotal piece of evidence. But my buying habits are hardly unique, are they? When buying videogames, a lot of people look to see what games are already considered “good”, then pick amongst those for the titles that sound appealing. It’s certainly a better system than drawing names out of a hat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-is-the-wiis-lineup-of-games/493560.md?page=5)