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

SMASHED

4 years ago

Im pretty sure the DS looks quite outdated to the PSP. Its not stopping it anytime soon though.

Until a year or so goes by I won't judge the Wiis graphical capability. As I think that would be a bit unfair.

4 years ago

SMASHED I agree, Nintendo has done an awesome job on the DS – Majority think the graphics is pretty good for a portable system – it's certainly within expectation levels for most people. Having said that, people have a different level of expectation for home video consoles – they actually expect a fair bit of presentation quality on the big screen.

The Wii controller is a new and exciting resource and is going to be experienced every which way to Sunday but at some point in the future it's not going to enable publishers to continue charging the current premium. Gyroscope loaded controllers will be on all platforms soon enough anyway so publishers everywhere would have to plan for the day that Wii's saleable value diminishes a little.

In that sense what Scott Steinberg is saying is actually quite valid - At some point the XBOX 360 or PS3 will start selling at say $399 - these machines have DVD possibly HD-DVD or Blu-ray and pretty impressive computing resources to create a good variety of games – This competitive pressure must have an effect on Wii. Publishers could consider the Wii as a great 2nd tier $99 console and look at simpler $49 new release games - the easy programming & potential volume might allows for this business model – Its for publishers like Sega to decide if they want to go with that.

LeonJ

4 years ago

I was going to say the same thing RE DS vs PSP. It's like comparing HDTV verus SDTV. For most people, having a high resolution widescreen picture is of little interest.

Sure the Wii will not be a powerhouse gfx machine, but it brings to the table something fresh that the average joe will buy and enjoy.

The hardcore gaming community may be harsh on the Wii's graphical gunt, but if you look at the weekly sales charts, you can clearly see we are a minority in sales. And personally, I don't care either. I have a PS3 and 360. The gives me something compelety different to play which is never bad thing.

Jin66

4 years ago

great words from the vp of "MARKETING". You can tell a person is good at their job when they put down a console they are developing games for........

Daniel Primed

4 years ago

Another industry moron sas something in order to make themselves look important. This just annoys me, people aren't really interested in what these industy nobodies(or just not mega popuar) have to say.

It just annoys people like us. *Grumbes*

emech

4 years ago

There is nothing stopping nintendo releasing a wii "elite" in a couple of years time with a graphic chip upgrade to counter the eventual price drop of it compeitiors. My main complaint is making games wii-mote exculsive. I would like the choice between using either the wii-mote or the stnd controller, like i do (mostly) have with the DS (touch or dpad - marvel trading excluded grrr)

dc0079

4 years ago

At the end of the day Wii is still a wildcard on the market. If you apply traditional marketing/gaming value on it, then his points are quite valid. But Wii is something that even us gamers alike can't really predict.
IMO Nintendo would introduce a new console sooner rather than later, but cheaper at the same time on next gen.

Nev

4 years ago

Steinberg has since made follow-up comments regarding this:

“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. That said, it’s a shared responsibility and opportunity for the whole industry to take advantage of the possibilities of the Wii. 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.”

Jaws

4 years ago

In response to his followup, instead of suddenly piping up about the "importance of realising the Wii's potential', just go ahead and do it through your actions? Its a poor attempt at stating the obvious and just repeats what many other industry figures have been saying.

Obviously developers will need to take some radical approaches to take advantage of the radical gaming layout the Wii provides. Sounds like he's trying to dig himself out of his own hole there, albeit quite poorly might I add..

For ports etc.. I agree with emech, if a game can be played 'conventionally' with a gamepad, then include that option. I for one am glad that this was implemented with Mortal Kombat Armageddon otherwise I wouldnt have enjoyed playing it as much with the Wii-mote and most likely would not have bothered buying it.

Crestfallen

4 years ago

Daniel Primed wrote

I know what you mean, I totally take the word of random forumers over that of professional developers.

(Do i really have to insert a roll emoticon or is the sacrasm obvious enough? ah what the hell, "

poweroffarts

4 years ago

SMASHED wrote

Im pretty sure the DS looks quite outdated to the PSP.

Not really, a lot of games are in 2D which doesnt feel outdated and still popular. Look at Phoenix Wright, Hotel Dusk. But pushing 3d graphics may feel outdated. If there's not better than wii sport. Its going to be short lived. I reckon no one here would mind wii getting better graphics? Nintendo made great console, but they way they making money off it, I dont like.

Adam

4 years ago

Dude, you just don't do that. Why would he insult the Wii? I bet it's because he's from Sega. They have it IN for Nintendo. Etc.

Nev

4 years ago

These comments aside, the Wii is destined for failure; not for lack of innovation, but because it featured in an episode of South Park.

Think about it.

Dreamcast - Died an early death.
PSP - Outsold by the DS.

And when was the last time you saw anyone playing an Okama Gamesphere?

realitybites

4 years ago

Look the Wii is chasing a different market.

But you can't compare the handheld market to a home console market.

Its like saying iPod is successful it could be succesful in the home. Home theatre system have big ass speakers with 5.1 surround sound. iPod typically has stereo ear phones.

Personally I don't give a rats about the Wii its just not my taste in gaming but I can see where its targetted at what I don't understand is why Nintendo fans have got to make it out as everything to everyone.

It's NOT a hard core console. What it does do best is give Nintendo fans acces to their favourite mascots and those who would like to play video games an opportunity to play them.

The last episode of good games highlights that fact well in the retirement village. It highlights the genuine application of the Wii remote.

werecow

4 years ago

Well....It's been a while since i posted.
And the last time I did one of these....some people flamed me, others like S.Jaworski made me his friend. Needless to say I wasn't sure whether to do this again.

Let us begin the epic tale with a quote from Scott Steinberg himself.
"I am a little concerned about the creative depth of the Wii pool"

Well....Nintendo's obviously not. I'm obviously not. The millions of Nintendo's Fans obviously aren't worried.
Why?

Because Nintendo has so many innovative games coming out for the Wii and the DS this year and next year that Scott Steinberg has no basis to mention lack of creativity and Nintendo in the same sentance.

Another Quote I think.

"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"

Will the Wii look dated in a couple of years?
The Sega Saturn looked dated in a couple of months.....so did the Dreamcast, come to think of it.

Will the Wii in all its modern technological splendour really turn well....boring?

I don't think so.
I can't see that happening.

There is a general trend at the moment all over the WWW that Nintendo will release a 'Wii 2' in 3 years time.
Perhaps.

But lets look at Sony.
Sony said that the PS3 "will last for 10 years" as a console in the living room without the need to release a PS4.

Umm.....sure Sony. You keep believing that, cause the rest of the world arent.

So back to Wii.
A new Wii.
That would be great!
We could paint it Beige/ White.
Put a nice red spiral on it.
Make the controller nice and brick shaped for throwing at Nintendo Fanboy's.
Maybe Release it on the 10/10/10....
Maybe it could think! Lol
Perhaps even have Sonic as the number one mascot
(Maybe Mario could shine his shoes?!)

I can't see that happening....
Sorry Sega.

Its a shame...because I admire Sega. But they dropped out of the console race a long time ago.
What gives them the right to insult a product that is new, innovative and outsold Xbox 360 and PS3 combined last month?!

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?"

Lets just make a quick note.. right here..that companies like EA, Namco, Ubisoft and Sega themselves are producing games for Nintendo.
I don't see any of them jumping ship in the next 5 years.
Looking at Wii as "Oh, it only has Wrist motion...PFF! Sony has Xbox 360 controls and Wii controls...therfore its better!"
is shallow and close minded.

How can they design products that aren't too derivative of what's already out there?

this one got me going i have to admit.

How can a design product (Wii) that has never been done before be seen as 'old technology'?!

Go Figure!

.....Thanks for that Sega

and Scott Stonerberg..

You've just made my day.
Cause while your rotting away selling good games.

Nintendo will be up there sitting at number 1, by the end of the year...in both markets. Making.Awesome.Games
and building a fanbase for years to come!

--------------
Werecow

Crestfallen

4 years ago

werrecow wrote

Because Nintendo has so many innovative games coming out for the Wii and the DS this year and next year that Scott Steinberg has no basis to mention lack of creativity and Nintendo in the same sentance.

Name these "inn0vat1ve" games for me cause I sure as hell can't see any. All I can see is a bunch of cash-cow games.

And I hope you don't consider Wii Degree as innovation.

Cerebral

4 years ago

werecow wrote

Don't need innovation to make a good game, and don't assume that just because the Wii's games are lacking in graphics means that they have the whole 'gameplay' thing in spades.

legend166

4 years ago

Since when could Sega read the market?

Honestly, I genuinely believe I could run Sega better than whoever was running it when they were still actually relevant.

Eyce

4 years ago

I just love the fact it's another case of a Developer making random claims into the Mainstream media, then cover their arses when a better argument to their 'opinion' is made on the Internets.

werecow

4 years ago

In fact, the only four big games I'm looking forward to on the Wii are sequels to franchises. Only one (Mario Galaxy) can truly be called innovative, one's Metroid, and the other two (Fire Emblem and Smash Bros) don't even use the waggle-stick. - Cerebral

Hello Cerebal...You are a n00b.

So let me guess. You're an Xbox fanboy or perhaps Sony fangirl?

Did you happen to notice that Halo 3 is a franchise sequel.
Halo Wars is a franchise sequel.
Half Life 2 is a franchise sequel
GTA IV is a franchise sequel

How about PS3.

a general sweep of the games coming out are franchise sequels.

Is it just me or is a pattern emerging?!

oh and Smash Bros. doesnt use the "Waggle stick".

you lie!
check ur facts mate....Smash Bros. supports Wiimote, wiimote +nunchuck, Gamecube and Classic controllers.

So to sum up.
ur post was a waste of space!

Jin66

4 years ago

haha so much hate on this board. Lets not forget its not about whether Steinberg was right or not, its about a person in his position saying things that did nobody any favours. The fact that he came out and retracted his statement shows he was foolish to make them in the first place.

Jaws

4 years ago

Agreed Jin. Im not sure exactly how this will help Sega with Nintendo as a future business partner. Its like biting the hand that grants you contracts..

DeathFalcon

4 years ago

werecow wrote

So to sum up.
ur post was a waste of space!

Your second post was a waste of space and same goes for half of your first.
You seem to resort to insulting someone else, instead of excepting the truth that the majority of descent upcoming Wii games are sequels. You rebuted that all the other consoles upcoming games are also sequal's, well Bioshock, Alan Wake, Mass Effect, Assasins Creed do i have to go on

.

My Wii, witch i mainly purchased in the hopes of a new way to play FPS's and RTS's, is currently in storage. I desperately hope that 3rd party developers step in and create a descent FPS or RTS that will change the way im treating the console. As for now it might aswell be a white brick.

David

4 years ago

Article updated with a 'clarification' issued by Steinberg.

S.Jaworski wrote

Agreed Jin. Im not sure exactly how this will help Sega with Nintendo as a future business partner. Its like biting the hand that grants you contracts..

Yep:

NOTE: The Wii will surpass the 360 in USA+Japan next month. It will almost certainly lead worldwide by August.

And who knows how well it can sell when there are more decent games on it.

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