Victim of Culture

What is Nintendo not telling us about Wii Sports Resort?

With E3 only a few weeks away, and the release of Wii Sports Resort only two months away, there is still remarkably little we know about Nintendo’s marquee Wii title sequel.  What do we know?  It will ship with the Wii MotionPlus accessory that clips onto the bottom of the Wiimote, and it features a total of eight games.  What eight games?  Well, so far we only know Frisbee Toss, Sword Fighting, and Jet Skis.

But why the secrecy about the other five games?  And why did the title get delayed from earlier in the spring until July?  There’s so many unanswered questions about the title that don’t seem to be that big of deals, until you consider that Nintendo may indeed be hiding a few secrets.  Below is a look at some questions and potential surprises.

1. Those eight games?  Add five more to them in the way of remixed versions of the original title.

Why is Nintendo not talking about all the titles included?  Well, it’s very likely they have eight entirely original games (including the three we know).  But it’s also likely that in addition the title includes remixes of the original five.  Why do such a thing?  Obviously the enhanced controls could add a lot to each of the original titles, so why not?  The code is already there, just add some minor tweaks and viola!  Customers feel like they’re getting a much better deal,  But that’s not the only reason…

2. Wii Sports Resort will be the new pack-in title starting this fall.

It’s extremely likely that Nintendo will push its developers to make use of the enhanced MotionPlus accessory, and what better way to guarantee plenty of homes have one than to pack it in with the system this Christmas?  But if you’re going to do that, you need a title that showcases the new controls, and by bundling in the original titles with the new controls, you guarantee that everyone has the same first experience with the Wii and doesn’t feel like they’re missing out on the Wii’s marquee title.

3. It will feature heavy online integration.

While Nintendo has been slow (very slow) to adapt to the world of online games, Wii Sports Resort seems the perfect title to get people playing online together.  Don’t expect an end to Friend Codes, but do expect a robust leader board system with random matching for online play.  Will it work with frantic games like Sword Fighting?  We’ll see, but it’s inclusion is a sure bet.

4. Introduce your new accessory with one of your most successful ever—the Balance Board.

Could Nintendo really make a Jet Skis game and not include Balance Board control?  Really?  Okay, maybe they could, but they’d be foolish to do so.  Instead, look for Balance Board integration throughout the title.  Wii Fit has rocketed to being the third best-selling title on the system (after Wii Sports and Wii Play, and neither of them really count).  Nintendo also apparently plans to introduce a Wii Fit sequel this fall and likely wants to promote their Balance Board as a worthy investment as much as possible.  So get ready to lean into those turns on your jet ski with your whole body.

5. It’s the coming out party for Miis.

One of Nintendo’s brilliant innovations with the Wii was the introduction of Miis.  Yes, they’re kind of goofy and silly, but they also have been huge hits with casual and hardcore gamers alike.  Microsoft and Sony have even since copied the idea with Home and Avatars.  So where does Nintendo go from here?  Each first party title has basically seen more and more integration of the little fellas, and it’s likely that Wii Sports Resort will feature more than any title before.  Look for them as your player characters, audience members, guides through menus, and more.  You very well may be sick of Miis by the time you’re done.

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