Wii (video game series)

Wii
Genres Sports
Party
Fitness
Music
Developers Nintendo EAD Group 2
Nintendo EAD Group 5
Nd Cube
Ganbarion
XING
Publishers Nintendo
Platforms Wii
Wii U
Platform of origin Wii
First release Wii Sports
November 19, 2006
Latest release Wii Sports Club
July 25, 2014

The Wii game series is a series of fifteen physical simulation video games for the Wii and Wii U consoles. These games feature a common design theme, especially in their casual gameplay style and Mii integration. The series features control schemes that simulate real life activities with various combinations of the Wii Remote, the Wii U GamePad, and the Wii Balance Board.

Wii series was conceived by Shigeru Miyamoto to package and sell similar Wiimote prototype games in a single package.[1]

Gameplay

The Wii uses motion sensors in the game controllers to allow gameplay that incorporates physical movements by the player to control action within the game. For example, in the Baseball game included in Wii Sports, the player holds the controller like a baseball bat and swings it in order to hit the ball in the on-screen game.[2]

Games

The Wii series has become one of the best-selling video game franchises, with each game in the Wii series selling millions of copies. Wii Sports in particular is regarded as the best-selling video game of all time.[3] Wii Fit, within 18 months by June 2009, helped the health game genre generate collective revenues of $2 billion, most of which was grossed by Wii Fit's 18.22 million sales at the time.[4] The largest subset of the franchise is the Wii Sports sub-series.[5]

Wii Sports

Game Console Release Date Description GameRankings Metacritic Sales
Wii Sports Wii
  • NA: November 19, 2006
  • JP: December 2, 2006
  • AU: December 7, 2006
  • EU: December 8, 2006
The first game in the series and launch game for the Wii console. The game was sold bundled with the console in all regions except Japan and South Korea. Wii Sports is known for starting a new development direction for Nintendo involving simple gameplay, simple graphics, and motion control. It is currently the best-selling video game of all time.[6] 76.28%[7] 76/100[8] 82.78 million[9]
Wii Sports Resort
  • JP: June 25, 2009
  • AU: July 23, 2009
  • EU: July 24, 2009
  • NA: July 26, 2009
Successor to Wii Sports. It is one of the first titles to require the Wii MotionPlus accessory, which was bundled with the game. Though the game was originally a standalone title, it was later bundled with the Wii console. 82.65%[10] 80/100[11] 32.95 million[9]
Wii Sports Club Wii U Tennis & Bowling
  • JP: October 30, 2013
  • NA: November 7, 2013
  • EU: November 7, 2013
  • AU: November 8, 2013
Golf
  • WW: December 18, 2013
Baseball & Boxing
  • NA: June 26, 2014
  • EU: June 27, 2014
Retail
  • EU: July 11, 2014
  • JP: July 17, 2014
  • NA: July 25, 2014
A remake of the original Wii Sports game, it now requires the Wii MotionPlus accessory. Initially, it was only available on the Nintendo eShop with each sport needing to be bought separately. A retail release with all five sports has also been released.

It was about to be called Wii Sports U, but was changed to Wii Sports Club.

74.60%[12] 68/100[13]

Wii Play

Game Console Release Date Description GameRankings Metacritic Sales
Wii Play Wii
  • JP: December 2, 2006
  • AU: December 7, 2006
  • EU: December 8, 2006
  • NA: February 12, 2007
The next game in the series was a launch game for the Wii in Japan. It features a compilation of nine minigames, such as Shooting Range or Table Tennis, that are used to teach the user how to use the Wii remote. Wii Play was bundled with an extra Wii remote and is one of the best selling video games of all time.[14] 61.64%[15] 58/100[16] 28.02 million[9]
Wii Play: Motion
  • NA: June 13, 2011
  • EU: June 24, 2011
  • AU: June 30, 2011
  • JP: July 7, 2011
This sequel to Wii Play is the most recently released game in the subseries. It includes twelve minigames, and it is bundled with the Wii Remote Plus, which is required to play. The minigames were created by various developers, including Good-Feel, Skip Ltd., and Arzest Corporation. 61.89%[17] 60/100[18] 1.26 million[19]

Wii Fit

Game Console Release Date Description GameRankings Metacritic Sales
Wii Fit Wii
  • JP: December 1, 2007
  • EU: April 25, 2008
  • AU: May 8, 2008
  • NA: May 21, 2008
The first game to use the Wii Balance Board peripheral, wherewith it was bundled. As a fitness-oriented game, it measures a user's weight, telling the user his or her health based on body mass index, and provides minigames for the user to exercise or to improve posture. It is currently the third-best-selling console game of all time of those not packaged with a console. 81.18%[20] 80/100[21] 22.67 million[9]
Wii Fit Plus
  • JP: October 1, 2009
  • NA: October 4, 2009
  • AU: October 15, 2009
  • EU: October 30, 2009
An enhanced version of Wii Fit. 80.83%[22] 80/100[23] 21.03 million[9]
Wii Fit U Wii U
  • AU: December 7, 2013
  • EU: December 13, 2013
  • NA: January 10, 2014
  • JP: February 1, 2014
The next entry in the Wii Fit subseries which was announced at E3 2012 as a title for the Wii U console. 75.75%[24] 71/100[25]

Wii Party

Game Console Release Date Description GameRankings Metacritic Sales
Wii Party Wii
  • JP: July 8, 2010
  • NA: October 3, 2010
  • AU: October 7, 2010
  • EU: October 8, 2010
Players partake in various party games, similar to the Mario Party series.[26] It is the first game in the series in which Shigeru Miyamoto was not involved in development. 70.44%[27] 68/100[28] 7.94 million[19][29]
Wii Party U Wii U
  • NA: October 25, 2013
  • EU: October 25, 2013
  • AU: October 26, 2013
  • JP: October 31, 2013
Developed by the same team behind the original Wii Party.[30] 64.68%[31] 65/100[32] 1.35 million[33]

Other titles

Game Console Release Date Description GameRankings Metacritic Sales
Wii Chess Wii WiiWare
  • EU: January 18, 2008
  • JP: September 30, 2008
A Simple Chess game that you could play single play or online play. The game was released as a WiiWare game in Japan.
Wii Music Wii
  • JP: October 16, 2008
  • NA: October 20, 2008
  • AU: November 13, 2008
  • EU: November 14, 2008
Focused on using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to simulate playing instruments. 64.34%[34] 63/100[35] 2.65 million[36][37]
Wii Karaoke U Wii U
  • JP: December 8, 2012
  • PAL: October 4, 2013
Pre-installed on every Japanese Wii U. Discontinued on March 31, 2017.[38] 69.00%[39] 68/100[40]

Software

Game Console Release Date Description GameRankings Metacritic Sales
Wii Street U Wii U
  • JP: February 7, 2013
  • NA: February 14, 2013
  • EU: February 14, 2013
  • AU: February 14, 2013
Wii U Panorama View Wii U
  • NA: April 26, 2013
  • JP: April 27, 2013
  • EU: April 27, 2013
  • AU: April 27, 2013

References

  1. Kohler, Chris (April 5, 2017). "Q&A: Design lessons learned from a decade at Nintendo's EAD". Gamasutra. UBM TechWeb. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  2. Davis, Ryan. "Wii Sports Review". Gamespot.com. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  3. Tom Ivan (May 8, 2009). "Wii Sports The Best Selling Game Ever?". Edge. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  4. Kris Pigna (2009-06-28). "Health Games Generate $2 Billion in Worldwide Sales". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  5. Kyle Orland (January 28, 2011). "Super Mario Galaxy 2 Sells 6.15M Worldwide, Wii Sports Series Passes 102M". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  6. Reisenger, Don. "'Wii Sports': Best-selling, but not best of all time". CNet. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  7. "Wii Sports for Wii". GameRankings. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  8. "Wii Sports for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Nintendo Top Selling Software Sales Units: Wii". Nintendo. 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
  10. "Wii Sports Resort for Wii". GameRankings. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  11. "Wii Sports Resort for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  12. "Wii Sports Club for Wii U". GameRankings. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  13. "Wii Sports Club for Wii U Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  14. "Financial Results Briefing for the Six-Month Period ended December 2009" (PDF). Nintendo. October 31, 2009. p. 11. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  15. "Wii Play for Wii". GameRankings. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  16. "Wii Play for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  17. "Wii Play: Motion for Wii". GameRankings. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  18. "Wii Play: Motion for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  19. 1 2 "Financial Results Briefing for the Q3 Fiscal Year" (PDF). Nintendo. 2012-04-27. p. 6. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  20. "Wii Fit for Wii". GameRankings. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  21. "Wii Fit for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  22. "Wii Fit Plus for Wii". GameRankings. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  23. "Wii Fit Plus for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  24. "Wii Fit U for Wii U". GameRankings. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  25. "Wii Fit U for Wii U Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  26. Harris, Craig (October 3, 2010). "Wii Party Review". p. 1. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  27. "Wii Party for Wii". GameRankings. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  28. "Wii Party for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  29. "Financial Results Briefing for the Nine-Month Period Ended December 2011" (PDF). Nintendo. 2012-01-27. p. 6. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  30. "Wii U Party Will Get The Family Together This Summer". Nintendo Life.
  31. "Wii Party U for Wii U". GameRankings. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  32. "Wii Party U for Wii U Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  33. "IR Information : Sales Data - Top Selling Software Sales Units - Wii U Software". Nintendo.
  34. "Wii Music for Wii". GameRankings. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  35. "Wii Music for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  36. As of March 2009.
  37. "Financial Results Briefing for the Fiscal Year Ended March 2009: Supplementary Information" (PDF). Financial Results Briefing for the 69th Fiscal Term Ended March 2009. Nintendo. 2009-05-08. p. 6. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  38. "Wii Karaoke U To Close In Europe By End Of March". Nintendo Life. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  39. "Wii Karaoke U for Wii U". GameRankings. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  40. "Wii Karaoke U for Wii U Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.