Nintendo Wii Prepares Stunning Launch
Nintendo's Wii, although not strictly a next-generation gaming machine, is piecing together the one of the most impressive launches of any console in history, with the sum total of 27 (to date) titles being readied for the machine's launch.
Nintendo, under the guidance of president Satoru Iwata, can also shed the stigma of being unable to attract decent third-party support, with a massive 23 of the titles coming from its publishing partners, partners desperate to reach a mass-market with minimal research and development risks.
The list to date reads:
Avatar: The Last Airbender - THQ
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII - Ubisoft
Blitz: The League - Midway
Call of Duty 3 - Activision
Cars - THQ
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 - Atari
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors - Square Enix
Elebits - Konami
ExciteTruck - Nintendo
Far Cry - Ubisoft
GT Pro Series - Ubisoft
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers - Square Enix
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Nintendo
Madden NFL 07 - EA
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance - Activision
Metal Slug Anthology - SNK
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Nintendo
Monster 4×4 World Circuit - Ubisoft
Need for Speed: Carbon - EA
Open Season - Ubisoft
Rayman Raving Rabbids - Ubisoft
Red Steel - Ubisoft
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab - THQ
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz - Sega
Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam - Activision
Trauma Center: Second Opinion - Atlus
Wii Sports - Nintendo
It is expected that this roster will expand to 35 before the Wii hits the streets, with the potential for hundreds of product launches during the first year the Wii goes on sale. SPOnG very much hopes Nintendo quality assurance procedures, often a cause for some serious head-clashing with third-parties in the past, will weed out any titles seeking a quick cash-in on the technology afforded by the new home platform.
