brief stint on the GameStop board of directors.
Even the most casual gamers will likely have some knowledge of Wii Sports. The motion-controlled sports medley title was a worldwide phenomenon when it launched, partially because of the novelty of motion controls at the time, but also because of its undeniable accessibility. In Wii Sports, players need only hold and move the Wiimote as if it were a tennis racket, golf club, or baseball bat, rather than fiddling with button controls that can be difficult to get a hang of, especially for those unfamiliar with gaming. This intuitive title was a great match for the Wii, and nearly everyone with the best-selling console had access to these games thanks to Nintendo's decision to include it with new Wii units free of charge. This immense popularity and diverse appeal can still be felt today through releases like Nintendo Switch Sports, which includes classic Wii Sports games like tennis and bowling.
The Wii may have had the same success were it not for Wii Sports, which is why some may be surprised to hear that both Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo President Satoru Iwata were against bundling it with the console at launch, according to Fils-Aime's recent autobiography. As covered by The Washington Post, Fils-Aime was met with strong opposition from these industry juggernauts when he proposed the bundle, with Miyamoto specifically stating that Nintendo does not "give away [its] software". Ultimately, Fils-Aime was able to convince Iwata of his plan and a compromise was reached, wherein Wii Sports was sold as a stand-alone title in Japan and bundled with the Wii in North American markets.
This decision ended up being the right one as, despite recent controversial decisions like the closure of the Wii's eShop, the console sold phenomenally well for Nintendo for many years, far exceeding the company's previous home console the GameCube. The success of the Wii should be, at least in part, attributed to Wii Sports, as the game offered a clear, strong incentive for consumers from all demographics to purchase the console.
Nintendo's approach to marketing and selling its products has certainly changed quite a bit since the days of the Wii, as evidenced by the fact that there was no Wii Sports equivalent bundled with the Nintendo Switch. The gaming company still makes accessible games with a wide appeal but seems to have moved a bit away from party games with motion controls. Nintendo Switch Sports could signal a return to this approach, however, so Wii Sports fans everywhere might once again enjoy more fun, intuitive gameplay.
Source: The Washington Post
