Microsoft: 60% of Wii Fit Purchases Go Unplayed
Speaking at Microsoft’s GameFest UK keynote, Xbox Europe VP David Gosen proclaimed that around 60% of the people who bought Wii Fit played it once and didn’t touch it thereafter, noting that developers should avoid pushing gimmicks and focus on offering solid gameplay.
“We’ve seen some research that says 60 percent of people who bought a Wii Fit play it once and don’t play it again,” he said. “So we have to get the balance right, because what we are doing is bringing new consumers into the market for the first time in their lives sometimes—and we have to treat them with respect.”
He added that “what Nintendo have done with the Wii is truly fantastic – there is no question about it,” but noted that “sometimes there is a thin line between gimmick and great gameplay.”
Gosen further added that while new user interfaces are highly important in the industry, peripherals have to be designed with utility and longevity in mind.
“At the end of the day that comes back down to creativity… They are not good if they are gimmicks. There is a challenge for us to make sure that all new user interfaces are deep and are rewarding to the end user,” he stated.