The Nintendo Wii is getting a major marketing push to convince gamers to go online with their consoles. While Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has over 10 million active online users, and the PS3 PlayStation Network is heavily used, Nintendo’s online presence has so far been lacking, despite the massive popularity of the console and the service being (like Sony’s) free.
Now, according to New Media Age, Nintendo will change that. To kick off, the company has announced an eight week marketing campaign asking Nintendo Wii owners to “get it online”.
The push will take place across on the Nintendo.co.uk home page, with 16 videos detailing how and why Nintendo Wii owners should be using their consoles online. The videos are also available as mobile downloads, and will be promoted through Orange’s mobile portal too. It’ll highlight specific online-friendly titles, including Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Pro Evolution Soccer and Mario Kart Wii.
The Nintendo Wii “get it online” campaign is aiming squarely at mainstream Wii owners, and it’s hinted that it’ll pop up beyond the Nintendo and Orange sites too. Full details of the marketing move’s wider motivations are still sketchy, but it’s clear Nintendo has bigger plans for the Wii on the world wide web, but to make them happen it needs gamers to be online first.
But is it enough to brush off recent accusations from Sony that the console is rarely played by most of its owners?
Out now | £200 | Nintendo Wii (available at Game.co.uk)
