Top 20 WiiWare Games in America (6th August)

Wow thats stupid

I never thought I'd see the day that Dr.Mario would be replaced with such a mediocre title. I mean, come on, PONG TOSS!? Who can seriously find the idea of that fun? And, I would just like to say I would buy Toki Tori if it was 100 points less and I had more memory (I have 900 points and almost zero memory)

here's proof that people buy more of the bad games than the good ones

Wow, Its sad to see the dumb games outselling the great ones... knowing this will only lead to more, terrible, half baked ideas for downloadable wii games...

well everyone has thier taste not like getting good ones that lot of people talk bout gonna make em cool pretty much they dont give crap bout it. if they like it then they like it. the way i sort of view it in a way there really no such things as a good or bad game if your reasonable enough to get my point

Pong Toss is #2 and Disaster Movie (from the creators of Epic Movie, Date Movie) is releasing this month; it'll probably number one too. Meanwhile Toki Tori is almost about to get the boot.

No wonder people say USA is evil.

wow. that is utterly unbelievable

People quit buying shovelware it will only lead to more of it:(

@ worrybomb- we also like poorly made video games I guess

that's quite a shocker.

What the $£&%? The only possible logic to this is that not very many people are downloading WiiWare games right now and Pong Toss got lucky. It even beat DR Mario, which is remarkable. Critter Round Up is now gone and Protothea should be next. What is it with SHMUPS on WiiWare? Here's what i think of the current standings

1 (1) - My Pokémon Ranch - How is this still in 1st?

2 (14) - Frat Party Games - Pong Toss - Absolutely ridiculous. There must be an error on the shop channel

3 (2) - Dr Mario Online Rx - I relatively agree

4 (3) - Defend your Castle - Deserves it position

5 (4) - Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King - Good to see it's still doing well

6 (5) - TV Show King - Surprising but it can be quite fun

7 (6) - Pirates - The Key of Dreams - I Expected lower, around 10-14

8 (7) - LostWinds - Brilliant game. Should be slightly higher

9 (11) - Family Table Tennis - Should be Lower, around 12-15

10 (10) - Cocoto Fishing Master - I have to disagree with the standing but i don't think it should be much lower

11 (9) - Gyrostarr - Expected higher

12 (N) - Wild West Guns - Good for a new game

13 (12) - SPOGS Racing - Just no. Should be in last or off the charts

14 (8) - Major League Eating: The Game - I expected a lower average position but not this low.

15 (13) - Block Breaker Deluxe - A Good game, deserves better

16 (16) - V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack - I Agree completely

17 (15) - Magnetica Twist - Doesn't deserve this low standing

18 (17) - Pop - After so long, i have to agree

19 (18) - Toki Tori - How did this happen?

20 (19) - Protöthea - Why Isn't SPOGS or Pong Toss here?

Why are Americans getting Pong Toss? When I first saw it on 2nd place yesterday, I was very mad! I wasn't this mad since Star Soldier R was removed from the popular titles list. What makes the game more special than Dr. Mario? I can't believe that Americans are doing this!

Wow. I admit, I'm surprised.

You have got to be kidding me! PONG TOSS!? What has happened to video gamers' tastes these days!? It has got to be the casual gamers buying this horrible game for this to happen! BOO!

Edit:Maybe too many people who bought this game were drunk at the time and are trying to drink beer while playing this game...

@MasterMario "Why are Americans getting Pong Toss?"

Because it's got the word "frat" in it's title. Americans are nuts for everything frat.

This prooves that reading the title is enough research at the time of choosing a game for the avarage Wii gamer.

...which explains why a game like say, Toki Tori, is about to fall off the chart.

edit: just imagine what would have happened if they had kept the word "beer"...

Although the name has changed to Pong Toss and the graphics have been modified to eliminate the alcohol-related graphics, deep down inside we all know that Pong Toss is an alcohol-related game.

Considering the extent of alcohol consumption on a weekly basis within dorm rooms across the country, I'd suspect that a large number of college students have added Pong Toss to their WiiWare arsenal with the intention of substituting the virtual drinks with the real deal.

If I had the ability, I'd whip-up a WiiWare game that simulates a good old-fashioned game of "Bet Your Liver". The college kids would go nuts for it and I'd be rolling in the cash.

@SuperSonic

That actually would make sense!

I'm glad that Pokémon Ranch is doing well. But Toki Tori NEEDS saving. :_:

When I saw Pong Toss that high up I was actually in an unshakable state of disbelief for a few seconds!

Utterly crazy. Us EU folk had better not do the same thing when it's released here!

I love how so may people get pissed off by this. I bought the game (and I own Dr. Mario), am happy with it, and am not surprised it is so high. I have some friends who got it too. It is an original concept for a game and probably bought by people who enjoy playing the real thing. Considering the point of the game, the graphics of the people don't really matter much. The control scheme works well. The addition of points and Speed Toss are cool additions that I have had fun with.

It seems people don't like the concept so they whine about it. There was whining when it came out. Now there is whining that people are buying it. I think turn-based RPG games are stupid. I don't get mad that Final Fantasy sells lots of games. I read an interview with the guys from JV Games. They weren't trying make a game to insult all your precious Final Fantasy, Mega Man games. They put out a video game that people who like playing pong might like to play in a limited space. They did something never done before and people respond with "beer pong is boring anyway."

I don't think the game will remain high on the list for very long. I find it laughable that this website would tell people to "stop the madness" that is created by buying a game the customers might enjoy playing. People want to take away these guys' money because they made a budget title that is fun to its fan-base.

Wow...Pong Toss at #2. Not offended at it. Just shocked that such a shallow game got that high in 2 weeks. @#$^&[email protected]#$^&(&#$^&...

@fco: I was thinking the exact same thing, I think most people just look at the name of the game and read the description in the shop channel and then start throwing around their Wii points, without knowing what the game really is about. Some games would really benefit if people could try out a demo or something.

Oh snap.

This list makes puppies cry.

Oh wow.... this is offensive... just think there's a lot of time and some REALLY bad games might come out. Now just think at the (IMO) 9:11 good bad ratio of games now. It was previously (IMO) 10:10 ratio. If this trend continues we might end up having a 3:17 ratio at the end of the year if we're lucky and I was right. Does anyone have any comments, agree, disagree about this?

EDIT: I'm no good at ratios so correct me if I'm wrong!

This goes to show that even without beer pong toss still attracts the 1000's of drunk people here in the U.S.

they probably still think it's called beer pong lol

COME ON EVERYONE PLEASE BUY POP AND TOKI TORI. THEY SHOULDNT FALL OUT THIS QUICKLY AND STOP BUYING THAT STUPID PONG TOSS! IT SHOULD BE IN LAST WITH SPOGS RACING! THIS IS HORRIBLE!

This is sad, I just hope the companies that DESERVE money for their games is still getting it, even if they're not at the top DX. Shame on the world.

Uh oh. This is not a good thing. I am outraged by pong toss. I haven't a clue why it is up there. This is the first week since MPR came out that a game has penetrated the top 3. Gyrostarr came close but couldn't budge the top. People need to stop buying Pong Toss now!

Oh god. People just keep buying crap. Ignorant Poke-mon fans who don't know crap when they see it have pushed my Poke-mon ranch up to first place while more deserving games sink lower and lower. Are you guys sure this isn't the least popular list? I think I'm gonna throw up.

It's so strange. If it's true, the amazing amount of crap we see on wiiware is going to be even more important. They sell well. They have some of the worst games ever on that channel. At least 5-7 games are not acceptable on PSN or X-Box Live.They release them here because it's the only place they can. very sad.I'm curious to know if Wiiware is a success. I don't think it's as successsful as the other. In term of quality, it's not in the same league..

Pokemon and Frat Party games ftw.

@SRPirate
No need to use caps locked man. Toki Tori deserves more buyers! Pop is a bit too simple for my taste, but it's not that bad (I just won't think it's the end of the world when it falls off. DYC on the other hand would cause the apoclyips (sp)).

This list makes Princess Chunk cry to sleep.

they put it in #2 to sell most fast
people say "oh its in 2 it must be fun"

It looks like i must but some points card today & put up even more strage related frustration just so i cam save Toki Tori a cutley but weird little bird .

Toki Tori was worth deleting Lostwinds for me. So was deleting F-Zero X for Star Soldier R.

Let's just hope Pong Toss doesn't end up in #1

Pong Toss should have never been made. Know why? It violates natural selection. See, the morons who play real-life beer pong are meant to ruin their own lives eventually via alcohol-related depression, fighting, etc. by nature. But when a virtual replacement such as Pong Toss is created, the morons are not only granted a crappy game to enjoy (and, also, to introduce kids to the concept of beer pong), but ANOTHER awful WiiShovelWare game to give Nintendo more money. Lose-lose.

My Pokemon Ranch is STILL a #1 seller? There's three types of people who are buying it: people who don't read reviews, people with bad taste, and lobotomy patients. (And yes, again, this is coming from a Pokemon fan.) Sigh.

It's a shame that so many people are THAT easily amused. Maybe Nintendo's next Pokemon game will consist entirely of a non-interactive clip of Pikachu dangling a ring of colorful keys on-screen for the suck...er, I mean, PLAYer in an endless loop. CHA-CHING!

I sometimes think reviewing video games is a complete waste of time. Maybe I need to take up sculpting or stamp collecting instead.

is satain working at nintendo?

This list sickens me. Come on why is poor, poor, poor Toki Tori failing! I just want to cry when I see pong toss(It doesn't deserve capital letters.) so high up. ;_;

At last, the sales round-up is here. I must say that, considering Pong Toss just beat out Dr. Mario, I must say, once again, that my once proud country has now officially full of idiots. And just think, this is the booze-free version. Imagine how well it'd sell if it was left in.
Honestly, I expected better from the country that came up with the concept of frying things and putting them on sticks. For shame.
In the words of Rain Man: "this is bad. Very bad."

But then again, when I think about all the American people who don't even know who our second president was, I guess it makes sense.

@Corbie. Yeah. I thought the reason critics existed was to PREVENT people from buying crap. May I suggest a new career in painting or accounting?

I'm glad to at least see Wild West Guns in a reasonable position, given that it's new and all, and SOMEONE PLEASE SAVE TOKI TORI!!!

sniff I love you Toki Tori. You're the only WiiWare game I've actually bought!

As for Beer Pong- It's like Carnival Games for people who like beer (but only 1 game for $10). For a lot of people, that's good. I didn't think it would be THAT many people though.

@ bahamut zero- sorry man, i just went crazy when i saw toki tori 2nd to last on the list, its just horrible how people are buying the pong toss game.

No...effing...way...

goes to the window to make sure the sky hasn't fallen

I agree with BAnthony
Perhaps Corbies review was so biased against a genre that it might actually be a fun game if given the chance.
Perhaps the Wii was actually designed for a casual market and hardcore gamers are the minority and register as a small blip on the radar.
I love Pong Toss and everyone at my party Saturday played it more then Guitar Hero (That I found amazing).

Pong Toss at #2 two shows how little people bother to read reviews. I mean people do those things for a reason people. Seriously.

@Corbie: Don't worry about it mate. Your review did help a lot of people on this site from downloading PT. However, there in lies the problem. Your really one of two perople on the web that has made a review of said game (1up.com gave it a D-). Let's face it, this site does not get as many hits as the big boys, like IGN (the last Wiiware game they reviewed was Pirates). So unless the site decides to do a massive ad campaign, or get's mentioned in IGN or Gamespot, your sage advice will not reach the masses.

I thought I could predict some things in the world. I thought I could depend on humanity a bit. And now that's all out the window. Gah...

I think I puked up my stomach...then again, it could just be Pong Toss...looks the same.

@ Anyone who purchased Pong Toss -- Avada Kedavra (sp?)
That said, and having downloaded it, I think Toki Tori is overrated. but its still way better than the crap thats in the top (PKMN, PT, SPOGS, etc.) And seeing DYC lose #3 made nations cry...and fall...and burn...

Consider this: casual gamers come from a distinct evolutionary tree, and at the root of that tree lies the answer. You see, back in their cave man years, casuals used to entertain themselves by throwing rocks at turtles. Eventually they figured out that it was a lot more fun to see if they could bounce the rock off the ground and hit the turtle. Soon, they began utilizing multiple turtles, and put forth the rule if one does hit a turtle, then the opponent has to eat that turtle raw.

As science and technology advanced, turtles were replaced by cups filled with alchoholicly-embued liquids, and rocks were replaced by hollow, plastic "ping-pong" balls. They even thought enough to use tables, but sadly no coaster, although there have been accounts of casuals placing the cups on turtles to make it more of a challenge.

Pong Toss has now reached the next step in it's evolution: Digital Distribution. And casuals - driven by calls from the bygone days of rocks and turtles - are now scooping it up by the hundreds.

Bigby was right though, hardcore gamers are in the minority. They're a group that branched off from the casuals, convinced that there must be something more entertaining than throwing rocks at turtles. Eventually they found what they so craved in the form of Video Games, provided through a sybiotic relationship with a creature known as a publisher. But sadly, the publishers have recently turned their attention on casuals, and now the hardcore are barely scraping for survival, some even resorting to the trivial game of Pong Toss.

Turtles. (Echoes of Turtles)...

Where is Turtles in Time already! (I know, this is WiiWare).
I hate to admit this, but I seen this coming with Pong Toss; crappy games just somehow sell very well on WiiWare.

My Pokémon Cash-in™ ... er... i mean.. Ranch ! Gotta SNAP 'em all............ in HALF LOL !!!!

EDIT: Still #1 really ? Oh well I guess all the Pokémaniacs really have migrated to the Wii now....

2 (14) - Frat Party Games - Pong Toss

WTF?

LOL WiiWare is DOOMED! Crap games sell.

@Mickeymac
OMG - I just fell of my seat laughing - beautifully done

Well I would'vee loved to have supported Toki Tori but the price got raised in North America to 1000 points which I wasn't expecting. if it was 100 points less then I would've gotten it on release. Now I will be getting Mega Man 9 and saving the other 900 points for I am not sure what at the moment.

OMG
I've never seen such a disgrace.

WHY IS PONG TOSS UP THERE!!!
This is so stupid, its not even that cheap either! Why does everyone all of a sudden think that 800 points is a stellar price for something that sounds as fun as "Pong Toss"! How are there even this many people buying it, if anyone has done an ounce of research they would know not to buy it.

@Mickeymac: excellent point about the turtles! Where you were wrong, however, is that hardcore gamers do use turtles. But we do not throw rocks (though we may occasionally spit fire). Hardcore gamers stomp on rodents, but pro-hardcore gamers know that the best way to snag a chain of rodents, is to grease the turtle shell, then giving a nice hearty kick, thereby slamming it into the rodents, knocking down one rodent after the other (like bowling pins), as you earn larger and larger point bonuses, until finally you get a couple of 1-UPs. The cavemen soon learned that they could abuse this trick without rodents, if they hop-kicked the turtle on a temple stairway, thus earning unlimited 1-UPs.

That is the difference between the hardcores and the casuals

BTW, Toki Tori and pOp are both great games (I have both), but pong toss is pOOp!

If it is bullcrap America wants, then bullcrap America shall have - After all, bullcrap does have its uses - Just throw out some seed, water, sunlight, and someday it will be smelling like a bed of roses!

Each time someone buys Pong Toss, God kills a kitten.

Next Week: The 'imagine -z' series hits WiiWare. Five imagine titles take the top five spots in WiiWare and remain there for the next six months.

stupid pokemon ranch its sooo bad and over expensive it should be 500 not 1000 and pong toss is even worse. well at least ffcc mlak is doing well and how is toki tori not in the top 5?

Can you image that someone somewhere have Spogs Racing, Major League Eating and Pong Toss and never buy Toki Tori.

what they should have for wiiware is demos of all the games

2 (14) - Frat Party Games - Pong Toss

what the hell? Do people not have brains anymore? How can anyone think that game is a good idea?

@David77
That Would be horrible, like a nightmare.

@Gillandmakar
I Believe in an IGN interview, Nintendo dismissed that possibility.

Also, Why doesn't WiiWare World do Europe Top 20's? I mean, it would be interesting to know and they could be compared to see the differences between each Market.

this seems like to me if a certain game gain popularity and alot got it and finds overall the ones in thier opinions find bad got bought the most is going to think they are dumb for doing so remember everyone is different and never expect them all to be like you and buy what u do cuz you think you know what is good or not.

This is really the only site I actually trust with reviews (IGN always seems to get it wrong, Gamespot lags for me, and your Vc-Reviews site only goes up to 5 which isn't enough for me). And it's always spot on. Corbie, don't you dare take up pottery, we're counting on you here!

Of course if you get a job at NOA and "accidently" release Mega Man 9 early, that's another story.

WWW should use Norway's list. It frickin' owns. Who know Norwegians had such good taste in games?

@Stardust

I dare say I've been outdone!

To be honest with you, I don't have Toki Tori either. I don't know why though - I want to get it, I love puzzle games - but I always wind up getting something else instead. I just never think about when I have the cash.

I'm willing to get Toki Tori if it helps raise it a little.

As for Pong Toss, I'm disappointed. It's not that I think the game sucks. But it's basically just a single mini-game that got censored, sold at a price point more suitable for at least three mini-games. In fact, I'm still iffed about the censorship the game recieved. Had the game remained the uncensored Beer Pong and still managed 2nd plance, I would actually be saying "good for it". But this thing is, and please excuse the pun, just watered down.

You guys who say that you are going to buy Toki Tori now just because it's low on this list are idiots. You should have bought the game when it came out, then it wouldn't be as low as it is. That Pong Toss game being so high is really insulting to us Nintendo fans. I think that is what WiiWare will become, a place for garbage . True gems like Dr. Mario, Toki Tori, Mega Man 9, and so on will disappear, and we will be left with shovelware.

@Mike

its not like the games are getting kicked off the shop channel forever. there still there.

@Mike
MM9 will be high because it's a major name franchise game (note: how Pokemon Ranch is so high, and so is Dr.Mario).

And maybe people weren't sure about buying Toki untill recently. It's the same way with me recently buying Star Soldier R.

What I meant was that if garbage games sell better than the great ones like Toki Tori and especially Mega Man 9, then those publishers won't give us gems like those anymore and we'll be left with crap each week.

I really find it hilarious and sad that people get "insulted" by this. It must seem the there are more people that play the Wii than just those who read this site. I won't lie, I bought the game based on the review. The guy said it had a good control scheme. I knew and enjoyed the concept beforehand. That was enough for me to give it a try. A lot of the review made it seem that the reviewer thought he had a duty to get the reader NOT to buy the game so that they could put out more video games in which spaceships fly around and shoot down other spaceships (because that has never been done before).

A lot of people seem elitist because people don't like the "right" kind of games. Those people are those who gain the bad reputation for those who play video games. Buy the games you like. I will by the games I like. Do you honestly think you are going to get a house full of girls and guys after a night out to kick back and play Toki Tori? It seems like a lot of folks who own the Wii are interested in party games that a lot of people enjoy. Do you guys actually think Pong Toss is going to outsell games like Dr. Mario for long? Relax.

@Bahamut ZERO

Yeah, puzzle games are a bit iffy for me. I love them, especially ones that incorperate platforming elements into them, but if I get impossibly stuck, it just winds up collecting dust on my shelf. For instance, I loved Echochrome, a unique stylized puzzle game - essentially PSN's Toki Tori - but now I can't remember the last time I played it. I do always think about Toki Tori whenever I consider my next purchase, but I always wind up getting something else that I assume will last me longer.

I do still love playing puzzle games, when I'm not irreparably stuck, so I'll try to work it into my next online purchase. I was plannning on getting it alongside F-Zero X, and after so many great memories of playing that game hit me the other day, due in large part to a certain video review, the idea of playing FZX seems that much more appealing, so I think I'll get TT then.

Pong Toss at number 2? I believe a what? is in order...

@Mickeymac
1 word, GameFAQS.com. I used it a few times.

@BAnthony

Yeah, the review did seem a bit bias, and considering that the Wii is a Casual oriented console, and Pong Toss is a casual game, I'm not too surprised by it's placement( I was expecting it to remain around #5 of 6-ish). Perhaps people are simply overreacting - I don't think Pong Toss was something that was cobbled up in the space of an hour like your usual shovelware game. But it does prove what we seem to be unable to grasp: The Wii is a console for casuals.

Besides, this is just the weekly sales, NOT the overall sales. Toki Tori is selling, it hasn't dropped off yet. It just isn't selling as fast as Pong Toss.

@Bahamut ZERO

What would be the point of playing a puzzle game if I looked up the answer. It would be like cheating on a test, nothing good comes of it.

I think Terranigma hit a very valid point.. I really don't see how WiiWare could be selling more than thens of thousands for moves of this magnitude to be happening in just one week.

As for Pong Toss, yup.. It's a drinking game, just use your own beverage with whatever kick you enjoy (sugar, caffeine, alcohol) and play... I think there's also the "everyone watches for the crashes!" thing going on... The game's not really a 1/10, it's just not much fun.

I wonder if a "Lawn Darts" or "Horseshoes" games would sell as well... Would help determine if its the Tossing or the drinking that's selling this one.

It's basically as has been stated. The Wii has attracted a ton of casual gamers, many who were not gamers before the Wii was released. It's only natural that some of the more silly offerings will become popular. Marketing people are always talking about how "people will buy anything" and I think they're right. If people enjoy the game, who's to tell them they're wrong anyway. I like plenty of games that didn't get good reviews.

@Mickeymac
It's still a nice option for hard levels.....

71. Mike
"You guys who say that you are going to buy Toki Tori now just because it's low on this list are idiots. You should have bought the game when it came out, then it wouldn't be as low as it is."

Gee, what a nice way to put it. Okay, guy, listen up. Games like Toki Tori aren't my usual cup of tea. Sure, it interested me, but I was able to find games I preferred more. Now that it's low, I feel sorry for it, 'cause even though I wasn't normally interested enough, I don't think it deserves to drop off the charts like this.

Toki Tori is a fine game, a great addition to any collection. The Fact is though, people like to go with things that are familiar to them, which is often used as a selling point for any game. Look at Pokemon Ranch, Dr Mario, Final Fantasy. They are selling well because they're part of major franchises, and even if they're rubbish (Applies only to Ranch in this case), people will still get them and quite often, the little gems are left in their wake.

It's not to say that the major franchise titles aren't good, because they are. It's when developers start doing pointless spin-off's, sequels, prequels, side stories, Midquel's etc.... Look at these titles. Did we really need Mario Basketball? Pokemon Dash? Mega Man Soccer? Chocobo Racing? Not really but they still get made and it will keep on going for even more sports over and over again. We'll probably see Mario Cricket next. I'm not saying these are bad either but are they necessary? It does often seem like developers trying to milk more money from us, which is to be expected.

Most people i know have never even heard of Toki Tori, and if there not familiar with it, they'll pass on it, thinking it's just another game when it's not, it's more than that. I used to be like that, only going with familiar titles but it got boring after awhile and i expanded my range and i am certainly glad i did. I would never have discovered the greatness of Gunstar Heroes, Sin and Punishment, Star Soldier series, even Mega Man.

Ultimately, a Lot of rubbish from these big franchises will still make money of absolute rubbish and it's not fair when games like Toki Tori are left behind for something else. It's a sad reality but it happens and some great games fall into obscurity. Terrible shame when that happens to something great.

You're right Corbie. But a casual gamer can buy Pong Toss and have fun with friends, but this gamer will stay casual forever at best. These kind of games is not what keep them with Nintendo like Super Mario do.

Does that mean there's going to be a part two of the game? You know, God forbids, but.

is trying very hard not to panic

Pong Toss FTW! (Corbie back me up.)

NO! I would like to confirm that I have not bought this game! I've been playing GOOD games like Ninja Turtles for NES! Ha, no. I've been playing Sonic 1 MS.

I prefer to see MPR on 1st rather than Pong Toss!

Wii developing, financial and marketing efforts are mostly directed to stupid people so we shouldn´t be surprised to see stupid games in the top positions. I know hardcore, developers and journalists still have access to them, but sadly we are not in anyway their target market.

Besides WiiWare is a service for games that wouldnt leave profit at retial (mostly bad games) and adding this to the low prices (compared to retail games) and to the need of small roms in order to fit in that little Wii memory the result is a service with the quality of a cheap gaming cellphone downloading service and as such we may expect it and rate it. The only one who thinks or likes to think WiiWare is a quality gaming service is Nintendo who does the impossible to force us to think the same.

Just think, if the US get two games next week then Toki Tori will be gone forever

Quote Bigby: I had to do this, below is a link to the difference between a casual gamer and a hardcore gamer.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/2741653159/

Good grief, I gotta get out more. Ah, reminds me of my trip to Italy in 2005 - when I was in Rome, in the lounge at the international studies center where I was staying, they had one of those 70-NES-games-in-one thingies; it was shaped like a PS1 and plugged into the TV. I think that is the one time in my life I ever played video games on vacation (well, it was really an art history trip). I play video games when there's nothing better to do, which is most of the time when at home or in a dorm room. There's tons of stuff (like real games, fun) to do at a resort, which to me would make playing video games a huge waist of recreation time. But I am not a casual gamer, so there you have it!

Speaking of casual games, like the Mascot says, they really need to divide Wiiware into two catagories: "GOOD" and "CRAP"

Except they will be renamed as "HARDCORE" and "CASUAL". Each will have its own Top 20 list and everybody will be happy. Of course, games like "pOp" and "Toki Tori" each have something to satisfy both crowds, and yet they are bottoming the list - cruel injustice...

I don't really understand what it is about so many 'hardcore' gamers that they fell they need to trash 'casual' gamers and 'casual' games. It seems that, just like Luc Bernard said about the posters on Demonoid that were trash talking him, that there are a lot of sheep who feel the need to post hate comments just to make themselves feel superior. I mean, just because a game isn't of the style that you usually enjoy, doesn't make it stupid. It's different strokes for different folks.

There are thousands of scientists who don't play hardcore games, are these people stupid if they prefer to casually play casual games?? I've played many drinking games with people who went on to become scientists/engineers/doctors/teachers etc.

I'd consider myself to be a 'hardcore' gamer, being that I spend most of my free time at home playing video games. I bought Toki Tori, and it was fun, but it's not really much more than a video game version of a puzzle book. Considering the price, one can't complain if that's the type of game you do like, and I have no regrets about my purchase.

My GF on the other hand would fit the 'casual' gamer title. She enjoys smaller games focused mostly on puzzles and such (and she did enjoy Toki Tori I might add), Wii Sports, Wii Fit, Mario Party etc. These types of games tend (but not always) to be more social and easy to pick up for anyone to play. I think this is the appeal of games like Pong Toss. Although most of my party days are behind me, I could've seen myself purchasing pong toss to play as a drinking game, and we probably would've had a blast with it (and wouldn't spill beer all over the place like we usally would've).

@Mickeymac. Your story about the evolution of beer pong was gold! How'd you come up with that?

Edit: @Kriqz. Very well said. I have NOTHING against casual games, mind you. In fact, I sometimes prefer them over the more "Hardcore" flare, due to their simple, pick-up-and-play nature. I never bashed PT for being "casual", but because it's premise (a drinking game sim w/o the drinking) sounded so incredibly stupid. Even my sister, who is a very casual gamer, thought so. But hey, if you like it, go ahead.

@Kriqz
Well said...

@Mr. Cheez

I just remembered that when I was a kid, I could entertain myself as easily as bouncing a rock off the ground, and the whole thing just took off from there.

@Kriqz

Indeed, a very intellegent statement, I'm impressed.

Pong toss! yeah, thanks to news media like CNN making headline that it was a controversy because the game was supposely called Bear Toss.

That made the News?! That's like free advertising, no wonder it sold well!

100th comment!

I bet that the sales come from drunk, college Americans......

Actually, with those numbers it's sad how many there are

Of course, I really believe this list is fake advertising from Nintendo. Argue all you want it's all just one big consiracy

@Bahamut. Rats! Ya beat me to it!

Ling-ling into Battle, Go!
Kill, kill,
kill, kill, Die, Pong Toss!

Gets gun to get rid of Pong Toss and My Pokemon Ranch............(shots heard). Stop the madness the first two games suck and are pretty bad, but i would rather buy Pong Toss than My Pokemon Ranch.

UK top 3:
1.Defend Your Castle
2.My Pokemon Ranch
3.Wild West Guns.

MPR,you're outnumbered by good games.

I don't know if this situation is only here in Finland or is it somewhere else in the Europe too, but anyway, this is how it says in the Popular Titles here in Finland:

1. Defend Your Castle
2. LostWinds
3. Wild West Guns
4. Cocoto: Fishing Master
5. My Pokémon Ranch
6. FFCC: MLaaK
7. Pirates: The Key of Dreams
8. Toki Tori
9. Dr. Mario
10. Block Breaker Deluxe
11. TV Show King
12. SPOGS Racing
13. Actionloop Twist
14. Pop
15. Star Soldier R

I guess outside of the US, horribly-mutated pokemon can't hold a candle to button-headed stickmen. Sadly, it seems only drunk wannabes can get close to holding a candle by MPR (you know...I think it is funny that MPR is a public radio station...they both are equally enjoyable...).

My opinions of the top three in the Land of the Dumb, er, I mean, U.S.:

1 (1) - My Pokémon Ranch - Not gonna buy it. Personally, I prefer Pokemon games that look more visually appealing than a diseased colon. And especially ones that took longer than 10 minutes to make, and that don't make me pray for the slow, painful death of the human race.
2 (14) - Frat Party Games - Pong Toss - Also not gonna buy it. Because it spreads the message that people who play beer pong are worthy members of society. And, it sucks.
3 (2) - Dr Mario Online Rx - Also not gonna buy it. Dr. Mario is a good game, but did we really need an ONLINE version, released by the same idiot company that requires FRIEND CODES, one of the top five dumbest inventions in the history of humanity?

Well all is well in the land of Bizarro world.
Pong Toss has dethrowned Pokemon and is now in #1 position.

@ deadbattery : I ABSOLUTELY agree.
@ Bigby : Shameful news you have brought.
@ Kriqz : Agreed, some casual games are great being creative, funny and quick (Wii Play, Defend your Castle, Mario Party) giving you fresh and new experineces, variety and any time great to be played because of its quality but ideal for situations in which you dont have much energy, patience or time and representing a great step forward for the gaming industry. But that doesnt quit the fact that many of them are stupid (Pong Toss), nasty (My Pokémon Ranch) or would do better on other industries rather than gaming (Wii Fit). As good games are well liked, recognized and enjoyed, also stupid, nasty and useless games should be criticized, never minding if it is a hardcore garbage game (Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts) or a casual garbage game (SPOGS). - I DONT CARE BEING BLAMED BECAUSE OF EXAMPLES GIVEN. -

@alxtlvra

And you won't. You stated your opinion, backed it up with facts, and wrote it in an intelligent matter. Quite frankly I agree with you for the most part. Bad games should be criticized, and they shall continue to be criticized so long as the the form of media [Videogames] exist. That won't necessarily stop people from purchasing those games, however, and not everbody is going to agree on what is and isn't bad. It's best just to accept that, and try not to focus on the issue, perhaps, instead, focusing on what it is you believe to be good.

@ alxtlvra: the game has been criticized by reviewers. I find it funny that losers come out here to plead for people not to download it.

I think quality and sales rarely correlate.

Lil Wayne's album showed a huge lack of creativity but folks bought that stuff

With all the great literature out there, the movies that make the most money recently have been based off of comic books when movies that receive critical acclaim from stories that received critical acclaim when they were in print don't always make a lot of funds.

Why should this be any different with video games?

WiiWare Popular Titles Listing in NA as of 08/10/2008:

1 (2) - Pong Toss - Frat Party Games
2 (1) - My Pokemon Ranch
3 (3) - Dr. Mario Online Rx
4 (4) - Defend Your Castle
5 (12) - Wild West Guns
6 (5) - Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
7 (6) - TV Show King
8 (8) - LostWinds
9 (7) - Pirates: The Key of Dreams
10 (9) - Family Table Tennis
11 (10) - Cocoto Fishing Master
12 (11) - Gyrostarr
13 (13) - SPOGS Racing
14 (15) - Block Breaker Deluxe
15 (16) - V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack
16 (14) - Major League Eating: The Game
17 (17) - Magnetica Twist
18 (18) - Pop
19 (19) - Toki Tori
20 (20) - Protöthea

It's official. Pong Toss is the number one WiiWare game in NA. And as much as I (and probably the rest of you) find that very revolting, I can see why it's number one. Even some of my bar friends were anxious to download the game and they hardly play the Wii at all. Of course I step in and said might as well buy a six-pack of beer and some DART cups. Still they said they were going to download it anyway. Face it, Pong Toss is going to be a popular game for the time being.

Nice to see Wild West Guns take the five spot. I haven't download the game so hopefully I'll get a chance soon when I make some space in the Wii-frigerator.

I wonder how well Pong Toss will do in Europe if you guys are unlucky enough to even get it.

This is not good. I don't know how Pong Toss overthrew MPR as the #1 game. Although It's good to see Wild West Guns up there. Maybe that could overthrow Pong Toss...

You'll never go broke by appealing to the lowest common denominator. American marketing teams know that any product that includes or implies heavy drinking = big sales. Note the phrase "Frat Party GAMES," implying that there'll be more. I'd love to see the reactions from parents if "Pin the Gazongas on the Babe" is created - Nintendo'd probably censor it with an ever more stupid new name like "Pin the Tail on the Donkey - Mature Version."

How is Pong Toss this high?

@Super

Casuals like gimmicky games, apparently, and the gimmick is that it's based off a popular Collage game. Considering how many casuals purchase the Wii, it seems pretty likely that it would sell well.

I just found this review from a dude named DrMoze from Cheapassgamer.com, I thought it was very well done.

After reading several negative reviews for Pong Toss (aka Beer Pong), I realized that many reviewers missed the point, and that the review scores were misleading. I'd like to provide a more insightful review.

Many people have reviewed PT as a regular game, and dinged it for stuff like lack of depth, only 2 modes, no web-based hi scores, poor graphics, etc. To start, PT is NOT meant to be a pure "video game."

What PT is, plain and simple, is a simulation of beer pong. And it is a very good one. It is not a game for underaged kids to play and expect exciting/deep gameplay, nor is it a game to fire up and play to get high scores. No.

PT is simply meant to be played with friends, beer (pitchers or bottles/cans) and cups. Instead of heading to a (usually skeevy) bar to play beer pong, you can do so in the comfort of your own home. No dirty pingpong balls in cups or rolling on the floor, no need to buy or use a table (with 20 cups to fill), no spilled beer everywhere. Just pour a splash in your own cup, drink it when your opponent makes a shot,and repeat. (This addresses the comment I've seen a few times: "Why not just play real beer pong?" Convenience!)

As a beer pong sim, this game is a lot of fun. I've played with friends, and it's like a beer pong game in your living room without the mess and hassle. The control is critical, and it works well. Your shot depends on both the range of motion (how far back you start and how much follow-through), and on the speed. After a while, you get used to giving it the right "touch" to make shots more consistently, just like in real life. It feels pretty darn close to the real thing, which is what this simple game is all about. You can use it to PLAY BEER PONG AT HOME!

Graphics are so-so and repetitive taunts are a bit annoying after a while. But the graphics are plenty good for the game, and the pong ball/cup sounds are quite good. Some reviews/comments I've seen complained about lack of explicit beer references (including the changed title). HUH? The game plays just like beer pong, looks like beer pong, and it's not like the players are telling you to drink water! There's nothing to indicate that it's not beer!

So, if you're underage, don't bother with this. There are better skill games out there with more variety. If you're a 20-something or older and want to play beer pong at home with friends, I highly recommend this game.

Simple as that.

Yes!!!!!! Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People has arrived!! ) If it doesn't knock pong toss off the top it proves americans are idiots.

@ PS3DIED
Screw you...

SBCG4AP's at #5

Yeah PS3Died is showing to be a [email protected]$$ for insinuating I am stupid for not buying this game.

I personally don't find HR that funny, an paying 10 bucks to point-and-click my way through something (as opposed to having to use hand-eye coordination) does not sound fun at all to me. It seems like the website has a huge fan base, so kudos to the company cashing in on that to make their $$$.