The online player base of Black Ops 2 on the Wii U is growing everyday. The game has gone from 500 people online at peak hours to 3,000 or more. Over 60,000 people have played the game online across the globe. These numbers will never measure up to the player bases on PS3, 360, or PC.
Nonetheless Call of Duty has carved out a good, small audience on the Wii U. But something has been bugging me since the system’s launch though and that is the lack of good third party system bundles that come straight from Nintendo. Not bundles retailers throw together.
Europe got a Zombi U system bundle which included the game, a Pro Controller and the 32GB console. Japan got a similar deal with Monster Hunter Tri Ultimate instead of Ubisoft’s survival horror game.
America hasn’t been so lucky. We’ve received no special bundles here and it boggles my mind as to why. I would have thought for sure that Nintendo would release some sort of special, short-run bundle like Europe and Japan received.
If Nintendo of America does decide that they want to release a special Wii U SKU other than the Basic and Deluxe sets they should release a Call of Duty set. Call of Duty has mass appeal and is enjoyed by both core and casual gamers. Its arguably the most popular non-Nintendo video game on store shelves.
Nintendo would benefit by getting a few ‘on the fence’ Wii U buyers who decide they want to experience Call of Duty on the Wii U and find this theoretical bundle worth their money. Not only that but a Call of Duty bundle would send a message to consumers that they can get their favorite shooters on Nintendo’s new console. As simple and plain as that sounds that isn’t something you could say before about the Wii.
This isn’t unheard of, both Sony and Microsoft have had multiple Call of Duty bundles for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Sony sold a $299 PS3 that came with the original Black Ops in the spring of 2011 and then shipped another bundle that included Modern Warfare 3. Microsoft has a history of 360 units being bundled with Call of Duty games going all the way back to Modern Warfare 2.
It just seems like a no-brainer. Take out Nintendo Land in the $349 Deluxe Set, throw in Black Ops 2 and maybe a Pro Controller and you’re good. If Nintendo made sure to do this when the PS4 and next Xbox release (which we assume will be holiday 2013) they could claim that you can get “next-gen” Call of Duty and a next-gen system for $349 in one package whereas you’d have to buy Microsoft or Sony’s respective new consoles (presumably $400 or more) plus the cost of the game.
If Nintendo really wants to attract the core gaming audience they need to go all in with the Wii U. System bundles that emphasis major third party games like Zombi U and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 would go a long way in helping them do this.
Nintendo should release a Wii U Call of Duty bundle,
