Wii didn’t hit a home run, it’s just that Xbox 360 and PS3 failed
Friday, September 5th, 2008 at 11:43am by Blake
There is an interesting article on Kotaku discussing the cat fight between Microsoft and Sony as they duke it out for second place. “Some console war,” quips blogger Brian Ashcraft.
But perhaps the most interesting commentary stemming from the article is the eighth comment down: “I’ve only bought a Wii,” says reader Balius. “The prohibitively high price of the PS3 (including upgrading my media center to high def to get some gain out of it), the high failure rate of the 360, and a general lack of games I’d personally want to buy on both systems has kept me from buying either of the competitors.
“It’s not that the Wii is so great, though it is fun as a social event, it’s that Sony and Microsoft have failed, in my opinion, this generation.”
Agree? Disagree?
September 5th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I’d say that’s generally accurate. The only reason I own a PS3 is for MGS4 and to have a blu-ray player. The Wii is a solid system, it has some real top notch, innovative games, some interesting experiments and a bunch of crap to round out its library, which is more than can be said for the other systems. I don’t get how people can buy the same games over and over like they do on the PS3 and 360. Halo 3? Awesome, the same mediocre shooter (by PC standards) with incremental increases in graphic fidelity. Gran Turismo (5) Prologue? Hooray, the same racing game with better graphics. The chatter has started recently about Bayonetta - I liked this game when it was called Devil May Cry, and its billion sequels. Those systems, for all their potential, have just delivered more of the same, with improved visuals and a smattering of innovation. The Wii has had some real stinkers, but when a game hits, it’s a bullseye. And more importantly, it’s something new. That alone is enough to make it successful versus its failing competitors.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Technically, I wouldn’t say that Microsoft failed, Sony yes, Microsoft no. Is this “Kotaku” a Japanese company like it sounds, if so that’s why there is such a negative vibe against Microsoft in it. But for the most part, I agree. (Especially about the high failure rate of Microsoft, only reason why I haven’t got a 360 yet)
September 5th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
If we start acknowledging every crackpot fanboy comment on a blog (except mine), then the world ends.
Wii’s success is independent of MS or Sony. Wii has not dominated the industry “by default,” and anyone who thinks so is deluding themselves.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
If MS and Sony “failed,” that would only be because a large number of core gamers are passing on the 360 and PS3 in favor of Wii.
…
…
But… wasn’t the Wii just for casuals and kids under 14 and adults over 30 and women and girls? … What? What’s that feeling! Oh NO!
TALKING POINT PARADOX!
September 5th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Uh….this isn’t true.
Sony - yes, it is a complete failure on PS3. It’s no wonder why the creator of the POS left.
Microsoft - well, this isn’t failure. I sure don’t see Microsoft’s number of X360s sold equal to the number of Wiis sold as a failure - this seems more like hatred against MS. Plus, MS doesn’t really need the income from X360; it supports itself on computer and software design.
Wii really did succeed in great glory - how else can you explain it selling as many units as the X360 did in 1 and a half years, and equalizing the number of units today? That really is success.
This blogger here sure doesn’t seem to like Nintendo very much.
Although I am a Nintendo purist, I want to know what he meant by failures on the X360.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Some would consider a reported 33% failure rate of Xbox 360s a “failure.” While it doesn’t keep me up at nights, the chance of my 360 failing remains in the back of my mind. If it fails, I would be upset to say the least, and would no longer bother with the thing.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
@cory
No, Kotaku is a blog site not unlike our dear Infendo…..although there are one (two?) bloggers that call Japan home.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
paleeze.
Gamers are suckers. Blake, if you stopped playing 360 games because of a faulty machine i would be surprised.
Honestly, i wish gamers would wake up and force console makers to make quality consoles. That is supposed to be the difference between consoles and PCs. COnsoles just work. PCs just fail.
I love PC gaming, but I also love the games on consoles and the advantages of the console. Microsoft should have never entered the gaming scene anyway, but this console proves it and gamers should have stopped buying 360s past the second failure at least, but no. We keep hearing of people getting 5+ 360 replacements and letting microsoft keep having their money.
Console makers wont get the message unless enough people stand up to them, but gamers are shortsighted and impatient, needing instant gratification on everything.
You think we wouldnt get those 360 exclusives on another system if microsoft werent there? you are of course wrong. PS3 would be around and is a stable system. Wii would be around and can handle just about any kind of game the 360 has on it, just as the ps2 did last gen.
I would love to see a gamer that stands up to game companies, i just dont see it happening. Who wants principals when you have games, huh
taking the short term over the long term, it saddens me as a gamer who doesnt want consoles to turn into PCs. I like them both as separate devices. Faultless consoles, Flexible PCs.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I purchased my Wii first. I looked at the landscape and the Wii had the most promise - I planned on being a one-console house, and that console would be the Wii.
Every time I saw a new game I wanted, I’d see if it was available on the Wii, and the answer is inevitably no. So, after a year with just the Wii, I bought a 360 to “supplement” my Wii. Supplement has turned into “replace” as it turns out my Wii has been unplugged all of 2008.
To me, the Wii has failed.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I wouldn’t consider either an all out failure, but both companies certainly took some missteps.
Personally, I too only have a Wii, but plan on picking up the PS3 80g this month for these reasons:
- No three red lights
- Blue Ray movies
- Most the of games I want are not exclusive
- The 360 only APPEARS cheaper
- PS3 may have a longer life
September 5th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
While the Wii is most definitely a success by sales numbers, the only succesful ‘Revolution’ in gaming was achieved by very few games so far. Galaxy, MP3, and TP (yes I know was a GCN game) are some of the best games I’ve ever played. Those and a few other select bits (like Mercury Meltdown, WarioWare, WiiSports, etc) are the only things that make the Wiimote worth it. In those small regards it is a success as a games console…but we need more to make a REVOLUTION.
The 360 and PS3 are so very similar in their technical specs, yet quite different. I personally think PS3 has a bit more potential…evident in some of the early exclusives. I’ve seen nothing on the 360 that comes close to the beautiful graphics of Uncharted, and MGS4 is even better looking than that (despite being one of those ‘Brown’ games). I believe the 360 doesn’t have much more room to improve and held back the full potential of GTA4. The PS3 however has significantly more untapped potential…with what we’ve seen so early on in its life how can there not be?
However, the 360’s technical problems (RRoD), rushed to the market, and toy-like appearance don’t exactly win me over. I’ve played it plenty of times and just find it to be like an Xbox 1.5. The PS3 on the other hand is the choice I made to purchase. It’s so much more COMPLETE and looks like the high-end piece of equipment that it is…and performs like it too.
But the 360’s year head start is the only reason it has sold more…that and PS3’s high initial price…but now is more respectable. BOTH are successful as a hardcore machine…but I feel the PS3 is the BETTER machine and will be more succesful in the long run.
On another note…why was I banned from the forums Jake?? Anybody??
September 5th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
you only need a few games to create a revolution. No revolution transitions quickly.
We also still have WM+ to change things further. This generation will be the learning phase for the next gen for sure.
Anybody that thought it would be instant needs to read more history.
Also, sales are what matter, not personal opinion, since sales tell you how many people have a different opinion then you do.
Sales show that not only have the other systems failed. Wii really has hit a home run, getting sales way above them since release. Its been too long now to just say its hype. Fads and hype dont last 2 years.
Wii is selling at and above ps2 record, depending on what continent you are on. That is unequivacably a home run. Also, while some gamers may not be happy with the pacing of game releases for it, the wii has gotten alot of great games in various genres and 2009 is already proving to be an even greater year with more releases of great games that dedicated and casual gamers will love to play.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I wouldn’t necessarily say that Microsoft and Sony have failed (well, maybe Sony failed…) Nintendo’s catering to a different demographic and have succeeded in grasping that demographic’s complete attention. The Wii is “the thing” to have. Not to say it’s just a fad, but still.
You could say in a way that the Wii is a sort of failure for the [majority of] traditional/core gamers out there, while it’s a huge casual/family success. And you could say that the 360 and PS3 are failures in the casual/family market, but are relative successes as far as traditional/core gamers go.
Either way, I think it’s pretty safe to say that there’s no doubt the 360 is currently and will continue to be in the #2 console slot for this generation.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I am sorry to say this TWhite, but your wishes are all for naught.
POS 3 has been going downhill ever since its introduction on the market.
Blu-Ray? It’s going to disappear within a few years.
Games? Sure you’ve got graphics, but the gameplay sucks hardcore from all the people I talk with.
I sure as hell wouldn’t want a 20+ hour movie to watch with 2 hours of gameplay. That’s too lame.
Dude, all the people aren’t rich either.
I may be a software programmer and earn lots of cash, but my fellow friends don’t have much to allot for games. Wii is much cheaper.
I am sorry you chose to purchase a POS3 and wasted your money, seriously.
Graphics DO NOT MAKE A GAME. You honestly need to get that through your mind FIRST.
Don’t put all your faith in Sony anymore, ok? Otherwise you’re going to continue to be shunned by all of us Nintendo fanatics.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Ok…lets break this down quickly…
Wii…a game system for everyone…no wonder they’ve sold so many!
360…a game system for BOYS…with no patience…need the next gen NOW…even though it’s not ready…had to run out and get it before the REAL high-def machine…first to the market…no wonder they’ve sold more than PS3…what with a whole year head start.
Enter PS3…a game system for MEN…with enough money and patience to invest in something worth investing in. To call PS3 a failure you must be very ignorant. This baby is just getting started…and is far from failing.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
If the Wii didn’t hit a home-run, then I’d be interested in knowing just what a home-run is.
Expanding the market to include people who would never even think of playing a video game before is a success. Changing the technology and application of how games are played is a success. Outselling everything else out there is a success. Offering games to all ages groups is a success. I would say that the Wii has hit not just a home-run, but a grand slam.
About the only ones not happy about the Wii is the “hard-core” group because they don’t feel like enough love has been tossed their way - and you know what - they’re right. But I think that now that the Wii has established themselves as the head honcho, they can start producing more games to draw in the hard-core group. Nintendo’s strategy form day 1 with the Wii was to get the biggest support base of any other gaming system - and they’ve clearly done that. Most of their focus has been on producing games that Grandma and Cousin Mary would want to get - and they’ve done that. I think that now they will start reaching out more to the hard-core fans, the fans that they pretty much knew belonged to Sony and Microsoft. Why kill themselves initially going after those fans, when the real money was in the new market? The Gamecube tried to push itself as a combo hard-core / kids system - and it failed. So the Wii comes along as the new family machine - and it succeeded beyond all expectations. Now they have the muscle to go after those fans that they could never have gotten initially.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
@Joltman
I am not biased…I own Wii AND PS3…believe me it is no POS. And MGS4 is not even close to being ALL movie…and man I’m so sick of hearing that. I never said graphics make the game…only that in the long run PS3 has BETTER graphics than 360. And what gameplay are your friends saying suck? Have they played the GOOD games or the bad ones? There’s quite a few GOOD games and a lot more coming.
And Blu-Ray…you mentioned it first…I didn’t even bring it up, but what on Earth makes you think it’s going to just up and vanish in a few years? If anything it should be the final storage medium since the last format war was just not even necessary. But it happened and here it is.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
That 33% failure rate Blake mentioned is the SOLE REASON that I have not purchased a 360.
Microsoft did a lot of things right this generation. It got out of the gate first, built a stellar software library highlighted by blockbuster exclusives and established the industry standard for online gaming services. Bioshock is one of my favorite games of all time, and I’m a huge fan of Gears of War and the countless other flagship 360 titles.
But the fact that people are on their fourth, fifth, sixth 360 console…I refuse to financially support a company that builds such faulty hardware. More importantly, I cannot convince myself to invest in a machine that has such a high chance of breaking down for no apparent reason.
My NES still works like 1986. My friends’ 360s break in a matter of a few years, if not months. That is totally unacceptable.
As for Sony…I will be purchasing a PS3 for three reasons: Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 5 and Blu-Ray movies. Sony failed at everything Microsoft did right this generation, but I’m still laying down the cash for a PS3 over a 360. Strange how that works out.
I wouldn’t say any of the three console makers hit a “home run” this generation. I’m not 100% happy with my Wii, either; it’s a good thing they changed the name from “Revolution,” because it is increasingly becoming more a “gimmick” than the prior. Few and far between are the games that actually benefit from the Wii’s controls and move their genres forward because of them.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
PS: Fanboyism is a plague. If you’re so loyal to one company as to consider its failures irrelevant and its competitors’ successes unimportant, you’ve got some serious maturating to do.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Ho-taku is a popular blog, big enough to have been blackballed by Sony (or was it E.A. - well, it was one of the grey-games makers) a year or two ago over some trifle or other.
Go check it out, it’s always amusing to see them spin nearly everything good about Nintendo into “waggle-fest” “casual” games, and yet rabidly devour every bad console, game, press-release with an M$ logo on it. (see: current article… Nintendo Didn’t Win, It’s Just That M$ Just Played It A Bit Wrong. priceless!
Absolute Fanboy-Site… if I were that biased I’d not publish a feckin’ blog about it!
September 5th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Kotaku is not THAT bias, but they are immature,stupid idiots. Well, not them specifically, but the gawker network of which they were a part.
What other blog network goes to a trade show and ruins the displays of several presetners with a TV-B-Gone just for kicks? Total jerks.
Also, if you disagree with their articles in the slightest, it’s an instant “no comments” tag on your profile, and effective ban.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Watch out Derek, Jack is not going to be pleased with those comments…how dare you look lustfully at another system!
September 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Well, technically they DID fail…Though the 360 is still worth some attention, and this is coming from a militant (okay, maybe not so) Ninty fanboy. The PS3 though, isn’t worth a single overpriced penny it’s worth as a game system.
PS.: Gotta agree with Derek on the whole maturing subject, but I still stand the PS3 is hardly worth the trouble, specially since most games it has that are worth playing are also available for the 360
September 5th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
That sounds like a Spanish saying that goes like this; “En tierra de ciegos el tuerto es el rey” [In the land of blind people the one with the crossed eyes is the king].
September 5th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Hmmm- yeah I think Wii hit a homerun, sales-wise.
On a personal level, it failed for me. Never thought poorly of my 360 or wished I had a wii.
though I love my DS.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
@CDoW
You’ve got it all backwards man. Most games the PS3 has that are worth playing are EXCLUSIVE to it and blow anything 360 has out of the water! And the other multiplatform games such as GTA4 are even better on PS3 since developers have started using that as their development medium. Show me anything on 360 that even comes close to Uncharted & MGS4’s eye candy and exceptional gameplay…AND awesome movie-like stories.
PS3 will still be going strong long after Microsoft pulls the plug on 360 production and all in existance will have RRoD’d.
But go on believing that your 360 is more worthy of a machine than PS3. It’s funny.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
@ waltermh
i’ve got to disagree with your comment that the wii can handle anything the 360 can. this seems very and obviously wrong.
though i agree that only a few games are needed for a revolution.
also, to everyone who looks down on halo as more of the same: hell yeah it is. but there is something to be said for amazing online fps games. especially pretty ones. and while halo isn’t my cup of tea, give me an hd fps with lots of freedom and pretty graphics and explosions and plenty of people online, then hell yeah man. hell. yeah. (i.e. graphics count)
September 5th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
TWhite Uncharted’s graphics are due to the artist not more power. It’s similar how res evil 4 looked better than halo during the xbox 1 days yet the xbox was more powerful. yet it’s too bad those same guy did not port lost planet. If the guys that did uncharted had to make a halo it would mostly look that same just do to the vision.
This guy on kotaku makes a good point which happens some times there due to the ban hammer! The HD system are simply boring if you don’t need a blue ray player or if you have a PC. Yes they have sequels to games that sold well back in their day and they sale pretty good on these systems. Yet the excitement is lost because you’ve already played this game and suddenly the game play isn’t hold up to the graphics.
-true gamers-
Most gamer like my self have no loyalties and don’t care about the next crazy in HD movies even if I have more than 3 HDTVs. We tend to go with what is fun to us an ignore the other things we don’t like but don’t mistake that for hate because you will never see me at an HD web site hating that would be a true waste of time.
-setting up imaginary walls-
I know lots of gamers set things apart in their minds but the HD systems are competing with PCs and even games like quake 3 all the way up to crysis from way back in the day. At first gamers tried to say PC where too expensive but buying two HD consoles with almost identical games isn’t. Yet these walls have fallen PC prices are way below what HD console are I mean I can get 3 gigs of ram for $100 almost. The HD console broke this wall that gamers put up when all our sequels where basically PC inspired game play with traditional game names attached to them. Just looking at HD console games illustrates my point easily.
-why so serious-
What is happening happens with every hardcore group yet this gen seems to be the loudest crying ones.
The HD system are starting to look like my neo geo that I got used. I got it because I loved some of those games on that system but I was never under the assumption that this is what every one wanted nor did I assume they could afford it. Yet these guys are pissed because HD is loosing. You paid for potential before it was realized why get mad now? Blaming the Wii is just going to help your favorite system die faster.
Welcome to the club people! Nintendo system owners did it along with other system owners who’s systems where only supported by a small group of fans. I mean if you want to be hardcore then you will pay for it in money and patience and you will loose your pop gaming era like PS2.
-fan base of trolls?-
HD gaming simply can not support every one due to a large portion of HD gamers not even tolerating certain types of games. I mean if done right a 2d had game is worth every cent yet I don’t think their is a market there because of customers who would threaten to leave or boycott the system.
So in away the systems are a failure also because of the type of player that almost has a strangle hold on what gets made on their system. I mean I understand them because if I paid 600 for a console then I suddenly get pretty demanding. I’m old enough to understand gaming needs more than the true hardcore gamers like me or the RPG player or the sport game plays, etc for it to keep going. I want to ask some of these gamer what exactly did you buy on the PS2?
I’ve heard in forums plenty of people who say they need another system but they are still mad that the Wii isn’t getting any games(when it is).Yet if there Wii is unplugged them why are they still coming to a nintendo fan site. I have to still wonder if these people even have a Wii though when making comments like this. That’s beside the point though because they never really say what they are playing on the other systems or why they are waiting for these better games and why they are excluding the better games on the Wii in order to focus on the shovel ware.
It’s simple they are fanboys that want nintendo to loose.
-abuse begets abuse-
Maybe they feel Wii owners are just excluding their system and they want to stick it to us? I’m sorry but I just not a fan of the type of games coming out lately simply because they play like crap and they are a real step below PC graphics. Now if they played better then I would not have a problem and I would be addicted to more of their games maybe. I mean I fight boredom with these games more than the enemy. Either the controls are way to cheap , easy, or just complicated for no damn reason or just don’t work.
This is coming from a PC game that is use to using about 20 keys and binds to play my games.
-What can save HD gaming-
What is sad is the part that is lacking the most was always the most important which was game play and replay value. Yet online play is suppose to fix this.
I mean this is the SOLE REASON WHY I PLAY HD GAMES they have better controls and game play on the PC. Yes the have better graphics but that really didn’t matter to me but it’s cool we get them.
-buying fairy tales makes for angry people-
The word you here from most HD gamers is potential this is basically wait the P in PS3 stands for yet where is this potential and why should I buy the system and wait for this magic to be achieved. I can do that buy not buying the system just fine.
Then it does not help that MS and SONY are not the power house 1st game developers they want people to believe they are. Seriously nintendo made a demo that crush these guys and they are making another that looks way more fun than another halo.
You basicly have two copy cats fight for the title of best copier each charging permiums for the service they really are better at which is online support (live) and movie watching (blu ray). It’s clear to see these are great in some way but flawed when they are the reason for a gamer to get your system when online is free on PC, Wii, and PS3 and then Blu ray is way too over priced.
/rant over/
September 5th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
just because sony and ms are having problems doesn’t mean that the wii wouldn’t have been a success if their competitors been doing better. i’d say they hit a triple in opening inning and never stopped scoring. it’s a fun machine that uses a new perspective to give most gamers a new and welcome experience. sure it is inferior machine technologically, but it delivers fun, fun, fun, when you don’t buy shovelware. just like last generation there was plenty of crap to be found on the dominant system, but i don’t base the final judgement on crap i didn’t buy. nintendo had the right strategy all along by keeping things simple and sweet. i do love my xbox360 as well just not the same. it’s kinda like the grandparents you don’t visit as much.
September 5th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I believe all the systems have their advantages and disadvantages. If I were to buy another system, it would be PS3. Only because HD is out and Blue-ray is in.
But I don’t have the money so, I will continue with my Wii and PC for gaming.
September 5th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
@Run line 10
Holy $hit man what in the hell are you talking about? First…thank you for clearing that up…I thought Uncharted looked good because the TEXTURES are razor sharp…the LIGHTING is fabulous…and there’s more COLOR than a Mario game. It’s good art AND the power of the system to push that art that sits on those millions of polygons. RE4 looked so good because well believe it or not the GCN had every bit as much power as the XBox. I would even venture to say that a little game called Timesplitters 2 looked BETTER on GCN than it did on XBox.
By your theory I should be able to play a better looking game on PSone than on PS3 simply because it would have better art? Keep telling yourself art alone makes a good looking game.
The rest of your post was incomprehensible.
September 5th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
@TWhite:
And there you go again on graphics.
Seriously. Enough with the graphics.
Did you even look at the graphics for The Conduit for the Wii?
Oh wait, no you didn’t…you’re too ignorant of that.
September 5th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I’ve got a Wii and recently added a 360 Elite to my collection. I don’t regret it, but I did think hard about the PS3. The reason I didn’t choose the PS3 (yet) is all about the games currently available, the 360 library has had longer to grow and has some pretty good stuff. I also like the online experience on the 360.
The Wii is a system that I enjoy playing with my family. I love the first party titles - I think I have almost every one published so far - and some third party titles have been quite solid. Sure there’s been tons of shovelware, but it’s the best selling system right now. There was tons of crap sold for the PS2 when it was number one too.
All that said, I haven’t counted out a PS3 at all. Far from it, but I just don’t think it’s quite where I want it to be yet. I’m impressed with the technical quality of the system and the online experience looks like it’ll be nice - eventually. I was a little scared off because of the sheer number of versions of the console available, and the rumored availability of new ones around the corner. Wii - one choice, and backwards compatible to FC. 360 - three choices, backwards compatible (mostly) with XBox. PS3…lots of choices, some of which may or may not be backwards compatible. Not that backwards compatibility is a huge deal-breaker, but there are some PS2 games that I’d love to be able to play.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
the wii is great, the iphone is great, and batman dark knight is great. the consumers have voted with their wallet. others can use another barometer to measure greatness, but consumer’s wallets is really the best indication of the greatness of a product.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
@Kevin
How much?
September 5th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I LOLed at the pic. I don’t own a 360, but I plan on getting a PS3. (Solely for MSG4 and Metal Gear Online)
September 5th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I thought that Microsoft had fixed the 33% Red Ring issue with the newer systems? Also, Infinite Undiscovery looks amazing. I thought they did really well for themselves, considering they went up against megaliths like Nintendo and Sony.
Wii is just plain addictive and fun.
PS3 just really seemed rushed at launch. It’s doing better, but there’s not enough exclusives that are varied for a wide audience. I’m not saying I won’t ever buy one, but it’s not worth it to me right now. When FF13 and KH3 come out is probably the time I’ll finally cave and buy it. But not a second before.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I’m still on the fence if I really want a 360 or PS3.
I’m happy with the Wii and even with the weak holiday line-up there are still 3 or 4 games I will probably pick up.
But Blu-Ray and Xbox Live are pretty sexy.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
@TWhite So would you say gears of wars textures are blurry? I would have to say all the lighting and texture are sharp yet on most HD games that’s the point right? Well all of them are sharp but really Uncharted isn’t doing any thing special tech wise really they aren’t. If this was the 16 bit era maybe you could say a 64 bit system could display more colors which is true.
Need a PS1 game that was never tops art wise on the GC or the xbox einhander I could go on you know I can. Artist trump power every day.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Nobody can deny the success of the Wii, I’m not sure what exactly contributed to it’s success but it’s good for the industry as a whole. Now the Xbox 360 and PS3 have not failed at all.
Both systems (360 and PS3) have their good and bad points. The 360 was rushed to be the first one out, which caused a fatal hardware flaw that still hasn’t been fixed. I find that XBL is not worth the money considering PSN is almost at the level of XBL and doesn’t cost me a penny to use. I also find the use of DVD as a medium for HD gaming to be dumb as well. HD gaming should use HD media, Blu-ray Disc at least I think so anyway. I won’t get into my problems with the 360 in great detail but these are the things that trouble me about the system.
Now even a Sony fanboy like me is not blind to the issues of the PS3. It is expensive, but not to the degree that most people like to think. For 400 dollars you are getting a great deal right out of the box. However, these features (Blu-ray Disc drive, wi-fi, Cell, ect.) make the system very expensive for consumers to buy.
All the systems this generation bring something unique to gaming in general. Now I’ll defend my system of choice, the PS3, with facts and a calm demeanor. A lesson a few of you need to learn. Now if someone wants further reasons for my views on this generation as a whole, feel free to ask.
September 6th, 2008 at 12:36 am
@ TWhite
Funny thing about that: I don’t even own a 360, just saying if I had to choose between the 360 and the PS3, I’d pick the 360, sure games may look nicer on the PS3, but I’d rather have a fun game rather than eyecandy, cuz eyecandy will only entertain for so long. Some exclusive games look interesting but not enough to make me go out and buy a PS3.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:24 am
You can ALWAYS blame success on the fact that competitors didn’t do the successful something first or better, so what’s the difference here? I’ll tell you what. People would rather give credit for the Wii’s success to MS and Sony’s failure than to Nintendo’s vision and execution. This is because so many people still don’t understand the success and can’t fathom a world where everything they hold dear and thought made the world go ’round (i.e. HD graphics and space marine fueled shooters) turned out to be somewhat niche.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:14 am
So, the Wii is “winning” only by default, eh? This is just the sort of fanboyish spin-doctoring I’ve come to expect from a blog as obnoxiously impartial as Kotaku. Many of their entires carry this obvious ant-Nintendo undercurrent and anyone who doesn’t tow the party line can expect to have their account banned.
The Wii taped new markets, introduced new ways of playing games and (contrary to the beliefs of those who don’t actually own the system) has a variety of software that caters to both casual and core players. Comparatively, the 360 and PS3 are conservative retreads of their predecessors that offer nothing new to gaming (the pervasiveness of media formats shouldn’t even be an issue on GAMES CONSOLES).
All things considered, how could the Wii have done anything BUT succeed?
September 6th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Sorry, I meant to say “obnoxiously partial”. Kotaku is the dictionary definition of “biased”. My bad.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
no way, the only failure I see is PS3 is so much of a let down. I think it was released much earlier than it was supposed to.
The wii is selling because its more like a toy that any one can play with, on the opposite of ps3 and 360 that usually an experienced videogamer would purchase. Price is a major issue, novelty of motion control is another big reason.
as 360, yes the hardware is a failure , but everything else is not! It has best online, great game selection , lots of 3rd party support, great graphics, and its not cheap but not stupidly expensive. XBL arcade games, originals, and other stuff is great too, backward compatibility. Failure is really upsetting in the hardware part of it. If you are in america, no worries, they fix it free and in 2 weeks time.
the world is big enough for both of them, as for ps3….its a sad sad story.
September 6th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
@ rdaneel72 short sweet and to the point, I like.
I agree 360 and PS3 failed compared to last gen. I am not a fan of those consoles but I can appreciate them…I was looking forward to see what the PS3 and 360 had to offer and I was hoping to buy one of them, but damn there is nothing that makes me want to buy it. I don’t like Halo enough to buy it. Wii I disagree with Wii not hitting a home run. First off I dont care about console competition. Kotuku is simply finding unique way of saying Wii failed or Wii sucks. Nintendo hit a home run weather or not the motion technology was available 20 years ago or weather the idea is beyond simple or the graphics are not the best. Wii is damn fun and successful weather you look at the economic and financial sides or the consumer satisfaction end.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Aside from casual appeal, I think Wii has the strong power of having true, definite exclusives. You’ll never see Zelda or Metroid or Mario or Smash Bros. on the 360 or PS3. The 360 and PS3 libraries are differentiated from each other by only a handful of exclusives, so people that want to play AAA 3rd party games like RE5 or GTA4 are going to only buy one of those systems, but still need a Wii to play the AAA 1st party games there. Basically, the PS3 and 360 kind of split between each other’s bases, there’s not much reason to go PS360, but plenty of reason to go PSWii/Wii60.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:06 am
@Ady and Daimyo,
Kotaku is not biased. Some of their contributors are. In particular, most of the sarcastic/negative Wii coverage comes from Brian Ashcraft and Luke Plunkett. I enjoy Kotaku even including those 2 writers, but their opinion of the Wii is pretty obvious.
On the other hand, Brain Crecente, Michael McWhertor and a few others are able to maintain pretty objective perspectives.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:04 am
@ Dark Knight
Actually one of my friends is about to go PS360. While this setup wouldn’t do much for me, he needs a bluray player and the ps3 s still a great way to get one. Also, PS3 and 360 seem to each have their share of exclusives, which my friend is also looking for.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Yes and it’s not that Michael Phelps was the best at the Olympics, It’s just that everyone else failed. What a stupid argument.
None of the consoles, “failed” Wii just found a larger audience than everyone else.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Eons,
You make a good point. For the original comment to apply, you’d expect that while the Wii is selling the “best” it’s still not selling well. But in fact, it’s selling at a faster pace than even the PS2 did. The PS2 was previously the most successful console ever. So far, the Wii is more successful, regardless of the mistakes of the competition. Look at the xbox and cube. They made plenty of mistakes, but you didn’t hear people saying the PS2 won by default. It’s just silly nonsense. The PS2 won because that’s what the majority of people wanted at the time. Just like what we’re seeing now with the Wii.
September 8th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I absolutely disagree: pick any console of a previous generation and compare it to any of the three current generation consoles. Be it hardware, games, or connectivity, all three of the current generation consoles easily out-perform the previous ones, and each year the games look better and better. They also play better, being that each year the new games refine the previous ones.
The problem is that, if you grew up with video games, you are probably burned out of them at this point. By now you already have a favorite genre, and have settled down to get immersed into one specific game that caters your specific taste. That doesn’t mean that everything else is crap!
Big production values sometimes get developers lost and a crappy game will come out now and then, but in general, the games produced right now are the best that have ever come out.
Don’t let your nostalgia-induced foggy memories make you lose sight of what these new games and consoles have to offer!
September 8th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Oh, and Eons_past makes an excellent point: even if you take the selling numbers of the “worst” performer of this console generation, they are about to catch up with the best performer of previous generations! You can hardly call that “a failure”!
September 8th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
(Now, whether all these non-Nintendo companies will get a return on their investment is a WHOLE other issue…)