Will Wright: Wii is the only true next generation console
Friday, October 26th, 2007 at 1:06pm by Jack
I think I just added Spore creator Wii Wright to my Christmas shopping list. In an interview with Guardian Unlimited Wright, who also created the Sims, called the Wii the only true next-generation console out of the three new console platforms on the market.
Of course some of us already subscribe to this belief, but to hear someone of Wright’s caliber put it so succinctly might win over a few more:
“Somebody asked me what I thought next generation meant and what about the PlayStation 3 was next generation. The only next gen system I’ve seen is the Wii - the PS3 and the Xbox 360 feel like better versions of the last, but pretty much the same game with incremental improvement”, Wright told Guardian Unlimited. Wii, Wright continued, feels like a major jump, “not that the graphics are more powerful, but that it hits a completely different demographic.”
And they are. This isn’t to say the Wii is “better” however, because that label really doesn’t have any bearing on the conversation. The PS3 and 360 literally cannot do what the Wii has achieved, and vice versa The current crop of Xbox 360 commercials, showing crowds of “all types of people” playing Halo 3 are fun to watch, however. To me it feels like they’d rather be playing something else in them, but again, it’s me we’re talking about. Motion sensing or web cam-like after market accessories will be just that, accessories, and are not integrated into the system from day one. The Wii Balance Board somewhat falls into this category as well, making it one of Nintendo’s riskier — if not still really well thought out — moves of late. Development costs are also set. Nintendo committed to low cost using off the shelf hardware and chips on a single SKU, just as they did with the original NES, and the others went with bleeding edge on an ever-changing platform of console SKUs with different ports, hard drives, etc. Some of them even have themes.
Money, as usual, is also an indicator of how “wright” Will is with his comments. Profits for the 360 are steady, and the audience size and growth curve are indicative of a continuation from the previous console era. The Wii, on the other hand, remains sold out (even without serious IP over the summer, imagine that!), on the minds of the mainstream media (old fart expose’s continue to be published unabated), and has given Nintendo the opportunity to revise profit forecasts five times in two years. And this has all happened before the serious first party IP has even dropped yet (with the exception of Metroid, natch). In effect, this holiday could very well be a perfect storm that lasts well into 2008.
Wright also said his PC still kicks the butt of any graphics he’s seen on a console, which is foreboding to say the least. It means that in addition to competing with video, music and other multimedia outlets, today’s powerhouse consoles are also competing with PC’s, and must somehow differentiate themselves from that arena too. Who knows though; maybe there’s a PC SKU in the works that we don’t know about yet.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
I totally KNEW jack would pick this one up. Well done.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
In the same interview, Wright said, in plain English, “We’re doing Spore for Wii!” I know it’s been rumored, possibly even announced, but this is confirmation straight from the genius’ mouth. Good news!!!
October 26th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
@used cisco:
Thought the same hehe.
Do you guys realize that last week was packed with negative Wii news? Bubles set to burst, fads, Wii´s gathering dust in Japan…the Wii is here to stay, those news outlets better realize it as Microsoft did, now they are sending family friendly messages to the consumers, that´s no coincidence.
October 26th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
The wii has received Will Wright’s blessing. Surely it can’t fail
October 26th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
I find it ironic that not too long ago one of Spore’s developers for Wii went public calling the system a piece of sh*t!
Is Will trying to separate himself from that developer’s assessment?
October 26th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Spore was also confirmed to be heading to the Wii by him in the interview.
October 26th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Is it heading to all consoles as well? I know the DS and PC are getting Spore.
Also, I agree Jack. I still have my doubts about WiiFit. It is, after all, a peripheral. But I think Nintendo can pull it off. DDR and Guitar Hero are proof that peripheral based games can, in fact, succeed and find an audience. Nintendo only has to market/price the bundle correctly.
October 26th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Endorsed by Will Wright. Not too bad.
October 26th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
This ” next gen” bull Sh!t is getting lame.
Seriously, it is CURRENT gen, for God’s sake.
Anyways, the Wii is great, amd we don’t need endorsements from anyone to prove that. Still, it is an other feather in the wii’s cap, I suppose.
Now ,if only the Wii could have more games that stay in the top ten on the sales charts , it would be a complete success! I still have dust on my Wii after finishing off Prime 3.
October 26th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
I LIKE WILL WRIGHT
October 26th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Naw….CONSOLE WARS ARE FUN!!!
REJOYCE!!! This is great news indeed, praise from Nolan Bushnell and now Will Wright
October 27th, 2007 at 12:39 am
Dude it’s pretty safe to say at this point that anyone who can’t see the greatness and almost limitless potential of the Wii is just a silly crybaby. This is awesome props for the Wii and more importantly it’s showing what the Wii really is, a great opportunity for all software developers.
October 27th, 2007 at 7:02 am
Was “Wii Wright” intentional?
October 27th, 2007 at 7:14 am
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt“Somebody asked me what I thought next generation meant and what about the PlayStation 3 was next generation. The only next gen system I’ve seen is the Wii - the PS3 and the Xbox 360 feel like better versions of the last, … [...]
October 28th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Wow, you people will really just latch on to anything wii-positive eh? regardless of the fact that his statement is flawed. Explain to me exactly how expanding the market is “next-gen”?
October 28th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
I have to agree with the above comment, the Will Wright (in the article, not above poster) comments really don’t make a lot of sense. He’s saying the PS3/360 seems like a better version of last gen, but because the Wii markets to a larger audience with simiplier games, THAT makes it “more” next-gen? That really doesn’t make any sense, especially when you look at the Wii’s current lineup which are mostly shovelware and last gen ports. I fail to see how that makes it more “next-gen” than the other two. If he wants to say it’s a better business stategy, fine, he has a great argument, but that has nothing to do with it being more “next gen”.