Wired reviews Wii, 360, PS3 in single sentence
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007 at 10:31am by Blake
The October ‘07 issue of Wired magazine features a nifty geek encyclopedia that defines several geek related terms in A-Z fashion. Here’s how the index defined seventh-generation game consoles in a nutshell:
Wii. A motion-sensing controller, simple games, and a low price make this the top 7th-genner.
Xbox 360. Brilliantly conceived online-community features give this box sizzle.
PS3. Stellar specs can’t make up for the high price and late release — a missed opportunity.
How fitting are the descriptions?
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:41 am
Here’s my one sentence review of the review:
Wired’s one-sentence reviews of today’s video game consoles is right on target.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:53 am
I agree, Jack. Wired is quite a respectable piece of ink, and I think they definitely get the overall picture. BTW, the reviews for the US release of Phantom Hourglass are pouring in (91/100 on GameMetrics! 9.5/10 Game Informer). Thought you guys would like to spread the word. And I still don’t know what people have against the Legend of Zelda: Windwaker….that game was nearly perfect in every way.
link: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=15716
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:09 am
I’ll never understand the Xbox extra DVD disc drive.
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:15 am
I thought that Nintendo fans were trying to assert that Wii wasn’t “all about” simple games?
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:26 am
While the reviews seem spot on for the moment, it will be interesting to see how they hold up over time.
In two years time, will the PS3 still be a “missed opportunity”, or will it be labelled a “late bloomer” instead? There is potential for either title. Will the Wii still be considered the “top 7th-genner”, or will the public have grown tired of Nintendo’s gimmicks (as some skeptics have predicted)? Regardless, I’m enjoying my Wii immensely right now and look forward to many more great titles before Christmas.
I do think that they nailed the XBox description. The PlayStation Network may become a close second, but XBox holds a long-established and well-deserved reputation for providing the best online gaming and community experience. (I won’t discuss the friend code approach here, because it’s simply too painful.)
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:41 am
“I thought that Nintendo fans were trying to assert that Wii wasn’t ‘all about’ simple games?”
Flamebait?
You are misreading the quote, possibly intentionally. It doesn’t say that the Wii is all about simple games - but does assert that the simple games (such as Wii Sports) are what has catapulted the Wii to what may be an insurmountable lead among the “7th genners”.
The Wii isn’t “all about” simple games… there are also deep adventures and tight action experiences to be found on the console. However, simple games ARE the biggest reason why the Wii is rapidly outselling both the XBox 360 and PS3.
Or,
Saying that the Wii does one thing BEST does not preclude it from doing other things well. Assuming otherwise is a bit silly, isn’t it?
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:42 am
The descriptions are right on target… for now.
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:45 am
I’m not trying to provide flamebait, I’m just making a simple observation. Whenever someone claims that Nintendo isn’t focusing on the full-time gamer anymore, Nintendo fans throw out Prime 3, RE4, and others to prove them wrong.
But then we see editorials saying that these aren’t the types of games consumers want anymore, which is why the Wii is doing so well.
Sometimes it seems like the Hardcore Nintendo Fan wants it both ways.
The question was “How fitting are the descriptions?” and I specifically pointed to the phrase “Simple games” and made it clear that I’m interested to see how Nintendo fans react to that.
I’m not taking a stance either way, at least not here. I’m just throwing it out there to see how it falls.
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:19 pm
@Kale
Sailing the seas…sucked. That was one thing I didn’t like about it. Other than that it wasn’t a bad game.
@johnnymilkshark
Are you referring to the HD-DVD addon for the 360? The 360 is HD capable but didn’t include an HD DVD option. PS3 is obviously Blu-Ray so that’s out, HD-DVD for the Xbox360 it is.
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Nintendo fans can say that it isn’t about the “simple games” and it is true that Zelda and Metroid exist. However the stark contrast of the Wii console sales, the Wee games sales and Wii attach rates show that a majority of people are buying the console and playing nothing but Wii Sports.
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:29 pm
“Sometimes it seems like the Hardcore Nintendo Fan wants it both ways.”
Darn straight!
My objection was really that you seemed to be painting a very black and white picture. The Wii isn’t “all about” (your words) simple games any more than PS3/360 is all about “hardcore” gaming… All three systems are capable of providing either type of game, and all three offer unique strengths that can be used within those games.
At the same time, it would be silly to argue that Wii is dominating next-gen console sales because of it’s “hardcore” titles. There are some superb games that fit that description, but the majority of Wii owners couldn’t care less about those games. Casual gaming, family gaming, party gaming… Call it what you will, but the Wii is moving units because Nintendo is offering fun games that are accessible by anyone.
To answer your question, I feel the descriptions are very accurate. The only minor quibbles I have are the Wii/PS3 comments: “the top 7th-genner” and “a missed opportunity”. In both cases, it is too early to make an unqualified statement.
@cdondanville:
Do you have any actual numbers for attach rates of the three consoles? And (perhaps more importantly) how do those ratios compare to current install base for each system?
I’m not at all surprised that many people buy the Wii and then stick to Wii Sports because it is a great game that encourages casual, repeated play over a period of months. With Nintendo making a profit on each system sold, I wonder how concerned they are about the lowerer attach rate? (It probably will affect third-party developer support, right?)
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:40 pm
“In both cases, it is too early to make an unqualified statement.”
Agreed, 110%. I fully expect the PS3 to rebound within 2 years, based on the decisions they have made as of late. And call me a pessimist, but I remain unconvinced that the Wii will finish this “gen” in first place.
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Yeah Metroid Prime 3 and Twilight Princess are definately “simple games”.
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:59 pm
what the hell do they mean by simple games. all of the good Wii games dont seem to be very simple to me. i thought that most of the simple so called “soft-core” games that have come out are the ones that suck. So how does that make the Wii the best new-gen console?
October 4th, 2007 at 5:44 am
[...] Enlace:Wired reviews Wii, 360, PS3 in single sentence Escrito a las 11:44 | Envia esta nota por correo electrónico Por Paola Mejia | Lee más de: Consolas, Microsoft, Nintendo, Playstation 3, Sony, Wii, Xbox 360 Otros blogs que comentan acerca de esta anotación [...]
October 4th, 2007 at 5:49 am
I can’t believe the Media has completely let off the XBOX360’s 30+% hardware failure rate ?!
On the other hand they analyse & crucify PS3 for every step that’s out of line & non of these are comparable to XBOX360 hardware failure. MS need to be sued for this & not trumpeted as having a great online community. MS have a years head start on Sony by using low quality off the shelf components to build the console. Offers nothing but a cheap unreliable gaming system to consumers that don’t want a PC sitting in there living room to play on. Nothing NextGen about it. Multi platform games are already superior to it & it has nothing to over the PC. I’m not a fanboy - i don’t have either console as yet but facts are facts. The media bias against the top dog of last gen stinks & is overwhelmingly supporting the underdog with all its flaws.
October 4th, 2007 at 6:36 am
Wii: A last gen system with motion sensing controllers.
360: System with top quality online features that easily breaks.
PS3: Great hardware and media player with no games.
October 4th, 2007 at 6:49 am
LMAO Cribba
XD
October 4th, 2007 at 8:48 am
“Yeah Metroid Prime 3 and Twilight Princess are definately “simple games”.”
Do you believe that these games are what has made Wii the market leader?
October 4th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Andrew:
Until you can bring up sales numbers for games that say otherwise, the point is moot.
October 4th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Disagree. 360 should be - Red Ring of Death
October 4th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
[...] Enlace:Wired reviews Wii, 360, PS3 in single sentence [...]
October 5th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Are these written by 4-year-olds? A bit silly IMHO.
October 6th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Wii. A motion-sensing controller, simple games, and a low price make this the top 7th-genner.
October 6th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Wii. A motion-sensing controller, simple games, and a low price make this the top 7th-genner. (— true
Xbox 360. Brilliantly conceived online-community features give this box sizzle,
they should add: good console, but still the lots failures
PS3. Stellar specs can’t make up for the high price and late release — a missed opportunity.
i don’t really get the ps3s lol so im gonna go ahead and fix it:
PS3. good console with a too high price tag and not as many games as the others, plays the next-gen DVD format Blu-Ray!
hmm thats it i think
October 31st, 2007 at 8:33 am
[...] Disagree? Can do better? Discuss. Consoles Defined [...]