Boaz Berkowitz

Is the Game Over for Wii?

Interesting correlations.

I have to agree with jwebb1970. Marketing and image as well as other factors such as price often wins out over superior hardware and not just in video game consoles. VHS won out over Betamax, PCs over Apples, etc.

Nintendo: The Wii Bubble Has Burst

User "Big Moving" makes a good point, except Nintendo can easily produce games irrespective of its hardware. Remember Sega? They used to battle it out with Nintendo for platform dominance and at one point captured 51% of the market. But after a few bombs (Dreamcast, Saturn, etc.) and the emergence of Sony's PlayStation, Sega's market share of platform sales plummeted to a lowly 2%. Shortly afterward they abandoned this market completely and focused solely on game development. They still produce some exceptional games for the other platforms, even their ancient rival, Nintendo. In my youth I never would have imagined video games featuring Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog and Nintendo's Mario but now they exist.

Nintendo's games will not be enough save them if they want to remain the industry leader. They will need innovative hardware, not software.

But yes, they do make some fine games :)

On Nov 01 08:27 AM Big Moving Stock wrote:

> Gaming is a part time passion of mine, since childhood many moons
> ago. Agreed that Nintendo does not have the most technically superior
> hardware but they do have something nobody else has and probably
> never will. They create the best 1st party software by a long shot
> and they own the best franchises in the history of gaming. Mario
> - Zelda - Metroid, etc.. Nintendo has never tried to have the "best"
> hardware or machine, but what they have strived for and largely succeeded
> at, is producing the software and games that are the most fun and
> appealing to the largest audience of users, both casual fans and
> hardcore gamers. I Love Nintendo!

Nintendo: The Wii Bubble Has Burst

Xbox is technically a better machine in that it is has a stronger processor and more advanced graphics. The Wii actually chokes on some games that flow smoothly on the Xbox. The Wii has some advantages but they are mostly in its motion sensors. If its competitors match this feature with better technology, then yes Nintendo is in trouble (seekingalpha.com/artic...). Unless of course they manage to wow the world again with a new innovative product like they did with the Wii.

But none of this is a surprise, but rather part of the natural life cycle of a product. The recent price drop was a clear indication of this.

Microsoft Xbox Natal: A Leap Forward in Gaming

I know a few gamers who have both Call of Duty and Wii Fit. I happen to be one of them. Though I admit the Wii Fit, pretty much sits on a shelf. And it was intended for my wife so I'm not sure that counts :)

Video games and exercise don't mix well. Natal might change that but games are supposed to be fun and for most gamers, exercise is anything but. Game like the Wii Fit don't hold as much appeal for us because it doesn't successfully fulfill either role - its not nearly as fun as other games yet doesn't come anywhere near "real" exercise.


On Jun 04 06:01 PM Gaucho420 wrote:

> Its too little too late for this generation, when one particular
> console (The Wii) has already wrapped up a huge amount of the audience
> that would be interested in Project Natal and when that particular
> audience (non core gamers) are highly unlikely to upgrade to something
> new, this soon and for this cost. In addition, the reaction from
> hard core gamers I know has been one giant MEH...as in, if we wanted
> this, we'd own a Wii. So its too little, too late in terms of marketing
> & making money, not the technology, which clearly is very cool.
>
>
> I may pick it up as I've got money to burn and I love gaming, but
> other than me, who's apparently in a very small category who owns
> a Wii & 360, most of the remaining audience falls on one side
> of the tracks and either owns a Wii or wouldn't be interested in
> a motion capture camera...people tend to forget that the hard core
> gamers usually sit on a couch and don't move...it'll be hard to break
> those gamers out of their habits and disdain for physical activity.
> IE- know any hard core gamers that play Gears, Halo or COD4 and also
> own Wii Fit? I don't and I know quite a few gamers.