Bastion

Nintendo Wii: Facing the Inevitable

Oh, User 32' you reminded me of a Bruce quote I actually wanted to comment on:

"Money is getting a lot tighter as the world tips into recession. Casual frippery, like most Wii purchases, will be an early casualty. "

Casual frippery? Like ALL video games are "casual frippery"! Are you kidding me? No one NEEDS a video game system - ever! The ONLY reason anyone buys a game system is for entertainment.

Now, that said, conventional wisdom shows that two categories actually tend to increase during a recession: alcohol consumption and entertainment purchases (go figure, the people want to "escape" their sometimes nightmarish reality).

Therefore, the recession could actually go easier on the video game industry (not necessarily to the point where these companies don't lose money, of course). And if people are looking to be entertained, it will be in the manner of their choosing, not yours. If they like "toys", they will continue to buy them. There is nothing intrinsically more valuable about a gory shooter or slasher game with hyper-real graphics over a light, colorful, cartoony leisure, party, or platformer game.

Truly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Regardless of what you try to convince us to believe.

Nintendo Wii: Facing the Inevitable

To pile on WriterGuy: or that the iPhone was doomed because it didn't have a itty-bitty keyboard.

I think Bruce has missed the boat. These "toy" games are immensely popular - and graphics aren't the prime motivator, it's what's fun! Just look at the up-and-coming iPhone/iPod Touch game market. Many analysts are saying that the PSP and DS need to take a look over their shoulder or risk getting run over.

And these mobile games are small, not overly rich in the graphics, but cheap and keeping people entertained.

Remember, that was one of the Wii's original market strategies: we're cheaper than the other guys (especially over the PS3!)

I think someone may have forgotten why people play games in the first place...