Why the Wii isn’t just a fad; and why the PS3 will fail
In response to articles that we’ve written on why the PS3 is a failure, there have been two dominant responses. Either, the commenter argues that Wii is just a fad and that the public will soon wake up and revolt against it’s bad graphics. Or, the response is that Sony’s Playstation 3 will age the best of all three systems, and will in virtue of its high-end graphics technology, will out-endure the other two systems.
Let’s analyze both of these points to see if they have any validity.
Is the Wii just a fad?
I’m actually willing to admit that the current set of Wii games leave something to be desired. Most of them are lacking graphically and most of them are just too simple…not enough depth. But does this mean that the Wii is just a fad?
Of course not! Consider the following facts. First, Nintendo has almost all the big 3rd party developers on board. Imagine when Fight Night comes out on the Wii. That will be gaming heaven.
Second, consider the fact that it makes logical sense for the early batch of games to make *simple* use of the Wiimote. Simplicity has actually been a virtue in broadening the market and gaining market share. The Wii can’t survive on simplicity alone. But it makes sense for launch titles.
Next, consider that the virtual console has been a raging success, and seems to be giving gamers something they want. Alone, the VC doesn’t make a “next gen” system, but it certainly adds value to the system, and all I’m trying to do is make the case that the Wii is not a fad…that it will continue to grow.
Fourth, consider that the Wii will become a hugely popular form of “fun exercise” over the next year. You can’t underestimate this. Non-gamers will be picking up the Wii as an exercise machine. I kid you not.
Fifth, we should remember that it takes a much longer time to develop graphically intensive games. Developers will probably be able to push out Wii games faster. So expect a fast growing library starting with holiday 2007.
Sixth, there have been moments of graphical beauty on the Wii. Sure, not as stunning as the PS3 or XBox 360. But there have been moments of brilliance, and it’s just a matter of time before we see 2nd year graphics on the Wii.
I think that’s sufficient to justify the fact that the Wii isn’t going to die off as a fad. Nothing could be further from the truth. No. It’s going to keep expanding the market beyond the typical reaches of Sony and XBox.
Why the PS3 will fail
Sony fanboys have been stopping by telling us why the PS3, despite a dismal start, will end up winning the console battle. We’re here to tell you they’re wrong. Sony has lost its momentum and can’t expect to regain it after a few years on the market. Endurance is worthless once momentum has been lost. The fact is that most gamers are not die-hard gamers. Most gamers are satisfied with the kind of graphics you see in Wii Zelda. Most gamers don’t need photo-realism. And most gamers just aren’t going to shell out $600 for a video game system.
But that’s not the only problem that the PS3 has. Development costs track graphical intensity. Developers, quite frankly, like Nintendo’s model much better than Sony’s. You can expect an exodus away from PS3 and to the Wii over the next 12 months.
To conclude, Sony fanboys are wrong when they claim that the Wii is just a fad and will fall flat on its face once the fad rubs off. And they are wrong when they claim that gamers will migrate over to PS3 eventually. Nintendo’s system has too much going for it and it’s offerings are just too diversified to allow for failure: Channels, online access, online gaming (forthcoming), virtual console allowing gamers to download their favorite classics, developer excitement. They’ve got all the intangibles going for them right now. It would take an utter catastrophe for them to lose the current generation to Sony.
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Posted on February 2, 2007 by Cowboy | Filed Under News
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4 Responses to “Why the Wii isn’t just a fad; and why the PS3 will fail”
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This guy is an idiot, dont listen to his dumb ass
Unless you can provide a decent counter-argument instead of just throwing insults around I suggest you shut up.
If you don’t agree with Cowboy’s opinion, that’s fair enough, put forward your own.
Or are you just a PS3 fanboy that doesn’t like it that his new toy is an expensive doorstop compared to the Wii?
I think one other point of noteworthy importance is the fact that the argument vis-a-vis the PS3’s 10 year shelf life is grossly underestimating the imprudence of serving up a system ahead of its time.
Sony has spent (and is asking consumers to spend) a fortune for their latest console. Surely if Sony intends to maintain a shelf-life of 10 years, they must know that Nintendo and Microsoft will have the ability to produce comparable or superior hardware 5 or 6 years from now at a dramatically lower cost than what Sony has fronted for PS3.
This means that the notion of recouping losses in the long run is failing to take into consideration the threat of future console capabilities which can (and more than likely will) be implemented before the PS3’s life cycle draws to a close. Thus, Sony will have invested all this money into a premature market. Nintendo and Microsoft on the other hand will introduce systems with graphics to rival the PS3 later, when the costs are much more reasonable (both for consumers and developers).
The Wii is evidence that the graphics arms-race is an unnecessary one. People appreciate innovation and a reasonable price-tag–especially when bundled into a sleek little package like the Wii.
One last comment about the Wii as a fad. Just food for thought, here are some of history’s notable fads: television, the internet, video games. A fad ceases to be a fad when it becomes a common part of everday culture. So, even if the Wii IS a fad. It is not unlikely to become as commonplace as TV or the world-wide web.
OH yeah and i getting sick of people devolpers the wii Longevity if you Shut your mouth and make games for it instead of complaining then we wont have to worry about it being just a fad . the wii will only be a fad if half ass developers dont make games for it or make half ass port for 50 dollars that should only cost 20-30. the wii has plenty of other things going for it to keep consumers busy virtual console, web browser motion sensor controller and nice graphics . if people take they time they can make pretty games on the wii. the wii= almost 2 cubes that means games can have graphics that look twice as good as re4,metroid prime and you guys remember how pretty riddick was on the xbox, as long as we get something to play on our wii then it wont be a fad keep making up new ideals gives us online play show us the true potential for the wii.i can easily see the wii lasting around 6+ years really as long as nintendo and 3rd party use good ideals i mean it will takes years to explore what the wii can do using the wii-mote by itself is almost endless but not only that you got the nunchuck the wii to ds online zapper and as times grews nintendo is only going keep improving the possibility with the wii.
the only fads here are graphics i means lets face it when you first get a new system you so impress but after a few years you hardly start to notice and games that one was pretty are now ugly when the next big system comes out . but gameplay nevers a fad look at the ds look at the rumble. joypad and analog stick everybody may not reailze it but gameplay is truly more important if you dont true to play G.O.R
without analog sticks and rumble or triggers button
good gameplay is something you never complain about but grahics you will. in 20 more years we are going to complain about how ugly the ps3 graphics are but
we still have motion controllers most likely with analogs sticks .
even if the wii not 360 or ps3 take a look at these
sucker and say dont dont look good
super mario galaxy
metroid prime 3 ( which looks better then halo 3)
resident evil wii
super smash bros wii
diaster day of cris
pokemon wii
dbz wii
godzilla wii
sonic wii