Analyst Calls It: Nintendo Wins the Console War

[Beatrix]

...isn't this like saying the PS3 is the winner of the blu-ray player war?

The Wii's sales aren't coming from 'real' games, so should they really be included? The only console war I still care about is how much the PS3 and 360 copy any successful feature they can find and try to get away with it.

 

[DrDeath3191]

Does anyone even play the Wii anymore? My cat chewed through the sensor bar wire a year ago and I've yet to replace it, not because of cost (it's only 15 buck for fucks sake) but because I just don't care to. I don't think any serious gamer would consider the Wii a "real" console anyway. I'll stick to my 360, thanks.

As I must remind everyone who makes this comment, the attach rate for the Wii is higher than that of the PS3. So yes, people are still playing Wii. Don't assume because you don't like it that nobody else does.

 

[DrDeath3191]

I have a feeling that "Wii HD" will be coming out next year.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but no it isn't. Nintendo has said multiple times that there is no WiiHD.

 

[project23]

For the consumers like you and I, yes they are pointless where we should all be happy and enjoy our passion.
However the consoles wars are real for investors.

THIS! I own a PS3, all my friends own the Xbox360, and my wife owns the Wii. I use my PS3 almost every day, same with my friends and their Xbox360. My wife and her 3 Wii games? She played with it for a month and then it set there for over a year collecting dust in the bedroom. I even actively try to get her to find something interesting in the game shop when she goes with me but she has lost interest. Her MOM just bought a Wii this thanksgiving and I'm sure when I go to her house next thanksgiving it will have been collecting dust for the last 11 months. SO, while console sales of the Wii might somehow indicate a large active customer market, my personal experience shows otherwise.

The part that bothers me about all this is that investors may look at console sales as 'potential customers' but I hope they realize that the majority of their TRUE potential customers do not buy games for the Wii, they buy games for PS3 and Xbox360 (we're talking console here, PC buzz off). This is why it bothers me that the market has shifted and that this 'war' is acting so strange this generation. Thank god Sony and Microsoft have other revenue streams to support their gaming divisions or one of them might have gotten trashed this generation. (*sigh* Sega?)

I am not trying to fan any flames here, I just worry that the gaming market that I so love will buckle and dumb down to get part of this 'accessible' pie that Nintendo is hording. At least Sony and Microsoft are trying to compete this generation by making powerful consoles and full featured '7th gen' games. Nintendo made a sixth generation console on steroids with a remote control.

Ultimately it will be very interesting to see where this 7th generation ends up in another 6 or 7 years.

 

[DTWolfwood]

well as long as this is based on actual numbers and it isn't pulled out of his arse!

the Wii will be the secondary console that both 360 and ps3 fans have XD so sheer numbers yes they are probably the winners this generation.

 

[DrDeath3191]

The part that bothers me about all this is that investors may look at console sales as 'potential customers' but I hope they realize that the majority of their TRUE potential customers do not buy games for the Wii, they buy games for PS3 and Xbox360 (we're talking console here, PC buzz off).

Again, that is not correct. The PS3 is in dead last in terms of attach rate, then Wii, then 360.

 

[zacaron]

I've tried the PS3 at my friends house I like it its nice but the controls feel uncomfortable for me to hold so I refrain from getting one and as for the Wii...I got one of thouse for christmas last year played with it for 10 minutes packed it back up and traded it in for more X-box games

 

[project23]

The part that bothers me about all this is that investors may look at console sales as 'potential customers' but I hope they realize that the majority of their TRUE potential customers do not buy games for the Wii, they buy games for PS3 and Xbox360 (we're talking console here, PC buzz off).

Again, that is not correct. The PS3 is in dead last in terms of attach rate, then Wii, then 360.

I apologize for my rather opinionated statement. I do agree, based on the limited information us laymen have access to, that at this time the Wii has a higher tie-rate than the PS3, but tie-rate is a constantly changing number. As I said, I am curious to see how it will all play out in the long run for this generation.

 

[zev0]

Hmmm...Here is my take on things. I say If Microsoft market Project Natal successfully and spawn some unbelievable new and innovative gaming then it would boost the lifespan as well as the sales for the Xbox among the Wii type market of gamers.

Innovative gameplay wins over graphics in this generation as the Wii has shown (its sad but true), and if Project Natal can blow our minds with some crazy things then they are going to go Microsofts way. It will also be a success among the Japanese who love such novalties. Lets hope they market and support it unlike Sega with their addons...(cough cough 32x)

 

[edward92]

Apparently Captain Obvious has got a job as an industry analyst.

My thoughts exactly.

Anyway, to agree with alot of people here, we shouldn't give a crap about the console wars. This guy is just trying to get attention by stating the obvious. But then again, all analysts are douches, so I'm not surprised.

I'll respectfully disagree with that analysis--2008 and 2009 were the years for the Wii, but with both the nice shiny new price drop in the PS3 and the improved, smaller, stronger PS3 Slim, and with no real relevant change in the 360, I see the PS3 taking market in 2010. High definition has definitely caused a market resurgence, and of the three, PS3 has the best to offer--and that's not even mentioning the cheap Blu-Ray Player that comes within. It was the same way with the PS2, that part of its use was that it was versatile. The Wii is there for entertainment, and very few people think of their Xbox when they want to watch a movie--but there is quite a large group of people who don't have a dvd player, but have a perfectly functional PS2/PS3. The Xbox will continue to stay strong, but without an impressive innovation, they will continue to ride the middle. And while I seriously doubt Nintendo will be content to just sit back and watch Sony ride the wave, it won't be in 2010 that they can do anything about it. Playstation has pushed themselves forward, redesigning the console, making it smaller and more powerful, while the little white cube's innovation is that it might now come in the special black, and Microsoft's astounding innovation was to mimic the price drop without increasing the potential that the Slim now provides. And while it's too late in 2009 for anyone but the Wii, I very easily see the PS3 taking market next year.

I also see this happening in the future. Seems like pretty solid logic.

But I'm praying people will forget this whole motion control nonsense. It's not gaming. It's a distraction. Nothing more.

Good god the game over thinker was right, this will never end, good god this is sad, you people argue about motion control, and of how the wii isnt considered a gaming console anymore while little kids argue whether super mario can beat up Sonic the hedgehog...he was right...this is fucking sad.

 

[Treblaine]

And WHERE is PC in this "winning" the generation? Not a single quote of the number of gaming GPUs sold?

It should be obvious to EVERYONE that including Wii and excluding PC this in factoring who will "Win" this generation has absolutely zero relevance to the fortunes and interest of real gaming enthusiasts. I'm not talking ultra-hardcore just any gamer with some real gaming experience.

Analysts can cram it with their out of touch definitions.

 

[Woodsey]

In sales? Yes.

In quality? No.

 

[Lullabye]

In sales? Yes.

In quality? No.

FTW

I thought it was decided the PS3 won the war? I mean, in terms of sales it failed but of all my systems, its the best quality, has broken down the least(which is saying something since I play it most) and It has recently got a plethora of good games available to play on it. I mean, if PS3 didn't win, then surely at least the 360 did?

 

[Jelekk]

Does anyone even play the Wii anymore? My cat chewed through the sensor bar wire a year ago and I've yet to replace it, not because of cost (it's only 15 buck for fucks sake) but because I just don't care to. I don't think any serious gamer would consider the Wii a "real" console anyway. I'll stick to my 360, thanks.

As I must remind everyone who makes this comment, the attach rate for the Wii is higher than that of the PS3. So yes, people are still playing Wii. Don't assume because you don't like it that nobody else does.

I'm only saying that out of the 20 or so people I know who own a Wii only about 1 or two still play it on occasion. If people like the Wii that's awesome, I'm glad they've found a console they can enjoy and props to them. So please, don't assume because YOU still enjoy the Wii that everybody else does or has too. I'll be playing MW2, Screed 2, Dragon Age, Bioshock 2, and Mass Effect 2. Have fun with Carnival games and Cooking Mama.

 

[DrDeath3191]

Does anyone even play the Wii anymore? My cat chewed through the sensor bar wire a year ago and I've yet to replace it, not because of cost (it's only 15 buck for fucks sake) but because I just don't care to. I don't think any serious gamer would consider the Wii a "real" console anyway. I'll stick to my 360, thanks.

As I must remind everyone who makes this comment, the attach rate for the Wii is higher than that of the PS3. So yes, people are still playing Wii. Don't assume because you don't like it that nobody else does.

I'm only saying that out of the 20 or so people I know who own a Wii only about 1 or two still play it on occasion. If people like the Wii that's awesome, I'm glad they've found a console they can enjoy and props to them. So please, don't assume because YOU still enjoy the Wii that everybody else does or has too. I'll be playing MW2, Screed 2, Dragon Age, Bioshock 2, and Mass Effect 2. Have fun with Carnival games and Cooking Mama.

There are over 58 million Wii owners. 20 of your close friends aren't enough to make a reliable survey of the entire audience. I'm not assuming anything, I'm just reminding you that people do like and buy stuff for their Wiis.

 

[Twad]

Good for Nintendo. Now hopefully they take all that influence/revenue from the Wii and use it to actually try to COMPETE with the other hardware manufacturers during the next console generation.

Personnally, i dont they they must. In the hardware race, i mean.
If they create new games with good, innovative gameplay (as opposed to games centered around their uber graphics) i dont mind the lower quality hardware at all. Less work in the graphic department (usually) means more work in other things.

 

[Jeronus]

Nintendo's main purpose is to make money, not make good games.

Nintendo makes good games for its consoles. It is the other publishers who don't know how to make the good games.

I am seeing a lot people bashing Nintendo for not making the kind of games they play. It is funny how people get all pissy and make fun of Nintendo for not catering exclusively to them. Is it really so bad if Nintendo makes games for people other than the hardcore elites who crave super hi def graphics and mature content? No, it isn't so quit bashing a console that makes other people happy and act like you really don't care by shutting the fuck up.

 

[Pendragon9]

snip

Apparently you did not read my post. AT ALL.

Never once did I say I was specifically targeting the Wii. I just don't like motion controls in general. Natal, Sonywand, Wiimote. They're all the same garbage. I'm not biased towards or against any of them any more than the others. I prefer actually playing a game as an alternative to swinging my arms about and waiting for the new perfect version to come out. No thank you.

Now are you gonna read a little better next time? Or do I need to get you glasses?

 

[Sylocat]

I have a feeling that "Wii HD" will be coming out next year.

I fucking hope not.

HD has done NOTHING for the games industry except drive production costs through the roof, which just removes any incentive for creativity and innovation from the industry.

Dear hateboys: Enjoy your grayish-brown shooters where the only light comes from the massive amounts of bloom all over everything, because that's what HD gets you.

 

[Sylocat]

Nintendo's main purpose is to make money, not make good games.

Nintendo makes good games for its consoles. It is the other publishers who don't know how to make the good games.

I am seeing a lot people bashing Nintendo for not making the kind of games they play. It is funny how people get all pissy and make fun of Nintendo for not catering exclusively to them. Is it really so bad if Nintendo makes games for people other than the hardcore elites who crave super hi def graphics and mature content? No, it isn't so quit bashing a console that makes other people happy and act like you really don't care by shutting the fuck up.

Ah, but don't you know? The only REAL games out there are the ones with Grizzled Space Marines, everything else is for those dirty unwashed "casual" gamers.

/s