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Wii costs 45% less to make than at launch

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Originally posted by: erwos
The Xbox and PS3 are _not_ using break-through technology that cost zillions of dollars to develop. They put some faster processors and more memory into a console. If you think that's anything comparable to what Nintendo invested in their console, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. It's astonishing how overhyped triangle count is - it's a great piece of marketing work, but it's nothing particularly new when you look at the components.

Ultimately, the Xbox and PS3 are riding on high res graphics, and that can be easily duplicated. I will be curious to see what their next big thing for the will be.

Fixed?

Seriously, what is so innovative about a console with faster chips?
 
Originally posted by: erwos
Now both MS and Sony have their own version of the Mii's, etc. The Wii is a winner in every way other than pure graphical power...
Well, it also has crappy online play, media support, audio, peripheral support, and storage. In fact, the Wii is basically a loser in every way other than its control system and friendly, Mii-oriented interface. It's a testament to the Wiimote that it manages to overshadow all that, but a total failure to properly invest in the other parts of their console experience is going to come back to haunt them next generation.

I readily admit that the Wii has some rather excellent games, and I own a fair few of them - but the stereotype that non-casual gamers basically leave it sitting collecting dust most of the time is true, and should be worrisome to Nintendo. Microsoft and Sony both have the resources to make their own motion controllers - and casuals would much rather play a pretty version of Wii Sports than a less pretty version.

So...basically the Wii does exactly what it was supposed to do - be a family-friendly "low-priced" game console, as opposed to an high-priced do-all "media center" (I put "low-priced" in quotes in the previous sentence, because at the time of introduction, it was the lowest priced by far). The only thing that, as a game console, it really should do better is online play. On the other hand, listening to teens swear up a storm in Resistance 2 gets old quick.

Nintendo knew that it wasn't going to be able to compete graphically with the 360 and PS3, so they didn't even try. They saw the potential of a bigger market, and for that market, eye candy isn't worth the premium price.

On my 52" HDTV, sometimes I wish the Wii graphics were better (like my PS3), but it really is the gameplay that's most important.

I'm kind of split on the storage issue. The limited storage is bad because it doesn't let you download game add-ons or patches. The limited storage is good, because by the time the game ships, it had better be finished properly. I'm really sick of downloading 50MB+ patches for my PS3 games, the first time I insert the disc into the console. Not to mention the multiplayer updates are forced on you, even when I just want to play single-player.

For a fun non-Nintendo Wii game, I like Boom Blox.

Anyway, I hope that the all the console makers come up with innovative tech for the next-gen. Just improving graphics isn't enough anymore.
 
Originally posted by: BoberFett
Originally posted by: erwos
The Xbox and PS3 are _not_ using break-through technology that cost zillions of dollars to develop. They put some faster processors and more memory into a console. If you think that's anything comparable to what Nintendo invested in their console, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. It's astonishing how overhyped triangle count is - it's a great piece of marketing work, but it's nothing particularly new when you look at the components.

Ultimately, the Xbox and PS3 are riding on high res graphics, and that can be easily duplicated. I will be curious to see what their next big thing for the will be.

Fixed?

Seriously, what is so innovative about a console with faster chips?

this.

Realistically the 360 and PS3 (with the exception of the CELL, which is way overhyped as well) are just new graphics chips and cpus. They didn't innovate a single thing. Maybe motion controls aren't that complicated or hard to implement but nobody else was doing/has done it as well as Nintendo. They gambled with both the stylus style touch screen on the DS and the motion controls on the Wii and have kicked ass with both systems.

While there is alot of shovelware out there its not Nintendo's fault other developers make shit games for their system. They actually addressed this at GDC and tried to give 3rd party devs a hint into how they make successful Wii games and to encourage them to start delivering quality titles. Also they just released High Density SD card support for storage so now u can store a ton of (virtual console)games on whatever chip you want to buy and take them wherever you want.

Considering Nintendo was the only company to try something new when compared to other consoles I give them a thumbs up. That and there are some pretty cool games coming out soon for the Wii that they demoed at GDC especially rock climbing using the nunchuck controller along with the WiiFit board to simulate where you are placing your feet and the amount of pressure etc.

And this retarded divide between "Hardcore" and "Casual" gamers does more damage to the industry than the actual games. "Hardcore" gamers, and i used to consider myself one, need to get off their high horse and stfu about casual games. Game are games, nobody cares if you're "hardcore" or not. Play what you like and keep you're mouth shut.
 
Originally posted by: Glitchny
Originally posted by: BoberFett
Originally posted by: erwos
The Xbox and PS3 are _not_ using break-through technology that cost zillions of dollars to develop. They put some faster processors and more memory into a console. If you think that's anything comparable to what Nintendo invested in their console, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. It's astonishing how overhyped triangle count is - it's a great piece of marketing work, but it's nothing particularly new when you look at the components.

Ultimately, the Xbox and PS3 are riding on high res graphics, and that can be easily duplicated. I will be curious to see what their next big thing for the will be.

Fixed?

Seriously, what is so innovative about a console with faster chips?



And this retarded divide between "Hardcore" and "Casual" gamers does more damage to the industry than the actual games. "Hardcore" gamers, and i used to consider myself one, need to get off their high horse and stfu about casual games. Game are games, nobody cares if you're "hardcore" or not. Play what you like and keep you're mouth shut.

This.

I own all 3 systems as well as being a long time PC Gamer. The fact of the matter is I find use for and enjoy all the systems. People can talk about the Wii being for casuals but the fact of the matter is Nintendo has always made some great games and the Wii is worth buying in my opinion for their games alone.

Anyway the Wii is great for the industry in that the more gamers that are drawn to industry the more options we will have available to us. The one thing you can not deny about the Wii is that it has drawn many new gamers to the industry.

 
Originally posted by: gorcorps
Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
Originally posted by: erwos
Now both MS and Sony have their own version of the Mii's, etc. The Wii is a winner in every way other than pure graphical power...
Well, it also has crappy online play, media support, audio, peripheral support, and storage. In fact, the Wii is basically a loser in every way other than its control system and friendly, Mii-oriented interface. It's a testament to the Wiimote that it manages to overshadow all that, but a total failure to properly invest in the other parts of their console experience is going to come back to haunt them next generation.

I readily admit that the Wii has some rather excellent games, and I own a fair few of them - but the stereotype that non-casual gamers basically leave it sitting collecting dust most of the time is true, and should be worrisome to Nintendo. Microsoft and Sony both have the resources to make their own motion controllers - and casuals would much rather play a pretty version of Wii Sports than a less pretty version.

Good post. Like I said, at $150, the Wii would be a good value, since it is literally nothing more than a GameCube with a gimmicky remote. But, $250 for the Wii is highway robbery, and people are buying it hook, line and sinker.

I would like to buy a Wii, because there are a few games (mostly Nintendo) that look promising. However, giving Nintendo $250 for a gimmicky GameCube is a bad sign...it tells them that this is the way video games should go. It is not...just look at the piles and piles of shovelware for the Wii that overflows from the bargain bins into the shopping aisles.

Look, I don't know what the Wii did to make you hate it so much. Maybe it killed your father, or raped your mother or something but you're just spouting opinionated drivel and calling it fact.

Some people/families don't like the complexity of most games on the other consoles. The lego series is pretty much the only really easy to play/fairly casual game on the other consoles. The Wii offers easy to pick up games that the entire family can enjoy. Are there metric fuck tons of bad games for it? Absolutely, but only somebody who has been gaming all of their life will notice how bad it really is. People new to games won't care, just as long as it has their kids' favorite cartoon character in it they'll love it.

Also you can't rag on it too much for not updating the graphics by much. Nintendo was so innovative with the controls that they didn't have time or money to dedicate to blazing fast hardware AND intuitive new controller.

You're not kidding about cartoon characters. My mother-in-law got Happy Feet on Wii (she thought it was the movie) and ended up giving it to my 5-year old since he's the only grandchild with a Wii. It's easily THE WORST game I have laid eyes on or tried to play. It's like 3 mini-games, 5 partial dance music scores, had horrid controls, with some dialogue thrown it. I wanted to burn it in effigy (except for the manual, which would become toilet paper) for mocking all that is good with gaming. My son likes playing it, which I will break him slowly of once he's old enough to get a taste of some real games.
 
The PS3 and the Xbox 360 are just PS2s and Xboxes with better hardware. The games look a bit better but they play exactly the same as they did five years ago. To those of you saying the Wii is just a Gamecube with a new controller, you should keep in mind that the Wii has more than twice the processing power and memory of the Gamecube. Last time I checked, consoles from generation to generation usually were about twice as fast as the previous one. It's the PS3 and Xbox 360 that broke this pattern.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the Wii is dominating these consoles by such a huge margin. I don't know about some of you guys, but I play my games to play them, I don't play them to look at them. From a gameplay perspective, the top Wii games absolutely destroy the top PS3 and Xbox 360 games. The flagship PS3 and Xbox 360 games became old and tired years before the consoles even came out.

The sheer ignorance and hatred for the Wii is astounding, it feels like I'm reading Gamefaqs. All of you fifteen year olds who can't stand to have a Nintendo console dominate their precious Xboxes or Playstations need to grow up.
 
I have all three consoles, and I have to admit the Wii has the weakest lineup. Besides SMG and MP3 and perhaps Brawl, which were released a really long time ago, there is nothing truly fun or deep enough to entertain me.

Except for the Metal Slug anthology, but is just because I'm a big metal slug fan.
 
Originally posted by: dguy6789
The PS3 and the Xbox 360 are just PS2s and Xboxes with better hardware. The games look a bit better but they play exactly the same as they did five years ago. To those of you saying the Wii is just a Gamecube with a new controller, you should keep in mind that the Wii has more than twice the processing power and memory of the Gamecube. Last time I checked, consoles from generation to generation usually were about twice as fast as the previous one. It's the PS3 and Xbox 360 that broke this pattern.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the Wii is dominating these consoles by such a huge margin. I don't know about some of you guys, but I play my games to play them, I don't play them to look at them. From a gameplay perspective, the top Wii games absolutely destroy the top PS3 and Xbox 360 games. The flagship PS3 and Xbox 360 games became old and tired years before the consoles even came out.

The sheer ignorance and hatred for the Wii is astounding, it feels like I'm reading Gamefaqs. All of you fifteen year olds who can't stand to have a Nintendo console dominate their precious Xboxes or Playstations need to grow up.

The sheer hypocrisy is delicious. You claim the "kids" are insulted when their "precious XBOXes and PS3es are attacked", yet you go around insulting them when they say something bad about your Wii? Oh, the irony...

BTW, look at the SOFTWARE sales for the Wii. Software is where the money is. What is selling on the Wii other than Wii Play and Wii Fit?

Oops, who are the fanboys now? I'm sorry if the facts make you get all sad inside.

I'm a "fanboy" of good games, of which the Wii has precious few because it traded game quality for a gimmick. Also a fact (sorry, I know they make you get all mad!), because the Wii consistently has the most worst rated games and the least top rated games.

That's okay though. Maybe you should go back to GameFAQs and talk about how awesome it is playing Mario Power Tennis (a GameCube game) with Waggle controls! Such innovation! :roll:
 
Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
Originally posted by: dguy6789
The PS3 and the Xbox 360 are just PS2s and Xboxes with better hardware. The games look a bit better but they play exactly the same as they did five years ago. To those of you saying the Wii is just a Gamecube with a new controller, you should keep in mind that the Wii has more than twice the processing power and memory of the Gamecube. Last time I checked, consoles from generation to generation usually were about twice as fast as the previous one. It's the PS3 and Xbox 360 that broke this pattern.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the Wii is dominating these consoles by such a huge margin. I don't know about some of you guys, but I play my games to play them, I don't play them to look at them. From a gameplay perspective, the top Wii games absolutely destroy the top PS3 and Xbox 360 games. The flagship PS3 and Xbox 360 games became old and tired years before the consoles even came out.

The sheer ignorance and hatred for the Wii is astounding, it feels like I'm reading Gamefaqs. All of you fifteen year olds who can't stand to have a Nintendo console dominate their precious Xboxes or Playstations need to grow up.

The sheer hypocrisy is delicious. You claim the "kids" are insulted when their "precious XBOXes and PS3es are attacked", yet you go around insulting them when they say something bad about your Wii? Oh, the irony...

BTW, look at the SOFTWARE sales for the Wii. Software is where the money is. What is selling on the Wii other than Wii Play and Wii Fit?

Oops, who are the fanboys now? I'm sorry if the facts make you get all sad inside.

I'm a "fanboy" of good games, of which the Wii has precious few because it traded game quality for a gimmick. Also a fact (sorry, I know they make you get all mad!), because the Wii consistently has the most worst rated games and the least top rated games.

it would seem that nintendo has proven this to be false considering how much money they have made on the Wii. It is generally true software is where you make money, however they turn profit on every Wii regardless of the games.

I also love when people call the Wii controller a gimmick to try and downplay its role in the popularity of the console. I can do the same thing, Six-axis motion control is a Gimmick! PS @ Home is a huge gimmick that was/is pathetically bad. That and I love that Nintendo gets blamed for 3rd party devs making shovelware, its not their fault everyone wants a piece of the money and rushes their terrible games out.

there really is no point in arguing. Everyone likes their own games and ways to play them. But generally it is the "Hardcore" fans who show righteous indignation that the Wii is even talked about. "Oh no! people cannot have fun a different way than I do, Nintendo is a Gimmick!"

Honestly who cares which console people play? Does it really bother you that other people enjoy the Wii?
 
Originally posted by: Glitchny
Honestly who cares which console people play? Does it really bother you that other people enjoy the Wii?
When people start talking about the Wii like it's the best thing since sliced bread and talking smack about the 360 and PS3, I think it's worth pointing out its myriad flaws to put things in perspective. Like I initially said, I've got one, and I think it's got some good games, even if they're fewer in number than the PS3 and 360. I also think it's the least appealing of the current console generation to non-casuals.

If someone started telling me their on-board Intel graphics were OH SO AMAZING because they were built just right for the casual gaming market, I'd tell them they're full of it, too. 🙂

The bizarre vitriol being spewed by some of the defenders of the Wii is almost hilarious - they're attacking premises that aren't being promoted, and stating benefits of the Wii rather than attacking the very valid points being raised about its lack of innovation in almost every area other than controls. What the hell brought out the Nintendo Defense Force around here?
 
Originally posted by: erwos
Originally posted by: Glitchny
Honestly who cares which console people play? Does it really bother you that other people enjoy the Wii?
When people start talking about the Wii like it's the best thing since sliced bread and talking smack about the 360 and PS3, I think it's worth pointing out its myriad flaws to put things in perspective. Like I initially said, I've got one, and I think it's got some good games, even if they're fewer in number than the PS3 and 360. I also think it's the least appealing of the current console generation to non-casuals.

Yea i guess that makes sense. It certainly isn't the best of the 3 current consoles, but it fits into the market very nicely and is extremely profitable. I mean hell i play my 360 way more than the Wii but that doesn't mean I hate they Wii, i just like them both for different reasons. It just seems that whenever a thread talking of the Wii is made a bunch of haters come in a spew about how its not a "real" console cause it doesn't have amazing graphics and didn't innovate anything other than the controls (which is more than and other console "innovated") and has bad games. But there are a lot of good games as well (although most are made by nintendo). Meh everyone has their own opinion but damn the Wii gets alot of hate just for being successful.
 
Originally posted by: erwos
The bizarre vitriol being spewed by some of the defenders of the Wii is almost hilarious - they're attacking premises that aren't being promoted, and stating benefits of the Wii rather than attacking the very valid points being raised about its lack of innovation in almost every area other than controls.

Again, because you clearly missed it before, where is the innovation from Nintendo's competitors? Just a simple bulleted list will suffice.

 
Originally posted by: Glitchny
It just seems that whenever a thread talking of the Wii is made a bunch of haters come in a spew about how its not a "real" console cause it doesn't have amazing graphics and didn't innovate anything other than the controls (which is more than and other console "innovated") and has bad games. But there are a lot of good games as well (although most are made by nintendo). Meh everyone has their own opinion but damn the Wii gets alot of hate just for being successful.

Exactly. It would be nice if every Wii thread didn't have to devolve into the same tired conversation. Yes, the Wii isn't a graphical powerhouse. Yes, it has poor storage and online functionality. Yes, it doesn't have a lot of quality games to offer to traditional gamers. Yes, Nintendo is focused on a new and broader demographic. Yadda yadda yadda.

Imagine if every PS3 or 360 thread quickly turned into an all out attack on that console. It's getting really, really old.
 
Originally posted by: BoberFett
Originally posted by: erwos
The bizarre vitriol being spewed by some of the defenders of the Wii is almost hilarious - they're attacking premises that aren't being promoted, and stating benefits of the Wii rather than attacking the very valid points being raised about its lack of innovation in almost every area other than controls.

Again, because you clearly missed it before, where is the innovation from Nintendo's competitors? Just a simple bulleted list will suffice.

[*]Xbox Live
[*]Multicore Consoles
[*]"Operating Systems" that run the games on top of them
[*]Communication between different games
[*]Inviting friends to games (without having to enter 819238201 digit numbers, different for each game)
[*]Detachable/upgradeable hard drives
[*]Streaming media to the console from a network
[*]Watching movies from Netflix on your console

There are a few.
 
Originally posted by: R Nilla
Imagine if every PS3 or 360 thread quickly turned into an all out attack on that console. It's getting really, really old.
Are you new here? Every damn thread about the 360 devolves into an RRoD hate fest within ten posts.
 
Originally posted by: erwos
Originally posted by: R Nilla
Imagine if every PS3 or 360 thread quickly turned into an all out attack on that console. It's getting really, really old.
Are you new here? Every damn thread about the 360 devolves into an RRoD hate fest within ten posts.

Yup, just started posting today. :roll:

I'm not saying it doesn't happen in other threads, but the Wii threads are the worst.
 
Originally posted by: purbeast0
[*]Xbox Live - Not innovative, say hello to the PC gaming world
[*]Multicore Consoles - Big whoop, that's just increased processing power
[*]"Operating Systems" that run the games on top of them - Wii Menu/Channels?
[*]Communication between different games - ?
[*]Inviting friends to games (without having to enter 819238201 digit numbers, different for each game) - Not innovative, just a different flavor
[*]Detachable/upgradeable hard drives - And now with 32GB SD card support...
[*]Streaming media to the console from a network - Can be done on Wii
[*]Watching movies from Netflix on your console - How does this differ from the above item?

There are a few.
 
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: BoberFett
Originally posted by: erwos
The bizarre vitriol being spewed by some of the defenders of the Wii is almost hilarious - they're attacking premises that aren't being promoted, and stating benefits of the Wii rather than attacking the very valid points being raised about its lack of innovation in almost every area other than controls.

Again, because you clearly missed it before, where is the innovation from Nintendo's competitors? Just a simple bulleted list will suffice.

[*]Xbox Live
[*]Multicore Consoles
[*]"Operating Systems" that run the games on top of them
[*]Communication between different games
[*]Inviting friends to games (without having to enter 819238201 digit numbers, different for each game)
[*]Detachable/upgradeable hard drives
[*]Streaming media to the console from a network
[*]Watching movies from Netflix on your console

There are a few.

Nothing you listed hasn't been done already. There is nothing ground breaking about any of it.
 
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: purbeast0
[*]Xbox Live - Not innovative, say hello to the PC gaming world
[*]Multicore Consoles - Big whoop, that's just increased processing power
[*]"Operating Systems" that run the games on top of them - Wii Menu/Channels?
[*]Communication between different games - ?
[*]Inviting friends to games (without having to enter 819238201 digit numbers, different for each game) - Not innovative, just a different flavor
[*]Detachable/upgradeable hard drives - And now with 32GB SD card support...
[*]Streaming media to the console from a network - Can be done on Wii
[*]Watching movies from Netflix on your console - How does this differ from the above item?

There are a few.

wow do you really think that PC gaming has anything on Xbox LIve? 😕

it doesn't matter what anyone lists, people who want to think the wii is the most innovative console ever and the ps3/xbox360 have 'nothing new' to bring to the table aren't going to change their minds.

also about the "OS" thing I was referring to how you can actually access the Dash/XMB from in game ... on the wii you cannot do that.
 
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: purbeast0
[*]Xbox Live - Not innovative, say hello to the PC gaming world
[*]Multicore Consoles - Big whoop, that's just increased processing power
[*]"Operating Systems" that run the games on top of them - Wii Menu/Channels?
[*]Communication between different games - ?
[*]Inviting friends to games (without having to enter 819238201 digit numbers, different for each game) - Not innovative, just a different flavor
[*]Detachable/upgradeable hard drives - And now with 32GB SD card support...
[*]Streaming media to the console from a network - Can be done on Wii
[*]Watching movies from Netflix on your console - How does this differ from the above item?

There are a few.

hell some of those features were on the original xbox before the 360. and most are just PC tech brought to the console. that's not innovation, its just a new coat of polish on standard PC tech. And multicore consoles? how is that an innovation?

Streaming netflix however is awesome.
 
Originally posted by: BoberFett
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: BoberFett
Originally posted by: erwos
The bizarre vitriol being spewed by some of the defenders of the Wii is almost hilarious - they're attacking premises that aren't being promoted, and stating benefits of the Wii rather than attacking the very valid points being raised about its lack of innovation in almost every area other than controls.

Again, because you clearly missed it before, where is the innovation from Nintendo's competitors? Just a simple bulleted list will suffice.

[*]Xbox Live
[*]Multicore Consoles
[*]"Operating Systems" that run the games on top of them
[*]Communication between different games
[*]Inviting friends to games (without having to enter 819238201 digit numbers, different for each game)
[*]Detachable/upgradeable hard drives
[*]Streaming media to the console from a network
[*]Watching movies from Netflix on your console

There are a few.

Nothing you listed hasn't been done already. There is nothing ground breaking about any of it.

please tell me where in the console era where everything i listed in there has already been done (on a console, this isn't the PC forum).
 
Originally posted by: BoberFett
Nothing you listed hasn't been done already. There is nothing ground breaking about any of it.

Yup, there was so much online gaming on consoles before XBOX Live, and there were just so many consoles that had an online marketplace, online movies, streaming video, friends lists, chatting on a console, etc. in the console market before XBOX Live. Sure, buddy.

Classic sign of an ignorant fanboi: dismissing facts with one blanket statement that actually doesn't disprove anything.
 
Originally posted by: Glitchny
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: purbeast0
[*]Xbox Live - Not innovative, say hello to the PC gaming world
[*]Multicore Consoles - Big whoop, that's just increased processing power
[*]"Operating Systems" that run the games on top of them - Wii Menu/Channels?
[*]Communication between different games - ?
[*]Inviting friends to games (without having to enter 819238201 digit numbers, different for each game) - Not innovative, just a different flavor
[*]Detachable/upgradeable hard drives - And now with 32GB SD card support...
[*]Streaming media to the console from a network - Can be done on Wii
[*]Watching movies from Netflix on your console - How does this differ from the above item?

There are a few.

hell some of those features were on the original xbox before the 360. and most are just PC tech brought to the console. that's not innovation, its just a new coat of polish on standard PC tech. And multicore consoles? how is that an innovation?

Streaming netflix however is awesome.

yes xbox live was on the original xbox, but it was no where NEAR what it is now. other than that, nothing was on the original xbox (an unmodded one).

multicore console isn't an innovation? having "free AA" on xbox360 due to it's extra core isn't innovative in any way?
 
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