Wii, An Xbox 360 Gateway?
Is Wii's Bubble About to Burst?
Is Nintendo Wii an Xbox 360 gateway console? Microsoft seems to think so. Jeff Bell, Microsoft’s VP of Global Xbox Marketing said to 1UP on Friday:
“We’re positioning ourselves to be ready if, in fact, gamers find they’re ready to graduate from a certain experience potentially with the Wii, either because it’s limited on the type of gameplay that’s available or the technology in that box.”
It's believed Mr. Bell followed the interview with a discomforting invitation to lunch:
“I have, in fact, positioned my metabolism in such a way that I find it prepared for communal experience involving physiological absorption of, but not limited to, food energy and its corresponding oxygenation of various cellular structures.“
Allow me to translate the marketing-speak
Microsoft thinks Wii is a gateway console, like the marijuana or beer of gaming if you will. As a lightweight entertainment system it'll leave gamers hungry for more. Due to Wii’s lack of graphics technology and media features, gamers will eventually find themselves unable to reach the same high playing with a Wii that they did in 2007. Then Wii-gamers everywhere will need to turn to stronger game consoles, like Xbox 360.
Many in the gaming industry believe Wii’s success is unsustainable. They cite a lack of third party games publishers that have found Wii to be a very profitable platform. The theory says that new and interesting games will dry up for the Wii and its surge in popularity will not simply wane but will burst.
Critics like Jeff Bell believe there is a Wii bubble that is going to burst at any time now. Bell also believes that Microsoft is there with its Xbox 360 to pick up the casual gamers ready for a more serious gaming fix.
We'll see if Wii critics are correct though the next several month's sales figures.
Don't discount Nintendo! Lightweight graphics and fewer features hasn't kept DS from dominating the portable market, despite high-powered competition from Sony.
See also:
ivseenbetter;368334
If you are using a video game machine to do this than you might as well give up now.
Yeah, last I checked, the 360 controler has a "vibrate function" whereas the PS3 does not, yet.
It makes playing more realistic
Yes, the Wii is bringing in new gamers, both young and old, eventually some of them, especially in the young category are going to want to "upgrade" and if Microsoft is across the street waving "Hey over here, look at me", that is where they will go.
These people will not be looking at cell broadband engines and other components that will give a "better" game, they are new gamers, they came from the Wii (No offense intended to Wii owners or players intended)
PS3 will market their Blu-Ray capabilities and Microsoft will markt itself as the "after Wii" system and both will make money.
Cheers
Michael
I think the novelty of the Wii may be waning somewhat. We'll see. Like everything else - the SOFTWARE sells the system, be it HD DVD, Blu-ray, PS3, Xbox 360 or Wii.
Clint you may be onto something. People can only live off Wii Sports multiplayer for so long. I realize Mario Galaxy came out, but that is only a single player game.
I think the novelty of the Wii may be waning somewhat. We'll see. Like everything else - the SOFTWARE sells the system, be it HD DVD, Blu-ray, PS3, Xbox 360 or Wii.