Looks like MS has accepted along with everybody else that Nintendo has won this round, and is now shooting for 2nd place in the console war over Sony’s Playstation 3. Essentially, they’ve figured out what everyone else knew almost a year ago.
Don Mattick, senior VP of Microsoft’s interactive entertainment division, recently told Business Week that even with the new Xbox 360 price drop, they don’t figure that they’re in any place to catch Nintendo at this point. And let’s face it, the Wii is essentially a Benjamin factory for Nintendo these days.
Mattick on the console war:
We will sell more consoles this generation than Sony… I’m not at a point where I can say we’re going to beat Nintendo.
I have to hand it to them, this is definitely different than the days of Sony assuring gamers that a $599 price point is totally acceptable and MS refusing to admit that the 360 was having trouble in Japan- both companies have since relented on those particular points. It’s nice to see some of the spin done away with in that regard.
Pretty nuts that Nintendo’s casual gamer strategy has done so well for it. There’s a lot of conversation going on right now about whether this trend will be dangerous or great for the industry. What do you think?
Source- Gamasutra
I don’t think Nintendo has won.
I don’t think Nintendo is even playing the same game.
They are targeting PEOPLE WHO DON’T EVEN LIKE VIDEO GAMES!
They are foregoing the usual gamers in favor of people who look down on the industry.
My fiancee hates video games, but she wants a Wii.
Technically, they won, but I don’t think they are even in the same world anymore.
I will have a post about casual gaming this week that might make you think differently about the whole concept.
Well, I agree with what you’re saying about playing a different game, but still, the endgame is dollars and cents and install bases, and Nintendo’s just dominating in each category. They are getting their consoles and their software into more homes (though the attach rate on the Wii is horrendous from what I hear).
So yeah, I see what you’re saying, and I agree, but game companies don’t think that way. They want more consoles in more places. They won’t take comfort in the fact that they’re not making as much money as Nintendo because they’re making great games.
[quote comment=”354″]I don’t think Nintendo has won.
I don’t think Nintendo is even playing the same game.
They are targeting PEOPLE WHO DON’T EVEN LIKE VIDEO GAMES!
They are foregoing the usual gamers in favor of people who look down on the industry.
My fiancee hates video games, but she wants a Wii.
[/quote]
That is exactly why they won lol.
if you took out the “casual gamer” Wii would be at least 3rd, and the xbox 360 in first.
I own a Wii mostly for some resident evil games.
Since this price drop for the 360 has occurred i will be buying one very very soon 🙂
[quote comment=”356″][quote comment=”354″]I don’t think Nintendo has won.
I don’t think Nintendo is even playing the same game.
They are targeting PEOPLE WHO DON’T EVEN LIKE VIDEO GAMES!
They are foregoing the usual gamers in favor of people who look down on the industry.
My fiancee hates video games, but she wants a Wii.
[/quote]
That is exactly why they won lol.
if you took out the “casual gamer” Wii would be at least 3rd, and the xbox 360 in first.
I own a Wii mostly for some resident evil games.
Since this price drop for the 360 has occurred i will be buying one very very soon :)[/quote]
But even the hardcore who bought a Wii and never play it… think they will fall for Nintendo doing this to them again?
And casual gamer is not the right term. Maybe non traditional gamer is more accurate.
My brother in law (future) is a casual gamer. He has a PS3 and 4games: Call of Duty 4, GTA4 and Madden 08 and 09.
THATS CASUAL GAMING.
And that will be the subject of a future post this week! Stay tuned.
I’m not gonna get much into it until the casual gamer post later on. But I’d just like to say that I have a Wii for two things and I got it the day it came out. I got the Wii for Twilight Princess and the hope of a new Super Smash Bros. Nintendo is winning. But what happens later on? Are we soon going to be saying that hardcore gamers are the ones going “I want to go play some Wii sports.”
Yeah, Nintendo and especially 3rd party companies have shown little to no support for the hardcore crowd. I do like my wii, but it simply needs more hardcore games. If they did that while keeping up the non-gamer strategy at the same time, they’d be selling even more consoles. There really aren’t any game coming out for wii or DS.
…that interest me. Eddy you need the 5 minute editing thing that you got on the TLW site.
Yeah, with the next gen console that comes after the Wii…
in the words of the Who:
“Won’t get fooled again”
Wii is totally not for hard core gamers. In business Nintendo is winning. But in gaming Microsoft is dominating.
Look at all the gamers here. Who DOESN’T have a Wii? I know even hardcore gamers that have a Wii, albeit untouched. This shows the magical power of a “next-gen” console that is a couple hundred cheaper than it’s competitors. In additional to the appeal to children and (wtf?) old people. I currently know 5 75+ who have a wii. o.0 Now that’s some kind of marketing. Or Magic.
I don’t have a Wii.
I don’t want one.
The one I have was actually a christmas present for my little brother. I thought it was amazing at first and Twilight Princess and RE4:Wii Edetion kept me glued to it for a while. Now the only time I even touch it is when I have friends over that want to play Brawl. I’ve also got Super Paper Mario, Galaxy, and Mario Kart Wii but I never bothered to even finish any of those.
agree^ its cheap, but not really cause ur still spending over 100 bucks on something that to me, isint worth it.
I own a Wii, but honestly the titles are lacking. Wii may be winning, but I think they just lost a lot of gamers. Nintendo faithful have stayed true though. But wii has lost a lot of its luster IMO.
http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=269
I just dont see any titles that are in the future that Im excited about 🙁 Mariokart was the let down honestly.
Wii will see how things turn out in the long run. They may make the money but remember they “arnt targeting core gamers”
All true in the above (Post by Sean).
I can’t believe, now, that I got a wii instead of a Xbox. Ug, stupid like Forest Gump…