All the big gaming sites carried the story of the analyst who said Wii was "fool's gold". I decided to do some digging.
The story came from a Gamasutra article asking 3 analysts the following questions:
Do you think it's safer to invest in casual game development over Triple-A, hardcore games?
How would you rate investing in game development for any of the console platforms? For example, is developing Wii games the best investment?
What about investing in game development for any of the mobile platforms -- such as the iPhone?
The first analyst said he would advise against investing in a single game, but instead invest in a major publisher, and focus on multiplatform titles.
The second analyst is the one who called Wii "fool's gold" which all the gaming sites quoted.
The third analyst said the following,
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Billy Pidgeon, IDC
Investing in developing casual games or Triple-A games...
I would not invest in AAA console games unless it was a genre breaker or game changer, and it's hard to identify one of those. It's definitely a bigger risk. The payoff could be major, but I think the risk is too high.
Opinion of investing in game development for each platform...
I would invest in Wii-packaged goods, but also in downloadable -- indie, not casual -- games for all three consoles and for the DSi, if not the PSP.
I'd invest heavier in PC games, delivered to PC and online wherever possible, and at emerging models such as free-to-play and other micro-transaction-based business models in all regions including North America.
I also see big potential for game developers to make virtual worlds a success by transforming them into something much more game-like.
Investing in game development for any of the mobile platforms...
I would invest in high-end phone games with alternative distribution -- on the PC, outside the carrier.
But these would be developed not just for iPhone, but for all the iPhone competitors and iTunes app store competitors who have a chance of getting it right before Apple does.
