I feel a MASSIVE change in the gaming industry

[Bodhesatva]

HappySqurriel said:

Bodhesatva said:

I think they'll be fine, Squirrel. Rather than use simplistic terms like "hardcore" (which I also dislike, and have said repeatedly is a misnomer), I think it's fair to say that there is a specific audience for the PS3/360 that is noticably distinct from the Wii in a way that wasn't necessarily true for the PS2/GC/Xbox.

The simplest, easiest example is Madden -- the sales of that game are hugely disproportionate in favor of the 360/PS3. If there is a game that is Madden-esque (in terms of demographic), a system like the PS3 would need something like 1/4th the install base to equal Wii sales, as the PS3 Madden 08 outsold the Wii Madden 08 over 4:1 relative to install base. Then you include the 360 install base... and you're in business. There is no way the Wii will ever outsell the PS3/360 4:1 combined.

And for people making such games, the 360/PS3 is the better choice.

I honestly believe that you and Legend11 are saying completely different things ...

Legend11's standard argument is "The XBox 360 and PS3 will retain a dramatic advantage in third party development" and your argumet is "The XBox 360 and PS3 will continue to have decent third party support"

I fully agree with your logic ... The XBox 360 and PS3 will still see a steady supply of third party games, the publishers will be very careful with the types of games they get and will probably focus on multiplatform games but the games will continue to exist.

In order for Legend11's argumet to work the XBox 360 and PS3 have to start selling a lot better right away, or third party publishers must become not-for-profit agencies.

Legend can correct me if I'm wrong, but looking at this passage from Legend's post a few up:

"There's something that your're missing though...  The PC, 360, and PS3 all have gamers that have relatively similar tastes in games.  I'm not saying that every PC game would be a hit on console or vice-versa but that there is definitely a lot in common between them.  The Wii on the other hand has a much more diverse audience in which the hardcore are not the majority.  Add into that the fact that the Wii has significantly less power than the other two consoles and a unique controller and it adds even more differences between them."

 

It seems to me that Legend is saying that PC/360/PS3 fans have similar tastes (of which Madden is a great example) that differ from Wii fans (of which Raving Rabbids is an example). This disparity in tastes will make it so that the 360/PS3 continue to get the kind of games they're more interested in, and Wii fans will continue to get the kind of support they're interested in. In short, the games that 360/PS3 fans have a proven proclivity for won't jump to the Wii simply because the Wii has a larger install base. 

If there's any serious difference between what Legend and I are saying, it seems to be tone. He doesn't like the Wii. I do. Even if we're saying basically the same thing, it's going to come out differently.