I feel a MASSIVE change in the gaming industry

[Bodhesatva]

HappySqurriel said:

Legend11 said:

HappySqurriel said:

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.

Why do you think I've been talking about multiplatform games? There are multiplatform games selling now in the 2+ million range, do you think that will go down when the installed bases for both systems (in which many more hardcore conventional gamers will be added) will fall? I think the vast majority of "expensive" games will be multiplatform in the future. The exclusives for the 360 and PS3 will likely be ones that Microsoft or Sony secure while those for the Wii will likely be casual low cost games like we're seeing now (Catz, Dogz, Cowz, Pigz, Zack and Wiki, cheap JRPGS, etc/whatever).

I'll try to explain this to you ...

One of the main reasons Nintendo is so dominant on the Wii is because they're the only developer who has produced a high number of high quality conventional games; some developers (Capcom, Namco, Ubisoft) have started to notice this and are attempting to bring high quality conventional games to the Wii. The dichotomy you have produced in claiming that you have the choice between conventional games on the XBox 360 or unconventional (mostly shovelware) on the Wii is laughably false.

 

If there is any disconnect here, Happy has put his finger on it.

I totally agree with Legend that some genres and styles will always do much better on the PS3/360 than on the Wii, and that it would be silly to abandon these consoles unless the Wii gains some preposterous advantage over its competitors, like a 4:1 combined sales total (which isn't happening).

I also totally agree with HappySqurriel that the genres that DO work on the Wii will see increasing support -- both in terms of development time and funds -- as time goes on, and the quality will improve. Catz and Dogz won't always be shovelware. It may never be a game Legend likes, but it's quite possible to make an excellent and compelling game there. Other genres, like Adventure games or Rhythm Games or Fitness Games, will also see quality improve.

In other words, I agree with Legend except for the fact that I think these Wii projects will also (in due time) be "expensive," as he puts it. Catz/Dogz is such a perfect example of this -- it isn't selling well because people actually like shovelware, it's selling well because it's the only series in the genre that is available. If and when a competitor produces a polished and compelling alternative that is well marketed, it will demolish it.

Which would prove that isn't that Wii fans like shovelware, it's that Wii fans have different tastes than 360/PS3 fans --  and that should be the central point we all agree on here.