| binary solo said: I approve THQ's opinion. I don't want to see a new console out of Sony for at least another 5 years, which means I hope there's not another console from MS for at least another 5 years. I think Wii needs to go HD and I think the Wii2 competing with PS3 and 360 can be a viable situation. It can have somewhat better specs than PS3/360 and launch for a tad higher price than PS3 and 360 are currently. Wii has a solid enough fan base that there will be a pretty good and quick uptake of an HD Wii2 and it will get 3rd party support. But I don't think it'll take all the oxygen from PS3 or 360 because those units will always be able to sell at a lower price. |
I don't think we're going to have that long a wait. We'll probably not see a new console until 2012 from either one or both these two makers. However if we go by your personal adoption last year, 3 years into the current generation that would actually be right on time for you. It is common for people here to confuse their own timing in purchasing a new console device with when they want the generation to start. The console had to have been going for 2-3 years (NZ vs U.S. release etc) before you were ready to buy because of the maturation of software and hardware which made it compelling.
From Microsoft and Sony's perspective, they'll want a new console to counter the overall market declines sometime over the next 12-36 months. Having value orientated previous generation hardware on the market saves them from needing to cater to as wide a market with the one device so these current consoles are extremely valuable to executing well in the next generation. For instance:
- Microsoft executes in 2012 with advanced hardware etc, releases just the Elite SKU, keeps Kinect Arcades on market with 8GB of flash for $199. They then keep the launch price for the Elite SKU at $399.
- 2013 Microsoft releases Arcade next generation at $299, keeps Elite price the same and cuts the price of Kinect Arcades to $169 and the price of non Kinect Arcades to $129
- 2014 etc.
Thats just one possibility.
Anyway as for the Wii 2? Well I cannot say at this point. I would suggest that a $299 launch price is a given especially as the Wii was sold at an extreme retail markup for those prices for over two years in the U.S. anyway. However being completely new hardware it could take steam out of the sales of both the 360 and PS3 on the market. There are always early adopters who want the next big thing, so there are always compelling first mover advantages when coming into a new generation so long as your whole product offering is sound. The real question is whether Nintendo will be able to please the core of the Xbox 360 / PS3 whilst at the same time keeping their product relevant for their current Wii user base or if they are simply content to go after their own market. Given the 3DS I believe they possibly will try to go more mainstream in order to have a more healthy software ecosystem. Having too few core/hardcore users makes the system very hit driven and difficult for 3rd parties.
Tease.
