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lilbroex on 27 August 2012
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HappySqurriel said:
lilbroex said:

The components that make up a gaming console are generally custom built with the first real exception to that being the XBox, then the 360 and PS3. They pretty much "are" desktops only with a different aesthetic design. Their chips were more or less straight replicas of existing chips.

Nintendo has always used completely custom built chips made specifically for their machines. This is no exception. People often talk of what the Wii U is based on internally giving references to things like the Power7 and 4850 but those are only bases.

The CPU and GPU in the Wii U are built to fit its specifications. Size is not a problem, nor is power.

To be entirely accurate, most consoles used very conventional technology that was obsolete based on PC standards ...

The Motorola 68000 (CPU) was introduced in 1979, was used by Apple in the early 1980s, Atari and Commodore used it in the mid 1980s for their PCs, and was the CPU of the Sega Genesis in 1989. At a time when people were spending $5,000 for an 'average' PC, Nintendo and Sega were producing $200 gaming systems because the technology was so outdated.

Before the PS2, XBox and Gamecube console manufacturers were mostly picking up components from gigantic tech companies after they were no longer useful to them. They scavenged the garbage heaps of these companies, repackaged and resold the components at a low cost and people were greatful because of how expensive new technology was at the time.

The vast majority of consoles were closer to the Wii's performance when released than the HD consoles (in relative terms).

And that brings out one of the biggest problems this gen that was caused by the PS3 and 360. Sony and Microsfot released consoles that were simply too expensive all around.

They released consoles with a higher relative jump than what has ever been seen. They didn't really jump in technology either, so much as they jumped in specs. This gen has sent a lot of big companies and good developers to bankruptcy. I'd say the PS3 and 360 almost single handedly destroyed gaming this gen.  They stifled PC gaming and saturated the market with overused genres that have become looked at as the "proper" or "core" way of gaming. People who don't follow their path are ridiculed as casual.

Nintendo is the only thing holding it together and they are on the right path by releasing systems with the "people" in mind. They aren't trying to impress with numbers. They are trying to make sure everyone enjoys themselves with "everyone" being the key word. Nintendo doens't care about high numbers because they're worthless now.

People insist on throwing NIntendo into a competition of specs, but they just don't understand. Nintendo has no interest in this graphics war.