I think the 720 and PS4 will fail sales wise if there is no hook

[OoSnap]

@ Jay

What is mean by "hook" is a feature of the platform that appeals to the mass market. Clearly if Nintendo made Gamecube 2.0, that is just an upgraded hardware, it would have probably sold less than Gamecube. I seriously think you underestimate how significant the Wiimote was for its success. I mean, it's a console that lacked most of the major 3rd party games and had outdated hardware and still is going to be in the 100+ million club, something the 360 and PS3 will likely never be in. Moreover it was so appealing Sony and Microsoft realized it and tried to emulate motion controls.

I have more examples than than the Wii from which I draw my inference.
It has been argued that PS2 sold so well because it was also a relatively inexpensive DVD player. The DS is Nintendo's highest selling platform and probably be the highest selling gaming platform ever if it already isn't. Apparently the dual screen and touch screen was a big hook. No other Nintendo handheld has come close to selling as much as the DS.


What I mean by fail is that the 720 and PS4 will not have any impact on the mass market. It won't be a mass market console. I seriously doubt it would even sell half as much as its predecessors. Sony and Microsoft must offer something appealing - a hook to sell as much or more than their previous hardware because shinier graphics are not going to cut it especially when the consoles are going to be priced above the mass market sweet spot.

I believe Nintendo has the next gen in the bag if its competitors can't bring anything new, especially if Nintendo can get most of the multiplats.