Veknoid_Outcast said:
You are definitely right about the PS2 crushing the Gamecube, indeed all competition. But I don't think it's approproate to compare the sixth and eighth generations. PS2 launched first, had DVD playback (1), built upon the incredible legacy of PS1 (2), etc., etc. Gamecube built off the diminished legacy of N64 (3), was marketed poorly (4), had no Grand Theft Auto (5), etc. (6) Also, the $150 price difference is just way too high. Are you saying that if the Xbox 720 is priced at $400, the Wii U will have to be $250 to get traction? I don't buy it. Do keep in mind that most video game console owners aren't like us. They don't play every game they can get their hands on. (7). They play Halo, and Mario, and Call of Duty, and GTA, and Pokemon, but they don't often invest in low-profile games. If Wii U can get GTA, Call of Duty, The Elder Scrolls, and Assassin's Creed it should do just fine. All it has to do is pump out its first-party titles, secure a few exclusive gems, and get just enough third party support to stay in the conversation. It would be damn hard for a consumer to pass up a system that offers (8). Super Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, GTA, COD, and Assassin's Creed -- all in HD -- plus multimedia capabilities and a unique social application. |
In response to your comments:
(1). I'm not so certain of the Nextbox, but with the PS4 certain to have Blu-ray, that would surely be a point worth mentioning value wise.
(2). The PS3 and 360 are both ending the generation on a high with blockbuster games still coming out for the systems.
(3). Similar to the above, but the other way, a poor last 2/3 years has really hurt the Wii, you could argue Kinect has more momentum right now.
(4). I don't know if you saw it, but there was a thread in Vgchartz not too long along about advertisement's for the WiiU, or more importantly, how poor they are and how they weren't aimed at the target audience properly.
(5). GTA5 hasn't been announced for the WiiU yet.
(6). With the above reasons, its not that out of the question that the WiiU would have to be seriously cheaper than the competition for it to be popular, games right now aren't that much better than the PS3 and 360 versions, they aren't going to be matching the Nextbox and PS4 versions either, so its going to be a tough sell for the WiiU I think (especially since the PS3 and 360 could stay alive for a while like the PS2 for 2006/7).
(7). In regards to those multiplatform games: Call of Duty has sales because everyone plays it and so do their friends, but right now, sales aren't great for the WiiU version (sort of like an anti snow ball effect). The Elder Scrolls games only release once every 4 and a half years, its a long way from now. The WiiU version of Assassin's Creed isn't advertised, its the PS3 version that is, unless Nintendo gets Ubisoft to advertise the WiiU version, sales will be mostly on the Ps3 version (with considerable sales on 360 too of course). Also, Pokemon is great for handhelds, but the console versions are considering less popular, Nintendo needs a Pokemon MMO, THAT would be a blockbuster.
(8). 3D Mario, Zelda and Pokemon were all on the N64 and GC, I don't see being that outstanding. COD and Assassin's Creed are good steps, but Nintendo needs to build a brand affiliation with COD and Assassin's Creed for them to be successful and to stay on the system once the Nextbox and PS4 come out. GTA is key, if they announce that for the WiiU, it would help change people's mentality of the company considerably.
