How Grand Theft Auto IV Threatens The Wii, from Forbes

[dareware]

http://www.forbes.com/2008/05/02/wii-grand-theft-tech-personal-cx_bc_0502wii.html

"The advantages of the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 go beyond just rich, immersive games. "If [gamers] care more about high-definition, or they care about online, or they care about more graphically rich immersive games, they're going to consider a 360 or Playstation 3," Pachter asserts.

Sony's victory in the next-generation videodisc format wars is a formidable advantage, Pachter argues. Grab a high-definition television at Best Buy (nyse: BBY - news - people ), and the salespeople will recommend that consumers--even non-gamers--buy Sony's console so that they can play high-definition movies on their new displays. "That's going to move consoles, maybe not today, but it will cumulatively over time," Pachter says. (See: How To Get the Best (and Cheapest) BluRay Player.)

Microsoft, meanwhile, has invested heavily to create a best-in-class online experience to hook gamers.

By contrast, Nintendo's online experience is safe, yet spartan. That means Microsoft's deal with Take-Two for exclusive online content is just the start. "They're certainly not stupid, they're going to push online content like you wouldn't believe," Pachter says.

Wii won't die, for sure. But Grand Theft Auto IV may have just given a new lease on life to the Playstation 3."

Nice read, Do you think GTA IV will change the gaming Industry ?

What do you think the numbers will be ? short term, long term