I am a Nintendo fanboy. My first console, which my parents lovingly bought me despite our poverty, was the NES. Today, I am a proud owner of a Wii and very happy for Nintendo's success, which I hope will continue far into the future. I can think of few companies that have worked so hard to make me happy, or succeeded as well in doing so. Watching the numbers come through here at VGChartz, it's more than my console of choice "winning" that I take pleasure in -- it is seeing a company do well that I believe should do well, because they do the right things. I take Nintendo's success as an expression of a good and moral universe.
Despite my love for Nintendo, I find no cause to root against Nintendo's competitors. I also own a PS2 -- my first DVD player -- and found many great games on that system as well, and I've had fun with the occasional game of Halo at friends' houses over the years. Sony and Microsoft offer things that Nintendo does not, just as Nintendo has unique offerings; I am happy to live in a world that has all three, and the only things that keep me from owning all three systems and their best games are a lack of money and time. If I could, I'd happily set Bioshock and Metal Gear Solid 4 with Super Mario Galaxy on my shelf.
I make no mistake: Nintendo competes with Sony and Microsoft. They are not in "different markets," but compete for developers, advertising space, store shelves, and the consumer's treasure. However, just as rivals comfortably co-exist (and have, and will) in other markets -- PC vs. Apple, Coke vs. Pepsi, Pizza Hut vs. Domino's, etc. -- the success of one console manufacturer does not have to mean the elimination of others. The video game market has within it several niches, and they can be catered to by different companies, as is beginning to be the case. I believe that one day, video game distribution will move beyond "consoles" and there will be a more universal format for software. But, for today, the video game market is expanding, not shrinking, meaning that there are greater opportunities for everyone to succeed. GTA4 just had the most successful launch of a video game ever (unless I'm completely wrong about that :). This can happen at the same time when Wii shatters sales records, and just prior to the onset of Wii Fit. There is room for Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft.
There doesn't have to be any war between "casual" and "hardcore" gamers. The casual gamer of today can be tomorrow's hardcore, and vice-versa (as hardcore gamers get jobs, significant others, and other distractions that take them away from gaming). The co-current successes of GTA4 and MKWii mean that good games will continue to be developed for each "side," and Nintendo's Blue Ocean strategy means that more niche products will be developed to anticipate the growing and diversifying user base. For gamers, this is nothing but gain, because at different times of our lives we will have different attractions, needs, and wants, and finally the gaming market will be there for us when we do.
I root for Nintendo. Also, I root for Sony and Microsoft. In general, as a gamer, I root for gaming to do well -- for video games to become better and better, to innovate, draw in untapped markets, and create new experiences. The success of all three companies pulls us closer to this future I want, and makes the future even better for anyone who loves video games.
