What? Sony has always taken their consoles from a multimedia standpoint, not solely games (PS1 was a CD player, PS2 was a DVD player, had USB interfaces, expandable HDD, etc)....and all their consoles beat out everyone else, by a lot. They simply carried on what they've been doing. How is it a mistake? 

Sure, the obvious answer is that the Wii is beating them. But does it have to be a mistake solely because the Wii is beating the PS3? By your logic, the Gamecube should've beat the PS2 and Xbox

Could I go out on a limb and suggest that the games might have something to do w/ their potential level of success?

Or is that just anti-Pachter crazy talk?

Nintendo is the elephant in the room and the media is ignoring it and doing this "best motion controller ever" argument when it's really for 2nd place.  I didn't know having the most successful motion controller of all time for over 3 years was irrelevant to the motion controller wars discussion.  The thread title says "Pachter Predicts Motion Control Winner!" but it ignores the actual winner.  He even predicts that the cheapest add-on will win, and doesn't mention that Motion+ is only $20 and already on the market.

Funny how Pachter doesnt mention anything about the Software impact. Software is primary as it is what drives consumer's interest in the hardware.

With this in mind I think Sony will be the victor as long as the price difference isnt humongous. Sony not only actually has a 1st party, they also have experience via the eyetoy. MS is relying on third parties, who have failed repeatedly with motion control, and rare (HA...HA!!).

Plus Natals controller-less control has far too narrow applications to become mass market. Arc is atleast versitle enough to play traditional games, like the Wiimote. So in the long run the price argument favors sony. Natal will require more peripherals to work with different genres while the Arc will require just a joystick peripheral with some buttons. See folks, Nintendo knew hwat they were doing and sony just has to emulate to be successful.

Edit: I should mention i'm talking Sony vs. MS. Nintendo is the obvious Motion Control titan and has the strongest first party in the world. Note; I said "strongest" which is indisputable, not the "best quality" which is far too subjective to determine.

The GameCube failed on it's own mistakes, but on topic, technology is not going to be what motivates consumers. Certainly not the masses. The tech in Natal and Arc are only enablers for games, the games themselves are what really matter. What Jarrod means is that MS and Sony will need to focus on making peripheral-selling games, such that there is an install base large enough to encourage third parties to support the devices.

Actually, Sony's problem historically has always been that their divisions don't coordinate.  They've taken some measures to help that under Stringer, but I'd argue that the content and technology groups of the company are still way too often at odds.  Even within SCE this is a bit of a problem imo.

And your GameCube allusion is frankly a bit weird, GameCube was pretty much the most un-Nintendo like platform they've ever launched and was a direct technological response to the battles they fought with PS1 (easy architecture, optical medium, low priced, etc).  It was really a machine that wasn't driven by software concerns first, unlike Wii (Wii Sports) or N64 (Mario 64).  The secret to Nintendo's success is actually how well integrated their hardware and software R&D units are, and the sort of interplay and consideration they have.

Thread title is obviously not completely related to the OP contents.  Since we do not know the question that was asked of Pachter, we can assume by his answer, that it was along the lines of, "Out of MS and Sony's upcoming motion controller hardware, which do you think will perform better?"  That would fit the answer he gave, and the complete lack of Nintendo in his response makes sense.

"upcoming console motion control war"

He's talking about 360 VS PS3.

This whole thread is about 360 vs PS3, I'm sorry you find it so offensive people are ignoring your console ... get over it and stop blantantly trolling.

I have to agree with Jarrod and Pachter. Motion controls didn't make Wii the success it is, Wii Sports did. If Zelda TP and SMG combined had been the flagship titles the Wii would have failed, even with their use of motion. Wii Sports made games accessible to everyone and that's what sold the Wii.

As for Pachter - Natal may well be cheaper if MS is willing to sell at a loss in order to win, which is likely. Sony is a lot less likely to subsidize because their still losing on PS3's and won't want to continue the bleeding for a 'win' in motion (which may be no win at all in the end).


However as mentioned, the problem for both is compelling software. The core has already expressed distaste for motion, they are accustomed to playing their games with dual analog and are not interested in change. Nor are the games on the HD consoles made with motion in mind. Some may benefit but lots would not.

For Natal or Arc to succeed they need to tap Wii's audience and for that they need compelling mass market software. Sony has some success with that - LBP, Buzz, Singstar but will likely be cost prohibitive to that audience (since mostly they'll have Wii or Wii's would be cheaper), MS has none and are depending on Rare which is a mistake IMO. Rare makes great games, but not games with great mass appeal. 3rd party software will be mostly Wii rehashes or added on to games not intended for motion.

First, the thread title is: "Pachter Predicts Motion Control Winner".  Not "second place winner". So Nintendo is relevant to the conversation.

Secondly, any discussion of consumer adoption of the new motion controllers without mentioning the Wii is ignoring the reason Sony/Microsoft had to scramble and announce new controllers mid-generation.  Nintendo dominating the casual gaming market, and it is currently theirs to lose.

As for Pachter, he is ignoring the most important thing.  It is not price of the controller, it is games.  Many people basically paid $250 for Wii Sports.  They played it at friends homes and went out and got one for themselves.  The same happened with WiiFit.

Unless Natal/Arc have a killer app for casual players, it will not matter.  The hardcore might buy it because they love Sony/MS, or to play whatever hardcore games support it, but Sony/MS launch of motion controllers are to attract the casual players who are ignoring their console for the Wii.  Selling motion control the the existing console owners does not matter.  They need the apps that sell to the casual Wii customer.