News is out that Microsoft will further reach out (First Attempt: Overly Hype Pinata Game) to the casual market and heavily invest to this segment. Either they will come up with a new hardware/peripheral that involves more user interaction (Wii-Mote copycat) or flood the market with their own casual games. Microsoft is determined to copy Nintendo's strategy to expand their marketshare/counter Nintendo and keep their goal of maintaining their 'hardcore gamers market' lead with Sony in the United States (example: September released of Halo 3 and GTA exclsuive content).

It is a given that Nintendo STILL needs improvement to prove that they can cater to the hardcore gamers with a GOOD supply of quality RPGs, FPS and Sports Games. Nintendo can't afford to go casual all the way especially in the United States.

It is also a fact that MP3 is no Halo-killer. But... How important is MP3's success to Nintendo to solidly (not just a close first or second to Xbox 360) win the American market? To counter Halo?

What are you thoughts?

Areas of discussion:     Number of games sold;    game media's ratings;    gamer's feedback;    online play;    graphics;    peripheral(an official MP3 gun attachment); marketing/advertising budget (to counter Hype behind Halo)...

Metroid isn't meant to counter anything, so there is no importance on it.

And if Microsoft can epand their base, it would have to be in a way that doesn't directly compete with Nintendo's casual games.

The problem with the "wii remote like attachment" is that it's just that, an extra attachment. Periphrials never do as well as standards because developers don't want to focus on what users "MAY" have they want what they know they have. Which is why all 360 games require no hard drive while PS3 games give the option to load things onto the hard drive for reduced loading. This is because the HDD is -standard- not an added on the Ps3 the 360 HDD is considered an extra.

In addition Microsoft has Rare to do the "casual" market and they have odd taste at best(I like them) they also tend to repel a lot of people with their quirky titles. Fact is, Japanese developers will go more towards PS3/Wii more then likely because they sell better in Japan. Many games come out only in Japan.

Add to this the price point 299.99 even is over what most "Casuals" will pay for a game system, they don't care if it's HD in fact most of these people don't know what 1080i is let alone any of the other "selling points" of the high def systems. Many people say xbl arcade, but I'm gonna put money that Average Joe and his GF Jane don't know what the hell the XBL arcade is.

Then there's interface, Wii's interface is much easier to navigate. I say this owning all 3, Wii was the easiest to pick up and play which is of MASSIVE importance to the casual crowd.

In terms of the hardcore gamers Metroid Prime 3 is of monsterous importance. As far as losing the casual gamer to Xbox360 I think there's little worry of it for quite some time. Sure there's growth of it on the 360 and more attention to the japanese market etc but it's not enough to strip it from sony or nintendo, not for a while anyway. I'm also thinking Metroid might surprise if it plays as well as I've heard from some press sources. People prefer shooters on the PC because of the mouse .. I've heard the wii remote feels like a mouse in this game, it's a good chance it'll do better once word spreads.


Sorry that was a little long winded..

Metroid has no importance in terms of fighting off MS because Nintendo is winning by not fighting off thei opposition. It's not their strategy to compete, and that's why they have outsold both of their supposed competitors combined 20 somes weeks this year. Nintendo has won a market and is winning the other two, and they can't keep their machine in stock. There is no solidifying of positions or anythign of the sort, they are happy enough just outright dominating the competition.

Thanks Souizan! We need more post like yours...

Metroid Prime 3 isn't meant to be a "Halo killer", even that there's a slight possibility, that it may turn out to be one.

I don't see Nintendos strategy being that it tries to compete Halo 3 with MP3, even you may think it would because of the release dates. MP3:s release date is for getting some of Halo 3:s hype.

I don't see Corruption more important to sales, than any any other of Nintendos titles, but its importance lies in proving the controls.

Wii health-Wii music, mario galaxy, super smash bros brawl are better "halo killers"

Metroid is not a Halo killer, metroid is metroid. Predates even the THOUGHT of halo by so many years its insane. There is no imaginary Metroid vs Halo. People see a FP perspective and shooting along with metal suits and go apeshit. Please let this nonsense die.

As for the rest, MS has about as much a chance of releasing some waggle ripoff and taking a worthwhile chunk of the Wii casuals as Nintendo has a chance of releasing hardcore games like Disaster and Killer7 and stealing a worthwhile chunk of MS hardcore audience.

Basically, don't count on it. Those type of shifts do not happen over night.

My first thought was that you obviously haven't played Viva Pinata otherwise you'd know it wasn't hyped, and my second thought is that it makes the rest of your post not worth reading or taking seriously do I did neither.

Agreed. The Stamper brothers (founders of Rare) left the studio after Viva Pinata was released, and there was a lot of speculation that they did so because Microsoft didn't assist in advertising/marketing enough to boost their game.

The game got strong-to-very-strong reviews, and even then a lot of players seem to think the game is underrated.