Hello everyone. I think this is cottect discussion to write my analisys on different game genres and th three consoles, showing their strenghts and weaknesses. Feel free to correct me if what you see does not match reality.

After playing different games, watching trailers and reading sales data, I come up with some conclusions about why is a a specific genre thriving on one console and weakly in the other(s) and what do developers need to address in order to make the genre stronger on a specific platform. Each console is different in ideas and different concepts on what they should expect in their games

Here I go:

1. First Person Shooters:

• Xbox360: I think microsoft's system is king in this genre, not just because of the online, but also the console delivers the same experience as playing a PC FPS. Developers have a safer bet on developing for the system when the game is more action oriented.
• PS3: Even though the graphics can match (or maybe outmatch) the Xbox360 and have a very good online, a game similar to what you can get 360 will do rather well at most, but nothing spectacular. An exclusive FPS should be more story driven involving the characters, the enemies and the world than action oriented.
• Wii: Nintendo's system cannot match the graphics and the online gameplay is not as robust, so trying to make a PC like FPS on Wii is a bad idea. The compelling part goes to the controls. Aside from the accuracy that may match the M+KB controls, a Wii FPS should deliver. actions that will feel more natural on Wii than just a button press. However, a developer must not make the mistake of forcing the controls into the game but instead design the game around the controller.

2. Action

• Xbox360/PS3: I see the games equally succesful on these consoles. the ammount of content and story can favor one or the other. But in general, a classic action game will do well on these consoles
• Wii: The biggest mistake is the replacement of a button press with senseless waggle. A developer should not try to map buttons to motion controls unless it ACTUALLY FEELS INTUITIVE. It is better if they rework on the camera and caracter actions/animations so that with the Wiimote+nunchuck will feel responsive and fun to play.

3. Racing

• Xbox360/PS3: I alse see the consoles pretty equal on this on arcade, simulation and general type racing games. Actually the battle goes to the developers on how to give the best experience with the best brand.
• Wii: the Wii can do really good with arcade racing (if the developer puts effort). I see simulation games hard to be successful here. However expanding on the fun, arcade style will do very good: Track editor, vehicle creation, etc. A game simmilar to TrackMania can be very appealing

4. Sports

• Xbox360/PS3: it will come down to the type of sports to favor a console, but in general, they do weel just as they are going.
• Wii: A sports game on wii must be approached differently, not making it dumber. a good example is Pro Evo 2008 which nailed really well on how to make a good soccer game.

5. Platform:

• Xbox360: This is the wakest point of the system and it's not because of technical issues, but marketting issues. Platform games went to a second plane and to the mayority of gamers it's not a good match. Microsoft does not have a mascot or brand to push the genre since they blew it with Banjo Kazzoie. I find it hard for a platform game to do really well.
• PS3: Sony has a better chance than Xbox360 since some very known games came on PS2 and can come to PS3: Ratchet and Clank, Sly Cooper, Jak and Daxter, among others. If the developers make the propper approach to a wider audience, they wil do really well
• Wii: Wii has the biggest number of platformers (most of them shovelware) . Because the philosophy of games for everyone Nintendo follows, a platform game finds a natural fit, not to mention that thay can have a fresh air with the controls. It will be no surprise if the next Rayman platform game comes to Wii.

More genres in my next post

Nice post, however, I would like to point out that overall, all 3 consoles have some magnificant platformers in Braid, LBP, and Galaxy.

My favorite platformer, however is the XBLA version of SotN, still after all these years...

Can't wait about what you have to say about RPGs

I can't even explain how much I'd rather play FPS on Wii than on the xbox 360 or PS3. Playing a FPS on controller other than Wiimote(which is still lame compared to mouse) sucks ass in my opinion.

I agree that each console may have great examples of each genre. But in a general observation, you may see how high the chances can be for a game to be on a platform and do really well based on the technical specs and markleting strategy. And I take downloadable games away from the analysis because it's a completely new platform.

Let's continue:

6. Role Playing:

• Xbox360: while a traditional RPG can do well on this platform, history shows that it will not be spectacular in sales unless it's of a very well known brand (like Final Fantasy). PC RPG's can do well on 360 since the marketing model is similar(they just have to have great graphics) but what can be the best selling point is the online gameplay. RPG's are in diapers regarding online gameplay and on Xbox360 developers have the best chance to exploit all possibilities even in the MMORPG type. What Xbox360 needs are games with great offline story and an expandable online experience. 
• PS3: Because PS3 follows the Cinamtic model the most of all three consoles, RPG's on this system should follow the same path: with rich FMVs or cutscenes and a deep story/plot. They do not need to rely on the online multiplayer (though it will be very welcome) as much as with the Xbox360. the only thing is that the cutcenes should give more freedom to the player (dynamic cutscenes) and the transition to curcenes and back to gampleay should be totally seamless.
• Wii: Because many companies do not have the budget and resources to make a PS360 game, the Wii can give home to many other brands that may not have a chance on other systems (because of money or matching philosophy). Also, the Wii has the chance to be the laboratory to explore gampleay ideas based on the controller. Developers should not dumb down the experience, but instead making the game attractive to as much players as possible amd push it in a proper marketing strategy

7. Strategy(Without Peripherals)

• Xbox360/PS3: strategy games can do well on consoles, but yet there hasn't been a single one to actually do spectacular in sales (maybe Halo wars but I'm skeptical), mostly because of the controls. RTS cannot move easily from PC to console with the standard interface. A game must be from a very powerful and well known franchise to actually start pushing the genre on those consoles. It cannot be new.
• Wii: Wii must NOT have PC RTS or TBS ports for they will fail miserably, and the main reason is the user interface that requires a keyboard makign it complex to most people. Whet the system needs is a new design of strategy games around the controls in order to make it accesible and seamless (not making the game stupid). This requires a different standard to make a game for Wii.

8. Horror

• Xbox360/PS3: The horror genre has splitted in two, and the Action Horror would find a very welcome home on these systems as long as they are not a joke(Alone in the Dark I'm looking at you ==__==!!). Quick responses, fast gameplay and quick shorts scares that will make you jump out of your chair will do well on these systems mostly because of the graphics and sound that helps create the atmosphere.
• Wii: While Action horror has the chance to do great (RE4, UC, HotD: Overkill), the system has the greatest potential of true Horror in games, the controls are more natural because arms movements are better than finger movments when you're scared to the point of piss in your pants. The only obstacle is that a game like this must be marketed very differently

9. Point and Click

• Xbox360/PS3: the genre is very weak on these consoles mostly because it's not considered as important as the active kind of games. they would be so simillar to the PC games and there is not a very powerful franchise to back the game in consoles
• Wii: I think Zack and Wiki was released ahead of its time (and the name killed the appeal to many)and many people agree that the console can give a new life to the genre. It does not mean that the game can be a wagglefest, but a more direct involment of the player in the game actions and it should not be a PC port.

More to come:

Your analyses so far seems to be spot on. I have nothing to argue about in it :D

Seems like fairly accurate depictions, well done!

u can use mouse keyboard with the ps3, it gives an edge to fps, sadly only being used ut3, i want that game but can't find it =(

I actually like your analyses. Your focus on different priorities being necessary for success in traditional genres on the Wii seems pretty spot-on.

Not bad analyses.
Only thing I don't agree with you is about "platformers". Fact is there is no succesfull exclusive game out on PS3 yet. The main argument called MGS4 just got outsold by GoW2....