It's not just a matter of porting from the Wii and upping the graphics so everything is A-Ok and the same. Look at games that were ported from the PS2 to the 360 early on. They looked like crap in comparison to games built on the HD consoles. Basically graphics will go down, and it will push a certain crowd away from picking those games up on HD consoles. Not to mention it'll limit the kindsof games 360 and PS3 will get. No longer can we have games that cater to their strengths. Everything will be lowest common denominator so advanced physics, AI, etc. or anything the Wii usually can't handle would no longer be an aim for developers to go for. So games would suffer all around. Not to mention that any game built on Wii controls may not transfer well to a traditional controller.

So funny that "HD" has become such a buzzword.

Wii has the processing power to output 720p. But resolution doesn't mean prettier graphics - look at Halo 3 or GTA IV, neither game is HD, because higher res would have led to worse graphics.

Anyway, if PS360 fans are only interested in the "HD" buzzword, uncompressing a game's textures slightly to look good in 720p would be simple.

However, since this gen is supposedly half over (or at least major publishers like Ubisoft believe so) I don't see much changing in how ports are done in the next 3 years.  The majority will lead on 360, and Wii will get the bulk of exclusives.

its easier to make a game for the 360 then port it to the ps3

I'm pretty sure people are just using it as a replacement for saying "360 and PS3" all the time. Also didn't Nintendo lock the console out of outputting above 480p?

Im saying anything about third party games and the wii...i wont do it!

 Not wishing to derail this thread, but I find it hard to believe this gen is half over, it still feels like it is warming up!

Back to topic:

This gen is different to the last ones cos you have one console that has gone a different direction to the others and hence it's not feasible to port from one to the other and make minor tweaks along the way. You effectively have 2 streams : 360,PS3 & PC and the Wii.

The likely result is Wii specific versions of games or exclusives.

Is that good for Wii or more specifically Wii owners?

I would say no.

Its easiest to lead on PS3 then port systemattically downward, 360->Wii->PS2->PSP->DS.

To begin with, you should not assume. It makes an ass out of you and me. And that first word describes many people who are like to take potshots at the Wii.

Now back to the OP and third-party development on the Wii. There are a variety of things at work. First of all, anyone who thinks the Wii can do the same things as the PS3 or Xbox 360 is delusional. Certainly those consoles are more powerful. But then again, the Wii is more powerful than anything from the last generation. That means that anything ported to the PS2 could easily be made available to the Wii (and before we get into any discussions about how strong the Wii is, remember, the GC was more powerful than the PS2 and the Wii is at least as powerful as the GC).

So choices on many games are not technology-based but rather economic-based. Looking at the install demographics of the Wii, they are quite different than those of other consoles. So even though the install/current user base may be large, there is probably some hesitancy to port things that are thought not to have as great a sales potential to the Wii.

Meanwhile, developers who make an effort to do more than port over PS2 games and add wiggle are often rewarded. Both Shaun White Snowboarding and Sonic Unleashed had versions that were built specifically for the Wii. Both found critical and retail success.

Finally, remember that development cycles are slow. Everyone talks about two years. But some games can take longer (I'm looking at you FF13). And even last year, there were still analysts claiming that the Wii was a fad -- and information like that has probably continued to color some companies judgements.

Mike from Morgantown

I would not play Wii port on my PS3 unless the game was completely remade as it would have to be to take advantage of the PS3. That's why.