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Forums - Gaming - Nintendo at E3 2009 VS Xbox 360

msnolp on 06 June 2009

In the light of the tour de force that Microsoft presented at this year’s E3, it is very difficult for the other platform holders to compete. And Nintendo didn’t.

Nintendo are in a poor position. Their home console for this generation, the Wii, is the least capable, being just an upgrade of the previous generation GameCube. It has been incredibly successful because of it’s innovative gesture controller and a small number of high quality platform exclusive games. But it lacks the equivalent of an Xbox Live or even a Playstation Network. And its main party trick, the gesture controller, has now been trumped by the Microsoft Natal. The Wii also does not support HDTV and does not come with a hard drive.

Sales wise the Wii has peaked in most markets and in Japan it is very weak. It now looks very expensive compared to the Xbox 360, a competitor which has a lot more to offer.

So Nintendo announced Wii Fit Plus, a new 2D version of Super Mario Bros, presumably aimed at children, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Wii Vitality Sensor, a device to read your pulse. Hardly setting the world alight and showing all the signs of a platform nearing the end of its life.

One has to wonder firstly how long the Wii can sustain its premium price and secondly how close we are to seeing its successor, the SuperWii.

On the handheld front the DSi is getting good initial sales, presumably from existing DS owners upgrading. However it is now looking positively archaic compared to the more modern phone based devices like iPhone and Android. Nintendo need to act quickly not to be left behind in this market.



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leo-j on 06 June 2009

Did you write this yourself?



 

mM
JaggedSac on 06 June 2009

I would say that the Wii is in the best position as of right now. And will lead this generation for the duration.



Brainslug on 07 June 2009

When will people learn that "The Highest, Most Advanced Technology does NOT and will most likely NEVER = Best received product by the general public".

Otherwise, Sony would be the sales leader again this generation. The reason Nintendo succeded so well is because they sucessfully tapped and filled that need that non gamers needed to start getting involved in video games. THAT'S how you expand the market.

I don't believe that Natal will have a fraction of a fraction of the success that Wii has had in appealing to the general public. I just don't think that it fills a need that people feel is not currently being met with existing products.



misterd on 07 June 2009
msnolp said:

In the light of the tour de force that Microsoft presented at this year’s E3, it is very difficult for the other platform holders to compete. And Nintendo didn’t.

Nintendo are in a poor position.

To sum up Nintendo's position:

Seriously, if you don't think Sony and MS would trade their position for Nintendo's right now, you must have missed the "Wii Too" portions of their presentations.

 Their home console for this generation, the Wii, is the least capable, being just an upgrade of the previous generation GameCube. It has been incredibly successful because of it’s innovative gesture controller and a small number of high quality platform exclusive games. But it lacks the equivalent of an Xbox Live or even a Playstation Network. And its main party trick, the gesture controller, has now been trumped by the Microsoft Natal. The Wii also does not support HDTV and does not come with a hard drive.

And boy I bet that just burns your britches, don't it? No HD, no hard drive, hardly any online to speak of, and its beating the competition like Ike Turner.

As for the Natal, other than its ability to train child molestors on how to pick up small boys, its application is far from clear, and its release date, price and games haven't even been hinted at. Meanwhile, the WiiMote Plus is ready to go next month, will be packed in with 2-3 games almost ensuring widespread adoption, and has the support of numerous third party developers.

Sales wise the Wii has peaked in most markets and in Japan it is very weak. It now looks very expensive compared to the Xbox 360, a competitor which has a lot more to offer.

And yet it still consistently outsells the 360, but unlike the 360 and PS3, which have each had (depending on how you do the math) multiple price drops, it still has plenty of room to cut price or add value and still turn a profit with each console sold.

So Nintendo announced Wii Fit Plus, a new 2D version of Super Mario Bros, presumably aimed at children, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Wii Vitality Sensor, a device to read your pulse. Hardly setting the world alight and showing all the signs of a platform nearing the end of its life.

The Wii Fit Plus, 2D Mario, and SMG2, along with Wii Sports Resort and Zelda, will all outsell the latest Halo spin off, Left 4 Dead 2, and your new MGS title. As for 2D Mario being for kids, clearly you've never played a 2D Mario title before.

One has to wonder firstly how long the Wii can sustain its premium price and secondly how close we are to seeing its successor, the SuperWii.

Based on the lack of a price cut, sales still stronger than the competitions, unearthly 1st party software sales, and the just-blossoming support of third party titles, probably not any time soon. Probably it will be announced just in time to cut the legs out from the Natal. 

On the handheld front the DSi is getting good initial sales, presumably from existing DS owners upgrading. However it is now looking positively archaic compared to the more modern phone based devices like iPhone and Android. Nintendo need to act quickly not to be left behind in this market.

The Nintendo handhelds have always looked "archaic" next to the competition, whether it was the GameGear, Lynx, or N-Gage. I remember all the doubters who expected the PSP to kick the DS's touch screen, but that didn't happen, did it?

Face the facts - the market is interested in more than hardware, and Microsoft and Sony are now scrambling to follow in its footsteps. The Wii likley has at least two years of life left in it - just enough time for its follow up to completely undercut the release of the Natal.



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ZenfoldorVGI on 07 June 2009

MS had a better E3 for the core gamer, and has a better console for the core gamer imo. That said, Nintendo did plenty to keep its fans(me) at E3, and will EASILY best MS this generation...so who really won?



I don't need your console war.
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor.
You're power hungry, spinnin' stories, and bein' graphics whores.
I don't need your console war.

NO NO, NO NO NO.

Samus Aran on 07 June 2009

Sure, Nintendo is in a bad position...

Xbox360 hardly outsells ps3 and it's so cheap already... Seriously who's in a bad spot here?

Please stop this bs of Nintendo is in trouble because I wouldn't call 5billion dollars annual profit trouble...



thekitchensink on 07 June 2009

The Wii is in the worst position because its' not very powerful. Didn't you know, guys? The Wii hasn't outsold the 360 by 20 million despite being on the market a year less. Not at all.



Could I trouble you for some maple syrup to go with the plate of roffles you just served up?

Tag, courtesy of fkusumot: "Why do most of the PS3 fanboys have avatars that looks totally pissed?"
"Ok, girl's trapped in the elevator, and the power's off.  I swear, if a zombie comes around the next corner..."
misterd on 07 June 2009

Now the stupidity makes sense. It's our old friend Bruce-On-Crack.