Tretakoff Musings
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Wiidom
'Tis the holiday season, and the video game console wars are in full swing. Last year, Microsoft made a savvy move and released the XBox 360, the next-generation platform. There were no other new consoles out, so the Market was theirs. And, as it takes about a year for software to start taking advantage of the new hardware, this holiday their game Gears Of War is set to be a smash.
And in this corner...weighing in a 600 lbs., the Champion, the Monster, the Overpriced Sensation...Sony's PlayStation 3. Yes, inspiring fanboys to riot at the short supply and spend thousands on eBay (of over $700, if you wait for it to actually be in stock next year), the new PS3 is the sound of Sony going All In for their claim to the #1 console. Packed to the gills with every gadget and technology possible, it is clearly the most advanced console...and possibly too advanced. At $600 to start, only the elite will want it.
The surprise? The Nintendo Wii. Under $300, it does not blaze new graphics power or incredible games. Instead, it's a modest console with innovative controls, meant for a more interactive play style. Motion controlled remotes, instead of complicated joypads, open up a new world of possibility. Tennis? Swing your virtual racket. Fishing? Cast away. The interesting moment was watching Amy as she watched a demo of Bowling and was clearly excited: this is clearly Nintendo's strategy, to go after non-game players. For me, who really only plays consoles for Madden, it looks interesting, especially after today's highest rating of Madden on any platform, on the Wii. I guess there's only one one way this ends:
Wii'll see. :-)
Want to see what all the fuss is about? Nintendo made this great intro video to explain and show. Fun!
'Tis the holiday season, and the video game console wars are in full swing. Last year, Microsoft made a savvy move and released the XBox 360, the next-generation platform. There were no other new consoles out, so the Market was theirs. And, as it takes about a year for software to start taking advantage of the new hardware, this holiday their game Gears Of War is set to be a smash.And in this corner...weighing in a 600 lbs., the Champion, the Monster, the Overpriced Sensation...Sony's PlayStation 3. Yes, inspiring fanboys to riot at the short supply and spend thousands on eBay (of over $700, if you wait for it to actually be in stock next year), the new PS3 is the sound of Sony going All In for their claim to the #1 console. Packed to the gills with every gadget and technology possible, it is clearly the most advanced console...and possibly too advanced. At $600 to start, only the elite will want it.
The surprise? The Nintendo Wii. Under $300, it does not blaze new graphics power or incredible games. Instead, it's a modest console with innovative controls, meant for a more interactive play style. Motion controlled remotes, instead of complicated joypads, open up a new world of possibility. Tennis? Swing your virtual racket. Fishing? Cast away. The interesting moment was watching Amy as she watched a demo of Bowling and was clearly excited: this is clearly Nintendo's strategy, to go after non-game players. For me, who really only plays consoles for Madden, it looks interesting, especially after today's highest rating of Madden on any platform, on the Wii. I guess there's only one one way this ends:
Wii'll see. :-)
Want to see what all the fuss is about? Nintendo made this great intro video to explain and show. Fun!
Labels: Madden, Video Games, youtube
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