Microsoft Disses Nintendo
By Andrew on Saturday, May 5th, 2007 at 1:16 AM PST In Game Companies, Microsoft, Nintendo
Does Nintendo have what it takes to compete with the high and mighty Microsoft? Microsoft’s President of Entertainment & Devices Division doesn’t think so.
“The rest of [Nintendo's] product is actually not a great product—no disrespect, but … the video graphics on it aren’t very strong; the box itself is kind of underpowered; it doesn’t play DVDs; there are a lot of down-line components [that] aren’t actually that interesting,” said Robbie Bach in an interview with eWEEK. “The challenge for them is figuring out, “Hey, how do I broaden beyond a casual demographic?” We’ll see how that plays out.”
Rob, I’ve got a few questions for you. When did a video game console NEED to play DVDs? And, are you aware that the “casual demographic” includes, well, EVERYONE ELSE besides people who play your console? It was a successful bitch-slap, maybe, but as far as it playing out, I think it’s just begun for Nintendo.
I mean, old people playing video games? Not on Microsoft’s console.
Nintendo, as innovative as it’s trying to be, IS at a lacking because of it’s lack of power. Sure, it’s fun. But when you see truly next-gen titles that are epic as heck (e.g. Spore), you start to worry. The Wii can’t do those kind of things. The PS3 and the Xbox, however, can.
The install base of the Wii is a good 7 million. However, those 5 million with other consoles are the ones getting deeper gameplay.
They may be getting deeper traditional gameplay, but you have to remember that Nintendo’s game plan is to keep from being predictable. The kind of gameplay you see on the Wii isn’t reproduced anywhere.
They have set out to make a radically different console, with different ideals in mind. Their emphasis isn’t on the graphics (even though the graphics have to be withstandable), it isn’t on explosions and how many tits they can fit on screen.
It’s about making the game fun, and approachable by more than just one demographic.
They want to return to family time, they want to improve the Video Gaming industries image. If you’re spending time, playing the Wii with your family, that’s less time you have to spend by yourself, learning about things that may be giving you a warped sense of reality. Not saying that every person who doesn’t spend time with their family has a warped sense of reality, just saying that the people who’ve killed people, or robbed people, for a video game, or video game console, could’ve probably used a little more family time.
Family fun time. Sure, if you want to go and play games by yourself in a corner, you’ll go to 360 or PS3.
But if you want to have a feel good time, with friends and family, without feeling ashamed or estranged from the rest of your family, you’ll go for the Wii.
Main point: The Wii is a radically different console, and the current system of assessments for video game consoles, do not apply.