Wii bubble: Is it about to burst?

41 Responses to “Wii bubble: Is it about to burst?”

January 31st, 2008 at 10:21 Ebullient says:

Mario Galaxy looks awesome and playing it is pure joy. I have 109 stars and counting. No way would i want to play an inferior xbox360 or ps3 when i have everything they do in my Wii plus more!

for example the new star wars game is coming out on all platforms.
The wii version might look worse, but compared to last gen it will look great.
It has all the levels the more expensive ps3/360 version has - PLUS 5 MORE! ... add motion control for force powers and lightsabre action and it just makes no sense to buy another console when my 'inferior' wii can play the same games the 'superior' 360/ps3 can.

I feel I have THE REAL next gen(this gen)console.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:46 Gizmo n00b says:

that is not true
WII WILL LIVE FOREVER!
xbox= gay
360= all around (like a sphere)
put together is
xbox 360= all around gayness
January 31st, 2008 at 13:44 Bill G@tes says:

Microsoft has given up directly bashing the wii because we know we can't take their momentum away. Our latest comment is damage control. We're just trying to be the second place console by saying nicely that every wii owner should also buy a 360. I know we're pathetic, but maybe we'll start to sell a few more consoles.
January 31st, 2008 at 13:54 Wayde says:

That's a very lucid interpretation of the Microsoft position. Thank you.

Wii'll let the Q3-Q4 '08 sales tally speak for itself.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:36 Wiggeh says:

You aren't Bill Gates, so stfu.
February 1st, 2008 at 16:11 Dave says:

This is just the latest variation on what Microsoft and Sony have been saying non-stop since fall 2006.

If Wii is just a fad, it must be the longest-running fad ever. Because it's been kicking the 360's and PS3's butts all over the world for about 15 months now.

Super Mario Galaxy is the single highest rated game on any of the three current gen consoles (if you don't believe me, check metacritic.com). The idea that you would "graduate" from it to anything else is just ridiculous.
February 2nd, 2008 at 00:21 Gizmo n00b says:

I second that motion.
February 2nd, 2008 at 08:19 Gizmo n00b says:

It almost seems that if Microsoft and Sony cannot be number one, they have to result to petty name calling and screaming and kicking. Boys, you had your chance to be innovative in the mean time, but instead you have assumed the mass market were sheep, in the sense that we all buy one way.
Thank god Nintendo is still around, I still remember my childhood playing Mario and Blaster Master. Thank god Nintendo is on top again, to show them youngsters how a video game is MEANT to be experienced.
February 2nd, 2008 at 08:58 Zephyrus says:

This article is nothing but an immature & childish attempt to bash the competition. Any credible and professional editor would not make pathetic comments such as "saying Wii's graphics suck ...".

I have both Wii & 360 and honestly, I love them both equally. If I'm in the mood for sweet graphics, I'll play the 360...and if I'm in the mood for some real fun or in the mood for some of the VC classics, I play with Wii.
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 erico88 says:

I have a 360 and I bought a Wii because sometimes its better to have fun with games than get frustrate on Halo or on other games. And the Wii is for family and just for having fun. And thats why I bought it.
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:46 Morphious says:

Microsoft .. first it's the velvet glove .. then it's the nagging banter .. and then .. The golden HAMMER ... Ask Yahoo ...
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:08 Jordan says:

Possibly one of the worst articles I have ever read. Even your comparison to the Wii as a gateway console like marijuana is to drugs is an inaccurate comparison. Why? Because Marijuana is NOT a gateway drug, millions and millions of dollars have gone into this by independent panels and they concluded it is definately not a gateway drug which is why so many countries have the debate on legalizing it. Wii is not about to die, it is however a gateway console into the next generation of videogames.
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:19 iskra13 says:

Dear Editor,
Your comment on marijuana is unfounded and fundamentally flawed, have respect for the profession you so poorly attempt to undertake and do some reading every now and then, why of course! your schedule might be packed full of outings with beautiful women which would leave you no time to do research before you post an article it is easy to understand, oh my apologies I just glanced up towards my address bar, of course how imprudent of me...well since you have plenty of free time in front of screens at least do your research amateur.
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:26 Gizmo n00b says:

The xbox 360 is just a gateway to a better console the PS3.
When top of the line gamers want to watch movies on their HDTV they use their PS3, the xbox 360 does not come with a HD playback capabilities. Microsoft used to sell the HD expansion box to play movies in HD for a few hundred dollars, but those soon will be just door stops, since soon all movies will be blue-ray.
I fell bad for people that wastted their money on Microsoft products (especially the ones that have their house burned down).
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:45 Cavalier_De_La_Salle says:

"Nintendo might get out of the console market and just peddle its game franchises to other ... ahem... more successful consoles"
++++++++
If you define "successful console" as a video game console who has been selling better than it's competitors, than PS3 and 360 don't really fit this definition.
+++++++
You seem to be stuck 2003. The Wii has been outselling the 360 and PS3 since it's release, that is a fact. You should try to keep up with times. Perhaps Sony and Microsoft should stop making hardware and move their franchises to Nintendo based consoles.
++++
It's very hard to take an article like this seriously because it's written from pro-Microsoft, anti-Nintendo, point of view. It's not valid argumentation. Of course Microsoft and it's fans will say things like "Wii-bubble is about to break"; that is called marketing.
++++
They have become desperate because Wii is choking their sales.

++++

We all know Microsoft's days as a Video Game company are numbered.
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:56 whitediesel says:

The wii will not fall. The X-box and PS3 are simply a hardware upgrade and next box from the older versions, the amount of innovation compared to the wii is not noticeable enough to say it is present. What Microsoft and Sony are going to have to accept is that they can't compete with a "next generation" console that is simply designed so it can be played on a high resolution TV. The only thing Microsoft and Sony can say is "My console gives you another reason to get a bigger more expensive sony TV", and "we have halo and GTA". What they also don't understand is that people are getting less interested in these features and more interested in the "fun factor" that wii delivers. Yes, wii is a gateway console, but only to the next "next generation" consoles that may be able to deliver more of the "fun factor" and give you a reason to upgrade your TV.
February 2nd, 2008 at 13:39 Gizmo n00b says:

It's funny that even after being trounced in the worldwide market, both MS and Sony continue to insist that "Next Gen" is defined by a graphical yardstick.

It's very clear to me that "Innovation" is the correct gauge to use when comparing these 3 consoles, and PS3/XBox-360 simply refine the already-existing technologies of yesteryear and add photorealism, but that's not Next generation to me, that's "A better version of the last generation".

So yes, Wii is a fad in a manner of speaking, but some fads become the norm...

I recall a time when video games as a whole were considered a fad (like when Pac Man was a smash hit arcade game) - every adult at the time (this was when I was like... 8 or 9) thought they'd eventually just die out.

It's all very amusing to me...
February 2nd, 2008 at 14:08 Nintendojunkie says:

This is what micrsoft want's to happen,not what will happen.
February 2nd, 2008 at 14:33 renratto says:

Seeing how unreliable the xbox 360 is, I know several people who are their 2nd or 3rd xbox, I doubt the Wii will be a gateway to that piece of crap console. If you doubt how incredibly unreliable and defective the Xbox 360 is, just go to xbox's own website forum at xbox.com and see for yourself and read the horrorstories. It's not a matter of "if" an xbox 360 will fail, it's a matter of "when", and when it does break, and they send you a replacement, it's nearly always a refurb, which usually dies pretty fast. Conservately the failure rate must be at least 30% and I suspect it is actually much much higher. Too bad, as I really enjoyed the first xbox console and had no problem with it. I have had no problems at all with my Wii in over a year.
February 2nd, 2008 at 14:44 dinnertime says:

look, Nintendo has always been the innovator and they've had their share of failures but face-the-facts, Microsoft, Nintendo has generated a whole new market segment and they're reaping in the rewards - nobody from this segment wants or is going to want an Xbox so stfu!

I, on the other hand, am disappointed by the Wii, I don't like the accuracy of the remote controls and would rather control my dude via remote control - HOWEVER, I do realize that lots of people just love this sort of thing - and so more power to them!

These people are not going to want an Xbox but I sure as hell do.
February 2nd, 2008 at 14:54 DZ210 says:

"This would leave former Wii gamers walking the streets sunken eyed and emaciated, perhaps wearing tattered trench-coats, begging for an Xbox 360."

Actually, I definitely won't be begging for an Xbox 360. I already decided the other new system I'm buying to put next to my Wii is a PS3 for the high quality games like-Metal Gear Solid 4, Final Fantasy XIII, Tekken 6, and my other favorites to come to that system eventually.
February 2nd, 2008 at 15:30 Wayde says:

Your quote is incomplete - the full quote was...

"It seems I remember another time, like 2004, when speculation was that Nintendo might get out of the console market and just peddle its game franchises to other ... ahem... more successful consoles."

So, it's not a matter of being stuck in 2003, the editorial was reciting the general consensus as late as 2004. The context of that time period was Gamecube, which was the bottom dweller in sales.

I know how Wii is selling, look around at the other posts and you'll see this site championing the great victories of Wii.

This editorial was re-stating the words of Microsoft. I am just the messenger.

The line before your incomplete quote was... "... isn't discounting Nintendo a favorite hobby of Microsoft and Sony?"

I know - it's subtle. Perhaps you don't understand unless you're being clobbered over the head with a script's intentions. Or did you even bother to read?
February 2nd, 2008 at 15:32 Wayde says:

Ditto!
February 2nd, 2008 at 15:36 Wayde says:

" nobody from this segment wants or is going to want an Xbox so stfu!"

Do you know what STFU stands for? Do realize it's an ill-mannered expression and not part of a civil discussion?

If you have a point you want heard and understood, try manners. Without manners, all people will hear is you spitting.
February 2nd, 2008 at 15:39 Wayde says:

Actually the HD expasion for Xbox 360 is an HD DVD expansion. It sells for about $175 not a "few hundred" and there is no blue-ray, it's Blu-ray.

But I do feel bad for you, mate. Just take it easy. Don't try so hard. It'll be alright.
February 2nd, 2008 at 15:44 Wayde says:

Next you'll be telling me that Vietnam wasn't the start of the Domino effect in South East Asia.

You sound like a like one of those communist hippies.

Perhaps I should point out that the marijuana parallel was an effort to be ironic. Sad, I know. I should leave the comedy to professionals. It just doesn't work as well in text.
February 2nd, 2008 at 15:50 Wayde says:

Again, your quote was incomplete:

"Let me translate the marketing speak. Bell is saying Wii's graphics suck and when you're bored of its childish games you'll look for an Xbox 360."

Was the full sentence.

I'll translate English and I'll do it slowly so even you can understand.

"Wii's graphics suck" was a translation of Jeff Bell's marketing-speak. Jeff Bell is an important person at Microsoft, Nintendo's competition. He said Wii's "graphics suck", not me. But he said it in a way that was more ... "professional" or perhaps "cowardly" depending on your perspective. He didn't actually say what he meant, that's how marketing-speak works - it's my job to translate it for you.

So, if you have an argument for me, please argue an assertion I actually made, don't expect me to argue for Jeff Bell, with whom I made it clear I disagreed.

But I suppose it's too much too much to ask a fanboi to actually read an article instead of just skimming and picking out a single disjointed quote.
February 2nd, 2008 at 16:23 sidewinder says:

To Ebullient: Yes, force unleashed is coming to wii, and yes it'll have motion controls. But historically, most ports onto wii aren't very good. In fact, the wii version is missing two key features that the 360 and ps3 do have: Euphoria and DMM. These are, in my opinion, the most exiting features of the game in the first place, and the wii version is something which I personally am not looking forward to, because A: The high likelihood that the game will have tacked on motion controls, and B: No DMM or Euphoria.

Plus, the graphics don't look great, not even compared to gamecube or xbox I'm afraid. Have a look:

http://www.nintendic.com/news/1727

compared too:

http://screenshots.teamxbox.com/gallery/1209/Ninja-Gaiden-BLACK/p1/

and

http://media.cube.ign.com/media/546/546759/img_1819512.html

And finally, no, you can't play all the same games that are on 360/ps3, just a few, mostly garbage ports.

The wii is good for nintendo exclusives primarily, with a couple good third party exclusives like zack and wiki, and if you want cross playform games like star wars, madden, or NHL 2008, a 360/ps3 is 1000 times better.

for perhaps the inevitable cries of "hes a fanboy!", no I'm not. I own a wii, played the 360 plenty, but I don't herald any one console as "the best". they're all good for different things.
February 2nd, 2008 at 16:40 ColorblindMonk says:

Well, this "box" he mentions is still beating the 360, and when this bubble pops, it won't change the fact that it was outselling everything else.
February 2nd, 2008 at 20:10 Gizmo n00b says:

i wouldnt be surprised if this happened if those TERRIBLE mini type games keep getting released. they are what will destroy the wii.

the list of good games on the wii right now is a joke. and so far 2008 looks to add a few more good ones and thats it. developers are not taking the time to make good games. they're jumping on the "lets make a rubbish mini game and see if the retards buy it".....and too many of us are bloody buying them. christ!
it really is heart braking to watch a system that has no much thought put into it get ruined by its own user base buying up the crap games that those crap developers put out there.
ah well :(
guess ill be getting a PS3 anyway to play SFIV in a few years or so.

wii fit? **** OFF
February 2nd, 2008 at 21:01 used cisco says:

The Wii bubble could "burst" at any time, but they've been saying this for a while now. I wonder if it will happen. It seems like the 3rd party support is actually increasing rather than decreasing. We just need to get a little less shovelware.
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 just_a_gamer says:

A lot of people are always talking about how the Wii is the one and only true next-gen console. But I disagree with this. I think the Wii is just a previous-gen console with a next-gen controller. Nintendo could just as well have released the Wiimote and Nunchuck for the Gamecube and then released games which can only be played by those controllers (I know they needed a new console for a fresh start, but this is what it comes down to).

I really like the way Sony and Microsoft went with their respective consoles (Except for XBOX 360s reliability issues) and I hope Sony and Microsoft continue with the trend they have been following. I will certainly support them.
February 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 meowthemoue says:

eeh ? atleast the wii bubble STILL didnt burst..
February 3rd, 2008 at 17:53 alphaxion says:

The biggest problem with the Wii is the lack of really stellar games, it's almost a youtube style long tail going on here - you have the few really great games, a steep decline comprising of some alright games and a loooooong tail of derivative rubbish.

I've owned a Wii since its UK release and have had some great laughs with it and love the concept of the device, but there just doesn't seem to be much in the way of staying power when it comes to its games catalog.

Now, if you want to talk about microsoft's and sony's poor judgement you only have to look no further than their estimation of the DS, yet that console has dominated *all* console sales charts and is the true winner of the "next gen" console war!

And out of my Wii, PSP and DS it has been my DS that has seen the greatest amount of playtime.

The saddest tale in recent years isn't the poor sales performance of the 360 and the ps3, but of sega's death spiral in the software market too :(

Stop sullying your once great franchises and spend some money on some creative designers!
February 4th, 2008 at 17:33 Gizmo n00b says:

Has anyone played any games on the WII more than 8 hours straight, and if so how is that body part that actually doing the movements. I had fun playing Wii sports but after a while my arms got tirred of doing anything just to get a punch in Wii boxing.Wii is deffinatly a new-gen system, but for us hardcore gamers who can spend a whole day in playing our favorites title no matter what console its on, I don't think the Wii would be our first choice, but i might be wrong, i'm speaking for myself here.
February 25th, 2008 at 13:02 Jim says:

Wayde, you really seem to think you are better than everyone who comments on here. Heaven forbid someone disagrees with you!
February 25th, 2008 at 13:37 Wayde says:

Sorry you feel that way Jim. I like to think of it as an open dialogue. I don't prevent people from disagreeing in the comments, everybody is entitled to their own opinion, or mine :)
February 25th, 2008 at 20:09 Gizmo n00b says:

The XBox 360 is nothing more than a PC with a dual analog joystick, which is something I already own. And truthfully, it didn't really cost that much more than a 360 either. I should also say that the 360 is a PC with most of its useful features locked out.
Any game I've ever seen on Xbox that I wanted to play had a readily available Windows XP counterpart.
So, I bought a Wii, and I friggin LOVE IT!!!
February 26th, 2008 at 07:04 Gamer Dad says:

As both a father and a gamer, I have had a chance to experience all three console systems. I will have to be honest, I am a fan of the XBox 360. My son managed to get a WII for Christmas from his grandmother and I was looking forward to finally getting to try out this "Next Gen" console. What a disappointment. Why is it that all things Japanese have to look like a cartoon. After playing XBox360, the only thing I could really compare this to is "Pong"! Sure it's the cheapest, that is probably the biggest selling feature. But then if you want to play 2 player you have to buy another Wii mote and Nunchuk for another 70 bucks. If you are between the ages of 5 and 7 this is probably a fun console. But I have talked to several people and they say that after a short while, the thing just collects dust. And if you only want to play one game for the rest of your life, the WII may be for you. There is no way you can say that it is superior to the XBOX360.
February 26th, 2008 at 11:57 Ted says:

Ya know.. I have been around the gaming for quite a while now. PC and playstation (2). I never play them now because I got really sick of learning these games to just do the same old thing game after game. I have been playing WII since Christmas. What a breath of fresh air. What a breakthrough getting away from keyboards and keypads. My 3 yr old able to play a lot of the games for it. It is enough for me. I will not "graduate" to the same old crap. What does some dork from Microsoft know about me? Nuthin'.
May 27th, 2008 at 16:49 dayve says:

i think that they just dont understand. Maybe the loner whom sits on his couch all day and plays videogames will find the wii a mere fade and move on but for those of us whom actually have people over or dont have copious amounts of free time the wii is a refreshing and relaxing way to chill with friends and not worry about getting to level i million by dinner time. By the way i am an eighteen year old microsoft's main target group.

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Wii bubble: Is it about to burst?

41 Responses to “Wii bubble: Is it about to burst?”

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