“I’ve played a Nintendo Wii. I don’t see it as a competitor. It’s more of an expensive niche game device.” - Howard Stringer, CEO of Sony
I don’t actually like the Wii from the perspective of myself as a games player, but that’s not because I’m too mainstream for it or whatnot. I’m more of a 360/PS3/PC gaming guy because I’m into hardcore niches (Rock Band and my most-unmanly love of Viva Pinata aside). Takes some odd logic to portray the console that’s outsold the PS3 by a margin of about 2.3:1 as the niche option of the two.
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July 14th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Pentharian
Well, he’s right in a way.
While Wii is most certainly not just “an expensive niche game device,” it’s not necessarily designed to be in direct competition with PS3 or 360. It’s outselling them and I don’t think that’s going to slow down too soon as they’re predicting, but it’s more because it has wide appeal.
Bioshock is amazing, as is Oblivion, both of which I ravenously consumed on a friend’s 360. But your grandma is not going to play Bioshock with you (well, she couldn’t even if she wanted to, seeing as how it’s 1 player).
I do own a wii that I got as a gift, and I quite enjoy it. No, it doesn’t have quite as many award winning games as 360. It doesn’t have GTA4 or Metal Gear Solid, nor does it (unfortunately) have a very good online service. However, it has a good number of games that you can play alone or with friends, and plenty of other good one player games. I spent hours and hours doing everything I could on both Mario Galaxy and Paper Mario. Even though it was originally for PS2, I’ve been playing Okami for weeks now, and loving it. Zelda is never something to miss.
It’s just a different experience.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Matt
It’s definitely a different experience - a much more mainstream one rather than a more niche one. The Wii is kicking ass and taking names.
July 14th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Doogal
As a PC gamer, I stayed away from consoles (last one was a PS1). The Wii brought me back to console gaming and it is the only console I own. I bought it because it is something the whole family can play and enjoy together. It is what games should be, fun. Anybody can just pick up a controller and get involved.
I’m just waiting for the game makers to take advantage of it. I want a non-crippled rock band damn it.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Matt
What’s wrong with Rock Band on the Wii? I only have it on the 360.
July 14th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Pentharian
A lot. The DLC is bad or non-existent, and there’s supposedly a bunch of problems with the drums (which doesn’t makes sense since they should have fixed it after the original ones were broken).
From what I’ve read, though, GHIV for Wii is supposed to be almost identical to the PS3 and 360 versions.
July 15th, 2008 at 9:08 am
wowpanda
I think wii is targeted to kids, but a lot of lazy adults are now using it as their exercise machine.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Gene
“I’ve played a Nintendo Wii. I don’t see it as a competitor. It’s more of an expensive niche game device.”
CEO’s of large public companies seem obligated to say stuff that even they know isn’t true just to avoid admitting that the competition has landed a few punches. I’d love to be a fly on the wall in the Sony boardroom right now - likely a full contact sport.