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CyCo PL · 01-04-2008, 08:20 PM

The GC had more powerful specs than the PS2, but not as powerful as the Xbox. The reason games suffered on the Gamecube was not because of the lack of hardware capability, it was because the PS2 was the leader of the pack, and developers were developing games for PS2 and porting them over to Gamecube. Therefore, the Gamecube suffered from inferior graphics and performance on most ports, regardless of its specifications. The exact same problem is happening with the PS3 right now. Developers are making games for the leader of the hd-capable pack (Xbox 360) and porting them over to the PS3, and the PS3 is suffering despite its superior specifications. This is why many of the launch titles on PS3 that were also on Xbox 360 were inferior looking than their Xbox 360 counterparts.

Back on topic, though. I am extremely frustrated with the Wii. Nintendo has had a history of being a step behind the competition--The N64 was cartridge-based while all of the competitors were CD-based. The Gamecube was CD-based, but used a special format that only allowed compatibility with gamecube games, and didn't allow DVD-playback or any other "perks" associated with running DVD format. The Gamecube also epically failed in executing any kind of online support, even though there was a network adapter for the Gamecube. Nintendo claimed that "people don't want to play games online," which is absolutely ridiculous.

Now, keeping up with tradition, the Wii is technically a step behind the competition. Unlike Nintendo's past console ventures however, the Wii is a huge success. However, the exact same problems that plagued the Gamecube are afflicting the Wii. Like the gamecube, the only games really worth checking out are the first-party big name franchises (mario, zelda, metroid), and the occasional big name third party franchises (resident evil). Also, the Wii has online capabilities, but is very rarely used for actual Wii games. Sure, you can download virtual console games, and there are a few channels like the "Look at Mii" channel that lets you create and vote on Mii contests, and the "Everybody Votes" channel where you... vote on things. This isn't exciting to me, though. Also, despite the fact that the Wii uses a DVD drive for its games, DVD movie playback is not allowed. WHY?

I think that many, if not most, of the people that are purchasing Wiis are not purchasing it with the idea of a gaming platform in mind. They are purchasing it as if it were a toy, and ignoring most of the titles on the console except for the bundled in Wii Sports. There have been approximately 15 million Wiis sold worldwide, but the total sales for Super Mario Galaxy, easily the best game on the console, hasn't even broken 2 million sales. The Xbox 360 has sold approximately 17 million consoles now, and Halo 3 broke 3 million sales within the first couple weeks of release. It's now up to about 8 million.

I think the naiveté of most of the people that currently own Wiis is going to cause Nintendo to stay the course that they've been on for a while--one step behind technologically, one step behind in availability of good games, and one step forward in "innovative" controller design (although, Time Crisis 4 on PS3 proves that pretty much all of the Wiimote's main features can easily be ported to other consoles if you add a sensor bar). The Wii remote is truly an innovation in home console gaming, but it is not a big enough step to cover up the obsolescence of everything else regarding the Wii.

01-04-2008, 08:20 PM	#35 (permalink)
CyCo PL Addict Location: Tulsa, OK	The GC had more powerful specs than the PS2, but not as powerful as the Xbox. The reason games suffered on the Gamecube was not because of the lack of hardware capability, it was because the PS2 was the leader of the pack, and developers were developing games for PS2 and porting them over to Gamecube. Therefore, the Gamecube suffered from inferior graphics and performance on most ports, regardless of its specifications. The exact same problem is happening with the PS3 right now. Developers are making games for the leader of the hd-capable pack (Xbox 360) and porting them over to the PS3, and the PS3 is suffering despite its superior specifications. This is why many of the launch titles on PS3 that were also on Xbox 360 were inferior looking than their Xbox 360 counterparts. Back on topic, though. I am extremely frustrated with the Wii. Nintendo has had a history of being a step behind the competition--The N64 was cartridge-based while all of the competitors were CD-based. The Gamecube was CD-based, but used a special format that only allowed compatibility with gamecube games, and didn't allow DVD-playback or any other "perks" associated with running DVD format. The Gamecube also epically failed in executing any kind of online support, even though there was a network adapter for the Gamecube. Nintendo claimed that "people don't want to play games online," which is absolutely ridiculous. Now, keeping up with tradition, the Wii is technically a step behind the competition. Unlike Nintendo's past console ventures however, the Wii is a huge success. However, the exact same problems that plagued the Gamecube are afflicting the Wii. Like the gamecube, the only games really worth checking out are the first-party big name franchises (mario, zelda, metroid), and the occasional big name third party franchises (resident evil). Also, the Wii has online capabilities, but is very rarely used for actual Wii games. Sure, you can download virtual console games, and there are a few channels like the "Look at Mii" channel that lets you create and vote on Mii contests, and the "Everybody Votes" channel where you... vote on things. This isn't exciting to me, though. Also, despite the fact that the Wii uses a DVD drive for its games, DVD movie playback is not allowed. WHY? I think that many, if not most, of the people that are purchasing Wiis are not purchasing it with the idea of a gaming platform in mind. They are purchasing it as if it were a toy, and ignoring most of the titles on the console except for the bundled in Wii Sports. There have been approximately 15 million Wiis sold worldwide, but the total sales for Super Mario Galaxy, easily the best game on the console, hasn't even broken 2 million sales. The Xbox 360 has sold approximately 17 million consoles now, and Halo 3 broke 3 million sales within the first couple weeks of release. It's now up to about 8 million. I think the naiveté of most of the people that currently own Wiis is going to cause Nintendo to stay the course that they've been on for a while--one step behind technologically, one step behind in availability of good games, and one step forward in "innovative" controller design (although, Time Crisis 4 on PS3 proves that pretty much all of the Wiimote's main features can easily be ported to other consoles if you add a sensor bar). The Wii remote is truly an innovation in home console gaming, but it is not a big enough step to cover up the obsolescence of everything else regarding the Wii.