Tokyo Analyst Predicts the PS3 will Outsell the Wii by 60%

[Mr.Condescension]

Yuta Sakurai, leading analyst at Nomura Securities in Tokyo, who has suggested that the PS3 will outsell the Wii by a bulky 60 percent.

http://palgn.com.au/ (http://palgn.com.au/article.php?title=PS3+set+to+outsell+Wii+by+60%25&id=4985&sid=dc87dc86f8ba355a6b11c16142671a1d)

Developers may love it, and many gamers seem to have already warmed to it, but that won't stop Nintendo's Wii finishing behind Sony's PlayStation 3 in the next-gen battle. That's the view of Yuta Sakurai, leading analyst at Nomura Securities in Tokyo, who has suggested that the PS3 will outsell the Wii by a bulky 60 percent. By 2011, he believes PS3 will have shifted 71 million units, compared to an estimated 40 million units for Wii at the same stage.

Still, it's not all gloom and doom for Nintendo if Sakurai is to be believed - for a start, if his figures do turn out to be correct, it would still mean that Nintendo has made headway into Sony's lead from the current generation of machines. Sakurai also felt the unique appeal of the Wii was attracting game-makers, telling Businessweek that, "Software developers are increasingly interested in creating games for these Nintendo platforms." Nevertheless, his money appears to firmly on Sony's horse, as he rounded off by suggesting, "Hardcore gamers will probably prefer the raw power of PS3. And for all the positive vibes right now, the Wii isn't expected to outsell the PS3."

No need to follow the link...that's the whole article. Interesting to get news of what at least one Japanese investment analyst predicts.

[Cyrano]

Glad to see the Japanese psychics...oops, analysts...can make up stuff out of thin air too. I love the exact figure of 71 millions units, not 70. His crystal ball must run on Cell processors.

[Goronmon]

If he had left the prediction at something like "60%" it would have been a fine. Once you start throwing around actual numbers for sales 5 years into the future, it goes from "prediction" to "I like to pull numbers out of my ass!"

[Doctor Setebos]

For every analyst that predicts one thing, there will be another (or more) that predict the opposite. In this case, I predict we'll see several analysts that predict the opposite. Unfortunatly, we won't know the truth until well after each system is released.

[tombofsoldier]

My own prediction: Nintendo has a chance to beat both the 360 and PS3 this time around. Possible sales total for the Wii: 100 million units.

[Dabombpizza]

Even if the prediction is right, and the PS3 outsells the Wii by 60%, who gives a fuck? By then Nintendo would have more than recouped any losses for R&D, while Sony will will just be breaking into black (at least according to the other article on the front page).

[Eric_T_Cheng]

I don't know about you guys but for $200-$250US pricetag I'll definitely pick up the Wii. For $600US, I'll wait a bit to buy the PS3.

(I didn't pick up a PS2 and an used Xbox until 2004)

[Khash]

I believe the Xbox360 will sell 100million units in Japan alone. See? I can do it, too!

[Oxonian]

Cut the guy some slack. He's supposed to estimate how much profit Sony and Nintendo will make over the next few years (his employer, Nomura, is the largest financial corporation in Japan; sort of a combination of Citigroup and Morgan Stanley here). What do you want him to say? "I know you guys pay me $500,000 a year to predict complex events far in the future, but GOLLY, anything I say will be little more than a guess!"

Everyone who is supposed to read this guy's predictions knows that they should be taken with a block of salt. If the actual numbers turn out to be within 25% of this prediction, he'll be hailed as an oracle.

[zokrath]

Assuming a loss of $200 per ps3, a midrange from various estimates, and a profit for Sony of $10 a game, in line with ps2 profits, Sony will need to sell 20 full price games per system to break even on the console itself. If the development process cost a mere one billion, 70 million systems means 15 additional full-priced, non-used games per system.

Meanwhile Nintendo will at the very least be breaking even on the Wii, and will start making a profit per system as its lifespan continues. The development cost is no doubt miniscule compared to the PS3, as it is largely improvements upon proven Gamecube technology. Furthermore, Wii games will have lower development costs, manufacturing costs, and probably even advertising costs, as innovative Wiimote usage will automatically generate interest and news articles. And the virtual console is pure profit.

Marketshare is a secondary statistic. Profit is the only measure of success. Sony has established a tremendous marketshare, but they squandered this advantage trying to impress their loyal base by raising the hardware bar, instead of trying to profit from them.

Games such as Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy will sell a great deal of PS3s, but a fair percentage of those buyers iwll probably not buy many more games. The Wii episodes of those franchises will be much more profitable for Nintendo than the PS3 ones for Sony.

[JazGalaxy]

"Playstation 3 will bury Nintnedo! You know how I know? Playstation 3 came back through time and TELL me it bury Nintendo! That the power of the cell processor!" -Ken Kutaragi

[H.Bogard]

An opinion is like an asshole... everyone's got one.

[RMan]

Yea, analysts aren’t often going to go out on a limb with the Wii, it’s far better to copy and paste previous market results and be wrong than to go out on a limb and be wrong. Those that understand the market will not be surprised by the Wii’s success.

[Tolkoto]

Hardcore gamers will probably prefer the raw power of PS3.

I know many hardcore gamers that would dissagree. If anything, Sony has an initial advantage with casual gamers thanks to the PS2's massive popularity with that group of gamers.

[Plays4Pants]

Assuming a loss of $200 per ps3, a midrange from various estimates, and a profit for Sony of $10 a game, in line with ps2 profits, Sony will need to sell 20 full price games per system to break even on the console itself. If the development process cost a mere one billion, 70 million systems means 15 additional full-priced, non-used games per system.

Meanwhile Nintendo will at the very least be breaking even on the Wii, and will start making a profit per system as its lifespan continues. The development cost is no doubt miniscule compared to the PS3, as it is largely improvements upon proven Gamecube technology. Furthermore, Wii games will have lower development costs, manufacturing costs, and probably even advertising costs, as innovative Wiimote usage will automatically generate interest and news articles. And the virtual console is pure profit.

Marketshare is a secondary statistic. Profit is the only measure of success. Sony has established a tremendous marketshare, but they squandered this advantage trying to impress their loyal base by raising the hardware bar, instead of trying to profit from them.

Games such as Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy will sell a great deal of PS3s, but a fair percentage of those buyers iwll probably not buy many more games. The Wii episodes of those franchises will be much more profitable for Nintendo than the PS3 ones for Sony.

ding ding ding ;)

[51|RandoM]

Nomura isn't just in Japan, they've got a huge NYC presence as well, fyi.

On topic, I think the Wii hype is setting a bunch of us up for disappointment. The new control scheme looks really interesting, but I'm not sure it is something I'm going to want to deal with for an entire game. If I use a regular gamecube controller, I've just reduced the Wii to a gamecube refresh.

I hope I'm wrong, I don't want to turn in my Nintendo fanboy card anytime soon.

[Kamalot]

Is this one of the many analysits that predicted the PSP would trounce Nintendo in the handheld arena and lift handheld gaming out of the gutter?

[Dabombpizza]

"Playstation 3 will bury Nintnedo! You know how I know? Playstation 3 came back through time and TELL me it bury Nintendo! That the power of the cell processor!" -Ken Kutaragi
The sad thing is I can see him saying that.

[Kamalot]

Even if the prediction is right, and the PS3 outsells the Wii by 60%, who gives a fuck? By then Nintendo would have more than recouped any losses for R&D, while Sony will will just be breaking into black (at least according to the other article on the front page).
Oh my. I hadn't considered that.

[Stric9]

My own prediction: Nintendo has a chance to beat both the 360 and PS3 this time around. Possible sales total for the Wii: 100 million units.

I predict the Wii won't do much better than the Gamecube. Truthfully I and pretty much every adult I know has no desire to wave around a wand to control a game. I think they are limiting their audience significantly with the controller. Further I can't really see third party support being any better than it was for the cube when a developer will have to basically redesign the entire control scheme of their game to port it to the Wii.

[Siraris]

I think everyone is thinking that since the DS is selling so well, this will translate to really strong Wii sales. Remember, the GBA and the SP sold astonishingly well, and still does, while the Gamecube was a flop sales wise(in many peoples minds, compared to the PS2).

The handheld sector has always been owned by Nintendo, and with the lack of PSP games up until this point, there really is only one choice for buying handheld games. The home console market is different, with Sony and Microsoft involved. We'll see when Wii comes out, but I think people have come to associate Nintendo with handhelds, and Sony/Microsoft with home consoles.

It would be interesting to see what the handheld numbers would be like if there were actually any games for the PSP. It will also be interesting to see what happens this fall.

[JazGalaxy]

Nomura isn't just in Japan, they've got a huge NYC presence as well, fyi.

On topic, I think the Wii hype is setting a bunch of us up for disappointment. The new control scheme looks really interesting, but I'm not sure it is something I'm going to want to deal with for an entire game. If I use a regular gamecube controller, I've just reduced the Wii to a gamecube refresh.

I hope I'm wrong, I don't want to turn in my Nintendo fanboy card anytime soon.

I guess I don't understand people of this opinion. We have an arcade by my house that's kind of like a Dave and Busters or something. Absolutely nothing in the arcade is above Gamecube level visuals, and yet it's always jam packed with peopel playing games. Old games. Why? Becuase almost every game features a unique interface that is fun to play. Driving games with steering wheels, drumming games wiht drum sets, guitar games with guitars, shooting games with lightguns... etc.

Sony has for some dumb reason convinced people that gaming should be like television, when that is not it's history or even, in my opinion, the most fun way to experiance the medium. Just becuase it's what sony has put out for a decade doesn't mean it's the way it should be.

Half the people in the arcade would not sit down and play Metal Gear Solid 3, but they will get up and dance, shoot, fish, box, and golf.

The bottom line is that nerds have made the next gen console war about features and numbers, and I don't belive the general populace will see it that way. This is the scenario: Microsoft is selling games as a lifestyle. Sony is selling games as "Interactive Entertainment" (with little to no focus on gameplay in the traditional sense). Nintendo is selling games as... well... GAMES. I think they will sell units respective to those concepts.

[Siraris]

I guess I don't understand people of this opinion. We have an arcade by my house that's kind of like a Dave and Busters or something. Absolutely nothing in the arcade is above Gamecube level visuals, and yet it's always jam packed with peopel playing games. Old games. Why? Becuase almost every game features a unique interface that is fun to play. Driving games with steering wheels, drumming games wiht drum sets, guitar games with guitars, shooting games with lightguns... etc.

Sony has for some dumb reason convinced people that gaming should be like television, when that is not it's history or even, in my opinion, the most fun way to experiance the medium. Just becuase it's what sony has put out for a decade doesn't mean it's the way it should be.

Half the people in the arcade would not sit down and play Metal Gear Solid 3, but they will get up and dance, shoot, fish, box, and golf.

The bottom line is that nerds have made the next gen console war about features and numbers, and I don't belive the general populace will see it that way. This is the scenario: Microsoft is selling games as a lifestyle. Sony is selling games as "Interactive Entertainment" (with little to no focus on gameplay in the traditional sense). Nintendo is selling games as... well... GAMES. I think they will sell units respective to those concepts.


The arcade near your house must be an anomaly, because arcades are utterly dead around the globe. I can't explain why this arcade near your house is different, but I know that most arcades that still exist around here are filled with teenagers looking for someone to go on the weekend.

And I don't think Sony has convinced anyone that playing games should be like TV. Companies go with ideas that sell, and up until the Wii - and we have no guarantee that the Wii will sell well either - the games that have sold were the games that has sold over 200 million Playstation systems, as well as tens of millions of XBox's and PC games.

The thing that most people don't realize, because they don't have a business sense, is that Sony CAN'T do what Nintendo does at this point. Nintendo answers to itself, whereas Sony answers to its shareholders. Sony has to go with what works, while trying to innovate where it can while not scaring away customers. Microsoft has to do the same, and so does almost every single other major corporation in the world.

If Nintendo made games, microwaves, TV's, MP3 players, cars, and stereos, we would probably not see a game controller like the Wii for a long time. That's the great thing about keeping your business small and specialized, you can do what you want and make your own decisions.

[JazGalaxy]

I disagree that Sony hasn't tried to convince gamers that games should be like TV. "Interactive Entertainment" is their bread and butter. Nearly every single hit game on the Playstation is a hit for reasons other than simple gameplay. Gran Turismo gets attention not for it's gameplay, but for the number of cars it licenses and for the car models in the game. Car enthusist "gamers" care more about the "Car fantasy" aspect than actual gameplay. Final Fantasy gets attention not for it's gameplay but for it's "story" and most usually it's cut scenes. The same with Metal Gear Solid, and up until recently, Resident Evil. The concept of cinematic gaming... or games as movies... is almost uniquely a Playstation concept.

Sony's focus is publicaly stated to be on providing "digital entertainment" that's not necessarily games.

[Siraris]

I disagree that Sony hasn't tried to convince gamers that games should be like TV. "Interactive Entertainment" is their bread and butter. Nearly every single hit game on the Playstation is a hit for reasons other than simple gameplay. Gran Turismo gets attention not for it's gameplay, but for the number of cars it licenses and for the car models in the game. Car enthusist "gamers" care more about the "Car fantasy" aspect than actual gameplay. Final Fantasy gets attention not for it's gameplay but for it's "story" and most usually it's cut scenes. The same with Metal Gear Solid, and up until recently, Resident Evil. The concept of cinematic gaming... or games as movies... is almost uniquely a Playstation concept.

Sony's focus is publicaly stated to be on providing "digital entertainment" that's not necessarily games.

Gran Turismo is dubbed the realistic driving simulator, and known for it's physics and how realistic the driving experience is. On top of that, is the licensed cars. And from Gran Turismo's sales, as well as my experiences with the game, I think they are doing an extremely good job with the gameplay.

As for Final Fantasy, it has always been mostly about story, that's what most RPG's are based on. I don't know if you are old enough to remember, but Final Fantasy originated on Nintendo, and stayed there until Playstation 1.

MGS is very much about the gameplay, but it is also very much about the story.

And Resident Evil falls in line with MGS, having a great, albeit campy story. I also woudln't call any RE game a tour-de-force in gameplay, being mostly a character running around (controlling like a tank) and pressing a button to shoot or chop a zombie to bits.

If Nintendo does what you are arguing, I wouldn't want to play any games on the Wii. I play games for the story, for the gameplay, and for the overall experience. If I want to play something without a story that is pure gameplay, I'll go do it in real life. I can go take care of a dog, or buy a sudoko book in real life, I don't need to spend $250 to do it on my TV.

While gameplay is important, story is just as important. Games are about immersing yourself in an environment that you cannot be in yourself. Living out fantasies of fighting in World War 2 or alongside knights in the crusades. Granted, I love playing a game of MVP on my PS2, but that's because I can't go out and play major league baseball, or be the general manager of a professional team.

People talk about gameplay gameplay gameplay, but very few pure gameplay games can be successful without a strong story to back it up. If it ever turns out that games go the way of being simulators of things you can easily do in real life and not immersive experiences in a beautfiul story world doing things that you could only dream of, I'll definitely cash in my gamer card and go read some books.

[Johan]

Once you start throwing around actual numbers for sales 5 years into the future, it goes from "prediction" to"I like to pull numbers out of my ass!"

That analyst must be in serious pain over that, too ;)

Remember, you can't spell analyst without anal...

[bean19]

If he had left the prediction at something like "60%" it would have been a fine. Once you start throwing around actual numbers for sales 5 years into the future, it goes from "prediction" to "I like to pull numbers out of my ass!"

Or maybe he has source data that he explains in his analysis and uses to predict the results. . . you know, like analysts do.

In any case, you can't really talk about someone's predictions being stupid or great unless you read the source material. . . stories on analysis that show the results of the analysis only are annoying.

[Rook34]

First off, by 2011 there will probably be new systems on the scene. Second, if the PS3 sells poorly on launch and can't get into the hands of all the gamers it needs to, publishers may pass on developing for it, which slows the speed of gamers buying the system and...it's a big circle of doom. We'll just have to see how it goes.
As far as the wii goes, with as much hype as it has so far it will sell well, maybe even fantastically well. I agree that it may be overhyped at this point though and I hope not. But I don't think it will plateuo (sp?) either. If they market it as a system anyone can play, which is their plan, they may do very, very well. They need a crack marketing and advertising team to do this though and Nintendo doesn't have a great record of spending money to make money. They kind of like to keep their money to themselves and advertise only the sure fire stuff which was already going to sell well (like Zelda, etc.)
Again, we will have to watch and see.

[Kamalot]

Gran Turismo is dubbed the realistic driving simulator, and known for it's physics and how realistic the driving experience is. On top of that, is the licensed cars. And from Gran Turismo's sales, as well as my experiences with the game, I think they are doing an extremely good job with the gameplay.

As for Final Fantasy, it has always been mostly about story, that's what most RPG's are based on. I don't know if you are old enough to remember, but Final Fantasy originated on Nintendo, and stayed there until Playstation 1.

MGS is very much about the gameplay, but it is also very much about the story.

And Resident Evil falls in line with MGS, having a great, albeit campy story. I also woudln't call any RE game a tour-de-force in gameplay, being mostly a character running around (controlling like a tank) and pressing a button to shoot or chop a zombie to bits.

If Nintendo does what you are arguing, I wouldn't want to play any games on the Wii. I play games for the story, for the gameplay, and for the overall experience. If I want to play something without a story that is pure gameplay, I'll go do it in real life. I can go take care of a dog, or buy a sudoko book in real life, I don't need to spend $250 to do it on my TV.

While gameplay is important, story is just as important. Games are about immersing yourself in an environment that you cannot be in yourself. Living out fantasies of fighting in World War 2 or alongside knights in the crusades. Granted, I love playing a game of MVP on my PS2, but that's because I can't go out and play major league baseball, or be the general manager of a professional team.

People talk about gameplay gameplay gameplay, but very few pure gameplay games can be successful without a strong story to back it up. If it ever turns out that games go the way of being simulators of things you can easily do in real life and not immersive experiences in a beautfiul story world doing things that you could only dream of, I'll definitely cash in my gamer card and go read some books.Darn! Games like Metroid, Fire Emblem, Zelda, Resident Evil, and Eternal Darkness won't work on Wii cause there won't be any atmosphere, story or character.

Sux!

[Kamalot]

The thing that most people don't realize, because they don't have a business sense, is that Sony CAN'T do what Nintendo does at this point. Nintendo answers to itself, whereas Sony answers to its shareholders. Sony has to go with what works, while trying to innovate where it can while not scaring away customers. Microsoft has to do the same, and so does almost every single other major corporation in the world.Are you saying Nintendo does not have shareholders? You say "Sony has to go with what works, while trying to innovate where it can while not scaring away customers." Isn't that exaclt what Nintendo is doing too? If Nintendo scared away its customers, they cound't stay in business by making plasma TVs and digital cameras the way Sony does. Sony has more of a corporate safety net and, therefore, has MORE room to innovate instead of less.

I don't see how you can give Nintendo a "Innovate Without Risk" card.

[Siraris]

Are you saying Nintendo does not have shareholders? You say "Sony has to go with what works, while trying to innovate where it can while not scaring away customers." Isn't that exaclt what Nintendo is doing too? If Nintendo scared away its customers, they cound't stay in business by making plasma TVs and digital cameras the way Sony does. Sony has more of a corporate safety net and, therefore, has MORE room to innovate instead of less.

I don't see how you can give Nintendo a "Innovate Without Risk" card.

If you don't understand that Nintendo is able to take substantially greater risks that Sony, well, that's pretty sad.

[Rook34]

If you don't understand that Nintendo is able to take substantially greater risks that Sony, well, that's pretty sad.

You should explain it then because I don't understand either. Nintendo stands just as much if not more to lose than Sony, being they are smaller than Sony.

[bean19]

You should explain it then because I don't understand either. Nintendo stands just as much if not more to lose than Sony, being they are smaller than Sony.

It's not about potential risk but in meeting buyer expectations. Sony had the most successful console by leaps and bounds this generation. Their fanbase expects a similar library of games from the console.

The Gamecube, while profitable, had very few games made for it, but the excellent and iconic Nintendo first party games were mostly very good (I didn't care for Mario Sunshine and would have like a more traditional Mario platformer).

This means that the Gamecube's loyal fanbase's expectation is to get more high quality gameplay from Nintendo first-party games. Anything that Nintendo can do in surplus of that exceeds expectations, so taking a risk on a controller that may prove to be a gimmick (PLEASE GOD LET IT BE FUN AND NOT A GIMMICK *crosses fingers), is something that they could do.

Can you imagine how people would react if they found out that they had to play MGS or Final Fantasy with the Wii controller? (Actually, FF might be really fun - I'm looking to both of these games. . . FF may be the game that gets me to get a PS3 as I think the console will be affordable in 2008. . . hopefully.)

[ArchVile]

I dont know why they bother releasing these these analyst reports to the public, it just brings out the inner fanboy in everyone.

Overall i think that the 360 will come out on top due to it being affordable and having decent graphics, the PS3 will definitley see poor sales this Christmas due to the price tag, but i expect it to pick up after the inevitable price cut (hopefully when MGS4/GTAIV comes out), and the Wii will probably end up in the same position as the GameCube was in the last generation of consoles.

I dont know a single person (offline) who wants a Wii, they all think its just a gimmick and due to it being Nintendo they dont want any of the games (i'm not saying this, its my friends at college that seem to think that the games on Nintendo consoles are for kids, whereas i will play anything as long as its got decent gameplay). Parents who are thinking of buying a new console for their child this christmas will just take one look at the Wii's graphics and go for the 360/PS3 due to it looking better,unfortunately this is how non gaming parents see things.

I'm highly surprised at the amount of support that the Wii has received online just because it's different, i'd bet when it finally comes down to it, those same people who were saying "Its t3h Roxxorz" will probably just buy a 360/PS3...

For the record, i'm not anti Nintendo or anything, that would just be childish, its just the way i see this generation of "The War of the Consoles" playing out.

[Kamalot]

I dont know a single person (offline) who wants a Wii, they all think its just a gimmick and due to it being Nintendo they dont want any of the games (i'm not saying this, its my friends at college that seem to think that the games on Nintendo consoles are for kids, whereas i will play anything as long as its got decent gameplay). Parents who are thinking of buying a new console for their child this christmas will just take one look at the Wii's graphics and go for the 360/PS3 due to it looking better,unfortunately this is how non gaming parents see things.I was at Toys R us today and all the employees were telling customers about the Wii. It was great to hear people so excited about gaming again. Parents left the store looking forward to the upcoming holiday season.

I don't know where you live, but everyone I've met who is even moderately interested in video games is interested in Wii.

I took Ms. Kamalot out for Thai the other night and listened to the gentleman across from us talk about it to his date.

Wii has captured the imagination of a lot of people.

[bean19]

I was at Toys R us today and all the employees were telling customers about the Wii. It was great to hear people so excited about gaming again. Parents left the store looking forward to the upcoming holiday season.

I don't know where you live, but everyone I've met who is even moderately interested in video games is interested in Wii.

I took Ms. Kamalot out for Thai the other night and listened to the gentleman across from us talk about it to his date.

Wii has captured the imagination of a lot of people.

Oh good lord. . . Wii saved the orphanage too.

Okay, it's official. Even when I really like a console, I'm annoyed by fanboys.

[ArchVile]

To be honest, if i started talking about a games console to a girl while we were having a meal in a restaurant, i wouldn't be at all surprised if she got up a left...

[Kamalot]

Hey, true story. You can ask Ms. Kamalot.

[bean19]

Hey, true story. You can ask Ms. Kamalot.

I'll do that tomorrow morning when I kick her out.

[Rook34]

I dont know a single person (offline) who wants a Wii, they all think its just a gimmick and due to it being Nintendo they dont want any of the games (i'm not saying this, its my friends at college that seem to think that the games on Nintendo consoles are for kids, whereas i will play anything as long as its got decent gameplay). Parents who are thinking of buying a new console for their child this christmas will just take one look at the Wii's graphics and go for the 360/PS3 due to it looking better,unfortunately this is how non gaming parents see things.

I work at a Gamestop so my views of it all may be slightly aschew being that it's a destination store for gamers, but I get at least 5 people a day asking when they can reserve it or they are talking about it. 5 may not be much, you might say, but we are a brand new store, only 3 weeks old. And as far as the parent picking out the better system, I know a lot of parents who shop in this order: Price, brand name, looks/games. Being that price is usually first ("you can -want- this all you want, Jimmy, but it's too expensive and you're not getting it!"), and the Nintendo brand name, though stipulated as kiddish has never been tarnished, and the games are well known and genuinely fun (and available at launch!), Nintendo could very well pull ahead of Sony. But that's just an opinion based off of what we have in front of us right now, which is all hype and theories.

[Rook34]

I'll do that tomorrow morning when I kick her out.

LOL! bean19 FTW!

[ArchVile]

I was at Toys R us today and all the employees were telling customers about the Wii. It was great to hear people so excited about gaming again. Parents left the store looking forward to the upcoming holiday season.

I also have a slight problem with that paragraph, why would employees at Toys R' Us be telling people to wait for the Wii? Wouldn't they be trying to get cutomers to buy a released console so that they can get a sale? Telling people to wait for another unreleased and cheaper product is a pretty quick way to get fired...No sales = No job in most stores. I'm not really an Xbox kind of guy, but if i was working at Toys R' Us i'd probably be trying to get every interested person to buy one because its the most expensive.

Telling people to wait for a Wii in a dedicated Games store is fine, but i just really cant see that happening in Toys R' Us.

And Rock34, i agree that most parents of younger children would pull the "Its too bloody expensive, i'm not made of money!" trick, but when i said about nobody i knew wanting a Wii i'm talking about people who are around my age at College (i.e. 17-21 year olds) who have jobs and can afford to buy what they want.

[Sl1pstream]

I also have a slight problem with that paragraph, why would employees at Toys R' Us be telling people to wait for the Wii? Wouldn't they be trying to get cutomers to buy a released console so that they can get a sale? Telling people to wait for another unreleased and cheaper product is a pretty quick way to get fired...No sales = No job in most stores. I'm not really an Xbox kind of guy, but if i was working at Toys R' Us i'd probably be trying to get every interested person to buy one because its the most expensive.

Telling people to wait for a Wii in a dedicated Games store is fine, but i just really cant see that happening in Toys R' Us.

Why would that be impossible? I told someone the exact same thing a few weeks ago. Happy customers usually come back, there's no use making someone buy an expensive system when there are no games that are suited for their kids. When someone asks me what to buy, I usually tell them what I like instead of the things that bring in the most money. If you can't be honest about those things, there's no fun in it.

[Kamalot]

I also have a slight problem with that paragraph, why would employees at Toys R' Us be telling people to wait for the Wii? Wouldn't they be trying to get cutomers to buy a released console so that they can get a sale? Telling people to wait for another unreleased and cheaper product is a pretty quick way to get fired...No sales = No job in most stores. I'm not really an Xbox kind of guy, but if i was working at Toys R' Us i'd probably be trying to get every interested person to buy one because its the most expensive.
Well, from what I witnessed, the Toys R Us employees didn't stop anyone from buying anything. They would see someone come up to the counter in the games department with a game or an accessory and say, "Have you heard about Nintendo's upcoming console, the Wii?" much in the same way people are asked to pre-order things at GameStop. The employees were talking among themselves about Wii between customers, so they seemed generally excited about it. Maybe I happened to be there at an odd time, but that's what I saw.

Not once did they ever discourage anyone from buying something or tell them to wait, holding off on the purchase till this fall. You are right, that would be dumb. It also isn't what I saw or said in my earlier post.

[bean19]

And then everyone from Toys R Us came back to my house and we all had sex in the shower. :)

Kamalot - I actually don't think you are lying, though it may be a bit of hyperbole (EVERYONE in the store talked about it?) Still, that's not important. My problem, as you know, is that I find the lack of skepticism for the Wii annoying. If it is amazing and fun after it comes out and I get my hands on it, then you'll find me putting on my pom-poms and joining you, but until then I find the cheers annoying.

And now for an Evil Avatar skit:

bean: Will the controller actually be fun or play as well for traditional games?

Kamalot: OMG ZELDA 4 TEH WIN!

bean: How much will the system cost exactly?

Kamalot: GALACTIC MARIO GUNNA BEAM YUZ UP BEEYATCH!!!

bean: Is Nintendo more focused on gaining 3rd party support so that the system doesn't collect dust between first-party releases?

Kamalot: METROID PRIME! SAMUS IS MY GIRLFRIEND! SHE COULD KILL MASTERCHIEF AND SOLID SNAKE WITH HER HANDS BEHIND HER BACK!

bean: Is the online model always on because it is P2P? Will I have either horrible download rates or have to have my system working overtime to whore out ads?

Kamalot: ESTA BUENO WARIO DANDE! CERVESAS PARA MI WARIO WAREZ!

bean: I like the console too but you must die.

*gunshots*

-fin-

[Kamalot]

What a farce!

I don't speak Spanish!

[Kamalot]

On a slightly more serious note, The 1st party games already announced justify the $250 price point for me. I have yet to play a Zelda, Metroid or Fire Emblem game that wasn't top-notch.

Wii could turn out like GameCube this generation; a few amazing first-party games that you can't get anywhere else, abd I'd be happy. If it revolutionizes gameplay, all the better. My point is that, based on the history of Nintendo'd first-party games, I don't see any reason NOT to get Wii.

Now maybe the online plan will suck, or maybe the 3rd party games won't be there, or maybe the controller is stupid aside from a few implementations. Regardless, I'll get a handful of 1st party masterpieces and the system is only $250 (or less). It isn't like I am being asked to pay twice that ($500-$600) for Wii. If I was, I would have serious questions to answer.

Most of your questions are answered by picking up Wii as a 2nd system.

Will the controller actually be fun or play as well for traditional games?

Who in their right mind would buy a Wii for traditional games? People want Wii because it is different. If you want traditional games, get a traditional console.

How much will the system cost exactly?

Why do you need to know EXACTLY? We do know that it is less than $250. If you save up $250, you'll be able to buy Wii.

Is Nintendo more focused on gaining 3rd party support so that the system doesn't collect dust between first-party releases?

Couldn't tell you, but for me, it does not matter. For the low price point and the quality of Nintendo's 1st party games, I'm there.

Is the online model always on because it is P2P? Will I have either horrible download rates or have to have my system working overtime to whore out ads?

If you want the best online model, pick up an Xbox 360. Sony won't be able to top it in a single generation, and neither will Nintendo. Xbox Live is the best experience online, bar none. Judging from the reaction that Nintendo's Friend Codes got with the DS, I suspect that Nintendo's Wii online model will be received with similar disdain from people on Evil Avatar.

So, while we don't know everything there is to know about Wii, there is enough that we DO know to get excited.

[bean19]

It's funnier when I supply both sides of the conversation.

[Kamalot]

It's funnier when I supply both sides of the conversation.
Yeah, it is also fiction.

[Rook34]

Kamalot: ESTA BUENO WARIO DANDE! CERVESAS PARA MI WARIO WAREZ!


"Hahaaa! You're speaking Spanish!" -Kenny Blankenship, MXC

I have to say I agree with Kamalot. It's good to have a tiny bit of skepticism though. My view on it though is that the whole draw of the sytem is that it is entiresly based around a new way of playing - you can bet that Nintendo will make damn sure to make it work properly all the time. I think it will be a great little system, I just hope that it catches on well and doesn't become a one trick pony.

[Chameleo]

I dont know a single person (offline) who wants a Wii, they all think its just a gimmick and due to it being Nintendo they dont want any of the games (i'm not saying this, its my friends at college that seem to think that the games on Nintendo consoles are for kids, whereas i will play anything as long as its got decent gameplay). Parents who are thinking of buying a new console for their child this christmas will just take one look at the Wii's graphics and go for the 360/PS3 due to it looking better,unfortunately this is how non gaming parents see things.



are you fucking serious?!

do you think 'non gaming parents' give a FUCK about graphics?! all they care about is price. i don't know ANY parents (present or past) who would say to themselves "well the Wii is kind of different but has crappier graphics, so I'm going to buy an xbox360/ps3 for my billy."

no way.

[Chameleo]

I also have a slight problem with that paragraph, why would employees at Toys R' Us be telling people to wait for the Wii?

did he say the employees were telling customers to wait for the wii?

reading comprehension 101: "about" =/= "wait for".

[ArchVile]

do you think 'non gaming parents' give a FUCK about graphics?!

In fact YES, i think they do, i can think of a few examples where two parents bought an Xbox for the sole reason that it had the best graphics out of the last gen consoles (they probably thought it would be future proof for longer than the PS2/GC and be cheaper in the long run), my next door neighbours bought one for their two sons, and the price evidentally had nothing to do with it because the father is a cheapskate who barely spends a penny unless its neccessary...If it would have been down to the price he would surely have gone for the £70 GameCube.

Another example is my cousins dad who bought an N64 over a PlayStation PURELY because it had better graphics (Dont know what the price of the N64 was, but it was probably more expensive than the PS1).

And for the record, he said they were "telling customers about the Wii", if an employee is telling a potential customer about the Wii, isn't that just the same as trying to get them to wait for it? They might not be saying "WAIT FOR THE Wii!!!" but they are putting the idea in their head.

Shit, even MY parents looked at graphics over price when it came to buying me a games console...

I've been in GAME plenty of times when a parent has been looking to buy a console for little Jimmy, and they always seem to look at what looks better on the back of the games cases or whats on the big TV in the store.

I can't be bothered to get into an argument here with you dk, i'm just saying that not all non gaming parents go for cheapness over graphics.

[bean19]

There will be parents on all sides of this. I think parents of younger children will buy the Wii because of Nintendo's kiddy rep and line-up while older children will ask for a 360 because their friend Bobby has a 360 and they want to play Gears of War together (or whatever), or because the teenager will ask for the PS3 because as a teenager they probably are not sophisticated to know that most expensive does not equal the best.

[Kamalot]

And for the record, he said they were "telling customers about the Wii", if an employee is telling a potential customer about the Wii, isn't that just the same as trying to get them to wait for it? They might not be saying "WAIT FOR THE Wii!!!" but they are putting the idea in their head.Putting an idea in someone's head does not always mean, "Wait for it." It could mean, "Look for it." :rolleyes:

[Chameleo]

In fact YES, i think they do, i can think of a few examples where two parents bought an Xbox for the sole reason that it had the best graphics out of the last gen consoles (they probably thought it would be future proof for longer than the PS2/GC and be cheaper in the long run), my next door neighbours bought one for their two sons, and the price evidentally had nothing to do with it because the father is a cheapskate who barely spends a penny unless its neccessary...If it would have been down to the price he would surely have gone for the £70 GameCube.

Another example is my cousins dad who bought an N64 over a PlayStation PURELY because it had better graphics (Dont know what the price of the N64 was, but it was probably more expensive than the PS1).

And for the record, he said they were "telling customers about the Wii", if an employee is telling a potential customer about the Wii, isn't that just the same as trying to get them to wait for it? They might not be saying "WAIT FOR THE Wii!!!" but they are putting the idea in their head.

Shit, even MY parents looked at graphics over price when it came to buying me a games console...

I've been in GAME plenty of times when a parent has been looking to buy a console for little Jimmy, and they always seem to look at what looks better on the back of the games cases or whats on the big TV in the store.

I can't be bothered to get into an argument here with you dk, i'm just saying that not all non gaming parents go for cheapness over graphics.


well i know LOTS of parents of kids who DO buy the cheapest out there! even more than you! i swear it! *crossing my heart*

and telling someone about the Wii is information - not an invitation to wait.

what are you - 17?

[Roc Ingersol]

This just in: Japanese Analysts make shit up too.