VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

[pk500]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

That is the ultimate question really ... Personally, I could care less about the wand like controller and see it as a negative for me.

Since the Wii is designed around a controller in which you have no interest, price shouldn't be a question at all. If you're not interested in the controller, which is the Wii's distinguishing "hook," then you're better off sticking with the 360.

Better to spend $300 (360 Premium after price drop, hopefully) on something you'll like and use than $200 on something you'll dislike and let collect dust.

Take care,
PK

[mgoblue]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

Since the Wii is designed around a controller in which you have no interest, price shouldn't be a question at all. If you're not interested in the controller, which is the Wii's distinguishing "hook," then you're better off sticking with the 360.

Better to spend $300 (360 Premium after price drop, hopefully) on something you'll like and use than $200 on something you'll dislike and let collect dust.

Take care,
PK

exactly, because Madden and whatnot will be less graphically enhanced on Wii, because the Wii's going for innovation, not graphical dominance.

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

A leading industry analyst and an EA executive both were quoted this week as saying the Wii would cost the equivalent of about US $170 in Japan.

I think the US price will be $199. Keeps the sticker under that magical $200 barrier, really giving the Wii a clear price edge over the 360 and PS3. If the price was $249, it only would be $50 less than the Xbox 360 Core, not a big difference to Mommy and Daddy who know little about video games while shopping for little Johnny.

But when June and Ward see a new console with a 1 as the first digit in the price, their eyeballs might pop and wallets open.

Just a thought.

Take care,
PK

If the Wii prices at $200 in the US this holiday season I can see a lot of parents going with that purchase over a $500-600 PS3. If it's $100 better than the 360 it's going to do well there as well. Don't forget that the X-factor this year may be that families should have less disposable income because of rising gas and heating costs. That extra $500-1000 that everyone is spending on fuel this year has to cut into people's spending habbits at some point. I can definitely see a lot of parents looking around, realizing that a lot of games will be out for all three systems, and saying that it doesn't make sense to pay 3x the cost for a PS3 when the Wii will play many of the same games.

Besides, the Wii looks to be pretty awesome, and Ninty tries to avoid doing things to piss off it's consumer base... like charge for what should be standard features in games.

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

exactly, because Madden and whatnot will be less graphically enhanced on Wii, because the Wii's going for innovation, not graphical dominance.

Not exactly a bad thing either - I tend to favor gameplay over graphics and if the system has weaker graphics games are going to need tight gameplay to sell. It's like the exact opposite is happening on some 360 games...

[pk500]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

If the Wii prices at $200 in the US this holiday season I can see a lot of parents going with that purchase over a $500-600 PS3. If it's $100 better than the 360 it's going to do well there as well. Don't forget that the X-factor this year may be that families should have less disposable income because of rising gas and heating costs. That extra $500-1000 that everyone is spending on fuel this year has to cut into people's spending habbits at some point. I can definitely see a lot of parents looking around, realizing that a lot of games will be out for all three systems, and saying that it doesn't make sense to pay 3x the cost for a PS3 when the Wii will play many of the same games.

Besides, the Wii looks to be pretty awesome, and Ninty tries to avoid doing things to piss off it's consumer base... like charge for what should be standard features in games.

Great points, man, especially that about gas and home heating prices hurting disposable income. See? We don't have to bicker about everything.

Take care,
PK

[Rodster]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

I know my electric bill has gone up this summer verses the same time last year partly do to running my 360 and HDTV.

[Misfit]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

Misfit, I do agree with some of what you said but there is a $200 difference between the 360 and PS3 and that will cause me to get the 360 over the PS3. I don't think the sports games will be different for either console and so I will just get the cheaper one. You cannot ignore that extra $200 which is the cost of the Blue Ray and most kids won't care about that when it comes to gaming.

The extra $200 is partly due to Blu Ray, but also the PS3 has a 60 GB HDD and comes with a wireless adapter built in. Add both of those to the 360 and you're talking around 600 as well. Plus, people tend to ignore the fact that one can get a PS3 for $500 if they don't want the extra gig and adapter. My point was, in any scenario the PS3 is likely going to be the most expensive, but not by enough to say that one can afford a 360 but can't afford a PS3.

Parents are going to buy their kids whatever the kids put on their birthday/Christmas/etc lists so I don't think price affects the decision of the parents a whole lot. Parents may try and talk their kids into a Wii vs one of the other consoles once they see the price but if ultimately if Little Johnny refuses to settle for anything other than a 360/PS3 thats what Little Johnny will probably end up with. We live in a world right now where $300 iPods are common and considered very affordable, a high-end electronic like a videogame console can easily command more than $300 and be a success.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

Parents are going to buy their kids whatever the kids put on their birthday/Christmas/etc lists so I don't think price affects the decision of the parents a whole lot. Parents may try and talk their kids into a Wii vs one of the other consoles once they see the price but if ultimately if Little Johnny refuses to settle for anything other than a 360/PS3 thats what Little Johnny will probably end up with. We live in a world right now where $300 iPods are common and considered very affordable, a high-end electronic like a videogame console can easily command more than $300 and be a success.

Personally, I think price will have a greater impact than you. When a console's price drops to $199 US (or less), that's when it really tends to take off in hardware sales. The PS3 may never hit that figure and its current price is for a more exclusive HD consumer. Only time will tell.

[Rodster]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

Personally, I think price will have a greater impact than you. When a console's price drops to $199 US (or less), that's when it really tends to take off in hardware sales. The PS3 may never hit that figure and its current price is for a more exclusive HD consumer. Only time will tell.

Good point I have more money than Little Johnny and his parents and in no way am I dropping $600 on a console and $60 games. Thanks to MS and Sony i've decided to go back to PC gaming it's a cheaper alternative.

I'll still keep my 360 but it's 80% rentals for me from now on.

[Misfit]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

Personally, I think price will have a greater impact than you. When a console's price drops to $199 US (or less), that's when it really tends to take off in hardware sales. The PS3 may never hit that figure and its current price is for a more exclusive HD consumer. Only time will tell.

I never said the price doesn't matter, it just doesn't matter as much in the situation where the parents are buying something for their kid because the kid is going to tell them what he/she wants. They're not going to get him a videogame console he doesn't want because that's too much money to spend on something the kid doesn't like.

Price will matter more with people looking to get into videogames or educated consumers. The videogame hardcore know what they want and price will play a role. It will also play a role for those just looking for a new machine this fall. And in that case, a potential $200 price tag will be very beneficial but may cause some harm as well. Just think about it in terms of someone who is just looking to upgrade over their PS2, Gamecube, Xbox, etc. They could go into Best Buy in December and see three consoles, a Wii for $199/$249, a 360 for $299/399, and a PS3 for $499/$599. Now a number of factors come into play leading up to the purchasing decision (demos, box art, marketing, ect) but I'm just looking at price right now. There are those who will pick the Wii because of its low price point, but I know if it were say my Grandmother looking at these things she would look at the very low price of the Wii and assume its a low quality piece of crap. Presumably, that is not the case but it could be a perception the market gets. In some ways, I think $199 may be too low and $249 is better.

[bamalam]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

what is the latest on price of ps3 games. i have heard $70/game.

also i have heard rumors re not being able to buy used games for the ps3. are these true/false?

these are definately problems for the ps3 if true. if the games are $70 and no used games, your price just became astronomical relative to the other consoles.

[ThaGenecyst]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

Good points misfit...


i think your points will hold even better Holiday 2007... when all consoles are readily available... with the cheap price point and manufacturing parts of the Wii, I don't think there will be shortages @ launch. And also, the production of the 360 has been picking up so I think Holiday 2006 will be a shelf battle battle between Wii & 360. The reason I say this is because everyone knows there will be PS3 shortages.. and they will sell out because of pre-orders & people camping out, so I don't think we'll see PS3's just sitting on the store shelf for mom, dad, or grandma to see in Holiday 06. This will be a completely different ball game in 2007 though

[Jistic]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

Interesting blurb from this month's EGM from Namco Bandai VP Shin Unozawa

"I'm unsure about it's (Wii)appeal to the main users, namely middle-school and high-school students. Also when you publish games for Nintendo hardware, your biggest rival is Nintendo."

[pk500]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

Interesting blurb from this month's EGM from Namco Bandai VP Shin Unozawa

"I'm unsure about it's (Wii)appeal to the main users, namely middle-school and high-school students. Also when you publish games for Nintendo hardware, your biggest rival is Nintendo."

Interesting. But Nintendo has made it pretty clear that it's not going for the 360-PS3 hardcore gamer market with the Wii. It's pursuing the same groups that have made the DS such a success -- women, older gamers, those new to the hobby.

The Wii also will sell to some hardcore gamers who are looking for a fresh approach to the hobby, including me, but it will be a success if it can penetrate new markets as well as the DS.

Take care,
PK

[Spongedaddy]

Re: VERY interesting story about next-gen battle between MS, Sony, Nintendo

Interesting blurb from this month's EGM from Namco Bandai VP Shin Unozawa

"I'm unsure about it's (Wii)appeal to the main users, namely middle-school and high-school students. Also when you publish games for Nintendo hardware, your biggest rival is Nintendo."

Apparently Mr. Unozawa has not looked at the demographics lately. middle and high-school students are no longer the main users.

"The Entertainment Software Association provides a wealth of data,
statistics and information regarding the Video Game Market."


“The U.S. computer and video game software sales grew four percent in
2004 to $7.3 billion -- a more than doubling of industry software
sales since 1996.”

“Seventy-five percent of American heads of households play computer
and video games.”

“In 2004, more than 248 million computer and video games were sold,
almost two games for every household in America”

“The average game player is 30 years old and has been playing games for 9.5 years”

“The average game buyer is 37 years old. In 2005, 95 percent of
computer game buyers and 84 percent of console game buyers were over
the age of 18.”

“ Eighty-three percent of all games sold in 2004 were rated "E" for
Everyone or "T" for Teen.”

“ Eighty-seven percent of game players under the age of 18 report that
they get their parents’ permission when renting or buying games, and
92 percent say their parents are present when they buy games.”