The Xbox 360 takes on the Wii with a struggle

"Microsoft has built a solid reputation with the Xbox 360 and some impressive franchises, most importantly Halo 3. But I have some trouble figuring out the future of the console, especially when Microsoft wants the Xbox 360 to be everything for everyone. Will the Xbox head right into an identity crisis and be in danger losing its appeal between the highly focused Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation 3?"

[ichimaru]

good question, but its micro. i'm sure that they willget thier haed strait.

[Clinton514]

Is the assumption that this console generation is anywhere near done. These ridiculous people are quick to claim Wii "victorious".

[Rooftrellen]

True, its not over yet, but the PS3 is so far behind, it would have to sell hundreds of thousands of consoles more...per month, to catch up, and it seems as if the general idea is that the 360 is dead.

[IdontTakeSides]

I personally feel that the Wii will be second this gen...Nintendo alone cannot make the wii a success...and as far as we know the wii has the worst game library of the three...

M$ problem is that it tries to do everything the competition does..instead of just keep focusing on it's own strengths

The PS3...is the overall best designed system of the three ne one care to disagree is biased...and when Sony gets it's act together "which there in the process of doing'..the PS3..will take off ....which will happen soon...

[razer]

That the PS3 is a quality built box, but it is not the best game console and I am not biased I own both a 360 and PS3. I do think the 360 is the best for gaming.

[forum_crawler]

"as far as we know the wii has the worst game library of the three... "

That is up for debate. If you like Mario type of games, then the wii has the best library, if you like shooters, then 360 does. It really depends on where you are coming from.

Also, the PS3 is not the best design of the three. If anything it is the opposite. It does have the most powerful processor of the three, but due to its poor overall design, the data rate or bandwidth is severely crippled for what the processor is capable of doing thus resulting in performance that is not really that much better than the 360, even though it should run circles around it. Have a look at the technical documents and read about the bandwidth limitations of the PS3 and you will realize that though cell is the most powerful processor, the rest of the PS3 system is not the best.

Do either of the PS3 or 360 have Zelda, Mario, Metroid or Wario? No. Right there, the wii has 4 different types of games that are extremely well done and successful 4 different types! Adventure/RPG, Platformer, FPS and party games. If anything the wii has the most variety of the three consoles.

Besides, when I want to play shooters (with friends on-line) I use my PC, no better way to do it than that...

[IdontTakeSides]

"If you like Mario type of games, then the wii has the best library".

"Do either of the PS3 or 360 have Zelda, Mario, Metroid or Wario? No. Right there, the wii has 4 different types of games that are extremely well done and successful 4 different types! Adventure/RPG, Platformer, FPS and party games. If anything the wii has the most variety of the three consoles."

Dude everyone like mario..maybe we don't like some of the more recent games..but we all played it one way or the other..and I can also play those games you just mentioned on my PSP no need for a Wii I guess..

Mario , Zelda , Wario , Metroid...wow look at the 4 different types..

BTW other than Metroid FPS suck on the Wii....the PS3 has the most variety it has a game for every genre try again...and the PS3 Hardware isn't the best that's why we have games like Uncharted , R&C..HS...Lair(im talking bout graphics)..Haze...GT5..last but not least Killzone 2....

BTW you forgot to mention the very well crafted game..name..."Zack & Wicki"

[razer]

"the highly focused Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation 3?"

I can say that yes the Wii is highly focused on making games for kids and girls.. But the PS3??? Focused as in only appealing to the hardcore?? I think if any console is suffering from an identity crisis it's the Movie machine or is that game console PS3.

[candystop]

Thats so true Razer and funny how things are getting so twisted as to whats going on!

[stonedog]

has definitely been having a problem getting the message out. This appears to be the result of infighting at Sony (something I may add the company has been notorious for). We note a previous article posted on this site about Izumi Kawanishi being shuffled out of the gaming division. Kaz Hirai message was that the PS3 is a gaming system and Izumi Kawanishi was pushing the view that the PS3 as a "super Computer". (see: Rumor: Sony Computer Ent Lost Chief Tech Officer?)

The reality is that any one of the consoles is still in a position to be a spoiler for the others. Nintendo sells a lot of systems but the game attach rate is low. M$ has its core market of gamers and logically wants a share of Nintendo cake to. As long a M$ does not forget about it core market its pushing into the casual market can't hurt it. The key for Nintendo is not only price point but innovative game play with the wiimote. The reality is that no one in the generation is likely to run away with the show.

[Basch]

Mon dieu: so yes, there's a chronic lack of [decent] shooters or BBFC 18s on the Wii. But what makes you think kids and girls don't play such titles on the Xbox 360 you tout so much? It would be nice if people were less blindly cynical about the many gaming audiences who don't fit within the sixteen-to-twenty-four-year-ol d male bracket.

And pardon the PS3 for embracing a new technology (a strategy which – oh look – Microsoft have since usurped)! I personally think that if any console is suffering from an identity crisis, it's one that wants "to appeal to everyone" but is still churning out more first person shooters than either of its rivals.

[littletad]

Identity Crisis? And even more laughable the author puts it "between the Wii and Ps3. So that means in the next coming months the ps3 will sell an astonishing 9 million consoles? Whoever did his data for him is incompetent. The ps3 is selling worse than the gamecube and it's system to software attachment rate is barely better than the Wii.

[IdontTakeSides]

Was the PS2 suffering from an identity crisis when it was launhed.??

The PS3 isn't just focused on the hardcore gamers..the 360 was doing that until Nintendo Wii came around and as we all know Sony always had a variety of games for both crowds..the PS3 games are just rolling out how about you ask that question next year....

Ne one buying a playstation knows it's for games.look how popular the brand is..only an idiot living under a rock wouldn't know that..kk..some ppl don't even know it play Blu-Ray movies....

So are you sure you own a PS3..just asking..??

@littletad

go do some resaerch the PS3 is ahead of the gamecube and orginal xbox in sales

and it's also..ahead in sales compared to the 360 this time last year

[DFresh]

I think every console is taking a hit in the end from each other
the Wii fails to make games suitable for hardcore gamers
the 360 is lagging in the format war against Blu-ray and is having hardware problems
and
the PS3 is having too many delayed games
In the end
it'll come down to the PS3 being in 1st place
due to better technology in the long run,
the 360 will come in second since it's still in HD
just not quite up to date but still has plenty of games to satisfy,
and
the Wii will fall dead last due to failure of hard hitting titles for hardcore gamers and too much competition to handle from HD game making
If anything all the consoles might be tied
who knows only time will tell
I might be a Sony fan boy but I still think there's hope for every console I don't really think there will be one winner
but
if they're is PS3 will win in the long run

[forum_crawler]

"Wii fails to make games suitable for hardcore gamers "

Oh, you forgot about these (to name some): Metroid, RE4, Strikers, Manhunt...

[littletad]

Idonttakesides

http://www.gamepro.com/news...

I'll admit to the xbox, heck even the gamecube sold slightly better than that machine. Oh and the "ask that question next year" scenario? Umm no thanks, it's a crucial holiday. It's all about the now. Despite Ratchet and Clank, there is hardly a significant reason to own a ps3. So you can wait a year all you want, but that's like saying nothing on the 360 is going to compel the shopper to buy that system instead.

[IdontTakeSides]

let this get this straight becuz alot of you 360 owners think that NA is the only place ppl buy consoles..

The PS3 has has outsold both the GC and Xbox..worldwide..when comparing there 1st 11months on the market..is that much clearer for you to understand....the only place the 360 is selling is is NA..what's gonna happen when after the holidays when those figures go back to normal...??

I wasn't saying that ppl should wait a year for games..I said that Sony has always had a variety of games for all crowds....since the flood gates for PS3 games have finaly open..i said wait till next year when we really get the ball rolling then he can labeled it..just targeting hardcore games....the 360 didn't have ne variety in there kind of games until late 2006..a year after it launched..

The 360 has compelling software i would be a liar if I couldn't admit that..look at next years line up..and tell me which system's software looks more complelling...the SNES..didn't win the consoles war in just two years..neither will the 360..

[TruthbeTold]

Excludes most casual gamers. Part of being a casual gamer is the idea of not being extravagant when it comes to the amount of money you spend gaming. That isn't to say that casual gamers don't spend much on games, only that they aren't interested in spending several thousand dollars for an HD-tv, or 4,5,600 bucks on a system that has 60-70 dollar games, no matter how appealing they may be. Sony may have some games for the casual gamer, but they will not win over the casual crowd as long as it remains as expensive as it does to have the true PS3 gaming experience.

PS3 appeals to the rich, the upper middle class, and those who spend beyond their means in order to pretend they are better off than they are. Before the first year was up, Sony ran through most of those buyers. Now they lowered the price to a SOMEWHAT more reasonable level even though it's costing them, but now they are in the range of the 360 buyer, who already has a machine, and may or may not decide to get both. Sony will likely run through these relative few who have been waiting for a price drop, since they Really wanted a PS3, but that group will buy right off the bat, and Sony will be back where they were a month ago (Unless they can somehow build some "Gotta have it" momentum like the Wii has right now). If they are going to survive, with this hand of cards, they need to focus on making games so good, that 360 owners will do what it takes to also buy a PS3. It will be a rare person from the "Wii first" crowd that will go PS3 during the next 3 years imo.

[JokesOnYou]

Thats why multiplats look and play better on the 360 and thats why it has the BEST GAMES OVERALL are on the 360,

micro designed the 360 specifically with developers in mind, devs can make the best exclusives and better multiplats on the 360,

those looking for the best gaming console buy a 360, those looking for a cheap bluray player and of course loyal sonykids buy a ps3, those nongamers just looking for something easy buy a wii, well at least imo thats whats going on= NO identity crisis for the 360.

JOY

[forum_crawler]

The 360 does not play Mario or Zelda, so it isn't the best out there.

Bioshock = good. Bioshock on PC = the way it was meant to be played.
GOW = Soon, you'll be able to play against PC people on-line. You won't like the game then...

[jinn]

are you kidding me, the xbox 360 hasn't even broken a sweat

[xplosneer]

Gamespot should take off points for that. (Identity Crisis)
Okay joking aside I think they are in a good position, but I hate the arcade. It's going to screw the people who get it. On the other hand, the Premium bundle is awesome.

[OOG FunK]

this is jus a flame fest

[Bladestar]

interesting enough... the console war is about games.. yet people measure the success of a console with how many console units are sold... not how many games are sold.. if the console war would be measure by software attach rate... Sony and specially the wii would be considered dead.

[karlostomy]

You are right. Fanboys take notice only of console sales.
But the developers know that the attach rate speaks volumes.

If i was a developer i would check out average software sales for each console. Then I'd spend more time on the console(s) with the highest possibility of market exposure and profitability.

And it begs the question: Isn't that already happening in the industry?
It is just plain good business sense.

[OmegaKulu]

soo... will you say 360 a year ago was dead too? since the first year wasn't all that pretty for software until gear hit.

[karlostomy]

well that's just it dude,

the 360 had a high attach rate from day one.
the ps3 did not and STILL has not

case in point

[IdontTakeSides]

A Consoles war is about how many console units sold....if not it would have been called the software wars...

[karlostomy]

The 360 is also leading in terms of consoles sold.
Not only that but the lead is increasing every day.

AND the attach rate is phenomenal.

see?

[TruthbeTold]

If people buy a console, they will in general want games for it. I would rather have the problem of figuring out what people want/how to get people to buy software for the hardware they bought from me than having moderate software sales and wishing people would buy more hardware. People aren't dissatisfied with their Wii's. If they were, there'd be a surplus of them being sold used at Game stop, rather than new ones dissappearing from the shelves near instantaneously. It's been about a year, and the amount of excellent, good, and decent games is growing. Within another year, I doubt we'll have to listen to this bs over and over about Nintendo not being able to sell games. Some people act as if 13 million people have bought a Wii, never play it, have no intention of buying games, don't like the games that are out, but keep the console anyway. Ridiculous.

[happyjimmy]

I hate how it sells so much for no apperent reason other then cheap asses buying it for their kids but i love how it beats xbox and halo 3. So i wonder do you love it or hate it? I love the wii!...sort of.

[ChickeyCantor]

you love things for the wrong reason, you are biased and not a bit.

"I hate how it sells so much for no apperent reason other then cheap asses buying it for their kids "

cheap ? no i don't think so.

it maybe lower then the other 2 but 250 doesn't come falling down from the sky. and its a matter of interest why buy something more expensive if you don't want the extra features.
as for kids, you must be one too, because you cant consider the fact that the N-Wii is also owned by many adults.

Ignorance is bliss...

[OmegaKulu]

PS is anything but "highly focused", and it's both an advantage and disadvantage to them.

[Contra26]

R&C is not an AAA title
http://www.metacritic.com/g...

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

I love how PS3 fans like to think the PS3 is doing great and has such a great future but it can't get out of that last place hole and it's digging deeper and deeper each month. You guys remind me of the Little Engine that Could "I think I can I think I can" but the differance is your not even on the tracks and your engine is gimped.

[apoc06]

please correct me if im wrong, but by my guesstimation im pretty sure the numbers were around:

12m wii
12m xbox360
6m ps3

attach rates are something like:

7.8 xbox360
5.55 ps3
5.43 wii

overall, none of the consoles are doing poorly. now that the p3 has cut prices to within competitive range of the xbox360, we will see how things play out over the holidays. its way too early to count anyone out.

[dmixwell]

you can hate it or love the wiis on top , and its gone shine until its little hart stops . gohead inve me im the hardwares mvp, wii aint going no ware so u can get 2 no me wi wi wii unit