The assertion that the Wii doesn’t or can’t offer games that appeal to enthusiasts is a myth, and as the system’s software library continues to fill out this should become obvious to everyone – except perhaps Robbie Bach.

Looks like Daniel Dilger has new Butt Buddy with Au and both are going to queef queef and queef more about the demise of anything Microsoft related.

Btw, Om we’ve missed you on CrankyGeeks!

You’re lead in this particular story is extremely snarky and sarcastic. It seems the theme of the story is that Microsoft REALLY needs Halo 3 to drive console sales and you don’t see it happening. Why the need to bash Microsoft for its undoubtedly successful launch of the game, i.e. “killer app” in quotations, “buried in hype”, “canny” live action commericials, etc. While you may not agree that it will drive console sales, it has been by far the most successful launch of a game. And software sales are pretty crucial in driving up margins in the Xbox/PS3 type biz model.

Given your past few anti-Xbox articles, the biggest question I have is whether or not you do actually think Wii and 360/PS3 are competitive and if so if there’s room for all three.

Also, to the person who questioned MS’s ability to make money off of 360, I’m pretty sure they only lost a shade under a million this past quarter (I’m not talking about the entire E&D group, but the 360 specifically). If that’s true, then they should be in a good position to become quite profitable moving forward.

http://archive.salon.com/tech/feature/2000/08/29/xbox/index.html

So as it happens, I was once biased toward Xbox.
I have many friends who develop for the system, and I hope they do well, but the sad reality is the audience for their great games is totally narrow. The simple, objective fact is that Microsoft has failed to deliver a large install base, or greatly expand the existing audience for console games. There’s no evidence Halo 3 will do that for the Xbox line, just as the first two Halos did not. The PS2 has done both, and by all indications, the Wii is doing so now.

1. The Wii is not a niche product, as it appeals to a wider audience than either the 360 or PS3. Indeed the latter two platforms can more correctly be labeled “niche” due to their higher entry barrier.

2. Wii numbers for console (and software) sales are being depressed because they are still hard to come by in many parts of the US. My neighbor spent six weeks finding one, my coworker about a month. Both got platforms via “inside” people at retail stores.

To some extent you’re comparing apples to oranges with the 360 and Wii, but here’s what boils down –

1. Wii has a target audience that is ten times the size of the 360′s, so only has to achieve 10% the penetration to equal the units sold.

2. Landing a much larger proportion of the six-to-fifteen-year-old age bracket bodes well for the Wii, as these kids will grow up expecting something other than the thumb-buster control.

3. Nintendo introduced a fundamental concept change to how vidgames work and has people looking to them for the next gee-wiz innovation in HCI development. In short, they swung for the fences and cleared the wall of the ballpark, let alone the fence.

I enjoy both platforms, but enjoy the Wii more for EXACTLY one reason — I can play with my kids. My fellow adult gamers find that their 360 sits cold on the shelf until the kids go to bed. This is a problem for Microsoft and Sony. They can be profitable; they stay in the business and move consoles, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is indeed a problem for Microsoft and Sony. Likely this problem will remain until the next major release of hardware.

Sag.

The Wii is a great success, but come on, its a different demographic entirely.

In any case, this is not a game that’ll end … Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony will continue try to one-up each other. Most gamers own two or all of the leading consoles.

Side note: I am long time subscriber to this blog, but I read it less and less because it sounds more and more like a blog for all things anti-Microsoft.