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Your holiday gaming outlook
Now that NPD has released September 2007 figures, it strikes me as quite interesting that so many people were taken aback by the Xbox 360's jump to first place in hardware sales. In fact, if you remember an article I wrote back in September, it would have told you everything you needed to know about hardware sales for September.
But instead, there are a host of journalists and pundits making such a big deal out of the Xbox 360's rise, as if it wasn't expected. As I've said here hundreds of times before: videogames sell consoles, not the other way around.
So, with that in mind, I thought it would be nice to take a look at what is coming soon to a console near you and discuss what I think will happen by the time January rolls around. And while I still believe the Wii is a fad and Sony has some work to do, my conclusions may surprise you.… Read more
Wii sales mean nothing if you don't play it
Citing a study, Famitsu publisher, Hirokazu Hamamura, explained in an interview that 67 percent of Wii owners simply don't use their Wiis. And as a Wii owner who played it constantly for about a month, then proceeded to allow it to collect dust, I can relate to the study.
But besides my own preferences, I can't help but think that the Wii is in trouble. Sure, some go out and tell us about the Wii sales figures, but there are no figures showing us that people actually play Wii games. Worse, Wii video game sales barely scratch the top ten when matched with titles from Microsoft or Sony -- another dust competitor.
Could it be that the Wii is nothing more than a novelty? That, regardless of impending Mario game releases, the Wii will enter the boring bin before you know it? Do video game consumers really want to wave their hands around to control something on the screen?
At this point, it may be time for Nintendo to get its head out of the sky and realize its previously infallible device is in danger.… Read more
Wii virtual console releases for this week
A variety of genres round up this week's releases as we get a visit from Ryu, a grim future, and a classic shooter.
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (1990, NES, 500 Wii points)--With this sequel came a brand new enemy, Ashtar. You'll once again take on the role of Ryu as you attempt to rescue a kidnapped CIA agent. Metal Marines (1993, Super Nintendo, 800 Wii points)--Metal Marines is a real-time strategy game that takes place soon after an antimatter war has disintegrated most of the planet. We've all been there. Gate … Read moreWii's Opera Internet channel goes Web 2.0
Yesterday an update rolled out from the folks at Opera, bringing the highly popular Wii Internet channel into the 20th century with full support for USB keyboards, widgets, and link sharing. Normally this news would not excite me, but as a Wii owner, having struggled to actually type an e-mail, or enter anything more than a URL or login using a Wiimote on the onscreen keyboard, believe me when I say this is big.
In addition to the keyboard news, Opera is now supporting two very interesting Web features. The first is a new "Widget View" mode, letting … Read more
Is the Wii a fad?
IGN News is reporting that Wii developers are becoming 'nervous' about the console's prospects and believe the device may be nothing more than a fad.
Nikkei Business Daily is reporting that anonymous developers are concerned that the Wii is only benefiting Nintendo and third-party developers are forced to play catch up in the hope their games will become a success. So far, some are claiming their games have been nothing more than expensive flops.
In fact, one developer explained that, "The Wii is like the 'Billy's Boot Camp' weight-loss program on DVD. People bought it out of curiosity, and it's likely a lot of them haven't used it."
So which is it? Is the Wii really a flop in the waiting? Or is it the video game savior we've all been waiting for? It's neither.… Read more
Sonic versus Mario, Luigi on a motorcycle, and lots of other Nintendo news
Nintendo held its Fall Conference this week, and the company has revealed some interesting news about its upcoming games. Some of the biggest news of the conference is the announcement that Super Smash Bros. Brawl will include Sonic the Hedgehog as a playable character. While Sonic's been long-speculated as a character in SSBB, this is the first time his presence has been officially confirmed. Unfortunately, the game itself has been pushed back in Japan until January 2008, which could mean that an American release will also be pushed back until next year. In other news, the new Mario Kart Wii … Read more
Is Sony as desperate as it looks?
With a rumored $399 40GB Playstation 3 on the way, a cheaper device hitting shelves in Japan and UK, and announcements of an all-out price blitz this holiday season, is Sony really as desperate as it looks?
By just looking at news from the last week, it's quite easy to see that Sony is grasping at anything that will make the PS3 stick. Whether it's a new color, a cheaper price, or a rumbling controller, the company is hoping we will like something that make us spend our hard-earned money. I can't blame Sony for trying--the PS3 is hands-down, the most important device Sony is selling right now. Not only is it the harbinger of Blu-ray, it represents one of the most economically stable divisions of the company over the past decade.
But once again, Sony has it all wrong. The company is a victim of its own self-image and there is no stopping it with the current management in place. Simply put, Sony sees itself as a hardware company and in this business, that's the last thing you want to do.… Read more
