SlashGear Japan
In response to Sony’s announcement that their new PS3 console will see reduced quantities in N. America and Japan while Europe’s launch will be delayed completely until March, Sony’s competitors have made statements of their own. Unlike fellow gaming giant Microsoft, Nintendo decided to take the high road and not take potshots at Sony’s recent woes; instead, Nintendo has taken this opportunity to remind gamers that the Wii is still on target to launch later this year and to have 6 million consoles available come March 2007.
Nintendo’s response is in stark contrast to Microsoft’s “haha, told ya so” comments. In response to Sony’s announcement, Microsoft’s Xbox UK head Neil Thompson made sure to comment on Sony’s decision to include Blu-ray in their new machine:
“We know how challenging it is to pull off a global launch, so it’s not surprising that Sony has backed away from their previously announced launch plan, due to the unproven technology they are trying to pack in to their console.”
So there you have it; Microsoft feels that Sony’s loss is their gain, while Nintendo knows that one delay doesn’t mean Sony’s down for the count. In any event, we’ll see who wins this war once all three consoles finally come out; for now though, get those PS3 pre-orders in as soon as you possibly can.
[via Gamesindustry.biz, IGN]
8 Responses to “PS3 Response: Nintendo Reaffirms Wii Launch, Microsoft Mocks Sony”
hys September 8, 2006
there is no doubt that the ps3 will prevail when it comes out.
NeutralEwdison Then September 8, 2006
it’s hard to judge who will prevail until all of them are released, i hope soon :) cant wait to get a ps3 myself and wii too :p
NeutralBenjamin Nied September 8, 2006
While I’m planning on buying a Wii, I think the PS3 will win in the end. What I don’t think will happen is a success like the PS2; I think it’ll take the PS3 a longer time to reach the top than before.
NeutralThe Raven September 8, 2006
Good thing Nintendo’s not laughing, because they might be the next casualty in the console vs. PC battle. Luckily for them, they aren’t relying on performance and “the HD era” to pull them through. The 360 barely got through with that, but I think there will be much less importance on graphics performance in the post PS3 consoles as people will start switching to PCs for that. Nintendo has it right. Simplify the machine, make it a value, and make gameplay unique. That other stuff is the domain of the PCs. It’s like trying to pack high performance graphics into a portable (ala PSP). It sucks. I’d much rather play grapics “intense” PSP games on a real display. Sure it’s impressive (what they can get it to do), but it doesn’t make it any more fun in the long run. It’s just a gimmick. (a kin to Game Gear) It might last a generation, but it won’t last much longer than that. The PS3 and the 360 will be of less value in the next 5 years that their precursors were 5 years after launch. And the prices are getting higher.
Sony is losing it. Plain and simple. Their only hope is that the Blu-ray will save them. But none of their other media formats of late have been able to do that. HD-DVD is the less obvious choice of the consumer due to lower production costs and less “embedded copy protection”, but hey, what can you do?
NeutralBenjamin Nied September 8, 2006
Sony relying on Blu-ray is an extremely risky tactic for them; very few, if ANY, of their proprietary media formats have been successful:
Super Audio CD: Failed
NeutralUMD: Failed
Betamax: Failed in the mainstream; still used in broadcasting
Memory Stick: Still alive but rarely used outside of Sony products
Marquis September 8, 2006
No matter how sucky a console is, if game developer love them, they tend to be more popular because of game choices.
NeutralEwdison Then September 8, 2006
[quote comment="1298"]No matter how sucky a console is, if game developer love them, they tend to be more popular because of game choices.[/quote]
that is a given, i mean i wouldnt want to buy an expensive consoles and found out the cool games i want to play is not avail on the platform lol
NeutralThe Raven September 11, 2006
[quote comment="1298"]No matter how sucky a console is, if game developer love them, they tend to be more popular because of game choices.[/quote]
That used to be true because the prices of buying a console were in reach of most everyone and not everyone had a PC. Just look at the sales of the Xbox with heavy reliance on Halo and Xbox Live. Sure a lot people will throw down 200 clams for the system to join the “Halo community” and use it as a frag box, but there is no way in hell that (most of the) people will spend $600 on a system for one game.
And with the prices of the games too. The games are cheaper, more customizable, and most offer free online play.
And if you don’t agree with me for this generation of consoles, then I’m sure you’d agree the next time these consoles get revamped. My point is that as the prices of the gaming consoles come closer and closer to the prices of the PCs they compete against, their usefulness and appeal will increasingly diminish.
Neutral