[citation][nom]maestintaolius[/nom]Calling it a failed console just because it doesn't have the HD features you want, is just... Catering to the hardcore is just a waste of time and resources, they're always going to abandon you as soon as they can for the next greatest thing (just like the hardcore MMOers that beat the newly released content that took 6 months of development in a week or two of 24/7 playing - it's a waste of resources to cater to them too). They're going to complain about the smallest details endlessly (like the 360 vs PS3 screen shots showing slightly more jaggies on a background that goes by at 120 mph), yeah, you could fix the problem but odds are it's not worth the time. I've been convinced the focus has been too much on graphics and not enough on actual gameplay design. I, personally, have been very disappointed in the games churned out lately, sure the 6 legs are rendered beautifully on that gnat... but I'm sick of games lately that consist basically of 4.6 million shades of grey, brown and muzzle flash with 8-10 hours of gameplay, at least the games on my DS are colorful. Honestly, Nintendo's target market has always been casual families and games for the 5-12 year old market, and I think they're right to focus on that and let MS and Sony fight over the 16-35 year olds. I also think they're correct in considering Apple the new enemy, Nintendo makes a fortune off the DS, and it's various incarnations, and the Apple/Android phones are now starting to emerge as definite gaming challengers to that market.[/citation]
A waste of time? Ahem... a waste of time? These are the people that shelled out $500 for a console when it was 'new', the Wii however was $250 The Wii outsold them 2 to 1, the Wii owner brings back a Wii, a bare Wii for christmas day. Day after, buys a second if not a third and fourth controller. That's another $100 if they buy the generic controllers, $200 if they bought Nintendo brand.
Meanwhile the 360 or PS3 owner bought 3-5 games at $60 a pop for their system. (Recouping the proffit loss on manufacture) The Wii, no games....
6 months later, Wii owner buys one game, more than likely a budget title of $20 because a $40 new game is just "too expensive"
360 owner buys 2 more titles, PS3 owner the same. Both at full price of $60
A year later the 360 and PS3 owner buy the refreshes of Madden at $60 a piece, COD4 at $60, and the 360 owner also buys Forza.
The Wii owner considers Zelda, dismisses it because it's "too violent for my 12 year old"
Year two 360 and PS3 owner trade out games they've gotten tired of and spend, $60, on another new title, and $60 again on another new title that they pay for fully.
Wii owner? Well nothing really good came out, *spends $20 on another budget title, and $50 on a aftermarket.
As it sets even though the Wii console outsold the Competition, the competition sold WAY more titles. Therefore any company that's been in the game for more than a decade has PROBABLY jumped ship on the big red N as for deving new games for them, at all.
Your saying that the hardcore gamer is a waste becuase they get tired of games. Well DUH! That's what the Devs want, to be able to charge $60, not $40 (Wii games are cheaper, get over it) and have a person like playing the game for a few months, then buy a new one. If you wanna talk about sales, the 360 and PS3 have raped the Wii with tabasco sauce for years now. Nintendo's fine with that, they have sold plenty of Wii's and that's where they've made their money, on selling consoles, not royalties off devs. But that's also a double edged sword, I've seen more Wii's for sale used lately to the point of working where I do, there is no demand for a Wii at all, just the 3rd party accessories, and the occasional game for them. But only if it's $19 dollars or less.
Now Apple, they've got this whole "WE HAVE ONE MILLION GAMES TO DOWNLOAD!" Thing going on and yea, Nintendo is seeing their slice of the pie getting much smaller because of it in the future. If they want to keep their part of the market they need to stop with the idea that a extra large version of their system is going to help with sales. (Though my 70 yr old mother sure as hell appreciates the larger screen)