Wada: Nintendo Wii Can’t Compete With PS3, Xbox 360
Published by William Fletcher April 15th, 2007 in Nintendo, Tech, Wii.Yasuhiro Wada, creator of Harvest Moon, believes that “Wii cannot really compete against PS3 or Xbox 360″ and that DS is its main competiton.
Wada is currently development director over at Rising Star Games and in a recent interview with Spong, was asked to give three pieces of advice to Nintendo toensure that Wii continues to succeed.
“Its very difficult. Wii cannot really compete against PS3 or 360, which is why Wiis main competitor right now is DS. They are competing on the same level. So, Nintendo has to work harder to make Wiis own market, as opposed to competing against DSs market. This would be my first piece of advice to Nintendo,”he replied.
Wii Sports is the only game that can be ONLY played on Wii, not on any other console. So future games plans such as Brain Training on Wii or that type of thing I dont think this is such a great idea as these games are already being played and are very popular on DS they are not specific to the Wii.,” continued Wada.
“The third piece of advice I would give them would be to reduce the price of the DS! [compared to price of Wii] Thats my main bit of advice. I think they can do it. The made a decision on pricing and they went for a higher price. If they want to reduce the price they can,” he concluded.
i agree with what is being said, but its not that nintendo cant compete with ps3 and xbox 360. What hes saying is that its not of the same market, the wii is different from the xbox 360 and ps3, thats why it cant compete, cause that would be competing in graphics. I would suggest correction in future to titles, its misleading if not read carefully.
I think that this report is incorrect.
The Wii can (and is) in competition with the other consoles. I don’t see how the DS can take away from the Wii. If anything the DS will add to the branding on Nintendo as a whole. Customers with a DS may be more inclined to choose Wii over 360/Ps3 simply becuase the titles they enjoy have been built as Wii games (Mario, Wario etc).
The Nintendo Wii is currently the only console trying anything ‘different’. Their style is based on FUN, which as obvious as it sounds doesnt appear to be the primary objective of the other manufactores.
Their price is far lower than the absudly overpriced PS3, and still lower than the 18 month old Xbox 360. I really hope that Sony and Microsoft are taking notice of what the Wii is doing. If it wern’t for Nintendo this Generation of Gaming would be virtually unchanged from the last.
Sure, graphics……… woohoo……
Yes I second Fireacer
when going out to shop for a new system you either get the PS3 or Xbox 360 you should already have a Nintendo Wii at home next to your DVD and HDTV just like you should have a DS in your bag next to the laptop
Nintendo is aiming for the majority where is X360 and PS3 is for hard core gamers
and yes the title is misleading #$@#%
sounds like wada doesnt know how much wii is conquering both 360 and ps3 right now. he sounds as if he thinks its losing against both those consoles right off the bat since it was released. well i got news for you wada. you’re right, wii cannot compete with ps3 and 360, only because it already beat them and it would be no challenge for it. So you’re saying that it should try to pass the ds’ sales. You’re right on that part, but don’t go saying that wii should give up on 360 and ps3 even though its owning them both already. this remark is almost as pathetic as the silly insults sony tried to put on its two competitors months ago
He is absolutely right! the wii cannot compete against the 360 or ps3, these two are “next-generation” the wii is just a novelty that will wear off soon! kids will grow up and realize they do want graphics! people just don`t want to spend any money these days. nintendo made a good choice of pricing this time around, but all the good games for ps3 and 360 will come later this year and the wii will be in trouble, let`s see the wii at xmas later this year, i bet people will be tired of it by then.
yeah i thought he meant that the wii wasnt able to go head to head with the 360 n ps3 and i was thinking over here “r u stupid? umm whos selling consoles here n there like hotcakes?” then i read the rest of the article n got what he meant yeah i do think nintendo should lower the price of the ds hence even competion with the price cut of the psp! AND on the wii yeah i agree nintendo should make games that are original n innovative to the wii but i still think they should have there ace titles that please the hardcore n the 3rd party support whole please the masses of diffrent genre n that can be done with the wii after all even the old play it!
We’ll see when xmas comes. The Wii and 360 will probably be tied due to increased sales with Halo 3 on the 360. And SSBB on the Wii.
Wii is selling like hotcakes cos its cheap. there is truth to that… as the ps2 is outselling the wii and it’s cheaper
I’m usually a very technical person and i hate making such broad generalisations, but in this case taking the viewpoint by pricepoint alone, much can be seen by the wii’s initial success. Sure the controller is unique but we are a fickle race of beings us humans. when the next novelty comes along our patience with the wand and wiimote will drop dead. Dead as if by the power of God.
To paraphrase Arnold Schwarzenegger on his competitior Franco Columbo: The Wii is a child… and the PS3 is it’s father.
Don’t get me wrong, good on Nintendo. They have made such great business decisions I’d be smiling if I held their stock. I’d be selling their stock later this year tho, as I don’t expect the Wii to hold out that much longer. That being said, if it does manage to hold on after 2007 xmas I’d be pleasantly surprised. Shocked but still a pleasant shock.
Habbib wrote
“the wii is just a novelty that will wear off soon!”
Like the DS, was a gimmick that would wear off?
And it’s not just kids playing Wii, it’s everyone, the sales speak for themselves. If everyone wanted top end specs and graphical power, they’d all be buying PS3. They’re not though.
He is right. The Wii can’t compete with the X360 is terms of what can be done on the console. The Wii introduced the Wiimote which really is the main reason why Wii sales are so strong. In addition to that its the cheapest console, selling close to the “hot sale” price of $200. Its definitely great for casual gamers. However, the PS3 and X360 look a lot more hardcore… for now. Once the installed base for these consoles go up and the price drops, then more casual games will be released for them. Afterall, why limit the casual games to the Wii. Hardcore gamers like myself don’t always want to play hardcore games.
Another thing is that since the Wii is obviously targetting casual gamers and comes at such a low price, you’re most likely to see a lot more multi-console gamers this gen. Most of which will own a Wii and X360 or Wii and PS3. Wii sales will temporarily affect PS3/X360 sales as people may initially get a Wii before getting one of the other consoles since its a fresh, new experience and its so much cheaper. I would have tried to get a Wii right now and an X360 later, but I’m about to finish college so I’m waiting until I start working. Once I do, I’ll get a Wii and X360 at the same time.
wtf people wada is not insulting wii hes saying since wii has no competion against the 360 n ps3 the only competitor that gives it its run of the money is the ds since the ds also is selling like crazy n also he means that the wii is not comptiable in the graphics department so thats why he says for nintendo to keep diffrent at the genre producing AAA like titles that bring in the nongamers. wada is praisen the wii, hes like saying if anythings gonna beat the wii, its the ds.
habibb you talk like all the good games are already out for the wii. i bet you havent even heard of ssbb, super mario galaxy, and metroid prime 3. typical fanboy talk
Correction to all of you Nintendo Fanboys (Vincent) Nintendo is not beating xbox 360 in total sales, yet has been selling more month to month. Xbox 360 still has a total of over 11 million console sales as of now. The wii has 4 million… Due the math xbox 360 is not getting owned. I do like the idea of what the wii offers although I do not want one I am more of a hardcore gamer. If I play an rpg title, halo, gears of war, etc for a number of hours I sure as hell don’t want to be flailing around on my couch the whole time. It’s about reacting for me and using all triggers, sticks, and buttons. Not swinging my arms around. Look, way to go nintendo, but do you really think that they were the only ones trying to make a fun system Vincent??? Seriously, the xbox 360 innovated in online gaming, ripping and playing custom soundtracks in games, downloadable arcade games, achievements, HIGH DEFINITION GRAPHICS (which Nintendo can’t hold a candle to), blue tooth controllers, friends, chatting, online leaderboards, and a marketplace full of lots of cool things and eye candy! They did this first. Give me a break, when halo 3 is released at the end of the year xbox will decimate any competition. The wii is a novelty now, “wow motion control!” later, ” this is too much work and it is geting really old and why didn’t nintendo give a rats ass about graphics I want a 360!” Even the best a G4 Tv agree with the fact that wii and ps3 will not beat the 360 this year. Too many goodthings going for microsoft.
If I could give any advice to the Wii it would be to realize online gaming to some respect is the future. We can all assume 360 and Ps3 will be investing heavily in this department and it truly is the end all be all for gaming. Smash Bros. Brawl will be a blast for the first week or two unlocking all the easter eggs, but after that, what then? If you don’t have a buddy to play with these types of games, including MKA are just not strong enough to compete. I thank the stars every night that Nintendo created the Wii, but please make online content, for your own sake!
Interesting. I think he makes some good points. Right now Wii is dominating the console market, besides that of the DS. However, where I think he is wrong is in the idea that these games can be made for other systems. Even the same game that is played on the DS as is the Wii is inherently different on the Wii. For instance, Trauma Center for both DS and Wii is the same game. However, the controller for the Wii makes it a different tactitle game. It adds something new. I agree that in the end it will be very beneficial for the Wii to make different games for the Wii that better use the advantages of the controller, but as it is right now, both the DS and the Wii have a strong hold on the market. This is further accentuated when you look at the same games that are on the PS3/X-box360 against the Wii. The Wii’s controller makes the same game practically exclusive to the Wii. Meaning, that the controller itself makes the game inhernetly different. Playing Godfather on Wii as opposed to Xbox or PS3 is a different experience and thus makes the Blackhand edition of the game an exclusive. If you want the tactitle interphace of strangling or punching a guy using the conroller, or true free-based aiming you have to go to the Wii. The Wii might not be able to compete with the other consoles in graphics or pure power, but it will always offer something the othe consoles can’t. Thats how it will and is competing.
Umm no, the majority of you are wrong. Wada is absolutely correct, dont argue because none of you know anything about the industry…enough pretending like you’re all insiders..you’re not.
The Wii’s “casual approach” was the only way Nintendo could compete within the market…the GameCube was the last attempt at an actual “Console” that we’ll ever see from Nintendo…it’s all “fun and casual” from now on.
The Wii, although fun and entertaining for a week or two, is in fact the “handheld” of the NextGen Wars. The PS3/Xbox are in competition for the future of the industry…Nintendo is taking a step back.
The Wii’s success would mean a complete halt to the industry. Since gaming was introduced, it has in fact been a constant evolution. Nintendo is attempting to make money with the bare minimum, something the majority of you are just to stupid to see. They don’t care about you, they dont care about the consumer, they care about making money…the only way they’ll be able to make money this generation is by making a cheap cost effective machine that has nothing.
Bottom line, Nintendo is actually halting the evolution of the game industry and at the same time actually backtracking the evolution of Console Gaming itself…if thats something you guys want that’s fine. Me, Im just happy the PS3 is here to provide for both the hardcore & casual.
OOOO i get it, hes saying that the 360 and ps3 are no threat to the wii and that the ds is the only thing beating it right now. i understand now. maybe this wada isnt so bad after all.
What he is saying is that the wii cant compete with the ds because its ahead. The wii and the ds are the 2 top selling consoles at the minute, they are competing aagainst each other. The wii is so far ahead that it cant compete with the ps3 and 360!
I agree with what this guy is sayiiing….. Nintendo needs to be careful that they dont bleed dry their own market by producing to products that are virtually the same. As for all the talk on here about the wii not being able to hold on, i totally disagree. If you have been reading many of the recent articles about the wii there is a huge amount of third party support on the way for the wii. This has always been a weak spot for nintendo. The only thing that could be a problem would be poor adaptation of the wiis controls. I think games like Madden and Godfather are good examples of third party titles that are a completely unique playing experience on the wii. We also dont know what kind of original games that will enter the fold for the wii (like brainage,warioware and trauma center for the ds). i honestly think the wii is in this for the longterm, their consoles have been installed in so many homes, their first party games have always been excellent, their third party support will be the deciding factor if they win the next gen console war.
I will have to agree, i dont see the wii being a competition at all maybe the real compeition is the PS2 but well.
PS3 is basically a PC. If i wanted to play games with high graphics and internet access and media centre i would use my PC.
The Wii i would use for fun and with friends and at parties and for games only.
Ps. the slimline PS2 is poorly built. It has a tiny fan and a lot of units over heat and the lazers blow. I seen heaps of slim lines that stop playing PS2 games or stop playing PS1 games because that part of the lazer blows/melts. I know this as i used to repair them and replace their lazers.
I agree with FOX Wii and DS are big players on this game and i believe Wii gonna win this battle soon.
DS also its getting more and more new cool games and new users.
Not chance for others. (But i still wanted a PS3 with Blue-ray)
Nunchuk Squad Member
Now that Nintendo came with a new idea , new gameplay ( im talking about the Wii) wait and see how microsof and Sony are gunna copy Nintendo.
Im sure the next xbox and ps4 , wont have the same controller and gameplay , they will have the same gameplay as the Wii.
Because Nintendo started it all , and nintendo is the one who is bringin new gameplay and new ideas. All Sony and microsoft are doing is copyiig Nintendo but adding more stuff and better graphic.
He is right the wii can’t compete because it is in a class by itself. The PC has always had the best graphics but the games were complex for the average user and the interface did work well for sports and platform games. This is the reason the consoles took off. No one cared that the games on the PC and the Amiga were graphically superior, they wanted fun games. This went all the way up the the current gamecube/PS2/Xbox war that took place. The PS2 was the most inferior graphically out of all the systems yet it florished. Why? Because it had a lot of games that the PC did not play well. Were does this take us now. Well the 360 is releasing a lot of games that can be played on the PC. These are games that the hard core gamer has already seen in some form or another so the excitement is small. The PS3 is getting it’s legs but it to has taken this approach. The wii is providing the people with the very reason it came to the console. To have fun on a game that can’t be played on a PC.
Your are correct the wii can’t compete with the next gen systems. The are trying to hard to compete with the PC. See a long time ago most people hated the PC. It was the land of hardcore gamers. Then along came the console. It provided people with a chance to have fun on a game. The PC and the Amiga at the time were far superior at graphics and keyboard type games but inferior in sports and the fun games like platformers. This was the birth of the console and it grew up until the current systems came out. See the PS2 was the greatest system that came out because the developers were still pushing the envelope on new types of game play. The PC had far outpaced the PS2 but it was and still is selling. Why did a far superior system like the XBox fail. Well it continued to release games that were simular to what you could play on a PC. PS2 did not have that much of a head start. The wii on the other hand will sell because it is competing in a market all alone.
PS3 and 360 are competing against the PC. I prefer my C&C on a PC, my battlefield, my FPS. I want a console to race jump and play sports. This I can do on the Wii. Now I can also do some amazing things that the PC will never be able to do. So why should I pay $599 for a PS3 or $499 for a 360 after wireless add on, to barely match the graphics on my current PC? What gameplay can I get? MGS, Halo, nice advances on what the PC was doing 3 years ago. No what I want is what I can’t get on a PC, this is why I have a wii. If Sony/Microsoft ever remembers what Console gaming is all about, maybe I will give them a look. Right now the only compelling reason to buy either is for a cheap HD/Bluray player.
Thanks for the advice on how to run a successful business.
There has been an obvious change in the current generation of consoles. I wouln’t consider myself a hard-core gamer, but I have grown up with my gameboys, nintendos, playstations, and ps2’s. It is really impressive what can be done with video games. I think whatever you enjoy playing and what you are willing to pay will determine what market you are in.
Nintendo has impressed me as of late with cheap consoles and fun-to-play games. I just bought a nintedo ds lite and love it. I plan on buying a nintendo wii when I get back in america.
I wouldn’t mind a PS3 either, but I just can’t bring myself to buy one yet.
Is Wada correct? Definitely, and what you clearly see is that Nintendo isn’t even remotely attempting to compete with Microsoft and Sony. They ARE taking his advice; they’re marketing the system heavily towards non-gamers though they are also releasing games for gamers, they’ve made a non-graphically intensive system that is cheap to produce and very reliable to make. And people are buying it. Contrary to what Wada is saying, Nintendo is making Wii-only games, as well as some other companies. Can you really say that Elebits is not a Wii-only game? How about Wii-Play? I think Nintendo is going for the broader market, just like the DS, to appeal to the largest denomination of gamers possible, and in the first five months they’ve clearly done it successfully.
The only piece of advice that Wada gives that I think is questionable is the price of the DS, mostly because the handheld itself is immensely popular, so much so that people aren’t exactly NOT buying the thing. I’m guessing they’re going to eventually bring it down, possibly soon, but seeing that the demand is still incredibly high, it’s not going to be immediate.
—
@Yes.
“Bottom line, Nintendo is actually halting the evolution of the game industry and at the same time actually backtracking the evolution of Console Gaming itselfif thats something you guys want thats fine. Me, Im just happy the PS3 is here to provide for both the hardcore & casual.”
Illogical and, in many ways, incorrect.
Nintendo isn’t halting evolution; they’re thinking beyond the box. They’re creating something new because (a) the direction of games wasn’t going to change if they merely tried to boost graphics, and (b) they plainly wouldn’t be able to compete against a the “super graphics” that the 360 and PS3 have been preaching from day one.
To give a evolution analogy: Sony and Microsoft pretty much are fish that grew some nicer scales; Nintendo pretty much is the fish that exchanged its fins for legs and its gills for a pair of lungs. Nintendo might not be the prettiest animal, but it’s definitely the most functionally advanced.
There’s plenty of irony in your argument. Many people here who are “anti-Nintendo” are trying to convince people that the company’s out to only make money, and yet they seem to look upon Sony and Microsoft as some sort of “savior” for their cause. People, they’re all companies. What differs is HOW they want to make their money. And thus far, Nintendo has stood out as the smartest of them all.
Guess what? Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft are all out to make money. Nintendo decided to try and sell something that more people would enjoy, while Sony and Microsoft attempted to sell something they knew people would like at an expanded cost. In the end, they’re all out to make money. Nintendo is attempting to make a profit, while Sony and Microsoft are vying for market share and looking in terms of long-term “ownership.” They’re two very different aspects of business.
Is the Wii a gimmick? No, mostly because it’s such an ingenious idea with so much potential, and because we’re beginning to see the fruits of new ideas and genres come to life with a true purpose or direction. The thing has been sold out consecutively for 5 months, and people are STILL buying systems. No, that’s not a gimmick; that’s a fantastic idea that is showing successful sales and high demand. An example of a gimmick? How about the PSP or the PS3, both systems which advertise having incredible and yet utterly useless features? A blu-ray player in a videogame console offsetting much of the cost and is completely useless for actual games is a gimmick.
So it confuses me why anyone would even think that somehow Sony of all companies is actually being defended for the wrong things. I mean, you’re saying that Sony is “providing” for the hardcore and casual. And yet, the word “casual,” meaning sort of everyday and regular, wouldn’t even apply here given that the system requires both and HDTV to actually be played “correctly,” as well as because we’re talking about a $600 videogame system, which in itself is a ridiculous price given the history. Casual also implies that people want to play games, and that they’re not obsessed over aesthetics like whether you can see the sweat off a person’s face. In fact, if anything, Nintendo’s offer the most to the “casual” gamer, namely a fun experience, rather than just something to look at. And if anything, the casual gamer would be hooked towards the Wii and would stick with the PS2 given that console’s acceessibility.
What’s really happening is that you’re being threatened, and this is true for many nay-sayers of Nintendo’s stance. Many people are afraid of change; they’re afraid that the old way of life that they’re used to experiencing will go away. They do so by blasting innovation and new ideas, even those that are executed quite well. They’re conservative in their beliefs.
There’s nothing wrong with that, but I just think it’s sad. For one who believes he knows the “industry,” you’d think that he’d actually go beyond the PS3 and look at higher caliber PC gaming then to REALLY see enhanced graphics, to look in the ways of new games like Crysis and see how much better an experience you’ll get there than a overheating box that just has a lot of inefficient crap put in every which way.
Then again, the same people cannot even comprehend what “evolution” actually means.
The truth is that the long term success of the Wii will not depend upon its ability to compete with Xbox360 or PS3 sales.
Nintendo have revolutionised the market, and it is within this broadened market that Microsoft and Sony will inevitably struggle as its market share is dimished. It is more correct to say that PS3 and Xbox 360 can not compete with the Wii.
If Nintendo used the exact same formula as Sony and Microsoft and attempted to serve consumers a cheap and nasty PC clad in a gimmicky box, then consumer would have to continue to endure more of the same, at a higher price. Clearly that is not innovation.
Nintendo have invigorated the industry. Its effect on the future of gaming development is immeasurable.
It’s somewhat ironic that even those that despise the Wii are likely to benefit, in last minute attempts by Sony and Microsoft to try and capture the unconverted.
Y’know… I’ve worked for one of the companies for over 15 years… Not a high end employee, but one who would put my $.02 into this article’s feedback and mention:
This article doesn’t seem to have a clear direction. That would make this article mostly general banter. It is obvious (at this point, reading through the comments) that the ’suggestions’ really are ‘fluff’ made by someone that doesn’t have the understanding from within the Nintendo company.
That said… It seems laughable to suggest that Nintendo has made a bad business decisions over the last 6 months as (contrary to previous system launches) Nintendo still is trying to saturate the market. Also, licensee companies are voicing that they are switching focus to make >MORE
The Wii will fail for 3 main reasons. One its got two other not just more powerful machines it competing with, but two very very powerful machines its competing with. The ps3 and the 360 are so powerful the Wii is like old gen technology. Two the Wiis controller technology can be replicated by Microsoft and Sony without patent infringement with better technology. Think of the nonchuck without the string attached. Three its great success is actually not that great. For year $300 dollars has always been the sweet spot for consumers. The price drop of the ps3 is going to be the fall of the Wii. Not because the PS3 will take over but because it will cause the 360s core price to drop into the 250 dollar or realm. That will really play a game with a console shoppers mind. Wii or 360??????? Most will go for the 360 I bet The PS3 has a jerking (frame rate) problem in every game Ive played on it. I think its due to the low ram allocated for the cell chip.
If the wii is so fantastic then why haven’t I gotten hooked on it? I’ve played it several times, in-store, at a friends place. Its quite invigorating, the feeling of virtually hitting the tennis raquet in Wii Sports Tennis… but what I didn’t like was the fact that I didn’t really control the player RUNNING to the ball. It pretty much ran to the ball by itself and I simply SWUNG my wiimote to hit it. Amusing, but not satisfying. I’m speaking in my honest humble opinion here. If it looks like wii-bashing then so be it. Sometimes people say things that look sinister but they are said sincerely: The wii doesn’t do it for me. That’s it. It’s not because I have a pet hate for Nintendo, I just don’t see or feel or crave playing their console even tho I could see the faces of people playing it and how much fun they were having. Perhaps I’m too hard-core (been playing puter games for decades now).
The only thing you need to give somebody to buy your product is this: WANT. That is the ONLY prerequisite. If that is achieved with a wand and a heightened sense of virtual interactivity as Nintendo have done, thats great. There is a place for the wii and a place for the PS3 and the Xbox and the PC. The very fact that I don’t want to play the Wii and that I’m not very different from the rest of the human race gives me a good indication that the Wii isn’t for everyone.
I just wanna talk about some point of view things about console.
A game producer talk about the possibility or not for a console to become competitive on market..or different market.
I just wanna remember how cheap is the profit on every single game for a producer…even if it’s famous like ff or somoelse saga,so i ask to everybody why i read all around about the power horse of a console or if will be famous or will be supported by programmer?
What i mean?
Programmer must sell game…much more games they sell more money they will have to produce…so please to all gamers producer..work…work and produce game..an xbox360 had sell 10 milion of console?…be happy…produce a lot of game for that console…a nintendo wii selled 6.5 milion of console…be happy and work to have your profit with that console,it doesn’t matter if had the power of HAL (2001 odyssey in space) or it’s less performant than other.It’s not in your interesting way to watch things.
Million of console selled…thousand of game to create for…hoping that it will funny game for us…stop joking us on power or graphicks or other things…just let us to have fun with funny and smart game!!
It seems that every house of production in game can decide if a console will be famous or not hahaha…go to work please for us and for your pocket before talking about something else.
I hope that i explained well what i think…sorry for my english maybe it’s not perfect,i’m italian
Thx to all!!
Max
PS: Please guys..stop in fanatism way…xbox it’s better than wii…then ps3…then c64…they live with our money..so we must have fun…not become competitor about some console…Maybe we are investor with money in microsoft or nintendo or sony that we need to be so aggressive on speculation about some console?