Wii Wii (I couldn't resist)

#21

Quote:I think the PS3 is nothing but a tool to get an edge on HD-DVD.

That's what I've been saying this entire time... and that I think they are overestimating their dominance in being able to do so.

I've been thinking about it, and I think I finally begin to understand the business logic behind this move, and it's a real forehead smacker for me - I'm surprised it didn't occur to me sooner. I've been focusing on what a terrible business move this is... in the United States.

What I completely forgot to consider is that Sony doesn't care about the American market. The key to technical domincance of the console industry is the Japanese market, of course. The Japanese are more willing to pay insane prices for brand loyalty. In the Japanese market, I expect the PS3 will do incredibly well... much better than the XBox360, of course, because they are never going to buy into an American console. I think the Wii will also do very well in the Japanese market, but that market is one where price matters less so the PS3 is likely to be #1 in Japan.

I can't believe it took me this long to see it. I still personally think the PS3 is going to flop in the American market, but I'm no longer as confident that it will cause Sony any undue stress. I do believe it will hurt them, as so many of their other relatively recent business strategies that fail to account for the global market properly have hurt them, but they are going to sell big in Japan.

That said, I would hate to be a US video game company with contractual ties to Sony this generation.

Quote:TRY to know what you're talking about next time?

You are aware that there is still a licensing fee, right? Just because there's a flapper system that keeps it from landing directly in Sony's bank account doesn't change anything. The cost to license the Blu-Ray rights and logo for your device, according to this article, will cost $20,000 to $60,000 and the licensing for the copy protection will cost an additional $4,000 to $12,000 a year. Sony still gets a piece of that pie.

Are you really willing to ignore everything the industry is fully aware of, vis-a-vis Blu-Ray being Sony's format, just because they have a steering committee in place for the other companies they've brought on board to help them attempt to achieve dominance?

If Sony weren't pushing it, none of the rest of the companies on that list would be either. If you take a look at offerings, you'll find that an incredible number of the companies on that list have HD-DVD offerings as well.

Also, I've got to ask this... why did you flame the guy who was taking up your side of things? He agreed with you that the PS3 is going to rock and that he wants to buy one, hell I agree with you that it's going to be hot. He also agreed with me that from a strategic position, they might've been better off having multiple price points, and that the PS3 is designed to push the Blu-Ray format. You can't actually argue this point, because Sony has openly admitted this. So, instead, you pick out one minor little detail to flame him over because he doesn't agree completely with your viewpoint. You were the first person in this entire (rather lengthy) conversation to pull out the flame-thrower.

#22 Cliff were on the same page then. I feel the exact same way. The PS3 will be hot in Japan but will be 2nd best here in the US. That's a sacrifice that Sony seems to be willing to take to gain market dominance in the movie format scene. And like you said, even though they don't soley own the format or even own it at all, their still gonna get cutbacks from it.

Quote:It isn't Sony's format.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc_Association
TRY to know what you're talking about next time?

Mincentro, thanks for the heads up about Blu-Ray's association with Sony. I knew there were others involved but I didn't know the format didn't belong to Sony. But you can keep your little smart ass comments to yourself next time because that was uncalled for and just plain silly. LOL He posted a comment out of nowhere after 3 days of being silent, and passed up everything everybody else has been talking about JUST to correct my error and then tries to insult me as if he owns the Blu-Ray format. LOL.
-Ajari-

#23

Quote:You just proceeded to call me a flamer and dump shit on me for telling you that Blu-Ray isn't sony's own private little format.

Quote:TRY to know what you're talking about next time?

If that ain't trying to start shit then I don't know what is. All you had to do was inform me with the correct information. It's just a little thing called respect, that's all. Something your parents should have taught you because it's not my job.
-Ajari-

#24 Mincetro - No, I never once flamed you. I did not get insulting, you were the one that got insulting. You were also the first person to curse in this conversation.

I suspect you are probably much too young to know what this means, but *plonk*. I was talking business, I've no time for religious technology wars. I did my time in the computer wars when I was a younger man.

#25 OMG, is that true that PS3 games will cost 60-100!?! What parent in their right mind would buy a $700 console and then shell out 100 for a game!? I kinda hope this will be the death of the Playstation... Not too many of my friends have the latest and greatest consoles, most have just a PS2 or xbox and one older system. Like I care about the fanciest graphics, or the newest format of disc. I just want a fun diversion for 2 hours... And I really think that the Wii's controllers will make for the best drunken party games. I have to say that most folks I know who want multiplayer gaming just do PC games, and why not? Whooo, and the whole rootkit thing, man what a slap in the consumer's face! They deserve to go down...

#26 If the Wii controller lets me sword fight by swinging that little... wii... around... :P... damn... i can't keep typing this comment now. Let me start over.

If the new Nintendo lets me sword fight by swinging the controller around then I'm buying it as long as there's a new Prince of Persia or some game like that on there. IF I can swing 2 controllers and box... I won't ever get any work done every again.

#27 2 player boxing on the Wii will involve both players standing up in front of the screen and beating the tar out of each other while holding the controller. Whoever is still standing at the end of the round wins. heh.

#28 I just hope I won't look as stupid as the people using the Wii in it's promotional video :D.

#29 I think you have to sign an agreement saying you will look that stupid while you play or they won't give you one... they'll have the form at the counter when you go to pick yours up.

#30 @Clif
I burst out in laughter when I read that :D. As long as I don't end up like the guy playing Red Steel, I will be fine.

#31 Anton I dreamt up a boxing game for the Wii like that also. I'm sure you can have a first person boxing game that has two hands using the nunchaku (or however you spell it) setup. Isn't the other part spossed to be motion sensing just like the Wiimote? Then you can move around the screen with the analogue stick and bob and weave by holding the trigger and using the analogue stick. Block like in real life by putting your hands over your face. I'd really be into a game like that. Don't worry Okashira, I think we're all gonna end up looking stupid in a few months. Cliff I doubt I'd be able to play a boxing game on the Wii 2 players. The urge would be too strong. I mean, their standing right there, and I'm swinging at the virtual them. :D
-Ajari-

#32 ...might as well put my two cents into this...

Let me ask you gentlemen (and ladies) a question: Do you like to paly games? When you buy a console, do you use it to play games? Do you, when you lug it home, and stick it into your televison, boot up a game disc? Or, instead, do you watch DVDs, surf the web, download movies, call your aunt in Wisconsin, or anything that is nto a game? In other words, do you buy a game system- to play games? This is where my opinion diverts from that of Sony and Microsoft. Quite simply, the two businesses, whether this is the truth or nto, give the appearance that they are solely in this industry for the money. They tout their machines as all-in-one media centers, and even going as far as to calling it a computer- Sony, I'm looking at you. But, how many times do they actually recognize their consoles can play games? This is why I side with Nintendo. Nintendo is, first and foremost, a game company, and treats its hardware as such. To be honest, I don't need the Internet in my living room; I have a computer to do that. I don't need a Blu-Ray Drive; DVD works just fine for me. And, certainly, all three of these consoles will have some great games. I own a PS2, and I own both Psychonauts and Gitaroo Man (^-^). But, as many people can agree, the Wii looks to be just the thing to shake up the industry. Will it? I don't know. But, regardless, I will still be buying a Wii. Do Wii agree?

Oh, and regarding the boxing game, a) Wii SPorts has one, and b) there's a Japanese company making one based on Hajime no Ippo. =p

#33 Microsoft and Sony have bought into the old belief that home entertainment will someday be controlled by a single box -- music, movies, games, etc. The game console -- as they see it -- will be our sound system, video player, TIVO, cable TV connection, and our home network system -- the point in which the Internet enters our home. They want the game console to replace our NetGear or Linksys home networks.

In the next five years, a high majority of homes will have FIOS (Fiber Optics) capability (my house is already set up with it via Verizon) -- meaning, there's enough bandwidth to watch movies on demand via the Internet. It would be possible to rent any movie or game.

They even foresee the game console replacing conventional cable television. You'd use your PSX or XBOX-XXX to program your evening's television line up. That is, watch "Lost" on Thursday night instead of Wednesday followed by "House" or "Desperate Housewives". Or, listen to Eric Clapton's latest CD -- dowloaded directly to you game console. You will be in control -- or at least that's what they will want you to think.

It's a lofty plan -- but it is why you are seeing all of these things being added to what is thought to be "just a game console."

#34 I for one use it for - gaming -

I couldnt care less for DVD, TV or whatever else they cram into it. I got a very good stereo that no little box can ever replace. And a cool DVD player that I'm not about to throw out for some region locked and vendor specific system. And a PC thats fine for regular Internet use.

Just my 2 cents

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Oh - couldnt resist posting this one:

#35 Ha ha^ thats funny

#36 Remember when cd's first came out, thinking I'll stick to my tape player, those cd's and their players are just a scam to get me to re-buy all my music, although i dont think i bought a single cd that i had had that album on tape.. Then DVD's... I'd also have to say that the ratio of ppl I know with HDTV's to regular is at least 50:50 Why keep piling up technology thats going to be out of date? I don't know maybe that isnt so much the case but I want the best for myself, not really the least expensive. You're going to want blu-ray eventually, just go n try n rent some movies on laserdisc....or beta, or gasp, whered the VHS tapes go??? It'll take a while to save up for a PS3 but it will be worth it. Just go down to your local pawn shop n pick up a good HDTV at a decent price or there's a 27" HD set by Advent you can pick up new for about $175 at your local discount stores(I think I saw those at dollar general or some store like that)

#37 Better yet, dont support consoles at all, then maybe we'll see games come back to the PC in higher caliber, aka not dumbed down to the point where it can be controlled tih 10 buttons and a d-pad...

#38 I'm not saying I'd like to have one box full of all that stuff... Seriously, that would be wicked. However, I just don't have the money to pay for a $600 console, and $60 games... not to mention the memory cards, the extra controllers, the hdmi cable.... Guess I need to sell another kidney!

#39 But seriously, are you developing a game? for PC/Mac ? who games on PC anymore, we have Wii and ps3 n 360... sarcasm but, if avid gamers stopped buying consoles the whole supply demand law would force big game companies back to the roots...

#40 Jeff Loveless: That's where it will really matter....if no one buys 'em -- or if someone comes out with a pure gaming console that people will buy at a lower price, Microsoft and Sony will change their business model. I don't understand the research that's driving them in this direction, but i'm sure they've spent millions on it.

Anyways, they are thinking that $600 is less than a PC. I think it's time for new company to come into the picture with a bare-bones gaming system that uses an open-source gaming engine -- or, maybe Torque. Can you imagine the number of games that would be available? Good for the consumer, but bad for the big game companies.

Anyone want to invest?