Microsoft kissing up to Nintendo?

[mandark]

Hot off IGN's press.

"E3 2006: Microsoft Recommends Wii
Peter Moore tells people to pick up a Wii and a 360 instead of a PS3.
by JKR
May 11, 2006 - You read it right. Peter Moore, a vice president for Microsoft, asked in a recent interview, "Tell me why you would buy a $600 PS3?" He went on to explain, "People are going to buy two [machines]. They're going to buy an Xbox and they're going to buy a Wii ... for the price of one PS3."


Microsoft seems to have decided to side with Nintendo in order to overthrow Sony's current lead in the videogame market. Whether the strategy will work or not remains to be seen. Though no official announcement has been made regarding the price of Wii at launch, it is expected to release for a significantly cheaper price than either the 360 or Playstation 3 consoles.
Nintendo has stated many times that it does not wish to compete directly with Sony and Microsoft in the next generation war, opting to move into a new direction with Wii that will complement the other systems." - IGN

Looks like MS has found a new strategy: Take out Sony by allying themselves with Nintendo. I wonder whats next? Will MS start licensing games to the Wii? Halo 3 will feel at home as a Wii game especially with that controller. ;)

[ilnadmy]

Yeah I read that too. Interesting stuff. I guess they realized their strategy of going it alone and spending a lotta dinero won't work against such established names as PlayStation and Nintendo.

I personally am probably going to get a Wii shortly after launch, and then wait for a PS3 price drop before getting it. The really truly awesome games for PS3 aren't coming out for a while anyway. I'm not getting 360 for the same reason I didn't want to get an Xbox...many of the games are coming to PC also. I must say, I was disappointed by my purchase of an Xbox, but I see how a non-PC gamer would enjoy such an advantage in a console.

[trebor]

Peter Moore is just pointing out a bit of nasty reality that Sony has brought on themselves - you can buy a Wii and a 360 for the price of one PS3. It's just common sense and any gamer who wants value for their money would be a fool to not recognize this.

Wii + 360 > PS3

Another interesting MS/Nintendo related turn of events is that Rare is developing DS games now - Diddy Kong Racing DS. It's actually a really smart move on MS's part to support the DS as much as possible, it won't take anything away from their own console, but it will hurt Sony in the process. Imagine if MS had Bungie develop a DS version of Halo - it would be all over for the PSP.

[Glockstar]

Another interesting MS/Nintendo related turn of events is that Rare is developing DS games now - Diddy Kong Racing DS.

Really? I wonder if they'll put Conker in the game? A hundred bucks says they do.

[mandark]

Yeah I read that too. Interesting stuff. I guess they realized their strategy of going it alone and spending a lotta dinero won't work against such established names as PlayStation and Nintendo.

I personally am probably going to get a Wii shortly after launch, and then wait for a PS3 price drop before getting it. The really truly awesome games for PS3 aren't coming out for a while anyway. I'm not getting 360 for the same reason I didn't want to get an Xbox...many of the games are coming to PC also. I must say, I was disappointed by my purchase of an Xbox, but I see how a non-PC gamer would enjoy such an advantage in a console.
Ditto. I'll be getting a Wii at launch too. Although there are some titles coming for the PS3 that are interesting there is just way too much on my plate to justify getting two next gen consoles right away. My GC, PS2, GBA, and DS will keep me busy for quite a while still, not to mention my PC gaming. I'll probably wait a year before I will even consider a PS3.

I can't consider a 360 either. There is just nothing new to be considered. Great graphics, high res alone jsut doesn't do it for me anymore. I'm looking at this the way I looked at the DS and PSP. I looked at the PSP and said to myself "Why should I spend all this money to play PS1 type games.". The DS on the other hand offered too many new experiences, because of the touchpad, to warrant a purchase. At that note, hopefully, PS3 developers can find creative, fun ways to make use of the 6 axis motion sensor. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[mandark]

Peter Moore is just pointing out a bit of nasty reality that Sony has brought on themselves - you can buy a Wii and a 360 for the price of one PS3. It's just common sense and any gamer who wants value for their money would be a fool to not recognize this.

Wii + 360 > PS3
Hmmm, I see it more like this: Wii + PS3 = Best Combo
Especially for the money. Since Blu-ray players are expected to start out at $1,000 a piece, a $600 PS3 that combines gaming, HDMI, and Blu-ray doesn't sound that bad. I know, I know, PS3 is about gaming. But this is how I justified my PS2 purchase, the DVD player. Since I know that I will get a Blu-ray player eventually, then this is the best course of action for me.

Also, just like how owning a PS2 and GC gives you the best range of games out there, I'm pretty confident that owning a Wii and a PS3 will yield the same results.

Another interesting MS/Nintendo related turn of events is that Rare is developing DS games now - Diddy Kong Racing DS. It's actually a really smart move on MS's part to support the DS as much as possible, it won't take anything away from their own console, but it will hurt Sony in the process. Imagine if MS had Bungie develop a DS version of Halo - it would be all over for the PSP.
Halo on the DS will be interesting. There will be significant visual degregation, but if the control scheme is similar to MP:Hunters, I'm there.

[Mochan]

Well, MS doesn't perceive Nintendo as a threat at all, and it works because Nintendo by their own admission isn't vying for the same niche. And with people reeling over Sony's price announcement, it's a smart move to make, if not the most respectable.

[Gadfly2317]

Another little thing to this has to be MS's hope that people can get their fill of motion-control games on the Wii while sticking to the regular fare on 360.

MS is the lone bird out using 100% Last-Gen control technologies. If control design becomes a big factor--as it likely will--the fact that Ps3 competes in the same market as 360 but has it's games augmented by a more fun, accurate and inuitive control interface. . .that could hurt.

Imagine Crimson Skies with a six-axis tilt control like Ps3 has. But all you'll be able to do is imagine. With Ace Combat, I'm betting the farm you'll be able to experience it.

[Mochan]

Man, Ace Combat with the six-axes control, that would be a freaking blast. Gundam and Macross too. I don't care if Sony is just copy catting Nintendo, I just want 'em games.

[Glockstar]

Since Blu-ray players are expected to start out at $1,000 a piece...

They are? Why would they do that, when HD-DVD players are starting out at $500 a piece?

[ilnadmy]

I also don't want to get a 360 because I want to be the person on the PC fragging poor 360 owners on online RTS and FPS games with my laser-precision optical mouse. Yeah...then 360 owners will start to regret Live Anywhere. Didn't see that coming, did you?

[Mochan]

I really want the convergence of online for Xbox and PC... and we can finally show them dual analogs what real fragging is! RTS would be a joke, it would take God himself to do a 2 minute zergling rush on dual analogues.

[shogun]

I really want the convergence of online for Xbox and PC... and we can finally show them dual analogs what real fragging is! RTS would be a joke, it would take God himself to do a 2 minute zergling rush on dual analogues.

Anyone who ever used a k/b mouse setup on Q3A and Unreal for Dreamcast knows how the controller pales in comparison. I'm a pretty mediocre fps player, but against a controller, I was damn near invincible.

Anyways, merging the two audiences might be great for an "I told you so", but it's going to completely break Live games that depend on movement and accuracy. Bad idea.

[Glockstar]

MS is the lone bird out using 100% Last-Gen control technologies. If control design becomes a big factor--as it likely will--the fact that Ps3 competes in the same market as 360 but has it's games augmented by a more fun, accurate and inuitive control interface. . .that could hurt.

Imagine Crimson Skies with a six-axis tilt control like Ps3 has. But all you'll be able to do is imagine. With Ace Combat, I'm betting the farm you'll be able to experience it.

Uh, the best control-interface for Ace Combat has already been introduced, it came out last year...

http://gearmedia.ign.com/gear/image/article/562/562988/ace-combat-flight-stick-2-20041102054311956.jpg


The best control-interface for racing games has been put out dozens of times too...

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/706/706021/the-new-wireless-fleet-20060508113013798-000.jpg


And the best control interface for fighting games...

Doh! I'm limited to 5 images. Anyways, it's those arcade sticks that I'm trying to picture for you.


The point of all this? The traditional controller - like the 360's - is still the best for all purpose, general gaming. If you want to get specific, then you have to get specific.

The attempts by Nintendo and Sony to nail some specific functions with their gimmicky supposedly all-purpose controllers are going to end up with half-assed results.

Nintendo seems to know this already.

That's why they've already come up with the nunchuk thing...

as well as this...
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/article/651/651559/understanding-the-revolution-controller-20050916041026412-000.jpg

this...
http://gearmedia.ign.com/gear/image/article/707/707508/e3-2006-hands-on-with-the-wii-virtural-console-controller-20060510065246373.jpg

and this...
http://revolutionmedia.ign.com/revolution/image/article/707/707077/e3-2006-light-gun-shell-revealed-20060510113630447-000.jpg

And the system isn't even out yet! Wait until the shortcomings are are more fully revealed, and we'll see how many peripherals and add-ons Nintendo ends up with!

[Gadfly2317]

And the system isn't even out yet! Wait until the shortcomings are are more fully revealed, and we'll see how many peripherals and add-ons Nintendo ends up with!

I'll admit it. We know it. Nintendo rapes it's fans like nobody's business, and I think we pretty much expected about a bazillion peripheral attachments for the wand.

The Wii may turn out to have a lower price tag, but that doesn't mean Nintendo isn't going to bend us over and do it's thing with all those extra gadgets.

[Mochan]

Wasn't aware that the Mouse vs. Controller issues was already resolved way back on the Dreamcast.

I just see it as "educating the masses" on the merits of real FPS gameplay rather than that fake stuff they've been chugging up for the past 4 years. :)


Uh, the best control-interface for Ace Combat has already been introduced, it came out last year...

What brand is that? Can you actually use that on a Playstation? Oh and the best flight sticks were out about 15 years ago during the Golden Age of Sim Games. Those sticks are so old, the Internet wasn't even popular back then! But man those sticks and throttles were freaking authentic, like they were ripped out of an F16. Thrustmaster made the best ones. Their more recent offerings:

http://www.boxgods.com/global/images/articles/thumbs/A161-23-tn.jpg

[Glockstar]

What brand is that? Can you actually use that on a Playstation?

Hori made it. Special for Ace Combat 5. They did a bundle dealio; cost was $130.

Here, read: http://gear.ign.com/articles/562/562988p1.html

And I think Jupiter_x bought it, so if you have more questions you should ask him about it. :p

[Jupiter_x]

And I think Jupiter_x bought it, so if you have more questions you should ask him about it.

You'd Know!

[Jupiter_x]

Wasn't aware that the Mouse vs. Controller issues was already resolved way back on the Dreamcast.

I just see it as "educating the masses" on the merits of real FPS gameplay rather than that fake stuff they've been chugging up for the past 4 years. :)



What brand is that? Can you actually use that on a Playstation? Oh and the best flight sticks were out about 15 years ago during the Golden Age of Sim Games. Those sticks are so old, the Internet wasn't even popular back then! But man those sticks and throttles were freaking authentic, like they were ripped out of an F16. Thrustmaster made the best ones. Their more recent offerings:



Whatever! You and I both know.....The Xbox 360 introduced these nifty gadgets last year! Mochan, what you saw or thought you saw back then was simply in your mind my friend!


Anyone who ever used a k/b mouse setup on Q3A and Unreal for Dreamcast knows how the controller pales in comparison. I'm a pretty mediocre fps player, but against a controller, I was damn near invincible

also don't want to get a 360 because I want to be the person on the PC fragging poor 360 owners on online RTS and FPS games with my laser-precision optical mouse.

Shhhhhhhh.....Please, we don't need the crying and whining to start again do we?

[folken001]

Well, MS doesn't perceive Nintendo as a threat at all, and it works because Nintendo by their own admission isn't vying for the same niche. And with people reeling over Sony's price announcement, it's a smart move to make, if not the most respectable.
As if no one could see through that lame strategy though...