• 3Oct 07

  Why the Wii will win the war

  The Wii will NEVER drop below the XBox 360 or PS3 in total sales, for a few key reasons:
  1. Microsoft couldn't sell rice or raw fish in Japan. The Japanese people have loyalites to Sony & Nintendo, and for the most part, won't buy a Microsoft console.
  2. Sony's PS3 is over-priced. Well, maybe it's a good deal for the hardware that's inside the console, but most consumers aren't willing to pay that much for a video game console...especially when they have cheaper alternatives.
  3. The main reason the Wii will win this generations' console wars is because Nintendo has practically cornered (and created) the casual gamer market. Basically the hard-core gamer consists of all those that played video games in the pre-Wii era. The casual gamers are all those that DID NOT play video games. Obviously, there are a lot more casual gamers than hard-core gamers...and Nintendo knows they can make a boat load of money off the casual gamers. Just wait until Wii Fit comes out. Every overweight American will want to own a Wii.
  I'm old school and consider myself to be a hard-core gamer, but I must admit that I love Wii Sports. For replayability, it's got to be up there with some of the greatest games ever like Ms. Pac Man...and it's a great multi-player game.

  I'm happy for Nintendo's recent success, and I can't wait to play with some of their new innovations in the future.

  • Posted Oct 3, 2007 12:33 pm PT
  • Category: Games
  • 0 Comments
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
• 7Mar 06

  Classic Gaming -- In the palm of your hand!

  Back in the day, I never would have imagined what would become of many of the classic video games of my childhood.  Walk down the toy aisle at any Target (or other "discount" store) and you will most definitely come across some of those old games.  You know what I'm refering to if you are familiar with the Plug (it in) & Play series.  Nowadays, you can actually buy a little, stand alone controller that has several classic arcade games in it.  Just plug it into the appropriate A/V plugs and you're all set (front A/V plugs on the TV have never been more useful).  Now, I know you can just buy the "Classic" compilation game for whatever system you have, for probably about the same price, but it's just not the same.  Take the Ms. Pacman controller/system.  The controller is a stick, with a little ball on top, almost exactly like the arcade.  While it is a little stiff, and you have to hold the controller firmly, it still takes me back to the good old days, when pumped many a quarter into a Ms. Pacman game (and oh how I envied that "Silver Spoons" kid!)  Another great game on the Ms. Pacman controller is Pole Position.  Pole Position is a solid racing game, but the home console experience is neve quite the same as the arcade, unless you have the expensive wheel set up.  Well, the controls on this particular version are right on.  Instead of pushing the stick right or left, the whole ball on the stick actually twists.  Just twist it to turn.  Plus, there is some resistance when you are twisting, so you can really get a good feel for the turns.  It is definitely the best version of Pole Position since the arcade. 

  Oh yeah, I bought this just before Christmas, when it was on sale for $10!  I had never thought that I would be able to play classic games is this manner.  Since the games on the Ms. Pacman controller are such perfect ports of the original arcade games, I may just have to pick up the Frogger and Pacman controllers too.  (Especially if I find them for 10 bucks...hey, I'm cheap!)

  • Posted Mar 7, 2006 12:30 pm PT
  • 0 Comments
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg

See Previous Blog Posts »