If someone wanted the option to skip the fighting/action in most games, they're insane, everything from platformers to shooters to fighting games to puzzle games is minimally about the story, you don't play any of those (with exceptions I'm sure some have cared about) for the story. But Bioware makes RPGs, which are supposed to be about the story, otherwise I can't see anyone bothering to care about a game where perfect balance in stats is required and never achieved (without guidance or repetitive playthroughs). While skipping the entirety of gameplay really makes you wonder why a person wouldn't just read a (much cheaper) book, or watch a movie with subtitles, the option to pass a particular action scene you don't care about could easily be made into an option, and what's more, could be an excuse to actually make games harder again (in some places), since you can skip the parts you find to be hardest (see: what Nintendo's doing in many of their games, except those games aren't about story). Almost every gamer I've ever talked to has given up at some game, even a modern, multi-million dollar (to produce) epic RPG with a brilliant story, because one part was too difficult for them to pass. Basically, I can very easily see such a feature implemented, and see no reason to hate someone and call them every name in the book that you've not supposed to use merely for suggesting it.
The other two, I could really see either failing. All that needs to happen is for Sony or Microsoft to slip up on something big (delaying system launch a year after the other, not having a much-promised feature, having 'no games' at launch, etc.) and they'll pretty much die to the opposition. Though they won't be dead permanently, as long as they can hold on to their other markets (Sony and their hardware, Microsoft and their computers) they can re-enter later. Nintendo... Well, I'm sure there's still someone out there that'll buy Disney-brand Hanafuda cards. EDIT: Oh yeah, Nintendo also owns a good portion of the Seattle Mariners, for what that's worth. *shrug*
When the Wii gets third-party support, it's not the cross-platform that works best, it's when developers specifically work with the hardware to create a game specifically designed for that platform. When the system got its best third-party software was when third-parties made a game solely on the strengths of the system. The problem is, that cuts out on making games for two systems that are arguably easier to make games for, as well as similar enough that you can design the same game twice and sell it twice, not to mention selling it at a $10 higher price. That's what drove away third-parties from the Wii, or at least putting effort into their titles. For Wii U to fix that, well, it'd have to be more like the other two systems. And if it does that, Nintendo's pretty much dead, as people will just buy one of the other two systems since Nintendo's just become like the others. That's why Nintendo used to have Rare, and now has other third-party manufacturers available to make "second-party" titles. If they can keep up the slack when Nintendo's not sending on games on their own, the Wii U will stay alive and Nintendo will last until the next generation. The "casual" market is highly forgiving as well, just keep sending them the games they like and you've got enough breathing room to send out something big for "everyone else" later, rather than not making it at all or shoving it out half-baked.
So, the XBOX 3 and PS4 have an advantage over the Wii U because a majority of Gamespot users plan to buy the former over the latter? I'm sorry Gamespot, but while I may like you better than the others, your fanbase isn't really the entirety of gaming. :P
So this has descended into a massive argument about which game is better and whether or not writing about favorite games in a series is a proper tribute. If I wanted a comments list this lacking in quality, I'd go to IGN.
Never played it, never will now I guess. MMOs may seem fun for a while, but as they've the bad habit of dying and having all your progress eternally nullified, I'll be staying out. I do wish to know though: Who won?
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