The Wii - The only pure gaming console?

[PirateThom]

I have noticed a worrying trend with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 recently.

They both seem to have adopted a lot of PC-like tendancies.

The PlayStation 3 has the obvious problem of demos/downloaded games requiring to be decompressed and installed as well as the mandatory installs for some games and hard drive caches, as well as good things like modding and KB/M set ups.

On the other hand, the 360's archtecture making deving easier coupled with things like recommended and minimum specifications (HDD required to play Burnout Paradise Online and MLB 2K8 not being able to hold all the date on the disc, so requiring it to be downloaded for free), which forces you to buy an upgrade as needs be.

Both also have the major, major problem of patching, games can be unfinished and updates released at a later date to fix problems. While both also have an "everything in one" approach.

Meanwhile, the humble Wii, with its "last gen" tech, is the only pure gaming console on the market. While both the PS3 and the 360 are marketed as media centres (anyone who doesn't think Marketplace indicates this is deluding themselves) and work like PCs in many respects, the Wii just plays games, no DVD, minimal music support and Channels which are just there to fill space... but it's purely for gaming.

Next gen, the PS4 and 720 might as well just be PCs with controllers, if they're going to keep this up.

Discuss.

[Leonidas]

Wow!

Nice piece PirateThom, you nailed it.

The trend of consoles becoming like PC's really crept up on us [I mean, the first Xbox, sure, but since then], I think, I hadn't really even thought about it til you spelled it out just now.

No wonder they say PC gaming is dead!

[Shpeshal Ed]

now if only the Wii had games, I'd agree with you.

[Leonidas]

Oooooh, IT'S ON!!



Actually... No... No, it's not.

[Shpeshal Ed]

Originally Posted by Leonidas

Oooooh, IT'S ON!!



Actually... No... No, it's not.

Everything Thom said is right. I agree whole heartedly.

The only thing the Wii needs now to be considered a PURE gaming console is a really diverse QUALITY library of games. Right now, it doesn't have that unfortunately.

I mean, at the moment I have 8 games on the Wii. I had Nights but it was garbage so I returned it.

WiiSports (came with the console)
WiiPlay (came with the Wiimote)
Metroid 3 (BARELY different from 1 and 2 on Cube)
Zelda (Cube game)
Ghost Squad (3 year old SEGA arcade game)
Links Crossbow Training (demo that comes with Platics accessory)
Wario Ware Smooth Moves (bloated DS game for Wii remote)
Mario Galaxy (Great game that takes Mario 64 and adds 3D worlds to it)

The scary part is, I've probably listed MOST of the good to great games on the Wii (At least in Australia anyway, we only just got Zack and Wiki now and I'd rather try it first).

[PirateThom]

On that bombshell:

Metacritic:

Wii - 13 games rated over 80
PlayStation 3 - 42 games rated over 80

I'm just using this as an example to account for how close they launched to each other. If Wii gets a decent boost, it could really be special.

[Dax]

I would have to say that you should worry more about the PS3 than the 360. What is one of the MAIN aspects of a console? Put the disc in and play (basically plug-in and play); this isn't so with the PS3.

And I don't see the point with Burnout requiring a hard drive-that isn't Microsoft's fault.

[vrrroom]

Less features and customization options is good!

[Shpeshal Ed]

Originally Posted by PirateThom

On that bombshell:

Metacritic:

Wii - 13 games rated over 80
PlayStation 3 - 42 games rated over 80

I'm just using this as an example to account for how close they launched to each other. If Wii gets a decent boost, it could really be special.

told you. The truth hurts to many of this Nintendo-centric forum.

[PirateThom]

Originally Posted by Dax

And I don't see the point with Burnout requiring a hard drive-that isn't Microsoft's fault.

Core pack - not Microsoft's fault.