There is a new wave of rumors discussing the possible release of a Nintendo Wii 2 game console that will include high-definition content and Blu-ray Disc support.
Similar to the Sony PlayStation 3, the new Wii 2 is rumored to have an HD output and built-in Blu-ray drive, but it’s unknown when Nintendo will announce the mystical console, or if it’s even real.
The addition of streaming content and more interactive services offered through the Xbox 360 and PS3 has forced Nintendo to shake things up. The PS3 ships with a built-in Blu-ray player, while Microsoft relies on Xbox Live to support Netflix and other streaming content — Nintendo has added Netflix and other basic streaming services, but the lack of Blu-ray or HD are seen as major disadvantages for their console.
I’m not fully convinced Nintendo would try to integrate Blu-ray into the Wii 2, because it’d be cheaper to start with HD support only. In addition, Microsoft has had great success with its paid Xbox Live service that doesn’t include Blu-ray, while Sony has Blu-ray and the free PlayStation Network for PS3 gamers.
The Wii held a significant lead over the Xbox 360 and PS3 since its launch, as gamers were instantly drawn to the Wiimote, the Nintendo party games and its lower price tag. Since then, the lead has shrunk while Microsoft and Sony offer new streaming features, HD content, downloads, and other features that the Wii still lacks.
Another common complaint is that the Wii game catalog isn’t as appealing as the Xbox 360 or PS3 — though Nintendo is working to fix this issue. Sony and Microsoft recently cut pricing on their consoles. Nintendo had a $50 price cut last September, which brought the price of the Wii down to $199. I think it’s unlikely the Wii will receive another price cut, even with the addition of a new HD model launch.
14 Comments
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Originally Posted by Blu-rayFreak
The common perception is that the Wii is just a toy. They are in dire need of a hardware upgrade in order to compete better with PS3 and Xbox 360. Who wants to play pixelly low resolution games?
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Anyway, the real reason I think the Wii sucks is that you aren't using standard controllers. I find the motion control very annoying. It's harder to play games because you need to bring physical action into them. You can't just have the four main buttons at the tip of your thumb. I think that there's a reason the PS3 was made to use traditional controllers.
While I'm not a fan of the series, I've played multi-player mode on one of the newer CoD games on both the Xbox and the Wii. I found it idiotic that only one player can move around in the Wii version. Where's the second character? Is he sitting on the other's shoulders?
One final note is that I find it hard to even select options in the menus of the Wii and its games. You need to have a VERY steady arm/hand.
I've obviously enjoyed many low resolution games in times past, including pong! But with the proliferation of HDTV's in current times, it almost hurts your eyes to go backwards when you're used to enjoying High Definition content.
Lots of Blocks
I have no trouble whatsoever using the wii ... although admittedly, I have to duck a little to get my arm to the right height for the sensor to pick up the controller properly when navigating menus ....
If you're having trouble using the menu's, have you tried adjusting the wii sensor - in the software / menu?
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Originally Posted by Blu-rayFreak
Okay, what I should've said is "Who wants to play low resolution pixelly games on a high definition television?"
I've obviously enjoyed many low resolution games in times past, including pong! But with the proliferation of HDTV's in current times, it almost hurts your eyes to go backwards when you're used to enjoying High Definition content. |
(Note: Just got a Wii last month. Comparison is to friend's systems bought shortly after Wii release.)
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Originally Posted by BradWright
This comment is based solely on observation, since I don't really play games on any of the consoles. My son has a Wii and an XBox 360. He mostly uses the XBox, but occassionally uses the Wii as a change of pace. It looks to me like the games he plays on the XBox have their different characters, different weapons, and different scenery, but the actual game play itself, they're all basically the same game. It seems to me that the Wii has a bigger variety of games that are actually not just different variations of the same game.
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I personally like to stay away from any first person shooters. Just about the only series I can stand is the Half-Life franchise. Tons of thought is put into creating outstanding story lines. The game isn't senseless running around and shooting. You constantly have to solve puzzles to progress. The environment is very interactive (especially in the second game). Hell, they even bother to throw in a physics engine for the second game. I understand that by today's standards, the graphics of the original Half-Life and its expansions are "crap", but I'd sacrifice good graphics for a great game any day.
By the way, I don't own any of these consoles either. The only console I've ever owned is the Sega Dreamcast, which I still use today. (Yes, I know that almost all of the Dreamcast games sucked, but its homebrew abilities are amazing. You don't even need a mod chip).
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Originally Posted by Grim107
Anyway, the real reason I think the Wii sucks is that you aren't using standard controllers. I find the motion control very annoying. It's harder to play games because you need to bring physical action into them. You can't just have the four main buttons at the tip of your thumb. I think that there's a reason the PS3 was made to use traditional controllers.
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If it's a more substantial GPU/CPU overhaul wake me up please!
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Originally Posted by GotBeer?
You do realize that "very annoying" motion control is the Wii's biggest selling point? 'The Force Unleashed' and 'MadWorld' wouldn't be near as much fun if all I was doing was mashing buttons.
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Originally Posted by Grim107
Anyway, the real reason I think the Wii sucks is that you aren't using standard controllers. I find the motion control very annoying. It's harder to play games because you need to bring physical action into them. You can't just have the four main buttons at the tip of your thumb. I think that there's a reason the PS3 was made to use traditional controllers.
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As mentioned before . . . it wouldn't be as much fun to bowl if all you did was press X and O.
this gives mass market advantage and core rebuttal.
all three consoles see this advantage.
only time will revel true interactive play as the future.
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