The Wii won, but for how long?

Fact: Wii of Nintendo is on the track in order to sell PS2 in greater amount diregolazione of Sony to 115 million sold units. That one is second the data comparative you of sales of NPD for both systems. Nobody other section commandos has sold more fastly in the relati to you first eight months of availability that the Wii.

In spite of relative undisputed the happened one it begins them, however, several pandit of industry remain unconvinced. “The will of Wii sbiad, „says, suggesting that to the movement-controls of the novel of the machine and the antiquated technology of the diagrams soon indurranno the system to wane in the popolarità.

They are probably of right, admitting one of two action plans. Action plan To: Nintendo and/or the third party-left relati ones to you is incapable of transport of the software forcing during the cycle of life of the Wii (for how much long that it can be). Or action plan B: That Nintendo will not free a successor of Wii before the duration to traditional quinquennial warehouse expires.

In spite of that gamers about nucleus they can think, Nintendo has introduced cargos on the market of forcing software up to now. To notice the use “of of marketing of „in transported contrast with “. „The posterior one is up to the gamer specific to decide, while the previous one is up completely to Nintendo. And they have made a job shining up to now that it says the world to that more they made the domestic section commandos amusing. The perception is all and Nintendo possesses it at the moment. Because of this, continuous people to swallow on Wiis and the editori of thirds party have games more I excluded to you next for the system that is Xbox 360 that PS3 consequently.

Just playing with my Wii

I know that there is the art of Venice and the columns of Greece and beer of Germany awaiting you through the pond, but wonders pale to be tested over there compared to the disappointment which you will suffer when you return. If you left a friend behind, your whole voyage will be dirtied of mud in calls of telephone at the artificial hours of the day because it can never obtain the line of change of time, a fortune spent on the phone cards, and “hath of hell of no reaction fury” if you have temerity to turn over to the house without remembering each simple stop along the manner.

The weeks first will seem like any other hour with share. It will answer your calls of telephone, hold you with the current of all your back house of friends, of bitch about how much it hates to work, etc Bientôt, however, the calls of telephone will take longer with the answer, the conversation more moved away, and you will obtain the feeling which it does not lend really the attention to you. And it is because it is not - it plays part 8 of Mario and car profit of his of the lately rectified qualifications of masturbation in the mini-play where you must shake the can of noise until it bursts.

Thus, you choose to leave your man to the house for the summer while you it France and crossing Italy gallivant and these other countries by which gallivanting is popular, not to obtain the inversion when you turn over to the house to find it to make the sexy eyes with his new piece of material. After can't all, your vagina play Zelda, can now it?

RE 4 Gets Its Waggle On

The resident edition of Wii of badly the 4 had something of a silenced advertising campaign in the E.E.U.U. One of the dominant components, nevertheless, was the first connection of the game.

The particular warning to the way pays that the movement that detects controls changes the game, repealing to the resident veterans and the “newbies” of the 4 to the license badly that love the movement of the Wii that detects controls. “The base of the advertising campaign was centered in giving a very simple message:

“The resident edition of Wii of badly the 4 gives a new way reciprocally to build with the superior license of acción/de the horror of the world.” The campaign itself pointed the ventilators of the newer base and gamers of the Wii. We focused to majority of ours we happened in line - no surprise there - and worked several programs through our site of the community, Capcom-Unity.com.

Totals, éramos very guessed right in reaching to players brandnew as well as those gamers of the base that had been exposed previously to the game. “He is hard to say if the Wii attracts mature games in the long term, but for now, the system has demonstrated that its hearing not hardly has taste of a variety of titles and of the variety of the “kiddie”. When it is asked if the success of the resident edition of Wii of badly the 4 demonstrates that the consumers wish more “madurarte” and “to clear the heart” to the titles in Wii, Symon responded, “that is our belief, and I create [is] the belief of Nintendo also. People describe generally the Wii like system of the “family”, who can lead to the impressions that are a system of the “kiddie”. The GameCube had a very similar opinion, and the resident evil series did very well in that platform also. Realist, the “family” means each one in the house, nonright cabritos underneath 17. The market of Wii can definitively support the titles that cover an ample variety with sorts and degrees.”

Wii Want High-Def (How About You?)

Wouldn't it be nice if you could play Zelda: Twilight Princess in glorious 720 or 1080p instead of a blurry, jaggy 480? How about Metroid Prime 3? Super Mario Galaxy? Kitty Luv?

Okay, skip Kitty Luv. Or don't and mark your calendar. (Who names these things?) In any case, no one can really deny the fact that the Wii looks best when you're poised a half dozen feet away and paying as little attention to the visual trimmings as possible. Unless you're squinting or half-blind, close inspection of any Wii game reveals a lot of blah compared to the crisp organic fantasy-scapes in a game like Overlord (Xbox 360) or what I've seen so far of Factor 5's eye-boggling Lair (Playstation 3).

So how about a high-res version of the Wii?

I tease because I love, but seriously: Always provocative Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter suggests Wii-to-the-power-of-2 could in fact be zipping our way as early as 2009.

"Consumers may hope for improved graphics, and my guess is that Nintendo will comply," said Pachter in an email to GamePro.

"In two or three years, commodity prices for graphics processors and CPUs may decline to the point that a High Definition Wii could be introduced. If so, Nintendo will likely introduce one," he added.

Fans though we are, GamePro's not wrong to finger the contention dogging Nintendo's wunder-console that consumers will flock to better looking A-list games when the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 finally spit out more than an annual handful. What's more, the worldwide market for HDTV is expected to grow to nearly 148 million households over the next four years, spurred by demand for flat-screen TVs, sports-driven content, higher availability of HD content, and more competitive pricing for HD services. Consumers are going to want something that shows off their newest $1000-plus toy.

My own caveats about the value of an Xbox 360 or PS3 in terms of total ownership expenses only hold up so long, as each of us gradually pieces together Dolby 5.1 systems with high grade digital receivers, studio-quality speakers, and finger-thin organic light-emitting diode screen living room centerpieces. A high-definition Wii might make perfect sense in two years, when the HD market's not as dodgy and dithering between Blu-ray and HD DVD standards.

Imagine: A backward compatible Wii2 that enhances older Wii games (just as compatible Xbox games look twice as sharp on the Xbox 360), plays some form of high-def media, and can compete tolerably well CPU/GPU-wise with the Xbox 360 and PS3. I sometimes wonder if Nintendo, with its habit of introducing new Gameboy iterations every couple years, might not have the better philosophy by in essence giving us more of less.

Could it be another manifestation of the so-called "long tail" effect?

Vancouver Gym Using The Nintendo Wii

Numerous gyms around the world are starting to embrace the Nintendo Wii as a legitimate way to get in shape. Although the Wii may not be the most effective form of working out, I think it’s a great option that could really give some people the added motivation they need. Anyone who has worked out before knows how important motivation is when it comes to getting in shape. They probably also realize how hard it is to keep motivation going. Nintendo has been tying in healthy living to video games for many years. Some of you may remember the fitness peripherals from back in the NES days when it all started. I’m a little surprised to see gyms embracing the Nintendo Wii, considering it could be easily purchased and used at home, but I am pleased to see that this gym in particular seems to be taking a responsible approach to fitting the Wii into an overall workout routine.

Studeo55 fitness center has just put a Nintendo Wii gaming system in their gym, where clients can challenge their personal trainers to sporty video games and feel the burn in a very high-tech way.

The Wii console offers simulated sports like boxing, tennis, and bowling, and gym owner Nathan Mellalieu says it’s been a big hit among his patrons.

But while having the latest Nintendo console in the gym may seem like a potential fitness distraction, Mellalieu says the use of the Wii comes with some healthy rules.

He explains, “We highly suggest our clients pick very physically active sports like boxing or tennis to play on the Wii because those ones get their heart rates up. Our clients use it in three minute intervals, which is just enough to have fun and burn calories, but not too long to get sucked into playing video games their entire workout.”

Exclusive Rockstar Game in Development for PS3

Rockstar and Sony are up to their old exclusivity tricks with a brand new game franchise just for the PS3.

On the latest episode of Spike TV's GameHead, Sony teased a brand new PS3 exclusive franchise that Rockstar Games is doing. Michael Shorrock, Sony's director of 3rd Party relations, talked more about the game on Sony's official blog July 27.

Actually, he didn't blog about the game as much as the relationship between Rockstar and Sony. With Grand Theft Auto IV going cross platform, many have speculated that the two companies aren't as tight as they used to be. Not so, Shorrock says.

"We have had incredible success with the GTA franchise and are happy to continue to offer those titles on our platforms, and even more excited about what’s to come from the current and future relationship between our companies. Rockstar really wanted to make a game that you can truly only do on PS3, harnessing the power of CELL and Blu-ray disc and this deal lets them do just that.. This is really a win-win situation for both companies."

Shorrock said Sony promised Rockstar they wouldn't reveal too many details about the new game yet. He did make sure to mention it is not the previously seen 50's detective-movie themed game L.A. Noire, but an all new, as yet unseen franchise.

Tempus: Reinventing the Wii

Nintendo's first-quarter net profits have soared five-fold as it aims its Wii products to a widfer audience

Putting differing accounting standards aside for a moment, last year Nintendo was more profitable per employee than Google. With Nintendo's profits soaring fivefold in the first quarter, to ¥80.25 billion (£326 million), and Google adding employees at a rate of knots, the gap might just widen this year.

The comparison shines a light on a part of Nintendo's success story that has perhaps so far been overshadowed by its mission to snare unlikely new gamers — older people and women — through snappy hardware and unusual games. Nintendo, it turns out, is a remarkably lean and thifty shop in an industry that has become renowned for flabby largesse.

For years, manufacturers have developed and sold consoles as loss leaders in order to profit from larger margins on software later. In that tradition, Sony committed itself, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, to co-developing the PlayStation 3's powerful Cell processor from scratch. The engineers were let off the leash. Indeed, one rumour says that Howard Stringer, the Sony chief executive, was unaware of the cost of the PS3 until the last minute.

By contrast, for the Wii, Nintendo bought a much cheaper central processor off the shelf. The key chips that go into the now-famous “Wiimote” cost about £1.25 apiece. Again, they were bought in from outside.

The result: Nintendo is making a profit on every Wii sold — something in the region of $20 to $30 seems to be a fair guess. Sony, meanwhile, is losing as much as $200 on every PS3.

The cost differentials spill into software: developers can make as many as four Wii titles for the same price as one PS3 game, says one estimate. If Nintendo continues to command the attention of third-party developers in the way it is at the moment, the resulting library of games can only reinforce the appeal of its hardware — in turn creating a market for its own software.

Yes, the Wii could yet have a far shorter lifespan than the PS3. But the real fear for Sony is that Nintendo is not only reinventing gameplay with cute controllers, but that it is mangling the accepted economics of its industry.

Wii waves a magic wand for Nintendo

Nintendo has raised its financial targets for this year after quadrupling quarterly profits on the back of strong demand for its Wii games console and DS handheld device.


The computer gaming giant recorded a pre-tax profit of 131bn yen between April and June, a 302% jump on the same quarter of 2006.


Nintendo has now raised its profits forecast for the current financial year, to March 31 2008, by 40%. Shares in the company rose by 3.6% today to a new high of 56,800 yen (£229).



Last month it overtook Sony to become the 10th most valuable Japanese company.


The motion-sensitive Wii console has been a surprise hit since launching in November 2006, leading to worldwide shortages. Nintendo sold 3.4m units in the last three months, taking its total sales to 9.27m.


The Wii has appealed to a non-traditional audience as well as typical gamers, with its wireless controller that can be simulate playing tennis or bowling as well as sword fighting or steering a truck.


Sales of Nintendo's DS console were also strong with almost 70m units sold, taking total sales to over 47m. One of its most popular games is "Brain Age", a puzzle game that aims to improve mental agility.

Madden NFL 08 New Nintendo Wii Screenshots and Details

Anyone can play like a pro in Madden NFL 08, whether a new user or a long time fan. Play with only the Wii remote with EA SPORTS Family Play or use the Wii remote and nunchuck for more advanced controls; the decision is yours. Featuring an all-new Party Mode, play trivia or chose from 22 different mini-games. Break down plays and highlight key moments with all-new Madden NFL 08 telestrator. Bring the game online, play head to head with friends and keep up to date with the live sports ticker for the ultimate online experience.

Features:

• FUN, ACCESSIBLE FAMILY PLAY: Now anybody can play using the new EA SPORTS Family Play mode. Simple Wii-remote-base controls and in-game feedback make this the most accessible Madden NFL ever.
  

• JOIN THE PARTY: Enhance your skills, challenge rivals, or play against a group of friends for ultimate bragging rights in 22 adrenaline-pumping mini-games.
  
• ALL-NEW READ AND REACT SYSTEM: Scan the field to identify individual strengths and weaknesses before every play. Read, react, and exploit mismatches to gain the upper hand.
  

• SHOW ‘EM WHAT YOU GOT: Use the Wii remote to diagram key moments on the Madden NFL 08 telestrator, highlighting key blocks, moves, and more after each play.
  
• ALL-NEW ONLINE PLAY: Challenge friends and rivals online for the first time on the Wii. Go head-to-head in Play Now mode, take aim at players atop the leaderboard, and get up-to-the-minute scores and updates with the sports ticker.

Nintendo consoles dominate software top ten

Sales of the Nintendo Wii have now passed the 3 million mark in Japan, according to the latest figures from Media Create.

In the week ending July 15, just under 110,000 Wii units were sold. DS sales have now reached 18 million, with 142,000 sold during the same week.

PSP sales rose by 12 per cent to reach 37,500, while 15,800 PS2 units were sold. The figure for PlayStation 3 fell by 500 units to hit 13,500.

There was more success for Nintendo when it came to the software chart, with every title in the top ten published for either DS or Wii.

In at No. 1 was Wii title Dragon Quest Swords, of which more than 305,000 units were sold during its debut week. Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass was at two, followed by new entry My Housekeeping Diary in third place.

Wii Sports remains popular at No. 4, followed by DS Ganriki Training, Hajimete no Wii and Chikasete! Chibi-Robo! at seven.

The top ten was rounded out with three new entries - Kirarin Revolution, Monster Rancher DS and Rockman ZX Advent.

New PS3 controller set to have more new features

In an interview on Kikizo, Sony Computer Entertainment's global President Kaz Hirai said that rumble is ‘obviously’ being looked at now that legal issues with Immersion are out of the way, but then added: "We're also looking at a variety of other things that we can incorporate with the controller, and we'll come out with announcements when we think we have the right mix of features."

Hirai pointed out that the PlayStation controller has always been an evolving peripheral, citing the original no-frills PS1 controller. "It's come all the way to this point... it's not the final model for a PS3 controller."

Although specifics are yet to be revealed, we’re wondering if the next evolution of the controller could be one of the anticipated Leipzig announcements…

Wii and Xbox 360 Get Pushed Around By Rockstar's Bully

By Tim Lyons

On the heels of Rockstar's announcement of Table Tennis for the Wii, comes the news of Bully being released later this year for the 360 and Wii. The game was previously released on the PS2 late last year, and was easily considered as one of those "diamonds in the rough" we gamers often hear about. The game, even before its release, was given a lot of slack for its content -- despite many of the critics making these claims without seeing or playing the game -- and was even considered for a potential retail ban in Europe. Silly critics and their sensationlistic tripe. In the end though, it actually all came down to no more than a name change and a "Teen" rating.

Bully follows the exact same structure as most other recent Rockstar games, insofar that gamers have a lot of choices, freedom, mini-games and options in how they play the game. It's actually quite contrary to the name of the game, which might prompt players to believe that it's all about being a bully. Primarily, gamers will try to fit in around school, whisper sweet nothings into girls' ears, and be the all around likable (or hated) guy. Given its open-ended structure, it's really all up to you.

The same goes for this re-release of Bully. Only this time around there will be new goals and more mini-games. Rockstar -- just like a lot of other publishers who are too lazy to make a new game based on a previous-gen formula -- has conspicuously promised gamers all new "exclusive" content for the Wii and 360 versions. And assuming Jack Thompson doesn't bomb their main headquarters with missiles fueled on hatred, the R-Star plans to release the revamped Bully this upcoming holiday season for the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. I, for one, missed this game the first time around. But since I have all the current gaming systems it's going to be re-released on, I'm definitely going to give this game a shot.