Wii versus...Well, everyone
I came across a few interesting articles recently which are Nintendo and Wii focused but do a pretty good job of comparing the new console (and company) to other things; other consoles, other companies, and even those other company's strategies.
For example, Daily Game has a great article explaining how the Wii might just save the console game market. This is because unlike the PS3 and 360 whose audiences are generally older, hard core gamers, the Wii is aiming for a younger audience. The teens, tweens and even youngers. My take is this: Nintendo hopes to attract this "new" audience now and keep them through the hardcore gaming years with better and more advanced consoles over time.
And then there's the story on ArsTechnica.
In this article they explain the differences between the "behind the scenes" marketing strategies of Nintendo and Microsoft.
They compare how Nintendo has willingly accepted a lower profit margin in an effort to encourage retailers to sell the Wii over its competitors.
This may or may not be true, but they do make a compelling point. Think of Nintendo as the Wal-Mart of the console makers - opting for a higher volume at a lower gross profit. It kinda makes sense when you think about it. After all, if you get more consoles out in the market, that encourages game makers to make more games. After all, the more games they have out there the more money they make and the more apt they are to be supportive of future console releases. This kinda goes hand in hand with the Daily Game article.
Finally today is a bit by TheStar.com. In it they compare handhelds of the past (Sega's Game Gear and Nintendo's GameBoy) and show how Nintendo has been superior in the past at marketing an obviously inferior product, through both the ability to relate to it's target market and the complete lack of understanding held by the competition. The article goes on to surmise that, if the same holds true in the console market, Sony is set to take a beating at the hands of Nintendo.
Sure the PS3 is technologically superior, but the company also appears to have a superiority complex in that it expects the PS3 to dominate the market. Between Blu-Ray and PS3 Sony thinks it will be top dog in the year(s) to come. But we all know what happened with the Sony-backed Betamax. (Ok maybe you're a little young to remember that, but I was there. I saw it - Beta was superior, but VHS was cheaper. Notice any similarities?)
So, will Sony crash and burn? I doubt it. But will Nintendo surprise everyone to become an "A" player in the console game? I believe so. I think 2007 will hold a lot of suprises for gamers.
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