Opiate said:
The Wii clearly has the most profit potential of the three current consoles, but it's also the most difficult to tap. Many developers would prefer to take the tried and true, safer route, even if that means less profit. And I don't think the shareholders will automatically disagree with that notion.
Very true... but this can come back and bite them. Because if the majority of consumers PREFER the new style to the old style.. you are going to end up with a NEW EA creating Wii games that people want to play, and the original EA, Activision, Square, etc left trying to catch up.
I mean we are already seeing it right now! The number one SELLING CONSOLE IN THE WORLD is the console WITHOUT Halo 3, DMC4, Grand Theft Auto (we'll see, but it's a pretty safe bet), Metal Gear Solid (again, a pretty safe bet), etc, and a console that through technical limitations and installed userbase prevents them from throwing some quick spinoff/downport to the system to keep the franchise alive there. That HAS TO be a pretty scary reality for Capcom, Konami, Take-Two, Square, etc to contend with.
I realize the hardcore gamers either hate it or don't care enough to be bothered with it, but seriously, as a gamer since 1980 this is probably one of the most interesting times in the video game industry that I remember, if only because this is the first shift that has occurred in the industry since its inception that wasn't just about making the existing industry more appealing to a wider group of users. And it's working. I don't hink even the analysts have a clear picture on where the industry is going to be by 2009 or 2010.
Neo C. said:
Take the PES example: Konami now has a solid fundament and can make some good profits in the next few years with the next iterations. The big userbase offers huge potential profits, some teams will (or have to?) try finding a way to succeeding on the Wii.
PES will be an example used all this year and beyond I have a feeling. It could be the very catalyst to everything that's being talked about in this thread. If PES Wii sales spike, it could very well become the lead version. PES players would actually seek out the Wii as their preferred platform to play the game on.
It's possible, and in many more genres than football. But IF it happens, it will take baby steps, and might not even see fruition this generation.
As I said, Nintendo forced a change on the industry that the industry wasn't ready to adopt. If Nintendo can continue to remain relevant, especially if they can continue to be the sales leader, companies are going to start figuring out how to makes serious money off of its 20M, 24M, 30M, 35M, etc userbase.
But for this to happen, I have a feeling Nintendo will have to lead the charge themselves and KEEP themselves relevant and the sales leader... because it certainly isn't going to happen based even in large part on current third party support. It's definitely possible for them to do this.. just far from guaranteed. Although all they really need is another Nintendogs, Wii Sports, Animal Crossing, etc. Actually, thinking about it, Wii Fit is pretty much make or break for Nintendo. If Wii Fit fails, I have a feeling that eventually Nintendo will take a sound 2nd place to "HD gaming" in the mass market this gen. If Wii Fit succeeds, Nintendo could very well quell "HD gaming" in the eyes of the mass market for the remainder of the generation.