Wii graphically the low man on the totem pole [update 1]

@ Issac

I'm with you. I don't care weather or not a game has the best graphics in the world, that does NOT make the game. I have been a firm Nintendo supporter since the begining; their games were more about FUN than GRAPHICS. I admit, PS3 and X-Box 360 are two of the best graphics engines I have EVER seen. But that does NOT make the game. What makes the game is the gameplay. I also admit that the Playstation has had some of the greatest games I have ever played - Metal Gear Solid, Kingdom Hearts, Ratchet and Clank (Spyro included), Jak and Daxter (Crash included), and Sly Cooper. Those games were FUN. I hope that Sony keeps up with some of those franchises, but how many equaly fun franchies does Nintendo have? A WHOLE LOT.

I hope I never see the day Nintendo buckles to the bloodlust, gore, and sex the other consoles have. I hope, if I ever get the honor to make my own games for them, that I will not bow to it either. Sure, one of my bigger ideas is a mature one, but I do admit every console needs something like that! That keeps players of all ages in! But I beg that we will never see a bloody Mario game...

The only problem, Ben, with Microsoft and Sony making an "X Remote" and "PS3 Remote" is that Nintendo has patented their controller design back and forth, up and down, and side to side. They try something, Nintendo will sue their pants off. And will likely win, too.

@41 Darth Pixel
"What does it do for me?
It's not my duty to teach developers or manufacturers how to make a profit."

Lower development costs = more attractive for game developers
more attraction for game developers = likely more games for Wii
more games for Wii = benefit to consumers

Nintendo makes a profit = Nintendo has money to take risks
Nintendo can take risks = more 1st party games, new genres
more 1st party games and new genres = benefit to consumers

ALSO

Nintendo makes a profit on the hardware = Nintendo doesn't have to recoup losses with the sale of games and accessories
Nintendo doesn't have to recoup = games don't dramatically increase in price
games don't dramatically increase in price = benefit to consumers

# 50

Microsoft and Sony obviously would use the exact same type of interface, the idea is that for every rumble pack, their is a dual shock (bad example as sony did get sued on that one) but you get the point.

As for Nintendo being profitable equally all those Sunny things you talk about, wasn't the Gamecube profitable? Nintendo is a smart company for maximizing profits. That doesn't mean they are your friends. They do things that best represent their own interests and the interest of their stockholders. If that wasn't the case, we would be looking at a $199 Wii perhaps with a second controller.

What I find unfortunate is the rash of people who seem to suggest that fun and graphics are mutually exclusive. Stop for a momemnt and think about this. If Nintendo conquered the world and in the process destroyed Microsoft, took out Bill Gates (Allard to just for kicks) and then subsequently bought out Sony and rebranded the PS3 as the PS iii. Would you not be excited to see how Zelda, Metroid and Mario would look and play with that horsepower under the hood?

sorry should say "wouldn't use the exact same type of interface" or if you like, it can just be a sarcastic statement too.

My God, Wii is not slightly better graphically than GC. First off the CPU is clocked at 729mhz while GC's was at 400+ mhz. Its the same architecture, just 75% faster. The GPU will have the same architecture and probably 2x the speed. Wii has much more RAM than GC. Stop saying Wii is on par with Xbox in graphics. Its better. Wii has HDR so the lighting will be close to on par with PS3 and Xbox 360.

Wii won't have nearly the same level of physics, ai, environment drawing distance, texture quality, AA, and picture sharpness as the PS3 and 360. Both the PS3 and 360 give you a very sharp picture and beautiful textures.

@51. Since Nintendo is making a profit on the Wii console, why are they gouging us for a Nunchuk?

Nunchuk gouging = bad for customers
bad for customers = lower sales of hardware
lower sales of hardware = less $$$ for Nintendo

Dammit, Joystiq, what did I say? NO MORE SONY FANBOYS POSTING!!! BAD BLOG!!!

I wish people would stop calling the Wii a beefed-up Gamecube. The statement originated with developers who were pleased with the Wii developer kit's ease of programming due to its similarity to the GC one. It did NOT originate with journalists who were displeased with the Wii's graphical capabilities, which are, if I'm not mistaken, superior to those of the Xbox.

@Ben

While you're right that graphics and fun shouldn't be separate concepts, I think its presentation to the market this time around is mutually exclusive to some degree.

Firstly, I simply agree with Nintendo's market observation; the HD era is definitely not now. It's coming and I do think it is the future but to say that it IS now is ridiculous. HD penetration is low. In 5-8 years, the consoles we are looking at will be last gen news and Nintendo will be able to embrace the HD era wholeheartedly. The slight flaw in this is that significant HD acceptance might happen before this console cycle is over but I feel that this is acceptable seeing how this will only affect Wii in the later stage of its life if this happens at all.

The other reason why I feel the Wii hardware is not only acceptable, but also necessary, is that Nintendo is pushing for a fundamental change in how we see gameplay. The change is far easier for the industry embrace when developers have lower costs. Innovation and graphics both increase risks and costs. There had to be some sacrifice in one of those departments inevitably if Nintendo wanted to guarantee the success of their console and, on a larger scale, their vision. I'd like to thank Nintendo for choosing to push forward gameplay changes; I totally agree with Iwata's keynote at the 2005 TGS.

Basically, I'm psyched about the Wii and cannot wait to try it and hope that it brings massive change to the industry.

On another general note to everyone, I'd like to say that I don't really like getting caught up in this horribly stale and unreasonably violent discourse about gigahertz and 1080p technology and wiimotes and Unreal3 and I fail to see why so many retards take it personally when Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft don't meet their expectations. My plan is to simply receive my preordered Wii from Amazon and plug it in to my television and start playing. It's sort of weird how people seem offended by that; if the PS3 is your thing, go play buy one and stop polluting the comments section with your crap. If your life is tied so closely to a game company to a point where your anger is activated and directed at another fellow human being for wanting to play a game system that you happen to not like, then I feel sorry for you.

>>54. My God, Wii is not slightly better graphically than GC. First off the CPU is clocked at 729mhz while GC's was at 400+ mhz. Its the same architecture, just 75% faster. The GPU will have the same architecture and probably 2x the speed. Wii has much more RAM than GC. Stop saying Wii is on par with Xbox in graphics. Its better. Wii has HDR so the lighting will be close to on par with PS3 and Xbox 360.>>

Personally I doubt Wii will be stronger than Xbox. The Gc's CPU was 485 mhz I believe, and the GPU 162 mhz. So the CPU IS only 50% faster not 75 as you say, and I believe Wii is supposed to be ~50% faster on the GPU too. Plus the GC's GPU didn't even have shaders. The Xbox GPU was 233 mhz I think, and the CPU was 733 mhz. Both those specs match up well with the Wii. You might believe the GC's CPU is stronger at a given speed than the Xbox but given GC's CPU is an IBM design, I really dont. Where the Wii would have a small but clear advantage is in RAM if it can really access all 88 MB at the same speed.

I'd say the Wii Far Cry screens prove me out. It's not even an Xbox.

This is a pretty important point really as Wii will date very quickly - so the life span may only be a year or two before sales tank.

The controller will hopefully create a world wide fad and "Wii mania" should bring in the cash as long as there are plenty of unique quirky games available.

As soon as mainstream titles (I fear FarCry already) start showing up, then people are going to stop, compare and figure out what they have purchased: A gamecube with a wireless motion sensitive controller.

Nintendo really needs to think about pricing this console carefully - if PS3 or XBOX 360 come down in price then Wii must act decisively. Personally; they will do well to stay at half the cost of the others.

#43, I agree. Any decent developer would make sure their system can scale back if needed - means more customers.

#44 - With big words like that, I'd have thought you could capitilise :)