Pachter: Nintendo is like McDonald's

That's all well and good but Nintendo are the most innovative company in the games industry and their own games are among the most well-polished and critically received games out there. How does that fit into the McDonald's analogy? Oh wait it was just a way of drawing controversy and comment. Oh... whoops.

Just like Macdonalds, the Wii is something you tend to avoid if you have a better option.

The PS3 is the posh meal at the nice resteraunt, everyone goes home full and happy and in the end the bill is fairly reasonable, but you knew that before you ordered.

The 360 is the burger and chips at one of those places that looks cheap, tends to dissapoint, but ends up costing an arm and leg, usually screwing you on the drinks or something. Perhaps a buffet of generic FPS games, that charges a surcharge for sitting at a table and constantly offers you overpriced drinks while you're eating their salty, thirst building food.

The PS3 place let's you bring your own drinks (read: standard HDD, bluetooth headsets etc)

Good analogy.

Alrigh, I think I'll offer my interpretation of what Patcher said. The Wii, being Mcdonald's is satisfying and offers what it offers for a good price. Although there are a few items on the menu that are old favorites there's also alot of crap on the menu that no one wants. We all loved Mcdonald's as children and still stop by now and then, but being as we've matured our tastes have developed past the simple fair Mcdonald's has to offer.

Now, the 360 I find would be more akin to Chinese takeout places. Everyone loves Chinese takeout, well mostly everybody. There's a place everywhere and it's well known amongst probably everyone on earth. It offers more complex tastes than your basic Mcdonald's and it's more likely to leave older people happy, the youngin's... not so much but there's stuff on the menu for them, too.

The ps3 would be a nice sit down sushi restaurant. There's not as much people there as Mcdonald's or the sushi place, mostly because it's way more expensive. The menu's slightly smaller than the Chinese place but alot of the items at the sushi place are the same thing or equivalent and there's a few items that you wouldn't find anywhere else that put the others to shame. However, there's not alot there for your kids unless your willing to let them try some of the stuff you're having. Many people pass the sushi place by, wondering how they stay in business- some even wishing they were gone, but day after day they're still there regardless.

People don't eat at McDonald's because it's approachable, consistent or that I know what I'm going to get. They eat there because it's cheap, fast and available 24/7.

And what the hell does "knowing what you're going to get" have to do with McDonald's? I know what I'm going to get at a steakhouse too. And an Indian restaurant. Both of which are approachable and consistent as well.

If you're going to insult Nintendo by comparing it to McDonald's, don't try to be fancy with it, just say it: it's cheap.

the 360 is a steak that you order medium rare and it comes back overheated.

(sorry , but still bitter about my RROD)

It's funny. That was the mentality that Nintendo tried to use with the N64 (approachable, recognizable name, etc) and it flopped. There must be a little more meat behind the Wii this time me thinks.

And as a NY'er, I've had Lugers about 3 times, and one time was God awful, 2 of the 3 times they were enjoyable... but certainly not "the best ever".