dma423

i won't win...unless i do

well...other than the obvious reading engadget in the bathroom(newspapers and magazines are soooo 21st century), I'm looking forward to many things. One of which would be attaching my iphone to a big silver chain around my neck and having a slideshow play of different BET hotties on the display for all to see and admire(which of course would pause when a call came in). I also plan on some hardcore training for the multi-touch olympics and leaving comments on engadget via my iphone and making sure everyone knows it. More than all of this though...there is one thing that I look forward to coming with the iphone. Competition. As other cellphone companies and providers try to match the iphone in cool, i look forward to the increased convergence of devices. I am waiting for the phillips/norelco cellphone/electric shaver/pmp combo...with ambilight. I'm allowed to dream, am I not? In closing I would just like to say that i will also use it to read ENGADGET.COM in the bathroom...Oh, I said that already? My bad.

To everyone who is complaining about the Wii's graphics and wondering if it will hold up over time, I will repeat something I have said before. Nintendo is making money from day one. This means that they do no have to wait out the standard 4-5 year life span of past consoles and their competitors. Say 2-3 years down the road they want to come out with a Wii VR, they can. Before you complain about offending early adopters and all of that let me break it down for you. GBA-2001,GBA SP-2003,DS-2004,DS lite-2006. Nintendo has a history of new products every 2 years or so in it's handheld devision(it's most successful division). They have managed to created the feeling of "I WANT to upgrade", rather than "WTF...I'm done with Nintendo". Is a 2-3 year life span on a console you pair 250 for any better or worse than 4-6 years on a console you paid 500 dollars for? So in 2 or 3 years when the cost of creating graphics on par with the PS360 has become cost effective and nintendo releases a new system with "next gen" graphics and true next gen game play...at the same price or lower than the 360 or PS3 sells at...remember where you heard it first.

I don't know what Vlad has against nintendo, maybe as an associate of his you can shed some light on the subject. I can only think of a few scenarios that may have caused this strong a bias against nintendo. The first. His uncle used to dress up as mario and touch him in his bathing suit area. Second, his mother was killed on a construction site by a giant ape throwing barrels. Third, and most likely of the three, his girlfriend who couldn't stand it when he would call himself "Rad Vlad" while in the sack, left him for a real man, Fox McCloud. I urge you to help him seek out counseling so he can finally forgive Nintendo...and his uncle.

"The time of the day when the sun is just below the horizon, especially the period between sunset and dark."

From dictionary.com....


twi‧light  /ˈtwaɪˌlaɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[twahy-lahyt]
–noun
1. the soft, diffused light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon, either from daybreak to sunrise or, more commonly, from sunset to nightfall.
2. the period in the morning or, more commonly, in the evening during which this light prevails.
3. a terminal period, esp. after full development, success, etc.: the twilight of his life.
4. a state of uncertainty, vagueness, or gloom.
–adjective
5. of, pertaining to, or resembling twilight; dim; obscure: in the twilight hours.
6. appearing or flying at twilight; crepuscular.


twi·light (twlt)
n.

1.
1. The diffused light from the sky during the early evening or early morning when the sun is below the horizon and its light is refracted by the earth's atmosphere.
2. The time of the day when the sun is just below the horizon, especially the period between sunset and dark.
2. Dim or diffused illumination.
3. A period or condition of decline following growth, glory, or success: in the twilight of his life.
4. A state of ambiguity or obscurity.


Maybe, just maybe...you should not assume that nintendo doesn't know what they are doing. Have you ever been outside at twilight? "The time of the day when the sun is just below the horizon, especially the period between sunset and dark."

How is what i'm suggesting any different that GBA/DS? Wii games would still work on the newer console just as GBA does with DS. Will DS games work with a DS lite? Yes. I am not suggesting a brand new system every two years. Simply an upgraded and more polished and refined version of an existing console. Perhaps i made my mistake tying the upgrades to graphical increases. This was simply an example i used to illustrate my point that nintendo isn't tied to the same limitations as microsoft and sony when deciding to release a new console. Please remember that Nintendo has no less than 4 handhelds available right now that support GBA games. GBA SP,GB Micro,DS Phat, and DS Lite. They are the kings of interoperability.

Say in two years nintendo is able to reduce the size of the wii to half and make it completely wireless. They , not having to worry about waiting until the console becomes profitable, would theoretically be able to release the upgraded console after only two years.

My comment was simply to open peoples minds that when these sales figures are plotted out they don't take in to account that the wii is not limited to the same life span as the 360 and the PS3. One final example, if you had plotted the total DS sales over it's projected life span, I'm guessing it would have been quite a bit lower than it is projected to sell now with the "lite" upgrade. That is simply my opinion and agree with it or not I stand behind it.

Ok...here's the thing that I haven't heard anyone talking about in depth. Bones touched on it briefly. What determines the length of a consoles life span? Research and development time? Maybe. More often than not it is at the end of a console's life that it actually STARTS MAKING MONEY. It is not economically sound for them to rush a new one out before that. We all know this as we have heard it about a million times, what is interesting is how this applies to this generation. The wii is making money from day ONE. This gives them to incorporate new technology at a quicker pace. Look at the progression from GBA to GBA SP, GBA SP to DS, DS to DS lite....If they can keep interfunctionality between wii and any future models I believe this may fly in the console world.

Think of the business sense this makes. You have a consumer who buys a wii at launch. Two years down the road , you release a wii lite. Your early adopter who is satisfied with his purchase can easily start to think about upgrading to the hot new model. "After only 2 years?" you say? Because of the low inital price point of the wii, the customer is probably more accepting to upgrading after the shorter time, than he would be with a 500 dollar console. Imagine the next generation still supports the wii remote and nunchuck and simply beefs up the graphical power. Is it so absurd to think that in 2 years nintendo could release a system thats graphics rival those released this year...or last?

So look at this from the stand point from a new consumer 2 years down the road. They have the choice between a 3 year old system, a two year old system, or a brand new upgraded system. All having comparable graphical power, but only one having the unique control of the wii? Makes great business sense to me.

why is it in every pic of the wii in use the blue LED lights are never on?is this a feature they added to save power/make it less intrusive in the living room...because I want my cool blue light!

I'm personally thinking Wii Alcoholic. Imagine the fun as you move from level to level. The stealth of sneaking drinks at work and hiding it from friends and family. The drunk driving simulator. Oh No! It's a DUI check point! Use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to try and pass the sobriety test. You failed you say? Better use the wii remote to wipe away your tears cause you're going to jail. This is just the begining, follow your life through many more levels of downward spirals. Can you survive on the street? I hope you have learned to master the wii remote and nunchuk, because you'll need them for the pan handling and "Bum Fights" mini games...coming holiday 2006.