Sorry, but in the video game world, momentum is everything

First off you may want to check your facts, because the Wii IS backwards compatible with Gamecube games, and you can play old school NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, and TG-16 games through the Virtual Console. I don't care that the Wii cannot play DVDs, I already have 3 DVD players (not to mention my computer and laptop).

In the video game world, momentum is everything. I agree it has been too early to call the Wii the winner of the next gen console race, but their momentum has been staggering. It has been the fastest selling console ever.

Now we can probably both agree that games make the system. If you were a publisher trying to determine to make a game for the PS3 (expensive, long development with a low install base) or for the Wii (cheaper to make, takes less time, more people have the console), which would you choose? If you choose the PS3, you should take an economics class.

That is reason enough to think that the PS3 will take quite a while to do well, and by then the Wii should have a large enough install base that it won't matter. Last generation, Sony called PS2 the winner only a year after the Cube and Xbox came out. Why? Momentum. Even in their worst case scenario, they had the momentum to keep up a pace that was faster than Nintendo or Microsoft. 

So, since publishers see that the Wii is increasing its install base faster than anyone else, and Sony is the slowest at selling PS3's, they will be making games for the Wii. More games=more choices and more people buying the system. I know it's a vicious cycle that Sony will probably not be able to break out of, but that is because of the choices they made. 

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Posted by Bill

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