He seems to think that because the Wii is so popular, but unable to completely fulfill the incredible demand for the console up until now, Nintendo inadvertently pushed sales over to Sony's PS3. This, combined with the good numbers Blu-ray discs were getting at retail, are going to be big factors in what Enderle sees as Blu-ray's eventual victory.
While the high definition format war isn't something that we usually cover here at Wii Fanboy, it's interesting to see someone look at Nintendo's problem of satiating demand for the console in this way.
[Via Go Nintendo]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-09-2008 @ 5:12PM
gb said...
the only way to win is to not play. I remember the betamax, minidisc, umd, etc.
The future is digital distribution.
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1-09-2008 @ 5:27PM
ssuk said...
And the future isn't now. I don't want to repeat the age old "broadband isn't broad enough" comment, but at the moment, the best way to distribute HD content (I mean, PROPER, 1080p video) is on optical media.
1-09-2008 @ 6:58PM
LilCo187 (NDF - Hit a ho with a school bus Ring) said...
ssuk,
by the end of this console generation, digital distribution WILL be very feasible. Harddrives/SD/etc will be handling ridiculous amount of space and broadband internet will be widespread enough to make this a profitable way to distribute games and movies.
1-09-2008 @ 7:07PM
vidGuy said...
Currently available broadband isn't enough. We need faster backbone's, and the current backbone's need to be pulled down to the last run to the consumer. We are looking at 20-30 years before true definition can be streamed or downloaded at a reasonable pace. Plus, there are still dialup users... how long before the new runs are in widespread use? It's going to be 2030 or later before we can really do it.
1-09-2008 @ 5:25PM
DevilMan said...
I see Nintendo and Microsoft teaming up to battle Sony's crap. Neither Nintendo or Microsoft in my opinion will ever have a blu-ray player in there consoles let alone use a blu-ray disk. Why would they give there money to there main competitor? Blu-ray wont last digi downloads is where its at. I tell you i aint got no hdtv just like the other 70+% of peeps in the USA.
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1-09-2008 @ 7:00PM
LilCo187 (NDF - Hit a ho with a school bus Ring) said...
Nothing like Mario Galaxy on a 42" LCD or Plasma, man. You're missing out.
1-10-2008 @ 9:01PM
Eddie said...
...according to stats you made up for that last comment...
1-09-2008 @ 5:28PM
comtar said...
This article seems to be kinda stretching it a bit. Let me catagorize this under "I don't believe that."
Let's just hypathetically say that the Wii had a Blu-Ray drive internally inside the system and is able to play Blu-Ray movies, but still managed to have the $250 price point. Because of the amount the Wii sold in 2007, if it had Blu-Ray inside of it, the war would have ended long ago... maybe even just as quickly if Nintendo went with HD-DVD as well.
By saying that because they did nothing, helped out Sony, seems to be reaching. If Nintendo went either HD or Blu-Ray from launch, it would have tipped the scales long ago in either parties favor.
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1-09-2008 @ 5:28PM
Mike Jenkins said...
Why would the Wii push sales over to the most expensive console on the market with the fewest games? Wouldn't impatient gamers go with the console that starts $50 above the Wii and has more games for all age ranges?
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1-09-2008 @ 7:44PM
Mike said...
that's the reasoning I don't understand. The lowest-end console was unavailable, so I uh... I went for the highest instead. I figured double the price was a reasonable route.
I'm not seeing that.
1-10-2008 @ 12:49AM
David W. said...
You took the comment out of my mouth...err fingers.
It makes ABSOLUTELY no sense to me that someone would walk into a store, be disappointed that they have no Wii's...and decide, well I could get a 360 for only $30 more or I could get a PS3 for $120 more...
ummm wtf?
PS3-399
360-279
1-09-2008 @ 5:30PM
therpham said...
Somehow, I don't quite see the correlation between Wii shortage and PS3 sales. They're totally different markets, unless electronics store employees were pushing PS3s to Wii-seekers.
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1-09-2008 @ 5:32PM
Brian Arnold said...
Rob Enderle is a running joke in Apple technical circles, so I'm not surprised to hear him spout a bunch of stupid crap about HD DVD and Nintendo now.
Saying people bought a PS3 when they couldn't get a Wii is like saying that people bought a Lincoln Navigator just because the local Honda dealership was all out of Civics that day. They're drastically different machines at different price points aiming at different parts of the gaming market, and saying that Toshiba somehow lost ground because Nintendo couldn't push product is, well, ludicrous.
Reading the rest of the article, he's just spouting off, like he usually does. He'd predicted the win of HD DVD months ago, and he's trying to save face.
As much as I'd like to see HD DVD succeed, it's pretty much on the way out now, after Warner and HBO have jumped ship from both to Blu-ray.
As gb said though, really, digital distribution is probably where it's all headed anyways. I haven't bought a DVD (high def or otherwise) in months but I've downloaded at least three or four films through Xbox Live Marketplace. Mmm, digital distribution.
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1-09-2008 @ 5:36PM
Matt said...
Nintendo has subliminally pushed and supported Blu-Ray by the blue LED lights on the Wii.
;-) j/k
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1-09-2008 @ 5:58PM
comtar said...
No wonder whenever I get Wii-mail I go blind, because the front of the Wii is covered in Blu-Ray lasers. Now I know why.
Perhaps someone should make a Star Trek Phaser our of a Blu-Ray laser. Oh wait. Someone already did that.
1-09-2008 @ 7:12PM
Carl said...
You beat me to it. I missed this the first time.
1-09-2008 @ 5:43PM
mirage said...
This seems like quite a stretch. With the Wii being sold out, the next most affordable for the last year has been the 360. People in the market for a Wii are probably not concerned with HD and would be more likely to choose the 360 due to cost. That or wait for a freakin' Wii!
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1-09-2008 @ 5:58PM
BrandonIT said...
I agree with the above posters about 360 over PS3. In fact, I can speak from experience with a co-worker: he couldn't find a Wii, so he went with the next console up - the 360.
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1-09-2008 @ 6:00PM
Ghaleon said...
Why was this even posted? You can argue equally "intelligently" that lack of Wii drove people to buy more 360s -- a system which is obviously closer in price to Wii.
No one cares about next-gen DVD besides technies with big bucks to burn. I have a Playstation 3 (stuck with one), an HDTV and I don't give a shit about wasting $$ on an incremental improvement, when DVD is crazy versatile, cheap and 100% acceptable.
Kind of like why I'm in no hurry to trade in my Toyota for a Ferrari just because marketing tells me they're sweet cars.
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1-09-2008 @ 6:16PM
h0mi said...
A number of analysts who thought the ps3 would do well this Xmas (and eventually overtake the 360, if not the wii) seemed to reach the same conclusion that gamers would try to buy a wii, not find it & then buy a ps3, while ignoring the 360 altogether... largely because there were no (?) major 360 releases in december (?) but the ps3 had... (can't think of anything off hand).
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1-09-2008 @ 6:47PM
Gun Barrier said...
this just in, BK stoped serving the whopper, Wendy's declared the new king of burgers.
also
wii helped ps3 have sales.
Reply
1-09-2008 @ 6:53PM
Carl said...
But the wii does have a blu-ray.
Every time Nintendo updates the firmware, a blue ray lights up my drive.
Not the same thing?
Oh....nevermind.
Reply
1-09-2008 @ 6:54PM
Fiefdom said...
Hmmm.... Why couldn't just as many sales have been pushed towards the 360? And for those of you drawing comparisons suggesting that nobody would buy a different console due to troubles finding the Wii, you have to keep in mind who is buying the game consoles. With many parents buying a console for their children, opting for one that's easier to find during the holidays isn't as uncommon a practice as one would at first think. The suggestion that this may have helped increase blu-ray adoption, however, is trivial. There is not yet any evidential support for such a claim. There are those who bought the PS3 as a blu-ray player but that doesn't mean that those who decided on the PS3 after reanalyzing their decision to get a Wii were more apt to buy blu-ray discs. A lot of uninformed consumers didn't know the PS3 could even play blu-ray movies until the latter end of last year.
DevilMan: What are you talking about? Why would Microsoft and Nintendo ever consider teaming up? There would be no incentive beneficial to both companies. You also have to take the entire issue into perspective. Blu-ray discs can be used for more than movies, although most people do currently prefer to have most of their movies on a safe physical medium. Not everyone is going to want to download movies and games onto their hard-drives, especially considering the amount of space hard-drives can provide still isn't sufficient for the large movie collections some people in America have (my Dad has over three hundred movies and documentaries, for example). Discs are still useful as they can also be transported easily and can be used to back-up data. Even if everyone were to move to digital downloads within the next ten years (which I doubt, distribution to areas with poor or no Internet connections becomes a bit problematic), discs still serve an important purpose and are unlikely to disappear any time soon.
Ghaleon: What do you base that comment on? The HD market is growing; just because you still use only DVDs doesn't mean everybody else has decided to follow your example. One could just as easily invent the same comparison for VHS to DVD or cassette tapes to CDs. People made the transition and eventually the older formats lost commercial support. Video game consoles act in the exact same way but on an accelerated scale. The PS1 continued to outsell the PS2 for a while and the PS2 has been outselling the PS3 but that has/will change as more people adopt the newer better supported technology.
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1-09-2008 @ 8:53PM
DevilMan said...
Fiefdom why would Microsoft and Nintendo team up? To get rid of there main competition SONY's CRAPSTATION..If you didnt know Microsoft and Nintendo are pretty friendly why else would Microsoft publish its games for Nintendo DS, Gameboy and probably the WII in the future? Examples age of empires, mechassult, and several Rare games. Lets put 2+2 together and see what happens in the next year or 2.
1-09-2008 @ 10:33PM
Fiefdom said...
What need do Microsoft and Nintendo have to compete against the PlayStation 3? The PS3 has thus far experienced inferior sales to both systems (excepting in Japan). As for those games you listed, Microsoft publishes but doesn't develop them. They've had ports to Nintendo systems because it's what the developers wanted to do. You also have to keep in mind than Microsoft bought Rare (Nintendo never held a majority stake in Rare and sold what they had when the company was acquired by Microsoft). Activision also had an interest in the company and could have just as easily absorbed Rare if they were willing to pay more than Microsoft.
Why would Sony build and sell computers which run Microsoft's operating systems? It's in Sony's best interests to do so just as it would be in Microsoft's best interest to allow support for blu-ray if HD DVD dies. Sony sold the cell processor technology to Toshiba despite Toshiba being the backbone of HD DVD. All of these transnational companies, excluding Nintendo, thrive off of a wide array of electronics, components, and software. There are all sorts of compromises to maximize business interests and potential profits. Microsoft and Sony compete in the video game market but they're well established allies in other respects. Don't delude yourself into thinking that Microsoft would even want Sony, as a whole, to crumple.
You seem to be adhering to blind brand loyalty without taking any consideration for your lack of knowledge of the company and systems you are trying to discredit. The PlayStation 3 is not a pile of crap as you've indoctrinated yourself to believe. There are many times when a consumer's personal preferences don't overlap the Wii and the PS3 so that person chooses one system. That doesn't mean the competitor is rubbish, it means only that the consumer decided he or she would find one choice a better investment than the other. Do some research on the PlayStation 3 and its available games. Even if you find no attraction in what Sony currently has available this generation, it would only be beneficial to at least be able to cite specific examples as to why you are disinclined towards the PS3. You'll be able to make a more informed case for your opinion if you can think of the PS3 as a competitor with X advantages and Y disadvantages as opposed to The Enemy's CRAPSTATION.
If it's of any relevance, I don't own a PS3 because all but one of the PS3 games I have an interest in is slated for release in 2008 or 2009. At least I know that's available and what will be available even if I don't have the system. If I kept myself in the dark in regards to everything that's available in the market then I never would have bought a PS2 which, while I love my GameCube, has a far more extensive library than any other console. Give Sony some credit, Sony did allow for the industry to become the powerhouse it is today. You might also take interest in researching the relations between the SNES and the PlayStation. You have an incredibly uncivil business betrayal from Nintendo to blame for Sony delving into the video game market.
Nintendo has nothing to gain by merging or joining with Microsoft. Microsoft would potentially stand to lose quite a bit if instigating a partnership with Nintendo, Microsoft generally only acquires developers as it's far more beneficial for them. I thoroughly doubt that Nintendo and Microsoft would even consider partnering this generation, let alone begin planning for such a course of action. I would think it more likely that someone would try to acquire Sega (which we know is not apt to happen).
Jeff: I think in this regard, Enderle is only responding to event projected by most other people (albeit with unsound reasoning). I think you might be on the safer side of the equation.
1-09-2008 @ 7:12PM
vidGuy said...
Yeah... I wanted a Japanese, four door hybrid but they didn't have one on the lot, so I bought an Escalade instead...
There's very little crossover between the two consoles. To say that 500,000 users decided the format war is a little crazy. What has won/will win the war for BluRay is the fact that many movie studios and rental stores made the decision BEFORE both options were properly available. They made the decision on a few million extra BluRay owners, when HD-DVD probably would have won without the PS3. I always said that the PS3 was only a trojan for the format war, Sony won't give two shits about the platform now that it has done its job.
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1-09-2008 @ 8:06PM
Jeff said...
I'm in the BluRay camp, and this is HORRIBLE news.
I'm pretty sure that Rob Enderle has never been right about anything. ever.
He's kind of an anti-indicator... Anything he says, usually the opposite happens. So that's a bummer, i really wanted BluRay to win.
(maybe this is one of the times where he's wrong, but only about the specifics and not the outcome. *fingers crossed*)
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1-09-2008 @ 8:52PM
hvnlysoldr said...
If people couldn't find a Wii I think they would then go for DS Lite. But since that also went fast the next console would be the white PS2.
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1-10-2008 @ 12:17AM
Tristan said...
The lack of graphics and RPGs has pushed me over to inadvertantly plan to purchase an amazing PS3.
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1-10-2008 @ 1:04AM
Haohmaru said...
Personally, if I didn't have my Wii by now, I would have gone for a 360 before I did. As it stands, I'm pretty satisfied with both.
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1-10-2008 @ 4:45AM
Tom said...
This could only hold true if:
a) We're only talking about the Japanese market. They hate the Xbox360 over there, so a Wii shortage would cause people in search of a new console to instead buy the PS3
or...
b) Xbox360 had already reached a sort of "saturation point" worldwide, whereby everyone who wanted one already had one, is now looking for a secondary console, and can't find a Wii.
But still, the guy who wrote this article failed to thoroughly explain his argument about how this relates to HD-DVD or Blu-ray (hint: it doesn't; not at all). The whole article is one vague, unsupported assertion after another, littered with misused business terminology. I'd never even heard of Rob Enderle until just now, but I can already tell he's an idiot.
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1-10-2008 @ 4:46AM
mark richardson said...
i keep reading about sustainability and how everyone thinks that nintendo will introduce the Wii 2 soon. Now remeber these people are the people that early last year stated that the wii woudl be dead and burried by christmas ermm they were wrong. The same people who dictated that the DS would flop hmmm wrong!
What i cant get round my head is why woudl nintendo bring out the Wii 2 soon? now i cant see the Wii lasting 10 years but i recon its first year and a bit it has done incredibly well but id say it has at least a minimum of about another 5 years in it purely due to its sales so far.
What we all need is good games and when i say good games i dont mean ps2 ports liek we got when the Wii appeared. Just look at what capcom have done and nintendo on the machine their games look feel and play amazingly!
so how come so many others have problems, most notable the games that look like old n64 games whats all that about. If people actualy tried to produce something good and not try to cash in then they would get more sales.
I also feel lack of 3rd party sales is maily due to advertising, the wii has reached a new market...yes! now we who like games know whast good and whats not and whats coming out most of these new people dont. They walk into a shop look at a box read it and go ohh that looks good! In the UK apart from nintendo own brand games (which you get a few adverts for) and a the likes of resident evil and what not i hardly see any advetrisment for games! so come on you lot buck up and spend a little more on advertising to sell your amazing game (im so saddened to see that zack and wiki isnt selling well, my copy has been on order for months now).
ok i think i went off on a tangent rant there so i apologise to everyone!
But hi def, hmm i can see microsoft soon producing a blu-ray player for the xbox too as hd-dvd sales arent that good although in terms of stand alone players (not consoles) hd-dvd out sells blu-ray by a hell of alot its just the ps3 keeps helping to push blu-ray sales!
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1-10-2008 @ 9:08AM
Bran said...
Not just that broadband isn't broad enough, but I can't see digital distribution offering the new lossless audio tracks found on the HD opitcal discs. After blu-ray has a similar run to DVD, then digital distribution of actual hi-def video(not wmv HD garbage) and audio will possibly be...possible.
Not to mention people like my parents and grandparents who are familiar with optical disc media and not computers.
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1-10-2008 @ 10:43AM
James said...
All I'm saying is, there's a reason someone has coined the term "Wii60" (and it has found common usage) while the term "Wii-ess-3" remains totally unknown. I think if anything the Wii would help HD-DVD, because people would get a Wii + 360 for the cost of a high-end PS3, then maybe later they might plunk down for the add-on HD-DVD (if they care).
That said, it looks like HD-DVD is headed straight down the crapper of history, so my analysis certainly may be flawed.
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1-10-2008 @ 1:37PM
lawrence said...
no way thats fuckin true .digital download never work.the main reason people dont understand how to use download service through the internet and they dont trust digital download.digital download had always been there but my grand parents and parent dont know how to use that shit.it mainly focus on being there but people will always prefer something you dont haave to go through a setup to watch and they could just go outside and buy it and put in the dvd or bluray player.
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1-10-2008 @ 8:06PM
vidGuy said...
Don't really agree with you on that one. I've seen just about everyone from grade school kids to grandmas grasp the Wii and I've also seen them click to get videos on demand. I don't think it's out of the mainstream, looking at how many adults use high end computer apps in their workplace, listen to iPods while they walk, and zip around the Internet with broadband.
1-20-2008 @ 7:50AM
Scott said...
You Know What The Amazing Thing Is?
My friend has a 360 HD-DVD Drive and has several movies, lets take 'Tim Burton's Corpse Bride' for Example.
I have an HDMI upscaler, which plays my much cheaper normal DVD'S and upscales them to 1080i.
I can't notice a difference in them, and on Hot Fuzz, mine seems better!
HDMI is were it's at! Would you rather pay 30 quid for Pirates of The Carribean 3, or £2 for Resevoir Dogs and spend the extra 28 on something better than a film?
PLUS, People who claim that '2008/9' will be the year of the PS3. Errrr, Well, it's a bit late Dontcha think? I mean, compared to the wii it has performed disastorously here (in the UK) this Xmas, i mean, places are selling them for 250 just to shift them! where as everywhere is out of Wii's!
Also, the Wii has the capabilities to be a much better console graphically, someone just needs to create an engine that can truely use it's power!
And im sick of people taking pot shots at Red Steel and Far Cry! Give Ubisoft & FPS's on Wii a break, both release titles, both developed in a way that had never been done before, and both actually really good games when it comes down to it! Just wait for RS2!
Oh and while im at it, What's sony's track record in the Media format world? Did someone say BETAMAX?
Yours Extremely Pissed at Ignorance of PS3 fanboy's and people with a complete and utter mental block of intelligence that allows them to differenciate from look's to what's on the inside.
On top of that, yeh, Blu-ray's are packing out the shops, but around here, it's cos no ones buying them! I got to the town (newcastle if oyu must know) every single friday and saturday, and in my personal experience, when, 1 week before xmas, i was in Game and Gamestation, i saw 1 ps3 being bought, with at least 20 people with Wii boxes in thier hands!
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