Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Obviously, XBLA has the most games, but which service offers the best quality games?

That's a LOADED question. If the Wii has 5 games and all 5 are great quality, then OBVIOUSLY you'd pick the Wii... even if XBLA has 5,000 games and only 1,000 of them are good - great.

The fairest prices?

In my opinion the VC games on the Wii are EXTREMELY overpriced. Super Mario Bros. 1, 2 & 3 for $10 seems like a fair price to me but $5 - $10 a piece, no thank you.

I'd rather pay $5 - $10 for games that are new, utilize today's standards as far as (graphics - sound - controls) and allow MULTIPLAYER.

The best interface?

There is not right or wrong to this question. They ALL have their ups and downs. The Wii version takes too long to load, XBLA has too many damn games without the proper organization and the PS3 is a little mundane for such as POWAFULL and SLICK machine.

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Good interface. Great content, both VC and WiiWare, although would still like to see some SNES classics such as Mario Kart and Star Fox.

One HUGE stumbling block though is storage!! I've not bought anything for over a month now, as refuse to SD swap or redownload. Its tiresome and unnecessary when memory is so cheap. Sort it now Nintendo!!!

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VC: Lately, a lack of quality games has been a let down, but Sony and Micsosoft only dream of having a service like this. I never understood the whole charging extra for imports, though.

WW: So far the games have been pretty good. I wasn't expecting a game or two a week. The pricing should be a bit lower for some titles. I do think it's stupid to have two online game services and no storage option for them, though.

XBLA: Not what it used to be. Definitely has seen a huge drop in quality of games. There will be a good one every now and then. The pricing is a bit better than the rest and it's nice to have a hard drive to put them on.

PSN: Bad quality. Horrible pricing. All the PS1 games are just bad (lack of 3rd party support hurts) and way overpriced. Any decent original games are overpriced as well.

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Personally, I have no experience with PSN, and though I have a 360 arriving via UPS tomorrow, I still haven't tried XBLA, but from what I've been looking up on it... I feel XBLA has VC/WiiWare beat. Why? Purely for two small, but important, details. 1: storage. The lack of an HDD on Wii makes it too inconvenient to be worth the downloads. 2: demos. Correct me if I'm wrong, but XBLA allows games to be demoed before buying. A cautious gamer has a better chance to buy a game he/she demoed. I can't fairly judge the quality of the games because I haven't played any XBLA games yet, but I think that XBLA has an advantage as long as those two facts remain.

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What, no mention of Steam?

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WW,VC: Best games, best price, best 3rd party support (how ironic), worst to download. No hard drive!

XBLA: No experience.

PSN: A couple of good games with sometimes poor pricing. Castlevania for $10.

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XBLA hands down.

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For my money it's XBLA... you can demo every single game available on the service and there are some real great games on there like Alien Hominid and Geometry Wars with some great classic games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Symphony of the Night. In addition one of the games I'm looking forward to most (of all games on any system) is an XBLA title called Castle Crashers.

Nintendo just has a library of its own (fantastic) games but they're too expensive so I really have only bought a couple whereas I've bought a bunch of XBLA games... nearly 20.

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XBLA without a doubt. Multiplayer. Mix of classics and new original games. Moderate pricing. And, yes, the ability to demo games for free!

XBLA = A- (Games B+, Price B-, Multiplayer A)
WiiWare/VC = B- (Games C+, Price B-, Multiplayer B-)
PSN = C (Games C, Price C, Multiplayer B-)

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Not to mention the obvious advantage over the Wii, the harddrive.

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All I really want is for Capcom to bring some of their remakes over to WiiWare as well. Things like the Street Fighter 2 Remix and Bionic Commando: Rearmed look great; they'd also be right at home on a Nintendo console where they originated (sans the arcade).

Of course, I'm not expecting the visuals of an XBLA game, but just revisiting and sprucing up old classics is something I'd like to see on WiiWare.

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Just for context: we've had all three since launch (so over a year with each). For what it's worth I'm a usability and human factors engineer by trade.

Wii
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The VC is a wonderful idea with horrible implementation (as all Nintendo Online efforts have been). Just off the top of my head:

+) No accounts means that your titles are pinned to a single console. In comparison the PSN license allows you to use your purchases on up to five devices.

+) As noted no support for mass storage (coupled with the sloooow wifi only networking) makes managing large libraries an exercise in utter frustration. We've got an SD slot, we've got USB ports... maybe let us use them?

+) When you need to (and you WILL need to) delete purchases to make room those purchases you lose those titles from your channel list... you're forced to return to the store to retrieve them. So you lack any permanent ability to organize large collections.

+) The store is completely obtuse. With useless descriptions, screen-shots, and NO DEMOS buying games is either a total crap shoot or left to those with intimate prior knowledge. Really, would it be so hard to offer 10 minutes of "free play" for each game as a "try before you buy"?

In short the Wii store is the bare minimum on all accounts. The only tangible benefit is the high quality of the games themselves and the breadth of systems supported.

WiiWare, with larger and more involved games simply exacerbates all of these problems.


XBox Arcade
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The XBox Arcade has improved significantly since launch. The store is easy to understand and navigate and has a ton of content.

Unfortunately nearly all of that content is direct ports of classic (and many not-so-classic) games. The storage limitations imposed by the system ensure that games will be limited in scope.

Nearly every game has a demo and you can even enable an "auto download" mode which will automatically download all new demos as they appear.

There are some amazing games available however. I spent a good portion of my first year with the XBox playing "Uno" (a nearly perfect online game). "Pac-man Championship Edition", "Space Giraffe", "Catan", "Worms", "Geometry Wars" and many others are all great reasons to support the service.


PSN
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For a company traditionally nearly as bad with online as Nintendo PSN is a suprisingly competent offering and, by far, the most improved service since launch.

The new store is fast, easy and understandable and worlds better than the poor web-based original. Already purchased content is easily identifiable as you browse and there are many contextually relevant sorting schemes.

PSN is the only service with no size limitations and the freedom this allows shows. PSN is the only service that sells "full games" - downloadable games that are exactly the same as their Blu-Ray counterparts but cost less (although often they lack special features like documentary video).

Games like "Warhawk", "Grand Turismo: Prologue" and "EchoChrome" eliminate the line between "download game" and "real games". We're even beginning to see previously released XBox 360 games be repurposed as PSN downloads.

PSN also has a tendancy, one being echoed by WiiWare, to support independent and "quirky" games. "Everyday Shooter", "FlOw", "PixelJunk Monsters", "Calling All Cars", "Pain" and the many Eye camera "toys" and games all present unique, polished experiences.

While there are some remakes and ports of classic games they are relatively rare. There are also a (very slowly) growing number of classic PS1 games available which can be played on both the PS3 and the PSP (while sharing the same save-games).

PSN also seems to support it's games more than the others: nearly every major original game has had at least one expansion pack and many games have had several. Simple games like "Vegas Strip: Poker" have had game types and camera support added while other games like "Pain" and the excellent "High Velocity Bowling" have received new characters and modes.

Game assets are also used well with game music and images available and console themes based on the games common. The entire (excellent) soundtrack for "PixelJunk Monsters" is available for download (and, amazingly, results in DRM-free MP3 tracks that you can use on any music player).

Pricing varies, but is often suprising. Many of the smaller games are released for only $2.99 (and some of them are even worth it). A simple, addictive puzzel game lke "Piyotama" is an amazing deal at that price. Games are often given cheaper introductory pricing ("Calling All Cars" was introduced at $4.99, or 50% off) and there are often "sales" and special offers.

If you own a PSP this becomes even more attractive as you can use much of the content you buy directly on the PSP and several games can be played remotely over the network.

All told the Playstation Store seems like the most dynamic and supported to me. Although it's hard to say with the introduction of WiiWare so recent, but it also seems to offer the most innovative games - definately the best supported ones.


XBox Arcade, having over a year's head start, has everything beaten in sheer numbers but the number of truly great games is still pretty small.

WiiWare and the VC are conceptually great but crippled by simply retarded online and storage implementations.

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I don't have any other consoles, but I can tell you that the Wii Shop Channel is slow and has very poor organization.

After using, well, the internet - on a computer - where it's easy to download things and easier to find things, downloading and finding games on the Wii Shop Channel is way too boring and slow. Not that I don't enjoy elevator music accompanied by beeps, clicks, and NES sounds... Wait, no, that's exactly right, I don't enjoy that. I usually put my TV on mute when I finally buckle down and load up the Wii Shop Channel. I actually keep a running list of games I would like to download and download them all at once when I get around to it.

I usually grab my DS when I have to get on the Wii Shop Channel. It helps to make my experience a little less boring. Although sometimes I'll get too into the DS game and forget that I was waiting for my search to finish loading. When you have to entertain yourself while using a game console, something is very wrong.

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Having used all three systems, I find that all three have some great stuff to offer, but all three also suffer from annoying problems. Some pros and cons of each, off the top of my head:

WiiWare/VC:
+Large Catalog
+Some interesting and original content
+Some great classics
-Slow, clunky, browser interface.
-Many titles overpriced
-No HD content (not really an issue with the service, per se, but the console.)
-No demos
-Lack of adequate storage

XBLA:
+Lots of content
+All games have demos
+Decent Pricing
+Nice interface
-DRM Issues
-Size limits
-De-listing policy
-Must pay for themes and pics

PSN:
+Some good content
+Great new interface
+Items for both PS3 and PSP available
+Free themes and wallpapers
-Pricing Fluctuations
-Some content overpriced
-PC Store is Windows Only
-Demos for only some content

Just off the top of my head...

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ok, honestly, i havn't really followed up with XBLA, but i do seriously like the PSN, there is some quality stuff on there, and demos are always a nice add. but it is very true that nintendo does supremely better on bringing back their old libraries of games. i still havn't bought anything off of the wii, mainly because i keep thinking i'm going to run out of memory if i like it too much, but if i do, i'll get some retro mario, and lost winds, and thats probobly it.
i wish i could talk about the XBLA, but i really can't. the good thing is they are starting not to be exclusive, either getting ports to the psp umd , or just straight to the PSN.
i vote psn, but still, not completly experienced opinion.

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While I really like the fact that there are demos and trials on XBLA, quite frankly its hurting sales for Microsoft. I haven't actually bought a single one yet, whereas I already have 3 WiiWare games (though I did already have the points before I bought them).

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While I really like the fact that there are demos and trials on XBLA, quite frankly its hurting sales for Microsoft. I haven't actually bought a single one yet, whereas I already have 3 WiiWare games (though I did already have the points before I bought them).

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XBLA for sure. Original games and demos.

Nintendo's first attempt isn't awful, but lack of storage and overpriced games hurt any chance of a successful comparison against XBLA or PSN.

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In terms of monetary distribution, XBLA does give you the most for your money, though they have that irritating MS Points system for you to work through, which is much more arbitrary than Wii Points

The Shop Channel platforms have the most variety, hands down, though the console's inability to background download (which is a hardware limitation and not a design choice like some websites seem to think) does make it clunky. Some of what they sell is a rip-off. Most of the N64 games are over-priced based on current used-game-market evaluations. The simpler NES games are way overpriced, though other NES titles are worth it. You really get bargains when it comes to certain Neo Geo and T-16 titles, though

The PSN, i don't really know. Sony seems to be all over the place. For a while they seemed to be really all about porting old PS1 titles, but they dropped it, and they bring it back, some new stuff, their strategy seems to be all over the place.

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In terms of both quantity and quality, I'd have to hand it to the Virtual Console. What else can I say? I've downloaded over 30 VC titles, while my current XBLA purchases total at a whopping.. three. That's Golden Axe, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and Ikaruga to wit. If we're counting demos (which I don't think we should) then I'd give it to XBLA. PSN thus far has been a joke, sadly.

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To me, WiiWare's biggest advantage so far has been that the games have been presented in a more accessible way. I'm not sure how to explain it, but I feel more comfortable and confident making a snap purchase of a WiiWare game than an XBLA game.

Generally an XBLA game requires me to play a trial and get some great buzz around it before I throw down. Then again, when I do, I'm extremely pleased. Pac-Man:CE and N+ being the big ones.

I don't feel like i need to do that with WiiWare... then again.. I don't really get the option now do I?

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i don't know about this "poor organization"

i have a ps3 as well and it's really quite difficult to do a simply search for something on the PSN store. i find searching the VC much easier. we'll see how wiiware fares when more games are released.

anyway, i'm going to base my judgement on availability of games that i want to play, so the wii wins my download moneys easily. in fact, for giving me sin & punishment it wins hands down for the rest of the generation. (& i don't mind paying extra for it given the extra localisation work)

thanks wii :)




oh obligatory storage solution, yeah i guess i'd like one of those thanks! or i'll have to start removing zeldas, and they look so pretty lined up in the channels..

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I don't think you are going to get too many unbiased and/or educated answers asking this type of question on a wii blog.

I play mostly xbla and a few wii ware/vc games. XBLA without a doubt is the better all around service, not even close. Wii is better than PSN as far as games go.

Also Xbox Live is a much better service than the online services on the Wii or PS3. They got a head start in so many areas and it really shows. I am not saying the others are bad, I am just saying they don't offer near the quantity AND quality of what Xbox offers.

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Well personally I think the PSN on the PS3 is by far the best its very easy to navigate with tons of Demos(ouch Wiiware doesn't got them) while not as many retros it has a large amount of PS3 games.. and you don't have to spend twenty dollars on a contoller for it...

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i just got a wii, and i have to say that i love the wii shop channel. i like that it lets you download something again, as many times as you want, unlike psn, which makes you pay for it after the 4th download. and i like playing all those old n64, and snes titles. the prices should probably be a little cheaper on the nes and snes games though. i mean $5 for a nes game. i can get it cheaper on ebay.

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