Something that's been bothering me...

[HunterXI]

I've been following the console wars, stupid though it may be, for a while now. According to VGChartz.com, console sales are as follows:

1. Wii (26m sales)
2. Xbox 360 (19m sales)
3. PS3 (13m sales)

Although different marketing research groups will give you different numbers, I don't doubt that this is the general trend of console sales in the current generation.

However, in my experience with the three consoles (yes, I play plenty on each), the Wii has the worst game library of the three while the PS3 and '360 are on par with each other, which, if true, would indicate that gamers are either uninformed or are making bad decisions, economically speaking.

So I decided to do some research with Metacritic.com (they average ratings from different groups) rating numbers. Metacritic scores are /100. The results are as follows:

As of 2008/05/24


Xbox 360
------------
12 games are 90+
92 games are 80+
37/381 (9.7%) games are below 50
Average score: 80.9


PS3
-------------
4 games are 90+
50 games are 80+
10/157 (6.4%) games are below 50
Average score: 74.3


Wii
-------------
5 games are 90+
23 games are 80+
40/206 (19.4%) games are below 50
Average score: 70.0


Perhaps I have a biased perspective in the matter; I don't deny the possibility, but it seems that the Wii's stats are particularly damning in comparison to the '360's and PS3's – a full fifth of its games are below 50 (i.e. just plain suck), and it has less than a third of the 80+ games as the '360, less than half of the PS3's. Particularly when you consider that you can get a '360 for only $30 more than a Wii, it makes me wonder if the video game market is giving its money to the right developers (by proxy of consoles).

[Aumaan Anubis]

From what I've heard from my peers(Chad Warden doesn't count), the PS3 has no quality games. The Xbox 360 does, and the Nintendo Wii does. In my opinion, the Wii and the 360 are both better than the PS3.

[bibbit]

From what I've heard from my peers(Chad Warden doesn't count), the PS3 has no quality games. The Xbox 360 does, and the Nintendo Wii does. In my opinion, the Wii and the 360 are both better than the PS3.

Exactly this.

[bcnipod]

From what I've heard from my peers(Chad Warden doesn't count), the PS3 has no quality games. The Xbox 360 does, and the Nintendo Wii does. In my opinion, the Wii and the 360 are both better than the PS3.

I agree on this point but the PS3 has a great potential of games with better hardware than the other two. this does not mean anything though if nobody produces for it.

[Aumaan Anubis]

From what I've heard from my peers(Chad Warden doesn't count), the PS3 has no quality games. The Xbox 360 does, and the Nintendo Wii does. In my opinion, the Wii and the 360 are both better than the PS3.

I agree on this point but the PS3 has a great potential of games with better hardware than the other two. this does not mean anything though if nobody produces for it.

Oh, well, definitely. It's processor is supposedly amazing(Supercomputer potential, anyone?), and therefore it could run real quality games. But we haven't been able to make enough quality games for it.

[xXxCocoFangxXx]

Just randomly show up Hunter? lol

[HunterXI]

Yes, I occasionally do. Don't mind that.

To the people who purport the PS3 has no quality games: my data would seem to indicate otherwise. What of that?

Things are never as simple as they seem.

[Aumaan Anubis]

I trust my peers over professional critics.

[MoDFox]

Wii has family stuff, therefore families will buy them being as they are cheap and a way for a family to get together.

[Andrew_b]

Wii has family stuff, therefore families will buy them being as they are cheap and a way for a family to get together.

And when parents see that their over weight kids (from playing PS3 or Xbox) can get exercise when they play this game, they will buy it.

Me personally will not buy the wii, as i have played it...and i drop the controller too much. (even with that band thing)

[Tural]

eh ps3 sux n wee sux 360 ftw

[xbox]

The wii may be topping the sales charts, but what is the return rate on it?
seriously I got bored of it before a whole week was over.

[HunterXI]

The wii may be topping the sales charts, but what is the return rate on it?
seriously I got bored of it before a whole week was over.

Profit-wise? Much better than either of the other consoles, namely because:
1. It's got roughly the equivalent of last-gen hardware, and
2. Nintendo has yet to drop its price.

Some people call that good business sense. I call it indifference toward the consumer.

Well, there goes my inner fanboi. Joy.

I trust my peers over professional critics.

You'll understand that I don't, I hope.

[{TP}Spartan]

eh ps3 sux n wee sux 360 ftw

Listen to him.

[ScottyGEE]

eh ps3 sux n wee sux 360 ftw

wtf? stfunoob! dis is the year of teh ps3 LOL! bluray mgs4 lilbigPlanet killzone 2 home resistance 2! Ur just a fanboi whoose too jelous of the ps3 LOL go play ur gaylo 3 gears of crap on xbox live which u have to pay for LMAO

Man, comments/kids like those make me want to bash my head against a wall...But then the terrorists would win as I'd be dumb as them kids too. (It also hurts to see so much red from spell check )

[xbox]

The wii may be topping the sales charts, but what is the return rate on it?
seriously I got bored of it before a whole week was over.

Profit-wise? Much better than either of the other consoles, namely because:
1. It's got roughly the equivalent of last-gen hardware, and
2. Nintendo has yet to drop its price.

Some people call that good business sense. I call it indifference toward the consumer.

I mean how many people have returned their wii? As in walked into Best Buy say that they were sold a worthless, anti fun console and forced them to take it back?

[Tural]

wtf? stfunoob! dis is the year of teh ps3 LOL! bluray mgs4 lilbigPlanet killzone 2 home resistance 2! Ur just a fanboi whoose too jelous of the ps3 LOL go play ur gaylo 3 gears of crap on xbox live which u have to pay for LMAO

eh mb u cud pay for good online if ur consle wasnt a bajillion dollars pwpnwpwnpwnppnwnpwn

[kornkidcrazy]

eh mb u cud pay for good online if ur consle wasnt a bajillion dollars pwpnwpwnpwnppnwnpwn

wee gotzz onlives 2 can brose inerwebs n wach utubes.

We have a wii(my little brother's console) and a 360 (my console) in my house. I like the idea of the wii, but the motion detection shit pisses me off. I'll be boxing and I'm getting all pissed because my fucking Mii wont uppercut the other guy. The only game I like for it is Brawl because there isn't motion sensor movement crap and it is an alright game. Once my brother and I beat it on coop I lost interest. I guess if you arnt really into gamming or if you are old or if it would be your first console, buy a wii. I see them more as a gimmick than a console. I prefer 360.

[HunterXI]

The wii may be topping the sales charts, but what is the return rate on it?
seriously I got bored of it before a whole week was over.

Profit-wise? Much better than either of the other consoles, namely because:
1. It's got roughly the equivalent of last-gen hardware, and
2. Nintendo has yet to drop its price.

Some people call that good business sense. I call it indifference toward the consumer.

I mean how many people have returned their wii? As in walked into Best Buy say that they were sold a worthless, anti fun console and forced them to take it back?

Can't really say, as there isn't any concrete data on that. That being said, it'll be lower than you think in any case, since most people would rather just let something sit there and rot than return it. They tend to return things only if they're in some way objectionable (as opposed to being plain meh).


Forgive me for this inner fanboi excursion.


Quoting data from Wikipedia:

Best-Selling Wii Games:
1. Wii Sports – 21.5m
2. Wii Play – 11.5m
3. Super Mario Galaxy – 6.1m
4. Mario Party 8 – 4.8m
5. Super Smash Bros. Brawl – 4.8m

It seems sad to me that their number one contender's position is entirely subsidized – the game that comes with the console (Metacritic score: 76). And it's practically accepted as fact that Wii Play is only bought to get the pack-in extra Wiimote; it's a terrible game anyway (Metacritic score: 58 ). You have to get down to third on the list to find an actual gem on the system, SMG (Metacritic score: 97).

But when you think about it, less than a fourth (23%, 6/26) of Wii owners own a copy of the game's best system. Worse yet, the second- and third-best games on the Wii (Twilight Princess and SSB:B) are only possessed by about 17% of Wii owners. This would seem to mean that a lot of Wii owners have some seriously subpar or "gimmick-y" games.

[Tural]

And that surprises you?