Squatters' Rights

[pierski]

I was thinking about this while I was putting the previous comic together.

A year ago, the Nintendo Wii had such a vast margin over the competition it was ridiculous. But then, Sony/Blu-Ray won the format war. I actually thought that that was going to start pushing the PS3's numbers to the max. Nope. The PS3 still has half the install base of the Wii. And the Xbox 360 has almost as large of an install base as the Wii as well now [source].

Another thing I noticed are role-playing games (RPG). Last generation, if you wanted RPGs the console to own was the PS2. Now if you want RPGs the consoles to own are the Xbox 360 and the PS2 (as far as handhelds, the Nintendo DS and PSP are both on par as far as RPG libraries go). I'm seeing the new RPGs coming out of Japan going to the Xbox 360. While the PS2 is getting a lot of good titles that might have been shuffled aside earlier on in the systems life if they had been brought over to the western countries at that time (Luminous Arc 2, Persona series, Ar Tonelico 2, etc...).

So, what? Am I bashing Sony? No. I like my PS3... granted I use it to play Blu-Rays and PS1/PS2 games I still like it. It's more of me thinking that the Xbox 360 might actually be the top selling console this generation. Xbox Live is more polished than the competitions online versions. And I'm thinking the Wii novelty is starting to wear off a little.

Rereading what I just wrote, it does seem like a jumbled train-of-thought. But it works. Voice your opinions in the forum.

[GrimtheReaper]

The problem with the PS3 is that to get the most out of the system it's still pretty pricey. Yes the console price has gone down quite a bit, but the cost of HDTV's is still pretty high. Some people don't care about having to own an HDTV for their PS3. But for me, if I'm going to buy a system, I want the most out of it.

If the 360 had a bluray player too, then I would probably have gone with a PS3 simply because PSN is free and you don't have to shell out $100 to connect wirelessly.

In terms of the Wii, that's just one disappointment for me. The novelty is gone, and there just aren't any great single player games. Nintendo should have promoted 3rd party titles more, maybe have a rep that would go to the major companies to help them utilize the motion controls correctly. I'm tired of games that put in unnecessary motion controls simply because they can.

[The Anarchyz]

NexGenWars??? RLY???

This guy doesn't know shite about sales, if you want a more accurate site go to VGChartz...

[styldchaos]

I just recently Got on board the PS3 wagon. I mainly wanted a blu-ray player then I played MGS4. I'm not much of a gamer recently, I admit it. I used to be hardcore back when the PS1 was like the best system ever, but games got so boring. Playing MGS4 brought it all back, I played it once and was so impressed, I played it again right after. I haven't done that since ff7.
PS3 gave me hope for video games again, my xbox 360 has been shelved. It was also nice to pick up the playstation controller that I spent so much time with I never have to wonder what button I'm pressing. It's good to finally be playing games again.
xbox live can keep it's subscribers when I want to deal with people I'll leave the house.
As for playing with others, I like them to be within punching distance if they're being cheap. When they invent a way to punch people over the internet I might come back to xbox live.

[piclemaniscool]

I think the main problem is the price. The PS3 is about 100$ more on average. Not to mention that everyone already HAD the 360, and for a minor improvement, its not worth it. Sure the PSN is free, but it had to be when every one of their 10 games (and by that I mean exclusives) costs 60$-70$!

I am in the dumbass group that bought the wii for its hype, and not only did it shatter every single hope and dream i carried on with me for a couple years, but it made me feel like an idiot. "Oh 360 is too expensive, and holy crap Brawl looks awsoe! they even have sonic in it!!!" Thats what I thought. Year later, here I am, begging my parents for a 360. I can't have it now since i got the wii last year, and I don't play it. That and I'm saving up for a tablet pc to make my own comics (i'll let you know how that turns out). Now that all the good things are out like CoD, GoW2, FO3, Halo 3, and sonic unleashed coming soon, I'm screwed.

[The Anarchyz]

Now for my opinion...

1st: Steve, you have to upgrade your PS3 firmware, some of the thougts and opinions are from outdated firmware... Then you must PLAY some PS3 exclusives, there are really good games out there...

2nd: I'll repeat it: NexGenWars IS NOT AN ACCURATE SALES SITE, i've seen the figures and they're incredibly wrong according to NPD and reports from around the world, it's like they only check US sales and do a world projection with it... The site to look is VGChartz, they do a really better approximate about worldwide sales...

3rd: You're hungry for RPGs, then you should get Disgaea 3 and the awesome Valkyria Chronicles, they're both PS3 exclusives, SERIOUSLY, get Valkyria Chronicles... BTW: SCE/Level-5's White Knight Chronicles is out Dec. 25 in Japan, it maybe gets here in February...

[Indigo_Dingo]

The 360 is on its deathbed really. According to Cliffy B, a man who has worked with the console pretty much since it came out, its been pushed to its limit. Its line-up for 2009 exclusives is a joke (two words - console RTS), while in the same year the Ps3 is launching the games that will define this generation: 4 that will reshape and set the new bar for (console) graphics (Killzone 2 - yes, it does look as good as the 2005 trailer - God Of War III, Heavy Rain, Gran Turismo 5), 2 that will redefine the upper limits of what console online can do (MAG and Home) and 5 that are just plain awesome in concept and look sweet (The aforementioned White Knight Chronicles, inFAMOUS, Yakuza 3, Quantum Theory, and LA Noire). And the Wii will not stop selling, its no novelty man. The people who are its target demographic love it - as long as Nintendo still take care with their titles, it will win this console generation.

[kjersti23]

i'm thinking about getting a wii so i can have family gaming nights. it will be nice to play a video game without waiting for my daughter to fall asleep cause the bloodshed might give her nightmares. the wii might not be the system of choice for hard core gamers but parents like it. heck my husband's grandma wants one so she can do the wii fit thing.

ps3 and the 360 are both too expensive for the hobbist gamer motherhood has forced me to become

[elvor]

I like the 360 for teh rock bandz.

But really, I'm past caring about all this console war thing. I have my Wii, which I occasionally play, my PC, which is may main gaming platform at the moment (Dead Space ftw!), and 360 for rhythm, although I am currently lacking one in my uni accomodation (although that is soon to change. Getting £400 randomly from a Bursary is a nice suprise.)

Still, awesome comic, loved the joke.

[Moonsaves]

I'm no fanboy, but I gotta say I prefer the PS3. I got bored of turning the 360 on at three AM and it sounding like grit in a blender, waking everyone in the house. Despite the "beep" the PS3 makes when it starts up, it's quiet a console as I've ever heard.

But obviously I don't just use a console because it's quiet. I mainly love it for my MGO

[Mozillo]

I lol'd with the end of the strip.... My friend owns a PS3... but he is the sort of person who is sooo strongly opinionated, that if someone disagrees... he might stab them....
But yeah, he is completely convinced that the PS3 is better than the 360... I personally think 360 is better.... From what I know, 360 has better games, well better BIG games that get a lot of publicity. However, the PS3 only has a few... like 2.... games that get a lot of publicity.... But all he DOES is play CoD4... Now CoD5.... but still... whenever I try and tell him how the 360 is better (IMO) He just goes, "NO! PS3 has bluray and games like Gears of War suck because there are people that just go, "ooooh A chainsaw on a machine gun!"" But he doesn't realise... the game rocks. But yeah... I think that also the PS3 losing the Final Fantasy exclusive means it is going to lose even more sales.... But yeah, the Wii is looking like the "oooh that is something different" appeal is finally dying down.... If only it had some good games (or some more) then it might get a few more sales....

[The Anarchyz]

Here are the most accurate sales figures, from VGChartz



And here is a hardware-by-launch comparison, notice that the 360 line is longer because of the 1 year head-start...



NexGenWars stopped being a reliable site a long time ago, look up and you'll see why...

BTW, happy Thanksgiving and Happy Black Friday

[Arc]

Personally I've always been a Nintendo person. I like the other systems but i just get the most out of what Nintendo has to offer.
By the way there is a pretty good reason why when you look at charts the Wii seems to dominate over the others and yet people are still mostly satisfied with 360.
Wii is aimed toward everyone, not just gamers. The Wii is meant so mom, dad, and the kids can all get together and have fun with the games, so not just the gamer community gets the system but the generic people who know squat about games also can get behind them. As for the 360, it is aimed at both audiences as well, but mainly the gamers. It does have stuff for the family, but it's not as good. 360 is about getting the challenging and unique games that the gamers are after.
PS3 is after both also, but their main qualities seem to be the extra features like Blu-ray, CDS, ps1 and ps2 games, etc. Not saying it doesn't have good games! It's just they aren't as revolutionary or talked about/noticable. Not as many games exclusively for the PS3 that are extremely good, although it seems lately to be getting more...