Why I will be buying a Revolution and not a PS3/360 (and why Nintendo will never die)

[Captain Cleanoff]

First off, let me state that I am not a hardcore gamer. I don't really want games that I have to go super deep into. I like something I can pick up, play, and then shut off when I am done. I'm a 21 year old (in 16 days) college student who is interested in many things other than games. I don't even follow the videogame industry. The only reason I know anything about the Revolution, the 360 and the PS3 is because Speedfreak likes to send me links to articles.

If you consider yourself a hardcore gamer, who can spend 4 hours per day playing a videogame by yourself, who can read hardware specs and drool, you will probably like the PS3 or the 360 better. That's not me. I don't care. Nowadays, graphical differences are becoming less and less noticeable, and I guarantee that you can play a PS, a PS2 and a PS3 all in a row and notice what makes the PS2 stand out from the PS more than what makes the PS3 stand out from the PS2 (as far as graphics go). I'm all about games that are just fun.

Nintendo states that the Revolution is going to target the non-gamer, and is supposed to be for use by the whole family, not a solo venture. This is consistant with everything Nintendo has done in the last 2 years. Out of all 3 system manufacturers, Nintendo is obviously the one that puts more emphasis on multiplayer games.

A side effect of this emphasis is that great "family games" also make great party games. Beyond Halo and DDR (which isn't really that fun on the PS2 at parties unless you're a rich bastard who can afford two metal pads), what great party games are around on the PS2 and XBox? Between kids having sleepovers and drunk college students needing an excuse to cause riots, you're going to find a lot of Mario Kart, Smash Bros, and Mario Party at multiplayer gatherings. You will find more Halo, but there is nothing on the X-box beyond that one series.

I'm a party gamer. I want multiplayer games that will make great entertainment when I invite friends over. I get bored off my @$$ within 20 minutes of playing a "deep" game solo, unless it's an old SNES favorite or a GBA game. I'd rather play Mario Kart 64/DD with 3 friends than play MGS3 or Final Fantasy X alone. If I'm alone, I'd rather go on the internet and interact online than play videogames.

I'm also a retro gamer. In those times when I do want to game alone, I will ignore my GameCube and PS2, and instead fire up the SNES and play old classics like Zelda: LTTP, Secret of Mana, Soulblazer or Chrono Trigger. Games that can be deep and involved yet are equally easy to just pick up and play. The only time I do not ignore my GCN is when I plug in the Game Boy Player and fire up a game like Golden Sun, Fire Emblem or Megaman Battle Network insert-sequel-number-here, all of which carry the retro-appeal of being easy to pick up and play yet have the ability to be deep and involving.

Because of the Revolution, I can now get rid of the clutter associated with keeping full collections of SNES, NES, N64 and GCN collections. I can take all that into Gamestop, trade it all in, practically get the Revolution for free after the value of my trade-ins is taken into consideration, then go home and get the retro games all over again. What's better for a party than having SSB, SSBM, Mario Kart 64 and Double Dash, Super Bomberman 1/2, etc. all one one system? And that's not even taking into consideration the possible release of retro Sega games (I'd kill for Shining Force II and Phantasy Star IV), and the new Revolution games.

Oh, and here's another reason why I'm buying a Revolution: Somewhere along the line, there is going to be full internet capability, and that leads to the possibility that amateur developers will be making ROMs off of NES or SNES or Sega engines. Who wouldn't love companies creating their own homebrews to download?

Plus, the Revolution will cost less money to buy, and I don't like spending too much money on ANYTHING. Between the price point, the social aspect, and the retro collection, The N has won me back.

----------

On why Nintendo will not die off.

Sure, the GCN is in third place in the console race. Sure, the PSP is finally giving the Game Boy Advance and the DS a run for their sales. Sure, more hype surrounds Sony and Microsoft. But what is the REAL mark of sustainability for any good company?

That's right, say it with me: THE BOTTOM LINE.

What that means is simple subtraction. You take the amount of money a company has earned in their fiscal year, and subtract it by the amount they have spent in their fiscal year. In this category, Nintendo absolutely crushes the competition.

The fact is, most companies lose money on the systems they sell. They make the money back with first-party games and peripherals. But what happens when they do not sell enough of those to make the money back? They lose it.

Nintendo wins for two reasons. First off, their systems are very inexpensive to make. Despite the low prices of the GBA, the DS, and (before price drops) the Cube, Nintendo turns a net profit off of the systems they sell. They sell at a gain, not a loss. Microsoft and Sony sell at losses. Nintendo, by downplaying the system-specs arms race that is turning Sony and Microsoft into a cold-war era America and Russia, is preparing gamers for system that is powerful, but not so powerful that they are selling it at a loss because of how much it costs to produce. Nintendo will focus on making the Revolution as powerful as they can at as low of a price as they can, the same way they did with the DS.

Second, they obviously produce and sell more first-party games than MS and Sony do. People criticize Nintendo for being too into its own games and less into third party games, but guess which makes Nintendo more money?

For number 1, we look at the handheld market in particular. Nintendo keeps the GBA itself profitable (and the Game Boy before it) by releasing new, improved versions (the GBA SP and now the GB Micro) at higher prices. In times of old, they did the same thing with the Game Boy Pocket and Game Boy Color. In contrast, Sony has been selling the PSP at a loss ever since the day it was released, AND since they made it an all-in-one system for MP3s and movies too, they sell more PSPs but not enough more games to make up for it. Nintendo did the smart thing by leaving the MP3s to the iPod. The DS has the potential for movie conversion peripherals, but that should not have Nintendo worried at all, because their system is already sold at a profit!

Despite their underwhelming presence in the arms race, Nintendo has been ruling the videogame market for years. The GBA family, the DS, and the GCN have combined to consistantly sell almost as many units as the PS2 and the X-Box COMBINED. The PSP has thrown a wrench into that, but being as it is so expensive and sold at a loss, Nintendo should be seeing even more of a profit advantage over its rival.

Sega, before it turned third party, was losing billions on the bottom line. Nintendo's bottom line shows that they CONSISTANTLY pull in over a billion dollars per year, even after all the spending is done. In other words, Nintendo is sitting on a gigantic pile of cash that is growing faster and faster. Their conservative business practices are causing them to turn ridiculous profits. Sony and Microsoft have other ventures to fall back on when their gaming divisions lose money, but Nintendo does not, so Nintendo needs to have their game division be as profitable as possible. It's a matter of simple math: Lower development costs, and sell more units. Nintendo has their bases covered.

[Lord of Spam]

I can agree with pretty much everything except...

Originally Posted by ///Phantom

Because of the Revolution, I can now get rid of the clutter associated with keeping full collections of SNES, NES, N64 and GCN collections. I can take all that into Gamestop, trade it all in, practically get the Revolution for free after the value of my trade-ins is taken into consideration, then go home and get the retro games all over again.

You do realize that you could most likely sell that to people over Ebay for FAR more than any store will give you, right? Not to mention that having it is worth it just from a collection stand point (kind of like how people buy Ferraris they never drive.)

[Speedfreak]

Originally Posted by ///Phantom

The only reason I know anything about the Revolution, the 360 and the PS3 is because Speedfreak likes to send me links to articles.

I fear your arguement may unravel at this point.

[Random]

Y'know... That was a very nice post Phantom. I think when I saw the thread before I clicked on it, I presumed it'd be some biased statement that didn't give anything. But you gave your own reasons, and good reasons at that. I don't necessarily agree, but you definately made a good statement.

[Vampiro V. Empire]

Good post. For some reason I expected less, but you made some good, valid points. *Thumbs up*

[Big Boss]

Heh, I'm just surprised you haven't been flamed yet. I remember bringing casual gamers into my arguments back in the day, and I can still remember the insults directed towards them by a few of the members here. But, I guess as long as you like Nintendo, you're safe in this forum.

Good post.

[Captain Cleanoff]

Originally Posted by Lord of Spam

I can agree with pretty much everything except...



You do realize that you could most likely sell that to people over Ebay for FAR more than any store will give you, right? Not to mention that having it is worth it just from a collection stand point (kind of like how people buy Ferraris they never drive.)

Some of them are going to be EBay fodder (like the Square RPGs), but there's nobody who's going to pay any significant amount of money for stuff like Darius Twin or SimCity.

Originally Posted by Vampiro

Good post. For some reason I expected less, but you made some good, valid points. *Thumbs up*

Probably because that was my longest post ever at VGC :P

[Linko_16]

My library of NES, SNES and N64 titles is pretty small compared to most other old-school fanatics just because I missed out on the gaming industry for quite a bit, but I'd never sell what I have. It's like being able to show your grandkids and old record collection, even if you could have the same music on tape, CD or mp3.

[Lord of Spam]

Originally Posted by ///Phantom

Some of them are going to be EBay fodder (like the Square RPGs), but there's nobody who's going to pay any significant amount of money for stuff like Darius Twin or SimCity.

Just be sure to post links so that we can bid on your shwag.

[Osic]

Im buying a Revolution because I BORED TO DEATH with games that are just games. How many fps, RTS's, racing sims and platformers do you need? I have a computer, it will play all the next gen games. I have no need for a console that does the same thing, less some graphics and minus about 110 buttons.

The Revolution is a breath of fresh air. Its different. I love the idea of somthing quirky, odd and charming. Nintendo is bringing somthing new to the table, no one else can. While Microsoft and Sony duke it out for the sales and graphics, I will be sitting back with my Revolution enjoying it. When I want to buy a game that has the graphics and all too familiar genre (now with slow mo and better graphics) Ill buy it on my PC.

TV consoles will never be as good as a PC. The 360 can not possibly have better parts in it then a computer only double its price. Nintendo can resign itself to this fact, and concentrate on fun. Computers will always be the prefered networked gamming hardware. Nintendo is looking at this, focusing on by being able to download whole games, getting rid of problems of lag, cheating, patches and cennection problems.

There are people out there who will not bring themselves to liking a game thats concept seems childish/easy or too simple. These people will never give themselves a chanch to relize how fun these games are. Im 18 and whenever I see Warioware in a store as a demo I get my friends over to play it. They all flame me for liking it, telliing me its a stupid game. Then they play it. It takes them a while, the negativty can be a stong emotion to overcome but most of them do. The other ones, the hardcore guys who would prefer to die then cry in public dont get it, and I pitty them for that.

Its time. Its been way too long sense 3D hit games, that was a major change that allowed differnt genres to be created. platformers had new levels of difficulty and fun, sports games became more then pong, fps.. didnt change that much. Now 3D is stale. No matter how many Gb of tetures you sqweeze onto a DVD Halo 3 will still be Halo 1 with new maps and guns, with more shinny and rounded helmets. The original of anything is always the best. Its a new idea, somthing you have never seen before. While Mario 64 was the best game ever, I have no need to see a sequal nearly 10 years on. Its time for a change, its time for a Revolution (Pun intended).

We can not compare the futre with the past. The new thing has always been different. Graphics have helped along the way, but that is not what changed the games. 3D is a developing tool, not a graphical upgrade. People thoght Mario 64 was so good because it brang a new dimention of playing, not because it looked pretty. The 3D enviroment created a new experence.

This is what the 360 and PS3 fail to see. They are not geetting inovation from looking lifelike. They are not getting inovation from making Halo 3, Metal Gear Solid 4 or Project Gothem 3. They are not getting inovation from allowing online play (its been around for around 8 years now). No matter how many Mp3 players, DVD players or washing machines you put into a console it will never have the flexibility of a PC. For the price of a PS3 I could build a computer as powerful, put a decent hard drive into it, network it to another computer, connect it to a TV and have it be the ultimate entertainment system, suited to my needs.

Nintendo doesnt screw around with all this add on crap. Sure a DVD player was a selling point for the PS2. But who the hell doesnt have a DVD player these days? The next gen consoles simply dont need one.

Nintendo IS getting inovation from the DS, its getting inovation from a new way of interating with games. It is getting inovation from new ideas and game genre's. No matter how cool it is to play against someone on the other side of the world, nothing beats beats having a bash with 3 other mates in the one house.

/well thats my rant for the year. betcha no one reads it.

[Luigi182]

Awesome, a well thought out post and very interesting. Both of you, ///Phantom and Osic echoed alot of the very same sentiments I've been feeling towards the whole next-gen console wars idea. It's nice to see someone honestly state their opinion and why and do so in an intelligent manner.

Kudos to thee!

[Non-ExistentOne]

I've just been convinced that Nintendo is the ruler. Dedication = Nintendo now.

Very good post Phantom.

[KMFDM]

I agree with what you said about the clutter thats a big reason I'm geting the Rev. I get to stell play all the games I love without the cartridges taking up all that space.

[Proto Man]

Very good statements so far. Now let me make mine, thought they may not be as long. I am a Hardcore gamer, yet I will also be buying the Revolution. Why? Because Nintendo focuses on the quality of games, not just how flashy the graphics are. They provide games that will draw you in and have you playing for days on end if necessary. I will be buying Revolution because Nintendo's main focus IS GAMING, not to be an all-in-one super computer.

Originally Posted by ///Phantom

Some of them are going to be EBay fodder (like the Square RPGs), but there's nobody who's going to pay any significant amount of money for stuff like Darius Twin or SimCity.

Since when was Sim City ever a significant amount?

[Mmm.... GOOD!!!]

game nerds

[Speedfreak]

Punk rock fag.

[GameMiestro]

Originally Posted by ///Phantom

Out of all 3 system manufacturers, Nintendo is obviously the one that puts more emphasis on multiplayer games.

I have to disagree there. Notice how there is only 2 games for the GameCube that people actually play online. If they had more online games, the GameCube would sell more, it's as simple as that.

For the rest of the post, pretty nice. There isn't much to debate, unless we can find some fanboy PS2 users... Now, if you wanted an argument between which is better- the DS or the GCN, that would bring some controversy.

[Drewboy64]

Originally Posted by Mmm.... GOOD!!!

game nerds

said the guy who posts in a video game forum.

Anyhow, good post. I'm surprized no fanboys have argued abouy anything.

[Boner]

I don't know why I didn't read this thread sooner. I guess the title made it seem fanboyish. But, I'm glad I did give it a read. Many good points were made. I'm not surprised in the least that there is no flaming going on.

[Zeta]

Phantom and Osic have good arguments. If I wasn't a Nintendo fanboy I'd buy a Rev due to what they said. But since I am a fanboy, I'll buy 2 Revs due to what they said.

I'd also like to thank you since I now have something to show all the Sony/Microsoft fanboys at school that go 'S/M is gonna put Nintendo out of business' to make them shut up.