While taking a break from playing Yoshi's Island DS, it hit me just how of a 180 (as opposed to a 360. Har har) Nintendo's fortunes have taken since the DS came to be. Remember back in 2001, when most of us laughed at Microsoft's intention to horn in on the gaming sector? Remember a few years later, when they had solidified themselves as #2? GBA Connectivity? The E-Reader? Don't get me wrong, the Gamecube and Game Boy Advance were great systems. But as Gamecube fell into third, Sony was ready to parlay their overwhelming market share in the console wars into the handheld realm. That same "Xbox? LOL" laughter heard in 2001 had been heard many times before whenever a challenger arose to Nintendo's portable throne. This time, there wasn't nearly as much.
Hm, pretty sleek. What say you, Nintendo? | 
...*gulp* |
In one corner, a sleek new do-it-all system from the reigning console kings. In the other, a clunky brick with a questionable gimmick that plays another Mario Kart. How is it then, that several years later, the DS has not only obliterated the PSP in sales, but is actually outselling the newly-released (but in fairness, sparsely released) PS3? The answer is so simple. The same reason the Gamecube fell to third in the console wars, the same reason Sony overtook Nintendo two generations ago. It's so simple, but cannot be restated enough: GAMES. A million allowances worth of games! Well, not quite that many, but you get the idea. I still haven't had time to beat hard mode in Mega Man ZX, and here I am playing Yoshi, as well as the Japanese version of Portrait of Ruin to prepare for the upcoming US launch. Meanwhile, my poor PSP lies untouched on a shelf, wondering when something else on the level of Guilty Gear Judgment or Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins, which both arrived over the summer, will come about.
Unlike their position in the portable wars, Nintendo's Wii is back in the Little Mac position, as opposed to the Mr. Dream DS (DS! Wii! So perfect! Where's my Punch-Out!! sequel?!). What was once the third pillar of a very triangular-shaped building has pretty much become its foundation, giving Nintendo a much-needed boost, and the Wii a fighting chance against a competent but stagnant Microsoft, and a stumbling but dominant Sony. But again, it all comes down to the games. The Wii is starting off in much the same way as the DS - with a lot of games that in a year or so, will likely be looked back upon as glorified tech demos that showed us how to use the gimmick. Still, that was good enough to hold most of us over until the deluge of good stuff hit, and it will be again if Nintendo doesn't repeat the gaming droughts of the N64 and Cube. Third parties have come through for the DS, time will tell if they do for the Wii. At least there's always name recognition. For now, I'm going to do my best to stave off my Zelda cravings, at least until I get some impressions and hands-on experience under my belt. If I had more discipline, I'd wait for Mario and/or Smash Bros, but that's unlikely to happen.
If you have Wii impressions to share, and want to convince me to buy one now, be my guest. Just keep the Zelda spoilers to a minimum.
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