Microsoft boss says Wii gamers will graduate to 360

360 News | Once the novelty wears off.

Microsoft director of product management for 360 and Live, Aaron Greenberg, has suggested that the Nintendo Wii is mostly just a novelty device for parties, and that gamers will so want to 'graduate' to the Xbox 360.

"Everyone says that eventually the novelty will wear off, right? I think that a lot of the people that are buying that console today are not people that have generally bought consoles in the past, right?" asked Greenberg, in a recent interview with Gamasutra.

"You see they're not buying games on it, right? They're buying it, it's like something they break out when people come over, and it's maybe a fun thing, but it's almost like the same people that buy a karaoke machine, you know? They're not really buying it for games, they're just buying it as a novelty."

In addition, Greenberg doesn't actually see the Wii as a competitor.

"I think for us, we don't really see the Wii as a direct competitor, we actually very much complement the Wii experience. It's obviously clear that we're going head-to-head with the PS3 in this generation. I think what Xbox will be able to do as well as the Wii is grow the market."

Greenberg also praised the Wii, saying that the extra markets they have created will benefit Microsoft in the future, as gamers move onto other consoles.

"In this generation we're seeing record revenues for the US and globally for the business, and we're seeing more people buying and playing games than ever before, and the Wii is definitely part of that. And as they grow that pie, that benefits us too, because those customers are eventually going to want to graduate to an Xbox 360 experience."

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92 Comments

franky573

3 years ago

"but it's no N64 or SNES as far as games catalogue goes"

The NES (or famicon), SNES, and N64 are testimate to the fact that Nintendo are just getting started. All there consoles have staggered releases. Nintendo has the most demanding quality assurance codes of conduct and what not of any console to date. The downfall of atari was the flood of games to the market that featured no innovation. They we're all just re-brands of the same systems and it will go down in history as the biggest blunder in games to date.

"without even considering DOS/Windows was/is one of the biggest videogame platforms in history"

The PC and the xbox are significantly different in terms of concept. In technology though, they are too similar. For evidence look at the XNA game development library the MS put out, it uses the same programming across the PC and the xbox. As in one of my earlier posts: the xbox is a computer in a smaller box.

The PS3 maybe be more expensive and there 3.6 billion dollar losses are proof of they're problems. They do how ever have a lot going for the console: Blu-ray, sixaxis, the eventual psn cards, home (hahahahahah), and a good history to ride on. For example the PS2 is still an extremly high grossing console (see todays Australian IT supplement).

The Wii is new still, it's outselling all other consoles and they are purposely staggering releases. As for the comment prior (dont remember who) about the Wii reliying on Nintendo developed games... duh. All consoles do this, its called exclusivity. It's what the PS3 is betting onto make make money and it's the particular reason that xbox has gotten as big as it has (HALO).

Hahaha. I hate that this has gotten petty.
so i'll stop now.

but to everyone that is telling me to stay in school.

i graduated.

Island_Wolf

3 years ago

^Please refrain from double posting, and learn to use the edit button. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and do not need a degree in whatever course you done to say what they think. (Just learn to put up with fellow forumer

)

I think its really just wishful thinking made by Microsoft.

The 360 and Wii are both different consoles to suit people with a particular taste. Wii is anything but a novelty. There are good solid titles that will never release in Australia (like jrpg games, as usual). Unless the gamer itself are interested in the 360 game library, I doubt Wii gamers will just migrate to 360 when the "novelty" worn off.

I'll just see it as one of many unsuccessful predictions MS made over the year, including the internet wouldn't have last long, tablet pc replaces laptop, Media Centre will be in many households etc (and I'm a MS person when it comes to choice of Operating Systems).

Spanca

3 years ago

franky573 wrote

i graduated.
i am studying at UNIVERSITY.
i will have a degree in games and interactive technology.
what are you doing?

I'm also in university, having finished a specialised degree in commerce with a marketing focus (not the same as a simple major) and now finishing my law degree, so I have some idea of what goes on in the world of marketing, but unlike you I don't begin my posts in a thread proclaiming to be a student of a certain discipline and therefore an expert. To say that Nintendo are some sort of marketing geniuses and that everything they've done in the last decade or two has been part of a master plan is rubbish. They bombed last generation, they lost a lot of ground the one before, and it's only now that they've taken stock, realised that they couldn't continue with the same failing marketing plan and had to adopt what was essentially a last ditch effort at staying afloat. That last ditch effort has paid off well for them, but to say they're geniuses and it was all some sort of grand plan is utter rubbish.

Can I also add that when you're the last person to have responded to a thread and you want to add something more, use the edit button on your last post rather than post again. We don't particularly like double posting here. Thanks.

Darkmessiah24

3 years ago

As Much as I like the Xbox 360, the Wii still stays with me. No matter what.

ObsoletE

3 years ago

Spanca wrote

franky573 wrote

i graduated.
i am studying at UNIVERSITY.
i will have a degree in games and interactive technology.
what are you doing?

I'm also in university, having finished a specialised degree in commerce with a marketing focus (not the same as a simple major) and now finishing my law degree

i thought i went to the school of hard knocks, but then i came out with a degree in Geophysics! turned out it was the school of hard rocks.

curse my hearing!

legend166

3 years ago

So, along with redesigning the site, did PalGN redesign the users into a bunch of idiots?

This thread is a disaster.

One on hand you've someone saying the Wii doesn't have good games, despite only owning 4 games, 2 of which are crap.

Then you've got someone proclaiming Nintendo as the masters of everything business wise, and that they can do no wrong, all the while ignoring the failures that were the N64 and GCN.

ObsoletE

3 years ago

welcome to the internet.

legend166

3 years ago

welcome to earf, more like it.

?oe?oe

3 years ago

What about the guy who owns 30 Wii games? I like that guy.

Fetidchimp

3 years ago

legend166 wrote

Perhaps instead of reinforcing yourself as an idiot, you read the posts properly or leave no comment. At no stage did i say that the wii has no good games.

plazma

3 years ago

Well, that was some interesting reading.

now, i'm no university degree student or anything special, infact i'm still in yr 11.

BUT i have to say, does it really matter if you have a gedree or not? take a good two hours or so on the internet and you could learn all you want about anything you want.

now, my opinion, i own a wii, have 10 games on it and am so far pleased with it, the Xbox 360, however, just doesn't have the genre of games i like, its just different, thats all.

Itachi

3 years ago

?oe?oe wrote

What about the guy who owns 30 Wii games? I like that guy.

roflmao hahah yeah i like that guy to

Benza

3 years ago

franky573 wrote

The downfall of atari was the flood of games to the market that featured no innovation. They we're all just re-brands of the same systems and it will go down in history as the biggest blunder in games to date.

Are you **** me? Seriously, you're arguing about shovelwear in an argument defending the Wii? The home of **** shovelware titles?

Also inovation?
Whats the biggest inovation in consoles latley, waggle controlls or a reliable online service?

Quote

The Wii is new still, it's outselling all other consoles and they are purposely staggering releases. As for the comment prior (dont remember who) about the Wii reliying on Nintendo developed games... duh. All consoles do this, its called exclusivity.

Exclusivity doesn't mean its a first party game. I have tonnes of exclusives on my 360, Crackdown, Bioshock (Well used to be) Mass Effect.

jivemaster

3 years ago

I agree with most of the comments here. People with 360's and people with Wii's are often different people. I would still class both as gamers, but different types of gamers. Wii's are marketed at families, but many hardcore gamers have them for the retro games and 1st party Nintendo games, which are often quite deep. It depends.

Especially with how the game companies **** Australian's and other PAL regions at the register, most people can only afford one console, if any, or will stick with their PS2 until nextgens get to the classic $199 mark.

I see more gamers with 360's moving to Wii if they get bored and are looking for a different experience - not the other way around.

legend166

3 years ago

Benza wrote

Exclusivity doesn't mean its a first party game. I have tonnes of exclusives on my 360, Crackdown, Bioshock (Well used to be) Mass Effect.

Two of those games are on the PC.

Unless this is one of those "PC doesn't count" arguments.

Fly

3 years ago

ppjim3 wrote

Microsoft have brought a massive amount of content/framework to the videogame world through their XBOX brand, without even considering DOS/Windows was/is one of the biggest videogame platforms in history. They may be new to creating a singular videogame machine but you can clearly see they are ahead of the tech curve. Their online, community, and integration is YEARS ahead of the competition. Nintendo wouldn't know what modern tech was if you hit them in the face with it. Just consider that nearly everyone on earth hating on their Friend Code system and horrible Internet gaming framework and yet... it stays!

To be fair, Windows is a buggy mess and the only reason it is uniform is because of the support base for it and Apple DOS predated MS-Dos by a couple of years so arguably DOS is not an MS invention and the only reason they subsequently have a superiority in the PC market is due mainly to support, as if Macs had the same level of support as Windows had you could be assured that they'd get plenty of people who'd simply ditch Windows because it's buggy and volatile.

Due to this, one could argue that their online capabilities with their Xbox brand is really only leagues ahead because Sony and Nintendo then don't have market domination with an inherent online aspect. So one would expect MS' online to be top notch because if it wasn't then what would they have to show for their market domination?

Benza

3 years ago

legend166 wrote

Unless this is one of those "PC doesn't count" arguments.

I was thinking along those lines, but we can change them for Kameo and Lost Oddyssey if ya want.

Daveh

3 years ago

Found an old copy of Hyper from 2006 just prior to the Wii launch. Greenberg was interviewed, saying the same things. He also added how he didnt really expect the Wii to sell well, or EVER come close to the 360 in units pushed given its head start. All i could do is laugh.

However in this case what hes TRYING to say is true. The Wii isnt a hardcore console, the 360 is - that being said anyone who believes gaming only exists on these consoles is SEVERLY mistaken, the big N have added a lot to this generation and i agree with Will right in many aspects about the Wii being TRULY next gen as it is expanding gaming beyond simply four triggers, six buttons, two analogue sticks and a Dpad. That doesnt mean that the 360 and PS3 are bad, or should be shunned, they are great consoles with much extended functionality over the Wii.

suction

3 years ago

why wouldn't wii gamers migrate to a PS3 i don't see why not there just trying to steal customers and as usual talk a load of crap. And them saying that there not in competition with the Wii is absoulte ****. It's another video game console which means it's in the same market there just saying that because they get there asses whooped every day in sales.

Vervain

3 years ago

suction wrote

Because the XBOX 360 is cheaper and closer to the Wii's price point. Casual gamers aren't as likely to spend $700 on a console as opposed to $350 to $500 depending on what 360 you get.

Benza

3 years ago

Daveh wrote

the big N have added a lot to this generation and i agree with Will right in many aspects about the Wii being TRULY next gen as it is expanding gaming beyond simply four triggers, six buttons, two analogue sticks and a Dpad.

I disagree, yeah they've done well with motion controlls but honestly do you play games on 360 and think "man this needs motion controlls."

DancesInUnderwear

3 years ago

Benza wrote

I disagree, yeah they've done well with motion controlls but honestly do you play games on 360 and think "man this needs motion controlls."

I have. But then I've also played Wii games and have gone "man this needs regular controls".

Daveh

3 years ago

Benza wrote

Daveh wrote

I disagree, yeah they've done well with motion controlls but honestly do you play games on 360 and think "man this needs motion controlls."

I wasnt simply talking about controls. They have changed the entire gaming market. Look at last PS2, GCN, Xbox. They all attempted to appeal to a primarily male market between the ages of 13-25, with older gamers as a side thought.

The Wii has changed the entire market, they appeal considerably more to women, girls and families than MS/Sony, which is why people like Greenberg can say what he said. Micorsoft havent lost ANY customers to Nintendo, but Nintendo have changed the market so there are more people involved and they can push more units.

What they REALLY added this generation was a different approach to video gaming consoles and a push AWAY from simply graphically high end shooters and RPG's.

As to what you said earlier, i think the Wii motion controls need to be MUCH more developed. How long have we had analouge controls for? Since the 64 and PSone, they wont replace it over night. But think of the potential. Then look back at some of the TERRIBLE analogue controls historically.

Jaws

3 years ago

70 replies and counting. Im sure Greenberg is reading all of this speculation, leaning back in his chair and thanking the PR Gods and us for taking the bait whilst M$ writes him a big fat pay cheque for giving them more public exposure.

In my opinion, if a statement is made in the form of a question, I tend to take it with a minute pinch of salt.

Quote

"I think that a lot of the people that are buying that console today are not people that have generally bought consoles in the past, right?"

Well gee Aaron.. you seem to be spoon feeding the 'cool kids' the social norm these days... you tell us!

Another poor example of trying to make a competitor out as the little guy and saying they are no threat or competition whatsoever..

Bottom line? If the Wii wasn't a threat, it would get absolutely no mention. Till that time, I will gladly allow my foot to "graduate" up Greenberg's ass in response to him stirring the sh*t pot.

Benza

3 years ago

Daveh wrote

How long have we had analouge controls for? Since the 64 and PSone,

Way longer then that dude.

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