PS3 and Wii — Head To Head

1up has a piece looking at the Wii vs. the PS3, running down the particulars on graphical power, online capabilities, launch titles, and control scheme. For the most part, they're siding with the PS3: "Traditionally, Nintendo's never been much for online gaming (the GameCube had two online games&ever), but Wii appears poised to finally bring Mario and Co. into the multiplayer arena. Wii will use a modified version of the DS' Wi-Fi Connection software to facilitate online matchmaking. (Most likely, you'll only be able to play against players who give you 'friend codes' first, just like with the DS.) Like the PS3, the Wii will offer online gaming free of charge."

Let the customers decide

[PIPBoy3000]

I'm getting to the point where the fanboys arguing over which system is better has gotten quite dull. When Wikipedia has to lock down [gamespot.com] their entries, things are getting silly.

Sometime in January, we'll see sales results and then someone can declare a "winner". Even that seems silly, since the two systems seem to cater to different audiences.

Who writes this shit?

[Anonymous Coward]

Most likely, you'll only be able to play against players who give you "friend codes" first, just like with the DS.

I don't have a single friend code in my DS and still can play online against other people. You don't see their codes, but you don't need them to play online. They're only useful if you want to play against specific people.

Maybe the author should do some research instead of pulling "facts" out of thin air.

Re:Who writes this shit?

[EmperorKagato]

EGM Staff.

So I'm assuming we can all blame Dan Hsu.

Biased much?

[chrismcdirty]

I like how the writer assumes that friend codes will be involved, and completely missed the whole concept of them. You can play anyone in most games without a friend code, but you'd have to settle for random matchmaking. Animal Crossing is the only game I can think of off the top of my head that required a friend code.

And I especially like how he says Nintendo is entering the world of multiplayer gaming. First, they've had the WiFi Connection running for more than a year. Second, just because they haven't participated much in online multiplayer gaming, he ignores all of their other great multiplayer and party games. The way I see it, online games are second fiddle to offline multiplayer. I'd rather be together with my friends, but if that can't happen, we resort to using the internet to play together.

Re:I hope they trade their 360s in..

[normal_guy]

Wii will use a system similar to the DS (and the Microsoft Games that come free with XP.) You are only able to send pre-selected text messages to people not on your friend list. For those on your friend list, full voice/whiteboard chat are enabled (if the game supports it.) Adding someone to your friend list requires an exchange of information...so the idiot factor is low. Unless you start exchanging friend codes on http://wii-are-idiots.net./ [wii-are-idiots.net.]

Re:Let the customers decide

[Phisbut]

Sometime in January, we'll see sales results and then someone can declare a "winner".

That won't even work, they won't even use the same "unit of measure". In January, Nintendo will have sold "5 million consoles" and will claim victory (although the big N really doesn't care about the fight, it's only the fanboys), while Sony will have sold "100% of their consoles" (which might as well be fewer than a million), so they'll claim victory too.

there are plenty of wii games

[cowscows]

I won't be surprised if the PS3 ends up with more games than the Wii, but the article seems a bit unfair to nintendo in terms of games. An example being that they talk about Madden specifically for the PS3, but didn't bother to mention that it'll also be available for the Wii (customized for the controller even). Instead just panning the Wii for its lack of third party games.

They only listed seven Wii games, while Nintendo's website has a list of 30 that will be available within 5 weeks of launch. That's a pretty damn impressive lineup, especially compared to what we're used to from Nintendo.

Wii Numbers

[goodenoughnickname]

He shouldn't have to assume. According to a video tour of the interface from IGN, rather than have a new code for each game the Wii will have an address book full of "Wii Numbers". If you have someone's Wii system number you can play games with them online, send them messages and Miis, and all that good stuff.

Re:Proofreading?

[Sappharad]

(the GameCube had two online games&ever)

For the record, there were three:
1. Phantasy Star Online Episode 1&2
2. Phantasy Star Online C.A.R.D. Revolution (Episode 3)
3. Homeland [gamespy.com]

It's NOT the *Nintendo* Power Glove

[LKM]

The Power Glove wasn't a Nintendo product. It was made by Mattel. [wikipedia.org] There were a grand total of two games made for the Power Glove. Two crappy games. The Wii controller will be different.

Re:Power Glove?

[AKAImBatman]

I had one. Its key failing was that it was a 3D input device for a 2D system. Which is not very useful when you think about it.

Mattel & Nintendo made a big deal about how you could actually turn the steering wheel in Rad Racer, or punch in Punch Out. While I never tried Punch Out, the former wasn't actually true. The Power Glove had a "center" that you calibrated for. Any time you moved your hand away from the virtual center, your character/car moved. To run/jump/accelerate you flexed your fingers instead of pressing buttons.

The result was that you could clench your fist in Rad Racer, and pretend like you were turning a steering wheel. In reality, you were just moving to each side of the virtual center. The rotation of your hand played almost no role. (Even though the glove could detect it!) Most other games were finger twitching frenzies. My siblings and I always ended up using the joypad on the top of the glove because we couldn't execute some tricky maneuver.

Re:Technically, PS3 wins - Heart, Wii wins

[Chris Burke]

By definition, half of the US population makes average income or below.

By definition half the US population makes median income or below.

More than half of the US population makes below average income because of the Bill Gates and other outliers that drag the average up.

Sorry, just a pedantic pet peeve.

Re:Technically, PS3 wins - Heart, Wii wins

[mabinogi]

Well, technically the median is an average too, although admittedly most people do associate the word "Average" with the mean.
But if you were going to be pedantic, you probably should've specified mean instead of average.

Re:Technically, PS3 wins - Heart, Wii wins

[Chris Burke]

Well, technically the median is an average too, although admittedly most people do associate the word "Average" with the mean.

The median is an average, but whenever "average" is used as a specific measurement (rather than the class of measures of central tendency), it means "arithmetic mean".