Exactly where is this focus they've been giving the system if I may ask? You people have said it yourselves – shovelware, gathering dust, etc. It's a system with high levels of neglect from most third-party publishers. It has large potentials that have been grossly neglected and untapped.

They continue to crank out games for the first generation Xbox and PS2 so they must not be that worried about it. In the end, I think developers just want to make games people enjoy and, most importantly, sell. You don't have to have the fastest hardware on the block to accomplish this. Some of the best games ever created are actually quite simple. While the Wii doesn't challenge developers as much in terms of graphics and speed the Wii remote does present them with unique challenges they haven't had to deal with: involving the player physically in ways they've never been able to do before (and it's turned out to be quite difficult for them.)

As I posted earlier, if first person 3D shooters are what you crave then the Wii is probably not for you. As someone else said, I don't think Nintendo ever intended to compete directly with Microsoft and Sony in that market. Their strategy was NOT to go after the hardcore gamers who wanted intense graphics and speed (the Halo crowd) but to go after an untapped and largely ignored market of those who wanted things a little simpler and more social (as in “people sitting next to you” social, not “some unseen voice halfway around the world on the internet” social.) It turned out that market was bigger than what everyone thought.

“Value” is the last word that comes to mind when thinking of a PS3 or 360. I don't care how much money they lose, those are expensive gaming systems. Besides, one of the reasons they lose money is all the bells and whistles they decided to add that really don't affect gameplay (BluRay players, large hard drives, etc.) with the hopes to make them some kind of media hub.

“The Wii is only a step backwards. It does not have the life span of the other consoles and is only really enjoyed by those who either worship Nintendo…or those who do not play games to fully entertain themsleves”

Another silly statement with no basis. Yeah, you're right, I only like to be partially entertained so I chose the Wii. The Wii is gaining mementum not losing it. There is nothing that indicates anything other than that the Wii will be the top selling console until the next generation of consoles come around.

I would say the Wii has moved gaming forward not backwards. Everyone now has to think about more than just graphics and speed when designing their systems and games. That's a good thing.

Broadly speaking, I think there are 2 answers.
1. The fact that wii is boring and not worth it isnt spreading fast enough. If this is true we'll see a steady decline in wii sales in the near future.

2. Whether you like to believe it or not, there are actually people that enjoy playing the wii. More so that those that dislike the wii. If this is true then the sale of wii wont be steadily declining.

Or I guess there is a third answer. People are just too _______ and buys wii anyway regardless of the opinion from frds and family?

Viewing the facts from the figuers shows you where the real rip off is. The Xbox 360 and PS3 both cost more to make than what they are sold, this therefore means the consumer is getting value for money period. The Wii contains the same hardware as the old GameCube, except just overclocked and a few processors with die shrinks to allow for the smaller size console. From this information you can work out that a Wii, based on hardware alone and GameCube hardware prices, must only cost Nintendo around £20 or less to make.

Now ask yourself, is the Wii really the way forward in terms of console gaming?
Do you think game developer who strive to create entertaining and involving games that not only seperate their game from the compitition due to visual and sound effects but also from a great gameplay(ie its fun), want to have their creative scope narrowed as a result of cheap hardware, thus preventing a whole host of game elements that are pushing the boundries of what was originaly thought impossible in the industry (eg advanced AI, raytracing etc).

The Wii is only a step backwards. It does not have the life span of the other consoles and is only really enjoyed by those who either worship Nintendo based on what the company created back in the past with it's old consoles and games or those who do not play games to fully entertain themsleves (sorry its not about entertaining a family because those moments last only seconds).

Viewing the facts from the figuers shows you where the real rip off is. The Xbox 360 and PS3 both cost more to make than what they are sold, this therefore means the consumer is getting value for money period. The Wii contains the same hardware as the old GameCube, except just overclocked and a few processors with die shrinks to allow for the smaller size console. From this information you can work out that a Wii, based on hardware alone and GameCube hardware prices, must only cost Nintendo around £20 or less to make.

Now ask yourself, is the Wii really the way forward in terms of console gaming?
Do you think game developer who strive to create entertaining and involving games that not only seperate their game from the compitition due to visual and sound effects but also from a great gameplay(ie its fun), want to have their creative scope narrowed as a result of cheap hardware, thus preventing a whole host of game elements that are pushing the boundries of what was originaly thought impossible in the industry (eg advanced AI, raytracing etc).

The Wii is only a step backwards. It does not have the life span of the other consoles and is only really enjoyed by those who either worship Nintendo based on what the company created back in the past with it's old consoles and games or those who do not play games to fully entertain themsleves (sorry its not about entertaining a family because those moments last only seconds).

Most i hear is most of you MOANING about getting up and PLAYING a game, instead of SITTING and playing with your THUMBS..
This is a CHEAP hackable machine..

Also the statement that 80% of the people who own a Wii no longer use it is absurd. I'd like to see that backed up with a credible source other than the fact that four of the five people you know who own one (including yourself) don't use theirs. If that were true sales would be decreasing not increasing.

Just because you and the people you know don't like it doesn't mean that's representative of eveyone else. I hate American Idol and have a hard time understanding why anyone would watch that junk. Everyone I know other than my mom hates it. Yet 25 to 30 million people a week consistently tune in and it is the number one show on TV so I readily admit that my opinion of the show is irrelevant and not in line with most viewers. It's the same for the Wii and those who happen to have their own little world where “everyone hates the Wii.”

Every system has its bad games especially at firt when developers aren't as experienced at developing games for it. The Wii suffered even more because everyone had written off Nintendo and had no plans to support the Wii. When it took off they were caught off guard and had to rush to get games out the door for it. As the system matures the developers are getting better.

Obviously the Wii will never have the graphics intensive games the 360 and PS3 have. So if first person 3D shooters are your cup of tea then don't buy the Wii. To each their own. I like the fact that the Wii has proven you don't have to be an expensive super computer to create a fun gaming experience and be successful.

It is going to be very interesting to see the next generation of systems. Before the Wii you basically always knew the next gen would be the same as the last only with better graphics, faster processers and $100+ more expensive. The same old games only faster with better graphics and more levels. Nintendo showed that bringing something truly new and unique can be even more important. As the article states, it will be interesting to see what lessons were learned and which ones were ingored. In the gaming world the deck gets re-shuffled every few years.