I, and many others, believe that the Wii U is a fantastic console with a lot to offer, in fact it might just be the best around. From the outside it is sleek and sexy. On the inside it is down to earth, yet has a wild side that is irresistible. For me, the Wii U is the perfect console. It is new, innovative, bold, and ready for anything. However, it has some steep competition out there. I compare it to Daniel Larusso preparing to crane kick Johnny Lawrence.
However, there are still those that believe that the Wii U needs more training before it has a chance to face off against the Xbox One and PS4. One of those skeptics believes that Nintendo only needs to make one small change for the time being, lower the price. Web-analyst Michael Pachter believes that the Wii U’s success will be dependent on third party developers, and not exclusive first party, or second party, IPs. Unless the sales increase, he believes that the third party devs will give up on the console. So, a $50 price drop may be the solution.
“In addition, if the Wii U’s popularity does not improve by the end of the year, many third-party publishers may pass on producing games for the console. We note that EA recently announced that it had no Wii U games in development, and it remains a possibility that the publisher will abandon the platform entirely. Should other third parties follow EA’s lead, the Wii U could be relegated to a first party only platform.”
With a rumored manufactured retail of below $400 for both the Xbox One and PS4, a $50 price drop would put the Wii U in a great position for the holiday season (even if a temporary price drop). Actually, a price drop is sort of a no brainer here, $200-$250 compared to $400 will win over in my household every time, and I would assume that many families are similar in their spending habits.
Of course, battling against Sony and Microsoft will not be easy, they are both brutal competitors within the market and will use any gimmick to become the leader (it is a business). However, I believe, Wii U-San is in a great position to face the upcoming Tsunami and make friends of enemies.
In the end, I could care less who actually rises to the top in sales. What I want is a collection of great games, innovative game-play, ear tantalizing soundtracks, and awe inspiring story lines. Nintendo made me a fan with their NES console, but more importantly, a gamer. I do enjoy the drama between the big three, it keeps things fresh and interesting, but I don’t like when their aspirations of being the best hinders their advancement with bitterness.
I am a lover of all games, even though Nintendo holds a special place in my heart.
