[quote name='big_squirtle']...when you factor in the fact that all thier "good games" are coming out after the christmas season, it doesn't look that great.[/quote]
I would hardly call it fact that all Nintendo's "good games" are coming out after Christmas. Three of Nintendo's exclusive holiday titles have been well received by critics: Echoes, Paper Mario, and Mario Power Tennis. Although not exclusive, I am equally looking forward to Prince of Persia: Warrior Within.
While everyone has their own preferences, only one Xbox game and one PS2 game make it onto my wishlist, Burnout 3 for Xbox (I already own Halo 2) and Katamari Damacy (GTA: SA while epic in scale appears to be poorly executed yet again, and will not make its way into my collection until it hits $19.99 or less.)
[quote name='big_squirtle']Hell it might just be that they have been more focused on the relase of the DS, and one market that they currently dominate.....Handhelds.[/quote]
You may be correct here. I am worried with the Cube, SP, DS, now a
movie studio, and hopefully production ramping up for their next generation console, Nintendo is spreading itself pretty thin at the moment.
While I play all three consoles, I don't think it is any secret whose corner I am in. However, in regards to the Washington Post article it does disturb me that so much
opinion has been placed into the article. Reporting on the game industry isn't excalty reporting on the State of the Union or the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but if the article does not appear on the editorial page, then I believe the journalist has an obligation to remain objective. Statements such as the following are a matter of opinion:
[quote name='Washington Post']One console, the Nintendo GameCube, is clearly obsolete...[/quote]
[quote name='Washington Post']...the Xbox is now the PS2's equal...[/quote]
A strong argument could be made that the Xbox is superior to the PS2 and the PS2 is the most obsolete of the 3 consoles. The reporter seems to be mistaking popularity, or lack thereof, with what is obsolete. Admittedly there are some holes in Nintendo's library, but I believe/hope it is strong enough, as outlined in these posts, to maintain the GameCube as a viable platform until the next generation of consoles makes an appearance.
Snake2715 makes a good point on the marketing side. The brand loyalty Nintendo enjoys is immeasurable.
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*EDIT, I forgot to add MGS: Snake Eater to my PS2 wishlist.