Wii vs PlayStation - the Main Differences of the Video Gaming Platforms - Term Paper Example

Due Video Gaming Platforms Video or computer games do not interest many adults, a part from those they are majorly designed for; children. Yet the gaming platforms are one of the major thriving industries in the current world. Aided by the constantly changing technological knowhow, gaming has become a habit of millions around the world, especially the teens and quite a huge number of the adult population (Ryan , Rigby and Przybylski, 346). Indeed, the state of battle for supremacy between the service providers has been so stiff to the extent of driving sales in this particular industry to well above $51 billion in the year 2011. Of course, it would be a misplaced conception to assume that these games are the same. What are the differences between the major gaming platforms, for instance the Wii and Playstation3? With the overwhelming market expansion, the most important question that lingers in many minds of course would be what exactly is driving the gaming console industry to its new levels of success witnessed in the recent past? I sought to find out by engaging merchandisers on one on one interviews, conducting a library research and consulting articles posted over the internet. The first thing I did to find information on this particular subject was to set up an interview with Mr. Jimmy Jonson, a Caltech undergraduate working on Kinect home applications based in Washington. “How do I get to know the best gaming platform that best suites me?” I asked. “There are numerous different types of computer gaming systems available for sale in the market currently and so choosing the right one that suit ones needs can indeed be a difficult process. As such, a potential buyer with interest should first outline the goals to be met before actually making the final decision to purchase.   Some of these goals include setting a price ceiling, the possibility of having the device playable to two or more people, ability to be able to play online, and the rating in the consumer market so as to be moving with the current technology, as opposed to using obsolete systems” (Jimmy Jonson, part 1). With major preferable gaming consoles to select and abundance of video games powered by different industries, it would be an experience of a kind should one decide to enter the world of video or computer gaming. The price tags, game genres, as well as the game consoles, there are simply so many options that one has to consider before officially launching a bid to secure one. And so to avoid the baggage of focusing on quite a huge number of the gaming platforms, the level of comparison in this paper only dealt with the wii, and PlayStation (PS), both being randomly picked. While video games are fashioned to span the console gap, each platform has unique games that are only made available to their respective users (Shah, and Haigh, par 4). A comparison of games rolled out by either the PS3 or the Wii thus reveals the vast differences in the gaming philosophy. If I were to choose, which one would suite my needs? The two gaming systems, the PS3 and the Wii are both great consoles that definitely bring hours of enjoyment into gamers’ leisure-lives. However, the two systems were designed for distinct type of users. With the advanced video gaming console, the Wii, represents a bold new gaming direction for the mother company, Nintendo. The Wii is notably special due to its unique hand held remote system, serving most specifically as its distinguishing feature.   The white, wireless, handheld controller is used as a pointing device has three-dimensional movement detection capability. According to the service provider chief executive, Satoru Iwata, the Wii console was specifically developed with due respect to consumer demand. That is, what consumers find interesting and fun (Ogawa, Randolph and Tor, par 17). Utilizing the four principles consumer behavior (perception, scarcity, diversity, and social influence), it is not difficult to concur with the director as to why the Wii has become that catchy. The Wii can in fact, be described as a prototype within the gaming world. It was the first gaming system fitted with the capability to sense movement guided by physical activity. Concerning the consumer’s hedonic as well as pleasure-seeking needs, the Wii offers a wide range of game choices that actually affords everyone, the young and the old, good time (Sherry, Greenberg, Lucas and Lachlan, 217). Is it fun watching a child play a racing game? What thoughts come into the mind watching a young one steering the controller all around in a bid to move a car? Is it not fantastic moving buttons in one’s hand with the consequence of moving things in a front view? Well, believe it or not, it was such questions that finally led to the inventions of the Wii gaming platform; gaming platform that is not only fun to play but also has motion sensation. MotionPlus, an add-on to the Wii’s original remote has been designed as an extra enhancement to its remote. The PlayStation on the other hand, was designed to represent the cutting-edge in virtual display world of technology. The PlayStation owners have perfected their art and constantly seek the latest visual theatres to immerse themselves into, with the latest design being PlayStation3. As such, a gamer’s decision to play an epic fantasy adventure or a first-person shooter would obviously be characterized by stunning visual elements integrated into the gaming experience. From a personal experience, the latest version, PlayStation 3, indeed represents a highly standardized game play with improved graphics and intuitive capabilities compared to the older versions-the PlayStation1 and 2. In a sense, a gamer gets the feeling that the world is not yet ready to advance beyond the stunning visuals as well as the phenomenal control acuity that this gaming platform offers. A part from other features, the PlayStation is equipped with a unified Network powering an online multiplayer gaming service as well as a digital media delivery service system. It also has an online virtual market available to users and offers a wide range of downloadable content, which includes full games, playable demos, themes, add-on content, and movie trailers, some of which are purchased while others are available free of charge. Additionally, the current Sony PlayStation 3 has “the Move”-a motion-sensitive controller. Given the brief preview of the two gaming platforms, would there be any reason to put one’s preference on one over the other? Well, the economics of limited resources dictates the ordering of preferences with respect to the level of satisfaction achieved. Even though they are by far the best gaming systems, I have a strong feeling that the Wii is better than the PlayStation. A number of reasons exist as to why the Wii is far superior to the PlayStation. Simply put, the Wii has many things that the PlayStation does not. Until recently, the PlayStation had no motion sensation system that the wii gaming platform has enjoyed for many years now. Even so, the wand like controllers that the Sony PlayStation company is rolling out in the gaming consumer market can not rival the Wii in terms of ease of use. While technology is expected to drive this particular industry to a new level high, the PlayStation is expected to be much harder to operate as compared to the Wii. In a recent review by MSNBC about motion sensation video games, it was established that the Wii by far, was the most user friendly. From its set up, calibration, and the game play itself, it was very easy for anyone to use (Workman, par 3). No matter the age, the Wii can be played by anyone, whether at 3 or a 73 year old granny. Coupled with educational fitness games, the Wii becomes much more ideal than the gaming platforms available for families to choose from. However, a seventeen-year-old teenager with a little too much knowledge of technology, the PlayStation will obviously work for you well enough. One of the major differences between the gaming Platforms is that the Wii clearly reaching the entire market, while PlayStation barely taps a section of the market segment by reaching out only to a limited number of people. The Wii’s ease of use also makes its games much easier to understand. Gamers therefore, do not get discouraged and give up easily; a phenomenon that gamer of the PlayStation are very much prone to given the complicated games that they encounter. Referring to a survey conducted by an independent firm, approximately 50% of gamers play the Wii one to two hours a week. Those playing the PlayStation were 21% (Calver, par 2). The Wii is also much more appealing price wise, running about 200 dollars under the price for the PlayStation. While the bells and whistles like the blue ray player that come with the PlayStation may make the latter worth the price, one would rather have a game platform that is easy to use. The complexity of the PlayStation in addition to the Swiss army-knife like capabilities makes it much harder for the average user to operate. Another disadvantage that may be working against the PlayStation’s adaptability is its notoriety for changing things. The PlayStation and PlayStation2, and then the recent PlayStation3, which all have different games requiring specific system to play. The Wii can play games played on n64 or on GameCubes; a flexibility that serves as another strong selling point. The PlayStation adopted a similar system to the Wii in November 2010. The PlayStation’s “Move” has many similarities to the Wii; similar remotes, motion sensation as well as similar attachments. The PlayStation’s Move came a little bit too late, four years down the line after Nintendo had perfected motion sensation technology (Workman, par 10). PlayStation spent a lot of time specializing in technology thereby excluding a huge chunk of the consumer market. It may boast of technological superiority; however, it is certainly not family friendly, specifically younger kids. The PlayStation and the wii are both amazing gaming systems. When you compare the two, there are just so many positives for the Wii. The ease of use coupled with the simplicity of the system, the Wii becomes much more attractive to many as compared to the PlayStation. The former allows more interactivity given the fact that it can be played by two or more persons at a time for almost every game. Moreover, the Wii has much more family friendly games. The PlayStation’s first person shooter and racing games are not appealing to parents, especially parents of small children. Works Cited Calver, Geoff. 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