Topic: Rumour: Third Party companies are shifting many of their projects from the PlayStation 3 to the Wii

[Aussiedude]

According to EGM rumour file thats the case.

- A “Massively Multiplayer” Burnout is currently being planned by EA;

- Third Party companies are shifting many of their projects from the PlayStation 3 to the Wii;

- Harmonix is working on a new music game;

- LucasArts is developing a Star Wars game for Nintendo's Wii, in which there are fights with a light sabre;

- Star Wars Battlefront is being worked on for Next Generation consoles, yet Pandemic is not involved this time.


Source

[Avinash_Tyagi]

If this is true than it further supports the belief that devs really think Nintendo is on to something

[UltimatePartyBear]

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- Star Wars Battlefront is being worked on for Next Generation consoles, yet Pandemic is not involved this time.

Offtopic, but perhaps this means the next one will have a UI that makes sense.

[ShyGuy]

With news like this, one gets certain indications about which way the wind is blowing for the future console wars.

My predictions for this gen:

Wii takes #1 with a comfortable lead in Japan. PS3 is a trailing #2, and 360 has less than 5%

Wii and 360 are within 10% of each other in N.America, not sure which one is #1. PS3 trails at #3

Wii is #1 in Europe, with 360 and PS3 dividing up the remaining market share evenly.

[King of Twitch]

Wait for the moneyhats to drop.

[Ian Sane]

"Third Party companies are shifting many of their projects from the PlayStation 3 to the Wii"

Considering the extra cost of development to switch the controllers this is very interesting.  You figure it would be more worth it to finish the PS3 game and then make a Wii game that uses the remote later on.  Transfering over would take a lot of work, unless the classic controller is standard issue and a bunch of these moved projects will use it as a replacement for the PS3 controller.  I think if this is true it shows the third parties don't think the PS3 price is going to fly.

I figure if the remote was primarily attracting third parties it would be more that they were starting Wii projects instead of shifting PS3 games to the Wii.  The remote seems more like it would attract third parties to the Wii but not attract them away from the PS3.

[Avinash_Tyagi]

Well the Classic Controller does seem to have similarities to the PS3 controller, enogh that porting controls wouldn't be too hard

[willie1234]

if this is true, then I would say classic controller as well.

a couple of things are coming together in my mind, that adds up to the low end hardware possibly being a stroke of genious.

1).  The ps2 continues to have strong sales even beating out the 360 for much of the year in North America.  This is a sign that the market is perhaps more sensitive than previously though to price point.

2). Nintendo is a game developer as well as a hardware maker.  It is likely that development groups within Nintendo didn't want HD graphics because of the higher dev costs this would mean.  We've seen developer houses say that Wii games could cost as little as 1/3 of other next-gen consoles.  The Wii could be an out for 3rd parties as well to escape the high cost/high risk proposition that is the other hd consoles.

3). So we see the consumers wanting cheaper hardware, and game developers wanting to bring down cost.  This could add up to be very good for the Wii, and a sign that it could follow the DS pattern.

My predicition is that the ps2 will be #1 out of the 360 and ps3 this year unless MS drops the price significantly.  

The Wii has a great shot at taking over all #1 if consumers see the virtual library as competetive with ps2's library, and if the better hardware wrt the ps2 and extra features make it a compeling switch.

[The Omen]

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Considering the extra cost of development to switch the controllers this is very interesting. You figure it would be more worth it to finish the PS3 game and then make a Wii game that uses the remote later on. Transfering over would take a lot of work, unless the classic controller is standard issue and a bunch of these moved projects will use it as a replacement for the PS3 controller. I think if this is true it shows the third parties don't think the PS3 price is going to fly.

Well, this could be happening for many reasons.  It's cheaper to develop for the Wii, by leaps and bounds over the PS3.  The games should come out quicker because of the differences in hardware power and there being less of a demand on third parties to make every Wii game look like Toy Story.  The end result is the money gets in the hands of the third parties that much quicker.  Tie this into the fact that the Wii is looking like a can't lose proposition, and the PS3 is becoming a huge financial pitfall, this makes a lot of sense.

[capamerica]

As much as I would love this to be True, And I do have a gut feeling that it could very well be true.
EGM has been wrong many times before so take this with a grain of salt. But on a side note they rarely promote positive Nintendo news let alone rumors and EGM is a very Pro Playstaion Mag so a negative comment like that is very unlike them.

[OverHeat]

Also keep in mind something that lost Nintendo it's vice-like grip on the market in the first place was cost. Sure, more space on a CD was nice, but it was the ridiculously high price of the carts that ultimately drove developers away from the system. Seems Sony forgot the lesson it taught Nintendo. Now its trying for a double whammy, hitting comsumers /and/ developers with higher costs. And just like Nintendo during the SNES/N64 transition, their stance is essentially "Screw you all, we are SONY, dammit! We ARE video games." It didnt work for Nintendo, and it doesnt look like its going to work for Sony, either. But then again, the "war" has yet to begin, so I guess we will have to wait and see.

[GoldenPhoenix]

The only difference is that, unlike Nintendo, Sony will have an uphill battle like none other if they start losing 3rd party support. Even with Nintendo's similar stance in the past, they at least made profits from their own games, Sony does not have that luxury if they start losing third parties. If Sony falls behind this generation, it may be almost impossible to get back into the market due to lack of exclusive 3rd party games.

[Guitar Smasher]

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Originally posted by: VGrevolution
The only difference is that, unlike Nintendo, Sony will have an uphill battle like none other if they start losing 3rd party support. Even with Nintendo's similar stance in the past, they at least made profits from their own games, Sony does not have that luxury if they start losing third parties. If Sony falls behind this generation, it may be almost impossible to get back into the market due to lack of exclusive 3rd party games.

It certainly also doesn't help that a lot of the profits made by PlayStation are being diverted to the other money-losing parts of Sony (basically everything else).  Nintendo on the other hand has other money-making divisions (handhelds), and no money-losing divisions.

[GoldenPhoenix]

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Originally posted by: Guitar Smasher

Quote
Originally posted by: VGrevolution
The only difference is that, unlike Nintendo, Sony will have an uphill battle like none other if they start losing 3rd party support. Even with Nintendo's similar stance in the past, they at least made profits from their own games, Sony does not have that luxury if they start losing third parties. If Sony falls behind this generation, it may be almost impossible to get back into the market due to lack of exclusive 3rd party games.

It certainly also doesn't help that a lot of the profits made by PlayStation are being diverted to the other money-losing parts of Sony (basically everything else).  Nintendo on the other hand has other money-making divisions (handhelds), and no money-losing divisions.

Great points, I forgot about them diverting money to other divisions. I do have a chuckle though when people become concerned that Wii will be NIntendo's final console, besides VB and N64 DD I do not believe ANY Nintendo console has lost them money, even GC. Nintendo is probaly one of the healthiest out of the big 3 in the video game market, MS is still trying to recoup their losses and I don't believe Sony is making much more in profits (especially taking into consideration all the losses through advertising) than Nintendo.  Unless Nintendo has a huge financial bomb for a system, they can handle a few bumps.

[Ceric]

I said this a long time ago but I don't think even Sony thinks that the PS3 is a price that it will really move and be mainstream by next year.

Why do I think this?  God of War 2 is being released next year for PS2.  PS2, just in case it didn't register.  God of War, the only game I can think of off the top of my head that really pushed every sound and graphics feature of the PS2.  It had surround sound and Progressive Scan.  Plus its more mature orient.  I mean it's a perfect fit for a flagship titles for the PS3 but, it's coming for the PS2.  It's made by Sony. Internally.  I mean this aught to tell you something.

[Spak-Spang]

Ceric:  You have a point.  Even Nintendo was intelligent enough to move Zelda Twilight Princess to the Nintendo Wii, with exclusive control options, and I think upgrade in graphics.

Though it could have just as easily been that the God of War 2 had already been in production for a few years and the code had already been mostly completed.  

[Athrun Zala]

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Originally posted by: Aussiedude
- LucasArts is developing a Star Wars game for Nintendo's Wii, in which there are fights with a light sabre;

that should've been a launch game, but oh well, at least it seems they're doing it

[Smash_Brother]

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Originally posted by: Ian Sane I think if this is true it shows the third parties don't think the PS3 price is going to fly.

I'm not even a game developer and even I see developing for the PS3 as near-suicide.

1. The PSP demonstrated that an overpriced Sony console doubling as a movie player for a proprietary format is capable of failing.

2. The Wii had people running from the opening of the E3 floor to get to Nintendo's booth, running right past Sony's booth on the way.

3. Price always carries more weight than people realize. $200 vs. $600 is a colossal difference, especially in a crappy economy.

Moving games from the PS3 dev to the Wii dev, IMHO, isn't wasting money on the porting, it's abandoning a sinking ship.

[Spak-Spang]

If I was an American 3rd party, I would be developing games exclusive for 360 right now.  Perhaps have a single project for Wii since development there is alittle cheaper...but I would wait until sales numbers were released for huge Nintendo or Sony support right now.

If I was a Japanese 3rd party.  I would be looking at Nintendo and showing them ideas, and see how supportive and helpful they are willing to be with develop for a Wii game.  Sony I would look to support later once the price drops or the sales figures proved people are willing to support the system in mass.

When you have to spend millions of dollars on a single game, is when I stop developing those types of games, and figure a means to cut costs.

[eurai]

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Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
I'm not even a game developer and even I see developing for the PS3 as near-suicide.

1. The PSP demonstrated that an overpriced Sony console doubling as a movie player for a proprietary format is capable of failing.

2. The Wii had people running from the opening of the E3 floor to get to Nintendo's booth, running right past Sony's booth on the way.

3. Price always carries more weight than people realize. $200 vs. $600 is a colossal difference, especially in a crappy economy.

Moving games from the PS3 dev to the Wii dev, IMHO, isn't wasting money on the porting, it's abandoning a sinking ship.

1.  The PSP is hardly "failing."  The UMD format isn't at all nearing expectations, yes, but it also is inherently limited by its implementation in a single platform.  Sony is attempting to market Blu-Ray as a more universal standard; UMD is nothing more than a facet of a portable entertainment device.

2.  Doesn't guarantee success of the Wii or failure of the PS3; of course those attending a trade show are more interested in unique or at least buzz-heavy products.  The American market has proven repeatedly in its ridiculous buying habits, though, that more of the same is quite capable of selling very well.

3.  Agreed, at least in principle; a "crappy economy" certainly hasn't slowed sales of the relatively expensive Xbox 360, though (not in the United States, anyway).  $600 is 50% increase over $400, yes, but it won't stop early adopters of both the PS3 and of the Blu-Ray format (considering how steep prices of individual Blu-Ray drives are set to be).  I do believe that both face a steep uphill battle, though, once that honeymoon period is over.  If increased developer anxiety is to surface, it'll probably occur around then.

I'd love for this rumor to be true, but I simply don't see it happening unless sluggish sales of the PS3 prompts it.

[Strell]

I know.

Cuz the $120 PS2 isn't outselling the $400 Xbox 360 or anything.

[Magik]

This rumour looks more like its based on Japanese developers since Western developers would look towards the 360 rather than the Wii.

[GoldenPhoenix]

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Originally posted by: Magik
This rumour looks more like its based on Japanese developers since Western developers would look towards the 360 rather than the Wii.

What western developers really matter much though? Rockstar and EA?

[Galford]

This is an interesting rumor.  

The one thing no one has mentioned is Square-Enix.  
Square-Enix is king maker in Japan.  As long as the PS3 is Square-Enix's primary platform,
the PS3 won't go away.

On the other hand, the PS3 by far is going to be the most expensive platform to develop for next generation.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Squeenix has shown ALOT of interest in Wii, and is even giving them support right off the bat with NEW games (unlike FFXI ports). That is already a step in the right direction, and I'm sure it already has Sony a little worried that they might soon be losing some very important franchise exclusivities.