Without the requirement of skill, all the player is doing is basically mechanically advancing a story. Shame-usBlackley

[QUOTE="Black_Knight_00"]Try reading the threads posted a few days after Bioshock was released, you'll often find people defining it 'the best game ever', 'an absolute masterpiece'...Skylock00

I don't think this is a matter of the power of 'The New,' but merely the downfall of a game that didn't really posess any lasting appeal for most after a playthrough or two.

[QUOTE="ymi_basic"][QUOTE="Shame-usBlackley"] the market is simply dying off over there Skylock00

The market has been in a decline from about 1997 until 2004/5, so it's at least promising to see a sort of upward trend in that market.

You bring up a good point though. I wonder if there would be much talk of the massive growth of gaming worldwide if the DS didn't exist.

the market is simply dying off over there Shame-usBlackley

from CNN Money:

Nintendo preps Wii online services. Manufacturer of video games working to add Internet goodies to Wii consoles in Japan, president Satoru Iwata says.

October 10 2007: 10:00 AM EDT

CHIBA, Japan (AP) -- Nintendo hopes to give its popular Wii game console another boost by offering support services to hook the machine to the Internet in Japan, the company president said Wednesday.

A network connection will allow people not only to download games but also play games with others online, as well as gain other content and information from the Net. Nintendo is hoping that will draw even more people to the Wii, leading not only to machine sales but game software sales.

Nintendo will work with Japan's top telecommunications company, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, to give support services to connect the Wii in people's homes to the Internet, and open a telephone service for technical support, President Satoru Iwata said.

He said details of the support services will be disclosed later.

Nintendo Co., the Kyoto-based manufacturer of Pokemon and Super Mario games, has scored a hit with its $250 Wii, which comes with a wandlike remote controller for fishing, golfing and other easy-to-play games.

But competition is heating up with rivals Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp. ahead of the key Christmas shopping season.

Wii and Nintendo's DS handheld machine have succeeded in drawing newcomers, including women and the elderly, to games. But more work is needed so that effort doesn't run out of steam, Iwata told reporters at a hall in this Tokyo suburb.

"People tend to get bored, and the skeptics are asking whether it's just a one-time deal," he said. "We must think of the next step."

Iwata said only about 40 percent of Wii owners in Japan have the console connected to the Net. And more games will be available as downloads from the Internet, he said.

More manufacturers are also making games for Nintendo machines, rising to about half of the software makers for the DS, up from a quarter last year.

Nintendo has sold 47.3 million DS machines worldwide since they went on sale in 2004. The DS has two screens, including one that's touch panel.

Legendary Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto appeared on stage to demonstrate the "Wii Fit," a game planned for December, which allows players to weigh themselves, check their balance and play fitness games.

Miyamoto and guests demonstrated yoga positions, hula hooping and ski jump as living room workouts for the Wii.

Nintendo has chosen a different strategy from Sony and Microsoft, with their more expensive machines, and has been trying to woo novices with brain teasers, sport games and virtual pets, instead of the usual shoot-them-ups and role-playing games.

Since Wii went on sale late last year has shipped 9.3 million Wiis around the world, with supplies barely keeping up with demand. By the end of this fiscal year in March 2008, Wii global shipments are expected to have reached 22.3 million.

Wii sales have surpassed 5 million for the PlayStation 3, which went on sale late last year in Japan and the U.S. and in March in Europe. Microsoft has sold 11.6 million Xbox 360 machines in the last two years.

Sony Cuts PlayStation 3 Prices in Japan
Tuesday October 9, 7:19 am ET
By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Writer

Sony to Cut Prices on PlayStation 3 in Japan, Sell New Model in Japan, Europe

TOKYO (AP) -- Sony Corp.'s game unit said Tuesday it will cut the prices of its PlayStation 3 game consoles sold in Japan next week, and offer a new model in November.

The moves are being made to meet growing demand and competition as the holiday season approaches, spokeswoman Sayoka Henmi said.

Sony once dominated the industry with PlayStation 2, predecessor for the PS3, but it faces intense competition from consoles from Microsoft Corp. and Nintendo Co.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. will cut the price of its model with 20 gigabytes of hard disk memory by about 10 percent to 44,980 yen ($384) from the current 49,980 yen ($427), effective Oct. 17, the company said in a statement.

The price of its 60 gigabyte models will be reduced to about 54,980 yen ($470) from about 59,000 yen ($500).

The company also said a new 40 gigabyte model will hit stores in Europe on Wednesday at 399 euros ($563) and in Japan on Nov. 11 at a suggested retail price of 39,980 yen ($342).

Henmi said Sony has no immediate plans to introduce 40GB consoles in the U.S.

Price cuts for the 20GB and 60GB consoles are only for Japan, but a starter pack sold in Europe that come with a 60GB game console, two controllers and a software will be reduced to 499 euros ($704) from 599 euros ($845), Henmi said.

Sony has globally sold more than 5 million units of the PlayStation 3 since it went on sale late last year in Japan and the U.S., and in March in Europe.

Microsoft has sold 11.6 million Xbox 360 machines in the last two years, and Nintendo has sold 9.3 million units of its popular Wii since late last year.

[QUOTE="MarcusAntonius"]I'm sure surprised. I thought these were the kind of games that the Japanese shunned?UpInFlames

The Japanese 360 install base may be small, but they've shown to be just as hardcore as their Western counterparts, they ate up every high profile game thrown at them including Oblivion, Gears of War, and Lost Planet. With Microsoft's hype machine, it was expected for Halo 3 to do the same. The thing is, it'll all be over within a week or two.

[QUOTE="ymi_basic"][QUOTE="Uncle_Tbag"]

[QUOTE="ymi_basic"][QUOTE="Uncle_Tbag"]There is already a portion of Bungie not owned by MS, and Bungie has its own independent shareholders,.Uncle_Tbag

Perhaps you should link yourself.

A company doesn't have to be publicly traded in order to have shareholders. Private companies can be joint ventures with multiple owners, something that is quite common. Before MS aquired Bungie, it was jointly owned primarily by 2 shareholders, Jones and Seropian.

My point was that if Bungie were to buy itself back, the money would not come from the employees. It would likely come from existing and new shareholders.

If you're well aware of that why did you reply "but they are not publically traded?" Seems you weren't well aware.

If you read various news stories, there are references to Bungie shareholders. The exact details of the buyout were never made public, something you can read on bungie's faq regarding the buyout, but those references suggest that some percentage of ownership, regardless of how small, still resides with Bungie. Perhaps not, but if you want to see some proof of that, have fun looking at the myriad of resources regarding the subject.

[QUOTE="ymi_basic"][QUOTE="Uncle_Tbag"]There is already a portion of Bungie not owned by MS, and Bungie has its own independent shareholders,.Uncle_Tbag

Perhaps you should link yourself.

A company doesn't have to be publicly traded in order to have shareholders. Private companies can be joint ventures with multiple owners, something that is quite common. Before MS aquired Bungie, it was jointly owned primarily by 2 shareholders, Jones and Seropian.

My point was that if Bungie were to buy itself back, the money would not come from the employees. It would likely come from existing and new shareholders.