Why are Nintendo consoles the only one’s referred to as “Toys”?

Well we have all seen it out there in the consumer space, time and time again, “get your latest toys from {generic store name} like the all new Nintendo DSi/Wii”. It struck me vividly with the new UK retailers Argos advert about being the UK’s largest toy retailer, and their focus of the advert is Nintendo.

But why is it that Nintendo consoles are the only ones relegated to “Toy” status while the PS3 and 360 are electronics devices/media hubs?

My Friend Codes

Well guys as promised here is my Friend Codes, I’m only gonna give the important ones. The Conduit and my Wii System Code. Well the Wii system number because a lot of games are beginning to import friends from that so, do the maths 😉

The Conduit:
4640-7151-9156

Wii System Friend Code:
4829-0097-1716-9760

As another note I may as well add my GamerTag while were all here, it’s not hard to guess, WeemanCom.  That’s it, WeemanCom, I’m very original aren’t I 😉

If you add me, well make sure to leave your respective info in the comments section below, I wonder if I will get any bites here…

Post E3 – Who’s Motion had the best moves?

Well E3 certainly showed that Nintendo’s direction of developing a new way to play was the way to go. Playstation demonstrated their motion/pointer controller that implements the Playstation Eye, along with Microsoft demonstrating their development of Project Natal. Within this blog update I want to look at all 3 of these motion schemes and determine who has won so far in the development and implementation of these.
I intend to look at 3 aspects to determine the overall winner, this is technology, usability and how far along they are in development.

Technology

Well first off I will say that each of the console manufacturers have whole heartedly invested in technology that can achieve a vision and do it well.

New Play Control – Microsoft

Now everyone seems to have an opinion on new ways to play videogames, whether you love it or hate it this seems to be the future for the industry. This is not exclusive to console manufacturers, it is also open to publishers/developers of video games the best examples are EA/MTV/Harmonix and Red Octane/Activision with their seemingly never ending stream of music controllers, or an even more recent one would be with Tony Hawk’s RIDE with the new board peripheral that simulates a skateboard for the game but could also be used in the future as a snowboard, surfboard or even wakeboard.

Nintendo was the pioneer of opening up the games market to new control types, going all the way back to the NES with the power glove, the power mat and the synonymous R.O.B the robot. Up until the recent times Nintendo had a prototype controller for the Gamecube that is similar to the Playstation 3’s sixaxis controller they also had Donkey Kong bongo’s moving to the Wii with the Remote as a primary control option with motion and infra-red pointer control. Also looking at what the touch abilities have done for the handheld market and the possibilities for the in-game use of the DSi’s cameras already showing with augmented reality games in the works.