Gates Pegs Nintendo, Not Sony, as Toughest Competition

njkid1 writes "Microsoft's Bill Gates thinks that because of the 'impressive strength' of the company and its new Wii console Nintendo is now Microsoft's biggest competition when it comes to videogames. This is somewhat understandable, given Nintendo's new projections for this year. The Japanese game maker plans to sell an impressive 100 Million DS games this year, along with 21 Million Wii games and some six million consoles. This may seem to be just more flack, to go along with Peter Moore's dismissive comments towards Sony at CES this week, but news of the Halo DS game that almost was puts credence to Microsoft's new priorities."

Comments

Stratigicly, very interesting...

[7Prime]

Who knows what Gates is trying to accomplish by admitting this, but obviously, the statement wouldn't have been made if it didn't help microsoft. This statement only helps to legitimize the Wii as a successful console, which, at first glance, doesn't seem like something a "competitor" would want to have happen. The bottom line is, Nintendo is not Microsoft's main competition, simply because no competitor would help to legitimize his competitions accomplishments. Obviously, they don't view the Wii as much of a threat. Here are a few possible explanations:

• The 360/Wii combo effect - Microsoft seems to be heavily pushing the idea of people buying both the 360 AND the Wii together. This way, if the Wii is a runnaway success, Microsoft, as the "supporters" of it, can come away with some more sales.
• One possibility, is that, frankly, Microsoft isn't really as worried about Nintendo as they are about Sony. Microsoft figures that the psychographics are different enough between themselves and Nintendo, and similar enough between themselves and Sony, that Sony is still the main competition.
• Other Areas - Microsoft may be so set on taking down Sony (due to competition from them in other areas outside of video games), that they are willing to "team up" a bit with Nintendo in order to bring Sony's reputation down. Even if their legitimization of the Wii hurts 360 sales in the end, they may well make up for it in other areas such as HD media (which Microsoft seems to have invested into HD-DVD to at least some degree), when Sony falls from grace.
• Nintendo is easier to compete against - Nintendo is tinsy compared to Sony and Microsoft... but they have a hot product. If Microsoft can ensure Nintendo's success over Sony in this round, they'll make for much easier competition next round.

Bottom line is, this is pretty uncharacteristic of Microsoft and Mr. Gates to make any sort of possitive statement about any corporation or product not of their making. The first thing that comes to mind is, "what does he have up his sleeve?" This is too chivilrous a gesture to actually be taken at face value. And I doubt they really believe that being "good guys" is going to win them enough points to make it worthwhile.