Nintendo is Microsoft's 'Toughest Competition'

[Primal]

Gates: Nintendo is Our 'Toughest Competition'

That's right, Nintendo not Sony. Microsoft head honcho Bill Gates (right) 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 video games.

In a recent interview broadcast in Japan (view the clip), Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has asserted that Nintendo, not Sony, is actually Microsoft's toughest competition in the video game space.

This comes as somewhat of a surprise, considering that Sony has been the market leader for two console generations in a row and that the industry in general seems to view Microsoft and Sony battling it out with high-powered systems while Nintendo takes a radically different approach and targets a slightly different audience with the Wii. Furthermore, Gates himself recently acknowledged that Microsoft and Sony are both looking to take over your living room. This doesn't appear to be what Nintendo is aspiring to, at least not on the face of it.

That said, there are only so many video game dollars to go around, and Nintendo is ultimately competing for a large segment of that same pie. When Bill Gates looks at how well Nintendo is doing with its DS and Wii, he has little choice but to consider them competition.

So what are the Microsoft exec's feelings on Sony at this point? In a different interview with Dean Takahashi of the Mercury News, Gates noted that he thinks Microsoft and Sony have "switched positions." Time (let's say 4 to 5 years) will ultimately tell if that's true or not. Gates also said that Microsoft has the "high ground" because it can "ride a silicon cost-reduction curve faster than Sony can."

Source: GameDaily BIZ

[bat_collector]

I think the Wii and the DS light are catching on faster than anybody thought they would

[The General]

I love my DS Lite.

[Relic Reaper]

Originally Posted by bat_collector

I think the Wii and the DS light are catching on faster than anybody thought they would

Ditto. Both are great systems.

[Ghost]

DS Lite: Best Console of 2006!!!

[Bartholomew]

Go Nintendo! Show that it's gameplay that is the most important, not graphics with no substance...looks at PS3

I got a DS Lite for christmas and have been playing it nonstop. I'm going to be a couple online capable games soon like Tetris DS, Mario Kart, and Clubhouse games. Anyone care to play?

[Ghost]

I still play Mario Kart. I'm thinking of picking up Metroid Prime Hunters and Star Fox.

[Bartholomew]

Originally Posted by Ghost

I still play Mario Kart. I'm thinking of picking up Metroid Prime Hunters and Star Fox.

I'm kind of skeptical on Metroid Prime hunters since I'm not sure how a shooter would work on the ds.

[Ghost]

Dude it rocks! Didn't you get the demo with the DS the first time around? Oh well a demo came with the original DS, it was VERY good! You used the thumb and thumbpad to control the cursor/gun. Very easy to play.

[Juggernaut]

The DS Light, isnt that one of those smal handheld version's?

Why are they so popular. I never like those. Never bought the Gameboy either. Even though the kids that owned one was very popular.