With the Sony PS4 release date and price confirmed, Nintendo has dropped the price of its Wii U gaming console likely in anticipation of a drop in sales. At Gamescom this year, Sony confirmed that its PlayStation 4 will be consumer available on November 15 with an affordable price tag of $399. Nintendo is reducing the cost of its Wii U by $50 to total $299.
It’s no secret that Nintendo’s console renaissance has come to a clearly defined end and this could be it’s last attempt at making its Wii U relevant. The Verge writes that Nintendo “thinks the lack of strong, first-party titles has been the reason for the tepid response” but this writer thinks it’s because Nintendo is trying to compete with Sony and Microsoft.
From March 2013 to June 2013, Nintendo Wii U sales increased from 1.52 million to 1.58 million with said increased easily being attributed to the simple fact that Nintendo is keeping the Wii U on the retail shelves rather than introduce new innovations.
But the fact that Nintendo is slashing prices is definitely indicative of the PS4 and Xbox One looming boldly on the horizon. Amateur move, bro.
In order for Nintendo to remain a contender in the gaming realm, it needs to focus on its bread and butter instead of implementing price cuts as an answer. People don’t take to Nintendo because of graphics or cutting-edge software. They enjoy it because its nostalgic and its games are classics with iconic characters. If Nintendo wants to get over its perpetually dismal quarterly earnings it needs to continue pumping out games that people love.
People are looking towards the PS4 and Xbox One for the graphics, cutting-edge software, and all-inclusive entertainment capabilities.
The PlayStation 4 will run relatively standard PC hardware. It will have x86 processor, a customized graphics processor and GDDR5 memory. PS4 will be capable of 170GPBS bandwidth and will include a Blu-ray/DVD drive, as well as USB 3.0, Ethernet and Bluetooth. The PS4 eye accessory will have two cameras and four microphones and be capable of 1280 x 800 video at 60fps, 640 x 400 at 120fps and 320 x 192 at 240fps.
PS4 allows background uploading and downloading. Meaning that the console can both update itself and download games while still being played. You will also be able to stream your game play sessions and create quick video clips to send to friends and share with the PS network. PS4 also allows the ability to stream games instantly. The spectation feature allows you to share your game session and allow friends to take over your control. PS Vita can be used to play remote sessions of PS4 games.
The PS4 will be controlled by DualShock 4 controller with a touchpad, share button, lightbar and headphone jack. The lightbar syncs with a camera on the PS4 that allows the console to track the depth similar to, yeah, Wii’s.
