Better Graphics Do Not Equal A Better Game

I found an interesting article on '7 things video game must obey' which I think it quite interesting.

They were all intriguing but the most interesting I found is the final rule (number 1) that better graphics make a better game, this is very true.

http://www.cracked.com/article_16196_the-7-commandments-all-video-games-should-obey_p7.html

Why is it that Nintendo are doing better than Sony and Microsoft? Nintendo's Wii console doesn't do what Sony's PS3 or Microsoft's Xbox 360 does and can't handle as much yet it sold more than the others. It's all down to the games, the Wii offers a whole new way to play games and as I've said before  Nintendo always coming up with new ways to interact and play games. Which is one of the companies major selling points. I think another thing is that NIntendo games are typical bright colourful games aimed at kids and kids are a bigger target audience than any other when it comes to video games. Kids have a need to have the latest things and their eyes are immediately attracted to the bright bold colours and fonts they see, it presents a desirable advertisement and they need to 'have'. So they obviously nag and nag their parents to splash out hundreds of thousands on the latest console or game, toys and trading cards are just the same, it is a way of selling more and wanting to collect them all.

When you look at gaming in typical Nintendo games, it's all about the game play, nobody is bothered really about the graphics really, yes Nintendo do get the odd person complaining about their graphics and the limitations of the hardware they produce but overall they go for function over aesthetics. Function is more important, I mean everyone would love to have something that does a good job at what it is suppose to do and also look stylish but that's not really the case.

Mario Kart DS
Graphics don't look absolutely amazing but damn does it sell...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_Nintendo_DS_video_games

22.57 million copies to be precise.

Just compare that to the PS3 or Xbox 360's best selling games, Nintendo's little handheld beat them by a long shot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games

As I've said before it's the game play, the characters the colourful art style, the user interaction, I've even said before when you walk into any game store it's the Nintendo section that stands out the most, even the much older audience plays these games, it's the dynamics that make it up that sell it.

PS3's best selling game - Gran Turismo 5

The whole point of a video game is to make money, maybe too much money is going on graphics.

http://digitalbattle.com/2010/02/20/top-10-most-expensive-video-game-budgets-ever/

Grand Theft Auto 4 took $100m to make, that in my eyes is ridiculous, great game mind, but I think it could be done a lot cheaper. When you spend that much you better hope it damn well sells and is AMAZING, however with a majorly successful background such as GTA its guaranteed to make that money back and then some, so in this case I wouldn't say its as much of a risk of investing in, with previous success and positive reviews from earlier titles including, GTA 3, Vice City and San Andreas.

Even the expense of the games and consoles can factor in on its selling, the Wii for example is small and cheaper than the PS3 and 360 most likely because of what its capable of, the PS3 and 360 on the other hand can handle HD graphics, PS3 has a Blu-Ray player built in but that doesn't make it any better, why? I think because it's a gaming machine for a start, it comes with a controller, not a DVD remote, that's optional and it adds to the pricing. The games are mostly dark and gloomy types and are aimed at 18+, I'm not criticizing the PS3 or Xbox cause Nintendo have dark games too, I'm just saying some games are better on different platforms. I don't want to sound like a Nintendo 'fan boy' cause I'm not, I just prefer their games better and they tend to be a lot cheaper.

I won't ramble on anymore about this though I will say this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_game_consoles

Including and not including handhelds Sony top the list for best selling console, though not everything on Wikipedia is accurate...