Is Nintendo's Wii U truly Powerful?

image taken from nintendo.com.au/wiiu

The Wii U is an upcoming console from Nintendo and is going to be the successor to the insanely popular 2006 console the Wii. The Wii U is a console that I have mixed opinions on so far, but the main question that everyone is asking, is  the console more powerful then current competition such as the PS3 or Xbox 360?

Now the consoles hardware runs on a IBM based Power Architecture-based multi-core processor. Apart form this nothing else has been revealed in detail about this hardware.Nintendo stated that the Wii U supports 1080p graphics and has 2 GB of memory; 1 GB as system memory and the same for game memory. Which is more than 20 times the memory of the Wii. This all sounds impressive however when you put this into perspective the Wii was an extremely dated piece of hardware falling behind the 360 and PS3. 1080p gaming is a standard now and its finally good to see Nintendo supporting this resolution format, however with the RAM built in the system 2GBgb is not that overall impressive. Most Mac’s/PC's today include 4gb of RAM standard on their systems, now as a console I’m not sure if it is going to be as powerful. 

Image from http://au.gamespot.com/new-super-mario-bros-u/

The big draw on this console is the graphics, the card is very brief but been exposed as a “GPU: AMD Radeon High Definition GPGPU”. The above image is from the launch title New Super Mario Bros Wii U. Nintendo have always stated that games should be about fun and not graphics, however in this competitive era of games graphics are considered important.  From the demo videos I have researched and screen shots so far nothing has blown me away in terms of visuals, the games graphics are pretty industry standard from something you would find on a Xbox 360 or PS3. Most PC’s now run off AMD’s graphics so there is hope later on in the consoles life graphics will be mastered on the system and improve but for the time being its nothing too large.

So to conclude I guess only time will tell, its definitely a step up from  the last wii. However with the vague details revealed, is it really as powerful as the 360 or ps3? My opinion so far is that this console will be on par with the xbox 360 in terms of performance and graphics. 

Images from nintendo.com

Nintendo Wii vs. Playstation 3: Distinctive Features

http://www.qj.net/qjnet/wii/whos-selling-ps3-and-wii-online-stores-listing.htm

Games

There are countless amazing system-exclusive games that are available on the PlayStation 3, as there are on the Nintendo Wii.  The main difference between the two consoles is determined based on the type of games you are searching for. Generally, if your interests lie in the family-friendly range such as Mario Kart or innovative interactive games such as Wii Fit, then considering the Nintendo Wii is definitely recommended. However for the more hardcore gamers, the PlayStation 3 offers a wider range of shooting games such as Call of Duty: Modern Welfare, and Killzone. Additionally, the PlayStation 3 also offers other great fighting games such as Street Fighter IV and Tekken. Each video game console has games that can appeal to every type of gamer therefore it entirely comes down to your individual preferences. Generally, the Nintendo Wii caters to more of the family-friendly market whereas the PlayStation 3 tends to carter to more of the hardcore-gamer market.

Graphics

Ultimately when it comes to graphics the PlayStation 3 has the competitive advantage, as its processing power is far superior than the Nintendo Wii. The PlayStation 3 system utilizes a Cell Processor that delegates 8 other Synegistic Processor elements therefore allowing users to multiple task at 3.2 GHz. Whereas, the Nintendo Wii graphic processor is only slightly more powerful than the one offered in the Nintendo GameCube.

Movies

Due to rapid innovation in technology this has enabled video game consoles the ability to play DVD movies. This innovation is offered on the PlayStation 3 along with the capability to play Blu-ray movies.  Due to Blu Ray players selling on the market for up to $300, the PlayStation 3 would be a great option for those interested in video gaming and high definition movie playbacks. The Wii on the other hand, unfortunately does not hold the ability of movie playbacks. Therefore, if movie playbacks are a major aspect when deciding between video game consoles, then it is probably best to pass up the Nintendo Wii.

Overall Value

On the market today the PlayStation 3 is the most expensive system currently priced at $349.99 and new games for this system typically retailing for $59.99. The Nintendo Wii however, is much more affordable retailing for $149.99 and new games are also slightly cheaper typically retailing for $49.99. Subsequently, in terms of price and value the Nintendo Wii has the comparative advantage. For instance the same price you purchase for a new PlayStation 3, results in the opportunity cost of you purchasing a Nintendo Wii and four brand new games is forgone.

Conclusions

Overall the Nintendo Wii and the PlayStation 3 has much to offer. For gamers who are interested in a high quality graphic experience, the latest video playback technology and isn’t too concerned about the high price margin, then the PlayStation 3 is a clear choice.

For gamers who are family-focused with the types of games offered on the Nintendo Wii and those who are also on a budget, then the Nintendo Wii may be a better choice.

Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which video game console would be the better choice to suit your needs and preferences.