Wii holds on as Sony Moves and Microsoft Kinects.

Wii holds on as Sony Moves and Microsoft Kinects.

Ok, Christmas is just round the corner and we can all agree that games consoles will be on many Christmas lists but which one? Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft have all come out with the motion-sensor gaming devices/consoles all hoping to penetrate this new gaming market.

Microsoft Xbox 360 enters with Kinect.

Last to be launched but not the least. Attached to the Xbox 360 the Kinect has the whole package: motion-sensors which detect the whole human body, voice command and recognition, all this without a controller. Kinect has a bright future ahead as it has decided to take the next step, the removal of any controller but the accuracy of the device is playing to the Kinect’s disadvantage. Can this faulty motion detection system be the new Red Ring of Death?

Xbox have currently won over the hardcore gamers through it’s feature packed Xbox Live and exclusive games collection but they seem to have forgotten how they gained and held their reign at the top. The seems to be nothing to look forward to game-wise with the Kinect besides the basic games similar to what the Wii started out on like Wii Play and Wii Sports.

There’s still a lot of potential for this console but it is still in development…

Playstation 3 launches the Playstation Move

The Playstation 3 is the best console in terms of quality and performance that is out at the moment, I guess the same goes with the Playstation Move. The better version of the Wii but in black and is already capable of 3D content. Besides the fact that there is Blu-ray and potential 3D I won’t deny the fact that as an Xbox gamer; Sony has nearly won me over with their exclusive selection of games. No better way of bringing arcade than introducing Time Crisis to your collection maybe it is time Microsoft handed over the baton of exclusive content for hardcore gamers.

Can Wii hold the fort?

The lion of the jungle so show some respect, this baby brought everyone into this market and I’m pretty sure they can bring them back out. Now we seen their competitors coming up with superior products but this is Nintendo’s battlefield. I do marketing not technology so I will be bias by saying you can have the best product but it doesn’t guarantee success.

Choose your market.

Wii has already won over the non-gamers and families putting them into another market compared to the Xbox and the PS3, their positioning strategy is secure and they have attained status in their segment. Being the first is like having home advantage but could Microsoft have also attained this position but in the segment of hardcore gamers? The challenge for them now is making the hardcore gamers put down their controllers and go with the flow but why do that when they can buy a PS3 with the Move? It’s got better motion-controlled games and they may feel they are not ready to completely go without a controller. Sony is looking for a market to dominate but they have to choose, either use this opportunity to overtake the Kinect or go mainstream and head-to-head with the Wii? I feel it would be one heck of challenge to try eating both sides of the cake at the same time and it is said the worst place to be in a market is in the middle.

Will Sony make the right Move?

It is Sony’s turn to make a ‘Move’ and whoever they decide to challenge will have a big problem to address but I predict Sony will try to please everyone which I seem they will fall short. I see the Kinect adding a controller to the bundle until it is ready to go hands-free which means a lot of catch up and maybe a few new games would be nice. Wii needs to hold on to its loyal customers and listen to them carefully which is what they do best. I see Nintendo playing it cool as their target market won't bother to look into the Wii's flawed specs unlike the hardcore techies who will realize how amazing the Move is leaving the Kinect to struggle hold on to it's market share. Let the best marketing win.