Wii Size and controllers (Split from Call of Duty 3)

[Lazybones]

Id like to see somewhere that says that the PS3 can run the same exact programs so much faster than a PC can. Its so called horse power is tied up in its SPUs, which do nothing but basic floating point work, sure thats a big part of games, and some applications, but you have to totally re engineer EVERYTHING to beable to use all 8 of the buggers.

edit: Oh, and theres already BD drives out for PCs. Writers even.

you mean 7, one of them is reserved for the OS.

[Shayne]

6 technically as the 7th has to be available to the OS at an instance notice.

[Darren Dirt]

Id like to see somewhere that says that the PS3 can run the same exact programs so much faster than a PC can. Its so called horse power is tied up in its SPUs, which do nothing but basic floating point work, sure thats a big part of games, and some applications, but you have to totally re engineer EVERYTHING to beable to use all 8 of the buggers.

edit: Oh, and theres already BD drives out for PCs. Writers even.

you mean 7, one of them is reserved for the OS.

This thread is all about the Wii form factor, how it's tiny, where the ports are, and ostensibly, the best way to park it out of the way in your entertainment room.

*cough*



PS: Druid, re. messes of wiring being one of the headaches of PC and console gaming: so true!

[Lazybones]

Don't make me split the thread a SECOND TIME!

[Tom]

<kid>Are we there yet?</kid>

[Darren Dirt]

Don't make your admin turn this car around!

[Melbosa]

All I know is this; if you had the choice between a normal sized XBox 360 and a compact version that had the same hardware specs you'd probably pick the smaller one, wouldn't you?

I mean if the only argument for a bulky console is that it needs to be big so it gets MOAR balls (graphics, hard drive, etc) I could lug my PC into my living room and plug it into an HDTV. I could "make room" for that too...

Actually you bring up a good point.  Would I buy the bulky version over the slim version?  Well in the PS2 vs PSTwo, I "acquired" the PS2 instead of the PSTwo for the reason of feature loss due to decreased form factor.  The original PS2 with the Ethernet adapter took a standard HD from a PC, where as the PSTwo had to have an external drive purchased and licensed only by Sony (<--- read expensive vs regular IDE HD for PC).  So yeah, features win over form factor in my opinion every time.  $$$ can be a factor too, if the Bulkier is cheaper, for the same horse power, why not spend less for same.

Do this with my PC all the time.  Smaller form factor usually means more $$$, and I'd rather spend less or same amount on more power than get a shuttle box.

[Mr. Analog]

All I know is this; if you had the choice between a normal sized XBox 360 and a compact version that had the same hardware specs you'd probably pick the smaller one, wouldn't you?

I mean if the only argument for a bulky console is that it needs to be big so it gets MOAR balls (graphics, hard drive, etc) I could lug my PC into my living room and plug it into an HDTV. I could "make room" for that too...

Actually you bring up a good point.  Would I buy the bulky version over the slim version?  Well in the PS2 vs PSTwo, I "acquired" the PS2 instead of the PSTwo for the reason of feature loss due to decreased form factor.  The original PS2 with the Ethernet adapter took a standard HD from a PC, where as the PSTwo had to have an external drive purchased and licensed only by Sony (<--- read expensive vs regular IDE HD for PC).  So yeah, features win over form factor in my opinion every time.  $$$ can be a factor too, if the Bulkier is cheaper, for the same horse power, why not spend less for same.

Do this with my PC all the time.  Smaller form factor usually means more $$$, and I'd rather spend less or same amount on more power than get a shuttle box.

Just in case you missed it. Also, you wanted to use the non-Sony HDD so you could mod your PS2 right?

[Melbosa]

All I know is this; if you had the choice between a normal sized XBox 360 and a compact version that had the same hardware specs you'd probably pick the smaller one, wouldn't you?

I mean if the only argument for a bulky console is that it needs to be big so it gets MOAR balls (graphics, hard drive, etc) I could lug my PC into my living room and plug it into an HDTV. I could "make room" for that too...

Actually you bring up a good point.  Would I buy the bulky version over the slim version?  Well in the PS2 vs PSTwo, I "acquired" the PS2 instead of the PSTwo for the reason of feature loss due to decreased form factor.  The original PS2 with the Ethernet adapter took a standard HD from a PC, where as the PSTwo had to have an external drive purchased and licensed only by Sony (<--- read expensive vs regular IDE HD for PC).  So yeah, features win over form factor in my opinion every time.  $$$ can be a factor too, if the Bulkier is cheaper, for the same horse power, why not spend less for same.

Do this with my PC all the time.  Smaller form factor usually means more $$$, and I'd rather spend less or same amount on more power than get a shuttle box.

Just in case you missed it. Also, you wanted to use the non-Sony HDD so you could mod your PS2 right?

Just in case you missed it.

Yes it is true, but that was only my use for it.  The HD was required for the online games with the PS2, and a cheaper solution could be found with the old console version vs the new version.

To address your comment though, yes if they were at the same spec, with no loss of features or functionality, as well as no price difference, who wouldn't buy the smaller one?  But even in the PS2 to PSTwo or PS1 to PSOne battles, the older versions were for the most part always cheaper, so why would you buy the smaller version for more money then?

So yeah indeed my response originally wasn't directly specifically to your exact statement, but I was trying to explore the view point with my own examples, as very rarely would you find something in this world for the same price as a previous rendition of the same product.

So yes, I would buy the smaller version if those conditions were as described, exactly the same, save the form change.

[Mr. Analog]

Fair enough, next time though then just post your new POV. I find it bit confusing when you quote me and raise what I assume is a counterpoint, I will respond with a defence of my viewpoint usually.

So then, getting back to my original argument that consoles are "better" when they have a smaller form factor, for the following reasons:

• Easier to cram into existing hardware jungle.
• Portable
• Aesthetic

The counter arguments include:

• Performance sacrifices
• Form factor may not be compatible with modification
• Price-reduced re-releases are more expensive than older generation

Any additions?

[Lazybones]

You missed price, the larger version of most electronics costs less.

[Mr. Analog]

You missed price, the larger version of most electronics costs less.

Whoops! Got it. Thanks!

[Shayne]

I would probably add aesthetics to the small as well

[Cova]

Don't make me split the thread a SECOND TIME!

Sorry - but I feel the need to correct technical inacuracies..,

6 technically as the 7th has to be available to the OS at an instance notice.

Subtract 1 more from it all.  The Cell has 8 SPE's, however the Cell's in the PS3 have 1 disabled at manufacture to increase yields.  Then lose 1 to the OS leaves 6 for games most of the time, with the OS able to take 1 more at any time, so 5 for games.  I'm guessing that extra one for the OS is only for the PS3 equivalent of when you hit the guide button on the 360 while playing a game, and the UI blade appears over the game.


You may now resume your Wii form-factor discussion - I still maintain my opinion that it's poorly desgined, but then its a Nintendo product, and thinking back most of them are poorly designed.  Nintendo really seems to like top-loading devices (the GC ports / mem card ports for the Wii, the disk loader on the GC, cartridge straight into the top of the SNES, door on the NES opened over the top of the console, etc) which tend to just cause me problems.  You'd think a japanese company would realize that square footage is big $, and you can't stack stuff if there are ports/controls/etc. on the top/bottom.

[Tom]

Id like to see you come up with a better place to up the extra connecors, and keep the same form factor/size. WITHOUT an extra dongle.