Xbox 360 is the console for Wii owners who now want HD gaming, says Microsoft

With the Wii U's launch now just a few weeks away, Nintendo is hoping many of its current Wii consumer-base — possibly looking make the jump to HD gaming — will flock over to the new console when it releases on November 18. Microsoft, however, thinks the Xbox 360 is the ideal console for that transition. With Halo 4 launching next week, on November 6, and the Xbox 360 holiday bundles getting a $50 price reduction, Microsoft's Matt Barlow believes the Xbox 360 is the "better console for them to choose."

Speaking to GI.biz, the general manager of product marketing for Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business admitted, "I think this holiday season is an amazing jump off for all those people who may have been interested in the Wii and now want to be interested in high definition gaming."

"I can't think of a better console for them to choose than one that has the most games available, the highest rated games available, than the Xbox 360 platform."

Although the Xbox 360 does have seven-years worth of games, the Wii U does offer a pretty impressive launch lineup. The Wii U will be supported by 23 different titles on launch day, including Assassin's Creed 3, Black Ops 2, FIFA 13, and Skylanders Giants. An additional 29 titles will be made available during the Wii U's "launch window", which Nintendo has defined as the period after its launch day, but before March, 31, 2013.

And what about the Wii U's innovative gameplay? With the Wii U GamePad offering a touchscreen tablet device as its main controller, users are treated to a whole new type of gaming. Well, Microsoft is sort of doing the same thing with SmartGlass, according to Barlow.

"And when you look at the alternative experiences that we're going to bring with SmartGlass, the entertainment providers that we're bringing on board, with sports and music and movies and TV, and then if you think about those preeminent best selling blockbuster games that they're going to want to play – Halo, Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, Forza, Nike+ Kinect Fitness – they either play first or they play best on Xbox 360 and nowhere else," he said.

"Like I said, jump off is great and we like the way we're positioned to pick those customers up," Barlow concluded. "They really should consider an Xbox 360 if they're looking for the best high definition gaming and entertainment platform."

Do you plan on buying an Xbox 360 or Wii U this year? Let us know in the comments below.