Being a Halo board.. I'm guessing most of you will say "Microsoft!!" on this one, but I'll post it anyway. I'll start off with posting a little info/impressions of the three companies:
Sony - Current industry leader, but one that has fallen on hard times for the past year and a half. Following their dazzling E3 05 trailers of pre-rendered PS3 footage, they were riding high. Microsoft had demos out yes, but they looked like nothing compared to the amazing videos Sony showed. And then there was Nintendo, who at the time, didn't even have a controller for their next system. Fast forward a year, and the popularity of Sony among it's fanbase is waning. Sony keeps systematically cutting features on the Playstation 3, and then whop us with a hefty $600 price tag. Couple that with the fact that no current PS3 title (that we can see) currently under developement looks inherently better than any upcoming Xbox 360 title (and none even come close to the graphical beauty of Gears of War). Hardware wise, yes the system is more powerful, but accessing that power is a problem for developers.
Another negative announcement was that the European launch has been delayed. I've personally read on multiple pages that discussed the issue (comments on articles about it), and many UK gamers specifically said, and I quote, "screw the PS3, I'm going out and getting a 360. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!". Truly that will be a hard blow to Sony.
On the upside, Sony and the Playstation brand have a huge following. That being said, they're losing exclusive titles left and right, and developers seem to be supporting the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii moreso than the PS3. But will it's horsepower and brand name alone (not to mention hype from Sony) keep gamers interested?
Microsoft - During the last generation of consoles, Microsoft's Xbox itself had it's flaws in design, controller, and more, but it's best aspects were both Xbox Live, and a little killer app called Halo.
A year after the Xbox's success, with both Halo, and the launch of Xbox Live, Microsoft started production on the Xenon project (pronounced Zenon), or Project Xenon. Over the course of three years, they developed, tweaked, totally rehauled, and eventually carved out that which is now the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system. The console sports multiple applications other than graphically amazing games, including movie, CD, picture, music, and other playbacks. All accessible through multiple formats. On top of that, Microsoft refined it's award-winning Xbox Live service to include other ranges of downloadable content as well, including Video downloads, Game Demo downloads, and Gamerpics and Themes. Overall the Xbox 360 is a greatly refined entertainment package. But truly, it boils down to the games.
Fast forward a year (or really a few months) after the 360 launched, and game support for the system is flourishing. The system's already had one "killer app" -- Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion -- which itself sold millions of consoles. Other system sellers were spaced throughout the year, like GRAW, and Dead Rising to name a few. And even then, the 360 has many new games coming out later this year, and early next. One of which is what Microsoft, Epic, and 360 owners hope to be the next Halo for the system -- Gears of War. Both graphically and gameplay wise, GoW is truely a next-generation title. Whether or not it actually will be the next killer app is yet to be determined, but "all signs point to yes" for this one.
That being said, some games that were previously thought of as exclusive (take Oblivion for example, which is making it to the PS3 with all new content) are "jumping ship" to other consoles as well. Other consoles' games that were also thought of as exclusive to a console are "jumping ship" to be on the 360 as well. Just recently, Assassin's Creed was announced to be on the Xbox 360 day and date with the PS3 version, and also recently, GTA creator Rockstar announced that the version of GTA IV for the 360 will have exclusive "chapters" to the game following it's launch in 2007.
And that being said, the 360 isn't all candy and flowers. Microsoft hit rough times last year initially, when they announced both that the 360 would come in two "versions", and would NOT include a next-generation optical disc format. Although faced with consumer backlash, they did manage to pull through with a worldwide launch in '05.
The Xbox 360's current success can be attributed to many things -- but can it continue? It's been the only next-gen console out on the market for a year now (and will be for a second year in Europe). The 360 might have some killer games lined up, but does that automatically mean it can win? We'll have to wait and see!
I think Nintendo and Microsoft are gona be the biggest fighters this go-around. To me, Sony list there edge since they tryed to make the PS3.
Microsoft has some serious killer Apps comming. GoW, Perfect Dark,... HALO 3! And add to that the sucessfull XBL. Microsoft is sitting good.
But I think, if everything falls togeather, Nintendo's Wii just may come out on top. The total backwords capatability (you can download ALL of the old favorit classic games), the unique controller design and function, free (rumored) internet play, and that it only cost $250. Nintendo is holding a few aces next year.
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Murphy's Laws of Combat = You are not Rambo; Marines and fighter pilots take note.
sony has some cool stuff, like their new micro laptop, but they seem to spew a lot of crap out as well. Bluray will fail just like betamax, and all the morons who think it's hot **** need to go read a book about the history of VHS/Betamax and then rethink their beliefs.
Bluray is great and everything, it's ahead of its time, unwelcomed and useless in todays society. Sorry Sony but in 5 years something will come out that is a lot better and a lot cheaper to replace DVD's, but they still got life left in them and nobody will pay alot extra for a little added quality.
PS3: Sony's biggest waste of R&D to date
Nintendo: Gonna be a huge success with little ones and parents looking for cheaper systems
Microsoft: gonna be huge success with diehard gamers
! And add to that the sucessfull XBL. Microsoft is sitting good.
