With all three major console makers preparing next-generation systems for release by the end of 2006, May's Electronic Entertainment Expo was the first opportunity for gamers to hear what Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have planned. All three expect to have excellent publisher support, as well as some degree of backward compatibility. However, each of the consoles appear to have specific strengths and weaknesses, likely making this next console war as heated as the last.
X-Box 360 (fall 2005)
Microsoft's next console, while powerful, will primarily benefit from its release strategy. The Xbox 360 will be the first system released simultaneously in the United States, Europe and Japan. It will also be released months before the Playstation 3 and is expected to cost around $300.
The 360's other strength will be the Xbox Live service, which will be split into a free, basic Xbox Live Silver package and a subscription-based, premium Xbox Live Gold package. Having used the Xbox to iron out kinks in Live's online gaming, 360 should benefit from having an established system in place.
Backward compatibility, an important feature in both the Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Revolution, is somewhat in question with the Xbox 360. Officials stated that it will be \backward compatible with top-selling Xbox games,"" leaving current Xbox users uncertain which games will be playable on the next-gen console.
Playstation 3 (spring 2006)
The PS3's major trump card is power. Buried among the synergistic processing units and teraflops is the simple fact that the PS3 will be the most powerful console to date.
Besides the 3.2 GHz PowerPC CELL chip running the system, the PS3 will also come with standard wireless internet (Wi-Fi), several forms of flash memory and USB inputs, up to seven Bluetooth wireless controllers, reverse compatibility with PS1 and PS2 games and progressive scan mode for HD-TVs. There is also an online service in development, but few details have been revealed.
In addition, PS3 will run games on Blu-Ray DVDs, one of two next-generation DVD formats. Sony's decision to adopt Blu-Ray instead of HD-DVD can be described as daring-and risky. While Blu-Ray appears to be the better format, it is still uncertain which will be most widely adopted by game makers, movie studios and consumers.
If Blu-Ray ends up going the way of Betamax, the decision could allow Nintendo and Microsoft to close the console gap. On the other hand, the sheer popularity of Playstation may end up pushing Blu-Ray to victory-and give Sony yet another advantage over its competitors.
However, the power will not come cheap: the system could cost as much as $465 at launch. This monstrous price tag may slow early sales, as could the lack of a proven online service like Xbox Live. Then again, early sales might be slow simply because the PS3 looks more like a laminator than a gaming system.
Nintendo Revolution (rumored fall 2006)
Known for innovation and quirkiness more than anything else, Nintendo's Revolution will likely be less graphically powerful than both the Xbox 360 and the PS3. Further, it will not contain as many multimedia options (although DVD playback will be possible with the purchase of an add-on device). However, these factors are unlikely to hinder the Revolution; strong first-party franchises like Mario, Zelda and Metroid and a low price tag will still make the system worth buying.
Nintendo has been less than forthcoming with details. However, the system will have onboard flash memory, standard Wi-Fi and wireless controllers. Most enticing for many gamers may be the backward compatibility; in addition to playing Gamecube discs, Revolution will also allow users to download games from an online service (similar to Xbox Live) from all previous Nintendo consoles. While most of these games have been playable for years on personal computers due to online piracy, many older casual gamers may find this easy to use catalog of games worthwhile simply for nostalgia.
The Revolution's main weakness is its timing. While no official release date has been announced, there have been reports that the system is expected to launch in late 2006, a full year after the first next-gen console hits the market. Further, the true ""revolution"" in gameplay is supposedly created by the Revolution's controllers-which have been kept under wraps. Between the secrecy and the late start, Nintendo will likely remain third in the console war.
