The next big thing?

X-Box 2 MIGHT be revealed at CES this January....

Sony have revealed that they will show a playable version of their next generation console in E3 2005. They reveal this just one month after Nintendo reveal that they will be showing there next generation console code named Revolution at E3.

Sony president Ken Kutaragi hinted that the PS3 project is running about a year behind the PSP (Sonys Playstation Portable) which is set to hit Japan at the end of 2004 and America and Europe March 31 2005. He did not give a specific release date however.

Most analysts have predicted the PS3 to hit the markert early 2006. Software companys are expected to receieve a Development kit in the first half of Sony's 2006 fiscal year (calendar Q2 and Q3 2005), followed by the second SDK in the second half (calendar Q4 2005 and Q1 2006).

Sonys announcement now means that Microsoft is the only large console maker which have not commited to show the next generation device at E3 2005.

Typically, if a system is going to be released in the fall of a given years, it is debuted at E3 the previous year. Since we saw no new systems at this years E3, I wouldnt expect any new systems fall 2005. Fall 2006 looks to be it. They'll cost 300 bucks if you get them right when they come out, anyways.

Go to IGN and look at their lists of the best ranked games for both systems, make up your mind based on that. Multiplatform games (games released on all systems) typically look better on Xbox, but both systems have an equal amount of good titles unique to them. Don't dismiss the Gamecube, either. It's got kickass games and it's $100.

Most certainly don't dismiss the GameCube....I'm getting tired of seeing the GC get verbally bullied everywhere I turn nowadays...I love my little blue lunchbox, goddammit.....

Basically, the argument will come down to this again and again...

XBOX
Pros: Most powerful system of the three...the "adult" system on the market...small, but fucking AWESOME collection of third party exclusives....best online support.....could probably drive a tank over the damn thing, it wouldn't break
Cons: Controller kind of a pain in the ass.....a few A list first party titles, a LOT of loser PC game hand-me-downs....peripherals/services have a tendency to be either expensive or tricky.....can be just as slow as Nintendo pumping out new games sometimes, but not as great a quality......

PS2
Pros: Best third party support EVER.......huge selection and range of games across all genres......home to a shitload of buried treasure titles....THE RPG console......Greatest Hits banner well supported.....Plays and enhances PS1 games.....DVD player right out the box.....
Cons: Can be glitchy as hell, depending on the model/game being played.......DVD player ain't the greatest, plus, see previous complaint.....lotsa shitty third party peripherals......options for more than 8MB on a memory card awful slim.....huge selection=more than a fair share of crap released every year......weakest of the three in terms of power, meaning, slow load times, can't pull off some of the graphic tricks that can be found on the other two systems (Ex.: the reflective suits in SSX Tricky, the weird "aura" around Spidey in Spiderman 2, insane amounts of load time and frame skipping in Enter the Matrix)

Game Cube
Pros: Best first party support both for games and peripherals...."Quality over Quantity" game library.....experimental and innovative games and peripherals always being developed....despite being "the kids' system, the so-called "Kids' games" are ALWAYS fun as hell.....nice wave of exclusive mature titles hitting in 2005 (Resident Evil 4, Geist, Killer 7, a special "enhanced" version of Mortal Kombat Deception).....Closer than Microsoft would like to admit in the graphics/processing power department.....$50 cheaper than the other two....currently the only system to come with a game (Metroid Prime 1)....for the same price as the normal GameCube, even......most comfortable controller out there......1080 block memory card=Godsend.....IT'S NINTENDO, fer crissakes.....
Cons: Has unfortunate, but sadly earned stigma of being "the kids' system".....Nintendo sez: "Fuck Online Play"......is struggling with third party support (and yes, it's Nintendo's fault)......"Quality Over Quantity", yeah, but when a game season gets slow DAMN it gets slow.......not very kind to RPGs or Sports, though the RPG department's finally starting to see some more serious action (read: Tales of Symphonia, Paper Mario, Baten Kaitos, Fire Emblem, LOTR: The Third Age)....WAY too many Mario games with the words "Party" "Tennis", or "Golf" in front ot it.....Has trouble dropping old/best seller titles down to $20 for some reason....

With that....maybe you can make a choice....

There will be at least one new console launched next November, if not all three. Bank on it. Development kits are already out for Next Box and Playstation 3, and the kits are generally sent out about one year in advance. This next round in the console race is expected to be a bit closer, and neither Microsoft or Sony want to risk being the last guy to the party.

That being said, the new systems are going to cost at least three hundred bucks, and barring the debut of Halo 3, the launch software probably won't be too impressive. (Gamecube, PS2, Gameboy Advance, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS...out of the last six console launches, only the Xbox had a AAA title right out of the gate.) Not to mention the fact that the first generation of consoles are always buggy and problematic, and you're probably better off waiting a few months before buying a next gen console. So as of right now, you've probably got anywhere from 18-24 months before you'll need to purchase a next gen console. Dunno if that's worth your $150 right now or not, but there you go.

THe way things are going...I don't think we will see the next batch of consolse till mid 2007. I think (hope frankly) that the big 3 have learned that launching without a proper launch title library is idiotic. The PS2 came out unopposed so it had an excuse. The gamecube had a HORRIBLE launch library. And the Xbox had 1 AAA title and crap.

I don't think enough developers will be ready by next winter.

Anyway, as far as the topic...get an xbox if you want to play online. Get a ps2 if you want an endless supply of good third party titles.

I bought an xbox over summer because its very much a party machine. I do a lot of LAN parties with Halo and enjoy the fragfest style of games so I knew the xbox was for me. The PS2 is excellent if you are more of a single player gamer type because if you buy one now, you will have hundreds of excellent games to choose from.

Graphics are superior on XBOX period, but its all about the type of games you play really.

2007? That's insane. That's a longer shelf life than the Super Nintendo or Playstation 1 enjoyed, and those systems only had one real competitor each. Nah, all three of the next gen consoles are going to be announced at this next E3. Bet on it. And at least one of those three consoles will be on the market before next Christmas. And I'm not just pulling guesses out of my ass. This is what every marketing analyst and all the gaming gossip sites are predicting.

Besides, like I just said...it's not like a shitty launch lineup has ever caused a console delay in the past. And it's asinine to assume that Sony and Nintendo wouldn't launch a console without AAA games, since both companies are doing exactly that in the next few months.

Well I am just looking at history slater. Sony came out unopposed, but its launch lineup was pitiful...Nintendo had possibly the worst launch ever...luigi's mansion!!?!? are you kidding me!?.

My guess, i am not industry insider (although I tend to not trust what these business market analysts many of whom (not all of course) have little video gaming knowledge), but I think the launches of the systems will depend on when the Big launch titles are ready to go, either that or they will be rushed which would be just as bad as having a shitty launch library.

With that said, if ANYONE gets a jump on anyone I think it will be microsoft's next system. They seem really keen on getting a headstart, no matter how small. I love my xbox and its power has really proven itself over its current lifespan, I just hope it doesn't get overshadowed by the PS3.

Anyway, I guess we will find out at E3. I agree that all 3 will most likely announce their machiens then too.

I wonder why Microsoft is chomping at the bit to be the first out. I'm sure Sony learned from their mistake of racing to be the first out of the gate, only to be outpowered in the graphics department by the other two. Why would Microsoft want to repeat that? Or are they that confident in their new machine? (It's a serious question, for an industry insider... Whitehead or Slater?)

So this isn't a thread about Steve Jobs failed workstation from the 80s. Go figure.

I'm not an industry insider, but the answer is still pretty simple:

1. When you're the first one out of the gate, you don't need to have the most powerful console. We were all fairly impressed by the graphics on the PS2 until the other two consoles came along. Let's face it...even a hastily created, unimpressive Xbox 2 will still have much better graphics than any of the current consoles. That's the type of thing that gets attention and drives sales.

and, more importantly...

2. Market share. The reason the PS2 is so dominant in today's gaming world has a lot to do with the fact that its one year headstart on the other two consoles allowed it to build up a fanbase of several million consumers. When the Gamecube launched with three titles, the PS2 already had *hundreds* of titles on store shelves, including third generation games, AAA releases, family games, value priced software, etc. If you're Joe Schmo looking for a gaming system, the PS2's massive collection of games is going to be more attractive than the technical specs for the Gamecube or Xbox.

The hardcore gamers are going to buy all three systems no matter what. But most of the casual gamers usually only buy one system, and being the first console out of the gate gives you a huge advantage when you're trying to market to this demographic.

If you want to be precise, the first one out of the gate for this generation wasn't Sony, it was Sega.

Does the GC support Component video out, or SPDIF or Component digital audio output? I know the PS2 and X-Box do, and if you've got an HD or are planning on purchasing one prior to getting the game system, that might be a good selling point. The difference is noticeable... also, the X-Box supports resolutions up to 1080i (Halo 2 is 480p), thought I don't remember the PS2's capabilities off-hand.

True. I always forget about them. Good catch.

Although the Dreamcast was always such a shitty, poorly conceived and marketed beast that it really doesn't change my argument much.

We would all love to believe that good business sense and making the fans happy would win over the almighty dollar but Slater hit it on the head...

MARKET SHARE

It's what it is all about... good or bad, it's here to stay..

yea the market share thing is a very important issue, which is why MS is salivating at getting out first...I honestly think it would work against them like it did for sega.

PS2 has supplanted the term "nintendo" in everyone's generic vocabular. It is the "coke" of the videogame business so to speak, so it doesnt really matter when PS3 releases because it will have ingrown audiences of millions already. The Xbox in my opinion is the hardcore gamers machine, which has gone on to be more successful tahnks to the backing of a giant like MS. If MS wasnt around to buy out Bungie and pull exclusivity contracts with developers, the Xbox coudl have gone the way of the Dreamcast.

Anyway, I consider myself a hardcore gamer, but I can't support more than one console in my gaming time, so I am going to take a wait and see approach to the next gen rather than be in line for the midnight release of whichever one gets out first.

On the issue of "which will come out first". That may not matter. I bought (ok actually my brother) a PS2 about a 2 weeks after the first batch came out. Yes there were no good PS2 titles, there were lots of great PS1 titles thought. I don't know X-Box plans on this but Playstation seems like they want backward compatibility in which case a great library for your new console isn't needed (as long as you have a great library for the old console).

X-Box has been very disappointing, I thought they would of had a few good titles by now but other than Halo and Knight of The Old Republic I see no reason to buy it (thought to be fair I more the single player RPG type, so PS2 has been great for me).

Nintendo, seems to be good at making great original games for them, but not enough (at least for my tastes anyway).

On the good side it looks like every Nintendo game will soner or later go on the gameboy (Mario 64 is going to be on the new 2 screen system)

Anyway predictions: PS3 will be fine (they have alot of 3rd party publishers), Nintendo will be behind (they will be ok but their library isn't as good as Sony), and Mircosoft either starts a good library or X-Box dies at 2nd generation (its need to win over Japan, right now its completly ignored there).

See, this is my problem. I usually wait around to see what console I will buy, because time and money necessitate that I only get one. I've been pretty happy with my PS2, what with early GTA and Ratchet and Clank. But I kick myself everytime I see a multi-platform game (spidey 2, eventually GTA) when my PS2 graphics look like crap. I'm gonna wait till all three systems (PS3, Xbox 2, and whatever Nintendo has up their sleeve) have been out for at least a year before diving into the next iteration of consoles.

I am also a one console man.. (well let me take that back, I have a Gamecube for my son, but I don't buy any games for it other then games a 6 year old boy would love.) I waited a while to decide between PS2 and XBOX and ended up going with XBOX and I can't be any happier.

I must say that I completely disagree that MS dies in the console race with NEXTBOX. I think thier library is quote good and by waiting a little longer some coveted PS2 games have made their way to XBOX (GTA anybody). Sure I'll never get to expeirence FF (which is no loss to me) but PS2 owners won't get KOTR or Halo.

If you can afford multi-systems go for it. But if not, just a little patience at the front end, waiting till both come out and looking at their catalog, you'll be fine. Hell I barely play any PC games right now because I am caught up in XBOX.