Console Wars: Who's the Champ?

BBC has a very interesting article on what is the best next-generation console going to be amongst Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's upcoming PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's upcoming Revolution.

Three game journalists - Steve Brown, editor of Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine, Tim Clark, associate editor, Official PlayStation 2 Magazine UK and Tom East, editor, NGC magazine presented their case for the console of their choice.

Steve on Xbox 360:

Xbox 360 is the first console to take advantage of the new high definition standard and all games made for it will run in this new widescreen graphical format which, if you have the correct screen, is the biggest leap forward for games graphics since the first home 3D games in 1995.

He mentions about the tiny details that help make games seem real like spectators faces in the crowds of sports games as the stitching on the leather upholstery of one of the supercars in Project Gotham Racing.

He says;

"The main difference between Xbox 360 and other next generation consoles is the fact that it is designed to be a completely connected experience; from simple things like wireless controllers and wireless internet connectivity, to the killer feature of the Xbox 360 world, Xbox Live. While Live existed on original Xbox as an online gaming network, Xbox Live on the 360 improves that experience with enhanced, more reliable matchmaking and then adds more besides."

He judges the games available in the first three months of the Xbox 360's life as some of the best ever created and what he put it as - 'of a standard some consoles have had to wait their entire lifespan to amass'.

He says that Project Gotham Racing 3, Perfect Dark Zero, Gears of War and Kameo are only some of the highlights. The rest of 2006 will provide plenty more.

Tim Clark on Sony's upcoming PlayStation 3:

It seems he is absolutely floored by the features of PS3 and what it has in store for the future.

He says;

'Here, finally, was a games machine capable of pumping out the kind of eye-watering visuals you would normally associate with high-end special effects used in movies. To get a real idea of just how powerful the PlayStation 3 is you need to speak to a developer working on the system.'

He reckons the PS3 is roughly 250 times more powerful in raw processing terms than PS2. He says that if the PS3 existed in 1998, it would have been the most powerful super-computer in the world.

He says;

'But computing power counts for nothing without the support of software publishers.'

He points out that every major third-party publisher is developing games for the PlayStation 3 and there are more than 150 titles in development. Top games include Resident Evil 5, the next Grand Theft Auto and Vision Gran Turismo.

Talking about sustainability of the PS3 in the future he says that PlayStaton 3 is 'future-proof' as well. This because of the Blu-Ray disc format which the PS3 will use. These discs can hold up to 25 GB of data compared to 4.7GB on a standard single-layer DVD which are used on the Xbox 360. And that's not all! Layered discs versions with even more capacity are possible.

Finally praising Sony on PS3 he says;

'If the PS3 rollout is structured along similar lines to the PS2 one, it could be next October before UK gamers get their hands on it, giving the Xbox 360 almost a year's head start. But Sony is used to managing consumer expectations and playing the wait and see card. After all, going first brings its own set of problems. Just ask Sega.'

Yea, can't be further from the truth Tim.

Tom East on Nintendo Revolution:

Tom thinks that Nintendo's Revolution is 'undoubtedly the most exciting console of the three next generation machines'. Fairly true I would say.

He says that the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 can offer improved graphics and sound where as Nintendo, with their amazing new controller, are 'promising to change the way you actually play games forever'!

He points out the Revolution controller with its built-in motion-sensor which he says is perhaps the most radical innovation in console history. Yes, true again because as he says, players will now be able to hold the new freehand unit in one hand and control the action onscreen by pointing it at their television and waving it around. So this will eliminate the button being pressed for actions such as to kill an enemy with a sword. Instead one can make slashing movements with the controller and the actions will be replicated on the screen. Pretty cool indeed.

He says;

'The message is, similar to DS, it does not matter if you are young or old, male or female, you will have fun playing games on Revolution'.

Quite a few things about the Revolution are yet to be revealed. However, we know that the controller holds a lot of promise. Apparently Nintendo is putting a lot of emphasis and thought on the controller. Nonetheless, I am not sure that a console can be a hit purely on the strength of the controller's capabilities. In any case, Nintendo is stressing that the Revolution is not developed with the intention of competing with the Xbox 360 or PS3. In about a year from now, it will be clear which console took the cake.

Source: BBC Thanks.