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Next-Gen Video Game Consoles. DEBATE!

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Takeru:
I haven't seen any debates on this forum about the seventh and newest generation of video game consoles yet, so I wanted to make one. I'll start off with my own little missive.

The seventh generation of consoles has created some of the biggest debates and controversies in video game history. Three experienced hardware developers have drawn their hands from the deck: Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. Claiming that their consoles have power, interactivity, and innovation deemed impossible even beyond our wildest imaginations, each vie for the loyalties of the many gamers that seek to reinvent their gaming experience.

Microsoft, software developer famous for its critically acclaimed Windows series of operating systems, was the first to release their system, the Xbox 360, on November 22, 2005. Its next-generation graphics, fluid interface, and impeccable online functionality have attracted many gamers, and its one-year head start has given it an insane advantage above the competition. It is the newest, youngest, least experienced console hardware developer, having only made one previous console before, the original Xbox, back during the turn of the century. However, years of experience with the inner workings of software functionality have made it a powerful competitor in the fight for next-generation dominance.

Sony, hardware developer that has traveled across many media formats including TV's, portable DVD players, and home theater technology, released their PLAYSTATION 3 one year later on November 17, 2006. Sony has made countless claims towards the greatness of their new system, which has been proven to be the most powerful of all three consoles. Packing groundbreaking technology that strives to bring the best-looking, most theatrical experience to your home entertainment system, the PLAYSTATION 3 is all about power, with added bonuses. The PLAYSTATION Network is all about bringing Sony's fans together, while the new Sixaxis controller aspires to let players play their games in new, interesting ways.

Nintendo, often touted as the oldest, most experienced video game developer and housing some of the most brilliant minds of the gaming industry, threw their new weapon into the fray on November 19, 2006: the quirky Wii. Simple in design, yet ambitious in practicality, Nintendo appeals not only to seasoned veterans of the gaming world, but everyday consumers, people who haven't even set a single foot into gaming. The Wii has introduced its revolutionary new control system, with which Nintendo plans to overturn the gaming world on its head, with innovative motion-sensing capabilities and incredible ease of use. WiiConnect24, a service that remains online even though your console is off, lets you access your friends' worlds even after they've retired, and its range of family-friendly games plan to capture the hearts of day-to-day consumers everywhere.

These three consoles vie for power, and each day new features and games are introduced that change public opinion entirely. They vie for our attention and our loyalty. As the consumers, it is in our power as a collective party to decide whether or not any of these consoles will succeed or fail.

Where do your loyalties stand?

Remember, this is a constructive discussion for sharing and, if necessary, debating opinions. That means it is most definitely not a flamethrowing session. Respect your fellow members and their opinions. Any misbehavior will be reported to moderators immediately.

I've been following the seventh generation closely, and I am also the proud owner of all three consoles. So if there are any questions pertaining to the PS3, Wii, or 360, ask, and I will answer. Also, if there are any false claims made about any of the three systems, I will denounce them immediately.

With that said, have at it!

ricochet:
um..why does the ps3 not play ps2 games?

D.J.P:
Yes it does. Just the PS3 (first generation) has some problems with its backward-compatibility. I think its on Sony's site a list of games that work (at least to some degree)

Hence why I won't be getting a PS3 for a while. Probably around Christmas time when it should be 2nd generation at least (and the price is like half of what it starting for out here - nearly $1000AU)

Oh and in case you missed it I will be going for the PS3 for just one reason (backwards compability) and until that issue is fully settled, I'll stick with my trusty PS2 :)

Kuro-puppy:
I'll go for Wii (being Nintendo fan and all) but i'll wait with buying it till i've seen what other gamedevelopers are gonna do with the controller coz from what i've seen sofar, the gamedevelopers beside Nintendo itself are all delevering Wii games with 'questionable' controls >.<

Takeru:

--- Quote from: SLi on March 03 2007, 07:55 pm ---Yes it does. Just the PS3 (first generation) has some problems with its backward-compatibility. I think its on Sony's site a list of games that work (at least to some degree)

Hence why I won't be getting a PS3 for a while. Probably around Christmas time when it should be 2nd generation at least (and the price is like half of what it starting for out here - nearly $1000AU)

Oh and in case you missed it I will be going for the PS3 for just one reason (backwards compability) and until that issue is fully settled, I'll stick with my trusty PS2 :)

--- End quote ---
With more and more firmware updates coming in, the BC (Backwards Compatibility) support for PS3's been shaping up. Couple glitches here and there, but the going's good for US and Japanese PS3's (the only pre-gen games I own are the MGS series, the GTA series, Mercenaries, and Bully, so I can't say exactly how well it does on a whole). Unfortunately, European releases of the PS3 will not have the PS2's Emotion Engine chipset like US or Japanese PS3's, which will mean that their backwards compatibility support will be software-emulated. In English, that means that PS3's will have a very limited range of support for playable PS2 and PS1 games. This is almost exactly like the 360, with the sheer exception that Microsoft's backwards compatibility support is a much higher priority to them, but even still, BC support for 360 isn't too good. It seems an even lower priority for Sony, so by the looks of it there'll be very few BC-enabled games in Europe. Bad choice.

Nintendo, on the other hand, is really handling it well compared to the 360 and PS3. The Wii's got flawless GameCube game playback and downloadable N64 and (S)NES games through the virtual console. They're doing a fantastic job of it.


--- Quote from: Kuro-puppy on March 03 2007, 08:51 pm ---I'll go for Wii (being Nintendo fan and all) but i'll wait with buying it till i've seen what other gamedevelopers are gonna do with the controller coz from what i've seen sofar, the gamedevelopers beside Nintendo itself are all delevering Wii games with 'questionable' controls >.<

--- End quote ---
You'll be surprised. A lot of third-party publishers have produced pretty nifty games for the Wii so far. For sports fans, Madden NFL 07 is great, interesting control scheme and everything. Excite Truck is just plain fun for racing fans; get the steering wheel addon if you really wanna immerse yourself. I also love Sonic and the Secret Rings; best 3D Sonic game to come out in a while. But I guess the control schemes aren't too innovative there. But that's where The Godfather: Blackhand Edition, which seems to make the best use of the Wii control scheme so far in terms of third-party games. I guess you can't really blame the third-party developers, though. Nintendo knows what they're doing, and they know their hardware better than anyone else, so I guess it's just a given that they're good at adapting to it more than anyone else.

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