Begun the Console Wars Have!
This past weekend saw the official launch of the final two Next-Gen gaming consoles. Friday saw the launch of the PS3, to what could only be described as unruly masses. No matter which stores you drove past (Best Buy, Target, Circuit City, Wal-Mart, etc.) you would be sure to find a little community of tents and sleeping bags that were anxiously anticipating to be one of the first to own, what is being herladed as, the ultimate gaming machine. Many critics and industry insiders have come to liken the PS3 more to a gaming PC than a Next-Gen gaming console. In fact, Sony has allowed for the customization of the PS3, where any gamer would be allowed to upgrade components as they see fit. But I'm fairly certain that this is not what Sony had in mind! Early word on the PS3 is that it is not all it was hyped up to be. And that the controller feels flimsy at best. But much like the PS2 was, Sony hopes that the PS3 will be 10yr. gaming machine, so perhaps we should give it more than just a week to reach a final verdict. Much of the PS3's launch was plauged with horror stories of people getting attacked while in line, and riots breaking out over poorly organized distribution events. And even with stories of one console selling for upwards of $10,000 on eBay. Does no one have any patience any more?
Conversely, just 2 short days later, the world was finally introduced to that little bundle of Nintendo joy called the Wii. Where the PS3 launch was somewhat violent and disorganized, the Wii launch turned out to bring together a large community of gamers, largely thanks to the Nintendo DS. People in line would whip out their DS an start small gaming centers with their fellow linemates. I even heard a story of a man selling his Wii to a woman who's son was extremely disappointed that he wasn't getting one that night. (600 Wiis, 1000 people in line: You do the math!) I guess this just further emphasizes what Nintendo is trying to accomplish with this console, and that is to bring the world together, gamer and non-gamer alike. Early reports have been mixed regarding the Wiimote. Also, many consoles have frozen when downloading content, essentially rendering them useless. (Nintendo is shipping replacements as we speak!) Wiimote and Nunchuk shortages have also been a big problem. People either find one or the other, but rarely do they find both. Which is frustrating, since the Wii is meant to be shared, and it only includes one Wiimote and one Nunchuk. 
But universally, the fun factor has been found more in the Wii than the PS3. Granted, the PS3 and the Xbox 369 have gone for the graphics angle, the Wii has focused more on the gaming experience. Many have likened the Wii titles similar to the Gamecube's in terms of graphics, but that the interactivity of the console and the Wiimote make it easy to overlook. But even on the Gamecube, Resident Evil 4 had some of the best graphics in a game I've seen in a while. And with what I've seen from the new Legend of Zelda game, Nintendo hardly has anything to be disappointed about. (Well, except maybe for Red Steel, from what I hear!) Personally, I'm of the wait-and-see frame of mind. I'm eagerly anticipating picking up a Wii, but personally I'd like a black console, not the sterile Apple-like white that was launched. Perhaps with time the games will sell the console, and not the other way around. Just remember the Nintendo DS. People thought it was a bit to gimicky to last, but lo and behold, here we are 2 years later, and the DS has spawned a new community of gamers that never existed. It is not as powerful as the PSP, but it continues to outsell it in almost every market. Again, we'll just have to wait and see just who will win the Console Wars 2006.
This past weekend saw the official launch of the final two Next-Gen gaming consoles. Friday saw the launch of the PS3, to what could only be described as unruly masses. No matter which stores you drove past (Best Buy, Target, Circuit City, Wal-Mart, etc.) you would be sure to find a little community of tents and sleeping bags that were anxiously anticipating to be one of the first to own, what is being herladed as, the ultimate gaming machine. Many critics and industry insiders have come to liken the PS3 more to a gaming PC than a Next-Gen gaming console. In fact, Sony has allowed for the customization of the PS3, where any gamer would be allowed to upgrade components as they see fit. But I'm fairly certain that this is not what Sony had in mind! Early word on the PS3 is that it is not all it was hyped up to be. And that the controller feels flimsy at best. But much like the PS2 was, Sony hopes that the PS3 will be 10yr. gaming machine, so perhaps we should give it more than just a week to reach a final verdict. Much of the PS3's launch was plauged with horror stories of people getting attacked while in line, and riots breaking out over poorly organized distribution events. And even with stories of one console selling for upwards of $10,000 on eBay. Does no one have any patience any more?
Conversely, just 2 short days later, the world was finally introduced to that little bundle of Nintendo joy called the Wii. Where the PS3 launch was somewhat violent and disorganized, the Wii launch turned out to bring together a large community of gamers, largely thanks to the Nintendo DS. People in line would whip out their DS an start small gaming centers with their fellow linemates. I even heard a story of a man selling his Wii to a woman who's son was extremely disappointed that he wasn't getting one that night. (600 Wiis, 1000 people in line: You do the math!) I guess this just further emphasizes what Nintendo is trying to accomplish with this console, and that is to bring the world together, gamer and non-gamer alike. Early reports have been mixed regarding the Wiimote. Also, many consoles have frozen when downloading content, essentially rendering them useless. (Nintendo is shipping replacements as we speak!) Wiimote and Nunchuk shortages have also been a big problem. People either find one or the other, but rarely do they find both. Which is frustrating, since the Wii is meant to be shared, and it only includes one Wiimote and one Nunchuk. 
But universally, the fun factor has been found more in the Wii than the PS3. Granted, the PS3 and the Xbox 369 have gone for the graphics angle, the Wii has focused more on the gaming experience. Many have likened the Wii titles similar to the Gamecube's in terms of graphics, but that the interactivity of the console and the Wiimote make it easy to overlook. But even on the Gamecube, Resident Evil 4 had some of the best graphics in a game I've seen in a while. And with what I've seen from the new Legend of Zelda game, Nintendo hardly has anything to be disappointed about. (Well, except maybe for Red Steel, from what I hear!) Personally, I'm of the wait-and-see frame of mind. I'm eagerly anticipating picking up a Wii, but personally I'd like a black console, not the sterile Apple-like white that was launched. Perhaps with time the games will sell the console, and not the other way around. Just remember the Nintendo DS. People thought it was a bit to gimicky to last, but lo and behold, here we are 2 years later, and the DS has spawned a new community of gamers that never existed. It is not as powerful as the PSP, but it continues to outsell it in almost every market. Again, we'll just have to wait and see just who will win the Console Wars 2006.
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