Craig HillE3 - The Console Buyers Guide
July 16th 2008 00:52
Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have made their E3 presentations to win over the current and future gaming community. This article explores the major E3 differences and evaluates the winner across the most important categories to potential buyers to find out which of these will determine your next console purchase.
MUSIC:
From a gaming perspective, Sony currently have the edge here, but only due to the already popular 'Singstar' franchise. The future title 'Lips' from Microsoft will have the ability to let you take music from your Zune or ipod and sing along.
VERDICT: XBOX
VIDEO:
Sony already have major studio support and an 80GB HDD coming soon to store video. Microsoft have made great strides by offering a massive library of content via Netflix, but with Sony already sporting Blu-ray and 1080P, and now with the new cross media bar, PS3 is your console of choice for video content.
VERDICT: PLAYSTATION
ONLINE:
Sony has a much better offering for the mainstream user, while Microsoft give you more from a gaming perspective. With Sony you can browse the net and access content such as Youtube directly. With Home they have tried to address the game matchmaking issues but are still a way off. A reward system has also been created (through the new Trophies), but is yet to be compatible with all games. Microsoft have all of these already established,in fact the strength of their online offering actually formed much of the basis of their original succes. And now with their new customisable avatars, Live Parties and being able to share video content amongst mutiple users, Microsoft have beaten Sony at their own big announcement. You have to give this round to Xbox as we cannot go past the fact that these are still gaming consoles we are talking about.
VERDICT: XBOX
GAMES:
How we play our games is about to change. Sony announced their new motion controller and the smart money is on Microsoft following shortly after. This won't end up being a deciding factor, rather a standard across all platforms. Thanks Nintendo!
The forums are full of Sony fans letting everyone know how little they care about Final Fantasy XIII no longer being exclusive to Playstation, but if you were looking at buying a console it gives you one more reason to choose Xbox. Microsoft have come out ahead in this E3, with Gears Of War 3, FF XIII and Halo Wars arguably the more exciting titles than announced at the Sony press event, who did have a strong offering with established franchises such as Gods Of War 3 and Resistance 2. Combined with the exclusive content for some of the major cross platform titles such as GTA4 and Fallout 3, and as a gamer looking for the right console to give you the best content from the biggest titles, you would have to choose the 360.
VERDICT: XBOX
VALUE:
This is a tough one as it depends on how you would define value. Sony have a free online service, but most recognise that Microsoft have a service worth paying for. The Xbox is still a lot cheaper, but Sony give you the cheapest Blu-ray player on the market. There is little in this category, but based on the current E3 announcements and state of Blu-ray, and the negligible difference in quality graphically between the two consoles, Xbox win this one on points.
VERDICT: XBOX
So, to wrap things up, we have the Xbox 360 coming out ahead for the potential next gen console buyer. With its gaming focus, exclusive content and value for money presented at this E3, based on these presentations it is the best offering.
Next year we would expect the tables to turn. Sony will be sure to take a greater advantage of their Blu-ray technology for gaming and have a much stronger online service to compete with XBL. Also, with Sony focusing on first party titles, the exclusivity point may become mute - if they can come up with their own compelling new IP's.
One thing is for sure. This E3 feels like the second installment in a trilogy. The next E3 is shaping to be one of the most important for both Microsoft and Sony in the events history.
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Comment by Axe99
I agree with handing the current online to the 360, HOWEVER, using the recently announced but not implemented 360 features without listing Home's features is inconsistent, given they're likely to launch at a similar time. Mentioning cost wouldn't hurt either
But my biggest issue is the 360 coming out ahead on games! Of the three big ones you list, one is also out day and date on the PS3 - not sure how that makes it a plus for the 360! And in terms of chatter in the media, Gears of War 2 (not 3!) is getting similar press and Qudos to Resistance 2. How Halo Wars beats out Motorstorm
And there's value - the Xbox is a lot cheaper? Not if you want a HDD, which you need to get anywhere near value for money from it. Indeed, the difference in price is made up for in the first year by the Live subscription (if you want to play online, and if you don't, then the 360 is _not_ the console of choice).
So I'm not sure which E3 you were at, or which price list you've been looking at lately, but the comparisons above are really not all that sharp. Going forward, the games (which is the most important factor for me, although I am about to log off and watch Hitman on Blu-Ray