The next game console?

I started playing computer games on my friend's Commodore64. I've always loved computer gaming over console gaming but sooner or later I have to admit that console gaming is somewhat more enjoyable than playing a game on your PC.

First of all you can sit on the couch, sit back and relax. With HDTV resolution the console games look even better on your TV than on your monitor. And your monitor is probably not a 32" wide screen either.

XBox introduced the fact that online gaming can be done with consoles. The next generation consoles all have online support. So not even this supports PC gaming anymore.

But in some areas console gaming can't beat PC gaming - at least yet. I can't imagine playing Civilization 4 or The Sims on a console. Strategy and simulators will probably be the strong point for PC gaming even in the future. But the fact is that shooters (Half-Life 2, Battlefield 2...) and RPG games (The Elder's Scroll: Oblivion, ...) are enormously popular genres which both work very well on consoles.

So probably I have to upgrade my Playstation2 to a next generation gameing console anyway (of course I can stop playing console games, but maybe that's not an option in the short run...)


Playstation 3
Sony's PS2 is the second most sold game console after the PS1. So Sony has an enourmous influence on the whole console gaming phenomenon. It is thanks to the PS2, the gaming industri is a larger business than the Hollywood movie industry!

But I don't know what to expect from the upcoming PS3.

• It's late. Microsoft's XBox 360 will have an 1 year upfront before Sony even gets the hardware to stores. During this time, the 360's games have also evolved to a second or third generation. SOny will have some catch-up to do.
• The price. I can buy a XBox 360 with all the goodies for 400 euros. Why would I want to spend 600 euros on some other hardware with probably the same (or even less) processing power?
• Blu-ray. Why?! What's with the new technology? Why invent the wheel once again? We already have DVD and HD-DVD which both are already working technologies and would be enough for next generation gaming. *sigh*
• Online gaming. If you belive the myths, Sonys online gaming platform is still vapourware when Microsoft already has a working online community.

And that's not even all. It seems that Sony's engineers screwed up big time. Just read this article from Ihe Inquirer: PS3 Hardware slow and broken. I think we have to be optimistic if we think Sony will get the hardware to stores this year.

The only thing that can save PS3 is the games. People buy the hardware to play games. Killer exclusive games like the GTA series could save it. But unfortunately for example GTA4 will be available for the 360. And the next big hype thing from Remedy, Alan Wake, will be exlusivly available for the 360 and Windows Vista. Great marketing campaign there from Microsoft!

Maybe I just wait and see. And then buy the XBox 360...