Arriving Somewhere

Now that E3 has passed we’ve been shown a bit of the new video game consoles to be released in the next year. Cnet.com provides an intro to each of the systems. While sparse on details (like price?) its enough for many gamers to begin forming opinions… including this one.

• Microsoft Xbox 360
• Nintendo Revolution
• Sony PlayStation 3

I’m no hardcore gamer, but I have played games my entire life and I still enjoy immersing myself into alternate worlds that need less and less imagination as graphics and gameplay get better and better. I am also of the opinion that anything a console (Nintendo, PlayStation, etc.) can do, a computer (PC, Mac, etc.) can do BETTER. So, when I want to be blown away (or scared silly) by realistic graphics and sound I always turn to my computer first.

With that out of the way, here’s my two cents on each of the consoles:

Xbox 360 - The decision to unveil the Xbox 360 during an MTV special will be enough for some people to purchase this console. The hardware certainly sounds powerful (for a console), and I like the idea that it is trying to become an all-in-one media center by connecting to your home network to stream audio and pictures or playing DVD movies… however, there is still plenty of work to be done to get those capabilities up to par. The biggest drawback is likely to be price. Although we don’t yet know how much it will cost, it is certain to be expensive and accessories will add even more. I’ll pass.

Nintendo Revolution - First the obvious. The name is lame, even more so since it’s technical specs are not any more impressive than the other consoles. However, there is something the Revolution will have that the others don’t…. legacy. Not only will it be backward compatible with games from the Nintendo Gamecube, but through a wireless internet connection you will be able to download and play ANY game from Nintendo’s entire historical catalog - even games from the original NES! This is a retro-gamer’s dream come true. Nintendo will also have another traditional edge on the other systems: price. Nintendo’s commitment to being solely a gaming platform, and at a reasonable price will make this system the most likely to end up in my living room.

PlayStation 3 - Technically this is probably the most impressive system, just edging the Xbox out in every category. The PS3 will also be backward compatible with previous PS games and they have probably the most impressive (modern) catalog of the three systems. If you I were to spend the big bucks for a high end console, this would probably be it.

In order to truly enjoy the power of the Xbox 360 and PS3 you will need an HDTV and Surround Sound system. If you already have these things, great. As a casual gamer who doesn’t want to sell the car to afford some video games this is not an option for me. The Nintendo Revolution is much more my style. With great games and a great back catalog at a good price, count me in.

technorati tag: Xbox, Nintendo, Playstation, video games