Console Wars: Chrystasen Style!

Ah, the wonderful issue of console wars. Everyone is convinced that one will triumph over the other, and thus come to dominate an era of gaming. Even if you're not a fanboy (or fangirl, though that's an entirely different issue sometimes), there's still normally one system you root for over the other, for the sake of a game or a series that'll appear on said console.

I've gotta admit, until last summer, I was a Nintendo fangirl. I still am, a little (Zelda hat, anyone?), but not as much as I was. For one, I've just come to realize how stupid it is to root for one company that has no idea who you are and doesn't really care, as long as you buy their stuff. And I finally got a PS2. That had a lot to do with it. Anyway, the point is, here's a former Nintendo fangirl's opinion on the consoles and what could happen in the industry from now on.

Nintendo: I used to get all indignant when people called Nintendo a kid's company, and I still do, to an extent. The problem is that the DS and Wii sorta lend themselves to 'cutesy' games like Elebits, or 'those weird games from Japan' like Elite Beat Agents. Along with the Wii's appeal to everyone of any age instead of seasoned gamers (except in the case of Twilight Princess), I think Nintendo might be losing (or have already lost) those original gamers who started out on the NES. (Which, weirdly enough, doesn't include me, since I started in 1999 or 2000 with my Game Boy Color. Oh well.)

The only question is: does that really matter? If they do what they say they're going to do, it might not hurt them so much to lose those old gamers. And the lower price might sway some people over. But some people (rich bastards...) care more about gameplay and graphics than price, and it looks as if that might become an issue. Especially in the case of Far Cry: Vengeance, which pretty much every source says was downsized in graphics and gameplay. With the lower, almost current-gen capabilities of the Wii, this'll probably be an issue later on.

Do I think Nintendo can do it? I think they're taking a step in the right direction, with the ability to interact with Miis, the Virtual Console, and everything else that comes with it. But they definitely need to get more third party games on there this time around, and a few more 'mature' games wouldn't hurt, either.

Sony: I've gotta admit, some of the people at Sony scare me. Then again, so does the 600 dollars I'd have to shell out to get a PS3. Not that I'm saying it's not worth it. The graphics I've seen so far are absolutely stunning, and if developers start focusing on gameplay along with making everything look shiny (although I like the shiny), they'll be pretty hard to beat. The only problem I see with the PS3, like everyone else, is...

...the price. 600-someodd dollars for a system is way too much. Add that to the fact that I'd have to get a whole new TV in the thousands-of-dollars range is really way too much. (And I know my current TV wouldn't work. It's a 13-inch, 60 dollar one I got at Wal-Mart about two weeks before Twilight Princess released because my better TV died on me.) In any case, there'd have to be some kick-ass titles and a few price drops before I got a PS3. I think Sony's a strong competitor, they just have to have good and shiny games, not just shiny ones.

Microsoft: The Xbox 360. What can I say about this? Xbox Live and the Achievements are holding people, so truthfully, I'd say Microsoft's perfectly fine. (The inner RPG fangirl in me wants to scream 'DOWN WITH XBOX!!' because there are so few (good ones) on it, but...)

So who do I think will win the console war? Truthfully, no one. At least not in the way people tend to think of as winning. I think as time goes on, each company will move into their own little niche, maybe not to the point where you absolutely have to get the Xbox for great online play, but where it's your preferred system for it. As I just said, the Xbox 360 will most likely have the largest number of the people who like people to know how good they are at what they do. The PS3 will be for the people who don't necessarily care about other people knowing what they've achieved, but more about gameplay (I would say the serious, older gamers, but that might not be the case). As for the Wii, it'll be more towards the family crowd and the longtime Nintendo fanboys and girls.

There you have it: my opinion, nothing more and nothing less. (Although maybe a little rambly. Sorry about that.)