State of the next-gen launches

Laserone's front page article has me thinking about the much hyped launch of next-gen.  Anyone have any predictions/comments about next-gen launches?  Anyone satisfied w/ the 360 launch?  Does anyone believe Sony will be able to pull off a great (and affordable) PS3 launch?  Anyone still have hope in the Revolution?

Anyways, I wasn't (and am not) gonna get a 360, but it was interesting to see their target shipment and their actual shipment.  It's the 3rd month of the year, and systems still aren't readily available.  Meanwhile, people are forced to wait for a system that's already launched.  Then there are all the reported bugs....

PS3 shows lots of potential, and they seem to have a rabid base, but it seems like the facts are stacking against them for a timely and affordable release.  Sony keeps saying that they will get it out early, but they're pretty silent about the details.  And sure the most devoted fans will pay any price, but what about the masses that are used to the PS2, will they be as willing to get an expensive PS3?

The Revolution seems promising, considering they already have a target date of Thanksgiving, but when you read details, it seems as though the system is FAR from finalized.  Dev kits are incomplete, there are no concrete games, details about the system are still hidden from even developers.  They can presumably throw the actual system together rather quickly since it doesn't appear to be as intricate as the other 2 systems, but really, what about the games?  And will the decision to go against massive technology hurt them in the end?

It's all so hard to predict.  I can't wait till next year when they're all out and we can have some hindsight :P

Now, it's not that I don't like the XBox...it's that I don't like Microsoft. While the XBox wasn't a bad system, I do have more resentment towards the 360. Namely because the XBox was not out very long at all. I have the feeling Microsoft could have made a 360 equivalent at the time, or somewhat close. The thing is, is that they have enough money, and don't need to foul the gaming industry with their more PC-based technology. Since, the 360 can be made into a PC, or something like that. And that's why, if I was to get one, I'd get it used, and off of eBay.

The PS3...well, they Blu Ray technology is a bit of a risk, but it can do a lot. If they can make the PS3 affordable at launch, then I hope the Blu Ray, if it's as good as said, takes off, inspiring similar technology in other consoles. Although, I'm not so sure about their controller design...I want to throw it, and hope it comes back to me, heh. But, seriously, it's the two long, what would you call them, arms?, that it has. They look just a bit too long. That, and it seems a bit small...

Now, I've always been a Nintendo fan. And I hope the Revolution does great. It's supposed to have a gaming library containing games all the way back to the NES, and are free to download, or am I wrong about that? Well, if I'm right about that, people seem to forget that. That WILL be a huge feature, I think. A lot of those old-school games are still good, and fun to play. I'm sure there are some people who would buy the Revolution just for that. As for the controller, well, I'm just as curious about it as everyone else. It is...unique. While I think I may prefer a normal controller, this one may work, too. It's just something we'll have to wait and see. As a sidenote, though, I think a lot of analyzers who are predicting the outcome of the new generation of the Console War are too often underminding the Revolution. Because, I think, they look at previous sales of our current-gen systems, and then compare them to the new ones, but being biased certain features and technologies, which in all and all, are important.

Jemdude, you're right, it might be hard to get developers release games on the Rev too.  I'm afraid of that because Nintendo has been struggling with 3rd party support....I expected next gen to be different.  Wonder if people will run out and buy it at launch if they're scared 3rd party won't make many games......and if so, will it be more than just a second console?

Tarnsyn, that's so true about Microsoft.  I was having a conversation w/ someone about this.  Their's was the last system and the most powerful system, yet the Xbox was the first to bow out.  If they hadn't jumped the gun, I'm guessing next-gen would have been delayed for 2 years....leaving more time for better launches and better systems.  They read the market all wrong (Sony is still in the position where their user base is so large that they could have kept making games and people would have been happy, despite it being less powerful).

Oh, and it doesn't seem that the Revolution games will be free, Nintendo has only said that they haven't decided on the price (though most people expect them to be really cheap or subscription based... http://revolution.ign.com/articles/680/680846p1.html ).  It's good that you bring this up though because the allure of having all of these games (even if they're old) at launch is a great draw.  I for one have a little list of games that I'll be downloading until the post-launch games flood in.

It seems that the next-gen hype goes hand in hand with the "but you need to own a hd television with it or else" statements. And as the local commerce is buzzing with promises of hd content, including the world soccer championships this summer (which is a big thing here). It looks like they are trying to force it down our throats. But with not even half of the programs on the national networks broadcasted in an 16:9 aspect ratio. I see no reason to jump on that bandwagon yet.Hastur

The multiplatform does have me worried.  I've bookmarked the article cuz it's late and I can't read it carefully now.

You're right about the 360, E3 is right around the corner and it's not going to be the shiny new system in town.  I also haven't really heard about Microsoft's plan to get more systems out.  Once people see the details of the other 2 consoles, they may decide to hold the money that they were going to spend when they finally find that elusive 360. 

Lol, I think everyones skeptical about the PS3.  It seemed to be really on track, but they put all their chips on the Blue Ray, and they have to wait til it's all finalized.....there's no real guarentee as to when that will happen, delays could keep coming.  I for one don't really care for Blue-Ray, I'm one of those people who grumble about upgrading to an untested technology too quickly. 

....The HD on the other hand, is a different story.  It will most definately become a standard considering all the government backing.  I do think Nintendo should have added it as a courtesy to developers.  Developers might not want to compromise their vision for the Rev.  It's a gamble.  That said, I don't think it will be much of a problem right now, so they can get away with it.  They're making a prediction:  lots of people don't want to get new TVs, and the government is dragging their feet with the conversion, that buys them some time to saturate the market.  I guess they're thinking of the PS2 effect - it's the less powerful system, but so many people have bought it and invested in games, that no one really cares about it's graphics and slow load times.  They figure if it's coupled with a low price, chances are that it will saturate the market (much like the DS has).  But its a gamble.  The other thing about them not going "game only", I think a chunk of that has to do with pride, they really do take pride in their work and their legacy and they want to continue doing things their way.  The other thing is that Nintendo's still a very profitable company - making consoles isn't a concern to them because they don't lose any money on them.  Also, I suppose the Revolution will be lucky in a way that they may get all the fun, quirky, independent type games.  The big companies might not want to port their games, but if they play their cards right, they can have a unique little indie scene, and that too can be profitable.

Gonna keep this thread for posterity purposes. I thought it rather interesting to go back and read about the angst of the 360 and PS3, the dominant consoles now. Nintendo Wii is now down to just over 100 bucks and we are all anticipating the the gen consoles in the next 18 to 24 months.

What do we NOW have to say about the nex gens?