Like most gamers who've been at it for a while, I've owned a console or handheld from every manufacturer on the market. From my adored Sega Megadrive, through Playstations 1 and 2, and now onto my Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii; I've seen the ways we game and the games we play change a great deal over the years. And yet, one thing never seems to change; the amount of spite and bile that is thrown around between owners of opposing consoles. It only takes a quick look at the comments threads of Gamespot's harmless graphics comparisons between Xbox360 and PS3 to see the sparks fly; and yet I have to question why. Nowadays, these two consoles are so similar in terms of processing power and graphics that they even share the majority of their libraries. Not only that, but they have so much else in common: Online play, Downloadable games, and Achievements (Trophies). In essence, they provide the very definition of a comparative service; so equivalent that anybody should be happy with either. In these times of relative affluence, when many households can afford more than one console and there is effectively room for everyone, should the hatred and "Fanboyism" that has dominated past console wars persist?
It wasn't always like this. The first time that two consoles battled for that coveted space under your telly, they were so expensive you were lucky to own even one. Not only that, but the general lack of acceptance of gaming as mainstream meant that it was very difficult to persuade your hard-working parents to part with the cash. I speak, of course, of the great war that happened A Long Time Ago, In a Living Room Far Far Away: "Consoles: Generation IV". When the mighty Nintendo SNES fought the Sega Genesis (or Mega Drive here in Europe), the gloves were off and neither company pulled their punches. Marketing and reviews were shameless on either side, and a whole generation of Fanboys and Fangirls were spawned. I adored my Mega Drive, despite its ultimate status as the loser of this particular war. When you're 7 years old, this stuff doesn't matter to you; the only thing that does is making Sonic go so fast he briefly leaves the camera behind (thank you Chemical Plant zone!). SNES vs. Mega Drive had all the hallmarks of today's battle; similar graphics, hardware, and price; and I believe this is the root of the current rivalries between console owners. The aggressive marketing and development of mascots and icons made it easy to pick a side, and then get behind it. In the end, though, neither side really won the kind of devotion that you can find amongst modern console owners. I believe the next generations hold the key to this escalation, as soon everything would change.
The fifth console generation consisted of 3 very different beasts, the original Playstation, the Nintendo 64 and the poor, ill-fated Dreamcast. The Playstation was a roaring success, by far outstripping anything that had come before; adding to the mix a note of smug superiority. Playstation owners single-mindedly got behind their consoles, convinced they had made the correct and only choice. For many, this was amplified when they bought its successor; the magnificent Playsation 2 (until a few weeks ago it had sold the most units of any console, ever). Nintendo fans who purchased the 64 and Gamecube then had to fight their console's corner even more viciously in the face of all this smugness. Finally, in the overlap between generations 5 and 6, the spectacular failure of the Dreamcast nearly bankrupted the once mighty SEGA. Console wars were no longer a "game"...people were getting hurt. It was a painful cautionary example; even the giants can fall if they make the wrong move.
The SEGA Dreamcast has been the only major casualty of the console wars to date, serving as a cautionary example.
Like the Playstation fans, the new Xbox owners in the latter half of generation 6 would continue to look down on Nintendo due to the Gamecube's perceived lack of power. Interestingly, the Xbox actually had little impact on the generally polite generation 6 war, despite its vocal Fanboys, as it failed to curb sales of either opposing console. While it had good games and hardware, the simple fact was that most people in the Xbox target market already owned a PS2, meaning that they were unable to dominate the market. While Xbox fans were adamant that their console was the best, this largely fell on deaf (PS2 owning) ears.
Which brings us to today. I believe that the racial memory of all these consoles colour the way modern consoles are perceived, and is the root of current hostilities;
- The Wii has the niche charm and fun of the SNES, the wonderful games library of the 64, and the cheap and cheerful price-tag and family friendliness of the Gamecube. Unfortunately, it also has its graphics chip as well. This re-enforces the stereotype of Nintendo console as graphical underachievers, despite the fact that the Wii's focus is squarely on gameplay. While no-one ever thought that the Wii would be a failure, its enormous success has been irksome to the more hardcore graphically focused among us, leading to undeserved undercurrents of resentment. In truth, the Wii does not really compete for the same market as the other two consoles, and as a result the hostilities around it have largely subsided...a sigh of relief for those of us who own one.
- The Xbox 360 is a very different beast. Seeking to make up for it's predecessor's lateness out of the gate, and general lack of impact on sales; it was the first release of generation 7 (probably before it was ready). This impetuousness lead to hardware failures and general bad feeling surrounding the console, which soured its otherwise impressive graphical capabilities and great game library. The Xbox 360 also built on its predecessors pioneering online service, providing a million 15-yer olds the ability to gun-butt each other in the face on Halo 3. Most who were waiting for PS3 initiated a "Point and Laugh" protocol, but this thankfully impacted little on sales as the console was actually pretty inexpensive. With the release of PS3 and it's mammoth price-tag, many Sony fans sidled over to the "dark side" (myself included) and bought one. This led to even greater resentment among remaining Sony-ites, and a general air of smuggery in the Xbox camp. The tables were effectively turned with the release of PS3 Slim, however, with most re-evaluating the PS3 and finding it to be a strong competitor. Naturally, Xbox-ers found having their position as top hardcore console eye-ed up by a younger competitor disturbing, and have been annoyed ever since.
- The PS3, on the other hand got off to a bad start. Much like Frank Sinatra Jr, it seemed to fail to match up to the legend of it's all-dominating father. When its huge form was unveiled, along with its bloated price-tag, many pointed fingers and shouted "Behold, the next Dreamcast!". But the PS3 struggled on, thanks to loyal fans and great games. This provoked fierce loyalty from those who'd owned all 3 of the Sony consoles, and they decried the upstart Xbox for its dodgy hardware. Recently, the PS3 has been on a diet, slashed its price, and become the console it always should have been; a true heir to the Playsation name. This has left Xbox owners feeling a bit left out, and eager to tout any small advantage over the seemingly unstoppable black beast. The core of the rivalries lies here, the Xbox's early lead being destroyed by an unexpected return to form by Sony.
So, as you can see, the anger seen in forum threads runs much deeper than better graphics or hardware. The true causes are injured pride, prejudice against those perceived as weaker, and jealousy. If only we could forget all about these things, and the histories our consoles have, and just enjoy playing games again; be it Mass Effect 2, Uncharted 2, or No More Heroes 2. I intend to, and save up for a PS3.
P.S. Apologies for the length of this essay!