I'd like to welcome anyone who reads this to my new blog.  Don't be put off by the first post's rubbish title, I couldn't think of anything else.  Anyway, I just want to talk about the impending console war that will have officially started on November 19th in America, when the Xbox 360 will actually have some competition.

Microsoft have had a good headstart with their console, almost a year ahead of Sony and Nintendo.  Good sales give them an advantage, as does an already established userbase regularly buying games from the computer giant.  Microsoft already have a successful online service and a huge library of games to offer, so how can Nintendo and Sony fare in the early stages of hardware sales?

Sony, though succeeding with the most sales in the current generation of games, have quite a bleak outlook this time around.  With a price tag of over 400 pounds and bad news constantly hitting them like the big black hammer in Super Smash Bros., they're going to have to work hard to grab the attention of new gamers and parents at Christmas.  Having already reduced European Sony fanboys to tears by announcing the PS3 will hit our shores in March 2007, they have no doubt already damaged their sales and reputation.  Tacked on features such as the ripped-off motion sensing in the controller after Nintendo's secret was revealed, news of downgraded memory and hardware specs and Microsoft yoinking exclusive titles such as GTA, it seems that Sony may be out before they even begin.

The final competitor that will beat PS3 to launch in Europe but launch only days after it in NTSC regions is Nintendo with their new revolution:  the Wii.  After stealing E3 from Microsoft and Sony with their extraordinary controller and games and giving the only one piece of bad news about region locks, Nintendo are going all out this generation.  The launch line up looks immensely strong, helmed by The Legend of Zelda:  Twilight Princess, Rayman Raving Rabbids and Red Steel, and there is confirmation that £11M is being spent on advertising from now until March.  The many features of the console include:  the Virtual Console, allowing you to download the classics from NES, SNES, N64, Megadrive, TurboGraphx and even the MSX; Mii, which are little people that you can create on the Wii and store on a small amount of memory in your Wiimote for use in games; weather forecasts and the latest news at the wave of a wand (excuse the pun); online multiplayer and much more.  Nintendo failed last generation with the underrated little console the GameCube, but have returned with an innovative new way of playing that makes sure that anyone can play.

All three machines offer something different, but only one can win.  I've tried to keep the bias out, but here is my personal opinion.  Microsoft will maintain their strong sales throughout its lifespan, but starting December 8th, Nintendo will make a comeback.  The more people-friendly approach will surely win them more sales and fans, whilst the PS3 will be left in the dust.  I'm sorry, but Sony are going down.  They are basically kicking hardcore PlayStation fans in the crotch repeatedly, and think that they don't care.  On that note, I'll end my first post (wow, it's a long one) and go play some Zelda.  Doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo doooooo! Doo doo doo doo doo doo dooooooo!  Doo doo doo doo doo...