System Wars is just that: a battle were fans defend their favorite console. I am here, however, to look at each console objectively and to crush the stupid misconceptions that have been plagueing these boards (I will try to keep the wall of text small).
First the most controversal: the PS3. Lovers of the Wii and the 360 claim it will completely bomb out and fail because of high price and bad launch games. Supports claim that, with time, it will churn out beautiful games that will captivate more than anything on the Wii and 360. Both sides maybe be right, but they have a stupid misconception: a high-end console, with a large price tag, yet beautiful graphics, will succeed/fail thanks to time/price. Tell me this: did you know that the PS2 was the weakest console last gen? Did you know that the PSP was the strongest handheld this gen? Both sold well, yet one is at the forefront of gaming, the other behind it competitior. What do these parallels in gaming history tell you? Price matters! Time matters! The PS3 will end up much the same as the PSP, but with greater support. Yet, all PS3 games are essentailly PS2 ports with better graphics. Will you argue me at this point? THe controller is essentially the same as the PS2 controller. THe graphics may add to the experience, but so did the PSP to handhelds. Well, I can argue on and on, but I will move on; I await debates on these points, and expect them.
Second: the Xbox 360. I want to start off by saying that by releasing one year early, Microsoft has ensured their survivial this gen. With new games that take advantage of its graphical capability, they show gamers what their machine can do. Yet there is something wrong with it that will keep it from first place this gen: demographics. Have you released that the best games on this console are shooters? Those games appeal to people like me: teenage boys. Nothing else. Also, the amount of these games will limit shooter fans (that are more casual) to buy only the best shooters out there (Halo 3, etc.). Only a few GOOD games on this console are located outside this genre (Fable 2, etc.) Will the 360 is ensured a close 3rd place ore 2nd place, there is very little reason to believe the 360 will be #1. Unlike the playstation, which even casual know, the 360 targets a specific demographic and suceeds well.
Finally, the second most conterversal: the Wii. I personally just got one, so I obviusly like it, but I will keep this as objective as possible. The big plus of the Wii is that it appeals, in some way, to every demographic. Much like the PS3, but in a much broder sense: it appeals to the so called "non-gamers." Of course, this is a vague concept, but we will move on. Essentially the Wii trades in a massive graphic update for motion sensetivity. This leads to the false, down right stupid, misconception that it can barely pass up the xbox in the graphics department. Solely on specs it can achieve graphics twice as good as the PS2, which was able to churn out the beautiful God of War 2. Another misconception is that third party support is weak for the console. Initially yes, but as it began to sell, every third party developer jumped in. Not only is it cheaper to develop for, but it is also easier to achieve quality graphics because of its similarity to the last gen consoles (yet quality graphics have yet to be shown). I will say this to Wii haters: it has smaller life span than the PS3. It might last 5 years, but thats it, while the PS3 has a chance to last 10 years.
All in all, if you survived this wall of text, you will understand my standing on the down right stupid misconceptions. Yes, all three consoles have their weaknesses, but also they have strengths: the PS3 will a huge life span, 360 with great appeal to most of the gamer demographic, and the Wii with its appeal to all. Once you come to appreciate every console, you will be able to support yours without any out-of-place ideas clouding your thoughts.
Log in to comment