As we approach E3, a shockcase for videogames and often a launchpad for new software and hardware announces from Ninetendo, Microsoft and Sony I was thinking on where each company was at and what they've been doing for gamers since the launch of their console respectively.

Gamespot user 'the-very-best' created a thread on this - here and got me thinking. How hard has each company been working to satisfy and meet the demands of us gamers. Anyway, here's my take.

Microsoft - M$ launched the 360 in November of 2005 and was the first of the 'big three' to launch their next gen console and featured 19 launch games and promoting a reworked and improved XBL system. Since then Microsoft has been fully commiting themselves to building the Xbox franchise, community and game library. To this day, I think they've been consistent in their support, delivering regular dashbord updates, online content and pushing out quality titles such as GEOW. However there are still areas M$ must work on to please gamers. One is the terrible failure rate of the console, at one stage websites were stating it was between 30-50%. Altogether though, the 360 has delivered what Gamer's asked for and if it can continually push quality exclusive titles, combined with its lead in sales, it has a serious chance of becoming the dominant console this gen.

Nintendo - Releasing its console last, the Wii was an instant hit and continues to sell extremely well today, reaching over 7 million in the timespan of 6-7 months. Nintendo opened its launch window with quality first party titles such as TLOZ:TP and later on SPM. Despite its inferior hardware the wii revolutionises control with a motion sensing based controller, aiming to tap into the casual market. So what about the hardcore gamers, how hard has Nintendo worked for them. This is where the problem may lie. Are Nintendo focusing on their casual audience too much, are they simplifying gaming? With their major releases such as SSBB, SMG and MP3 all confirmed for a 2007 realease (NA and Japan at least) One might ask what after that? Additionally, whilst Nintendo disucssed their online plans nothing has come out of it. It seems Nintendo are taking the advantage of a successful launch to ease off the development. Whilst these titles and services are coming, perhaps they feel they can not work as hard for their Gamers considering their position.

Sony - Which brings me to Sony. The company working the hardest is often the company who has the most work to do and I think that might be the case here. Since their average launch and negative PR, Sony has been frantically working to push out their major 1st and 2nd party titles, as well as working on their online service and features such as HOME. Additionally, Sony have been trying to reduce the cost of the PS3 components, an attempt to lower the price of their console to stay competitive. The price point is perhaps the biggest factor holding back the PS3 and whilst people may claim its the games, Sony Gamer's Day has shown us that they are indeed coming. With frequent firmware updates to improve the console and PSN updates, Sony is trying to please its gamers whilst they rush to release some games, the current PS3 library looking bare...

At the end of the day these companies must make money and if they are already profiting off their hardware alone, like Nintendo, then there is naturally less incentive to work. Remeber that competition drives work and if you are beating the competition then again there is less incentive to work as you don't have to 'catch up'. Here's a summary of each consoles performance:

M$ +Quality titles consistently being released

+New online content and frequent dashbord updates

-High failure rate, unfair for gamers

-Charging gamers for online service and content

Nint +Good price point

+New Wii channels and retro game releases

-Unsure future, are they relaxing too much?

Sony +Frequent updates to firmware and PSN

+Working hard on new services such as HOME and games

-Too expensive

-Average game library