Pros and Cons of the Next Generation Video Game Systems

As the PS3 and Wii release dates approach, it's a good time to take a look at the next generation of gaming - and how Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft should be fighting the next-gen system wars.

The PlayStation 3 (Releases November 17th)

Pros:

Incredible Graphics.

The PlayStation has the best on-paper specs and the demos have looked outstanding. Plus, it comes with an onboard Bluray DVD drive, which can hold more information than a standard DVD disc (the Xbox 360 supports HD-DVD, Bluray's main competitor, but not out of the box, and game support for HD-DVD discs is expected to be low or nonexistent).

Great Exclusives.

With a host of all-star developers, Sony's undoubtedly going to have some killer games for the third PlayStation. Take, for example, the Halo killer Resistance: The Fall Of Man. Developed by Insomniac (who, coincidentally, will be releasing their next Ratchet & Clank game on the PS3), it's gorgeous, smart, and awesome. Sony's always been great at getting 3rd parties involved, and this generation of gaming should be no exception.

Motion Sensitive Controller

Sony's trying for the best of both worlds; like Nintendo, their controller is motion sensitive (though not nearly as advanced as the Wii nunchaku controller). Like the Xbox 360, the controller is classically designed and won't shock gamers too much. It may be the right blend of innovation and classic style.

Cons:

Very expensive.

It's hard to imagine a tremendous demand for a product that costs from $499-599 (the higher price is for a larger hard drive and better video specs). And, if there's less demand for the system, there will be less games for said system. Think like a developer: why devote time making games for a system with a small group of users, especially when the Wii's low price and innovation practically guarantees its success?

Hard to Program

Some programmers have said that the Cell processor the PS3 employs may make games difficult to develop, which essentially means less games - and lower quality. However, future programming kits could help fix this problem, and some developers such as Volatile Games have claimed that the PS3 is easier to write for than the PS2, and that reports to the contrary are just hype.

No Rumble Feature

Sony claims that in order to add the "six degrees of motion" to their controller, they had to leave out the rumble feature. In reality, they probably left out the rumble because of a lawsuit; it's dubious to claim that there's not enough space in the controller for both. Whatever the reason for the rumble feature's mysterious disappearance, its absence will certainly be noticeable, as it is a major feature. To play the devil's advocate, I suppose some gamers just don't want their hands vibrating every few seconds, especially when the controller's positioning can affect game play (thank you, six degrees of motion!), but the majority of us are hurting from the lack of a rumble feature.

Wii (Releases November 19th)

Pros

Low price tag

The cheapest next-gen system, the Wii is going for a low $249.99, and they're shipping a lot of them, so with any luck you'll actually be able to find one this Christmas, and you'll join the next generation without breaking the bank. As I'd said above, more/less consoles can equal more/less games, so if the Wii's price tag helps it sell, you can bet we'll get plenty of new games for it.

Innovative Controller
If you haven't heard, you're living under a rock. Even Newsweek was interested in the Wii's nunchaku controller, which operates in a three dimensional field: move the controller up, down, to the side, or closer to the screen and the Wii knows right where it is. This will completely change the way games are played, making movement an intuitive part of game play. Early demos have shown fishing, boxing, sword fighting, bowling, and other movement-based minigames that look so fun to play you'll forget that this system's got the dumbest name ever.

Great Nintendo games - These guys invented Mario. They know what they're doing. If you're a fan of light, addictive game play, chances are you've already had some great experiences with Nintendo, and their development team alone (which is promising a new Super Mario Bros. game as well as Super Smash Brothers and other exclusives) is a fantastic reason to invest in a Wii.

Cons
Worst graphics
The Wii has been described as a souped up Gamecube in terms of graphics. If you're a tech-head who values power, graphics, and style, this probably isn't the system for you.

Traditionally poor third party support
The Gamecube had awful support from non-Nintendo developers, except Capcom (which eventually brought their Gamecube exclusive, Resident Evil 4, to the PlayStation). It'll be hard to turn that around right away, especially if Nintendo fails to cooperate with them (as it has in the past).

Controller Could Tank
The three-dimensional controller could be a big gimmick; it's hard to imagine alot of traditional games like Splinter Cell using the nunchaku for anything other than the occasional minigame, and it's possible that the public will think flailing one's arms around like a lunatic to make Mario jump up a flight of stairs is stupid rather than innovative.

Microsoft Xbox 360

Pros

It's Been Out for a Year

The Xbox 360 got a head start in the next-gen war, and it'll have a total of about a year of life before the Wii and PS3 will release. It's already got an established library of great games such as Dead Rising and Elder Scrolls IV. Plus, there are a lot of Xbox 360s sold, and there's no guarantee that the PS3 or Wii will have such success. This is a definite advantage in the next-gen war.

Most Traditional of Next-Gen Systems

If you like your games...well, how you've liked your games in the past, this might just be your system. There's no movement sensitive controller, just souped up power and graphics, and traditional, no-frills gamers will love that. On the other hand, if you're interested in unconventional game play, the XBox will be releasing a camera that will track movement, similar to the PS2's EyeToy.

Medium Price Level with Great Graphics

It's not as expensive as the PS3, and although it's pricier than the Wii, it's got power and graphics. It may be easier to develop games for than the PS3, so there's a chance that you'll be seeing better graphics on the Xbox 360. If that turns out to be true, the PS3 will be in serious trouble.

Cons

No Motion-Sensing Controller
That EyeToy-like device I mentioned might not work too well...the EyeToy itself wasn't a breakthrough success. If motion-sensitive controllers are as cool as they sound (we'll find out when the Wii and PS3 launch), the Xbox 360 will be left behind.

Stuck in the Middle
The PS3 is the best system you can get technologically, and the Wii is the most innovative despite poor graphics. If the Xbox won't be able to match the PS3s specs or the originality of the Wii, who would want it? Gamers are going to be polarized this winter (no pun intended): one camp valuing game play, one valuing high technology. The Xbox360 won't be the ideal system for either camp.

Still Expensive
It may not be as pricey as the PlayStation 3, but it's nowhere near as inexpensive as the Wii. This puts the Xbox 360 at a disadvantage; again, it ain't the premium system to own and it's not the most consumer-friendly. The best that Microsoft can hope for is that either the Wii turns out to be too gimmicky or the PS3 bombs because of its price. If it's in a two system race, Microsoft could win. Otherwise, it's an uphill battle.