2001: A Console Odyssey
Mar 08 '01
The Bottom Line The following is a very informal analysis of the three main competitors in this year's "console wars." Please read and enjoy.
2001 looks to be a potentially exciting year for the video game console market. Computer giant Microsoft will make their debut with XBox, Nintendo will deliver their Gamecube console this fall, and Sony will attempt to build on the head start that they got last year with their highly anticipated (and criticized) PlayStation 2 console. Advertising campaigns will start to get serious and the next round of the "console wars" will begin in earnest. What does this mean for the average gamer? What system will come out on top? How can anyone separate the hype from the truth? Well, even as of this writing (early March), there's not a lot of clear information. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you'll have a bit more of an idea as to each console's strengths and weaknesses and be able to more easily consider your buying decision-- if you have one-- for this year.
Microsoft is betting that their XBox console will sell remarkably well, and if you know your console history, their entry approach to the console market closely resembles the same strategy that (now-competitor) Sony used back in 1995 versus Sega (and later, Nintendo). Microsoft has a few advantages in their favor. First, the system's potential is remarkable, on paper, as the XBox stands to be the most powerful of the three competing consoles this year. Second, several key third-party publishers have pledged support for the XBox console: Activision (of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater fame), Konami (of Metal Gear Solid fame), and Electronic Arts (of Madden and NHL fame). This triumverate of publishers have the potential to deliver a juggernaut of a launch lineup, of everything works out just right. Lastly, the system has commanded the respect of the gaming media up to this point. Like the PlayStation before it back in 1995, the XBox has the potential to be a breakout system and could do extremely well. There are some question marks, though. The cost of the XBox is unknown and it potentially could be the most expensive system on the block... combine that with the pending economic recession, and many potential XBox owners may simply not have the funds to afford the console. Another question mark lies in Japan. Will Japanese developers embrace the XBox as a viable console? While Konami has announced more than a few XBox titles, other well-known Japanese developers like Capcom and Namco have not yet announced any XBox intentions or projects. There clearly are not many American-made video games that do well within the marketplace, especially in genres like RPGs and adventure games. The bottom line here is that while a system can have the most incredible specifications ever known, if the games are only average or worse, the system will fail. The XBox has a load of potential, but Microsoft will have a lot to prove as well, and their major test will come at this year's Electronics Entertainment Expo, or E3.
Information about Nintendo's new console, called the Gamecube, has been difficult to come by until recently. Only within hours of this writing, Nintendo of Japan confirmed a US launch of the Gamecube for this year. Many pundits believed that Nintendo may table the launch of the Gamecube until next year due to a potential lack of software and due to their anticipated support of the Game Boy Advance, their new 32-bit handheld unit. This now does not appear to be the case, and Nintendo appears ready to provide a great showing of their own at E3. Word is that Nintendo will be bringing back many of their successful franchises, from Mario to Zelda to Metroid to Pokemon. Nintendo has had a long history of successful games, and that's expected to continue for the Gamecube. Nintendo has also been able to secure some key third-party publishers to make some Gamecube games as well, including Electronic Arts, Capcom, and Namco. While the games seem to be there, the Gamecube's potential success has a few hurdles to clear first. Can Nintendo win back the confidence of older gamers after a perceived history of "kiddie games" for the Nintendo 64? How will developers take to Nintendo's proprietary Mini-DVD format, which may be more expensive than standard DVDs to produce? How many games can Nintendo have ready come launch day? These are important questions to consider, and we're hoping that Nintendo's showing at E3 will help to supply some answers.
Finally, we come to Sony, who has been mired in a firestorm of controversy and anger from the gaming community regarding a general lack of quality games for the console and a general lack of consoles to be had. Sony is definitely on the defensive at this time, but this may not be such a bad thing. The system is closing in on six months in the domestic marketplace, and quality games are now starting to flow in a bit more. Games like Capcom's Onimusha and Konami's Zone of the Enders are due by the end of March, and Sony's own potential system-seller, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, is due in early June. More and more development companies are learning how to harness the PlayStation 2's powerful potential, and the games are starting to show it. In order to continue to drive sales with new consoles on the horizon, a price drop seems likely later this year, but this has not yet been confirmed. Things look like they're finally coming together for Sony, but is it too late for damage control within the gaming community for both gamers and developers who have lost faith in Sony? Will there be more games with better quality for certain? Will delays continue and persist for developers?
One thing's for sure... this year's console wars look to be closer than ever on paper. There's no clear-cut winner this year, and even with time growing short before Nintendo and Microsoft launch their new systems, there are still plenty of unanswered questions. This year's E3 is going to be of the utmost importance to the potential success of the these consoles, and the company who has the best showing might just wind up being the best overall this year. My advice would be to follow this year's E3 very closely and reserve any final judgment on any system until all of the cards are on the table come May.
Thank you very much for reading, and I truly hope that this article has given many of you food for thought. Please feel free to post your questions and/or comments freely.
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