It's an interesting question and will continue to be so until this "generation" of console wars is over. The PS2 won the last console war easily, but its greatest strenghts have been negated this time around.
1) The strength of the brand. Yes, Sony (ie, Playstation) is still a strong brand, one of the strongest among the coveted 18-35 year old male demographic. However, Xbox has a succesful first generation under its belt and, while not the force that Playstation is, will nonetheless challenge Sony this time around from a brand loyalty standpoint.
2) Massive library of games. Backwards compatibility was a huge win for the PS2, especially since other than Gran Turismo 3 there weren't any Triple A titles released during the console's launch window. Now Microsoft has jumped on the backwards compatibility bandwagon (although admittedly not to 100% compliance), and the Wii's selection of older 8/16/64 bit offerings will offer an appealing alternative.
3) Head start. PS2 launched a year before the Cube/Xbox and capitalized on this lead by increasing its install base and strengthening its already impressive brand. Now Microsoft has led the way, and will have a significant install base by the time the PS3 launches. This does not guarantee a win for Microsoft this time around, but it does lessen the initial impact that the PS3 launch will have, as gamers have already witnessed "next gen" graphics and gameplay.
4) Exclusivity. The rising development costs inherent within the industry are driving many software houses to produce multi-platform games. Why sel1 a million copies of GTA on PS3 when you can sell 2 million on PS3 and 360? Assassin's Creed and GTA are two high profile examples of this, but look for many other developers (especially the heavy hitters like Ubisoft, EA and Activision) to adopt this strategy moving forward.
The cost of the PS3 is a factor, certainly, but not as big a factor as you might think. The initial allocation of PS3's will sell regardless of the price, because the early adopter doesn't care about price. The used-games business offers consumers a viable economic alternative to cash, and those who truly desire a PS3 will find a way to afford it. I honestly don't think Sony will be able to keep up with demand, and I'm not just talking about through the retail 4th Quarter, but well into 2007. The complexity and cost involved with their Cell Processor design doesn't lend itself to easy manufacturing.
Long story short, I've played all three. The 360 stands on its own merits as a fantastic system, and for those who appreciate online play Xbox Live is the gold standard, which Sony hopes to imitate but can't feasibly improve upon. The PS3 appears to be a technical marvel, and despite the fact that nobody likes how Sony is handling themselves these days, they have a track record of producing fantastic systems and supporting them with fantastic titles. I don't doubt it will be a worthy addition to any gamer's library, but whether or not it's worth 500-600 bucks is a question that won't be answered until November. The Wii, I have to tell you, is amazing. The control is spot-on in the games I've played, and the unique approach to gameplay and live community-driven experiences is refreshing in a "World of Warcraft" driven industry. It is a must-buy.
* This post has been modified
: 19 years ago
