14 DAY TRIAL // The next-gen console war has been going on for quite some time now, and the clear winner in terms of sales and market share is the Nintendo Wii. However, a fierce battle is being also waged for the second place between two other companies, Microsoft with the Xbox 360 and Sony with its PlayStation 3.
The stakes are high this holiday season, mostly because a lot of fantastic titles are coming to both consoles, and gamers need to choose the one on which they will buy the games. Even though opinions are quite dissenting, Microsoft is doing everything it can to attract the attention of the customers, including price cuts and offering a large number of bundles. On the other hand, Sony has expressed its belief that the customers will choose the best console, which offers the most complete experience on the market. The Japanese company didn't embark on any price cuts and, as a consequence, the PS3 is the most expensive console on the market.
Sony is relying on a few features that will definitely attract users to the PS3, like the solid lineup of exclusive games with LittleBigPlanet or Resistance 2, available only for the Japanese console. The fact that its multiplayer service, the PlayStation Network, is free to all users, as opposed to the Xbox Live service, which comes with a subscription fee, is also worth mentioning. Last but not least, the PS3 is the most powerful console in terms of processing and graphics, which is where the Cell processor really shines.
This main feature has been recently promoted by Ray Maguire, managing director of Sony Computer Entertainment UK, who has suggested that third-party developers will soon start making games for the PS3, further on downgrading them for other consoles, hinting at the Xbox 360. He then goes on to say that this fact needs to be made clear to the customers, who will, consequently, make a choice in terms of what console to buy.
“I think we now have an install base which is big enough for any third party to want to develop for. Now the decision making part of development is which do you lead your development on? Is it easier to lead with the most powerful, both in terms of AI and graphics, i.e. PS3 and then just remove part of the functionality for the processors that aren't quite as strong? I would imagine that's very much part of the thought process now from a studio development point of view.”
While he does make a valid argument, the price factor is definitely going to have a decisive influence on what people will buy this holiday season and, unfortunately for Sony, Microsoft has beaten the Japanese company in this regard.