Gaming Console Wars

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I'm sticking with Nintendo.

I simply have more games for the PlayStation platform (PS/PSOne and PS2/PSTwo). With Sony you have two systems' game libraries. With Microsoft you have one system's game library. With Nintendo, you couldn't have backwards compatibility… until now with the download service where you can download NES, SNES and N64 games. But the thing is, if you have the cartridges for the past systems from Nintendo, you'll have to buy them all over again for download. I hope you can download for free. If so, then Nintendo wins. I might buy a PlayStation 3 because of the physical media backwards compatibility. I'll definitely buy the Revolution if the previous systems' game downloads are free or cost very little for the service alone. Essentially, the previous Nintendo systems game downloads might as well be on optical media like the native Revolution games are and thus is the same deal as PlayStation 3's backwards compatibility with its optical media (Xbox platform too if you've owned an Xbox already). Xbox 360? Never owned an Xbox. So there's less likely of a chance I'll buy an Xbox 360.
I think it all depends on where you are. If you bought an Xbox and didn't buy a PlayStation then you're less likely to buy a PS3. Nintendo doesn't matter since the “backwards compatibility” is in the game downloads. Nintendo again wins because you can play all previous games OTB. I think, and this is coming from a PlayStation diehard, Nintendo has finally “got it”. I predict Nintendo will be the new king with Sony or Microsoft coming in 2nd (more likely PlayStation because of its bigger BC library than Xbox's).

Personally, anyone of them that can be modded for the most functionality is what I will go with.

I bought an Xbox instead of upgrading my PC because I knew that Doom3 and Half-Life 2 were going to be released on it. Halo didn't pull me in, Xbox live doesn't excite me. I'm not all that excited about Quake 4.
I wouldn't count out Nintendo. At least as a second console. The backwards compatibility will pull in a lot of people (if done' correctly, meaning cheap/free downloads) and they innovate gameplay a lot better than the other two. Meaning there will be some games that gamers will just HAVE to play that will be exclusive to Nintendo.
Even the Sony fanboys shouting about how much better the PS3 is going to be than the Xbox were holding Gameboys while they were shouting.

So it really comes down to personal brand preference and speciality titles.
I am mostly into the sports titles, Madden, NHL, NBA, MLB, etc…. And pretty much every EA sports title has been ported across the three platforms so that is a push.
Then it came down to Halo/Halo 2 and Counter-Strike. Well I prefer these types of games on the PC. I would rather use a keyboard and mouse to play these and not the console controller.
Finally, speciality titles. For me the kicker was the Gran Turismo line of games. These are sick and the most realistic driving simulator around. Advantage PS2.. And with PS3 backwards compatible… PS3 will be my choice.

It comes down to good games and great relationships.
Sony understands the gaming market – period. They also have maintained long standing relationships with the game creators as well. Even with PS2 being hardware inferior, their Playstation-only games have consistently proven to blow anything Xbox can offer out of the water when you look at gaming quality (yes, Halo 2 was fun for like two days until the whole 'rainbow/colored costume thing' started to get old)
As for the next-gen consoles…my money will be with Sony. I will say that the memory stick thing does suck though. Then again, it was a pretty sly move that provides them with a great revenue source.

It's really all about presentation at this point. Unless Sony can get user friendly real quick, Xbox will take over as #1 in my opinion. Xbox live is such a great feature, and with the enhancements that they talked about at E3, it's going to turn into one of those things that will actually cut into people's internet time. Can you imagine? Hehe.

As long as Nintendo is producing consoles I'll always have the latest of their work. For the next gen, it looks like a Revolution with a PS3 on the side.

Now if Nintendo gives access to their entire library (like they've hinted), there's no question that I'm buying one.

I think Nintendo has a great chance to Surprise EVERYONE. Don't Count them out just yet!

Nintendo can survive on its own, but they dont have a chance at becoming number 1 again. They have lost a lot of 3rd party support which is very important to a console. PS3 well, its just a more powerful PS2 console, nothing really new has been added.. Xbox has Xbox live which is just great, their game library may not be as big as Playstation but the quality of the software matters. Xbox 360 improves on Xbox live and has better software (XNA) to program games for.
I think the next gen of gaming will be based on the services that the console offers, pretty graphics isnt everything.

It's not all about graphics or processing power. You've got to think about the exclusive characteristics of each conglomerate and the innovative side of things. Although they have similar goals, their principals are unique.