It is about the games for me, specifically the games I like. In that regards I have made no decision for this gen.
So what makes a good game and good system for me? A system that has the games I like in the genres I like is important. They have to be AAA games and they have to have a balance of good gameplay, clean graphics, a good controller (VERY IMPOPTANT TO ME... anyone who offers KB/MS support wins!), ONLINE--whoever has these features will get my attention. I try to look at all the product pros and cons and balance them against my tastes. My tastes are not always the same as others, so it is really subjective. Someone who has no broadband access wont enjoy the same games.
I see positives for each right now. Since we know more about the Xbox 360 I think it is easier to highlight the postives for MS for my tastes:
- HDD included, standard.
- The controller (sorry, the PS3 controller is the biggest negative so far for me)
- EA is really backing them (where the 800lbs Guirilla goes...)
- Impressive number of launch (40), and impressive number in development (200). MS went from a weak Xbox start to really having a robust support. This is one key element to a console success and making gamers happy, so this is a plus (but Sony already HAS this sooo...)
- MS focus on development tools
- The games: Halo 3, Jade Empire 2 (hopefully, and whatever else Bioware is working on), Forza 2, Conkers, PDZ (hopefully in far better condition... but 50 players, destructable environments, and ability to scan and paste your body and face onto your online character is AWESOME), PGR series.
- Some of the new game FMV hold promise (always a suspect reason)
- Xbox Live. The service looks like it is exploding in features--usefull features for hard core gamers. This is a huge plus right now.
- Strong PC cross platforming with the PC. I love PC games, so this is big for me that they have a connection.
- Tit for tat, comparing the best live stuff each had to show Xbox 360 did not get blown away. My press quote of the day:
"Biggest moment had to be GoW with the Unreal Engine 3 running. It was the only [his emphasis] thing you could really look at from the Sony press conference to the MS press conference to give a straight one to one comparison. And quite honestly it looked awesome." -- Adam Pavlacka Hardcore Gamer Magazine
Until I see more REAL GAMES I wont be making any decisions. Whether I get an Xbox 360 will totally depend on whether MS can provide NEXT GEN games in good qualities, and specifically games I like. I do not buy a ton of games, but I like FPS (love Halo, TimeSplitters, CS:S), Football games, and FPS-Online games (BF2 type games). I also am racing/flight sim fan, but really like Mario Kart style games and party games like Mario Party. And I am a sucker for good Star Wars games (woot Tie Fighter!) but consoles have let me down there. If someone can do a next gen Rogue Squandron with ONLINE I would be mighty impressed.
Sony has pluses also, a lot. BR, INSANELY POWERFUL, some nice developer support (although I could personally care less about MGS, RE, GTA, Tekken, and FF I know these games sell systems and thus mean more games so that is HUGE), a lot of ports and features, etc... What will be most important for me over the next 24 months is to see if PS3 games materialize (just like seeing how Xbox 360 games materialized... so far I am REALLY underwhelmed and glad BF2 is coming in June so I can play that for over a year!) Sony has to show me that their games are 1. looking like the CGIs and 2. how well do they play and appeal to my specific tastes. Hard to comment more on Pros because we just do not know much right now, especially about the games. PS3 is exciting just because I assume it will have the same level of support PS2 has had. The key will be what specific games they can offer that I like. That is why the FF deal with MS did not get me personally excited (although it is a plus for the system), and the same reason I did not jump up and down with RE4 for the GCN (I did not even buy it). Now GT5 is another story... if Sony can get a BF2 exclusive (not BF Modern Combat) I would be all but won over.
Nintendo... I love Nintendo 1st party games... but they had me cold last year. Although I love their 1st party games I am no longer their primary target with game taste and their 3rd party support stinks. I am always open to Nintendo because they make the best family oriented games around, but they have an uphill battle to convince me that they want me a as a customer anymore. They just do not have quality BF or Halo style games with online, and I will wait to see if they do this gen. On top of that I keep hearing cold things about 3rd party support. If they are not going to get a ton of exclusives and run down 3rd parties they need to start buying them up instead of spinning them off! Love Nintendo games, but they are missing the FPS/Online genre and sports/racing genres I like. Tough to say that because they hit other genres hard and I REALLY like those games, but I like community/online games a lot. So I will wait... maybe they will roll out some quality 1st party online games. But we will have to wait 12 months to know.
Another factor is which one will work with my PC monitors for HD. So I have a lot of questions about the games before I make a decision, but I see some big pluses for MS right now. Of course Sony has my interest BIG TIME, so if they can deliver some actual game footage that rocks + a solid online plan I will be definately giving the PS3 some play test time. Controllers are important to me though... so hopefully Sony drop kicks that nasty thing.
It just comes down to who makes the games I like. I have a scattered interst (Nintendo games, FPS-Online game, racing/flight sims, Football) so it really depends who hits those type games the best. Until then I will stick to my PC with BF2!
