The Next Generation Console Debate

Writen by PJ Tucker

High Def vs. High Creativity......

There is much talk these days of the high tech hoopla involving the next generation consoles. Microsoft and Sony have both announced that their next gen systems will include High Definition as one of the key new features, while Nintendo has stated that it will pass up on the High Def for now and go with a more creative system instead. Both Microsoft and Sony have showed and their consoles and both look really good so far, thus most hardcore gamers have written Nintendo off as being a contender for the next gen crown. Is this possibly an oversight?

YES, this is an oversight. How can anyone write off the brilliant minds at Nintendo? IGN's people seem to think that HD trumps creativity, as do Gamespot and most of the major gaming media organizations. It is with this knowledge that I give fair warning, DO NOT UNDERSTIMATE THE POWER OF CREATIVITY. Nintendo has brought innovation throughout their term as leader in the video game world. They have brought us to know innovations such as the Game Boy, the touchpad (touching IS good) and a host of creative and innovative games throughout the years, which by the way, will be downloadable with their own upcoming next gen system, the Revolution. They have been a staple of the creative prowess that it takes to push this industry in the right direction. How can anyone overlook that? I constantly see people and hear people say, "Nintendo isn't even offering HD in the Revolution, what's up with that?"

What's up with that, is that while Microsoft and Sony spend their time trying to trump each other with their HD and other technologies, Nintendo is creating new technology that will "Revolutionize" the way that we play games today. It is true that both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 will be very nice consoles, and give us every little slice of tech heaven that we have been yearning for, but Nintendo may just trump them all with the invent of new technologies the likes of which Microsoft and Sony have never even dreamed of. It will be much easier for Nintendo to solicit companies to help them make their next console (the one after the Revolution) be HD compliant and up to times with the technology than it will be for Microsoft and Sony to find a company to help them to get creative.

Eventually, I see all gaming consoles going in the same direction, high end technology, with first rate creative input and output. The difference in the console war will be which roads that each company will take to get there. Microsoft and Sony seem to be taking the easy road, by updating their consoles to the more advanced technologies during this generation, while Nintendo takes the harder road by knocking the creativity factor out first. This is why they may not have a leg up on the competition this time around, but in the next great next generation console war, they will have TWO legs up on their competition.

PJ Tucker
EIC
The Game Cheat Machine
http://www.gamecheatmachine.com