For the longest time, I couldn't see the need for HD gaming, not thinking it was that big of a difference, as I'd seen movies in HD and was fairly unimpressed. Then one day earlier this year, I installed Quake 4 on my Macbook Pro. It looked SO much better than my CRT monitor. I figured it was the tech specs of the computer being better than my PC box. Time passed and I upgraded my PC box a bit to stats closer to what the MacBook Pro had. I decided I wanted to play Quake 4 on my PC. Even with all the settings the same, it looked dull compared to what it did on the macbook pro. I couldnt figure out why, since all the specs for the game options were the same high settings. It turned out that it was the display - the CRT vs a HDMI monitor. It was then that I began to realize the importance of the display type, and the significance of HD gaming.
Then, just recently, I was playing Guitar Hero World Tour on my Wii. Reading the lyrics was hard, because they were kind of blurry at times. I saw the same game on an HD console and HDTV, and the words were much easier to read. It began to make me realize that I am missing detail by sticking with my old tube TV and my non-HD gaming system. Don't get me wrong, I love the Wii and will continue rocking it. Yet, I'm starting to be convinced that it might be time soon to take the financial plunge for a HDTV and pickup an XB360 as well.
Before anyone gets on my back for "Why not a PS3? It has Blu Ray!" I'll state that I NEVER watch or buy movies, and I've never been into any of the Sony exclusive offerings this generation, having played them on my roommate's PS3. So it simply comes down to the XB360 being the more economical choice. Granted, this move might not happen until Spring 09, and I might be persuaded otherwise. Yet, there are games being offered on the HD systems that I'd like to check out, and I feel that the XB360 library interests me fully.
Yet, the point is, I'm beginning to see the light behind HD gaming. As a developer, its becoming clearer why some developers restrain from making Wii ports of the games, because they have to sacrifice some visual quality in the process. I can only hope that Nintendo releases an HD console next generation. I've always been pleased as a gamer with Nintendo, and would love to give something back to that community in addition to the other HD systems. I have a feeling that next generation, it will be easier to bring games to all 3 consoles, as they will all support HD and some method of motion controls.
