You must read the original opening thread here http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=6923 to properly understand this post...
Note: I'm am discussing the war for SECOND place. We all know the Wii will take first easily, so I decided to focus on the battle between the HD consoles only.
When the XBOX 360 launched in 2005, many had doubts as to the viability of the platform. Microsoft is the newcomer to the world of video games, and gamers and analysts alike had reservations about trusting an unproven console manufacturer, thanks to the likes of the 3DO, TurboGrafx-16, and other unsuccessful forays into the gaming realm. Many were keen to wait for the upcoming Playstation 3, rather than make the jump into the world of Microsoft. The fact that the Xbox 360 was set to release at $499 USD (compared to $199 for the Wii) and the fact that the Sony was so successful were other factors that turned people off Microsofts' new console.
Paragraph 2 deals with the future of the console.. not applicable except for last phrase What was the key factor that led to the dominance of the Xbox 360?
Games.
The Xbox 360 enjoyed a plethora of games from every genre. Games like (insert 360 game lineup here). Sure, Playstation 3 had GTA, Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy, three eternally beloved games in gaming history, but they weren't enough. Even though some of Microsoft's bigger games are being ported to the Playstation 3, like Ghost Recon and Oblivion, it still wasn't enough to help. Playstation 3 was forced to take a distant third place that generation, despite it's (deleted price comment) brand recognition.
Once again, it seems as if Microsoft is going to best it's competition in the most important area: games. After all, that's what a game console is for, right (well not if you ask Sony, they'll tell you its a media center that plays blurays and a picture viewer)? Sure, these first 10 months have been somewhat meager as far as content goes for the PS3, but the constant delays have led to a nice end of '07 lineup and a jam-packed '08. This year the ps3 gets quite a few games, like Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (from Naughty Dog of Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter fame), Haze (from Free Radical of Timesplitters fame), the next Ratchet & Clank, Warhawk (truly great MP game, I'm loving it more than BF2), Folklore, and many other exclusives and multiplats that don't need to be listed. Of course, the 360 still has a great '07 lineup, roughly equal to the ps3's, if you ignore Halo 3. However, including Halo 3, the 360's lineup blows everything out of the water!
The problem is, after , what big name exclusive games does the PS3 have? Sure, it has promising titles like FF set for '08, and a few cool multiplatform games like Eternal Sonata, but the only really BIG title coming next year is Gran Turismo.
So far, Sony has announced barely any titles for '07, which leads me to believe that they just aren't there. After nothing new was inveiled at e3, Sony fans said "Sony was focusing on '08, they'll show the '07 stuff never." But then never already passed. After that all I heard was "Wait for Spring 08!" At TGS all we got was new IP's for Microsoft and not a single noise from Sony. So when will these games be unveiled? When will Sony show this mythical lineup that will dominate the competition? Sony has already announced that they will not be attending the E for All Expo, so we know we won't get any new information there.
If there are games set for '08, they'd be well under development by now, and would've been shown by now. TGS was the last stand. For comparison, Micorosoft recently unveiled a new game called Ninja Gaiden 2, back at TGS. It's being developed by Team Ninja, the guys behind Dead or Alive, but I believe that it will actually make the '08 window. After all, they are WELL into development.
In conclusion, the 360 roxors! Fanboys will preach random facts continually proving their console is superior over all that is man made, and I spent 20 minutes editing this post!!! YAH!
Proud Member of GAIBoWS (Gamers Against Irrational Bans of Weezy & Squilliam)
