Next Gen has arrived

[Acehigh]

There hasn't been much news in the cosole wars since my last posts on the subject over the summer.  But low and behold the time has come and the next gen is under way officially tonight.  While most stores aren't selling any 360's till tomorrow, g4 has a big special tonight that I plan on finding out more info on.  Here's what I do know:

1.  200 xbox games are backplay compatible with the 360's hard drive

2.  They really are going with two skews.  299 without a hard drive, and 399 with.  the 399 set also comes with everything you need for high def set ups, a remote, and a silver or gold (don't remember exactly lol) subscription to xbox live.

3.  Most of the launch games have gotten excellent reviews.  Problem is most of the launch games are new franchises or obscure titles.  Kameo, Perfect Dark, Call of Duty 2, Dead or Alive 4, King Kong, and Project Gotham Racing 3 have all had very spectacular showings so far.  One of these could emerge as the new "killer" app, but at this time we just don't know yet.  Personally I haven't gotten my hands on one yet and will probably wait till prices drop around spring time.

4.  Any sports gamers could be disappointed.  Most of the EA sports titles are just stripped down ports of the 06 xbox games with high def graphics and sound tweaks.  Some serious features like mini games, and in some cases like FIFA 06 there is no dynasty mode.  Looks like EA just wanted to have a presence at launch.  But with this thing in the works for at least a year and a half why would they half arse it? 

5.  I'll have further updates after I watch g4 tonight and actually get my hands on one at best buy or something to try it out

6.  And I have heard most retailers are getting a limited supply for the first shipment

Sony

There isn't alot of info on the PS 3 at this point, but Sony is already attempting to shoot themselves in the foot.  Surely you've heard of Sony's use of spyware to help fight copying of music off of their new music CD's, well it seems this same philosophy will carry over to the PS 3 gaming dvd's.  What this means is that you will only be able to load a game on to your ps 3 machine once.  Somehow it will code info off of the disc and store said info.  I'm not sure how this all works in tech talk, but basically this could lead to the end of game rentals for the PS 3 system.  If you wish this part translated into techie please talk to Tank lol

Big N

nothing new out of the Big N camp

[Man53]

ok I'll start off....
I laughed really hard as I drove by my work-place at 1am and saw a line wrapped around the building

Xbox 360 release is right 2 SKU's of 299 and 399 as Ace clearly described, launch games are pretty good. I've played a few, sports fans ARE disapointed, but what can you say, you really cant get much better with sports games than what has already been released.

I'll go ahead and put down what I know about the PS3, Sony has been having trouble with this whole spy-ware thing and if they get into too much trouble they'll be pushing some pennies out through the mass-media anyway. Don't worry about PS3 game rentals as of yet, the systems launch date seems to have been re-scheduled for the spring of 2006.
(Knowing sony they're going to watch how X-box 360 does, then leach games off of the system, aswell I don't doubt that Sony does what they always do and push the ps3 back a bit further for the NEXT christmas season.)
Sony likes to shoot themselves in the foot, then pull the bullet out with a pair of plyers. Lets see how they do in the up-and comeing future.



The big N....
Quiet is the game they LOVE to play

[Goku1]

From what I heard, Microsuck is trying to trump the release of the PS3. Apparently, they are going to release Halo 3 on the same day as the PS3's release. How effective this will be, I don't know. But there's also a rumor going around in the PS2 underground that Metal Gear Solid 4 with be released the same day as the PS3 to entice gamers to get the new console.  Being a PS2 man myself, i'm a bit biased, but hey, i love MGS......

[Acehigh]

As Man has backed up for me, at this point I haven't heard much good news from Sony's camp.  But as he also mentioned they do have a way of picking themselves back up and making a solid showing.  IGN has a list of the PS 3's expected launch lineup and I gotta say it actually looks alot weaker than what the 360 is launching with.  MGS 4, and (the game with Dante that I'm drawing a blank on right now) are the only games I have ever heard of.  That is just what I know right now today.  I'm sure they will get some cross platform ports and will probably have a Final Fantasy game in there too.  But the 360 is also getting final fantasy games from now on so that's a trump card for microsoft.  And what Goku said is also very likely at this time.  Microsoft is planning to launch Halo 3 to combat the launch of the PS 3.  And to be honest I don't think one game can combat an entire platform.  This could be a huge mistake from microsoft's camp.  Microsoft does have plans for Mass Effect, Too Human, Kotor 3, and Gears of War....which are all supposed to be huge games for the 360, also scheduled to come out around the sony launch day.  I'm a xbox man myself, but I'm gonna report news that I hear down the middle.  Just happens that "my" camp has the most news at this point in time.  This round is probably gonna just come down to personal preference.  With me I don't like sony's controller design as four shoulder buttons confuse me and it's a bit to small for my massive hands lol.  And I"m not the biggest rpg fan, I prefer shooters.  So like I said this round of the "wars" will probably boil down to personal choice.  Good discussion so far and I hope to keep it going when more news is available.

[Fireyone233]

Even though im a Halo fan myself im leaning towards getting the PS3 and/or the revolution for smash planet.

[Man53]

http://playstation.about.com/od/ps3/a/PS...etails.htm

go there for more information on the PS3, also dont follow rumors you hear about Halo 3 (Just some words of advice from Man53)

[Acehigh]

I haven't heard any rumors about Halo 3.  What I have heard about microsoft wanting to use that game to combat the 360 came from an interview with bill gates, and the head guy at bungie.  but I don't have a link right now off the top of my head.  I'll find that and post it.