"If the battle of the consoles were a videogame, it would be a drawn out epic, like "Everquest" or "Zelda," rather than a fighter like "Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks."
The big players - Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft - scour the world picking up weapons (high definition capability, online play, faster graphics, sexy industrial design) hoping to slay each other with market share. Gamers are only forced to follow this game once a year when a new platform launches, and now is that time.
With Microsoft's second generation console, Xbox 360 launching November 22 and Sony's PlayStation 3 set for any time from spring to fall 2006, gamers have to decide: to upgrade or to wait?
In other words, will Xbox 360 be a YBox, or a Ybother box? Microsoft will showcase Xbox 360 at the Digital Life show at Javits (Oct 14-16). You can look, but you can't yet touch.
The original Xbox was by no means the knockout blow to Sony that Bill Gates had hoped. If it hadn't been for the game "Halo," beloved of so many soldiers serving abroad, a lot less than the 22 million boxes would have shipped, compared to Sony PlayStation 2's over 91 million worldwide.
So what of the next level of the great Sony vs. Microsoft battle? "Xbox is an established brand this time around, it's proved itself with the hardcore gamers," says Dan "Shoe" Hsu, Editor-in-Chief at Electronic Gaming Monthly. "And with 360, Microsoft was smart to unveil it and connect with the MTV audience [on May 12, 2005]."
However, Sony made a good move by announcing that the PlayStation 3 would be ready by next spring. "Even if it isn't ready, that date is near enough that it'll make some people wait and see which one to buy," said Hsu.
The advantages bounces back and forth like a game of Pong. Then again, as Hsu points out in Microsoft's favor, "Any lead is a good lead, and coming out before the holidays is always huge boost to sales."
PlayStation 3
Is this black box indestructable? It's certainly the brand leader and has the best games. Videogame creator Hideo Kojima says in his blog that the grand theme of his "Metal Gear Solid" is "What things need to be passed on to the next generation," and has come back for a fourth version, to convey Snake as "an aging figure that still continues to change."
That could well apply to Sony as it gears up for next year's PS3 launch. The prototypes shown in September may look like an ice cube maker, but gamers don't always look at the box.
"What gamers need most is a revolution in the role played by a story and character," says Jim Ward, President of LucasArts which makes games such as "Star Wars: Battlefront" and "Mercenaries."
He says that gaming won't come of age until games have multiple seamless storylines and characters you can truly interact with. He is excited about the online content of both Sony and Microsoft's platforms, the online worlds where companies can charge small amounts for weapons and upgrades. "Studios now make movies as loss leaders, knowing they'll make their money back on DVD and cable sales. We don't have that. We have that one shot."
Xbox 360
The Xbox360 promises faster graphics and better sound. But even more it aims to be the main digitial entertainment center for the home -- the box that hooks to the stereo and the best TV. Thus it can handle DVDS, photos and music, as well as play games and go online.
It's not entirely back-compatible though. To play your old Xbox games you need to clip on the 20GB hard drive.
And that's where the confusion starts.
There are two bundles being sold: The $299 "Core" bundle will get you playing games offline, connected by the usual long wire. The $399 bundle comes with the harddrive, the wireless controller, a remote, a headset for trash-talking online opponents on Xbox Live, and a component cable that can handle HDTV.
The Core pack has been called the "tard" pack, as in that's what your mom is if she buys you this for Christmas.
The interface has been simplified by the guide button, which takes you to a home page of sorts. Various pages or "blades" have been cleverly redesigned so you always know where you are (and who you are!).
Both packs include an Xbox Live Silver membership, which lets you go online and use voice and text chat and buy things from the marketplace. Upgrading to Gold, you can play against strangers online (often Aussies) and use video chat.
You chose to play in a zone, which shows your profile and "Achievements" (like an eBay rating) which helps you find your competence level, and also protects kids from predators. Microsoft has taken a shameless leaf from Apple and gone for a pearly white look for the Xbox360 and all the extras (controllers, harddrive, wireless adapters) while offering fancier faceplates for individuality.
As any exec will tell you, it's better to emulate Apple than Sony these days. Xbox 360 costs $299.99 (Core model) or $399.99 (Premium), and launches here on November 22nd.
