My Bits and Bytes: Questioning the new generation of games

In the next two weeks, the final two systems of the next generation of gaming will be unleashed: The Nintendo Wii and the Playstation 3.

I'm one of those geeks who LOVE to get their hands on the newest gaming technology as soon as possible. For some reason, some people still can't believe I've had a Xbox 360 for almost a year now and they would be even more floored seeing a shiny new PS3 in my house or in awe watching me swing around the new Wii-mote. Over the last two weeks, though, I've been thinking, “do I really need these new systems?”

On the one hand, the PS3 (available on Nov. 17 — if you can find one) seems to be the biggest powerhouse. It has (supposedly) the best graphics available courtesy of Nvidia, a Blue-Ray DVD player (currently going for at lease $1000 in stores) and the Cell processor that's capable of huge processing power. Just like the PS2, most developers have said that although the machine is definitely powerful, it's just not as easy to develop for as the Wii and the Xbox 360.

The machine will be available with a 20 gig hard drive for $549 with no HDMI connection, flash stick port OR Wi-Fi capabilities. The 60 gig HD version will have those features but go for $649. I have no idea why Sony is doing the two-sku trick that they berated Microsoft for last year. If this is the truly next-gen experience that Sony is claiming, why release a system WITHOUT HDMI capability? This makes no sense because if you want to play your games at true 1080p, wouldn't you want the best possible connection?

I really don't need a Blue-Ray player at this point, seeing how I'm content with my flat 36” Toshiba TV (and too poor to buy a new Plasma or LCD that's true 1080p). Next year will see the biggest drop in HD TVs, so I'll be holding out until then.

As for the PS3 launch titles, well, I have to say that I'm not impressed whatsoever. There's nothing besides “Resistance: Fall of Man” that looks like a must have on day one. Most of the other games will be released or have been released on the Wii and 360! It's not until next year where we'll see some of Sony's exclusive titles see the light of day. Day one PS3 purchase for me this year? Nope…I think I'll wait.

Moving onto the Wii, it will be available on November 19 and have the most exclusive launch titles. Nintendo is smart by offering a console that will be more readily available than the PS3, come in on a way lower price point ($300) and have a pack-in game (Wii Sports). Not only that, but you will be able to download Virtual Console games (like Super Mario 64 and other SNES and NES titles) on day one! Yes, there is a price for these games like Xbox Live Arcade, but people who love Nintendo nostalgia will eat this up.

The gimmick with the Wii is the Wii-mote controller and nun chuck accessory. Will games for the system be so boring eventually because of the similar control system or will this push developers to give us new gaming experiences? Nintendo is banking on the latter and I think they will definitely succeed. I'm very anxious to get my hands on a Wii and play some of the games. With the Wii, I think many games will be a rent first before you buy deal. You just have no clue how long you'll play some of these things and I have no idea how long I'll be able to play Wii games without getting tired! You can rest assured that I'll be getting my hands on a Wii before the PS3 and probably before the end of the year so I can share all my Wii goodness (this does sound a little dirty, doesn't it?).

Even if I don't get a Wii right away, I'm going to be plenty happy with my Xbox 360 and that's a statement I wasn't even too sure that I'd be saying at this time when I bought it. I thought that Sony would come out and knock Microsoft on their asses, but that hasn't been the case.

In the next week, Gears of War, Call of Duty 3, Tony Hawk's Project 8 all come out. Raw vs. Smackdown and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas will be released soon. Splinter Cell: Double Agent and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance are now available and Lost Planet arrives in January.

All these games are must plays and available for the next gen console that's the best bargain right now. Let's not forget that the new Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be available for us Gamecube owners in December. I'll buy it for the GC because I'm definitely not using the Wii-mote to fight or launch arrows.

I think I'll be plenty happy this holiday season with my 360 for the above reasons and I'm quite confused about Sony's launch. For the number one company to look so pathetic with their next-gen launch makes me shake my head. There's always next year for Sony, right? Props to Microsoft and (hopefully) Nintendo.