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July 29, 2005

The Future of Gaming: The Next Generation Gaming Consoles

Next Generation Gaming Consoles: Who Wins?

There is little doubt that the real winner of the next-generation gaming console battle will ultimately be collective gaming community. And that community is growing fast and knows no boundaries. There promises to be gaming content to suit every taste and demographic. The sheer power of the next-generation gaming-consoles is immense. Indeed, Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Sony’s PS3 and Nintendo’s Revolution will only be limited by developer’s skill in programming games for the new systems. It will certainly take at the minimum several years of developmental exploration to even begin to reach the limits of these new machines.

Previews of the early offerings of the next-generation consoles are already breath taking in scope and design. The consoles’ graphics processing powers are immense and are augmented by sophisticated audio capabilities that will add tremendous depth to the gaming experience. Ultimately however, amongst Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, someone will come out on top in the terms of sales and revenue. So who will it be? And why? BIGBAER will be examining all the aspects of forthcoming next-generation console wars. As hardware and software development costs soar, it is likely that at the end of this next gaming cycle there will be one less major player in the arena. Only time will tell.

Microsoft sees Xbox 360 in driver's seat

Bill Gates said he's happy with the Xbox 360--even though some detractors claim the system is slower than the PS3

REDMOND, Wash.--In a meeting with financial analysts at Microsoft's headquarters, company head honcho Bill Gates opined about the upcoming battle between his company's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3.

"Our view is basically: We've got a Ferrari. They've got a Ferrari," Gates said in a question-and-answer session Thursday. "Our Ferrari is leaving the starting line substantially before their Ferrari is, and, in most races, that's a very nice thing."

Microsoft's Xbox 360 is due to go on sale this holiday season in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Meanwhile, Sony's PlayStation 3, with its powerful Cell processor, is slated to arrive next spring.

Gates noted that the last time around [when the PlayStation 2 was released ahead of the Xbox], Microsoft was beaten to the punch and said overall sales suffered as a result.

"We tried it the other way last time," Gates said.

Robbie Bach, the Microsoft senior vice president who heads up the Xbox, said he doesn't see Sony having a demonstrable advantage with its hardware.

"They're going to be a little faster in a few areas; we're going to be a little faster in a few areas," Bach said. "The net result from a hardware perspective is going to be kind of a toss-up."

A Sony representative was not immediately available for comment.

Bach said that Microsoft should also benefit from greater developer support this time around, saying the company's easy developer tools are its "secret sauce." Developers have expressed some concern about the escalating costs of developing console video games.

Bach said there are 160 games in development for the Xbox 360, with 25 to 40 expected to be released this year, including around 15 at launch.

The analysts got to see a demo of one of those games in the works: Project Gotham Racing 3, which is being published by Microsoft.

However, the analysts didn't get to drive the console for themselves. The one Xbox 360 console on display was underneath a thick plastic display case, a disappointment to more than a few in the Wall Street crowd. [News.com]

Posted by BIGBAER at July 29, 2005 11:02 PM

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