Pumpkin Head
10-20-2006, 05:41 PM
NEWS
Hundreds of journalists and other gaming enthusiasts converged on Dogpatch Studios in San Francisco, California, for Sony's PlayStation 3 pre-launch event. Microsoft debuted its Xbox 360 about a year ago in the same venue, yet another sign that this generation of gaming consoles has kicked off differently than the previous one, which saw Sony's PS2 console lead off for Microsoft's Xbox. The PS3 will launch on November 17, 2006, with 22 titles confirmed.
CNET's Daniel Terdiman attended the pre-launch show, looking to see if the US$499 or $599 price tags are worth it. Terdiman admits he's not a hardcore gamer, as many of those who will pick up the PS3 seconds after midnight on November 17 will be, but he marveled at the room of consoles and giant HDTVs, as well as the throng of enthusiasts camping out in front of all the playable games.
Terdiman got his mitts on NBA 07, and seemed stunned--and somewhat grossed out--by the graphics, which he said were so life-like that there's an "uncanny valley" effect. He liked the gameplay overall, including the title's use of the motion-sensing controller, but complained about being beaten too badly by the game's A.I.
The CNET writer moved on to Formula One Championship, where he was disturbed to see that the game didn't make use of the motion-sensing controller, something he thinks should be standard on all racing games. He then watched other gamers take on Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom and NHL 2K7. Of the latter, Terdiman raved, "I focus on the stellar graphics, the realism of the ice, and I have to remind myself that this is not a televised hockey game."
Terdiman wrapped up his review by saying he thinks the PS3 will be hard to compete with, though he hedges by admitting the Xbox 360 has "a year's head start and many more games."
For more, please see CNET.
JAMES'S OPINION
The question on every serious gamer's mind come November is, "Is it worth it? Is it worth it to drop at least half a grand and probably much more to pick up the PS3?"
For all PlayStation fanboys, the answer is a resounding yes. Stunning graphics, lightning-fast hardware, a solid line-up of launch titles, and the ability to play all PS1 and PS2 games make the PS3 a winner before it's even unwrapped.
But for many others the price tag has people scratching their heads. Can it really be that much better than the 360? Can it really be that much cooler than the bizarrely named Wii?
I will admit I have a 360 bias since I've owned and enjoyed playing Xbox games since Halo came out. Still, the game Resistance: Fall of Man looks so ridiculously good that visions of the original Halo began dancing merrily up in my grey matter. The Wii strikes me as something for casual gamers, and I'm decidedly anything but that.
The Xbox 360 may not have Resistance: FoM, but it does have Call of Duty 2, Oblivion, Prey, Madden 07, etc.; it's certainly not hurting. Additionally, by the time the PS3 launches long-awaited and must-have titles such as Gears of War, Call of Duty 3, and F.E.A.R. will be out for the 360.
Scanning the list of PS3 titles, which includes Oblivion, Call of Duty 3, F.E.A.R., Madden 07, etc., I see few titles besides Resistance: FoM that would lead me to purchase another next-gen console. For those who don't own a 360 and are in the wait and see phase, it seems like you can pick your poison. With the 360 you miss out on Resistance: FoM, and with the PS3 you miss out on Gears of War and Halo 3. Both consoles will get the next installment of GTA, each featuring exclusive content. On that, apparently Rock Star is in need of a dictionary. ;)
Sony's putting its future as a company on the line to make the PS3 a success. It is basically breaking even on all of its products besides its world-beating gaming division, so the November 17 launch and the next year of console and title sales may very well determine not only the winner of the console war, but also the future of a top electronics company.
Since this is a must-win for Sony you will no doubt see a serious wave of insanely eye-popping and must-have titles in the coming months. Out of the gate, though, it's hard not to like the 360, which sports graphics on-par with Sony's first-gen PS3 titles. I could definitely see Nintendo's Wii making a big push, however, since--unlike the true next-gen consoles--the Wii will be in stock during the holidays.
Hundreds of journalists and other gaming enthusiasts converged on Dogpatch Studios in San Francisco, California, for Sony's PlayStation 3 pre-launch event. Microsoft debuted its Xbox 360 about a year ago in the same venue, yet another sign that this generation of gaming consoles has kicked off differently than the previous one, which saw Sony's PS2 console lead off for Microsoft's Xbox. The PS3 will launch on November 17, 2006, with 22 titles confirmed.
CNET's Daniel Terdiman attended the pre-launch show, looking to see if the US$499 or $599 price tags are worth it. Terdiman admits he's not a hardcore gamer, as many of those who will pick up the PS3 seconds after midnight on November 17 will be, but he marveled at the room of consoles and giant HDTVs, as well as the throng of enthusiasts camping out in front of all the playable games.
Terdiman got his mitts on NBA 07, and seemed stunned--and somewhat grossed out--by the graphics, which he said were so life-like that there's an "uncanny valley" effect. He liked the gameplay overall, including the title's use of the motion-sensing controller, but complained about being beaten too badly by the game's A.I.
The CNET writer moved on to Formula One Championship, where he was disturbed to see that the game didn't make use of the motion-sensing controller, something he thinks should be standard on all racing games. He then watched other gamers take on Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom and NHL 2K7. Of the latter, Terdiman raved, "I focus on the stellar graphics, the realism of the ice, and I have to remind myself that this is not a televised hockey game."
Terdiman wrapped up his review by saying he thinks the PS3 will be hard to compete with, though he hedges by admitting the Xbox 360 has "a year's head start and many more games."
For more, please see CNET.
JAMES'S OPINION
The question on every serious gamer's mind come November is, "Is it worth it? Is it worth it to drop at least half a grand and probably much more to pick up the PS3?"
For all PlayStation fanboys, the answer is a resounding yes. Stunning graphics, lightning-fast hardware, a solid line-up of launch titles, and the ability to play all PS1 and PS2 games make the PS3 a winner before it's even unwrapped.
But for many others the price tag has people scratching their heads. Can it really be that much better than the 360? Can it really be that much cooler than the bizarrely named Wii?
I will admit I have a 360 bias since I've owned and enjoyed playing Xbox games since Halo came out. Still, the game Resistance: Fall of Man looks so ridiculously good that visions of the original Halo began dancing merrily up in my grey matter. The Wii strikes me as something for casual gamers, and I'm decidedly anything but that.
The Xbox 360 may not have Resistance: FoM, but it does have Call of Duty 2, Oblivion, Prey, Madden 07, etc.; it's certainly not hurting. Additionally, by the time the PS3 launches long-awaited and must-have titles such as Gears of War, Call of Duty 3, and F.E.A.R. will be out for the 360.
Scanning the list of PS3 titles, which includes Oblivion, Call of Duty 3, F.E.A.R., Madden 07, etc., I see few titles besides Resistance: FoM that would lead me to purchase another next-gen console. For those who don't own a 360 and are in the wait and see phase, it seems like you can pick your poison. With the 360 you miss out on Resistance: FoM, and with the PS3 you miss out on Gears of War and Halo 3. Both consoles will get the next installment of GTA, each featuring exclusive content. On that, apparently Rock Star is in need of a dictionary. ;)
Sony's putting its future as a company on the line to make the PS3 a success. It is basically breaking even on all of its products besides its world-beating gaming division, so the November 17 launch and the next year of console and title sales may very well determine not only the winner of the console war, but also the future of a top electronics company.
Since this is a must-win for Sony you will no doubt see a serious wave of insanely eye-popping and must-have titles in the coming months. Out of the gate, though, it's hard not to like the 360, which sports graphics on-par with Sony's first-gen PS3 titles. I could definitely see Nintendo's Wii making a big push, however, since--unlike the true next-gen consoles--the Wii will be in stock during the holidays.