-
1 of 10
-
2 of 10
-
3 of 10
-
4 of 10
-
5 of 10
-
6 of 10
-
7 of 10
-
8 of 10
-
9 of 10
-
10 of 10
Playstation 3 v. Xbox 360
Archive
Comments
Story
As the dust begins to settle after a year-long battle, the matter of which console will reign supreme for the current generation of gamers seems to be on the horizon – the Xbox 360 on one side, and the Playstation 3 on the other.
Both parties have had their share of failures and successes, but now that the Blu-ray and HD-DVD struggle has been settled, victory may be at hand.
The term “console war” has been around since the release of the Sega Genesis in 1989 and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991. These two consoles battled each other in an attempt to win over the legions of gaming fans of the day. The Genesis and the SNES both had their shining features, but in the end the SNES won the battle.
The console wars raged during the latter part of the 1990s and into the new millennium with the release of the Nintendo 64 and the new machine from Sony – the Playstation gaming system. Later still, the Playstation 2 and Microsoft’s Xbox further fueled the flames of the console fracas.
Microsoft definitely got the jump on the current console war – nearly a full year head start, actually. Add that to the unprecedented success of “Halo 3″ and it seemed that Bill Gates and company had put the final nail in Sony’s coffin.
It didn’t help that the initial price tag of the PS3 at its release was $599. The lack of quality games also solidified the PS3’s faltering start.
However, the tides have turned and this may very well be the year of the Playstation 3. This year promises to shine on PS3 owners as quality products finally become available to consumers. Blockbuster first-party titles such as “Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots” and the imminent “God of War III” as well as the extensive online element, Playstation Home, are major factors in Playstation’s chances.
This short history trip brings us to today’s current struggle of console conquest. The two prominent consoles had a vital tool that could either make or break their chances of survival. This key came in the form of which DVD format was supported by the two consoles. Sony incorporated Blu-ray technology into its Playstation 3 powerhouse, whereas Microsoft and the Xbox 360 opted to support HD-DVD. The DVD fight is over and the outcome may very well determine the better console.
In order to survive this wind of change, Microsoft has announced that they will release an add-on which will support Blu-ray technology that will be similar to the previous Xbox 360’s HD-DVD add-on.
Ironic isn’t it, that the determining factor may very well be DVD format rather than the consoles’ true purpose – video games?
C. COLT CRANE
BizTech Writer
