The Next Generation of The Next Generation of Gaming ConsolesGaming Consoles

History of the Last GenHistory of the Last Gen

Sony had the #1 Console (PS2), was Sony had the #1 Console (PS2), was also the oldest and weakest, but had also the oldest and weakest, but had strong developer supportstrong developer support

Newcomer, Microsoft X-Box, Newcomer, Microsoft X-Box, attracted more mature gamers with attracted more mature gamers with its power and adult oriented gamesits power and adult oriented games

Nintendo lost a lot of its fan base due Nintendo lost a lot of its fan base due to its lack of support for its middle to its lack of support for its middle powered, kid-friendly console, the powered, kid-friendly console, the GameCube GameCube

Market StrategiesMarket Strategies

Everyone knew that this next Everyone knew that this next generation was going to be difficult generation was going to be difficult to win with such steep competition…to win with such steep competition…

Microsoft’s Look-aroundMicrosoft’s Look-around They wanted a console which….They wanted a console which….

HD graphicsHD graphics Robust online playRobust online play Unified communityUnified community Backwards compatibleBackwards compatible Familiar to old playersFamiliar to old players CustomizableCustomizable Integrated media playerIntegrated media player

Xbox 360Xbox 360

Xbox 360 Dashboard

360 Stats360 Stats Triple core PowerPC at 3.2GHzTriple core PowerPC at 3.2GHz ATI GPU 512MB at 700MHzATI GPU 512MB at 700MHz 3 USB slots, two up front, one in the back3 USB slots, two up front, one in the back HDMI (elite), Component, VGA or composite cables for HDMI (elite), Component, VGA or composite cables for

connection to TVconnection to TV 20 GB removable Hard Drive or 120GB (elite)20 GB removable Hard Drive or 120GB (elite) Tray loading drive uses DVDs and can read cds and dvds, Tray loading drive uses DVDs and can read cds and dvds,

plus an additional drive add-on can read HD-DVDsplus an additional drive add-on can read HD-DVDs Up to 4 wireless controllers similar in design to first xboxUp to 4 wireless controllers similar in design to first xbox Port in controllers to plug in HeadsetPort in controllers to plug in Headset Ethernet port and can use wireless with adaptorEthernet port and can use wireless with adaptor 2 versions with a 32 versions with a 3rdrd coming out end of april coming out end of april $299 for core, $399 for premium, $479 for elite$299 for core, $399 for premium, $479 for elite

What this means….What this means…. HD graphics capable of 480i-1080p (although HD graphics capable of 480i-1080p (although

only HDMI and VGA connection can be used for only HDMI and VGA connection can be used for 1080p)1080p)

Can only play HD-DVD movies with additional Can only play HD-DVD movies with additional drivedrive

Robust Xbox Live community with most every Robust Xbox Live community with most every game onlinegame online

Ipod and other mp3 players can plug into itIpod and other mp3 players can plug into it Can connect with windows based PCsCan connect with windows based PCs Downloadable TV episodes, movies, HD movies, Downloadable TV episodes, movies, HD movies,

music, games, demos, additional contentmusic, games, demos, additional content

Sony’s Dominance or DemiseSony’s Dominance or Demise

Having the most developers and Having the most developers and having the highest selling console having the highest selling console and fan base, Sony decides to take and fan base, Sony decides to take advantage of itadvantage of it

Possibly too much advantage… Possibly too much advantage…

Wanting to push blu-ray, a technology it Wanting to push blu-ray, a technology it owns, sony decides to make this the owns, sony decides to make this the format of the PS3format of the PS3

Developers find blu-ray much to Developers find blu-ray much to expensive of a formatexpensive of a format

Sony’s console will use state-of-the-art Sony’s console will use state-of-the-art cell processors to power it, again cell processors to power it, again expensiveexpensive

Sony had an original controller design Sony had an original controller design but got rid of it in favor of the almost but got rid of it in favor of the almost exact same controller design they have exact same controller design they have had since PS1had since PS1

They want it to push HD graphics to the They want it to push HD graphics to the max and be wi-fi with free online max and be wi-fi with free online gameplaygameplay

PlayStation 3PlayStation 3

PS3 Interface

Sony Home

PS3 StatsPS3 Stats 3.2 GHz cell processor3.2 GHz cell processor Nvidia GPU of 256MBs at 650MHzNvidia GPU of 256MBs at 650MHz 20gb ($499) or 60gb ($599) hard drives20gb ($499) or 60gb ($599) hard drives Plays blu-ray discs, dvds, cds through slot loading Plays blu-ray discs, dvds, cds through slot loading

drivedrive Memory card slots for SD, memory stick, xd, Memory card slots for SD, memory stick, xd,

Compactflash on $599 versionCompactflash on $599 version Backwards compatibleBackwards compatible USB slotsUSB slots HDMI, component, composite cables for videoHDMI, component, composite cables for video Wireless controllers (with some motion sensing) Wireless controllers (with some motion sensing)

using bluetooth up to 4, possibly 7using bluetooth up to 4, possibly 7 $499 or $599$499 or $599

What this means…What this means…

HD graphics form 480i-1080p (no HD HD graphics form 480i-1080p (no HD cables come with the console unlike cables come with the console unlike 360)360)

Online play is freeOnline play is free Media player abilitiesMedia player abilities Can watch blu-ray movies cheaper Can watch blu-ray movies cheaper

than current blu-ray playersthan current blu-ray players Lots of computing power for advanced Lots of computing power for advanced

AIAI

Nintendo’s new styleNintendo’s new style

The company realized that they The company realized that they could not compete monetarily with could not compete monetarily with the machines of Microsoft and Sony, the machines of Microsoft and Sony, who could afford any and everythingwho could afford any and everything

So they tried a new, radical approach So they tried a new, radical approach by making these necessary by making these necessary requirements for their new console…requirements for their new console…

Cheap manufacturing costsCheap manufacturing costs Easy to develop forEasy to develop for Small and efficientSmall and efficient InnovativeInnovative Allows for new people to join the Allows for new people to join the

gaming industry (grandparents, gaming industry (grandparents, parents, women)parents, women)

What did they come up with…What did they come up with…

The Nintendo Wii

Nunchuck add-on to the wii remote to allow for more involved gameplay

Wii Classic controller to allow for classic style gameplay of downloaded games from Nintendo and Sega past

The Console InterfaceThe Console Interface

The Wii StatsThe Wii Stats PowerPC Processor clocked at 729MHzPowerPC Processor clocked at 729MHz ATI GPU Processor clocked at 243MHzATI GPU Processor clocked at 243MHz Over 100MB of ram memoryOver 100MB of ram memory 512 MB of built in flash memory for storing games and data512 MB of built in flash memory for storing games and data SD card slotSD card slot Slot driven disc drive capable of playing both Wii DVDs and GameCube Slot driven disc drive capable of playing both Wii DVDs and GameCube

mini-DVDsmini-DVDs 2 USB slots 2 USB slots 4 GameCube controller ports and 2 memory card ports4 GameCube controller ports and 2 memory card ports Up to 4 wireless Wii controllers using bluetooth technologyUp to 4 wireless Wii controllers using bluetooth technology The ability to use GameCube contollers along with Wii controllers for The ability to use GameCube contollers along with Wii controllers for

possibility of 8 player gamespossibility of 8 player games Wi-Fi out of the boxWi-Fi out of the box Wii controllers have an accessory port to allow controller add-ons to plug inWii controllers have an accessory port to allow controller add-ons to plug in Sensor bar for mouse-like pointer abilitySensor bar for mouse-like pointer ability Can use Component cables for up to 480p resolutionCan use Component cables for up to 480p resolution $250 for console$250 for console

What this all means…What this all means…

The Nintendo Wii is the weakest of the The Nintendo Wii is the weakest of the new systems only 2.5 times as powerful as new systems only 2.5 times as powerful as its predecessor and 1.5 times as powerful its predecessor and 1.5 times as powerful as the first Xboxas the first Xbox

The Wii’s controllers are all motion sensing The Wii’s controllers are all motion sensing and can point in precision like a mouse. and can point in precision like a mouse.

The Wii is not in HD, but is much cheaper The Wii is not in HD, but is much cheaper to produce forto produce for

Wii channels offer new ideasWii channels offer new ideas

Advantages/disadvantagesAdvantages/disadvantages Xbox 360 pro…Xbox 360 pro…

Cheaper than PS3 with minimal to no loss on Cheaper than PS3 with minimal to no loss on graphic qualitygraphic quality

Comes with all the cables necessary for HD and Comes with all the cables necessary for HD and online playonline play

Xbox live has largest user base for any online Xbox live has largest user base for any online community and the xbox live arcade community and the xbox live arcade downloadable gamesdownloadable games

Downloadable TV and movies are taking off fastDownloadable TV and movies are taking off fast Has largest library of games due to its release a Has largest library of games due to its release a

year before competitorsyear before competitors

PS3 Pro…PS3 Pro…

Most powerful consoleMost powerful console ““Home” Sony’s new 3d Avatar based Home” Sony’s new 3d Avatar based

virtual world (like the sims) is used virtual world (like the sims) is used for online community and gamingfor online community and gaming

Blu-ray playerBlu-ray player Downloadable gamesDownloadable games SIXAXIS motion sensing (although SIXAXIS motion sensing (although

not near as advanced as the Wii’s)not near as advanced as the Wii’s) Linux supportLinux support

Wii pro…Wii pro…

Cheapest choiceCheapest choice New style of gameplay using motion New style of gameplay using motion

sensing and pointingsensing and pointing New types of gamesNew types of games New types of playersNew types of players Virtual console downloadable classicsVirtual console downloadable classics Opera Browser supportOpera Browser support Largest base of exlusive franchisesLargest base of exlusive franchises MiisMiis

Xbox 360 cons…Xbox 360 cons…

It is the “middle” consoleIt is the “middle” console No motion sensing at allNo motion sensing at all Does not use bluetoothDoes not use bluetooth Not as broad of a genre and age Not as broad of a genre and age

base as Nintendo and Sonybase as Nintendo and Sony Too many versionsToo many versions

PS3 cons…PS3 cons…

Too expensive, puts it way out of Too expensive, puts it way out of reach of many customersreach of many customers

Least exclusives thanks to lost Least exclusives thanks to lost supportsupport

No rumble feature in the controllerNo rumble feature in the controller Poor marketingPoor marketing Too much reliance of fan baseToo much reliance of fan base If blu-ray fails….If blu-ray fails….

Wii cons…Wii cons…

Expensive controllersExpensive controllers Not many deep games as of nowNot many deep games as of now Not capable of HD graphicsNot capable of HD graphics Little memory for downloaded gamesLittle memory for downloaded games Poor online supportPoor online support Too much reliance on franchisesToo much reliance on franchises Not as much multi-media featuresNot as much multi-media features

What this means….What this means…. The final choice is yours…The final choice is yours… There is no “better console” they all have their There is no “better console” they all have their

own strengths and weaknessesown strengths and weaknesses PS3 and Xbox 360 are very similar in both games PS3 and Xbox 360 are very similar in both games

and powerand power PS3 is selling very poorly due to its high pricePS3 is selling very poorly due to its high price Wii is selling the best in time but over Xbox 360 Wii is selling the best in time but over Xbox 360

has sold more due to its longer length of has sold more due to its longer length of availabilityavailability

The general rules…The general rules… Non-gamers should get the wiiNon-gamers should get the wii RPG lovers and HD movie fanatics should get a PS3RPG lovers and HD movie fanatics should get a PS3 First-person shooter fans should get an xbox 360First-person shooter fans should get an xbox 360

Two Two hugehuge advantages the wii has is that it is cheap enough advantages the wii has is that it is cheap enough to have it and one of the other consoles and its appeal to to have it and one of the other consoles and its appeal to new gamers and non-gamers which could swing the war in new gamers and non-gamers which could swing the war in its favor…..its favor…..

But keep in mind that it is the quality of But keep in mind that it is the quality of gamesgames which will which will sell the system more than anythingsell the system more than anything

SourcesSources

www.ign.com www.wikipedia.com