Next Gen: Who's on (in) first?

So, now that PS3 and the Wii have finally arrived, the next generation of console gaming is finally here. Sony told us it wouldn't start until they said so, they could wait as long as they wanted as far as I was concerned. After all, I have been happily playing my next gen Xbox 360 for over a year.

Unfortunately, although we have started a new generation for the platform companies, the past generation pitfalls still apply.

For Microsoft, Xbox never even made a dent in the Japanese market. This gen, Xbox 360 had a year head start on PS3. Upon release, more PS3's were sold in three days than 360's in a year. Ouch.

For Sony, the poor hardware design of the PS2 led to bottlenecks that made the system graphically inferior to others and difficult to program on. This gen, the PS3's lack of RAM already limited launch titles to 720P resolution, when they promised 1080P (substantially more).

For Nintendo, the GameCube had horrible third party developer support. This gen, the Wii has Zelda and no other games of quality anticipated until Metroid or Mario (both first party).

So how do I rank the systems, beyond their flaws?

This should not surprise anyone who read my PS3 review, but I place Sony in a solid last place. Shortly after launch, Sony fired the head of its gaming division. After seeing the final PS3, this should surprise no one. Sony is charging a whooping $600 for a system with a RAM shortage, buggy firmware, and a controller inferior to last generation (no rumble = WTF?). They clearly rushed the system to market, with major problems with high def graphics, PS2 emulation, and controller connection. In fact, the only good thing I have seen reviewers consistently write about is the system's capability as a media center. But did Sony ever think gamers don't want a media center? Shame on you Sony for caring more about forcing me to buy a BlueRay DVD player, than creating a quality gaming machine. In the end, the PS3 is a mess and not worth half it's cost.

The Nintendo Wii comes in second. I must stress, this is a tremendous turn around given Nintendo's dismal showing last generation. The Wii is a very fun system with a revolutionary controller and unrivaled first party titles on the way including Zelda, Mario, Metroid, and DonkeyKong. Unfortunately, with a price so low, something had to suffer: the graphics. And oh did they suffer. I have heard some critics say it looks like GameCube 1.5. I own one and I say it is GameCube 1.1. Fortunately, for $250, about half the cost of it's competition, the Wii is cheap, revolutionary, and fun. How can you beat that?

For that answer I give you, I can't believe I am saying this, Microsoft and the Xbox360 at number one. Given Microsoft's reputation for destroying whatever it touches, this is even more surprising. The 360 is the best system on the market, hands down. Next gen graphics, check. A quality defining online system, check. Solid third party support, check. The best conventional controller on the market, check. Yes, it can play hi def movies, but this is optional, unlike Sony who raised their price $200 to force BlueRay DVD on you. Yes, the 360 has many media functions, but it never seems to forget what it is, a game machine and the best one on the market at that. Microsoft listened to consumers and developers, then spent it's money wisely, investing in easy to program architecture, 512 RAM, and an impressive graphical processor. They delivered the system at a reasonable cost and one year earlier than Sony. Then, they went to work and signed exclusives like Gears of War and Fables 2 and brokered deals with Rockstar and others to bring games like Gran Theft Auto to the 360 simultaneously with the PS3. Most impressive.

Heading into the next generation (in about four years or so) I truly hope Sony learns its lesson. If they even try to make a PS4, and I hope they do as competition is good for gamers, Sony gives us a gaming machine. After all isn't that what the PS3 was supposed to be?

Nintendo, I say you just keep marching to your own drummer. I look forward to playing Zelda on whatever zany control system you come up with next. Plus I can always use the money I save on your system to buy the truly next gen games on the PS4 or 720.

Lastly, to Microsoft, a warning. You did well this gen, but don't forget to give gamers what they want. Remember the lesson of Sony, who showed us just how fast and far an industry leader can fall.