| With Sony's PlayStation 3 finally | | | | Heavenly Sword, which has games |
| launched across the globe, the next-gen | | | | journalists very excited, but apart from |
| videogames wars can start in earnest. | | | | this its near-future release schedule is |
| Microsoft already has a reasonable | | | | quite embarrassing. |
| installed base for Xbox 360, but not | | | | Microsoft on the other hand has a |
| enough to guarantee dominance, while | | | | machine mature enough to be expecting |
| Sony's consumers' brand loyalty is being | | | | its second-wave of titles, games which |
| tested to the limits by the PS3's high | | | | should really be starting to take |
| price point. | | | | advantage of the next-gen hardware (to |
| Nintendo, meanwhile, has carved out a | | | | date, only Gears of War has really shown |
| nice niche for itself by making next-gen | | | | its next-gen credentials to gamers). And |
| not about hi-def, with its ridiculously | | | | its line up is looking OK, and not just |
| named, but extremely popular Wii. | | | | first party: Bioshock, from 2K, Mass |
| Within the industry though, most pundits | | | | Effect, a highly anticipated game from |
| are expecting a much more level playing | | | | Bioware, who can do no wrong, Halo 3 to |
| field this time around, with Microsoft | | | | arrive one month after GTA IV on both |
| and Sony battling it out, but neither | | | | platforms - you don't have a bucket big |
| gaining significant domination over the | | | | enough to describe how many bucketloads |
| other. This is, frankly put, a disaster | | | | this game will sell, Fable 2, from the |
| for Sony whose PlayStation 2 console | | | | well-liked Lionhead Studio and then |
| defined a generation, and not just of | | | | later more Project Gotham Racing and |
| consoles. | | | | Halo action. |
| What is the reason for this shift? One | | | | Essentially, this year Xbox 360 has some |
| word: exclusivity. In the good old days, | | | | good triple A games, with 2 tent pole |
| games publishers were convinced to | | | | releases in GTA IV and Halo 3. Sony has |
| launch their game on a single console, | | | | GTA IV and Heavenly Sword and then many |
| and then perhaps later allow it to grace | | | | more third party, multi-platform games. |
| the competitors' machines, and so Lara | | | | So, expect Microsoft to shift some units |
| boosted the original PlayStation and GTA | | | | with their line up, but Sony will also |
| helped the PS2 explode. With the | | | | be hoping for a GTA effect on its |
| next-gen, exclusivity is all but gone. | | | | console. This pinkish, if not rosy, |
| GTA will launch on both the Xbox 360 and | | | | outlook for Microsoft could change next |
| PS3 and Lara is two-timing the | | | | year though. Sony has more development |
| PlayStation all over the place. There | | | | staff than anyone else, and while it |
| are even rumours that Snake will turn | | | | might be taking its time, you have to |
| tail and that Metal Gear Solid 4 will | | | | expect its first party games to start |
| not be a PlayStation 3 exclusive. In | | | | coming through. |
| fact, the only games that remain | | | | All of this, of course, is only |
| exclusive to a format tend to be those | | | | considering the games consoles as just |
| developed by the console manufacturers | | | | that, and it remains to be seen what |
| themselves, first party games as they | | | | effect, if any, the Blu-Ray (PS3) vs |
| are known. | | | | HD-DVD (Xbox 360) hi-definition formats |
| So, what do Microsoft and Sony have up | | | | for videos have on sales. |
| their sleeve? Sony has a game called | | | | |