Dagoosh!

Premiere Big Three Article

Its finally here! The long awaited Console War has begun and Video Game
manufacturers are pulling out all of the stops. The major contenders !onys
"lay!tation #$ %icrosofts &'(o)$ and *intendos GameCube.
(ut which one is best for you+
,agoosh! Gi-es you a run down of each systems pros and cons plus many staff
insights to help you in your .uest for a console.
ShinY
Verdict: GCN
/ome gaming competition has ne-er been this fierce before. The heat has
been turned up with the release of %!s &'(o) and *intendos GameCube.
Though !onys "laystation still has a year behind it$ the two new ones pro-ed
.uite a threat to !onys mar0et domination.
&'bo) has the best hardware by a landslide$ as %icrosoft went to great
lengths when designing it. /a-ing the best hardware doesnt ma0e it the best
system. The games are what really count. !o far$ the only &'(o) e)clusi-e
game that is worth playing is /alo. I dont thin0 the &'(o) is worth buying just
because of /alo. The majority of the good games for &'(o) are or will be on
GameCube and "laystation #. The "laystation # does ha-e the most games
right now$ but that is not a -alid argument because it has been on store
shel-es for a year. The GameCube lac0s ,V, support$ which is its ultimate
downfall. There are heard rumors of a ,V, add'on but that doesnt seem li0e a
good idea. The only good thing about not ha-ing the ,V, playing capabilities is
that it doesnt cost too much. 1#22 is a lot for a system but its a deal
compared to the competitors 1322 price tag.
4-ery system has their pros and cons its difficult to choose which system to
go with. 5ltimately if I had to choose I would ta0e my "C any day$ but console wise
I thin0 I would ha-e to fly with *intendo. %y generation grew up on the original
*intendo 4ntertainment !ystem$ and it has held me e-er since.
X
Verdict: PS
The release of the "laystation was the beginning of the end for *intendo and
!ega. While !ega desperately tried to produce games other than !onic the
/edgehog$ !ony was brea0ing the barrier between the cartridge and C,. While
*intendo was creating terrible se.uels for 6elda$ !ony was introducing new$ elite
7inal 7antasy games. 8nd the &bo)... well while the &'(o) is ha-ing serious
hardware recalls and terrible sales$ !ony is almost ready to bust out its secret
weapon$ 77&.
9ets start from the (eginning! There once was an elite system called the
*intendo and it was followed by an e-en more elite system called the !uper
*intendo :;"Gs<$ but then came the poorly designed *=>. 8s most re-iewers would
agreed$ the *=> lagged behind the 3# bit "! because of its failure to con-ert to C,.
(esides 0ic0ing ass in !uper !mash$ 22?$ or some substantial entertainment in
%ario @art$ the *=> pro-ided a -ery poor game selection that was no more
entertaining than a Tamagouchi. 8s of now the *=> and the GC come nowhere
close to the elite'ness of the "! and the "!#.
I dont want to spea0 about the !ega franchise too much. Well lets put it
this way... !4G8 !5&. !ports games dont ma0e up a system.
The &'bo) is an underpowered computer in a mini'micro') case. (esides for
/alo$ e-ery other game is coming out on the "C or another console or just plain
suc0s. It seems that the system with the most un'elite hardware always does the
best and -ice -ersa. "!# owns with the worst hardware and &'bo) blows with the
best hardware. The &'(o) is for people with serious %icrosoft fetishes because its
the biggest piece of crap on the mar0et. I would not blow 1322 on a system thats
a "A! "C. %y B=22C 8%, &" will be my &'(o) for now and fore-er. 9ets say that
the only reason I would buy an &'(o) would be to rip out all the parts and use it for
decoration. Then I would sell the C"5 and try to brea0 all the other parts against a
basement wall :E.N. My basement<.
The "!# has been out for almost a year and it is still the best console on the
mar0et.
When it comes to gaming the most important word is definitely S!"are.
When it comes to the best games the most important words are #inal #antas$.
When it comes to the most and best games the most important word is Son$.
8lmost a year ago !ony set the standards for perfection and .uality in
gaming consoles and it has yet to be o-erta0en.
General guides
PS The best o-er'all system. "lus with !.uare its o-er
GCN GC is doing it for the rising number of adolescents in the 5!.
DC ,edicated !ports console
X%Bo& 8 disgrace to my nic0name
8ge groups
PS 8ny
GCN B# and under :unless rainbow colors are your thing<
DC 8ny sports fanatic
X%Bo& 8ny age group with some type of mental retardation.
Dragon
Verdict: X%Bo&
*=> began to say its goodbyes when !ega released ,reamcast. "!#
followed with their release about a year after. (oth of these machines are now in
the wa0e of &'bo) and Gamecube. The reason why they were released earlier is
simple$ they ha-e no competition. !ony and !ega wanted to get as much money as
they could before the better systems were manufactured. The choice now is
between Gamecube and &bo). Dou will realiEe after loo0ing at the hardware$
performance$ and compatibility of both systems &bo) is the best choice.
When you see that the &'(o) can perform B#F million raw polygons per
second and has a #F2 %/E *Vidia &G"5 you probably donGt understand what this
means. It means &bo) has the ability to process craEy graphics for its games. Dou
might wonder when you loo0 at /89A and compare it to 9uigiGs %ansion or !uper
!mash %elee$ which has better graphics+ /89A clearly does$ but you must realiEe
that all Gamecube games must ha-e H";4;4*,4;4,H graphics to loo0 as good as
the &bo). This means de-elopers must spend more time pre'rendering graphics.
/ow does this affect your choice+ ,e-elopers are not switching o-er to &bo) just
because they might pay more. They are switching o-er because &bo) is 48!I4; to
de-elop games for. They can allow the system to perform most of the graphics and
not ha-e to rely on pre'rendered crap. This means that e-en though "!# might
ha-e hundreds of games$ &bo) will be releasing at least that many in each year.
&bo) also has a hard dri-e$ which allows superior sa-ing and other options than the
Gamecube. The hardware within the &bo) is also customiEable.
This part of my criti.ue suggests -iolating the &bo) warranty$ but only for
tremendous benefits. The &bo) already has people ma0ing a "!# emulator for it.
Imagine playing your fa-orite "!# games on a better system. 8lso the &bo) can
use most 5!( peripheral with the proper manipulation of the 5!( connector.
/a-ing a /ard dri-e full of your music ma0es games e-en better. ;acing in "roject
Gotham was .uite enjoyable$ but being able to switch on my fa-orite tunes without
any hassle and burning rubber was utopia.
&bo) is the best system due to its superior hardware and compatibility. !o if
you still canGt decide between "!#$ Gamecube$ or &bo) youGre better see a
psychiatrist for your schiEophrenia.
Bentle$
Verdict: GCN
Its finally here! The long awaited Console War has begun and Video Game
manufacturers are pulling out all the stops. The major contenders !onys "!#$
%icrosofts &'(o)$ and *intendos GameCube. Though the battle is fierce$ *intendo
comes out the supreme winner. GameCube has the upper hand on its competitors
by ha-ing familiar faces li0e %ario$ reasonable pricing$ and a remar0able lineup of
upcoming games.
8lmost e-eryone remembers playing the original !uper %ario (ros. game$
released bac0 in BIJF$ on the *4!. Des$ the simple plot of guiding a plumber
through side'scrolling le-els was repetiti-e :KWere sorry$ but our "rincess is in
another castle!L<$ but it was mesmeriEing enough to gain a spot in -ideo game
history. !ince those days$ consumers ha-e demanded more and more from games.
Aur desire for better graphics$ further control$ and inno-ati-e game play ha-e
dri-en -ideo games from a small business to a multibillion dollar industry. *intendo$
the original name in gaming$ has built its reputation on redefining games as we
0now them. 9egendary *intendo game designer$ !higeru %iyamoto$ created many
chart topping hits li0e 6elda$ ,on0ey @ong$ and %ario. Than0s to this -isionary in
game design$ *intendo has the edge when it comes to creating compelling new
concepts you wont find on any other console. The company pro-es its focus on
great games by not initially including ,V, playability with the GameCube. Though$
in house games are always first'class$ a system must ha-e a mi) of 3
rd
party
de-elopers to really capture the biggest audiences. 9earning from mista0es made
with the *=>$ *intendo has assembled support from the best 3
rd
party publishers
such asM 4lectronic 8rts$ %idway$ 5bi' !oft$ 8cti-ision$ @emco$ T/N$ Infogrames$
Capcom$ and !ega of 8merica just to name a few. With so many companies already
lined up to ma0e e)clusi-e games for its console$ *intendo is headed in the right
direction.
*ew competitor %icrosoft boasts some powerful hardware under the hood of
its &'(o). 9aunching the same wee0 as GameCube the competition was colossal. Its
initial launch software was appetiEing$ but the consoles future isnt enough to
satisfy the intense cra-ing of gamers. In #22#$ *intendo has its big guns poised
and ready to go. We already e)pect to see ,on0ey @ong racing$ a new %ario game$
%etroid "rime$ rema0es of the original ;esident 4-il games and as new installments
to the series$ !onic 8d-enture #$ "hantasy !tar Anline$ Turo0 4-olution$ a new
,u0e *u0em ad-enture$ and "erfect ,ar0 to begin. 8s the year progresses
additional game concepts will be announced. &'(o) may ha-e GameCube beat in
the hardware department$ but all the "C components you can scrape up wont ma0e
up for a lac0 of games.
!ony is *intendos biggest challenger in the war for e)clusi-e titles. The "!#
has a one'year ad-antage o-er the new gaming machines. With that head start
!ony tried to tie up game ma0ers for e)clusi-e titles for the "!#. Game publishers
are realiEing that if they want to ma0e money$ they ha-e to bring their games to
the GameCube. ,e-elopers are already saying that their games full potential cant
be seen on something a year older than the competition. 8s with computers$ the
age of a console determines the limitations game creators ha-e when de-eloping a
game. The older the system gets the more obsolete it becomes$ forcing de-elopers
to sha-e off portions of their game concepts. When this type of problem occurs$
game publishers consider other consoles that will do a better job of rendering their
game. The GameCube has more than enough power for de-eloper needs and is
cheaper and easier for de-elopers to code to. *ot only does the "!# lac0 in power
but it also lac0s in controller ports. /ow embarrassing is it that you ha-e to buy a
multi'tap that costs as much as a controller+ !ony must 0now something we dont$
by assuming the a-erage "!# owner only has one friend.
If the GameCubes lac0 of a ,V, player is the only thing that turns you off$
ha-e no fear. In late #22# "anasonic will release a GameCubeO,V, hybrid capable
of playing GC* game dis0s$ C,';O;W$ Video C,$ ,V,';$ and regular ,V, mo-ies
all for about 1322. The Papanese model named KNL was released in early ,ecember
for about 32$222 yen. *intendo ne-er included the ,V, player in its design simply
to 0eep the price affordable for consumers who wish to purchase games with the
money they sa-ed.
!pea0ing of future capabilities *intendo will ha-e its broadband and dial'up
modem adapters a-ailable within the coming year. This allows for elite head to head
compitition across the country. 7or people who 0now others nearby with GCs$ the
broadband adapter will enable a direct lin0 by 4thernet connection for multi'Cube
action. !ummer #22# will also bring the introduction of the Game (oy 8d-ance to
GameCube lin0. 8 first in gaming history$ the best handheld console will connect to
the supreme gaming system for the ultimate in interacti-e entertainment. The G(8
can be a place to create or breed characters and the GC will be the place to battle
them. "layers can also use the portable system as a controller for the GameCube
using the 9C, screen to ma0e secret plays or cooperati-ely using the G(8 while
controlling a character on the T.V. screen. @irby Tilt and Tumble # and !onic
8d-enture # will be the first games to use this highly inno-ati-e technology. The
possibilities are endless and the creati-e minds at *intendo will ensure the
e)perience is one of a 0ind.
8ll together$ the *intendo GameCube is a well'rounded system. The
affordable 1BII price point brings in the consumers who want a dedicated gaming
machine$ not some set top "C slated on 8A9 domination. *intendo has the best in
house software de-eloping teams cran0ing out games that are sure to be best
sellers. With the switch o-er to %ini',V,s *intendo regained 3
rd
party support it
lost using cartridges :difficult to program and manufacture< on the *=>. Third party
de-elopers gi-e the GameCube$ titles that cater to many different tastes. There are
8ctionO8d-enture games li0e ;esident 4-il and 4ternal ,ar0ness that appeal to
many hardcore gamers. The genre crossing strategy game$ "i0min$ gi-es players an
e)perience that is out of this world. The reason you want a GameCube is for its
outstanding lineup of upcoming titles and e)iting new peripherals all at 1B22 less
than the completion. Dou dont want to miss out on e)clusi-e *intendo games li0e
"erfect ,ar0 and the inno-ati-e G(8OGC* lin0. GameCube is the ultimate party
console pro-iding electrifying multiplayer entertainment li0e !uper %on0ey (all and
!uper !mash (ros. %elee$ letting you du0e it out with your friends. !imply put$
*intendo Q great games. The systems o-erwhelming sale success doesnt lie.
Consumers agree with *intendos stance on games$ ma0ing the GameCube the
fastest selling console of all time.
'm("lse
Verdict: PS
The (attle (egins...
8fter a long wait they are out$ &bo) and GameCube. Two of the systems we
ha-e all wanted to play so -ery badly. Games li0e ,o83 and /alo ma0e you drool.
An the other hand games li0e 9uigis %ansion bring bac0 memories of when you
were a 0id. *ow$ it comes done to this$ do you trust %icrosoft$ a new comer to the
field of consoles$ or the -eteran *intendo. /ow about neither+ "lay!tation# is a
solid piece of e.uipment$ with a year under its belt it has some great games. ,uring
this holiday season$ i e)pect "s# to do the best$ but in the long run will it be able to
outrun &'(o) R GC+
%y opinion on this whole thing is not simple$ there is no one clear winner$ each
system has its own ad-antages and disad-antages. "s# has a solid library$ powerful
hardware$ and great controllers. An the downside "s# is 0nown to ha-e ,-,
problems$ it only has # controller ports$ no standard hard dri-e. Whether or not
these factors will 0ill "s# chances of winning is not for sure$ yet. GC$ *intendo
wants -engeance. With GC the bring in a tiny little bo) that pac0s .uite a punch.
GC has special 3in. discs that can fit in the palm of your hand. The controllers are
great$ and the system loo0s and feels HfunH. /owe-er there are some downsides as
well to choosing GC$ o-erall it is not that powerful compared to &bo)$ and it barely
beats out "s#. The upcoming library of games for GC is not that impressi-e$
e)cluding the few games such as 6elda and %etroid. *intendo once again seems to
be gearing them for targeting a younger audience with games li0e H"i0minH. 4-en
though they are bringing bac0 the entire ;esident 4-il series to GC$ GameCube has
a -ery limited software library. The last$ but surely not the least$ not in siEe or
power anyway. &bo) is big$ fast$ and fun. 8lthough this is %icrosofts first time in
the field they seem to 0now what there doing. &bo) has e-erything you could want
/ardware wise ,V,$ /,$ Internet$ and so on. Its lightning fast$ and -ery slic0.
Games such as ,ead or 8li-e 3 and /alo show you what 0ind of graphical power
&bo) has$ (5T we cannot rely only on graphics. &bo) may ha-e the most power$
but as for games we remain unsure$ ,o83 and /alo may be great$ but other games
do not ha-e a big nameOcompany bac0ing them. If theres one thing that may 0ill
&bo)$ its the games. 8lthough &bo) has the power in it to ha-e superior games$
companies li0e !.uare are not floc0ing to &bo). In the end deciding which system
to buy is preference$ *intendo fans will go with GC$ newcomers to consoles and
others will head o-er to &bo)$ and !ony fans will go with "s#. The system that will
do the best out of these three in the long run is most probably "s#. Why+ !ony has
the some ad-antages the others do not a lot of mar0eting muscle$ games that are
only on "s# :%etal Gear !olid #< and a large following. "s# may not be the most
powerful in terms of hardware$ yet its a good all around system that has a lot
to offer. Aut of the big 3$ !ony will once again win the battle.
BiGmi)e
Verdict: PS
Gamecube a -ery intelligent company that has the most of the e)perience of all
the systems. *intendo is 0now to many as a H0iddy system$ but really I wouldnt
under
4stimate this system. !tarted out in a bad way$ not doing -ery good sales in Papan$
but doing -ery well as of recently. With games li0e super smash bros$ wa-e race$
star wars$ super mon0ey ball and 9uigis mansion$ this system sure did a nice job.
many of course will be awaiting for future titles that will be out for this fun
multiplayer system$ some being "erfect dar0 Eero$ WW7 wrestle mania #22#$
6elda$ %ario sunshine and many more. Dou can e)pect this system to release many
fun multiplayer games$ which really did change the gaming system for all of us.
!ome of those being po0emon stadium and all of those great titles which are always
doing -ery well$ another could be %ario
party > which is slated to be released sometime ne)t year. If u are one of those ppl
who really do enjoy multiplayer games such as these than this is the
system for u. *intendo in my belief will always own all other systems in fun
multiplayer games that will 0eep u and ur friends hoo0ed to ur t-Gs for months <
&bo) a -ery smart company which hopes to do well with their new console. The
&bo) is the richest of all consoles and ha-ing many great titles such as /alo:-ery
good game by the way B2 id say<$%a) "ayne$ ,ar0 summit$ Add$ and many more to
come this system may bring fun to ur house. The &bo) has many ad-antages the
ps# and GameCube dont ha-e$ them being that the &bo) has a built in internet
modem which is already built in. Anly problem i seem to ha-e with the &bo) is one
thing and one thing only.:ha-ing strong sales in the 5s was important no doubt
about it$ but the 7ebruary release in Papan will determine the future of this system i
belie-e. I strongly thin0 that if the &bo) doesnt do good in Papan it will become
another ,reamcast and it will die soon : $so what I am trying to say is if ur not
really sure whether u should get one or not$ then wait and see how it does and if it
does well then get it because its probably the most powerful console of them all.
"s#< well we all 0now about the ps# and how great of a system it is. 4-en though
the ps# doesnt the > slot capability the &bo) and Gamecube do and it doesnt ha-e
a built in modem li0e the &bo)$ it is still the best system i belie-e of all 3 of them.
The ps# is not 0nown for its well fun games but it is doing really well as of now.
With great titles still to come 7inal fantasy &$&B$)enosaga$te00en >$ and many
more that just does it all. The waiting is no problem either since well still occupied
playing many of its games out now such as %etal Gear solid#$ GT83$ grand
tourismo 3$tony
/aw0s 3$WW7 !mac0 ,own just bring it$ and many more this system sure does it.
%any people as0 themsel-es$ who will sur-i-e in war and coming from someone
who plays games all the time and has all T/4 (IG 3Gs then i just want to tell u that
the "s# is the one that will. I belie-e after the smo0e is clear and the grass is
settled ps# will be standing up top $till its big brother arri-es "laystation 3 which
!ony already confirmed it will be released sometime #22>.
so this is how I -iew the 3 systems
SBps# will stand alone in top i belie-e e-en though the Competition will be hard.
S#nintendo gamecube will beat the ) bo) in the long run since many of its great
titles still to come are already being tal0ed about.
S3)bo)being the great system that it is$ I still belie-e the sales in Papan will not
be good and it will 0ill the system.
TTT Though these are only things I belie-e and how I thin0 it will be at the end.
Things could be different and the &bo) could be in first for all I 0now$ but I doubt it.
Go !ony
Sta** Verdicts
(entley GC*
(iGmi@e "!#
ChrisCA "!#
CP &'(o)
,oggie GC*
,ragon &'(o)
4n,
Impulse "!#
Peremy
Poe(ob &'(o)
%c(ain "!#
net,ude &'(o)
!hinD GC*
& "!#
6en &'(o)
PS X%Bo& GCN
+ + ,