The Console Wars Hit the Shelves - What’s next?
(Page 4 of 4 )
Here is a look at what each company could do to win the battle as this generation’s best console.
Microsoft
The Xbox 360 has been out a year and is going strong. A great move for Microsoft would be to introduce a model above the Premium. While the market is smaller for this console, there are people that would buy it. In late April Microsoft will do just that; they are going to release the Xbox 360 Elite. It is a black Xbox 360 with a 120 GB hard drive and HDMI connection. The bigger hard drive will allow more content to be downloaded while the HDMI was a feature that it lacked at launch and that the Playstation 3 offers. Halo 3 is going to be a huge asset for the Xbox 360. If it catches on the way the first two did, look for a nice increase in sales around the launch date in late 2007.
Sony
Sony has some work ahead of them. They need to get a handle on the price. At such a price it is hard to compete. People can get close to the same graphics with an Xbox 360 or the enjoyment of a Wii for less. Sony has put in the hardware to support the price, but as consumers see it, it is still on the hefty side. Another key market is the Blu-Ray player. If Blu-Ray technologies take off and replace the DVD, look for many people to justify the console as a video player too. If that happens, sales will probably take off. One final idea that could help Sony would be to get some PlayStation 3 exclusive blockbuster game. Microsoft has the Halos which have sold thousands of consoles alone. Microsoft also has Gears of War which has been a big hit. Sony has lost the Grand Theft Auto series, so they need some games that will make people run out and buy a PlayStation 3.
Nintendo
The very first thing Nintendo needs to do is get more consoles to the store. We can’t buy them if they aren’t there. It’s not that it’s taking too long to produce, it’s that the demand is still in the clouds. They don’t need to change much of anything with what they are doing. I would just try and get as many interactive games out as possible. Everyone from kids to retirement homes is buying consoles for this type of game.
Conclusion
It is a little too early to crown a winner to this race, but we can see who’s out in front. Microsoft and Nintendo have both had excellent starts to their release. It is very hard to predict who’s going to win. It could be possible that both the Xbox 360 and the Wii will be very popular since they seem to be geared to different age brackets. Nintendo and Microsoft can both sit comfortably for a while with what they are offering now and by continuing to offer poplar game titles.
Sony on the other hand has had a sluggish start. Once the blockbuster games start showing up the console sales will jump. When the production costs can be cut a little and Blu-Ray becomes more popular, we could see the PlayStation 3 take the lead. 2007 will be a great year for gamers and we all look forward to what the games will bring.
| DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
/ 4 
