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October 16, 2006
A look back
3 years ago, I set out, in a series of posts, to determine what the "Next Generation" consoles would look like (X-Box, Play Station, and Nintendo). Well, here we are. Its 2006, and within a month all 3 players will be ready. Indeed, Microsoft is already out there. How’d I do?
Well... I rock. I know at least enough to be a Microsoft or Sony executive. Though given the track records of each company, perhaps that’s not saying much. I predicted that each system would ship with modern versions of then-current Xbox equipment. Granted that MS and Sony make gamers buy the “platinum” package, or whatever they’re calling their boxes...
My prediction was that Sony would have to play catch-up, and no know how. I seem to have been correct on this: no one I know is all that excited about the Sony system. MS decided to give us the best controller on the market; making it small enough to fit in your hands (an actual issue!), full of analog-y goodness, and wireless. In effect, they went from stealing Sony’s controller to stealing Nintendo’s...
Speaking of Nintendo. man was I wrong! While everyone else was letting their system evolve, Nintendo was pulling off a Revolution. They completely rethought the way games ought to be played, and have managed to build genuine excitement about their new concepts. I was right about one thing: Nintendo is aggressively marketing the idea that the Wii can play GameCube games...
Over all: I did fairly well. Not great—I completely missed the Nintendo thing—but pretty well. I also predicted that Microsoft would be the big winner this time around. That forecast seems to be bearing out...
Posted by Andrew at October 16, 2006 05:10 PM