In console punch-up, games are next jab

After months of rumours and leaks, the critical details on new video game consoles from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have been released in all their number-crunching splendour.

However, for all the hype over floating point performance, wireless this and teraflop that, gamers and analysts alike have a consistent message for the hardware giants: "It's the games that'll swing it."

The high-profile unveiling of Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Revolution in the last week made it clear that the next generation of games will be incredibly sophisticated, with high-definition graphics and myriad Net and wi-fi based multiplayer options.

Attention has now turned to developers, who are racing to create games that utilise the systems' new features. Their products will ultimately determine the success of the platforms, analysts say.

"It will all be about who delivers the broadest titles," said Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg. "That's how these wars are won."

In the wake of the consoles' unveiling, some developers are already leaning towards one platform.

"I was shocked by how powerful the new consoles are," said Julian Eggebrecht, president of the San Rafael, California based game development company Factor 5. "They should really free our development."

Eggebrecht said his company -- which developed "Star Wars: Rogue Squadron" for the Nintendo GameCube -- would create games exclusively for the Sony PlayStation 3.

The choice boiled down to performance, Eggebrecht said at E3 in Los Angeles. His company has worked with Microsoft's Xbox 360, but found PlayStation 3's 3.2GHz Cell chip offered more processing power. The additional performance will allow the team at Factor 5 to more easily simulate the real world for a better game experience, he said.

While gamers, too, are eyeing up the next-gen consoles' features with anticipation, much of the talk online and off is about how specific games will meet expectations.

Matthew Freestone, an Xbox owner, said nothing from Sony or Nintendo has made him ready to ditch his Microsoft loyalties. He's a "Halo" fan, and said that title will almost certainly keep him in the fold.

"Sony really doesn't have a game like 'Halo' that makes the console a must-have," Freestone said.

Aaron McBride, a Nintendo GameCube owner, said he's interested in taking a look at Sony's new PlayStation 3. Games are the reason.

"I'm leaning towards the PS3, which is unusual because I've always been a Nintendo fan," McBride said. "I've felt a little annoyed by the lack of games for the GC (GameCube), and I don't see anything that makes me think it won't happen again with the Revolution."

By contrast, Manchester resident Rachel Wild said she's most likely to stay with Nintendo into the next generation, precisely because of the titles the company has, such as "Animal Crossing."

"The PS3 looks cool, and I like the idea of good graphics and all that, but there's no point having prettiness without fun games," she said. "I'm not a big fan of PlayStation's line-up."

Given gamers' widely varying preferences and the differing appeals of the companies, it's too early to pick a winner in the console race. There may well be room for all three in the market, analysts said.

"It's always about content," said IDC analyst Schelley Olhava.

The three companies' console unveilings represented the first shots fired in a war for the hearts and minds of gamers -- and the critical position as electronic hub in living rooms increasingly focused on high-tech entertainment.

The companies' ambitions differ. However, a few early lessons can be garnered from their announcement parties.

Microsoft is betting heavily on integrating its new Xbox 360 into a broad home-entertainment system linked to other Windows devices such as the Media Center PC. It's betting on high-definition game content, a strategy that dovetails with its drive to have Windows Media accepted as a high-definition video standard, as well as a powerful online gaming component.

Moreover, the software company will have critical months to itself in the market, including this year's holiday shopping season, and hopes to use that time to establish a lead.

Sony's console, which won't reach the market until spring 2006, is the sports car of the bunch. The company is hoping that high-performance features that outstrip Microsoft in speed and other areas will persuade gamers to hold off a few months to wait for a PlayStation 3.

The company currently has a dominant market share, with 43 percent of U.S. sales at the end of 2004, compared with Microsoft's 19 percent and Nintendo's 14 percent. By offering full compatibility with PlayStation 2 games, it hopes to retain that huge audience's loyalty in spite of Microsoft's marketing.

Nintendo, which has released fewer precise specifications than the others about its new machine, code-named Revolution, is betting on the company's history. As with rivals, it will boost speed and graphics performance, but it's publicising the player's ability to play virtually all the games from the company's long history by tapping into a new downloadable game service.