Think about it. Now that these computers have moved over to X86 architecture, they are basically underpowered PCs. You could probably piece together a PC from Newegg with as-good-or-better specs, and it would cost you about the same (maybe even less) than buying the console. Still, I do think consoles are very important to gaming in general.
So, below are my thoughts about what I learned from the E3 coverage. Sure I could compare the specs between the consoles, but other websites have already done a much better job of that. I could also compare launch titles, but I think we all know that those are not an accurate assessment of what these consoles are capable of (just look at how far the current consoles have come since launch). Instead I'm going to look at what the announcements could mean for us, and what I'm hoping to see in the future.
Microsoft
There were already concerns about Xbox One before Microsoft took the stage at E3. Their previous announcement scared a lot of gamers with rumors of an always-on internet connection being required, DRM forcing everyone to buy new games and not being allowed to lend games to friends, and Big Brother spying on them through the shifty-eyed Kinect camera. Unfortunately, Microsoft did very little to address these concerns at the conference. They've now come through with an announcement that they are changing their policies, but it might be too little too late.
I for one don't have a problem with the requirements Microsoft was putting on Xbox One. I believe this was Microsoft's attempt to push gaming into the future. Cloud computing is coming, whether we like it or not. And while it does come with some privacy risks, it also comes with a LOT of benefits. Imagine being able to access your work, your pictures, everything, from any device, anywhere. Imagine being able to fire up your Xbox One at a friend's house, logging in to Live, and having your entire music collection ready to rock the party. There were a lot of complaining from gamers who "didn't have internet," which ironically, was all done online, but I believe the number of people who don't have access to internet is rapidly dwindling. With satellite, DSL, and soon balloons reaching further and further out into the boonies, the only reason for not having internet is to choose to not have internet.
I also have no sympathy for the used games market. Stores like Gamestop, which used to be friends to the gamers, have now managed to fine-tune the formula to maximize their profit for used games (which are often priced just a couple dollars less than a new game), while ripping you off on your returns. And that doesn't even get to the fact that buying a used game in no way supports the people who made the game. If you're going to burn your hard-earned money on something, wouldn't you rather do it knowing that you're at least helping those developers make their next game?
This is not to say that I don't have a problem with DRM. DRM is A terrible nightmare for all of us. That scenario I just mentioned about going to a friend's house and loading your music up for his party? That doesn't happen if DRM restricts the locations where you can play that music. And you can forget loaning games to friends to try out. DRM is a pathetic money-grab attempt by companies who are already rich but want to get richer, and I believe it actually hurts the very industry they claim they are trying to protect. When you loan a game to a friend, it's usually with the idea being that they will like it, and then go buy it. But if you can't loan it, how will they know what they are missing? DRM also encourages piracy. Sure, there are people out there who will just pirate stuff for the sake of pirating... it's like a sad addiction. But there are also plenty of people like me... people who are more than happy to pay for something IF it becomes MINE after paying for it. I bought it. You don't get to tell me what I can and cannot do with it. I liken it to someone following me home from Target after buying new bedsheets and then telling me "oh you can't put those on THAT bed. It has to be a NEW one." Bullshit.
Okay I went off on a tangent there and I apologize. Back to the business. What impressed me most about Microsoft was the number of developers they were able to snipe. They even pulled some of Sony's more popular guys over. They did lose Bungie as an exclusive developer, but while "Destiny" looks cool -- it also shows me that they are sort of a one-trick pony. "Destiny" looks like Halo with different characters. Granted, I will probably play the shit out of it... but I'm just saying it's not a huge loss. I'm sure this cost Microsoft a pretty penny, but if they can use these new developers along with their much stronger independent and arcade games markets, they could essentially crush the competition with the sheer volume of high-quality games coming to their system.
I'm also intrigued by the ideas Microsoft has beyond gaming. I appreciate them allowing us to share our XBox Live accounts... having to pay for multiple accounts on the same box is just ridiculous. I like the idea of highjacking the cable box and being able to build our own stations based solely on the shows we watch. They are forcing a-la-carte, something cable companies no doubt despise (but like cloud gaming, it's coming fools). I can't wait to see what the Kinect can do. Sure it's not for "hardcore" gamers, but it has been the centerpiece of many a dance party since I bought it for the 360. That technology is helping us move to the next evolution in gaming: Virtual Reality.
I gotta hand it to Microsoft... they certainly did make waves at E3. Good or bad, you have to admit that the XBox One is being talked about a LOT more than the PS4 or the sad, sad Wii U. I'm not going to say they "won" E3, because their plans for the future are far from perfect (they gotta fix that price point. Come on guys, learn from Sony). But I think they have a strong chance at leading the next console generation.
Sony
While Sony came out of the last console generation just fine, their PS3 announcement was an absolute disaster. Too expensive, too bulky, and a cocky attitude of "deal with it, it's good enough for us, it's good enough for you," did nothing to encourage loyalty among current fans or bring in new ones. That said, the PS3 is a formiddable system which often looked better than the 360 in terms of graphics. And Sony obviously learned from their past mistakes, because the PS4 conference was a much smoother and more positive experience.
Sony caved on the internet gaming experience, which makes me sad. Forcing gamers to opt in to the "Plus" version of the online membership is taking them down the path of Microsoft... and in my opinion the pay-to-play method of online gaming is absolutely ridiculous. Paying should be left up to the developers, much like it is on the PC. Steam is a great example. The client is free, and if a developer decides it wants to charge gamers to play online, that's their choice. The best part is, most of them don't. I get that the costs of infrastructure and management of these massive online populations is expensive and must be paid for somehow, but it just kinda makes me sad... I was hoping maybe Sony would intimidate Microsoft into going free, not the other way around.
While Microsoft backtracked on some of their previous forays (like an expandable hard drive), Sony seems to have learned from Microsoft and made their system more consumer-friendly. They are taking the "nice guy" approach, which has made Microsoft look even more like a big bad bully... it's like a complete flip from the last console launch. Maybe that's just how these things go, I don't know. But I do think in this day and age, making it look like you are catering to consumers goes a long way toward generating loyalty toward your brand. Gamers are smart, but a lot of them THINK they are WAAAAYYYY smarter than they actually are... so tricking them into thinking your their buddy is a fantastic idea. Make no mistake though. Sony, like Microsoft, is NOT your buddy.
Sony has some very strong titles coming to their system, and they at least appear to be making a real attempt at pumping up their independent, smaller game development. They have some catching up to do, but with their huge audience and because Microsoft has in so many ways shot itself in the foot, this is a great opportunity for Sony to make up real ground. Maybe most importantly, Sony has never veered from the idea that this is a console made specifically for gamers. No talk about home theatre setups or changing the way you watch TV. Sure they have their share of apps, but at its core the PS4 is about gaming. And at a better price point than Microsoft.
I would say that Sony was the "winner" of E3. They had the best conference, the best showing, and I applaud their reaction time to Microsoft's conference. This video alone is a great example of how Sony is handling things. But will they win the console launch? That remains to be seen. At its core, Sony is still a very prideful, even stubborn company. Whereas Microsoft has made it clear they are listening to consumers and willing to sell themselves out in order to get you to pay up, Sony tends to be more rigid. Take their controllers as an example. They added a screen, but they still haven't changed the design -- even though EVERYONE agrees that Microsoft has found the money when it comes to ergonomics. If Sony can't even re-position a joystick, imagine what will happen if Microsoft undercuts their price point or comes out with some new groundbreaking idea that Sony will have to be flexible to accommodate.
Nintendo
Oh Nintendo. Poor, poor Nintendo. How the mighty have fallen. Here's a company that went from owning the market, to consistently coming out with the premier system, to barely hanging on. The Wii breathed new life into the company, but the resurgence was short-lived. Now they're stuck with the Wii-U, an underpowered, oversimplified, glorified tablet that no one wants to develop for because it is a huge departure from the two bigger players in the house (Microsoft and Sony, in case you're not paying attention). And if you think Sony has problems with pride, Nintendo makes them look humble by comparison.
I've been arguing for YEARS (even before the Wii) that it's time for Nintendo to bow out of the console market. They simply cannot keep up with behemoth companies like Microsoft and Sony. No one should expect them to either. What saves Nintendo is its games. Nintendo creates AMAZING games. While their graphics pale in comparison, they are still some of the most fun games to play. I would pit Mario Galaxy 2 up against ANY platformer on Xbox 360 or Playstation 3. There simply is no comparison. Zelda? Metroid? Nintendo has some incredible, powerful legacy franchises. Imagine if they stopped wasting their money on hardware and instead focused on software? If Nintendo went the way of Sega and started developing for the other consoles, I think you would see a STRONG resurgence. Hell, even software and peripherals (the Wiimote is a thing of beauty)... but for the love of God, STOP MAKING SHITTY CONSOLES. Stick to the portables, let them make your money, and use that money to create incredible games which you can sell for lots and lots of American dollars.
Nintendo didn't even have a press conference. Instead they tried to show off their games at their booth. And even then, all they really had to show was a slew of first-party games. No one wants to develop for them. Their platform is old, it's on a different architecture, and the audience is too small. It's a waste of time and money for anyone, and I don't blame them for making that decision. I would personally buy a Wii before I would buy a Wii U. It just has absolutely no appeal to me.
I would say that Nintendo lost E3, but really they didn't even show up. This is a company in trouble. It's also a company I love, and if it fails I think it would deliver a terrible blow to the videogame industry. It's time for Nintendo to make some drastic changes or we may be talking about them in the past-tense very soon.
What I'm most excited about in this coming generation of consoles is the blurring of several lines. First, we're looking more and more at a world where PC gamers can play alongside (or against) console gamers. They're all built on the same architecture now, so what's the difference? My Xbox Live account is already tied to my Windows Live account... why not just go one step further and bring it all together? It's going to happen, maybe not in this generation, but soon.
I'm also pumped to see the cloud gaming phenomenon take off. Imagine a world where you don't have to buy the super-powerful video card or massive amounts of ram... where you don't have to try to keep up with rapidly changing technology (and empty your wallet in the process). In this world, all of the heavy lifting is done in the cloud, by computers which could be hundreds of miles away, and all you have in your room is a videobox... a window that lets you see what those powerful computers are churning out at 60fps. It's going to be a rough road, especially from a privacy and ownership standpoint, but I do think this is also coming.
And not that you need it, but even if you did I can't recommend either console yet (I'm NOT going to recommend a Wii U). This is one we're all going to have to watch closely. Sony and Microsoft put their cards on the table... now it's time for the two of them to re-shuffle their decks. We'll see what surprises they have in store for us leading up to launch day. I can tell you this... personally I probably won't buy EITHER console at launch. Both of these companies have shown that they are more than happy to put out hardware that has serious problems, half-baked ideas wrapped in plastic. Look how many revisions both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 have gone through in this generation. New guts, new chips, new processors, new fans, new cases, they look, sound, and feel nothing like the consoles that launched this generation. I fully expect that again with the next generation, and I for one don't want to be one of the chumps who bought an original PS4 just to watch the PS4 slim come out three months later.
/nerd.
