Let's Play
By Aditya Kuber
Gaming consoles are starting to make a mark in India as more and more gamers discover the fantastic world of gaming. Here are some of the best options you could opt for if you are one of those who refuses to grow up!
Users from New York to Tokyo to Mumbai say virtually the same thing when it comes to video game consoles: Microsoft’s Xbox, Nintendo’s GameCube and Sony’s PlayStation 2 are all great systems. Your choice between the three depends more on the games you want to play and the folks you want to play with online than any other factor, including price. The bottom line is this: Xbox is the best platform to buy in general. The PS2 is the best choice if you already have a library of PS2 games. The GameCube is the best choice for kids.
Among the new handheld systems, the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) (approx cost Rs 11,000) tops the Nintendo DS (approx price Rs 7,000). Although the Nintendo has two screens, the Sony has a larger, higher resolution screen that delivers better graphics. Interestingly, it is said that the Nintendo DS was never meant to be competition for the Sony; rather, the DS is positioned as a placeholder until the next Game Boy unit (provisionally named the Game Boy Evolution) comes out around year-end 2005.
The Past
In 2004, video-console sales were flat compared with 2003, a slowdown that’s been long anticipated. Since current gaming systems are now in their third (Xbox and Game Cube) and fourth (PlayStation 2) years, sales are slowing in anticipation of new systems in late 2005 and early 2006. If you want a game system now, this is a trend that works in your favour, since Xbox and PlayStation 2 are selling for 50 per cent less than they were when they debuted, and anxious shoppers were standing in long lines to snatch up dwindling supplies.
In an effort to freshen the PlayStation 2 and boost sales, Sony released a slimmed-down version of the PlayStation, called simply PS2 (approx price Rs 18,000). Features-wise, the unit—which is about half the size and weight of the larger PlayStation 2—doubles as a DVD player, but has built-in networking. That means you’ll be able to play online games over broadband or dial-up without purchasing an adapter (as owners did with PlayStation).
It is missing a memory slot and hard drive. That means a few games, such as Final Fantasy XI, which need a hard drive, can’t be played on the smaller PS2. Sony insiders say that the upcoming PlayStation 3 (set for a late 2005 release) won’t have a hard drive either. Sony says that so few games have been designed to use the hard drive that they’ve decided not to equip PS3 with permanent memory. Performance of the PS2 is the same as the full-size PlayStation. Some say this is because the guts of the system are the same.
The Future
If you’re not in a hurry to buy a game system, and you want the latest technology, you may want to wait until late 2005 or early 2006. The new Xbox, called Xbox 360, will hit the market by Christmas of 2005. Sony will follow on its heels with the PlayStation 3 in early 2006. Cyberworld is rife with rumours of their prices and are current estimates say that both will retail for around Rs 14,000, which is historically the debut price-point for game consoles. Sony has already announced that PS3 will be backwards compatible with games made for PS2 and the original PlayStation. Nintendo’s follow-up to the GameCube (code named Revolution) will likely debut mid-2006.
Microsoft says the next Xbox will be able to play current Xbox games, though some pundits say there could be some snags, since Microsoft is switching video-chip makers for the next-generation Xbox. Xbox 360 will feature an ATi graphics controller, while the current model uses circuitry from nVidia.
The Present:
Xbox vs PS2 vs GameCube
Three years ago, it was written, “If your biggest priority is the widest selection of quality games possible rather than hardware bells and whistles, the PlayStation 2 is your best choice. However, a year from now, the Xbox may very well have the upper hand.” That’s true today, and sales figures for Xbox and PlayStation 2 run neck and neck. Microsoft claims that Xbox has overtaken PlayStation 2.
With more than 400 games currently available, game writers have been busy ramping up the game library for Xbox, and its proprietary titles have been blowing users away. The 2004 season saw the release of the bestselling Halo 2.
Sony PlayStation 2 is still a strong contender due to its large library of games (over 2,000 compatible titles, including those for the earlier PlayStation), and some top-selling proprietary titles, including Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. GameCube (approx price Rs 5,500) is now featuring strong titles (like the new Metroid Prime 2 and Paper Mario) exclusive to Nintendo, and has over 450 games available.
Xbox leads the technological advances in online games, with around 100 games classified as “teen,” “everyone,” or “mature.” Some games also come with a free trial, after which, you can buy a subscription to Microsoft’s online gaming service, Xbox Live, on a monthly or annual basis (between Rs 300 and Rs 2,200, respectively). You need a broadband connection to play online games with Xbox. Now that the slimmer PS2 has integrated networking, you don’t need to buy a separate accessory. Sony doesn’t charge anything for online gameplay on PS2, but the games themselves sometimes charge a monthly fee. PS2 can use broadband or dial-up for online play.
Play Online
If you want to play a wide variety of online games, the Xbox is the better bet. Since Microsoft hosts the servers for all online game play, your monthly fee gets you access to all available games and the convenience of a single login account. Xbox Live is widely acknowledged as the more elegant solution to online gaming.
PS2 also has about 100 online games. If you don’t anticipate playing a huge variety of online games, PS2 is also fine—you need to register and create an account to play each game online, but other than buying the game itself, you won’t have ongoing subscription expenses.
If you have a bunch of older PlayStation games, you should go for PS2. You’ll be able to play your old games, and the PS2 doubles as a DVD player right out of the box (although some say it doesn’t compete with a dedicated DVD player).
Although PS3 will be coming out this year, it will cost at least twice as much. If you already own a full-size PlayStation 2, there’s little need to upgrade to the slimmer PS2. Features-wise, the two are nearly identical.
If you’re buying a game system for the first time, Xbox is the better pick (provided you don’t have any strong preference for PlayStation’s proprietary games). Xbox can also play DVDs, but only after you purchase the a DVD playback kit.
So Which One’s for me?
If kids under fifteen years of age will be the primary users of your new game console, you’re best off with the GameCube (approx price Rs 5,200), with its collection of proprietary games in the ever-popular Super Mario mould. The GameCube’s controller is smaller than the others, making it more appropriate for small hands, and costs about Rs 2,000 less than Xbox or PS2.
However, the GameCube can’t double as a DVD player, and some have criticised its relatively small hard drive. Some adult games are also featured for this system, though it’s a decidedly weird experience to play a blood ‘n guts shoot-’em-up on such a family-friendly console. Bottom line: If Doom-style games are your cup of tea, you’re better off with an Xbox or PS2.
The GameCube can connect to the Internet via dial-up modem or broadband and subscriptions are sold directly by game developers. So far, Sega’s Phatasy Star is the only game that can be played online with GameCube.
Starter kits for a game console include some accessories and games, and they may be worth considering when you choose what system to buy. An extra controller (for adding a player to the game) is bundled with a game or two into packs that cost less than all their components priced separately. Microsoft has a connectivity kit for the Xbox that includes a subscription to Xbox Live, and a headset (to talk to other online players).
Handheld Game Systems
Two new handheld systems challenge the 2004 front-runner, Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance SP (approx price Rs 3,500). The Game Boy Advance SP has an enormous library of games (over 700, since it is backward compatible with the original Game Boy), and the Advance SP is still a bargain compared to the newer Nintendo DS (approx price Rs 6,800) and Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) (approx price Rs 18,000).
The Nintendo DS is a dual-screen handheld console capable of wireless gaming–both short-range gaming and Internet gaming via Wi-Fi hotspots. The multiplayer capabilities allow you to play with up to sixteen gamers. There are two slots for games: A new slot for DS games and a legacy slot for backwards compatibility with older Game Boy titles. The standout feature of the Nintendo DS is its two screens, one of which (the touchscreen) acts as a controller.
Sony’s PSP plays online and peer-to-peer games, but also doubles as a media player capable of playing MP3s (loaded on a Memory Stick media card) and video (either on proprietary discs or on a memory card). The controller is similar to that of PS2, and accessories include a camera and a keyboard. It has a single screen, but it is larger and has higher resolution than either of the screens on the Nintendo DS. A few of the drawbacks are its bulky size, its battery life (less than three hours of usage per charge) and the fact that this unit uses a propriety disc for movies (called the Universal Media Disc).
The PSP’s screen is bright, sharp and practically flawless, and performance is better than that of the Nintendo DS. The price of the PSP positions it as a toy for adults versus a typical portable device designed for a kid.
Although the PSP can play movies, movies on UMD disc work best. Playing movies on a Memory Stick card is a complicated process that involves downloading video in the correct format to the card (needs to be purchased additionally). Currently, only five movies are available on UMD discs, including Spiderman 2 and Hellboy! While the PSP does a good job with MP3 playback, it’s not much of a stand-in for a portable DVD player.
The PSP is the clear winner over the Nintendo DS. It has a better screen (which means better looking games), and its Memory Stick slot allows you to play MP3s, view photos and videos (to a limited extent). Built-in Wi-Fi works well for online gaming, and its analogue stick and directional-pad gaming controls are also good. The Nintendo DS touchscreen isn’t as easy to use as it could be, though. Of course, the PSP costs more than the DS. Right now, about twenty games are available for PSP.
Another competitor in the handheld game-console market is the N-Gage from Nokia(approx price Rs 9,000). This mobile phone/game-machine/MP3-player combo was an incredible failure with gamers. Less than a year later, it was re-envisioned as the N-Gage QD (costing even less at approx Rs 7,800), a new model with a new service plan. And while it is a big improvement over the original, this second-generation model has no MP3 player or FM radio.
The new model is better designed with backlit buttons and images are bright and sharp and the sound is very good. Ultimately, it is the game library that propels sales, and Nokia needs some exclusive and compelling titles to grab a share of the market.
The PSP is currently the top handheld unit, but it costs as much as a console system. For about Rs 3,600, the Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP is still a good choice for casual gamers. It costs far less than other models and has an extensive game library. As with full-size consoles, however, 2005 looks to be a defining year for handhelds as the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS compete, and Nintendo’s new Game Boy comes into play.
(c) The Herald.
Posted by Scribbler at 10:25 PM
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