Ever since the first generation of video game consoles began in 1972, the mindshare of american video game console buyers has been up for grabs. Almost anyone can enter the contest for a piece of the video game pie and go head to head with the top companies of the previous generation with a reasonable chance at coming up at the top. The inverse is also true. The top console manufacturers of the previous generation can be left in the dust by new contenders or even just fierce competition from existing players.
We?re currently in the tail end of the 7th generation of video game consoles. In the United States, the Xbox 360 was released on November 22, 2005, the Sony Playstation 3 on November 17, 2006, and the Nintendo Wii on November 19, 2006. While Microsoft and Sony are promising new console systems in the future, Nintendo released their 8th generation system, the Wii U, on November 18, 2012. The open source startup console Ouya is set for release in March of 2013.
The real question is as the title of the article reads: which game system should you buy this year? The answer to that question is incredibly easy if you already have a video game system: Wait a year for holiday sales of 2013, and/or buy a PC built for gaming (or upgrade your video card on your current PC) if you?re looking to play the latest and greatest video games released between now and November 2013.
If you don?t have a game system already, your decisions are a little bit trickier this year. We?ll break it down with opinions from Amanda, Taylor, and Danny on the major competitors in the console wars this year.
Sony PS3: Bundles starts at $250. Free online to play.
Taylor?s Opinion: I love my PS3. It?s a solid machine, it has a Blu-Ray player. It?s a champ. I love the free online set up, and it has apps for all the big name streaming names like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Vudu, and Crunchyroll. If you want a videogame console that pretty much can be your entertainment center, stick with the PS3. I mean sure, it doesn?t have the savvy when it comes to FPS games, (like Halo4) but it has it where it counts.
Amanda?s Opinion: The only reason to get this console is for a few PS exclusive titles such as: Ni No Kuni, Beyond two souls, and The last of Us. Sure, free online gaming is cool, but seriously, you get what you pay for with *ahem* other systems. Playing online for free seems like fun, but in my opinion, it?leads to hooligans and?prepubescent?shenanigans. I say nay to that. Also, if you like playing with the most awkward controller since the SNES, then boy, you?ll love this one!
Danny?s Opinion: Worth it just to play The Last of Us when it comes out next year. Plus, you can play for free online.
Microsoft Xbox360: Bundles start at $250. Lower prices available through the subsidized pricing with 1 o 2 year Xbox Live agreement.
Taylor?s Opinion: Don?t get me wrong, I dont hate the Xbox 360. I have one. It?s served me well, but the sole fact that I have to pay an extra $50 a year just to play online or use my streaming apps kinda kills it for me. Yeah, Halo 4 is a huge win for this system, and if you?re a hardcore gamer, yes, buy this system. But it has no Blu-Ray, so unless you?re that hardcore gamer, and you don?t want the universal entertainment package, the Xbox is the right fit.
Amanda?s Opinion: Yes, yes, God yes. I could go on talking about 360?s for days! Excellent titles, clean dashboard, Halo 4, the BEST controller like, ever, the Kinect, and uh, Halo 4. You also have the apps, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc, so if you want to use your gaming console for show streaming, that?s definitely an option. Sure, you pay for XBL, but it?s without a doubt worth not playing with as many children or trolls.
Danny?s Opinion: Uhhh Halo 4? You can?t play Halo 4 without a 360. This isn?t a difficult decision. If you want to play Halo 4, or really any of the Halo games, this is your only option.
Nintendo WiiU: Starts at $300.
Taylor?s Opinion: No. Do not want. It is Nintendo playing catch up with another gimmick device. This time they screw you without including the hard drive that you need to pretty much do anything. I?ll pass until next gen, then it is a solid maybe.
Amanda?s Opinion: Only if you are like 13. Or if you don?t play anything other than Nintendo titles. It absolutely kills me that I?m not interested in Nintendos newest console, and I feel rather betrayed. Why Tendo, Why!?
Danny?s Opinion: Maybe if you?re trying to win over the heart of the casual gamer that plays those dancing games. Or Exercise games. And nothing else. It?s not exactly a strong buy, but for the casual gamer maybe they don?t need much more.
Apple iPad: Starts at $329 (ipad mini).
Taylor?s Opinion: It?s Apple trying to do what Google and Amazon have already succeeded at, and what they?ve brought to the table isn?t all that great. If you want an Ipad, stick with the normal one, otherwise this is pretty much just a slightly larger Ipod Touch.
Amanda?s Opinion: A bit expensive for what it is, I?d stick with the regular sized iPad. Or probably just go with a different tablet all together.
Danny?s Opinion: A little more expensive buy in, but a huge catalog of free and cheap (relative to the rest of the competition) makes this a contender at some level. While it?s not going head to head with the PS3 or the 360, it?s hard to argue that the casual gamer shouldn?t consider an iPad for their gaming experience. Even if they?re looking for a more of an opportunity to dip their toe into the more FPS arenas, N.O.V.A 3, Call of Duty Black Ops Zombies, Dead Space, RageHD, etc. all exist as solid FSP options.
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Handhelds:
Nintendo 3DS: Starts at $180.
Danny?s Opinion: Pokemon. Worth it for this game alone. Although, you can buy a regular DS for cheaper and still play Pokemon. You still need a Nintendo handheld, and it?s probably a better option to buy the latest generation of device so that when the new Pokemon games come out as 3DS only titles, you won?t be left out.
Taylor?s Opinion: I dont see how Danny thinks Pokemon is a selling point, the 3DS doesnt even have one yet. The DS does, so its only a technicality. I had a 3DS, I got bored with it. Unless a system has 5 games I want, it?s not worth it to me. The 3DS has 4. I?ll wait.
Amanda?s Opinion: Okay, Nintendo wins this round! Yes, 3D is a little meh, but the titles are really the reason to get this. Starfox,?Ocarina?of time, Kid Icarus, AND Kingdom Hearts? Yup.
Sony PS Vita: Bundles start at $250.
Danny?s Opinion: If you already have or are considering a PS3, this compliments it nicely. If you?re in Microsoft?s camp, you might consider the 3DS rather than this. It?s a little pricey if you?re not in Sony?s camp already.
Taylor?s Opinion: I have a Vita. ITS AMAZING. I wish it would catch on, the think is so powerful and awesome. IT HAS NETFLIX! Skype, Facebook, etc. Plus the cross play is a huge win for people who have a PS3.
Amanda?s Opinion: I have enough paperweights around my house, thank you very much.
Apple iPod Touch: Starts at $200.
Danny?s Opinion: Weakest option, games are low cost, but the gaming experience isn?t quite there. Unless you already have an iPhone and games for it, this is really only for the most casual gamers that can?t afford the more expensive Nintendo or Sony games.
Taylor?s Opinion: I gave up on Apple years ago. I agree with Danny. Enough Said.
Amanda?s Opinion: As a gaming system? Nah. Just for music? Eh.. Maaaybe.
In conclusion, the answer is complicated. If you?re buying a system to play awesome videogames outside Nintendo?s first party titles (or if you?re interested in having the best of the best and are buying a PC to game with), you pretty much owe it you yourself to buy an Xbox 360 or a Sony PS3. Which one? As these are systems with aging graphics and a large catalog of titles, system exclusive titles are few and far between, but they do exist. It really comes down to which of these exclusive games are most important to you.
Source: http://wakingideas.com/blog/2012/11/which-game-system-should-you-buy-this-year/
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