Yearly Updates, Top Ten for 2008, and Value of the Console

So, a year has passed and now each of the next gen consoles have made their mark on the gaming community. I have three topics planned on this post this year as compared to last years, which include; the yearly update, the top ten for 2008, and the value of the console. Last year, I mentioned the pros and cons of each system, but after a year, some things have changed, while others have still remained the same. Rather than being vague, I'll just get into the scoop and review the updated features of each system.

The Playstation 3 –

With more affordable 1080p HD displays on the horizon, the Playstation 3 has lost exclusivity for being the only console that supports 1080p through HDMI. The PS3 controller will be updated in the future to support rumble functionality, which will presumeably be supported in future PS3 games as well. The PS3's online network is planning on integrating an online virtual network called "Home" in the near future that will simulate a living online environment for the console's online community. Since last year, Sony had dropped the price of the PS3 by $100 dollars and introduced two new PS3 models; a $400 40 GB model with limited backward compatibility and a Spiderman 3 Blu-Ray movie, and a $500 GB model with full backward compatibility and a Motorstorm game.

The Xbox 360 –

The Xbox 360 console had been updated, not only to support 1080p, but includes output support through HDMI on its new consoles. Xbox Live had also been expanded to include more downloadable HD content, such as movies and T.V. shows through the Xbox Live Marketplace. The Xbox 360 is now available in three models featuring 1080p output through HDMI; a $280 Xbox 360 Arcade model with an included memory unit, 5 Xbox Live Arcade games and a wireless controller, a $350 Xbox 360 Pro model with a 20 GB hard drive, Forza Motorsport 2, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and a wireless controller, and a $450 Xbox 360 Elite model that features a black case with a 120 GB hard drive, Forza Motorsport 2, Marvel Ultimate Alliance and a black wireless controller.

The Wii –

The Nintendo Wii is currently leading the next gen console market with most consoles sold, outselling the PS3 by a ratio of 3 to 1 in Japan, making the Nintendo Wii the next gen console for the Japanese market. As more games continue to expand the Wii's library of games, high rated games are starting to appear for the console. Wii consoles are become more available as well as are the peripherals for the system. .

This year, I decided to make some preditions on what will be some of the biggest sellers for 2008.

MY Top Ten Expected Games (for sales) in 2008!

1. Mario Kart Wii - Wii
2. Super Smash Bros Brawl - Wii
3. Mario Party 9 - Wii
4. Grand Theft Auto IV - Xbox 360, PS3
5. Wii Fit - Wii
6. Madden 09 - Wii, Xbox 360, PS3
7. Rainbow Six Vegas 2 - Xbox 360, PS3
8. Resident Evil 5 - Xbox 360, PS3
9. Soul Calibur 4 - Xbox 360, PS3
10. Fable 2 - Xbox 360

This is just my prediction based on the sales of previous games, and if anything, I'm guessing these games will be spread out through the top 20 because I haven't included any new IPs, other than Wii Fit. Other titles that I had considered adding to the list were: Lost Odyssey for Xbox 360, but I didn't know how the rest of the world would receive that Japanese RPG after Blue Dragon; Dragon Quest IV for Nintendo DS, but I didn't know if it was going to be released out of Japan, and Splinter Cell: Conviction, but Splinter Cell: Double Agent didn't really sell that well. However, I still added Mario Party 9 even though no one said they're making one (I'm guessing...) and Resident Evil 5, even though there is no release date for it (I'm guessing it will be out by the holiday season).  Anyway, that's all about that.

Last but not least, I have added a topic regarding the value of each system, derived from a formula that includes the games sold and the cost of the console. It works like this... Lets say that you're interested in purchasing a new gen game console primarily for playing games. In order to make the value of the purchase of the system worthwhile, you should purchase an equal number of games that value the cost of the console itself. And rather than selecting games based on meta review, the games will be selected by games sold for each console. Game sales instead of review scores will likely be the continuing theme of my posts, since they are more tangible statistics that include one factor that ultimately determines the success of title... money. So, on with the topic.

If you're planning to spend money on a new console, you'd better buy some games to go with it, otherwise its worthless. But how do you decide what console is for you? What kind of console gamer are you? The easiest way to find out is to see what other people who buy the consoles are getting. So, lets see what your money gets you...

The Playstation 3: Price: $400 - $500 dollars; Cost of games: $60 dollars; 6-8 games equal the cost of console

Top 8 selling games for the Playstation 3

1. Motorstorm
2. Resistance: Fall of Man
3. Assassins Creed
4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
5. Pro Evolution soccer 2008
6. FIFA 08
7. Need for Speed: ProStreet
8. Uncharted: Drakes Fortune

The Xbox 360: Price: $280 - $450 dollars; Cost of games $60 dollars; 5-7 games equal the cost of console

Top 7 selling games for the Xbox 360

1. Halo 3
2. Gears of War
3. Forza Motorsport 2
4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
5. Assassins Creed
6. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
7. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

The Nintendo Wii: Price $250 dollars;  Cost of games $50 dollars; 5 games equal the cost of console

Top 5 selling games for the Nintendo Wii

1. Wii Sports
2. Wii Play
3. Super Mario Galaxy
4. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
5. Mario Party 8

Hopefully, these lists can tell you what kind of console you'd be interested in buying by the kind of games that are in them. Now, you'd probably want to note that this list is a little bit skewed because some games like Motorstorm, Forza Motorsport 2, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and Wii Sports come included with the price of the console. Wii Play also feature a free Wii Remote (valued at $40 dollars), which means the remaining value of the game is only an additional $10 dollars. But whatever. Sales are sales.

I'm running low on videos these days, so heres a Tetris one that I happened to come across. Hope you like it!