The world of gaming can be a nasty place. The internet seems to highlight the worst bits; full of bickering, flaming and criticism, it's a cruel world. Just ask Treyarch.
I suppose that's what happens when you take a bunch of passionate and opinionated folk and cram them in the same cyberspace together. Of all the Holy realms of geekdom, gaming seems to be the one where the old saying, "You can't please everyone" rings particularly true.
To tell the truth, I expected all out war this past couple of weeks.
We've seen the battle lines in the handheld market form, as both Sony and Nintendo whip their weapons from their holsters and let them glisten in the sunlight for all to see. (I'm talking about 3DS and NGP, by the way. I know how you lot like to make things dirty.)
Strangely, there's been little in the way of fan-baiting, mockery or condemnation. We haven't even had any claims of an 'Epic fail' taking place. Whisper it, but it's almost been polite.
Oi! You lot! What's going on!?
We asked a biggie over the weekend: "Sony NGP vs. 3DS: Which will you buy?" It was a fair question, but demanded you pick aside. In all honesty, we awaited the outcome from the safety of the CVG nuclear bunker.
Instead of a verbal mushroom cloud, though, we got the likes of this from altitude2k: "Neither at launch, but definitely the NGP out of the two. Just more to my taste, especially the quality-looking lineup." - a perfectly reasonable, well explained opinion, and representative of the masses.
"3DS. Resident Evil Revelations. Starfox. Paper Mario.Yum yum," said razors edge with absolutely no attempt to bash the NGP at all.
"Prob the NGP. 3DS looks cool but, no not for me," pondered gobbybobby, giving props to both consoles.
"Neither," said The_KFD_Case with not a sniff of a swear. Fair enough.
When we cranked open our lead door, what should we see but a circle of cross-legged gaming fanatics singing 'Kumbayah'. The only flames were toasting confectionery. Brought a tear to the eye, it did.
It seems that rather than forge the next great gulf between gamers, the arrival of the NGP and the 3DS has actually brought us all together.
I guess the reason is simple: You Sony folk might not quite understand those Kirby loving kids, but you have to admit you'd like a peek at that fancy 3D screen. And those pixel-pinching, hardware whores might seem a bit full-on, Ninty nerds, but their line-up is looking pretty special (and you have to envy that second analogue stick...)
In fact, my biggest gaming surprise this month wasn't the sheer amount of tech packed into the NGP. It wasn't even how taken I was with my first eyes-on with the 3DS. It was that both Sony and Nintendo actually managed to come up with the goods.
Comments
44 comments so far...
The Bossman on 1 Feb '11 said:
Oh come on. For the last time it's not The_KFD_Case, it's Victor Meldrew.
djreplay on 1 Feb '11 said:
It's good to see everyone getting on, it was beautiful to watch. *sobs*
*NGP FTW
Shaun2005 on 1 Feb '11 said:
Windows Phone 7?
Research people, research.
Balladeer on 1 Feb '11 said:
So very very true. And where highlights this more than the CVG Article Comments, representing nothing so much as a battlefield, strewn with the carnage of Nintendo-lovers and Sony fans, the ravens picking at their...
...
http://www.aperfectworld.org/clipart/emotions/laughter01.gif
...Oh ho. Sniff. CVG, have you really been looking closely? The rivalry runs as deep as ever, with people barricading themselves up on either side of a No Man's Land scattered with unexploded insults. (Myself included, I'd have to admit, although I try and keep the insults to a minimum.) The fanboys are out in force, the battlelines are drawn and you have the audacity to talk about singing "Kumbayah"? Oh dear oh dear. Permit me for saying that you do seem a tiny bit out of touch with reality.
Also the NGP line-up doesn't appeal to me at all. Wouldn't mind a second analogue stick, though.
Fr33Kye on 1 Feb '11 said:
Hahaha it wasn't as lovely as he makes it out to be, but it wasn't that bad. Especially compared to some console "debates".
Yea they both have their place. Microsoft do have windows phone 7....
Balladeer on 1 Feb '11 said:
Maybe not, granted. Certainly nothing compared to the Kinect vs. Move furore. But it wasn't all campfires and... ooh! (notices marshmallows and wanders off)
altitude2k on 1 Feb '11 said:
You make it sound like my comment was a surprise!
The reason I bought the 360 first was because I preferred the exclusives. I'd be lying if I said that wouldn't have quite a significant impact on my decision if MS were to release a handheld Xbox. But as good as it could be, nothing would be taken away from the brilliant-looking lineup on the PSP2, nor the excellent hardware it run on. Hell, the dual thumbsticks look better than the DS3!
jrb251990 on 1 Feb '11 said:
In a dark office room with a Microsoft Exec looking at his computer screen with this story on the page he mutters one phrase. "Challenge Accepted"
Balladeer on 1 Feb '11 said:
Dun dun DUUUN!
Cadmas88 on 1 Feb '11 said:
No offence Tom but does nobody else in the office have opinions
Windowlicker79 on 1 Feb '11 said:
I don't care what the common opinion is. I'd really like to see what Microsoft could come up with for a handheld device. Windows Phone 7 mobiles really don't count as they're not dedicated gaming devices.
If they were to ever announce anything then it won't be for at least a 18 months as they'd probably want to see how the 3DS and NGP do, which would give them the opportunity to release a more powerful device just as the other two are hitting their stride.
richard99 on 1 Feb '11 said:
There's no controls besides a touchscreen so it isn't a handheld in my eyes. They look like good phones though.
Not really sure what MS could do to get my attention ahead of NGP and 3DS, between them they seem to have both ends of the market covered. Great online is 360's best feature but that wouldn't carry over to a handheld.
Very_Silver_Ownz on 1 Feb '11 said:
Its too late for MS to make a handheld now. if they were going to, they would have already.
l1nc on 1 Feb '11 said:
If microsoft made a handheld it would be so heavy and big you would need zero gravity to be able to hold it.
shogunreaper on 1 Feb '11 said:
@l1nc
And they would have to find a way to incorperate a ring into the design, just so it can have a rrod when the hardware fails.
razors edge on 1 Feb '11 said:
3DS
NGP
Anddddddddd RRDP (Red Ring Of Doom Portable)
But I jest!
The_KFD_Case on 1 Feb '11 said:
Aw shucks, CVG. You managed to make me both laugh and blush in the space of a few paragraphs.
mogel94 on 1 Feb '11 said:
I dont see a need for a Xbox handeld, between the 3DS, NGP and the next Apple product there really isn't space for another shiny toy, especially not for me anyways
Padua on 1 Feb '11 said:
Microsoft don't need a hand held : With Kinect2Go you are the telephone!
Also I truly believe 3D is a gimmick whether it is from Nintendo or Sony.
Jon Ahmad on 1 Feb '11 said:
Hmmm...where do Microsoft fit in eh? I believe they'll sit on the fence for now, see how the other two progress, watch closely, study the pros and cons of both, keep a close eye on the market, then take the plunge - possibly. I think the problem now is Apple. Putting my Nostradamus head on, the pie will be split four ways in the future with each company getting a significant slice of the market. Speaking with a good friend of mine, he mentioned something that made me shudder. Perhaps Microsoft will 'do another Sega' and pull out of the hardware market altogether? I doubt it, but if they don't come up with a rival sooner or later, the alarm bells will start to ring.
Padua on 1 Feb '11 said:
I see Google as the upstart ... not Apple. Licensing Android 3+ could see a new platform for gaming emerging from different manufacturers. MSX and 3DO stylee
Jon Ahmad on 1 Feb '11 said:
Yes, it shall be very interesting to see what happens, but you do have a good point there. The future is bright and it's certainly not Orange
markyR on 1 Feb '11 said:
I have to admit the handheld wars are a bit different. Maybe it's because they are the first new gaming hardware for a few years now? And as stated the 3DS and NGP are aiming at different markets,and they both offer something new but different?
I guess Microsoft could only try to occupy the middle ground? But Sony has such a massive reputation in portable electronics after the Walkman and all it's other pocket gadget porn and Nintendo have a very very very very long history in hand held's too. Nah, I'd rather MS just stayed away, what with Apple too it's crowded enough as it is.
davidalden on 2 Feb '11 said:
Just to enforce the sentiment said by others before... Microsoft have said the Windows 7 phone is there handheld didnt they? I'm pretty damn sure they did! So you got two different handheld wars in theory. On of the phone/app based with windows phone and iphone in opposite corners. The other market is the purely game based one which is 3DS-NGP.
(I have a Windows 7 phone and it is NO WAY replacing anythign else at the mo to my dissapointment)
Ali_ on 2 Feb '11 said:
I find it hard to welcome a handheld XBox. Sure, it will keep your hands warm initially, but then they'll go on fire and cause you lifelong disfigurement.
Feckin_Feckers on 2 Feb '11 said:
this is a feckin EPIC FAIL,i hope they bring an xbox so therl be some head bustin'
monty_79 on 2 Feb '11 said:
It's a good point from Tom in that the handheld rivalry seems to be much more civil than the rather sad spats between xbox 360 and PS3 lovers. Personally, I've not much against the PS3, but I do against Sony as a company as a whole, from the PS3, to their laptops, to Sony music.
In this instance, Nintendo seem to be trying to lure core gamers to the 3DS with some real effort being made to get 3rd parties on board, and , hopefully as a result some really fantastic games and known gaming names on board. The PSP2 does look very snazzy indeed, but for me, I'm not sure if I really need it. I can get my 'proper' game fix from my 360.
Still, here's hoping that that companies try to outdo each other to the very end, as competition is necessary for innovation. God knows why COD is so successfull in that case..
peetay on 2 Feb '11 said:
The RROD portable.
Guild_Navigator on 2 Feb '11 said:
f**k yo Peace with a rubber dildo. Bring it on,MS!
sjs41390 on 2 Feb '11 said:
Nicely written article. I've never understood the hatred among Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo users. We all have our separate interests and in one way or another, the three companies will deliver something for us. The more competition the better though, because it forces each company to put out something better than the last, which can only benefit the consumer.
TheCrimsonFenix on 2 Feb '11 said:
It would be ironic if Microsoft released a Kinect hands free handheld.
Balladeer on 2 Feb '11 said:
That's always been the biggest rivalry because they're the two consoles that are closest to each other. They share many of the same things, and since the Wii chose a different path (for better or worse) they're the only current-gen consoles that continued to head along the "pure power" route. So obviously fanboys will blow up what differences there are.
boskersrevenge on 2 Feb '11 said:
I like your thinking
Domin666 on 2 Feb '11 said:
If MS released a handheld then we would all have to take steriods just to hold it up.
Jon Ahmad on 2 Feb '11 said:
Hmmm...a bit like their original Xbox pad
destroato451 on 2 Feb '11 said:
Okay is it just me or has there always being fighting amongst platforms, I take this blog very bias, i own an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, DS, Wii, original Xbox, PlayStation 2 , game boy etc i think you get the picture, and no matter what you're always going to be fighting, who has the better design, who has the better graphics, games, controllers, whatever the only reason there has been no bashing yet is because no one has played the 3DS or the new PSP yet. I am personally impressed by Microsoft, if you think about how the Xbox came in to the picture they pretty much had there back against the wall hell even me who has now taken the Xbox in as my own used to talk s**t about the system because it was new and no one knew what to expect. Yes they screwed up with the Zune but the only reason was because it wasn't any better than an iPod and it was really expensive but i feel if they can make an Xbox 360 go from 300 to 199 come on i think they would exceed well in the handheld market place because they are all too familiar with the back against the wall scenario, just because you want them all to be happy doesn't make it okay to bash Microsoft for possibly making a portable Xbox, yes they are trying to do this with the windows 7 phone but i personally think no gamer wants that! it doesn't even make it possible to play games like halo, left 4 dead, FPS basically. i would personally be all for them making a handheld solely for gaming like the Xbox 360 experience, i mean look at Ben Heck he is making an Xbox 360 laptop for god sakes and i have looked at how many people would buy those, now tell me that no one would buy an Xbox 360 handheld just to preserve the peace between PlayStation and Nintendo, oh and p.s im sure if microsoft were to mass produce these beasts it would be more cost efficent than $5,000 or trading it for a 1999 ford station wagon........ I rest my case!
(ruin the peace thats not there to begin with) 
Balladeer on 2 Feb '11 said:
http://drboli.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/no-new-paragraphs.png?w=400&h=627
kimoak on 2 Feb '11 said:
ROFL!!!!
Oh man, we are nerds!
Jon Ahmad on 3 Feb '11 said:
@Destroato451: You still gotta admit the original Xbox pad sucked!
WHERESMYMONKEY on 3 Feb '11 said:
/\/\ only if you had the hands of a small child.
PS3_fannyboy on 3 Feb '11 said:
Pfft, the original xbox controller was surpassed only by the Saturn one in terms of general brickishness!
Balladeer on 3 Feb '11 said:
The Wii Classic Controller owned all pads in terms of shoddyness. End of.
Jon Ahmad on 4 Feb '11 said:
Atari Jaguar pad anyone?
Windowlicker79 on 4 Feb '11 said:
They were screwing up controllers long before the Jaguar. Am I the only one here old enough to remember the Atari 5200 controller?
http://www.retrogamingconsoles.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/atari-5200-controller.png?iact=hc&vpx=971&vpy=125&dur=1413&hovh=228&hovw=221&tx=117&ty=117&ei=yRZMTebZPMKxhQeil_WjDg&oei=yRZMTebZPMKxhQeil_WjDg&esq=1&page=1&tbnh=123&tbnw=120&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0
Side buttons completely inaccessible, pointless numbers pad a joystick as limp as a 90 year olds pecker. It was awful.