Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, oh my!
This holiday season offers video game enthusiasts two brand new systems, the Nintendo GameCube and Microsoft's Xbox, as well as the older, yet extremely successful Playstation 2 by Sony. Making the right choice can be a tough process when it's necessary to shell out $200 to $300 for a system today.
Sony's Playstation 2 has been out for more than a year, but with no real competition (other than Sega's failed Dreamcast) the system has enjoyed continuous strong sales during its entire life.
With a $300 price tag, the PS2 currently has the largest library of games, a big benefit when gamers go software shopping this season.
Other features are its ability to play DVD movies and its backward compatibility with the original Playstation, adding hundreds of games to its lineup.
Michael Dolan (freshman-journalism) believes these features will allow the PS2 to beat its competitors this holiday season.
"Playstation 2 is the better game system for a few reasons," Dolan said.
"There are more games available for it than there are for Xbox or GameCube. It is a better system to buy because, unlike the GameCube, it has the ability to play DVD movies."
Microsoft said that its contribution to the market, the Xbox, is three more times more powerful than any of its competitors. The Xbox is the company's first attempt at a home video game system. Like the PS2, it costs $300 and has the ability to play DVDs. However, it has very few games that will be available by Christmas. This hasn't thwarted some Penn Staters.
"My brother, Terrence, loves his Xbox," said Sonja Thorington (senior-film and video). "My cousins bought one the day it came out, too, and they play it all the time."
Features and graphics aren't everything to some gamers, such as Aaron Rothman (freshman-department of undergraduate studies).
"Xbox has the better features and more realistic graphics," Rothman said, "but the biggest determinant for gaming is the fun factor, and GameCube wins that hands down.'
Nintendo's GameCube will attract some of its buyers thanks to its lower $200 price tag. While unable to play DVD movies, the GameCube has other advantages including the fact that it carries the Nintendo label, a name that has brought many gamers happiness since the days of the original 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System back in the mid '80s.
Also, for any owners of Nintendo's handheld Game Boy Advance, the GameCube will offer the ability to hook the two systems together in the future.
As for software, the GameCube offers some familiar titles that will excite gamers such as Luigi's Mansion, Super Smash Bros. Melee and Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II .
Some gamers feel, however, that Nintendo's time has come and gone.
"Nintendo was in when I was eight. They have some catching up to do on Sony," said Jonathan La France (freshman-crime, law, and justice). "The battle this holiday will be between PS2 and Xbox for the superior system."
As for retailers, the Playstation 2 has been picked to be this season's biggest seller, according to a PlayDate 2001 report that surveys 25 major United States retail chains.
Who will come out on top? Only time (and a lot of shelled out dollars) will tell.
