I’m known as the resident gaming ‘expert’ at my job.  When rumor hits or when a new title/console comes out, I’m usually the person that people come to in order to get the word.  This position has brought quite a few interesting conversations between myself and others.

Most companies have interoffice wars in which employees are on two sides of the same fence…or something like that.  Well, at my regular day job, there are Xbox fans, Nintendo fans and ofcourse there are Sony fans.  With that said, I prepare myself each day for the war that may confront me as I head to work.  They’re friendly wars that come up from time to time via email when a new game comes out or in this case, when new consoles are on the horizon.

These wars, naturally, are always about Xbox vs PS vs Nintendo and vice versa.  I thought you all would get a kick out of reading one such battle that took place today between myself and a few other employees.  5 guys.  1 subject.  Who wins?  You be the judge.  Some of the names have been changed to be protect the innocent and uninformed. 

Participants:  Me, Sony1, Sony2, Xbox1, and Xbox/Nintendo (these names identify the person’s allegiance…I’m ‘Me’ in this war ofcourse)

Subject:  NBA 2K7 on PS3

The War:

Sony1 - http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/815/815873/vids_1.html To me, this game looks way better on the PS3!

Sony2 - Yeah it does have some good graphics.

Xbox1 - Man, until PS3 games reach Gears of War type status, don’t talk to me.

Sony1 - Are good graphics worth $400 say like the 360? Because that’s all your paying for. Gears of War is the 360’s only Savior.

Me - Good graphics aren’t worth $600+ lol I’d rather pay $400 for good graphics than $600…do the math.

Sony1 - So you wouldn’t pay $200 more for a built in Blue Ray player that plays HD movies and games vs. a stand alone Blue Ray Player that cost $1000?

Xbox1 - Let’s not forget about a little game called Halo 3…..I guess the PS3 has Grand Theft Auto..oh wait..so does the 360!

Sony1 - XBOX finally got Grand Theft Auto after years of being behind in the franchise. So I guess to make up for that they put out that GTA wannabe Saint’s Row.  And Halo? No comment.

Me - I bet you couldn’t find me 10 people who are getting the PS3 that also know what Blu Ray is.  (look at how you spell it..Blue) See my point?  No one even knows about Blu Ray.  And to be honest, let’s weigh what you just suggested.  $600 for a gaming console + Blu Ray right?  Versus a simple Blu Ray player @ $1000 that ONLY does Blu Ray.

Which do you think will do Blu Ray more effectively?  Surely you don’t think that Sony has put a $1000 Blu Ray drive inside the PS3 and is only charging people $600.  Come on.  They put the lowest quality player they could inside…if they had chosen to put a high end Blu Ray drive, then the PS3 would be upwards of $1000.  So if you think you’re going to get a top of the line Blu Ray drive inside the PS3 then hey…I applaud you lol

Xbox/Nintendo - PREACH!!!

Sony1 - Blu or Blue. TOMATO-Tomato. You know what I mean. Unless you’ve seen it for yourself you can’t say how well the Blu Ray drive works in the PS3 whether its high quality or low quality.

Me - Well you sure are preaching Blu Ray as if you already know it’s going to dominate..why can’t I preach otherwise?  Anyway, I’m all for the PS3 and all that…but really..it’s just too expensive at this point..and it’s not like the last generation when the PS2 had a gang of titles that were better than the Xbox.  Things have changed man.  The PS3 lacks 3rd party support as is…most of whom have chosen not to support the PS3 and they all cite the price and hard developing tools as reasons.

I mean it’s a cool console…the graphics naturally are going to be good with what they’ve put inside but the fact remains there’s nothing that truly separates it from the Xbox 360.  Nothing at all.  You can make a case against the Wii…but if you want high end graphics, good games, HD etc…then the Xbox 360 is a better deal…price alone.  It does everything the PS3 does and it has better games this round.

Only Sony fanboys are out there saying otherwise.  I understand the argument about having a big PS2 library already but that’s a PS2 library that you have your PS2 to enjoy.  Sony isn’t in a position this time to kill the market…that’s just the way it is.  They don’t have an interesting portfolio of games now and even into 2007.  Metal Gear Solid….Devil May Cry…Gran Turismo…come on…be serious.  They have ZERO original titles coming because 3rd party developers aren’t interested in it.

Bioshock, Mass Effect, Lost Planet, Viva Pinata, Alan Wake, Huxley, Splinter Cell 5, Dead Rising, Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Halo 3, Gears of War, Pro Evolution, Kane vs Lynch, Ninja Gaiden 2, Marvel Universe, Halo Wars, Small Arms, Roboblitz…man that’s just a few exclusives on the Xbox 360.  Don’t let being a fanboy stop you from enjoying it.  I mean I’m not always gonna be at home for you to enjoy these games.

Xbox1 - I couldn’t have said it better.  It’s not that I’m against the PS3, I just think that the Xbox360 has a better library.  When the PS2 came out, I was one of the first in line.  I have nothing against Sony, but since their PS2 dominance their arrogance is ridiculous.

Xbox1 - Man, I don’t like having to pay for that if I don’t need/use it.  The xbox 360 has a HD DVD drive coming out this year.  I have the option of buying if I want, but the console doesn’t automatically go up because it’s already included.  That’s not to say the PS3 blu ray drive won’t be good.  But I don’t want to be forced to buy it to play games.

Speaking of games (which is what these systems are supposed to be all about), I can only think of one game that might get me to buy a PS3 and that is Metal Gear..and that is rumored to also be coming out on the Xbox 360.  But we should all be happy…competition is good for gamers of all systems. 

Sony1 - Say, I’m not saying I’m a fanboy or whatever language you online geeks speak (just kidding)  Don’t get me wrong, 360 is a good system but I have to disagree with you as far as the 360 titles. I only see maybe 4 titles below that I would pick up if I owned a 360.

Yeah, PS3 doesn’t have a lot of games right now since this is the launch week but since when has any system had a huge library of games on launch day? 360 didn’t have a long list of titles when it launched so why should PS3 be any different?  And who knows what could happen in the future.  We’ll just have to wait and see.

Me - Well name some PS3 games then that are coming out next year that are more exciting than the ones I listed.

Sony1 - (Links a huge list of PS3 games according to IGN before he leaves for the day)

Me - Case closed then.

I’m sure there will be more to this tomorrow when Sony1 gets back in to work.  I’ll have another chapter in these Office Wars some day.