First off I’d like to say I do actually like Stuff magazine. So much so that for the past two years I have given a 12 month subscription of it to a friend who enjoys it just as much as I do, but I have to say I was very annoyed to find, whilst flicking through the November 2007 edition, the front cover screaming about a feature inside called “Superconsole Smackdown - PS3 (in very big letters) vs Wii (in smaller letters) - (You probably get the picture already.)

Now I’d like to add that I probably will get a Wii in the near future - the so-called “pick-up-ability” is phenomenal. My 6 year old daughter picked up the controller to play Bowling on Wii sports during the Christmas period and without any training other than that offered by the game initially she managed to beat me completely. This phenomenon is something no other console can compete with. Yet.

Anyhow, back to main topic, that being Stuff mag’s over-apparent PS3 fanboy-ism.

In the feature itself the PS3 gets an amazing 8 advantages and only 3 disadvantages. Of the eight advantages one of them is the free on-line gaming. Free, yes. I can’t disagree with that. Supported and looked-after, with a continuous feed of cash to keep it going, I think not. Another advantage is that it is backwards compatible with PS2 games. Worth remembering that one. Of the cons, they mention the lack of rumble feature and the cost. Just a little mention though. £425 isn’t too expensive is it? In the list of the nine most wonderful games for the PS3 is apparently Sonic the Hedgehog. Ummmm, a games mag this is not. Then they have a lovely page on Blu-Ray movies. Unfortunately Blu-Ray is slowly dying if the Amazon Christmas hi-def movie sales figures are anything going by.

The next console on the list is the Wii. A snip at only £180, though it’s more recently been found on sale at £169. This console has seven advantages and just four dis-advantages. One of the pro’s is its backwards compatibility with Gamecube games. Another is WiiConnect 24 which means the console updates over the net whilst it’s switched off - nice! This also has a rumble pack oh, and the mag also makes a little mention of the completely innovative control method which for me IS the Wii. Oh, and it also plays DVD’s. For the cons we get the fact that it’s not the most powerful console going and also if you’re a hardcore gamer you might not like swapping control methods again and again. Us human-folk obviously aren’t that intelligent then. Darn it.

Last, and apparently least as far as Stuff is concerned is the Xbox 360.

It has just three advantages - one of which is the sublime gaming experience as the hi-def graphics through the component output is very good. Apparently there are also a wealth of games and xbox live is a superb online experience. For the cons there is no HDMI output - true, until the Elite came along. The fan is a little loud and the power brick is a little large. Yes, I agree with both of these.

The mag thankfully bothers to list six HD-DVD movies that you can get and a staggering THREE games (from the wealth of games the 360 has - see advantages) that you must own. HALO isn’t even mentioned, nor is Bioshock (Didn’t that win some silly little award like Game Of The Year?). COD4, PGR4 (or 3) don’t get a mention either - in fact the games mentioned are Dead Rising, Oblivion and ruddy Table Tennis. Come on Stuff, you’re not even trying here.

One big advantage not even thought of is that it’s just a little more than half the price of the 360. With the cash saved you could get yourself five more full-price games. There is a little mention of the Xbox Live service - the fact you have to pay for it over the PS3’s free service - isn’t even mentioned. They forget to mention the console is also backwards compatible with almost the entire Xbox catalogue and with Xbox Live’s continued updates (because it’s paid for) you can download movies, TV shows and previous Xbox games, via the ‘net.

Unfortunately from the start it was plainly clear which console was going to get Stuff’s “Hot Pick” of the three and it was little surprise that the PS3 won the battle. The 360 is in fact marked with just four out of five stars. The Wii get’s the full five and the PS3 gets five plus the magical ‘Hot Pick’.

In the summing up the 360 gets little praise. Its apparent ‘old-fashioned tactics’ and ‘lack of innovation’ leave the Wii and PS3 to battle it out. The Wii gets a knock for being low-tech. Again the 360 takes a punch from the summing of the Wii as ‘un-inventive’ and apparently could only stand and watch as the Wii’s wireless controllers took on the PS3. (Have they mentioned the PS3 enough?)

The PS3 gets high-praise for being last into the field with its weaponry perfected apparently (lack of rumble feature anyone?) They claim in their summing up that the motion sensitive controller beats the innovative Wii controller hands down as it ‘pitches to the side in an evasive manoeuvre) However they have saved the best to last as the PS3’s blu-ray capabilities ‘cut through the air and the invisible Wi-Fi streams command its media hordes.’ And with that Stuff claim they have their winner.

I doubt anyone can call the PS3 perfect - the only console in my mind to come close is possibly the Wii and only if we’re ready to leave the ‘best graphics = best game’ equation out. The Wii is a next-gen console only because of its controller (which is fantastic) - the claims that the PS3’s controller whilst motion sensitive beats that of the Wii is just preposterous and stupid. It’s almost as good as saying the because the Blackberry 8820 comes with GPS built in it’s better than having a TomTom on your car dashboard. Then we move onto the blu-ray stuff, I think I’ve covered that one. It may be a re-run of Betamax and VHS but I’m afraid the HD-DVD format is winning, the fact that the PS3 is titled as the cheapest Blu-Ray player going should have given the game away really. It’s not bloody rocket science is it?

Then we come to the very last statement. The built in Wi-Fi. I must have been dreaming when the Wii effortlessly connected to the wireless network, seamlessly updating itself overnight. The 360 was a little more tricky and required an adapter, but once connected it works and can also stream movies, images, etc. using the Media Extender, software built into Windows Media Player. (Windows? Isn’t that the OS that most people use? Why yes, it is. Strange that.)

Whilst I’m certainly not paid to be an electronics, gadget or gaming journalist I do like to keep an open mind and believe that the PS3 does have some advantages over the other two consoles but by no means is it as clear a winner as they make out. In my mind the 360 and the Wii bring up the front of the battle with the PS3 following closely behind.

As I said earlier it was plainly apparent from the start which console had already won. The initial paragraph stated that the Stuff magazine crew had been caught up in the PS3 hype and they ‘know just how good it is’. I hope I never see another piece of so blatantly biased journalism again. Unfortunately I know I will. I just hope no-one reads it and takes it as fact. Don’t believe everything you read. Please. (Unless it’s on this blog!)

I’m not going to comment on this, but rather I’ll let you guys read the article over at gamesindustry.biz, and make your own mind up.

Comment away people!

As amazing as it sounds, GAME has indeed just announced the purchase of the Gamestation group of stores in a deal worth around £74 million. MCV has covered the story.

It looks like the High Street is now all but sown up by GAME, although they have confessed that the Gamestation brand itself offers something different to customers.  I was waiting for them to use the ‘hardcore gamer’ line, a term that is the biggest load of bullcrap I’ve heard, but it didn’t happen.  Must admit that Gamestation does seem to attract a different breed of gamer to it’s stores, yet what is stop it eventually becoming a clone of GAME.

Look at what happened during the GAME/Electronics Boutique merger.  I always used to go into EB over GAME back when both were around, and it took a long while before I actually set foot in a GAME store afterwards, just because they always seemed focused on pushing units over the excitement of buying a game.

It wasn’t that long ago that Blockbuster were buying Gamestation, setting out their stall to break seriously into the UK gaming market.  Does this mean the venture didn’t meet the DVD rental firms expectations, or were they offered something they just couldn’t resist.

Overall, it’s undoubtedly a good move for Gamestation as they will certainly benefit in the short term.  Longer term, I think us consumers may lose out.  One main example I can use; trade-in prices!

Some of you may remember how of recent months, various organisations have been shouting about the virtues of video games used as a learning tool.  The most recent one I’ve spotted is a small news piece in the current issue of gamesTM about a special version of Buzz being created, dubbed ‘The School Quiz’.

News has appeared today of a stronger push to give educational gaming a better positioning in the UK market on gamesindustry.biz. It details the very first meeting of a new trade body called ANGILS which is looking at doing just this.

Let me just get something clear, we’re not talking about Call of Duty being used to teach kids about World War II, or The Sims to bring sociology lectures to life.  Although the second one isn’t a bad idea!

ANGILS are all about pushing Game Based Learning (GBL), and the development, production and distribution of what it dubs Serious Games for this sector.  Founding members include PIXELearning, imaginary srl, KWP, PlayGen and Geomerics; not exactly house hold names to you and me, but then that is half the problem it seems.

With technology moving as it does, the use of IT in schools has grown rapidly, and so has the number of PC’s available to them to utilise for learning.  Yet it seems that there is a dearth of engaging titles that support work in the classroom, and that is where ANGLIS step in.

So why do I think it’s important to cover this?

Quite simply it’s a step in the right direction for the games industry as a whole.  Many gamers don’t realise that this industry reaches beyond the current crop of consoles and PC games, and it’s areas such as the educational side which can be forgotten.  Which is a shame because the critics of gaming probably don’t realise this either.

For years, gamers of a similar age to us have been quietly disagreeing with the naysayers on gaming.  The lack of social interaction, staring at a screen barely moving except for the odd twitch of thumbs and fingers, there being sense of skill or learning.  I know, I disagree with it all as well, but it’s easy for us to defend our hobby from the inside.  It’s only when we get to expose to those same negative people just what gaming in it’s many different forms can offer that we can finally begin to see it accepted more by the conservative, Independant-reading, boris Johnson-agreeing public.

Fact is, video games are of a better status now than they have been in at least my living memory.  Sure, there are sneers of derision from some corners, but often it’s from those ignorant to what it’s really all about.  After all it’s easy to mock what you don’t understand.

That’s why I think groups such as ANGILS are vital to the industry as a whole, to help show the positive nature of what we all love.

For more information on the groups activities, then head over to www.angils.org.

Whilst browsing the interweb today I happened across a story care of those folks over at gamesindustry.biz. Currently their latest news story, it tells of a prediction from EA execs in Australia that software prices may well be cut very soon.

Ryan Jones, GM of EA Australia, predicts a drop from the current AU$120 to AU$99 for all premium full price titles.  Once you get over the shock of reading a three figure price for a game (don’t forget the good old exchange rates), that’s quite a decent drop.  What isn’t clear though is whether Mr Jones is talking about EA titles, or software in general.

This does make sense though.  Here in the UK, the largest chain retailer, GAME, has begun to drop it’s prices.  Since the launch of the 360, you’d be hard pressed to walk into any of their stores and find a game for the system priced below £49.99.  Yet on a visit I made a couple of days ago to a local branch, around 80% of the 360 titles were now sporting a lovely £39.99 tag instead (not including any promotional items).

If that trend continues, and I expect it will, what happens when the PS3 finally gets itself over here.  Undoubtedly Sony would push the £49.99 RRP, but what choice would the retailers have.  Bear in mind that there are probably going to be a far few 360 gamers who buy a PS3 as well, and given that there are a number of games available cross-platform, any price difference at the till will have a significant influence.  The Honeymoon period of buying a console, then buying whatever games you can for it, doesn’t last forever, and soon sense begins to prevail.  Well it does in most cases.

Come March 2007, assuming that is still the planned release window for PS3, round two of the now current generation begins in earnest.  A scary thought when Sony missed round one altogether, and Nintendo to a degree.  I want to see a good clean fight (yeah right!), nothing below the belt (seriously?) and everyone come out fighting on the bell!

Seconds out!

2006 has been a bit of a funny year for the gaming industry. It’s own rise of fame and expansion into the loves of many has continued at great pace but it feels as though the entire industry has somehow shifted.

Last Christmas the rush was on to get Xbox 360’s into shops. This year it’s the turn of the Nintendo Wii and all over again we’re seeing the same shortage problems. What will we have next year?? Isn’t that the million dollar question. The PS3 will hopefully hit our shores in Spring of 2007 but with all three major players having just stepped up a generation what will we have to look forward to next year?

As for the award for Best Hardware 2006 it’s difficult to chose between Microsoft with their Xbox 360 console and the all new Nintendo Wii. Both consoles have hit strongly but the Wii seems to be doing something most analysts maybe didn’t expect. It’s being successful but not for the reasons it should. Simply put, those people in the world who “don’t game” now find themselves drawn to the little nintendo external CD-drive (come on - it looks like a USB CD drive!) Whereas the 360 just continues to go from strength to strength.

On the software side it’s not a difficult choice really. Blockbuster gaming titles have been hard to come by and only one really stands out for me - Gears of War. It really is showing what the 360 can do and I’m excited by that. If Gears of War had been a launch title on the 360 then the console would’ve sold double what it did. It’s an amazing game and one that won’t be leaving my drive for a very long time.

What I’m interested in is apart from the usual categories - Best Company, Best Hardware and Best Software, as well as Best RPG, Best MMORPG, what strange categories would you have in an awards ceremony and who would get the big gold joypad?

As if the possibility of Sony dropping from the console hardware market after PS3 wasn’t enough, it appears that Electronic Arts are vowing to take a step up and begin utilising more new Intellectual Properties instead of just licenses.

In a recent interview, Glen Entis, VP and Chief Visual Officer (wtf is one of those!?!) of EA, has talked openly about the companies desire to allow it’s programmers to develop new more creative software.  So does this mean the end of the ‘Challenge Nothing’ mickey taking from gamers?

Let’s look at the facts.  EA is the biggest developer/producer in the world at this time. As a result of that they have the funds to chuck large sums of money at unproven titles.  However, I don’t believe that means they will just throw money at any old thing in an effort to change the perceptions of the buying public about what they do; that would just be commercial suicide.  The reason EA are such a huge force in video gaming is because they made a lot fo very considered decision about what games they produce and release.  Such an ethic is not lost overnight.

In fact it is one that should be applauded. As much as I never thought I would say this (type to be precise), EA do have to be respected for many different things.  Sure we can all jibe the firm because the endless updates and yearly releases, but they do have a lot of quality titles in the portfolio.  Sure some duds appear as well but no firm is perfect.

Want to see what I mean, then just take a trip over to their UK focused website and have a quick look around.  Admittedly some of them are just published by the firm but it proves the quality that is there!

No if you can seriously tell me that EA just produce crap, I’d ask you to get your eyes tested.  Such is the wide range I feel sure that no-one would be able to browse the catalogue and not find a game they liked or sparked interest.

Coming back to Mr Entis again, he has made it very clear that EA will still produce the licensed based games.  Why wouldn’t they, it’s bread and butter work to them as it stands.  Switching to purely new IP and no licensed software would be way above a risk, it’d be stupid as they need a way to fund future development.  The interesting thing will be in two or three years time when the fruits of this labour should be coming through more regularly.  As the man says himself, “The reason we’re in this business is because we love graphics, we love programming, we love games. So we say, what kind of company do we want to be, who do we want to be, what kind of people do we want to have here, how do we want people to feel about their time at EA?“  It’s amazing what a reshuffle of employees can do.

Personally I welcome this change because long term it’s you and me who will hopefully benefit.  As for the ‘Challenge Nothing’ gags, they may be here a little while longer, but I have a feeling they may be about to change.

For the full interview take a look here.