Whenever a new console is announced the first thing a reader looks at is its technical prowess, believe me I do too. Of course the processor, RAM, polygon count are important and key factors, what is sorely missed by the reader is the fact that what really makes or breaks a console is games.

ROUND 1: The Launch Titles

You might ask yourself, “How the hell does he know the launch titles for each console?” and you’d be right to do so. There is not enough information on either console, especially Dolphin to make that comparison, but I will anyway.

Sony: Well when you look at it, software wise, the only feather in Sony’s cap is Squaresoft. With a launch title from them, mostly mediocre titles with a few decent ones from third parties, and remakes of PSX games (which are confirmed for PSX2’s launch) and you have Playstation 2’s launch

Nintendo: All they need is a new groundbreaking title from Miyamoto, a new Mario or dare I say Metroid, and they’ve already guaranteed to sell over a million copies. Throw in a few stellar titles from Rare, and respectable third-party support (well more so than the Nintendo 64 received) and we have a better console already. Oh, I almost forgot, throw in a fully 3D 128-bit Pokemon game, and Nintendo will have a sure fire hit on their hands.

ROUND 2: Third-Party Support

Nintendo seems to have learned from their previous mistakes with the N64, no longer limiting themselves to a few select developers they seem to be on the right track to gaining a lot of old allies back, and maybe gaining some new ones in the process. Sony, who relies on third-party software, seems to be in a bit of trouble here. As both systems share the DVD format, releasing the same games on both consoles would be quite easily done. That would mean that Sony could lose their console exclusive games like, Resident Evil, Tekken, and maybe if we cross our fingers until they turn purple and face amputation…. Final Fantasy.

ROUND 3: First and Second-Party Support

This round here Nintendo is clearly the winner, as Sony lacks the qualified and talented development houses that Nintendo is so damn famous for. With EAD, HAL and Intelligent Systems Nintendo seems to have the edge. Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Star Fox, F-Zero vs. Gran Turismo?? C’mon you’ve got to be kidding if you think Sony would win this round. Add a little Rare (now it’s a recipe) and what you get is the exclusive titles that you’ll only see on Dolphin. The only chance Sony has in this round is if they sign Squaresoft as an exclusive second-party developer, which I have a feeling they will.

ROUND 4: The Control Pad

You thought this was only on the game aspect of the next–gen consoles? Well how were you going to play those games? Hmm? Again I think this round Nintendo is again clearly the winner. When is comes to the control pad Nintendo are the innovators and Sony are the, you guessed it, imitators. Nintendo revolutionized the gaming industry with the NES’s D-Pad or digital pad, next up with the SNES they introduced more buttons and the L and R shoulder buttons. Finally, with the N64, Nintendo once again revolutionized the gaming industry by making the analogue stick and force feedback an industry standard today. Who knows what Nintendo has up their sleeve for the Dolphin’s control pad? Whereas Sony on the other hand have a pales imitation of the SNES controller for the PSX, that doesn’t include their Nintendo rip off ‘Dual Shock’ control pad.

Conclusion

Nintendo seem to be on the right track, software wise, this time around. Choosing the attractive DVD format, they won’t be alienating third-party developers like they did with the cartridge based Nintendo 64. Obviously these claims on my part may seem to biased, well at a Nintendo site, what did u expect? (Boy I love rhetorical questions, don’t you?) Nintendo are the world’s greatest video game developers and innovators, why would anyone not want to be on the side that, even if it doesn’t win, it would provide the greatest satisfaction.