Roundup: The three different strategies of the console makers

Los Angeles (CA) - Preceding the official Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) tradeshow, the big three console makers used their keynote strategies to create appetite for their next-generation consoles by trying to differentiate themselves from each other and painting a near-term business strategy onto the wall. These strategies hold some interesting implications for gamers as we hurtle towards the 2006 holiday season and the much vaunted "next generation" (well, the 2006 next generation at any rate.)

Sony on Monday put itself squarely in the "High Definition" camp. Basically, the company promises us more of what we've come to expect from the Playstation stable, but with the graphical detail notched up to 11. Sony showed us some very impressive demos, albeit prepared ones, and one would be hard pressed not to drool at the prospect of playing those titles - such as the all-time favourite Gran Turismo - in 1080p and in real time on a HDTV.

As well as this, however, Nintendo is also, perhaps for the first time ever, seriously going to Wii all over the other guys parades. Apart from the fact that it has Sony reacting to them by coming out with their own motion sensitive controller to counter that of the Wii, Nintendo is moving swiftly in on the other guys territories. It is offering up credible looking shooters like Red Steel that don't pull many punches for the sake of family viewing, and they're moving into sports titles and even a Wii exclusive iteration of the once Sony-exclusive Final Fantasy series.

Combined with what we expect to be a more palatable price point than either Microsoft or Sony are offering their wares at, Nintendo is looking like it has the most to gain in the next round of the console wars. The Wii will appeal to casual, core Nintendo and "hardcore" gamers alike, and speaking as a man who likes his Grand Theft Auto I'd have to say that the Wii looks the most attractive for combining these markets - some tennis with the kids in the afternoon and some shooting in the evening, all with what looks to be the most engaging controller ever seen in mass video gaming.

There's more: Read all E3 2006 stories on TG Daily