In an eleventh hour bid to try and steal some of the media coverage away from the launching PS3 and the Wii, Microsoft announces that Halo 3 testing will be online, to gamers with XBox 360 and XBox Live in early 2007.
My equation for determining the victory for the console wars is based on only two factors: the initial cost of the system at launch vs their competitors, and the quality of the TV commercials at launch. The better your advertising, typically, the better the launch. Everyone remembers the classic Now You're Playing with Power" ad campaign, and the equally classic Legend of Zelda commercial. The NES was cheaper than the Sega Master System, whose "The Challenge will always be there" commercials were a little more forgettable.
Some people believe that by 2011, the XBox360 will have dominance over the PS3 and the Nintendo Wii. I don't believe that to be the case. Superior tech rarely equals fun, and superior tech equals longer shelf life -- but if technology is the main selling point, when the competitor's technology catches up and surpasses, what then? Fun does not become outdated the way technology does -- this is why I believe the Wii will be successful -- not only does it have modern hits, but it also has great classics on its Virtual Console.
