The Crown for the Next-Generation Can Go to Anyone

Well before I begin; let's just take a look back at the previous year.

Wow! 2013 was sure a great year for a gaming, wasn't it? A plethora of releases to bid a grande farewell to the long-lasting 7th-generation of Gaming, as the headliners of the industry. Now we turn our attention to generation-8; looking off to the horizons to see the sheer amount of amazing, exciting, and down-right gorgeous creations, that will be running on these brand-spanking-new systems.

Of course; gaming is a hobby - a hobby that includes a person simply enjoying the activity of playing video-games. But then you have us. The SUPER-gamers; who don't just enjoy playing games ~ we enjoy talking about sales, and specs, and what-not (like it matters). But hey, to each his own, no?

If it's one question/discussion/speculatio n/rant ~ that keeps getting pulled up is simply this; which of the next-gen systems is going to take the crown as the king of the hill? The default answer from most; whether it's someone inside the industry, or just your average-Joe gamer - is PS4.

"Hazzah! Greatness awaits! This generation belongs to SONY! PlayStation Domination!"
- I've seen chants like this all over the place. And I have to say, it's nice to see such enthusiasm for a company who's enjoying all the dollars you throw at them. But even so, while it may seem Sony has this one in the bag indisputably; I beg to differ.

"Oh no. Who is this fool? And what on earth is he blabbering about?!"
- Your current thoughts, no?

Well this 'fool' is someone, who simply doesn't like to follow the mainstream and think inside a teeny-tiny closed bubble. Rather, I prefer to think more abstractly and actually look at things from multiple perspective; formulating different conclusions for a single situation. And for this particular situation; I've come to many conclusions - but one remains the most logical - it can honestly go any which way.

WHY THE PS4 CAN WIN IT:

"Because it's the PS4! Duhhh!"

- While it may seem like the PS4 is the almighty Holy Grail of the 8th-gen; it's future is completely uncertain. The future doesn't even exist, really. It's made up of events that happen in the present, and to an extent, the past. So whatever happens to Sony now and in the coming months, will dictate where their precious baby will end up, further down the road.

Now before you get the impression I have some beef with Sony or the PS-brand in general; I don't. I love them and their products, actually. (Just putting that out there).

I'm just saying; just because it may SEEM like it's going to win, doesn't make it so. Remember the story of the "Tortoise and the Hare"? The Hare seemed like the obvious winner. He was fast, strong, and agile. The Tortoise was slow, clunky, and frankly a bit dim-witted. But who crossed that finish-line first?

My point is; PS4 is a great system, with amazing features, and it looks poised to nuke all obstacles in it's way. But it can go any-which-way.

It's fate rests in the hands over at Sony, who so far, have proved their competence-level of being quite high. Yet even so, they need to keep that going for the next few years, or the XBOX One, or even Wii U may over-take it. Prior to PS3 - Sony was dominating, and they seem quite poised to get their throne back.

They're boasting the most powerful hardware for a home-console (and handheld-console), this generation. All while being lower than it's closest rival; the XBOX One - in both size (space-saver), failure rate, and of-course, price. With developers salivating over it's architecture and power, and gamers changing their pants with every new trailer that shows off some PS4-footage; it sure seems like the PS2's distant relative is in-it to win-it.

WHY THE XBOX ONE CAN WIN IT:

"XBOX Won!"

- Microsoft had it in their hands. Despite it's high failure-rate at launch; the 360 still did phenomenally well later in it's life. Even now, after almost 10-years of service, it's still selling quite well. It took the groundwork that was laid by the original XBOX and completely built-up on it, and offered a system that basically was an "all-rounder", as it's name suggested. For both gaming and other media; the 360 was a pretty decent machine.

Seems like MS forgot "gaming" when they unveiled it's successor, though.

I remember watching the XB-One's reveal, and kept wondering how much times is the new Kinect going to be demonstrated for menu navigation and launching non-gaming-essential programs. I already hated the original one, so seeing this new one already T'd-me off. Throughout almost that entire conference, I kept getting this feeling that Microsoft was trying to sell me this new device that is going to make love with my cable-box, and be a play-mate with my TV; and simply play games on the side.

But why?

It's a game-console, right? ....Right?

Thankfully, that issue got settled, along with the numerous other issues that emerged prior to it's announcement and well on after. Yes, unless you've been living under a rock, or simply just started checking up on gaming-news websites ~ the XBOX One has a pretty bad rep with the 'core'-gamer crowd.

MS almost completely nuked it's fan-base and the gaming-community alike when it announced it's newest systems, filled with policy and roadblocks for miles. They may have reversed them all, but that has still shaken the trust of many members of the 'core' crowd.

That hasn't stopped it from selling to the masses though.

Not even the mandatory Kinect, thus creating a higher price-point has swung the wrong way with the masses. In fact, the new Kinect may help sell it even MORE, due to the high-selling rate of it's predecessor. And while the TV-features may seem pointless to some gamers; once again, the masses may enjoy having a reason to fiddle around with their TV. Who knows?

The point still stands though; as unorthodox and unthinkable as it may seem, especially when compared to the PS4 ~ the XBOX One may very well take the crowd of the 8th-gen, and it could be the first time MS has the best-selling system of the generation. They built up a huge base in the 7th-gen, from sports-junkies, to shooter-fanatics, and Kinect-families alike. The One will be featuring those same kind of games throughout it's lifetime; so who knows - maybe MS might actually raise this thing to the roof.

Brand-power is a powerful thing people, remember that.

And speaking of brand-power - that brings us to our last, but not least, contender: the Wii U.

WHY THE WII U MAY WIN IT:

"Wii Would Like to Show U How U Will Play Next"

- When it comes down to most discussions about the next-gen; the Wii U is kicked off to a lonely curb. And if it is mentioned, it's usually a pity-mention, or just another bashing episode. But I'm all about fair game here, so just as I went over some points as to why the PS4 or XBOX One could be #1, I will be doing the same to Wii U.

Nintendo made a killing in both the handheld and home-console division in the 7th-gen. They took both crowns home, with a Mt. Everest-sized stack of cash to boot. They were so pleased with the performance of the DS and Wii; they incorporated the names and designs of both of these veteran systems into their successors, in a hopes to continue the money-printing fiesta.

It's been working for 3DS - but Wii U has only recently been selling reasonably well. It's spent most of it's first-year on the market, laying dormant, with only a slow trickle of games. This has resulted in many third-party devs pulling out, due to the system's install base barely growing.

The tides have changed, and they're still changing. Wii U finally has some heavy-hitters, and with more on the way; it rightfully has a chance to blast it's way to #1 just as much as it's competitors. Why? Because software sells hardware - and when it comes down to Nintendo's software - they sell. It's hard to deny that despite Nintendo's recycling of age-old IPs; the games still sell. Mario Kart for instance, which has been around from since the NES; sold 30-million copies on Wii. Wii Sports, mostly due to being a pack-in, sold about 80-million; and yet, it was still loved.

This is why Wii U's future looks bright. Because if it's one thing Nintendo is good at doing, is making awesome games to sell their systems. Even when their systems didn't sell all that well (N64 and Gamecube, come to mind) ~ they still made a decent profit. While Sony and Microsoft mainly rely on third-party titles to carry their systems; Nintendo is basically able to sustain their consoles with their own software, and still make more money than what they lose.

Aside from the software; the Wii U also has two other outstanding qualities. For one; it's once again, the cheapest console on the market. $100 more will get you a PS4; but with that money, you can get a Wii U (which already includes 2 games) - and buy two more games. $200 more will get you an XBOX One. That's 4 extra games, or maybe even 3 games and a Pro Controller.

We may live in a world where millions throw hundreds of dollars at "copy-&-paste and PhotoShop" Apple each year; but for many, money IS an object. While $100 more may not seem like too much of a steep difference, for "more power", the average family really doesn't care if the PS4 has more advanced tech. Here they have a system with the games they want for a cheaper price. Who profits?

The second quality is the Gamepad. Yes, I'm being serious.

I've seen many call it unnecessary and clunky; some even suggest that Nintendo should ditch it and just re-release the Wii U with the Pro Controller being the prime controller.

While it may make the system pricier; the Wii U Gamepad is indeed a welcome addition to the gaming-universe. It's something you simply won't understand until you get it in your hands, and really use it. Not only is it unrealistically comfortable, but it's functional and adds a layer of depth that you would have never thought existed.

Many games have already proved this; with titles like Nintendo Land, Rayman Legends, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, BLOPS: 2, Arkham City: Armored Edition, LEGO City: Undercover, Pikmin 3, and Need for Speed: Most Wanted U; being some notable mentions.

Just as the Wii Remote got everybody; young and old off the couch and brought a new level of fun that was previously unexplored, the Wii U does the same thing, but in a different way. By combining the dual-screen experience of DS, and the seamless connectivity of Wii; the Wii U Gamepad is truly a game-changer. Yes, XBOX One and PS4 both have Companion-Apps, to simulate the experience on a phone or tablet; but it still doesn't beat an integrated experience.

TO CONCLUDE:

Long article, this was. Honestly, I wasn't expecting it to go this long, so I apologize. But this was just fully an opinion piece - please remember that before you comment.

I'm no official analyst or someone who's highly involved in the industry. I'm just another normal gamer who thinks a lot about this stuff, and wanted to voice my opinion in words...well, text, I mean.

My point still stands; while PS4 may seem like the default answer; when you really stop to think about it; any of the big-3 can take the crown. Only time will tell.

Should be interesting where they'll all be at the end of this year; the first year where they're all on the market at the same time, going head-to-head-to-head at full-force.