With the holiday's eminent return, the gaming community is all geared up for the surprises that come with the big two month sales push. So, what else will we see? We've got all kinds of odd stuff happening all over the map: EA's apparently buying the world, and trying to reinstate their "good name," Sony's bouncing around the "price-demand bell curve" trying to find that perfect spot to make up for lost ground in the Next-gen foot race, Microsoft is coming off of a spectacular September and October month with a brand new addition to the family, and Nintendo is presumably playing its game according to plan, with very few, if any, deviations from their dogmatic trek toward the coming new year (game release push-backs aside).

So what are the break downs and ups of the holiday stage?

Sony -

Now that Sony's price cut is lurking around in the backs of all our minds, the PS3 has suddenly become a tangible piece of forbidden fruit; furthermore, for all those who once dismissed the idea of ever owning Sony's supposedly "omnipotent" console, it has suddenly become something of a bittersweet reality. Will they continue to up the HD and drop price, or has Sony finally reached a state of equilibrium and gained a sense of enlightened balance with their latest release?A "dumbed" down -40GB PS3- shipping sometime early November (I say dumbed-down because it apparently doesn't have the brains to play what it should be able to in its sleep) and the 80GB going down to Microsoft's "Elite" status; it's frustrating, cause they seem less and less like a company with constant product line mods in order to bring about a stronger consumer appeal and more and more like a car salesman with the constant "What do I have to do to get you into this car and drive it off the lot right now?" It just seems like they are doing whatever they can to get the rest of us plugged into their console, and granted, that is indeed the goal, but it's gotten a bit too desperate feeling for me...it's not like they're willing to just drop it and go, it seems like they keep teasing us all to see just how many of us will bite just to change it out from underneath us all over again...

Regardless, the cuts are sure to open the eyes of people EVERYWHERE, generating numbers for Sony's sales drought. Will it breathe life back into the gaming giant? Who knows, I honestly hope it does, I've been rooting for them to finally break out of their rut, though I am curious to see how many moms and dads buy the 40GB for kids expecting to be able to play their favorite PS2 games on them. I just hope they do their homework, and I pray that this move isn't just another way for Sony to give their ego a little "holiday-number steroid-boost." Rant Link - Click

Microsoft -

HA...with Microsoft still cruising calmly and comfortably in Halo 3's GI-NORMOUS wake, like they even need the holidays at all!

Let me give you a very brief number crunch...

3,300,000 initial copies of the game sold

528,000 Xbox 360 consoles sold in September

If you take the cheapest version of both those (so just the game no legendary version or anything, and you take the Pro console system and you do the numbers you're looking at this...)

(3,300,000 x 60.00USD) + (528,000 x 400.00USD) = 409,200,000USD

Take a moment to register that number - 409,200,000 USD

However, not to be out done, even in light of a sales report on par with Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, they've released the 360 Arcade. They also followed in Nintendo's footsteps and given the console a few titles to keep you happy as soon as the initial purchase transacts. So basically, the Wii has a new player on a field that has, thus far, been dominated, manipulated, and ran-on all by its lonesome. I'm not entirely sure on the Arcade's specs and power, so I don't know if it's HD upgradeable, LIVE compatible, if it is able to play BC titles and ALL 360 titles, or if it is like the 40GB PS3 in that it is a completely stripped down version of a beautiful mother system. Either way, this one is sure to boost the holiday sales in favor of Mr. Gates pockets.

Nintendo -

Well, to be quite frank, I fear for 'Ninty' in these next few months. Not because I, in anyway, doubt that they'll pull off phenomenal sales, but because I can't see the big picture that they apparently have so masterfully painted. So I'm somewhat baffled at their odd decision making and even more confused by their push for what seems like a console for all things "non-game-lover" related. With -Wii-Fit- hanging in the release-day-balance, their unwavering focus seems to maintain its bead on the casual-gamers' forehead (Link to Bozanimal's soapbox Wii-fit blog). Though Wii-Fit has enormous potential, it still seems like something that will scare many gamers away, either initially or on a long-term basis. That, and with the Wii-mote's full potential still not being fully tapped by third party developers, they're adding another facet by which to model games around. So, with the original still posing a monstrous problem for third-party game developing, unless Mario Galaxy sheds some light we've yet to see on Wii-mote diversity, Wii believers could be in for a bumpy ride.

But the casual-gaming affair aside...

They've got Mario Galaxy coming out just in time for the holidays (for theories...see the wrap-up of my previous blog). Their holiday sales are going to stay strong...the Wii is still a rarity in most places, and with a Mario game soon to hit the market, the game-to-system coupling will the cause the console to become all the more elusive. Needless to say, the Wii, with its across the board appeal and marketing to "family-fun," will rally buyers filled with thoughts of re-connection and wholesome enjoyment to its glossy white side.

So, in closing I'm predicting Wii sales to stay off the chart and Wiis to stay off the shelves. Call it marketing brilliance, word of mouth, or the ever successful "if they can't keep it in stock then it must be great..." phenomenon. Whatever the reason, Nintendo will not hurt for one or the other. Microsoft has an edge in that it has been out for a while, and they are now gathering an impressive game library. Giving gamers, looking for both titles they want now and solid titles to come, some very exciting choices. Plus, with Halo-3 "late-comers" wanting in on the action, and the Arcade opening up another gaming avenue, Microsoft will put up some impressive numbers this holiday season. So, what will Sony do? They've got potential, I'd very much like to see them do well, but it just seems like the shoot themselves in the foot every few weeks. However, the 40GB might just be the answer that they were looking for, in that they're giving people an "intro" into their system, allowing them to step into the next-gen, and leave the past behind, as it were. They really are the wild card right now, so for all the annoyance I feel for them, they could be the dark horse this go-around.

Well, I'm out.

Peace and mercy,

Ty