Andrew: Okay. Let's move on to our final topic for the evening: the current round of the console wars. As we all know, Sony is currently besting Nintendo and Microsoft in the battle for market supremacy. That said, Nintendo is doing its level best to remain priced competitively, and Microsoft continues to quietly attract quality developers. From an RPG standpoint, which system do you feel would be the best to have on top, and why?

Brandon: From a gamer's standpoint, I'm very impressed with the PS2's use of large capacity memory cards, as compared to Cube. But honestly, PS2 graphics seem to have hit their peak, and really, the PS2 doesn't have the graphical capabilities of the other systems. Not to say that graphics are everything, cause they aren't, but some developers like that sort of thing.

Matthew: At present I believe that the PS2 is the better system for RPGs as it has a lot of support from RPG developers, perhaps because the PSX allowed for a large number of cheaply produced RPGs. However, in the coming year or two, the GameCube and PS2 seem to have the larger population of "must have" RPGs, such as Zelda and Final Fantasy. Xbox seems to be left somewhat in the cold for the foreseeable future. All the systems, though, have the potential to be on top, as there are simply massive numbers of RPGs being created for all three consoles

Googleshng: I wouldn't say all three. The Xbox is being outsold in Japan by dead hardware, and without solid support in Japan, you don't see a lot of RPGs.

Matthew: Right now the Xbox has more RPGs in development than the GameCube.

Googleshng: Most of those are PC ports. It's only exclusive games that affect success.

Justin W: I disagree with that. I know plenty of people lining up to pick up an Xbox for Morrowind, since it has very steep computer requirements, and most of the other Xbox RPGs in development will hit Xbox first.

Justin H: Microsoft's bleak situation could easily turn on a dime, however, as Microsoft gains momentum and continues to attempt to woo Japanese developers.

Googleshng: Wooing Japanese developers is essentially impossible without Japanese consumers, and vice versa. Last I checked, many Xbox developers have been pulling out, to say nothing of newbies jumping on.

Matthew: It wouldn't need to woo them. It could just as easily _buy_ them, like they did Bungie.

Googleshng: Matthew: They've been trying. Companies aren't biting.

Justin H: Look, folks, Microsoft (as much as I dislike the company) has already shown interest in buying out Square and Nintendo, and while they were unsuccessful, times change, and losses by any big software company could easily become a window for Microsoft to suddenly make very large gains in the direction of exclusivity.

Brandon: Honestly, those companies who have been in the biz for so long have no reason to compromise integrity and sell out.

Googleshng: The situation currently stands like this: The PS2 has the bulk of the support, and people are squeezing as much as they can from the hardware (which leaves much to be desired), the GameCube doesn't have much now, but they're picking up a good number of high profile developers, many doing exclusive things, and superior hardware that's still untapped... So between the two, it's really a question of inertia vs. acceleration.

Brandon: The PS2 hardware does leave much to be desired, leaving the question: When will developers recognize that the potential for REAL next-gen games has been sapped on the PS2 and begin jumping ship for greener pastures?

Googleshng: Some already have, I believe.

Andrew: Do you think that will happen soon enough for Nintendo to make up the ground they've lost?

Googleshng: That's honestly a very hard call to make at this time. The GC has already snagged enough high profile third party franchises to do quite well. The bulk of Sony's RPG strength is Square, and they're going multiplatform, GameCube included. Meanwhile, a good many other high profile developers have actually been swinging over to the Cube with surprisingly little hype. Overworks (of Skies of Arcadia fame), for example.

Brandon: Plus, Nintendo's got the in-house developed titles that will PULL the money in. No other developer does the killer first party titles like Nintendo. That's why it's such a good strategy to tout the big Mario/Metroid/Zelda combo.

Andrew: I think the GBA connectivity might play a big factor in the long run, depending on how well it turns out to be implemented.

Brandon: It's spiffy in theory, but how practical is it?

Justin H: Yes, a couple of years from now, however, GBA connectivity could mean the difference between 1st and 2nd place, especially in Japan.

Andrew: And what if we could play GBA games on a big screen?

Googleshng: At LAST year's E3, there was hardware to play GBA games on TVs. Nothing intended for market, but it's clearly something people want.

Brandon: GBA lights and GBA TV are both valid consumer desires. And yes, they have Wideboy or whatever, but nothing that a consumer can get.

Justin W: Nintendo even has a "recommended" GBA light produced by another company that they promote on their website.

Justin H: Okay, back to consoles, though. How could the Xbox change its position as the perceived loser? Can it?

Andrew: I don't think so. There are too many gamers with an anti-Microsoft bias, and however much the system might have in its favor objectively, that's a big hurdle to overcome.

Googleshng: I'd say it's doomed. It's like what we saw towards the end of the Dreamcast's life. Public and Media opinion of a console affect its success more than anything else. So for us to be sitting here saying it's more or less doomed becomes something of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Brandon: what about n64 being named time magazine's machine of the year in 1996?

Googleshng: Time Magazine is NOT the videogame media. 8)

Justin H: How long do we think the Xbox will survive? Will Microsoft bother to put out another console after the death of the Xbox?

Justin W: I think the Xbox will survive as a system quite a while -- most of the people I know that've picked it up have been non-gamers who pick it up for the audio player, the DVD player, and the sports games. It's not really geared toward the hardcore, I think. It's more toward the "Well, I've seen this on TV, I need a multi-functional piece of stereo equipment, it'll do the trick and play games too!" kind of crowd.

Justin H: well, when GameCube overtakes Xbox in strides this fall, I think we'll see a desperate attempt by Microsoft to save its console. But I doubt we'll even be discussing the Xbox at this time next year, honestly.

Andrew: Everyone, one closing thought on the console wars?

Googleshng: If I may use the analogy of a race: Sony is a lap ahead, Nintendo has the highest speed, and Microsoft is in desperate need of a pit stop. So it all comes down to how many laps are left.

Brandon: PS2 will remain ahead for a time, Xbox will fall behind and die quickly, GameCube will make huge strides, conquer the world, and produce better sliced bread.

Justin H: I hate to call the Xbox dead prematurely, but unless something amazing happens, I don't see a way for them to turn it around. Sorry, Bill.

Justin W: I think PlayStation 2 is going to survive for a while longer, but it'll lose most of its exclusive developers. GameCube will have strong first-party support and non-exclusive third party games, and Xbox will survive on sports/party games/games geared toward the older gamers for as long as it can squeeze life out of the system.

Andrew: Okay. Does anyone have anything else to add in closing?

Brandon: Buy my book! SHINE GET!

Matthew: RPGamer, THE site for your RPGaming needs

Justin W: Sweet! you can still buy the NES Satellite! And NES Advantage Joystick knobs!

Brandon: A black plastic BALL.

Justin H: Read our Roundtables!

Andrew: All right. Now that we've dazzled you with our shameless plugging skills, it's time to bring this to a close. Thanks for reading, and another roundtable discussion will appear later this month.