In the midst of the console war Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are out for every single possible consumer dollar this holiday season. How exactly do these companies entice new people to make the jump to a current gen system though? Well in an all out effort to dethrone Nintendo and capitalize on its recent slowing sales.
Sony and Microsoft have been adding more functionality and features through firmware update. Are these new updates to both the 360 and PS3 a primary factor in the decline of the Wii? Do people actually care about these updates and use them? Well in a short and sweet answer, YES!
Since the launch of the Wii, Sony and Microsoft have eaten the dust trail left behind by Nintendo. Consumers had decided that hd graphics, processing power, and online functionality were not what they wanted out of their consoles. However, Sony and Microsoft have been left scratching there heads at how to change people’s mind over the past couple of years. Now with the prices of HD televisions and the prices of both consoles in striking range of the Wii both companies have touted themselves to be the superior by asking you to update your console. Along for the ride is a legion of fanboys lying in wait across the internet to weigh in on them as well.
Through these firmware updates Sony and Microsoft have completely changed their product in the battle for second place. From complete and drastic change of the original 360 dashboard to the sparkles and glitter of the XMB of the PS3 nothing has been left untouched through firmware updates. The addition of Netflix on both consoles now is major selling points neither of which was originally on both consoles. Both companies have advertised and marketed them as well as a reason for people to take a second look at what people who had bought a wii are now missing. As time has passed it shows that people have begun to take notice. Now the once overrated graphics and Swiss army all in one entertainment consoles are taking hold of the market.
As time goes by both will continue to offer and provide more through firmware but what direction does this lead these console maker’s down. Is today’s video game console truly becoming the center of your entertainment like promised at the launch of this generation? What comes next once Sony matches Microsoft’s online offering? Nothing is certain and there lies to be the next big innovation with things likes Sony’s motion controller and Natal due to launch in the following year. So as the two continue to “update” and scramble to fight over the casual crowd, we all as gamers reap the benefits. 2010 look to bring an incredible amount of software and hardware that is sure to blow people away.
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