The Dreamcast did so much right, that it's still hard to believe it failed against the PS2 mainly due to hype. The Dreamcast definitely didn't deserve to die. It ushered in mainstream online console gaming (long before the Xbox), and included a modem standard, something which wasn't done again until much later in the game. Its graphics could stand up to the PS2 or better them at the time (although I'm not sure how it would have faired against end-of-cycle PS2 games such as God of War I and II), and it had a solid game library. I seem to be the only one who thinks harshly of the analog stick and how it made playing driving games nearly unbearable, but that's about the only major downside I see to the system. Also, it has the best version of Rayman 2, one of the best 3d platformers of all time.
In traditional narratives, the motivations of the main character cause things to happen. The main character usually experiences some sort of substantive transformative experience (in the best stories) that affects the ending of the story. In a video game, especially first person shooters, the designer needs to put the player into the main character's shoes. In order to do this effectively, the main character has to be something of a blank slate. Otherwise, the player cannot be "inserted" into the main character because then the main character would be determining all the player's actions. Instead, the player determines the character's actions. During instances where the player is not directly determining the main character's actions, this creates a disconnect between the player and the main character, which has a negative effect on suspension of disbelief. The most effective narratives manipulate the reader's or viewer's emotions and thoughts subtley. It is very difficult to make all the necessary story-telling elements fall into place to accomplish this in a very interactive environment. Interactivity can take players out of the narrative flow as they interact with the world, or cause them to miss key narrative elements. In short, writing has been around for how many thousands of years? Yet, think how many "choose your own adventure" books are considered classics. Interactivity is definitely problematic within current video game paradigms...
For the price, my 1 year-old PC easily beats the 360 or the PS3. I would have to buy an HDTV for $1,000 plus a $400 console for a total cost of $1,400 to get a picture that's not as good as my 1 year-old PC. The lure of consoles in days of yore was that they had different games than PCs. Not anymore. Nearly 90% of PS3/Xbox games are coming to PC. I could upgrade my current rig by buying an insanely powerful graphics card for $400 instead of the PS3, and still have $1,000 left over, and have a rig that would play games for many more years to come. And, I would be able to play 90% of what's out there on consoles. This is another reason why Wii is winning the console war: you're not going to buy Zelda, Mario, Metroid, etc. on PC. Sony needs to put out about 20 truly great exclusives in 2009 to regain its market share, or it shouldn't bother trying.
I have been looking at the PSP system for some time now. The ability to output to TV is a benefit to me, and I like the new colors. I'm glad the buttons were improved; I seem to remember a problem initially with one of the buttons not working quite as well as it should. If I wasn't already thinking about a PSP, this would not be enough to draw me in. However, the D.E.P. is just the right price to actually be a deal.
I can't understand the $60 Wii-mote nunchaku outrage. The Xbox 360 wireless controller sells for $50, and the Wii-mote is much more advanced. Overall, reception to this launch looks great. I completely agree with the pricing/launch date arguments, and I would add this: The whole draw of the PS3 is the "graphics." If those demo kiosks for the Wii have the right games, they'll look as good as any PS3 launch title to the average consumer, thereby completely negating the PS3's graphics power = $ argument, and people will purchase the Wii in droves.
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