This has been a very dramatic year for the game industry. First, Sega proclaims the apparent death of their Dreamcast, delivering a sharp blow to the collective kidney of it's fans. Next, the guards of nearly every developer and hardware giant fall, and partnerships that we never imagined come to light.

Aside from these strategic moves and financial topples experienced throughout 2001, the main event has been focused on the coming of Nintendo's Gamecube and Microsoft's Xbox. Nintendo, the veteran, versus Microsoft, the financially secure upstart. The conflict was intensified when each revealed the release of their consoles within the same week at this years E3. The question is, who will come out on top? Let us examine the cases, shall we?

First, we have Nintendo. Let's face it, everyone and their mothers know the name Nintendo; synonymous with videogames, the Big N has been in our living rooms since the early 80's. Although the Nintendo 64 didn't fare against new technology and the infinite resource of Sony's Playstation, Nintendo stayed alive by injecting new blood into the industry, namely with such brands as Pokemon and Zelda.

Nintendo means quality, and with the Gamecube, quality is coming pretty cheap. Set to be priced "competitively," the Gamecube will retail for around $200. Not including Microsoft, the price is much lower than the present competition's $300 for a Playstation 2. Software will be priced as usual, around $50 a piece, as is the same for peripherals.

Where Nintendo is lacking lies in the area that they are best known for; software. Nintendo owns the license to some of the most well known likenesses in the gaming world...nay, the world itself. Pokemon is a cash cow waiting to be milked on a next generation console, as is such series as Zelda, Mario, Metroid, and others. Nintendo has some of these series set for a jump to the next generation, but little to no details have been released. Aside from a few screens depicting graphic splendor, the Gamecube's software lineup as of now is sorely lacking. When compared to the many titles that Microsoft has shown off, this is a weak effort to excite the masses.

The hardware itself is impressive, and includes all the necessities for a next generation console. However, the Gamecube itself is a very...square piece of hardware. This won't play a role in the purchaser of course, but the shape of Nintedo's Gamecube will have a hard time fitting in entertainment systems and above our VCR's.

As for the Xbox...well, Microsoft has the cash, but they don't have the know-how. First of all, the console is retailing for $300, a price that cannot compete with a console of equal power selling for $100 less. Microsoft has put half a billion dollars into advertising for the Xbox...$500,000 million JUST for advertising. Very impressive, but Microsoft does not have a place in the hearts of gamers as Nintendo does. For years, Microsoft has been portrayed as a cold corporation out to make money. The frightening visage of Bill Gates quite honestly doesn't want to make gamers invest their money and love into the companies products.

Microsoft has liquid assets, it's true, but they also lack the knowledge and experience to operate in the videogame industry. Money can only get you so far, and both Sony and Nintendo seem to be making this public knowledge while attacking Microsoft's efforts. The general feeling about Microsoft's foray into the console field has left a dry taste in our mouths, and personally I don't think they realize how hard this industry can be. How many companies have we seen die out or just quit because the going got too tough? Who remembers the Jaguar, the 3DO, and now the Dreamcast? Even recently companies have been pulling out, companies that we're seen rise and fall with the times. If Microsoft believes that their financial stability will keep them strong in the console business, they are sorely mistaken.

However, the Xbox does have a strong following. Many developers have jumped ship to Microsoft's boat, but unfortunately all they seem to be bringing with them are leftovers. Ports of PC games seems to be all that the Xbox is offering, and there hasn't been any truly innovative, console-only titles revealed. Sony has Square in their corner, Nintendo has Rare and Shigeru Miyamoto...who does Microsoft have? Granted, being able to play such games as Halo will be a hoot for non-PC gamers, but that feeling won't last long when the kid next door is playing the latest Zelda title, or a new Xenosaga chapter.

Microsoft may have the money, but Nintendo has the numbers. It's not the size of your stadium that counts in this business, it's how many fans you can fill it up with. Come this fall, we'll see the conflict come to head; whoever comes out on top will probably remain there for quite some time.