It's that time of year again! As 2011 comes to a close, we look back at the big three and assess how each major player in the video game industry faired. From exclusive games to downloadable content, there's a lot to take into account. So how are we going to go about tackling this?
We're going to systematically hit upon each of the three companies (Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft) and provide each with a letter grade. But we also want to hear from you, so be sure to cast your vote for which major player in the gaming industry won 2011 in the comments below.
Here we go...
Sony
Without a doubt, Sony had hands down the most exclusives this year. From Killzone 3 and inFamous 2 to Uncharted 3 and Resistance 3, there has been no shortage of quality first party content. In addition, Sony has strived to expand the PlayStation Network by providing users with more digital content as well as incentives for joining PlayStation Plus, with a growing list of free games that is hard to ignore. Online play remains free and continues to be a major selling point of the console. In addition, Blu-ray has proven that many of today's games are simply too large for a single DVD.
But before we go singing Sony's praises any further, let's take a look at the exclusives themselves. All four of the titles I mentioned above are sequels, and others that I didn't list (including LittleBigPlanet 2) are also extensions of already pre-existing franchises. Where are the NEW exclusive IPs Sony? It's also important to note that while both Killzone 3 and Uncharted 3 are great games, they failed to live up to the hype generated by their predecessors. If you ask most gamers, I'm pretty sure they'd tell you that both Killzone 2 and Uncharted 2 were better games than their successors. On the other hand however, I'd like to applaud Insomniac for their work on Resistance 3, proving that a third entry in a long running franchise can actually provide a fresh and unique experience. I'm sure many of you may disagree with me, but I believe that Resistance 3 was by far the best Sony exclusive of 2011 and one that every PlayStation owner should check out.
Let's not forget about Sony's other foray into the gaming world, namely the PlayStation Portable. It's hard to deny the fact that the PSP was a colossal failure outside of Japan, and with the Vita on the horizon, it's headed toward a quick and sudden death. If Sony wants to turn things around with the Vita, they'll need a strong launch with plenty of games. The key here is positioning the device as a game machine first, and a multimedia device second; something they failed to do with the PSP. Has Sony learned their lesson? Judging by the robust lineup of launch titles including Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Sound Shapes and many more, it looks like they're headed in the right direction. However, they've got one heck of an uphill battle to climb if they think that they're going to be able to compete with smart phones and the 3DS.
Grade: B- With a number of exclusive games this year, Sony has proven that they know what the hardcore gaming market wants. However, they're going to need to provide fresh and new content if they want to remain competitive in this industry, as relying on older well-established franchises simply won't due. They've also got a lot of work ahead of them if they hope to make the Vita a success.
This feature editorial continues on the next page, please click Page 2 below to read on and find out how Nintendo faired in 2011.
