Most people have been trying to predict the next-gen console war winner on their graphics capability alone. This, my friends, is a mistake.

You only have to look at the current generation of systems to see that the most powerful console does not always equal the most market share. The current Xbox is much more capable than the PS2 but, despite that fact, Sony was the clear “winner” when it comes to market share in the current generation. Nintendo’s GameCube, which is also more capable graphically than the PS2, is a distant third. It should be obvious that it takes more than mere muscle to come out on top.

The next round of console wars is almost upon us. All three hardware manufacturers are trying to position their next-gen system as being “the one”. Now, more than ever, it will take more than snazzy graphical effects and beatiful scenery to end up in first place. All three systems, no matter what anyone tells you, will be more than capable enough to produce incredible graphics, smart a.i., and huge gaming worlds. The “big three” will need to offer something above and beyond graphics to convince gamers that they should spend their hard-earned dollars on their console. This is where I think Microsoft will have an advantage over Nintendo & Sony.

Sony, as usual, has not really done anything more than hype the power of the PS3. They’ve been busy pushing their Cell processor and the PS3’s supposedly insane capabilities. They haven’t shown gamers anything substantial that should convince them that the PS3 is the holy grail of gaming systems.

Nintendo has been touting their upcoming console as being something so forward thinking and revolutionary that it will blow gamers away when they finally get to see it in action. As Nintendo tends to do, details about the console and, even more so, it’s controller have been kept a tightly guarded secret. They’ve promised to reveal their plans sometime later this year. I’m reserving my judgement until then even though I’m personally hoping that they pull it off this time around. Being an old-school, hardcore gamer I’d love to see Nintendo rise to the top again.

Microsoft, on the other hand, may have a great trump card in the upcoming generation. I’m, of course, referring to their new committment to the services aspect of gaming and more specifically, Xbox Live. The boys and girls at Microsoft have been putting the finishing touches on their, almost completely revamped, online gaming service.

Connect your Xbox 360 to a broadband connection, and it’s on. With a free level of Xbox Live service, players can share their Gamer Profile—comprised of user-generated information such as Achievements (rewards players have
earned in games), Gamerzone (style of play), and a custom-created Gamertile (a visual icon to represent yourself online)—with their friends in the community. And, with the free level of Xbox Live, players can send and receive text and voice messages to friends, as well as engage in Xbox Live voice chat anywhere, anytime, even if one person is playing a game while the other is watching a progressive-scan enabled DVD movie. Also available is the Xbox Live Marketplace, a one-stop shop to download demos and trailers along with new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, skins, community-created content, and more to the detachable Xbox 360 hard drive.

Xbox Live members who subscribe to the premium service can experience the thrill of multiplayer online gameplay. Gamer Profiles will provide a foundation for intelligent matchmaking, so players of similar skill levels and interests can quickly and easily connect, and the Xbox Live Camera peripheral will let gamers add their own faces into games and see their friends while they play. Other Xbox Live features for premium members include video messaging, online tournaments and ladders, and exclusive, original programming such as playing with celebrities online and joining sponsored tournaments to win prizes. And all Xbox 360 owners who sign on to Xbox Live
for the first time can kick-start their experience with a free month of the full subscription service, which will let them experience the full power of Xbox Live.

In this gamer’s opinion this all adds up to Microsoft having a distinct advantage over it’s competitors in the upcoming console war. Neither
Sony or Nintendo have made any announcements that indicate they will
offer anything that will even remotely compete with the Xbox Live gaming service. It may seem like small potates to many gamers but this may be just what Microsoft needs to compete with Sony head on and eventually overtake their comfortable spot on the top of the gaming world.