By Ronald Diemicke

It’s nearly that time again. The magical time that is “E3” – the electronic gaming expo. However, this year is special as all three major gaming hardware manufactures (Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo) are slated to show off their new hardware. Last time around, Sony had the advantage of being out in Japan for nearly two years and one year in America before Microsoft hit with the X-Box. Nintendo’s equally late start hurt them too, but Microsoft showed that a strong game lineup and services, it was possible to take second place. This year, with all three systems being shown at the same time, we’ll get to see who’s the most impressive before any of the companies have time to do damage control through either hardware changes or spin doctoring the media. Companies always try to keep everything under wraps until E3 so they can blow the public and industry away, but given the way information works in the modern day, things get leaked and spread around quickly. Here is what we know about each of the three next generation systems from each company to try and give you an idea of what’s on the horizon

X-Box 360 – Let’s start with the one that no one can seem to shut up about. Microsoft has done such a poor job of keeping information internalized that you have to wonder if maybe they’re leaking the information themselves. What we do know is that the name “X-Box 360” is almost a definite at this point. There is even a picture that was leaked from www.engadaget.com of what it will look like at E3 (which may not be the final retail version). The development kits for the 360 have been being used since early last year, and are surprisingly enough Apple G5 computers that have been custom branded by Microsoft. Rumor has it that two different versions of the console will be released.

One will be a base unit that is capable of playing X-Box 360 games for $250; the other will include 40gb hard drive, a version of WebTV, possibly software for recording TV shows, similar to Tivo and will be backward compatible for around $300. The next generation of X-Box Live should be available right out of the box and has undergone a major overhaul. Some of the new features are supposed to include the ability for developers to offer minor new content for nothing or extremely cheap, players to make their own new content such as skins for models and maybe even new models themselves, and the ability for players to sell in-game items to other players for real world money. Lastly, Microsoft expects to get the jump on Sony and Nintendo from an exclusive partnership with MTV. You’ll be able to see the official unveiling of the system on Thursday, May 12 at 9:30 p.m. on MTV before the start of E3. System hardware includes 512mb of memory, a power pc chip rumored at 3ghz, a specialized next generation ATI graphics chipset, and standard DVD drive.

Playstation 3 – Sony is doing their best to not be outdone by Microsoft but seems to be being upstaged right and left. Not even a week before Microsoft announced the partnership with MTV, Sony decided on an unveiling in Culver City, just outside of Los Angeles, where they’d show the next generation Playstation to the press for the first time on Monday, May 16 at 3 p.m. PST. Sony made deals early on with hardware manufactures IBM and Nvidia. IBM has been working extremely hard to make sure the new central processor for the PS3 is done on time. Called the “cell” processor, it works in a different fashion from most computer hardware in that in is actual many smaller processors in one.

The concern I could see from the get-go is the difficulty in programming for such a powerful beast – developers complained about the multiple processors in the Playstation 2 when it came out as it was really hard to program for. Sony has also been fighting a separate battle with Toshiba on new media technology. Sony has been pushing “Blue ray” which allows roughly 25gb per layer (with a maximum of two layers with current technology, but is set to be expanded on with time). Like DVDs, the main difference is in the blue laser used to read the disc. Toshiba has been fighting them with their HD-DVD format which can only store 15gb per layer. Sony sees blue ray as not only the Playstation 3’s media technology, but a replacement for VHS and the next generation of removable PC media. Sony and Toshiba are locked in a war that mimics the VHS versus Betamax war of the late ’80s and early ’90s. Rumor has it that they are working on a compromise, but its unknown how this may impact the PS3’s production.

The Revolution – Nintendo’s been talking big for a while now, but they’ve got an uphill battle to go as Sony’s 3rd party support has been killer, and Microsoft is even trying to steal some of Sony’s thunder by signing some of their top Japanese developers. Is there really still room for Nintendo? It seems to be the opinion of most journalists that Nintendo must do decently this time around to avoid a fate like Sega’s. Rather then trying to compete in terms of out powering their competition, Nintendo seeks to define a new generation of gaming with new technologies that really revolutionize the industry, hence the name. In March 2005, both ATI and IBM said they’d be making processors for the Revolution, but the details of the hardware are unknown. It will be backward compatible with the Gamecube and will also support online play out of the box.

It is also supposed to feature some new input hardware technology that changes our concept of controls as we know them. It has been rumored that the controller may include gyroscopic sensors which detect how the control is being moved. Another major technology may allow each player to view the whole screen for just their character in multi-player games by projecting a different image depending on the angle you sit in relation to your television. Lastly, the big bomb shell may prove to be the swan song for Nintendo. They may not show the revolution at E3. Its been rumored that they’ve backed out of showing the console at E3 and will only show games. They’ve also been vague as to when the console may release, where as Sony and Microsoft seem to be readying to launch within the year.

And there you have it. Lots of information has been leaked. Which pieces are true? Which ones are false? When May rolls around we’ll know for sure. One other interesting piece of information is the involvement of wireless technology in the next generation systems. Microsoft is planning only wireless controllers it seems and Nintendo is planning on supporting 802.11b for internet connectivity. One things for sure of the next generation just like it has been for every previous generation – it will be games that make systems successful – not the hardware itself. Without good games, the best silicon means nothing.