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Many people credit Nintendo for being on the leading edge of first and second party game development, and no one can deny that Nintendo has invented some of the most legendary characters in video game history. However, over the past few console generations, there has been little advancement for these characters (one prevailing exception to this is Samus who went through a incredible reinvention with Metroid Prime). Many of their games have gotten trapped in the realm of mediocrity in fact.

Since the Playstation 2 though, many Sony owned companies have been making games that take games to a new level. First and second companies like Team Ico, Naughtydog, Sucker Punch, Guerrilla, Insomniac, Incognito, and Japan Studio make for a diverse and talented base of developers who have rolled out some of the best games of the past two generations. Games with everything from a small cult fellowship, to a massive fanbase that could easily rival that of many of Nintendo's poster children.

However, what I feel that makes these games so much more important, and innovative is the story development, and the cinematic value of the games themselves. These are games that take story to a new level that is generally outside of the box in terms of complexity, or in the case of God of War, popular mythology.

Many Nintendo-Esq games, follow a very similar formula which has a shallow in-game story, minimal character development, and no backstory. Which is all fine and dandy for the late 80's early 90's, but this is a different world now. The over-used, albeit classic method of getting from point A to point B to save a princess will not cut it.

Sony seemingly recognized this early on, they eventually ditched franchises like Crash (Mario rip-off) and Spyro in favor of some more innovative and off-beat game characters that first started showing themselves in games like Twisted Metal, and have been seeing their peak in games like God of War and Folklore.

I have observed this for some time, that games that are made or published by Sony have a more advanced story than games made by their competitors first and second parties.

People often criticize Sony, and the Playstation 3 in general, because it seemingly is a sequel console, and who can not think that with Sony hyping up Metal Gear Solid 4 as the best thing to happen to gaming, and many games that are indeed sequels coming to it. But that is hardly the case in the wide spectrum of the industry.

Sony might not have the lengthy list of classic characters (Loony Toons of gaming is a good comparison) like Nintendo does, and they might not have a colossus blockbuster game like Halo, but they have a library of games that take many genera to a new level from a story and a cinematic standpoint. Sony might not have a figure like Miyamoto who has put a Spielberg-like face behind many of Nintendos games for fans to give thanks too, but Sony still has an incredibly talented base of developers who are churning out new and fresh ideas for the games on their consoles.

Sony has taken games to a new level, they don't depend on online capabilities to gain a base, they don't depend on flashy alternate controls to give people a sense of innovation. They let their developers make their own innovations within the games themselves. I can't imagine how games would be if it weren't for Sony, I shutter at the idea of it in fact.

Going beyond first and second party developers, many present day classics have gotten their starts from Sony's consoles, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Ace Combat, and many other titles that are still around to day (although persistently becoming less and less console specific as time went on).

Sure, we might know Mario, Legend of Zelda, Metroid and Starfox, but I challenge you to list out the lasting franchises that got their start from any one of the competitors (now or then) and list them against franchises that we can thank the Playstation consoles for and see for yourself who is more influential.

Andrew L.
Oct. 31, 2007

I think Sony has a very impressive developing team. I think all three have a great developing team as a matter of fact. Unfortunately I don't think it'll be possible to determine the masters of gaming as everyone has a different definition of what qualities the master of gaming should have. Like with games, a game one person may see as the best game ever another may see as crap and the worst game ever made. The same goes for all the games per console. One person may think Sony has the best games and is master of gaming and another may think the 360 has the best games and is master of gaming and another may think Nintendo has the best games and is master of gaming. What it comes down to is pure opinion. There are no hard facts that prove without a doubt prove one group of developers masters of gaming. I think to call any consoles' group of developers the master of gaming isn't a thing that should be done. I would never call Nintendo the masters of gaming. I may like their games better and like them as a whole better than the other two companies but I'm not going to call them the masters of gaming.

I kind of like things the way they are. If it weren't for Nintendo, I wouldn't have Smash Bros or Mario Kart. If it weren't for Sony I wouldn't have Ratchet and Clank or Hot Shots Golf and the like. If it weren't for Microsoft.... well, I'd probably be able to play Mass Effect on my PS3 dammit. Stupid Microsoft...

You'd be playing it on the PC.

Gar
Run
Teed.

Lawl.

Im lucky I can play Bejeweled 2 on my PC.