Almost everyone who enjoys playing games on Wintel hardware has given this notion some thought in recent weeks. Newsgroup threads pop up on an almost daily basis now, featuring arguments that pit those who think all this console stuff is just overblown hype against those convinced that computer games are doomed. While the former camp comprises the majority of posters at the moment, those aligned with the latter belief are gaining ground. Increased usenet traffic in PC gaming groups about specific console titles leads me to believe that a good number of computer people are making the switch. And for good reason.
Console gaming is hotter than ever before.
The Sony PlayStation 2 has been collecting accolades by the truckload since the system launched in Japan earlier this spring. It has been profiled in every mainstream media outlet, with the likes of Time , Newsweek , Entertainment Weekly , and most major newspapers in North America devoting a great deal of space to the growing phenomenon. Microsoft 's X-Box has also been a media darling since it was announced. You can't walk into an Electronics Boutique without hearing people talking about that video with the mouse traps and the ping-pong balls. All of this is having a huge effect on game developers.