Michael "The Michael" Brzeski

I have always been a fan of the "classic" game companies. I'm way too young to really have a heartfelt appreciation for Atari, but I've always supported Sega and, when they went under, Nintendo. These are companies that got into games because they loved making games. They created Mario, Zelda, Sonic, all those wonderful characters because they believed in giving the fans the most entertainment possible. Then came the infiedels.

I know a lot of people love the PlayStation and it's many successors, but I can never get over this feeling that Sony only got into gaming to make money. The best games on the PlayStation are liscenced to them from third-party developers. Grand Theft Auto? Rockstar. Metal Gear Solid? Komani. Devil May Cry? Capcom. I have no problem with third-party games, I absolutely love Capcom games, but it doesn't even seem like Sony tries to make their own games. Then came Microsoft, in the wake of Sony, and somehow these hardware/software companies became more successful at making games than the actual game companies. ::sigh::

The next Generation of consoles is at hand. Nintendo's Revolution is set to have it's ass kicked by the 'hip' 'made for mature gamers' PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. I originally had plans to only buy the Revolution, sticking with my decision a few years ago to only buy a GameCube. Why should I buy a PS3/360? I'll have all the Zelda and Smash Bros. I want (if any game could get me into online gaming, it's Smash Bros.), plus the ability to download classic NES, SNES, and N64 games onto my system. That, and total backwards compatibility with all of my 30+ 'Cube titles. Sony and Microsoft can have all the high-def they want. But then they went and pulled out their trump card.

Resident Evil.

In the past year, I have become completely enamored by Capcom's zombie-blasting, conspiracy-ridden franchise. Between my Dreamcast and GameCube, I have RE 1,2,3,0, Code Veronica, and 4. That's the entire core series. I have branded it my second favortite series of all time, right behind my blue friend Sonic. After completing part 4, the best in the series in which Leon and Ada return for the first time in four games, my faith in the franchise was renewed. Now I know that Zelda, Mario, Metroid, and Smash Bros. will never be on a non-Nintendo system, but Resident Evil is a Capcom title. They go to whoever is the highest bidder, essentially. For the last generation of games, that was Nintendo. Zero, the remake and part 4 were all GameCube exclusive (except that a watered-down port of 4 is now on it's was to the PS2). Now, however, the tables have turned. Resident Evil 5, which features the first of aapreance of Chris Redfield since Code Veronica was released in 2000, will appear on the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, but not the Nintendo Revolution.

Fuck.

I didn't want to do this, but my love for Resident Evil has grown to surpass my resistance to Sony's seeming empire and Microsoft's stranglehold on my generation of gamers. As any true fan would, I will resort to buying one of these systems to play the latest installment in the franchise that I love. Given the choice, I'll probably grab the PS3 over the 360 for a few reasons. 1) It's cheaper, and 2) it will give me more reasons to keep it. Beyond Resident Evil 5, what else will there be to justify my purchase of a new system? I can play Devil May Cry, Metal Gear Solid, and the Jak/Ratchet games (for platforming orgasm) a million times over before Halo (boring). But I will still have a Revolution, and the second Resident Evil 5 comes out for it (there's been no announcement, but I can become more religious and pray), the PS3 gets sold. I don't need it cluttering my home and taking space away from my beloved Genesis.

Damn you, Sony. You've taken video games away from video gamers. You have to be a fucking businessman to enjoy them anymore.