TOP VIDEO GAMES COMPANY IN THE WORLD

A RUN DOWN ON THE TOP VIDEO GAMES MAKER IN THE WORLD


Microsoft Corporation
While relatively new to the market, Microsoft has a number of products in the home consumer space including its Xbox gaming platform. Xbox hardware is built with an impressive Intel processor, a custom-designed Microsoft graphics processor with Nvidia memory, and a hard disk drive. It supports HDTV and includes a DVD, four I/O ports for the game controller, and an Ethernet port.

Nintendo
Based in Japan, Nintendo was the original developer of the Nintendo 64 and the more recent Nintendo GameCube systems. The company has stated that it is not pursuing a home gateway strategy and that it will stick to games only.

Sega
Based in Japan, Sega brought to market the Dreamcast, a second-generation 128-bit gaming console
with:
■ CD player
■ Built-in 56K modem for Internet play
■ Internet access and e-mail
■ Expansion slots for home networking.

Although Sega has exited the market to concentrate on gaming software, it was first to market with its second-generation game console. The company also provides accessories such as a keyboard, extra memory, and various controllers.

After Sega ceased production of the Dreamcast gaming console, the company refashioned itself as a platform-agnostic game developer. By the end of the year Sega will bring its games to handheld devices (such as PDAs and cell phones), set-top boxes, and even rival consoles.

In addition Sega agreed to deliver Dreamcast chip technology to set-top box manufacturers to enable cable subscribers to play Dreamcast games. Sega has been the number three video game console supplier and has been hemorrhaging money since the introduction of Dreamcast in 1999. The release of Microsoft’s Xbox most likely influenced Sega’s move to exit the game console market.

Sony
Based in Japan, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is positioning itself as the consumer’s one-stop shop for home consumer devices ranging from entertainment to personal computing. Sony has overcome a number of challenges to create a unified network of consumer devices and digital services.

It brought together diverse parts of the company to work together on a single, cohesive Internet strategy. Sony is positioning its 128-bit PlayStation2 as a gateway into the home from which it can offer Internet access, value-added services, and home networking.

Its home networking would use USB or iLink (also called IEEE 1394 or FireWire) ports to connect devices. PlayStation2 contains a DVD player that could enable digital video playback and could, in time, include an integrated digital video recorder. With its added functionality the Playstation2 is leaving the “game console” designation behind.