Videogames in themselves are the child of ever-evolving technology, and much like its sibling entertainment music, the transition into online news sources and blogs was seamless and appropriate. When an industry relies heavily on the latest, most recent news and reviews, videogame magazines seldem hold much weight in their field anymore. The EGM sale is just an indication of the future trend in technology news progress.

In today’s Wall Street Journal, journalist Robert Guth details the rise of Microsoft’s consumer hardware-related endeavors. On the videogame side of the expansion, he notes that Microsoft’s initial priorities were to “get exclusive games for the [Xbox 360].” Since the introduction of the original Xbox, Microsoft has gained momentum in the console wars, and has recently locked themselves into first place, no doubt due to the one-year head start.

The Xbox’s success cannot be solely due to just a shift toward consumer hardware, though. Much credit must be given to the Xbox Live network that controls all the online and multiplayer aspects of the console’s games. They have done an amazing job of engineering and commanding a community experience, ripe with friend tracking, achievement points, and a thriving marketplace. The real genius behind the success of its online component must be attributed to Xbox Live.

A recent hardware add-on for the Xbox 360 came in the form of an HD-DVD drive, capable of playing HD-DVD movies on the consumer’s HDTV. While this is an attempt to directly compete with HD-capable features of Sony’s Playstation 3, it is debatable whether the device is entirely integral to the Xbox 360′s videogame focus. A few Microsoft staffers recently had some negative feedback toward the device (and a rather pitiful PR move).

Regardless, the Xbox 360 is definitely primed for the console wars of 2007 and beyond. Its immediate threat is the Nintendo Wii, contrary to the popular belief that it would be directly competing with the PS3. Sales should be posted imminently concerning December, and the tallies will begin for the new year.

In related sales news, it seems the Wii and Nintendo DS are the next cash crop.

This is not something one would call common, either. The demand for the Playstation 3 has subsequently dropped, as many have reported spurts of accessible units in Canada and throughout the U.S.

Fears of Sony’s demise could not have came to fruition at a worse time, either. Wired recently ran a convincing article forecasting the financial collapse of the electronic behemoth if the Playstation 3 fails. While it may be a inconclusive and insane to say the Playstation 3 is doomed to failure, it would be within logical reach to say that it may not win this console war. The Nintendo Wii currently holds the highest demand from consumers, and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has received steady sales since its launch last autumn.

Supply and demand tactics do not seem to be saving Sony. And neither is the lacking launch line-up.

All three new consoles are online-ready (something, ironically, the Sega Dreamcast had going for it last generation out of the box — no one paid much attention, though). This generation, there are no add-ons to get yourself online — it is an integral part of the console and experience. Secondly, the move toward high definition and progressive scan (Xbox 360, PS3 the former, Wii the latter) has accelerated the quality of graphics resolution present in each console’s games. This is a feature computer games have benefited from for years, and one could easily tell apart the difference. Higher resolution potentially yields a much greater framework for game dvelopers to work within, inspiring more attention to detail and creating much more suitable game environments for the advanced console processors to churn out. While the Wii suffers from lack of extended resolutions provided by high definition televisions, it does have progressive scan. Since its graphics chip cannot produce the same high definition visuals as its rivals, though, the high definition feature is not exactly purposeful.

* * * *

This generation of consoles, because of the heretofore mentioned features, is drastically different than the previous generation. Online connectivity opens up an exponential slew of evolving features, and connects gamers from across continents. Higher resolution graphics help in the visual department, while advanced and accessible control schemes offered by the Wii appeal to both the hardcore and softcore new-entry gamers. Plus, it nearly redesigns how we play videogames.

The future is bright, and videogames have done an excellent job of gaining ground within the mainstream. The $7 billion industry rivals that of the falling Hollywood, and serves as an unique experience for its members.

While the DS Lite has shown no signs of waning (the week prior, the DS Lite sold a similar amount), the Wii’s recent success is a promising addition to Nintendo’s Japanese arsenal. If these sales are any indicaiton, the return to the throne is certainly in the future for Nintendo in the homeland.

We hope it would go without saying that the spirit of videogaming has birthed anew with the Nintendo Wii. It must be said that its pack-in game, Wii Sports, is an absolutely fabulous joyride to be taken with enormous optimism. Gaming has never been so active and physically exhausting — fun notwithstanding. The interaction of the Wii’s remote and the on-screen relationship is stunningly intuitive, and while fundamentally a basic design, its richness weighs in tremendously. Playing with fellow gentlemen has never been so exhilerating and robust — the motion-sensing controller certainly is a welcome change in the way we control our videogames. Though it packs only five sports games, each one is terrific fun in its own way, and it must be stated that the fitness feature, as well as the reminders to pause playing and run around outside, are an entirely new approach to communicating with the gamer.

* * * *

Notable games such as Gears of War and Zelda: Twilight Princess seem to top the lists this year, but we forget about the little titles that have respectably garnered much fanatic fanfare and admiration. Nintendo DS’s Brain Age, and most recently — Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin — are excellent examples of portable gaming done effectively and with panache. PSP’s Every Extend Extra is visually outstanding, and we recognize it as one of the few games that requires absolute attention and immersion in both playing the game and pretending to simply be watching for the sake of its nonsensical explosive display of computer code gone nova.

And on the subject of visual design, one cannot neglect Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XII. As some of the premiere architects of videogame worlds, Square Enix has provided the player with a well-designed and thoroughly first-class game world with which to explore and drive themselves through their well-woven story (thought the story is debatable).

As the gaming industry moves forward with its new slew of consoles, we find ourselves looking more sternly and with greater attention to the little titles — the niche ones you find only one copy of at EB Games or perhaps needing to scrounge the Internet.

The business plan is not for everyone.

A successful example of this kind of strategy is currently being used for Valve’s Half-Life 2 expanded series. What was originally planned as the sequel to their hugely successful Half-Life 2 production, the Half-Life 2: Episodes is a smart rebuttal to overworked sequels and the rising costs of major videogame productions.

By chugging out a smaller, more focused, and flexible episode within several month intervals, Valve has capitalized on booming TV series-to-DVD business tactics as well as staving off the costly budgets of massive game franchise productions. Testing digital distribution through their gaming system Steam has also proven that digital distribution (most recently conquered by electronic behemoths Apple, eMusic, Xbox Marketplace, and MovieLink) can work very efficiently.

As with most new ventures, time will tell whether or not episodic gaming will ring well with its consumers. Most gamers are still very used to buying complete game packages at the local retailer, and digital distribution is only now beginning to become a function of the next-generation consoles, albeit with retro game downloads (Wii and Xbox 360 are pushing their respective marketplaces as major proponents of their consoles).