As the fifth in the series of  the Xfire Debate Club: The Two-Handed Sword discussion of gaming community issues, Xfire will be tackling the ongoing battle between Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft over the console arena. And prepping up for a serious and formal discussion, Xfire has invited a series of guests for the heated debate on who will eventually win the next-generation console wars.

 

Appointed as moderator is Dan Hsu of Electronic Gaming Monthly, while the PlayStation 3-likely advocate Paul "Lefein" Shields, Xbox 360 critic and Xboxic editor Niels Keurentjes, and Nintendo gamer and Cubed3 editor James Temperton will take the three sides of the debate triangle.

Other guests to tie their two-cents in is Gamasutra's Brandon Sheffield, Engadget's Peter Rojas, and Joystiq's Chris Grant. The debate started today, June 7, 2007, at 5 p.m. EDT (2 p.m. PDT) and also includes interested third party participators from the more than seven million PC gamer community base. All discussions will be policed for facts and basis, and will tackle the following facets of the console battle:

• Which console is the best value?
• Which has the best online play?
• Which will you still be playing a year from now?
• Who has the best exclusive games?
  

More on the debate results as they come in after the debate. PC gamers and Xfire members can tag along now.

The worldwide, seven-million gamer community of Xfire and their Debate Club will be hosting a live debate session in their fourth Xfire Debate Club: The Two-Handed Sword on April 26. This time around, the heated discussion will be bringing a varied panel of guests ranging politicians to game industry journalists and critics to contest the matter of "Censorship in Video Games."

The session, to be moderated by Stanford University's Henry Lowood, will bring together Matteo Bittanti, a researcher at Stanford University; Hal Halpin, CEO of Entertainment Consumers Association; Dennis McCauley, CEO of GamePolitics.org; Russ Pitts, Editor of The Escapist; to discuss matters regarding:

• Governments' involvement and their regulation of video games
• Game exposure to children and their consequential influence on them
• The power of "the creative license"

Frederic Descamps, senior director of marketing at Xfire, commented, "As video games become a more mainstream form of entertainment, questions regarding censorship and legislation continue to gain significance." The debate will take place at April 26, 4 p.m. EDT or 1 p.m. PDT at Xfire's debate section. You can head there through the "Read" link below. And don't forget to bookmark it!

 

Andronix of PlayThree.net, ponders if PlayStation owners should feel green - an Xbox 360 shade of green to be specific - that the Xbox 360 is set to integrate further with Windows via the Xbox LIVE MSN Messenger feature. Andronix notes that Sony might want to look towards Yahoo Messenger, which already has inter-connectivity with MSN Messenger and Xfire.

Anyhow, since July 12, 2006, both Microsoft and Yahoo have allowed limited inter-connectivity between their messaging services. For now it's pure speculation on Andronix's part, but he sees a possible connection between the PS3 and the Xbox 360 via Yahoo. That is, IF Microsoft chooses not to block it and Sony does attempt to use Yahoo, or at least allow Yahoo to work with the PS3.

Xfire by the way, has already been assessed by Sony for use with the PS3. Will they allow Yahoo Messenger too? Hmmm...

Speculation aside, Sony is already working on their own messaging system, that's set to promote their much touted Game 3.0 philosophy.

In an interview over at Gamasutra, CEO and co-founder of Xfire, Mike Cassidy, voiced his opinions on the Windows Live service. Apart from that, he also talked about the growth of the PC-based instant messaging service and gaming server tracker that some PlayStation 3 games use, Xfire.

Cassidy notes that at this point they don't fully understand the features/pricing and usage scenarios of Microsoft's Live service for Windows. He notes that they believe that gamers will not want to pay for multiplayer functionality, especially since the said feature has been traditionally free on the PC.

When asked if he sees if the Games for Windows branding as a threat, especially since the games on the brand will inevitably be linked to the Live service, he notes that while they're careful to watch what the competition is doing, they're very much confident in the strength and loyalty of their user-base.

Cassidy notes that integration of the Xfire service with the Xbox 360 has been more difficult than with other console partners. When asked about previous comments that he made that implied that they were in talks with other console makers - Gamasutra speculates an Xfire service for the Nintendo Wii - Cassidy can only tease, saying: "stay tuned..."

While they did experience some problems with integrating Xfire for Vista, he notes that everything is pretty much working well at the moment. Difficulties encountered included the new desktop rendering system of Vista, and the User Access Controls.

Oh, and before we end this, here's a little something for all the Mac gamers out there who feel a little left out. Mike Cassidy says:

The Mac user-base is very passionate. Although only a few top games are released simultaneously for the Mac and PC, Mac gamers have regularly asked us to create a version of Xfire for them. We are committed to supporting as many gaming platforms as we can as long as they have a large enough user-base. However, prioritization of projects is an ongoing battle.

As interesting as Mike Cassidy's words are, our utopian dream is still a true cross-platform "PSWii60PC" messaging service. One, can dream right? For the complete interview, feel free to head to Gamasutra's post via our "read" link below.

In a lengthy interview over at Gamasutra, Sony's new PR boss Dave Karraker, was asked about the negative buzz surrounding Sony. We won't focus on that, as there's been a lot of talk about that already. Instead, we'll focus on Karraker's take on the Achievement system that Sony's PlayStation Network has.

He says that what Sony is trying to do with the Open Access platform is to allow the game developers to dictate what the network experience will be for the customer. He emphasizes that the majority of the networking features, aside from things like chat, texting, and emailing, you know, the basic community stuff, is all found basically in the game.

Read the full article to get the rest of Karraker's take!

Earlier we did an article focusing on Microsoft employee Andre Vrignaud (Ozymandias) and his opinions on Sony's online PlayStation Network Service. This post will focus on John Smedley's counterpoint. Just in case you don't know who John Smedley is, the search tab is there for your convenient use. Moving on. John Smedley's response is such:

One of the cool things about integrating both the PlayStation Network and Xfire into our PS3 title Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom is that my friends on Xfire running on the PC can send me messages while I’m playing the game on the PlayStation 3. I can also respond to them if I want.

I can do the same thing (also from within the game) with my friends that are playing other PlayStation 3 games using my PlayStation Network friends list. We’ve integrated both into the game because we realize how important it is to be able to tie into different groups of online friends. I personally think that’s one of the best things about the PS3’s open approach. I am a member of multiple online communities. The fact that the PlayStation 3 will allow publishers the option of hooking my favorite games into these communities is a big plus to me.

I do want to point out that you aren’t just able to see if your friends are online at the cross media bar interface level.. it can happen within games too.

So what is the good Mr. Smedley trying to say? Basically in his point of view it's good that the PS3 is open and is allowing the publishers to dictate who they will be implementing their online community. He also thinks that it's good that, depending on what service a particular publisher is using, people on the PC can send messages to people playing on their PS3's.

Given that it is possible to be able to access the cross media bar at any point, he does have a point that it's convenient to see which one of your “global” PS3 friends are online, and that you can use the game to check which one of your game-specific friends are online.

We'll have to see where this pseudo online debate will go, before we say anymore regarding this topic. Now we say pseudo debate because if you click on our VIA link below and you look at Smedley's previous posts, you'll see that he's been actively responding to Ozymandias' blog posts. We could try to give you guys several metaphors describing what each service looks like so far, but we won't. That would be flame-bait.

Regardless of the direction this argument will go, it's comforting to see that Sony is actively trying to take their PlayStation Network in a direction different than Microsoft's XBL.

It is expected that Microsoft employee's wouldn't think much of Sony's PS3 or Sony's Online service. It's normal. They are working for a company that's in direct competition. But just for the sake of clarity, let's take some time to look at the actual points raised by Microsoft employee Andre Vrignaud (better known as Ozymandias on his blog) regarding the lack of efficiency of Sony's online service.

This starts with the lawsuit that Xfire has brought against Gamespy. You see, Xfire believes that GameSpy Comrade's "Buddy Sync" feature is infringing on its copyrights. How does this connect to the PlayStation Network? Vrignaud says this: "This suit highlights how busted Sony's PS3 online network is, and how companies are fighting to position themselves to take advantage of this financially."

He means that online middleware companies are trying to position themselves to become the eventual de facto solution that publishers will use when online on the PS3. It's the same with the web: These companies are trying to get momentum and a large enough user base that will cause them to be the "PS3 online" solution of choice.

How is the PlayStation Network busted? Why does the PlayStation Network need "solutions" from middleware companies? Well, Vrignaud gives several reasons. In his blog he wrotes:

Even though I already have a "Sony ID", I may have to create a new "Resistance ID" (because Insomniac's Resistance has it's own list) to play. And then start thinking about just how broken the experience is when you try to invite someone to a game. Do you send it via the Resistance UI? What screenname do I send it to? If I want to add you to my "Sony ID" friends list, do I need to send you an in-game message to ask you what your real "Sony ID" name is? What about game invites? How does that work across even just these two IDs?

You think that's bad? Now let's open up a few more games from different publishers. Each of these publishers had to make a choice of what online interface to use - again, because Sony's online network just isn't ready.

Yep, his problem is with Sony's PlayStation Network, is that it is just isn't ready. Publishers will have to either write their own communications interface or license Xfire, or GameSpy, or Quazal, or Demonware. That means many potential networks with different namespaces, and an inherent lack of ability to communicate (chatting, voice, invites, finding friends, etc.) between them.

He further inquires as to what could happen if each publisher doesn't stick with the same online solution for all of their games? This is very likely as most publishers use different developers - so even across a single publisher, you may find fragmented communities.

So what's the point of the Sony ID according to him? The Sony ID gives you a lifeline to be see friends when they are online... but only in the crossbar UI.

Okay, so you want some clear-cut definition of how the Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom's online system really works? Here's what we found out. The game's online co-op feature will definitely be using the PlayStation Network. So if you want to play with your buddies from across the country, you'd obviously have to sign up for it. Prior to this confirmation, it was all very speculative as to whether or not the game would be using the propriety online services of SCE, along with the Xfire software, or if Xfire, by itself, will power it.

And what is the Xfire exactly, you might want to know? It is actually a bonus addition to the current set-up of the PlayStation Network. What it does is to allow you to create your friends list separately from the default SCE-buddy list. So there you go. However, if you'd want to test it out, you might want to wait until a little later, because supposedly, the PS3 test units have their network compatibility features turned off for now.

Anyway, while we're at it, check out these new screens.

  

This may be a stretch, but it's still gaming related. Hey, if you're really anal about "worthiness" be patient, there's mention here of a prize that you might want. Now that the warning is done and over with, here we go.

Mary-Margaret.com, a company in the field of international recruitment services for the interactive entertainment industry is celebrating its tenth year. Because their feeling nice, they're holding an online contest and the prizes include passes to attend the Game Developers Conference 2007 in San Francisco. If in case you're wondering if that conference will fit in your gaming/brewing schedule, GDC 2007 is from March 5-9.

Given that they're into recruitment for the gaming industry, the contest is aptly named "Upgrade to Next Gen." Good title, nice spin. Anyway, they'll be giving away three prize packages valued at $3,500 each. Winners will also get to stay at The Mosser, a hotel that's a block away from the Moscone Convention Center. They're also going to be giving away a bundle of software courtesy of NCSoft, Iron Lore Entertainment, and The Guildhall at SMU. Contest registration is open online until February 1, 2007. Here are the Prize details:

VIP Prize

• VIP pass to GDC 2007
• Two invitations to the GDC Choice Awards VIP Reception
• Two night stay at The Mosser
• An Xfire™ Alienware Area-51 Series Extreme Gaming PC
• Deluxe software gift pack
  

NCsoft: Guild Wars, Auto Assault, and City of Heroes
Iron Lore Entertainment: The RPG hit Titan Quest and two Titan Quest T-shirts
The Guildhall at SMU: One copy of Guitar Hero II for Sony PlayStation2 with Guitar Controller and one copy of Untold Legends: The Warrior’s Code for Sony PSP

Giga Prize

• Giga pass to GDC 2007
• Two night stay at The Mosser
• Deluxe software gift pack (same pack as above)
  

Mobile Prize

• Mobile Plus pass to GDC 2007
• Two night stay at The Mosser
• Deluxe software gift pack (same pack as above)

If you want to join you can click on our read link below, you could go to their official site for more details about the contest. One last bit: don't you find it weird that for a "go next gen" contest the prizes involve PC and PS2 stuffs? Sigh. We wonder who's going to get a lifetime achievement award at the con this time around?

So. The latest buzz on the whole Xfire-PS3 deal is that Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom will be powered by Xfire when the game comes out for the said console, allowing players to use the "Friend Tracker" feature and level up their gaming experience.

Now, Xfire CEO Mike Cassidy has announced that they will be holding online tournaments for PS3 users when the console launches next month. Apparently, the goal is to bring all the online PC gaming privileges to the PS3 as well.

By holding online tournaments with the PS3, Cassidy says that it'll be "...like playing a hole of golf with Tiger Woods. That's what it's like for gamers, they get to play for five or ten minutes with some of the best gamers in the world. We've had over 100,000 people do these online events."

Well, can't say no to playing golf with Tiger Woods now, can we? And also, Cassidy shares that there are currently six PS3 titles that they've had their hand in, and that they're still currently in negotiation with other major developers to 'fire up' their titles. In addition to EA, Activision, VU Games, Ubisoft, 2K Games, and Lucas Arts, the company aims to get the top 20 PS3 game developers to integrate Xfire into their titles. Here's to hoping they succeed in doing so, and finally let users make the most out of their gaming experience.