Considered, the "What's New" magazine of science and technology, Popular Science covers the latest in aviation, cars, communications, electronics, science, space exploration, tools, and more. In the February issue of Popular Science, editor Steve Belanger evaluated the next generation consoles and contributed his ratings for each.

The article demonstrates a common fault that frequently ruins main stream game console analysis. A single editor is assigned to review the players in a complex industry that they don't fully understand. The result is an article of flawed journalism that misguides the general public and confounds the gaming community.

The author's inexperience with console evaluation is very apparent in statements like, "The purple GameCube looks more like a lunchbox then a serious game platform." Even if foolish comments were overlooked, we would at least expect a Popular Science console reviewer to have played the platforms he is reviewing. Yet the author writes that Rogue Leader was "the only GameCube game I played more then once."

Further demonstrating the prevalence of personal opinion over objective analysis, the article's controller review gives a five-star rating to Xbox's controller and a three-star rating to GameCube's - a review that defies common consensus. For a quality publication as Popular Science to certify an op-ed piece as the magazine's review of next generation consoles is beyond rationalization. 

Among Belanger's conclusions, "Kids will flock to the GameCube for Nintendo's exclusive titles, but we see no reason to buy a PlayStation 2 unless you need 100 games on the quick." His final support was firmly behind Microsoft's Xbox. It should be noted that by comparison to the efforts we've seen in the past from publications like Forbes, Belanger's attempt could be considered Shakespearian. 

Below is a copy of the article from the February issue of Popular Science. Additional information can be found at PopularScience.com

  
Battling Boxes:
Don't buy a Xbox, GameCube, or PlayStation 2 'til you read this.

Steve Belanger, Popular Science, February 2002

It was a plum assignment, one I'd dreamed about since my teenage days at the local arcade: test the latest game systems - the all new Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube, plus Sony's year-old PlayStation 2 - and, in the end, pick the best.

I'm already a Playstation2 (299$) junkie, so I didn't need a lot of saddle time with the deuce. I went right to the GameCube (199$), which Nintendo hopes will erase memories of its disappointing 64 console. The purple GameCube looks more like a lunchbox then a serious game platform, further emphasizing Nintendo's focus on hooking players young. I tested a handful of new titles, with the one standout being Star Wars: Rogue Leader Rogue Squadron II, a Nintendo exclusive. Its the only GameCube game I played more then once.

Microsoft Xbox (299$) attempts to one-up the competitors in every way. It has a faster graphics processor, more memory, and a hard drive. Some Xbox games, like NHL Hitz 2002 and 4x4 EVO 2, don't seem worthy of such a powerful platform, but most are keepers. Project Gotham Racing is hands-down the most realistic driving simulation I've played. Halo is a maddeningly addictive first-person shooter. And the graphics alone in Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2X and Transworld Surf made them worth trying.

The true test came when I played the same game, the Madden 2002 football game, on each system. Looking at the three TVs side by side shed some serious light: Xbox's graphics frankly blow the others away, with crisp colors, sharp edges, and amazing detail. In addition, thanks to the hard drive, games load faster. Xbox's controllers seemed big at first, but once I got used to them, it was difficult going back to the others.

The bottom line: If you are looking for a new system, Xbox is easily the best choice. Kids will flock to the GameCube for Nintendo's exclusive titles, but we see no reason to buy a PlayStation 2 unless you need 100 games on the quick. Frankly, though, the lack of Xbox games doesn't worry us - if you build a better box, they will come. And that's exactly what Microsoft has done.

*Such as DVD playback, hard drive, and other cool extras.

January 17, 2002

Rick - Editor in Chief, GameCubicle