This past week has been all about Halo 3. GameDaily estimates that Microsoft's juggernaut sold 2.34 million units on its first day (including pre-orders), and Microsoft already announced that the game pulled in $170 million on its first day. Yes, Halo 3 brought in more money in 24 hours than the first day box office sales of Spider-Man 3 or the first 24 hours of sales for the final book in the Harry Potter series. Those numbers leave me reeling.

Sony is probably reeling, too; how can you compete with a cultural phenomenon? We got a glimpse of the counter-attack at the recent Tokyo Game Show, where the PlayStation 3 showcased the best it had to offer. And analysts are giving the company a chance to at least win over some big Japanese numbers. According to Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, a frequent industry commentator, three games stood out to him as being big wins for Sony: LittleBigPlanet, Metal Gear Solid 4, and Assassin's Creed.


I can definitely understand the excitement around LittleBigPlanet (Read the GameSpy Preview or the IGN Preview). This is one of the 2008 games that I'm really looking forward to playing with. The gameplay is simple, fast, and fun... but more importantly, the game is built around making your own content. It's easy to build your own levels. As much fun as the game, in fact. It creates a kind of "You-Tube" roll-your-own sensibility that really revs my motor. But will it be enough to sell the system? I reserve judgment until I can play it for myself, but LittleBigPlanet doesn't strike me as something that will sell people on a $500 game system.

The next big gun Pachter singled out was Metal Gear Solid 4, the next in a franchise that historically has helped Sony move a lot of consoles. The Metal Gear name isn't as awe-inspiring as it once was, but the latest title brings a lot to the table -- and I'm not just talking about grey-haired mullets. First, there's the graphics. As expected, it's gorgeous, and really shows off why you should care about next-generation hardware. Then there's the controls, which are much-improved and drop you right into the action. Gameplay in general looks tight (See the GameSpy MGS4 Preview). But more importantly, there's the multiplayer! Check out GameSpy's hands-on with Metal Gear Online. It's a full-on multiplayer experience, and while we would've liked to have seen more game modes, it's still a riot. This PS3 exclusive can help the system get some serious traction, especially in Japan.

Lastly Pachter mentioned Assassin's Creed, which was an unusual choice, as it's not a PS3 exclusive. Will a non-exclusive game help boost up Sony's market share? It definitely doesn't help Sony woo people away from the Xbox 360, but still, it's a fantastic title that helps to set the bar for this generation. If you're talking about the Japanese audience -- who hasn't really embraced the Xbox 360 -- then Assassin's Creed might be the title that gets them to invest in the next-gen. Check out GameSpy's Preview or IGN's Preview from the Tokyo game show. This is definitely a game that will be living large in the coming months, with massive levels, dynamic gameplay, and tons of content to explore -- it really symbolizes next-gen gaming at its best.

The PS3 system is selling okay, contrary to rumors otherwise. But it isn't a breakout success like Nintendo's Wii, and it's got a ways to climb before it can match Microsoft's numbers for the Xbox 360. I'm excited about all three of the titles Pachter mentioned to investors, but none of them strike me as the kind of breakthrough games that'll change Sony's position in the market.

LittleBigPlanet, prove me wrong! Show me what you've got!

      -Fargo