With the next-gen console war coming to a head, about to really start heating up come next month, how exactly will it be won? Will it be one based on the hardware? The games? What about innovation? The New York Times now has up an article that looks at the battlefield that is the online gaming world.

From the article:

Sony has prevailed in the game wars so far, with consoles judged largely on their power and graphics, and a big library of games. But as it prepares to introduce its PlayStation 3, the battlefield is expanding.

Having spotted Microsoft’s Xbox 360 a one-year head start, Sony must also show that its new machine can hold its own in Internet-based gaming, its rival’s sweet spot.

With the arrival of its PlayStation 3 less than a month away, Sony is embarking on a worldwide marketing campaign that will collide directly with an equally ambitious effort by Microsoft. And both will face a challenge from the Nintendo Wii.

Read the full article over at nytimes.com