Most of my readers always ask me which video game system they should buy for either themselves or their kids. Let me simplify the current video game landscape for everybody a little bit. There are three major companies that pretty much control all the major video game systems in the world: Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. Along with a billion million third party companies (EA Sports, Ubisoft, Sega, etc. ) they create games of all types– all the way from extraordinary adventures to math lessons. Currently the three kings of video games ( Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo) own three systems in the market– Microsoft’s Xbox 360 (commonly called 360), Sony’s Playstation 3 (commonly called PS3), and Nintendo’s Wii.
So which is the best?
To make it easier to understand I’ll simply list the pros and cons of each system.
Nintendo Wii
Pros:
1. Brand new way to play with video games.
This is the very first system to properly implement motion controls through its very unique Wiimote wireless controller. This means that games like Tiger Woods Golf can actually be played like you would play golf in real life. You actually swing the controller as if it was a golf club. Another example would be that it can be used as a gun for shooting games. The Wii can also use older Gamecube controllers if people find this to be too hard.
2. Innovative games.
In conjunction with the new controller the games have become extremely creative in its implementation. For the first time ever adventures in the first person view can be played as they were meant to be played (ex. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption- you actually aim at the screen to shoot!). Also other games like Rayman Raving Rabbids or Mario Party are very unique in that almost anyone can have fun playing them.
3. Kid friendly/easy to use.
Nintendo is very strict on what is allowed on its system in terms of violent games.
4. Free online play.
Many games include online multiplayer and it is completely free to use. WiiConnect24 (24 is for 24 hours in a day) is a new updating program that allows you to download content for games you own, or allow some games to have real time effects, such as having the weather inside the game reflect that of the actual outdoors near your home.
5. Completely Backwards compatible.
This means it can play all Nintendo Gamecube games, plus the inclusion of the “Virtual Console” allows gamers to download games off the internet from even older systems such as the very first Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super NES, and even Sega Genesis (Sega used to be the major rival of Nintendo)
6. Has built in Wi-Fi and at $250 it is the lowest priced system.
Cons:
1. Graphics are only a slight upgrade from the previous Nintendo Gamecube because the architecture of the Wii is very similar to the Gamecube’s. It also uses DVDs for game discs (4.7 GB size) which means the games can only be a certain size thus limiting its graphic capabilities.
2. Hard to set up.
Nintendo advertises the Wii as the system your grandmother can play, however I still feel that an older person who is not used to any kind of computer would still find it difficult to understand. The sensor bar also adds insult to injury. This bar is necessary only for certain games, but it is needed to use the menu and many people get confused on why its even in the box. Also you have to be relatively close to the TV else the sensor bar will not work properly. On the other hand though it is a very short learning curve if someone teaches you how to use it.
3. You have to pay to download old games (from 5-10 dollars), but the shear (or is it sheer?) nostalgia that these games bring overrides the small price tag for them.
4. WiiConnect24 has still not been included in nearly any of the games.
5. Nintendo does not let a lot of violent games to be developed for the Wii. However, this is currently changing.
Playstation 3:
Pros:
1. Easily the most powerful consumer video game system and computer in the market today. The processor for it is a brand new chip developed by IBM called the Cell. I’ll give you an analogy on how powerful the Cell processor really is. For a movie such as Spiderman 3 for example with a lot of special effects and computer generated imagery, it takes some serious big time computers to create effects that a viewer can perceive the movie to be actually real. This movie in particular took 10, yes 10 supercomputers to render (techy word for building the graphics for the movie and actually stringing all the editing together into the final movie). Each of these computers runs at around 1.4 teraflops (if you don’t know what that is just know that its ridiculously fast, nearly 1,000 times faster than the computer you are probably using right now). Playstation 3’s Cell processor is in fact just as powerful as one of those computers!
2. Uses Blu-ray Discs for games. Blu-ray discs are special discs that is read by a blue laser in the PS3. By using a blue laser (shorter wavelength than conventional red lasers) allows programmers to cram more data onto the disc. In actuality each side of the disc can fit 25 GB! This means that the games will eventually become huuuuuge and extremely intricate.
3. PS3 can play Blu-ray DVD movies. PS3 is the cheapest solution for a Blu-ray DVD movie player.
4. Has a built in harddrive to save a lot of game progress as well as download complete game demos. Lowerend model has a 40GB harddrive while the higherend model has an 80GB 120 GB.
Cons:
1. Only the higher end model of the PS3 has Wi-fi (wireless internet) capabilities. (Check the box before you buy)
2. Programmers do not yet have the knowledge necessary to harness the power of the Cell, but they will in a few years.
3. High price. Lowerend model ($400) used to not have Wi-Fi, so be careful when buying at a store because the retailer may have the older version. PS3 Slim announced! Lighter weight same punch lower price!
Xbox 360:
Pros:
1. Near Full HD (can only go to High Definition at 720p) graphics.
2. Best online play, sleek menus, easy to use, and not many connection issues when playing online as the other two systems.
3. Wireless controllers
4. Great Technical and Warranty Support from Microsoft because they are simply the richest of the three companies.
5. Huge selection of games plus an internal harddrive. (Normal 360 has 20GB drive and the Elite has a 120 GB drive)
6. Has built in Wi-Fi
Cons:
1. Many Xbox 360s break for no reason -(typical of Microsoft)
2. Not really a new system, its basically an Xbox with updated graphics and wireless controllers. There is nothing very impressive about it except for better graphics and newer menus.
3. Didn’t promise on its HD-DVD(15.7 GB size and blue laser technology) usage for games. The games still use DVDs, thus smaller games, thus limiting the 360s potential power. This special disc usage was supposed to be included at release, but you can buy an attachment to use it.
4. There are two models of 360. Only one of them, the Xbox 360 Elite, can produce HD graphics (720p- progessive in a later post I will explain how High Definition actually works and which is the best, but for brevity’s sake I won’t explain it for now).
5. High price, lower end model is $400 and the higher Elite is $500
So whose the winner you ask?
IMHO (in my humble opinion) the Nintendo Wii is clearly the most bang for your buck. I always have fun playing with this system no matter what. The games are more creative, fresher, and have a great feel to them. Also some games come with a family play option which allows computer automation to take over for more complicated controls. Finally, nothing can beat the experience of actually swinging a golf club or shooting at the screen as if it was real life.
Runner up:
PS3 this system will eventually have graphics that will seem extremely realistic. However, the system is still relatively young and it is expensive. The Blu-ray player is pretty clutch, allowing you to watch ultra high definition movies (1080p). Make note that this is a very close runner-up, you or your kids will have just as much fun playing on this system as anything else.
The loser, but its hard to call it that:
Xbox 360 in my opinion is not a very impressive system from an upgrade standpoint. However, do not underestimate its power. The 360 and the PS3 currently have a similar selection of games (it has the best exclusive games though i.e. Halo) and have similar graphics capabilities, but the PS3 will eventually pull ahead in this race.
Want to get any of these systems? Currently Amazon holds the most amount of them, you won’t even have to worry about talking to some stupid kid at Bestbuy. I put together this little widget of my most favorite games:
Popularity: 100% [?]
