| There are three major player in the console wars this | | | | our 42" plasma HDTV are outstanding and it came |
| Christmas, the Nintendo Wii, the Sony Playstation 3 | | | | with a free month of Xbox Live Gold, which I just |
| (PS3) and the Microsoft Xbox 360. Each console has | | | | extended another 13 months for $59. Xbox Live and |
| it's own niche advantages and minor disadvantages, | | | | Halo 3 may be the Xbox 360's distinguishing features, |
| but the one major difference between choosing a | | | | Xbox Live allows you to download demo's of games, |
| console in 2007 is that there is no bad choice. There | | | | video clips and of course play multi player games |
| may be no wrong choice, but there are choices which | | | | online. There are many other great games for the |
| are more "right" than others, this is mainly dependent | | | | Xbox like Gears of War and BioShock, in fact as of |
| on the types of games you and your kids enjoy. | | | | this Christmas the Xbox 360 probably has the best |
| If you had told me a year ago that I would be standing | | | | library of great games of all three systems, with the |
| in a room, playing video games with people old enough | | | | Wii in second and the Playstation 3 third. |
| to be my parents (and in some cases they were my | | | | The Sony Playstation 3 is the most expensive of the |
| parents) I would have told you that you were crazy, | | | | three systems, it was also the last one to hit store |
| but that's what the Nintendo Wii brings to the table. | | | | shelves. The Playstation 3 features include the best |
| The Wii is different than the other consoles and that | | | | graphics subsystem of any of the consoles and of |
| difference is due to the new motion sensitive controller | | | | course the Blu-Ray DVD player which is built in. If you |
| which ships with the console. Imagine that you're | | | | have a high def TV and want a Blu-Ray player, then |
| playing a golf game, typical controllers would have you | | | | the Sony Playstation 3 is the right choice for you. |
| push a thumb switch back, then forth to mimic a golf | | | | The Playstation 3 was delayed many times and |
| swing. The Wii on the other hand would have you | | | | because of that it has the least number of games for |
| stand up, draw back the controller (like a golf club) and | | | | it of all three systems, but if the new price reductions |
| swing. Ok, maybe you're not a golfer, how about | | | | of the system are any indication (you can get a 40GB |
| bowling? If you could have seen my 79 year old | | | | version for $399) then the Playstation 3 will make up |
| mother using the Wii controller to bowl and my 8 year | | | | lost ground quickly in 2008. I don't personally have a |
| old son laughing his head off then you would make | | | | Playstation 3, so can't really comment on first hand |
| your decision to buy a Wii right now. The Wii comes | | | | knowledge of the system, but I know that Sony will not |
| with a package called Wii Sports which features | | | | give up it's position as market leading in the video |
| bowling, golf, baseball and boxing. | | | | game console wars without a fight. |
| In some games, like bowling or baseball, the Wii | | | | So, will it be the funky remote, the most games, or the |
| controller makes playing the game easier than a | | | | Blu-Ray player and the promise of future dominance? |
| standard controller. However in some more traditional | | | | Your decision is not an easy one, but I believe that |
| games it can make games harder to play. For | | | | there are no loosers in this race. All three systems will |
| instance, Mario Strikers was one of my favorite | | | | have an excellent library of games, amazing graphics |
| games on the Gamecube, but on the Wii I find the new | | | | and sound and none of them are going anywhere for |
| version difficult to play (my eight year old seems to | | | | a few years. Choose the fun and cute Wii with it's |
| have the hang of it though). In any case, the Wii makes | | | | revolutionary controller, the sure footed and proven |
| an excellent party system, sure to be enjoyed by kids | | | | Xbox 360 with it's library of exciting games (mostly |
| of all ages and is the least expensive of the three | | | | aimed at teens and young men) or the ultra powerful |
| systems, although the other two are coming down in | | | | Playstation 3 with it's Blu-Ray player. |
| price rapidly to try to compete. | | | | While I don't think that you should buy a system based |
| The Xbox 360 is the safe middle ground of the three | | | | on backward compatibility it is worth mentioning that all |
| systems. It will play DVD's if you desire that | | | | three gaming systems mentioned have some degree |
| functionality and can hook up to your HDTV via | | | | of backward compatibility. This may be important to |
| included component video cables (note that the low | | | | you if you don't already own a system and are |
| end $299 Xbox 360 Arcade does not come with the | | | | interested in picking up some inexpensive older games, |
| hookup cables for HDTV). Halo 3 and BioShock type | | | | beware however that not all older games will play on |
| games should be your yardstick for whether or not | | | | these systems. I believe the Wii is the most backward |
| you want an Xbox 360. For us, my son could not live | | | | compatible of the three (with the Gamecube), but I do |
| without his beloved Halo 3, so off to the store we | | | | not have any hard/fast numbers. |
| went to get the Xbox 360. | | | | Pick a system and have fun, after all isn't that what |
| I've been very happy with the system, the graphics on | | | | gaming is all about? |