Now that the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, and Nintendo's Wii are all finally out on the market at the same time, it levels the playing field to make a video game console decision.
Or does it?
Just a year after the PS3 and Wii hit the market, you can already see shifts going on to meet consumer demand. If you're having a hard time, like a lot of people, trying to figure out exactly what's being offered now amid all the various configurations of consoles, I've put together a snapshot of what's out there to cut through the confusion. On the plus side, the shifting console landscape has led to some tasty price decreases that will make those of us with sad wallets a little more open to dropping the cash.
The Sony PlayStation 3
The much-hyped launch of the PS3 turned into something of a fizzle after diehard fans snatched up the pricey consoles during release fever. There were stampedes, bidding wars for thousands of dollar on eBay, you name it, and the crazies were out in full force. Sony launched with only one console type that cost $599, much the chagrin of wallets all over the world.
The most expensive of the consoles, PlayStation 3 has a few things going for it that the others don't have, as well as its own set of drawbacks. I've been a multi-platform gamer my whole life so I like to think I'm pretty objective, and you do get some pretty sweet stuff even for the heavy price tag the PS3 is carrying. Some of these advantages you'll notice when you play, but most you probably won't unless you're a serious gamer and are deliberately going head to head with an Xbox 360.
Ok, now that my disclaimer is out of the way, without further ado...
Pros
• Amazing picture
• HDMI output with cable included for ease in HDTV viewing (and um, if you don't have an HDTV, you shouldn't bother with a PS3)
• 2 different choices in hard drive size: 20GB and 60GB
• Comes with Blu-ray capability, which means game discs can fit more information, and you can watch movies with an extraordinary picture
• Extensive PlayStation 2 library will play on the PS3
• Widely praised technology powering the gaming engine
Cons
• Still on the high end of price
• Critics say the game library isn't very robust yet
• There's a war going on between Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats. If Blu-ray doesn't make it, you'll have obsolete technology on your hands
• Lots of complaints about lack of a robust online playing experience
The Microsoft Xbox 360
Launching a year prior to the PS3 gave the Xbox a leg up in some respects. The original Xbox had a smaller share of the gaming market compared to the PlayStation 2, but that's not the case anymore with the new generation of titles.
Xbox 360 offered two different consoles at launch. They now offer three, and the name for one of them changed: Xbox Arcade, Xbox 360, and then the Xbox 360 Elite. I own the Elite, which I bought after my bad experience with the 360's so-called "Red Ring of Death" which plagued many early models. (My own fault for buying at launch.) I don't notice a huge difference, other than a massive hard drive and the black color, but I'm sure other people push it more to the extremes for which it was intended. Most regular gamers will do just fine with the plain ol' Xbox 360. The Xbox Arcade can be ok for an entry-level gamer, but it has no hard drive for saving games and doesn't come with wireless controllers.
Pros
• Great picture
• You can add on an HD-DVD drive
• 3 console choices (differences are numerous...I'd recommend checking out the handy comparison chart here)
• Some proprietary games like the Halo series
• Hugely popular Xbox Live program, allowing you to play games against other players live via a broadband connection
Cons
• Quality of picture vs. the PS3 is hotly debated
• HDMI cable is sold separately for all but the Elite system, and sometimes they're not cheap
• HD-DVD is a separate purchase as well (around $100)
• Highly publicized problem with overheating (fixed for new generations)
The Nintendo Wii
Ah, finally, a game console that hasn't switched up its offerings so soon! The Nintendo Wii is tough to compare to the other two, because it's so radically different. I had my doubts until I played a test run at E3 prior to its release and I knew I had to have one. I'm not the only person that's had this experience. I've watched everyone from 10 year olds to 60 years olds have their faces light up after 5 minutes with this thing, so that should tell you something.
The Wii is meant for a different market, and a very large one: non-hardcore gamers. Trust me, you'll find some of the same people taking no prisoners in games on the PS3 and Xbox 360 enjoy the Wii just fine as well. But the Wii doesn't try and compete with those consoles, it just focuses on the fun of playing a game, which is only amplified by its unique motion-controlled interface via the Nunchuck to control how you play. In one hand you have a comfy controller with a toggle stick and trigger. In your right hand, you have a slender controller that you can wave around in swordfights, a trigger to shoot a gun...the possibilities for how they will use it in the future is endless.
The demographic-breaking Wii has, in fact, outsold the PlayStation 3 to date, thanks to its mass appeal. The games are generally lighter and family friendly, with things that anyone from a 6 year old to your grandmother will get into.
With that disclaimer in mind, here are the highlights;
Pros
• Very fun and totally different from other gaming platforms
• Nintendo's famous proprietary titles like Mario, Donkey Kong and Kirby
• Family friendly titles, for the most part
• Most affordable console
Cons
• Won't pull double-duty and play DVDs
• No online gaming experience (yet, anyway)
• Graphics can range from ok to so-so
Hopefully this gives you an inkling of where to start in looking for a console. Consider who will use it, if there are particular games you really want to play that are only on one system, and how much you're willing to pay for your gaming experience.