Which Video Game Console should I buy?
If you are torn between video game consoles or if this is your first console you are buying, here are some suggestions to help you get the most fun out of your purchase. There are three main manufacturers of video game consoles, Nintendo (wii, ds), Sony (Playstation 2, Playstation 3, PSP) and Microsoft (Xbox, Xbox360). Here is a look at the pros and cons of each console type.
Sony
- PS4 PlayStation 4 (est Release Nov. 2013)- The PS4 is going to take center stage in the gaming console wars almost exactly 7 years after the PS3 was launched.
- PS3 PlayStation 3 (Release Nov. 2006)- The PS3 is a high horsepower and graphics engine gaming console and also is a Blu-ray player with multimedia capabilities . Unlike Xbox online network, the Playstation network access is free of charge.
PS3s come with different hard drive sizes - 60GB, 80GB, 160GB. - Released in 2009 Check out the New Slim PS3 for under $300!
- PS2 Playstation 2 This console was one of the first true gaming consoles that featured rich graphics content and the current library boasts thousands of games. Though the console does not have the horsepower for newer games and advanced graphics, the gameplay of the huge library will keep you entertained for hours. With the recent price drop, this is a great deal to get into video gaming and you can get accessories like dance mats or driving wheels to make some of the games more fun.
Nintendo:
- Wii (Released Jan 2007)- The Nintendo wii took the gaming console wars to new levels as the wii initially outsold both the Xbox 360 and PS3 because of the new angle that encourages physical interation with video games. They used this concept to develop the Wii Fit and Wii Music as well as the new wii motion control that can be used on Tiger Woods Golf and the new Wii Sports resort game.
Many serious 'gamers' have criticized the Wii for being weak on horsepower and appealing to families, but this has been its winning strategy for first time console buyers. If you want to interact with friends and play some physical video games, the nintendo wii is a good choice.
- DS Lite (2006) - newer versioni of Nintendo DS with brighter screen.
- DS (Dual Screen)( 2004) - The portable Nintendo DS is a handheld gaming device that was very popular several years ago (until the DS lite and now DSI came out).
- Gamecube (2001)- The Gamecube was Nintendos answer to the original Xbox and Playstation2. But it has lost it's luster with the new-gen consoles (PS3, Wii and Xbox360). Online gaming very weak, but was fun in it's day with a more arcade feel like Donkey Kong with real Donkey Kong drums.
- XBox 360(2005)- A much slimmer update to the original XBox, the 360 is currently available in 3 models.
- XBox Arcade is the basic model
XBox 360 Premium has extra 20 or 60 GB Hard Drive
XBox 360 Elite has the big 120GB Hard Drive
- XBox (original release 2001) - Microsofts first foray into gaming consoles, to compete with the PS2 and Gamecube. XBox had a lower price than the PS2 and featured a hard drive to store games downloaded from 'XBox Live' the online store. 'XBox Live' also enables multi-player online gaming.
No matter which console you choose, there are great games to play on all. In a nutshell, if you can it is best to get one of the newer ones (PS3 which also supports PS2 games, Xbox 360 or Wii).
I am partial to the PS3 and have all of the devices, but it also depends on what games you want to play online. The Xbox 360 also has a great collection of online games and Halo is still tops with teens.
Note that some of the online games can have out of control dialog and comments by fellow gamers. Whether they are generally that rambunctious, or just pride in hiding behind the anonymity of the web and online gaming, you get a decent amount of random language and here and there run into outright jerks, especially in shooter type games; but that just makes it all the more fun to kick their behinds.