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Game Console Reviews and Buying Guide:Game consoles have evolved into high tech machines over the last few years that make the original pong game seem ancient and archaic. The latest buzz is around the Sony Playstation 3 gaming system. Unfortunately Sony only produced about 1/4 million units so demand has been high and dozens of people have stood in lines all across America only to buy the game consoles in stores like Best Buy and then immediately resell them on Ebay for a huge profit. Game console experts are saying this is all hype since there are only a few games ready to be played on the Playstation 3 at this time. Perhaps a year from now as more games are released, the Sony Playstation 3 will compete on the same level as the XBox 360 from Microsoft. The general consensus amongst game console reviewers is that the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft XBox 360 will continue to lead the way in terms of sheer entertainment value while the Playstation 3 catches up to its significant technological advantages that game makers will surely see and produce games for.
Best Overall Game Console:For around $250 you can buy the Nintendo Wii which regularly rates high amongst families for having fun and addictive games. Owners like the fact the Nintendo game console comes with a set of sports games when you buy the console. The Nintendo Wii does not offer the same graphics power as the Xbox 360 or new Playstation 3, but it does have the Wii Remote. The revolutionary motion sensitive controller on the Wii will make any game experience unique because you will literally be out of your seat and standing up while playing. Although the Wii does not play DVDs or CDs like the other gaming consoles, we still feel like it appeals to the casual player who enjoys playing video games with friends. It's compatible with all GameCube games and controllers and the built-in SD slot is ideal for picture viewing and storage capabilities. Nintendo has taken a chance with the Wii and gone away from the more powerful graphical options that the XBox 360 and Playstation 3 offer, but it does deliver in terms of an affordable game console. See the whole collection of Wii games and controllers here.
Top High End Game Console:If you like top end graphics and realistic game play, then the Microsoft XBox 360 ($200-$300) is the game console for you. With all a year under its belt in terms of new games, the XBox 360 is leading the pack. All the games for the Xbox 360 are in high definition and the overall performance is superior to all other game consoles (except the Playstation 3). Microsoft will have its hands full trying to keep a loyal customer base now that the Sony Playstation 3 is out, but with the supply issues and a limited game selection from the Sony Playstation 3, the Xbox 360 should retain its lead for quite some time. You get built-in support for wireless controllers, content downloads, and online gaming from the Xbox 360. The system is very powerful and can be used as a media center to play DVDs or use Windows Media. Some drawbacks that we read about were: no DVI or HDMI output, the power supply is oversized, exhaust fan is noisy, and the 20GB hard drive is not large enough to store much high-def downloadable content. Also, if you want the xBox live subscription to get the online gaming, you need to pay about $50/year. We are sure that Microsoft will fix all the flaws associated with the current Xbox 360 when they release a new game console in the coming years, but for now they have the best product on the market for hardcore gamers.
Sony Playstation 3:All the hype in the last few months has been the release of the new Sony Playstation 3 ($399) and subsequent dash to buy them up with limited quantities available. Sony only made about 250,000 units and they have sold out fast with many being resold online for double or triple the original value. What are you getting when you buy one of these game consoles, lots of potential is what experts are saying. Sure the Sony Playstation 3 will be better than the Xbox 360 but when? For now, the gaming experience is about equal between the 2 giants in this category, but within a year or so gamers and video game manufacturers will see the full advantages the Sony offers and Microsoft will have a fight on its hands. The PS3 does include a built-in Blu-ray DVD player and the Cell Broadband Engine which will supply you with live competition from around the globe. The hard disk drive has plenty of space (60 GB) and you can play PS1 and PS2 games on the Playstation 3 console. As high definition gaming takes off and interactive play becomes mainstream, the Sony Playstation 3 will display it's full capabilities soon enough. We suggest giving it about 6 months to cool off in price and see what new games become available before purchasing one.
Most Popular Handheld Game System:Just because the new Playstation 3 is creating so much buzz, don't think that the handheld game systems are disappearing. In fact, they are more popular than ever with the younger crowds and the Sony Playstation Portable, or PSP, is the hottest seller. At $200 the PSP is still expensive, but you do get a nice, high resolution screen and easy to use controls. The PSP also will play MP3s and video files on Memory Stick media cards or on the UMD discs. It's an excellent portable entertainment system that does a great job of combining music, video, Internet, and photos. With over 135 games to choose from and view on the widescreen LCD display, the Sony PSP makes a perfect gift at Christmas time. If you want to go with the less expensive handheld system, consider the Nintendo DS Lite ($130). Games for both systems run from $20 - $40 each.
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