There are many factors to consider when shopping for a next
generation console and finding the right one for you could be a little tricky,
even for an experienced gamer. This review will highlight the strengths
and weaknesses of each system and make recommendations depending on your
interests and budget.
HARDWARE
Let's start with Hardware. The Nintendo Wii hardware
specifics are not strongly publicized, probably because they are not very
impressive. In fact, the Wii hardware is almost identical to the Gamecube
hardware of old. The Xbox 360 Premium hardware includes a 20 GB hard
drive and High Definition (HD) support. The 360 is much more powerful
than the Wii but still not nearly as powerful as the Playstation 3 which
includes a 60 GB hard drive as well as HD support. There are
plenty of specific numbers that measure the power of the three machines, but I
won't go into detail about them here. What I will tell you is what the
differences in hardware are going to mean to you as a gamer.
Most importantly, better hardware means better
pictures. The 360 has some very sharp images and the PS3 images
are also extremely crisp and lifelike. Both require an HD television
(HDTV) to really get the most out of the picture. The Wii does not
support HDTV and has a much weaker hard drive. This means the pictures
will not be much better than the Gamecube or PS2 and maybe not even be as good
as the original Xbox. Another thing to consider about hardware is the
loading time for games between levels and starting up new games. The
better the hardware, the shorter your waiting time will be. Finally, the
better the hardware, the more complex artificial intelligence the system will
be able to support. This means that computer allies and opponents in the
games will act more quickly and with more intelligence during gameplay.
CONTROLLERS
The next issue to consider are the controllers for the
systems. Both the PS3 and the 360 have very similar controllers to
previous consoles. There have been little changes except that the
wireless controllers are becoming much more popular. The Wii has taken
drastic measures in terms of their controller and this is where the Wii really
shines. The Wii controller looks much like a television remote and is
motion sensitive. Instead of controlling the gameplay with dual analog
sticks, buttons, and triggers, players will wave, point, and swing the
controller to control what's happening on screen. Nintendo hopes to
attract people who have little or no previous video game experience, by
producing a controller that is simple, intuitive, and easy to use.
At the same time, veteran gamers will find plenty to enjoy with the Wii-mote
controls.
ONLINE PLAY
Online gaming is a very important issue to compare when
choosing which system is right for you. Xbox live requires a $50 fee for
an annual membership that allows you to connect with players around the
world. The PS3 doesn't require a fee which is a major advantage.
The Wii online service will be free as well, but very few Wii games support
online play.
BACKWARD COMPATIBLE
Backwards compatitibility is on the minds of many gamers who
already have a library of games from previous consoles. Backwards
compatibility means that a new system will be able to play games from an old
system. The PS3 will be fully compatible with PS1 and PS2 games.
The 360 is backwards compatible with most Xbox games, however,
you must first download an emulator for each game before you can
play. The Wii will be fully compatible with all Gamecube games.
Additionally, the Wii allows users to download classic games from older Nintendo
consoles for a small price ranging from five to ten dollars.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Each console has unique strengths that come into play when
deciding which system to buy. Because the 360 has been out the longest,
it has the largest selection of tried and true games. Also,
because was released a year earlier than the Wii and PS3, you can find 360
systems and games with much more significant discounts than
other next-gen consoles here on eBay. The PS3 and 360 both have the
ability to play DVD's unlike the Wii which is important for many people.
Additionally, the PS3 will play Blu-Ray DVD's which have a much more crisp
image than standard DVD's. The Wii comes pre-packaged with Wii sports
which includes five different sports games.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Review and recommendations: The 360 and PS3 are
primarily for experienced, serious gamers. The games tend to be geared
towards adult audiences, as do the price tags. The Wii is better suited
for young or first time players and is much more affordable. However,
there are many features of the Wii that will appeal to veteran gamers. If
you don't have the ability to connect to the internet you will miss a lot of
the experience the PS3 and 360 have to offer through their vast
online communities. Likewise if you don't have an HDTV, you will not be
tapping into the full potential of a PS3 or 360 system. If you fall
into both of the previous categories I would recommend the Wii. If you
are on a budget, but have access to HDTV and the internet, the 360 is a good
choice. You'll have a variety of games to choose from and secondhand
prices are much lower for the 360 than the other two systems. If this is
your first video game console, you ought to start out with the Wii. Even
if you are an experienced gamer and want to try something new, the Wii is a
great fit. If you have already amassed a huge collection of games that
you are very fond of, stick with the same system in the next generation because
you'll be able to play your old games on the new system.
Finally, it's important to be patient. The longer you
wait, the better deal you'll get on your system and games. The longer you
wait, the better selection you will have available in terms of game
variety. The longer you wait, the less chance you have of purchasing a
system with bugs, defects, or problems of any kind.
Fortunately, it's hard to make the wrong choice. All three systems of the
next generation are amazing and if you aren't happy with the one you
buy for any reason, you'll be able to sell it on ebay for about what you
paid for it (if not more).
source: http://www.ebay.com/gds/Should-You-Buy-a-Sony-PS3-Nintendo-Wii-or-Xbox-360-/10000000002358846/g.html
http://www.buyetail.com
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