Microsoft Xbox 360
The Microsoft Xbox 360 video game console ($299 for the Core System, $399 for the Premium System) combines HD graphics with the best video gaming online service on the planet, as well as numerous digital media hub features, including TV and movie downloads, device connectivity, and Media Center Extender capabilities. And forget all that talk about PlayStation 3 superiority: Xbox 360 games are both plentiful and of higher quality than anything available for Sony's just-released system.

Microsoft sells two versions of the console, but you should skip the lower-end version, which lacks a hard drive, required for many of the Xbox's best features. Each system ships with one wireless controller and no game, so you'll need to purchase additional stuff to round out the gift.

Xbox 360 Games
When the Xbox 360 launched a year ago, there were only 18 games available, and few were standout hits. Today, there are well over 150 games, and the Xbox 360 has been graced by a number of unqualified hits. The biggest of these is Gears of War ($59.99), a blockbuster third-person shooter from the team that brought us the Unreal and Unreal Tournament games for the PC. Gears of War is the most graphically rich game yet created for any video game system, and it's incredibly atmospheric and immersive. It's also quite violent, so keep it away from the kids.

Following up on its 2005 hit Call of Duty 2, a sequel—imaginatively titled Call of Duty 3 ($59.99)—is also now available. Call of Duty 3 is even better than its predecessor, with better graphics, a tighter storyline that focuses on the Normandy Breakout portion of World War II, and intertwined story arcs that let you partake in the liberation of Paris from a variety of different Allied armies.

If shooters aren't your thing, there are plenty of excellent games available. Young kids will enjoy Viva Piñata ($59.99), which combines simple controls with a colorful, immersive world. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion ($59.99) isn't exactly brand-new, but it's the best role-playing game available for the Xbox 360. Are you into sports? NBA 2K7 ($59.99) and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 ($59.99) are both decent. And let's not forget Madden NFL 07 ($59.99): The classic of the genre is better than ever this year, with new mini-games and nice blocking moves that can give your offense more yardage on each play. The best racing game on the Xbox 360, hands down, is the excellent Burnout Revenge ($59.99). And finally, I'd be remiss if I didn’t mention LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy ($59.99), which is absolutely hilarious and great fun for both kids and adults.

Beyond Xbox 360 Gaming
With the Xbox 360, Microsoft created a console that is about much more than games. You can connect the system over your home network to a Media Center PC by utilizing the Xbox 360's Media Center Extender interface to access live and recorded TV content as well as your digital photo, video, and music collections. The Xbox 360 can play both audio CDs and DVD movies, as well.

Best of all, Xbox 360 users can access the excellent Xbox Live service, which is available in two versions: a free Xbox Live Silver account and a subscription-based Xbox Live Gold account. Xbox Live Silver gives you with the ability to download games, software updates, game demos, movie trailers, personalization features for the Xbox 360 user interface, and rentable TV shows, movies, and other video content. But if you want to play against other gamers online, you'll need an Xbox Live Gold subscription ($49.99 per year).

You can also give gamers Xbox Live gift cards (various amounts), which they can use to buy Xbox Live Arcade games, TV and movie rentals, and other content via Xbox Live. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

Xbox 360 Accessories
The Xbox 360 is fine by itself, but there are a host of accessories available for the system that only make it better. Carrying over from last year are the 20GB hard drive ($99.99; required for backward compatibility with original Xbox titles and for downloadable video content), a 64MB Memory Unit ($39.99), additional wireless controllers ($39.99 each), and the highly recommended Charge & Play Kit ($19.99), which provides a rechargeable controller battery and a cable from which to charge it.

New for 2006 is the HD-DVD Player for Xbox 360 ($199.99), which is an extremely inexpensive way to sample one of the next-generation DVD challengers— assuming you already have an Xbox 360. The HD-DVD player is an external add-on device (it connects via USB), and if you buy it this holiday season, it comes with a free HD-DVD version of the movie Peter Jackson's King Kong. Also new is the Xbox 360 Wireless Headset Communicator ($59.99), but you might want to avoid this badly designed device and go with the cheaper (but wired) Xbox 360 Headset Communicator ($19.99). Finally, racing fans will want to check out Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel ($149.99), an enormous steering wheel controller with connected pedals.

Nintendo Wii
Although Nintendo's first batch of Wii consoles and add-ons sold out immediately, the company plans to sell 4 to 5 million of the devices in North America through the end of the year, so chances are you'll be able to get one if you try hard enough. And let's be clear here: If you have young kids who are into video games at all, you're going to want to seriously consider the Wii, which offers an unprecedented combination of kid-friendly game titles and an innovative controller system that will win over kids of all ages immediately. Here's how it works. The Wii comes with a wireless remote controller that looks like a white remote control, but it can also be held horizontally and used like a classic NES controller with some games. The beauty of this controller is that it features amazingly accurate motion-sensing capabilities. So when you play the bundled Wii Sports games, you actually swing the remote in the air like a baseball bat to hit the ball, and swing it like a bowler in order to hurtle a bowling ball down the lane. You can see where this is going: Kids intuitively grasp how the controller works and fall in love with it immediately. It's a winner.

In addition to the remote controller, the Wii includes a secondary Nunchuk controller, which is wired to the remote controller and used as a secondary input system on certain games. It features a standard analog controller, useful for moving characters in certain games, as well as the same motion-sensing technology used in the remote controller. The Wii also includes the aforementioned Wii Sports game disk as well as access to Nintendo's fun new online service, WiiConnect24, from which you can purchase and download classic NES, SNES, Nintendo-64 (N64), Sega Genesis, and NEC TurboGrafix-16 games. There aren't many available yet, but Nintendo is adding more all the time, and they're value-priced at $5 to $15 each. The Wii is also compatible with all Nintendo GameCube controllers, memory cards, and games, so users of that system can upgrade painlessly.

The Nintendo Wii ($249.99) console is available in only one version. It’s highly recommended if you can find one.

Wii Games
The selection of first-generation Wii games is as quirky as it is limited. There is no Wii-based Mario game—yet—but any Nintendo fanatic will tell you that Zelda is the way to go, and Nintendo has shown up with the well-received The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess ($49.99), which uses the new Wii remote controller to great effect.

When it comes to Wii games, avoid titles that are available on other systems for the most part. (For example, although Call of Duty 3 is available for the Wii, it's hard to use with the remote controller and Nunchuk and doesn't offer multiplayer features.) One exception is Madden NFL 07 ($49.99), which actually takes the target market for the Wii into account and presents a much simpler version of the game than is available on other platforms. Suddenly, football is kid-friendly.

Quirky and fun Wii-specific titles include Trauma Center: Second Opinion ($49.99), which, seriously, is a surgical video game that takes place in an anime world. Excite Truck ($49.99) requires you to hold the remote controller like a steering wheel, which is great fun, and Spongebob Squarepants: Creature from the Krusty Krab ($49.99) features both driving and flying, as well as a surprising range of other moves, which will leave kids both exhausted and giggling.

Wii Accessories
As with other video game systems, Wii owners are going to need a bunch of accessories. The system comes with a limited amount of onboard flash RAM for storing game data, but it also uses a standard Secure Digital (SD) slot for expansion, so any SD card (various prices and capacities) will do. All Wii users will need at least one extra remote controller ($39.99) and Nunchuk controller ($19.99). If you plan to buy any classic games online via WiiConnect24, be sure to grab a Wii Classic Controller ($29.99), as well.

Sony PlayStation 3
Let's be serious: Unless some sort of divine intervention occurs, you're not getting a PlayStation 3 this holiday season. But that doesn't mean you can't get ready. Sony's new console comes in two versions, a limited low-end PlayStation 3 (20 GB) ($499.99) that you should avoid, and a high-end PlayStation 3 (60 GB) ($599.99) that comes with all the bells and whistles. Yes, they're both very expensive—about $200 more than comparable Xbox 360s, as it turns out—but diehard gamers won't care. If you can't get a PlayStation 3 this year, consider getting your beleaguered gamer a $600 gift card to his or her favorite electronics store and anxiously wait a few months for the consoles to come in.

PlayStation 3 Games
Sony's selection of PlayStation 3 games is extremely limited, and you'll see some familiar favorites such as the superb Call of Duty 3 ($59.99), Madden NFL 07 ($59.99), and NBA Live 07 ($59.99), which operates in 1080p glory if you have a compatible HDTV and are able to find a PlayStation 3 HDMI cable. But the PlayStation 3 has some console-specific titles that are worth considering. The best is Resistance: Fall of Man ($59.99), a spectacular-looking shooter that takes place in an alternate reality in which aliens attack Earth during World War II.

PlayStation 3 Accessories
Every PlayStation 3 owner will need at least one PlayStation 3 Wireless Controller ($49.99), and HDTV owners will want the Monster PlayStation 3 HDMI Cable ($99.99) for the best picture quality. Sony also sells a PlayStation 3 Memory Card Adapter ($39.99) that lets you utilize PlayStation 2 memory cards with the PlayStation 3, letting you bring over saved games to the new system.

Other Video Game Options
Although the PlayStation 3 and Wii are garnering all the headlines this holiday season, previous-generation systems such as the Nintendo GameCube ($99) and Sony PlayStation 2 ($129) are a tremendous bargain and have some life left in them. Indeed, both systems benefitted from a final round of new game titles this season, and both systems are ideal for budget-minded families with small children. Meanwhile, Microsoft's original Xbox has seemingly dropped off the face of the Earth: There have been a few new game titles released for this system in recent weeks, but the consoles are hard to find and aren’t recommended. Stick with the Xbox 360.

PlayStation 2
Looking for an experience that comes at least passingly close to Nintendo's cool Wii controllers? Check out Guitar Hero II ($79.99), which includes a fairly realistic game guitar along with a PlayStation 2-compatible disk that, yes, will teach you to be a guitar hero like Eddie Van Halen. This game is fun for all ages. Other newish games worth checking out include Tom Clancey's Splinter Cell Double Agent ($39.99), Final Fantasy XII ($39.99), and NFL Street 07 ($39.99).

GameCube
New GameCube games might be a bit harder to find, but there are some gems out there. LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy ($39.99) is absolutely great fun for kids of all ages, and Need for Speed Carbon ($39.99) is an above-average racing title. Sports fans should look into FIFA Soccer 07 ($39.99).

Portable Video Games
The big surprise last year was that Nintendo continued to dominate the handheld video game world with its DS system, which Nintendo upgraded with a sleeker new DS Lite model, available in various colors. But the DS isn't without competition: Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) offers a better screen, a nicer form factor, and some killer PlayStation-based games that are decidedly more adult than the kiddie titles that tend to show up on the DS.

Nintendo DS
Nintendo's new DS offering is the DS Lite ($129.99, various color versions), which is smaller and better-looking than its predecessor. Like the original DS, the DS Lite includes a unique clamshell design with two color LCD displays, one of which offers touch-screen capabilities. As with the Wii, you're best off sticking with tried-and-true Nintendo classics, such as the Mario series, or the quirky, unique game titles that seem to show up only on Nintendo's systems.

Sadly, few of the newer DS games are very good. Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam ($34.99) brings the ubiquitous skateboarding franchise to the DS to good effect, and Nintendogs: Dalmatian & Friends (or the similar Chihuahua & Friends, Dachshund & Friends, and Labrador Retriever & Friends (all $32.99) take one of the DS's most successful series to the next level, although owners of the original Nintendogs might want to pass on this generation. Fans of platform scrollers—read: Mario fans—will want to check out Yoshi's Island ($29.99), as well. As always, DS owners will be interested in accessories, too: Consider carrying cases, screen protectors, and replacement styli.

Sony PSP
Although I'm surprised that the PSP hasn't fared better against the DS, Sony's handheld game system is still an industry unto itself, with an excellent market for game titles and add-ons. Graphically, the PSP is similar to the PlayStation 2, and it features an integrated controller that's very reminiscent of the PlayStation 2 dual-shock controller. And although you can still purchase some DVD-like movies in the PSP's unique UMD format, this phenomenon seems to be dying a natural death, so stick with DVDs unless you plan to travel with the PSP regularly.

The PSP is available in a few versions. There is a standalone PlayStation Portable (PSP) Core ($199) and the PlayStation Portable (PSP) Entertainment Pack ($249), the latter of which includes one game (ATV Offroad Fury), one UMD movie (Lords of Dogtown), and a 1GB MemoryStick Pro Duo.

Some of the best new PSP games include Lumines II ($29.99), a sequel to the wildly popular and addictive puzzler Lumines ($19.99), which is still available; the graphically violent Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories ($49.99); and the World War II shooter Medal of Honor Heroes ($39.99), which combines Call of Duty-style game play with multiplayer support.

As with the DS, consider carrying cases, screen protectors, and other accessories for any PSP fans. Sony sells a PSP Battery Pack ($19.99) and PSP Media Manager software ($15.99), which helps you transfer music, movies, and photos from your PC to the device.

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Reader Comments
The Author's Views on the Nintendo Wii are very skewed. The Nintendo is in no way directed towards kids. In Fact, the Nintendo is directed more toward older nintendo Nostalgic 20-30 year olds as well as the older people who would otherwise not play games due to complicated gamepads, and a large percentage of females who would otherwise not consider game systems. Nidanec -November 29, 2006 I object to your assessment of the Wii - it's not just kid-friendly, it's everybody-friendly. That was the console's intent, and many people on the Internets have reported that it's working - everyone from age six to 90 gets it. Spekkio -November 29, 2006 Your writing concerning the Wii is cut&paste with the usual assumptions in place. You fail to mention games like Red Steel, and describe Call of Duty as hard to play. Pitching it as for a younger crowd is reinforcement of a horrible stereotype. Red Steel is hardly for kids, and the new control scheme provides adult gamers with sophisticated controls. Games aren't dumbed down for the control scheme. George -November 29, 2006 Right, It might be a $200.00 add-on for the xbox 360 HD-DVD player, but at least they are'nt shoving it down your throught like Sony is. They are giving YOU the option. If you just want to play games, boom, you just saved 200 bucks. Most people don't even have HDTV's yet, that won't happen for a while. So sure it brings the price up to the same, but it will be up to ME, not the company to decide if I need a new DVD upgrade. jay -November 29, 2006 Actually the price for the Xbox with HD-DVD and the PS3 isn't the same. Sony kindly charges extra for the HD cables ($60), and for the remote ($30). The prices my not be exact but you will still be paying the better part of $100 for the same HD movie viewing. Sean -November 29, 2006 People, why don't you just look out of your window: there's plenty to enjoy out there, and the graphics is way better than any game console can offer you. Don't fool yourself. Cheers! Master Bustard -November 29, 2006 Actually, this article gives a pretty accurate overview how these systems compare. It doesn't sound like a lot of these people have actually played all these systems more than 10 mins in a best buy. I'm getting back into gaming this cycle (last console I owned was a N64 in college) and the opinions I've formed after playing all three systems run pretty close to the author's views. Obviously, Nintendo isn't trying to limit themselves to little kids and gannnies, but that's what they've done. Yes, Red Steel exists, but it's a terrible game, almost unplayable with that Nunchuk controller - same with CoD3. Zelda is a better fit, but I still found it frustrating and got bored twirling my wrist after 20mins (first 10 were very fun). The controller is a novelty - the real question is whether developers are going to commit to the console other than watered down versions of AAA titles like CoD. Looking ahead, the PS3 technically has the most potential graphics prowess, but it's debatable whether there's any real discernible difference. Blu-ray is also nice, but I'm not updating all my DVDs. This leaves the 360 as the happy medium, in cost and features, future proof with a ton of games this season and the excellent Xboxlive (which i know many game players won't care about - but they are missing out). steve -November 29, 2006 Man, people get offended really easily when they think people are dissing their favorite consoles. Also Red Steel is a pile of crap so I think he did Nintendo a favor by not mentioning that one. kikit -November 29, 2006 Why am I oddly amused that the writer spends 10 paragraphs on XBox 360, 7 on the Wii, & only 3 on the PS3? And omits any verbage on the on-line abilities, bluetooth and wi-fi capabilities of the PS3, etc... AJ -November 29, 2006 kikit : Shut your face. Red Steel may be a piece of crap, but the Revolution kicks the *** of Queer Sony. Though the 360 is cool, the Revolution still has more appeal to more people. 600,000 were sold in the first week. Slap Shot -November 29, 2006 AJ - his paragraphs are proportional to the number of consoles available on store shelves for christmas kikit -November 29, 2006 Slap Shot - Point proven! And just FYI, I have a Wii and I love it. I also have a 360 and I love it. And I would have a PS3 if I could find one and I'd bet I love that too! Sigh, I should get out more kikit -November 29, 2006 I have a PSP and LOVE It, every gamer should have one! Drew -November 29, 2006 I think the Wii beats all the competition. Just imagine, we might be able to fight obesity with this thing! Forcing gamers to actually get up and move to play the games is genius! I have more fun and get into the games more when I feel that involved. It's way better than sitting on the couch, slumped over, just hitting buttons. But maybe I'm just a different kind of gamer. The price tag for the Wii is a winner, too. I can see parents settling on $250 a lot easier than $600 for the PS3. Anyways, this article is obviously biased and doesn't go into enough depth on anything. It's very rushed and generic. My advice would be, go out to the store and try the machines out yourself. I think you'll be surprised. Athena Marz -November 29, 2006 @Nintendo Fans boys I agree with the author his views are pretty spot on with mine even though I havent yet played ps3 or wii. All consoles have something to other and all are selling pretty rapidly. It's hard to say No wii sucks or 360 sucks or so fourth they are all quality systems. With their ups and downs. Wii looks fun, ps3 looks high tech and xbox 360 is a solid medium. "AJ - his paragraphs are proportional to the number of consoles available on store shelves for christmas" LOL good point but he does seem in favour of the 360 and against the ps3. I bought a 360 and sold it because.. the games seem average.. and all the bells whistle's it has my pc has so whats the point. Gurkz -November 29, 2006 kikit has it right, why spend alot of time wowing up the PS3 when there is little chance of even finding one? Also, the price of the PS3 would stop most parents from even taking off the shelf. I have a feeling that the PS3 will have a long shelf life after the initial hype wears off. Ben -November 29, 2006 The Wii itself was made for everyone. I remember my 1st Nintendo... I LOVE IT.. I also had 3 N64 systems because I keep breaking them playing so much. Golden Eye, Perfect Dark, and Mario Kart, are all hott sellers on the N64. Now with the Wii, I intend to buy one soon if I get lucky.. They seem to be sold out each time it gets to the retailer store :( But I have to say the console of the season is the Wii. It is a gaming console not an entertainment system like the Xbox 360, or the PS3.. David -November 29, 2006 Every article i read defending the wii seems to come from rabid nintendo fanboys/girls who flip out at any criticism of the wii. I have played on the wii and didn't find it to be as great as the n-fanboys/girls paint it out to be. Sure, the first half-hour with the wii-mote was fun but it got old pretty fast. It's fun to swing it about when you're with friends but I wonder how many fanboys will be ecstatically twirling their nunchuks months from now when they are all alone with their wii? After that, you are left with a gamecube 1.5 with mediocre games except for Zelda. i'm still debating on which next gen machine to get (360 vs. ps3) but for now am perfectly happy playing okami on my ps2 Sei Yamaguchi -November 29, 2006 It's obvious that this person has never spent a reasonable amount of time with the Wii. My 51 year old mother loves it and my 18 year old little brother is the one who bought it. I'm 23 and I have been trying to purchase one since launch day. (The PSP, in my experience, is nice as far as media is concerned. The DS' touch-screen makes games interesting but can't play media *with ease* like Sony's PSP. I'd rather take the innovative gameplay.) Name (required): -November 29, 2006 Ill prefer a ps3 over a DS.. Playstation has better games and graphics. Gurks -November 29, 2006 I've played all three, the 360, PS3, and the Wii. I have the Gamecube, Xbox, and PS2 currently. I've been watching the next gen systems for years now, and have a brand new game for a next gen system sitting on my desk at home. I'm 24 years old, and every sunday since launch, I wake up, kiss my wife and kids, and go camp out at bestbuy trying to get my hands on a Nintendo Wii, and will do so until I get one. The graphics might only be on par or slighlty better than the 1st gen XBOX, but I simply can't get over the fact that the game franchises that I grew up with and love will be able to be enjoyed in so many new and interesting ways. Will I buy an Xbox360 or PS3? Yeah, eventually. But right now, Gears of War or Resistance simply can't keep my dollar$ from the shiny new copy of Zelda on my desk. chris -November 29, 2006 Hey Gurks, I agree, but the ps3 is hard to fit in your pocket mombo -November 29, 2006 he talks favourably about the 360 probably because its has been out for a year and now owns one and if you played gears fo war you'd want one too. Wii looks fun for a night maybe, but i never liked zelda anyways. ps3 is goingto be sweet in a year or so when it gets some good games under it's belt, and its hefty pirce tag falls... plus blu-ray will loose to HD-DVD and the ps3 wil lbe the beta max of the entertainments systems innertia -November 29, 2006 Having grown up starting with the 8-bit era of NES and SEGA ruling the roost, I definitely find the Wii to be an awesome switch. I love my xbox 360, but I find myself playing even the very simplistic Wii Sports much more lately. After beating GoW on insane, playing the Wii has been tons of fun, especially with friends. Oh, and I'm 25, not a kid... This system definitely isn't just for kids. If you get up playing the older platforms, the virtual console is great. Way to place a system in bias for no reason... I've yet to try the PS3, but I think both the 360 and Wii have place in gamers hearts, of ALL ages. Andrew -November 29, 2006 Wow. I like how things are getting interesting in the gaming industry. I have a 360, and plan on getting a Wii, but I don't know about the PS3 yet. It's hard to justify the PS3's price. I know some people are thinking I'm a "fanboy", but I'm not. I have a PS2 and want to get a PSP. I'm just a realist. When the PS3 price drops and it gets some games that make it worthwhile, I'll put it on my "to get" list. When you look at the gaming industry, it's never been about the most powerful machine, it's about who got their console out first to gain developer support. Until then, I'm going to wait for the game I must have on PS3, and enjoy my 360 and my Wii when I get it. Thanks to everybody who posted, it's great to be openminded and have insight to what other people think. subl1m1nal -November 29, 2006 the ps3 is a marval of ingenuity trix -November 29, 2006 Maybe you should just go out and play what you like instead of sitting on a computer and talking about which one you think is best. It's all about fun and not about being pretty. I have a wii and I love playing the sports games with friends, when they leave I pop Zelda in and play for a while on that. Other nights I get on the 360 and play Gears of War, because it's fun and addicting, as a game should be. Sarcomere -November 29, 2006 Everything comes down to the dollar. YOU CAN own both XBOX 360 & NINTENDO WII for the same price as a SONY PLAYSTATION 3!!!. With more third party developers releasing titles at the same time on both systems (i.e. Grand Theft Auto IV) you can play virtually any console game on either the 360 or the WII (except for sony's exclusives...But XBOX has the Halo franchise, gears of war...Nintendo has Zelda) Do your wallet and family a favor, leave the PS3 on the shelf and get a 360 & Wii. I love all the systems... but not enough to waste that kind of dough on a PS3 to just get Sony exclusive games. PedroDogg360 -November 29, 2006 Well put, Sarcomere. I still have my 8-bit NES plugged in...sometimes some old school Tetris hits the spot as well. Get out and play, instead of posting comments on...wait...instead of doing exactly what I'm doing. Crap. Yah -November 29, 2006 I do like my 360 and my Wii. Who cares which system is better, its all opinion. Though I think Sony has a lot to lose. Theyre losing 1 billion dollars by then end of their fiscal year in March because of the PS3 being sold cheaper than the technology in it. Microsoft can do it but I'm not sure Sony can since the majority of their revenue comes from the Playstation. I think its around 60%. Plus Sony has been losing ground in the other sectors of technology. Timbo -November 29, 2006 Something you portable fiends may want to consider as an alternative to the DS and the PSP is the linux-based GP2X. It is an emulator/music/video player that is completely SD-based, and plays games from the Atari2600/C64/NES all the way up to SNES/PC-based (Doom2, StarControl2, etc.)/true arcade/GP2x-native games. No, it can't play PSP (at this time) or higher-end games, but for $180 how can you complain -- especially since you can watch movies and old Tom Baker Dr. Who episodes with aplomb :*P Go give it a look-see. fidget8694 -November 29, 2006 "The Nintendo is in no way directed towards kids." "I object to your assessment of the Wii - it's not just kid-friendly, it's everybody-friendly." Are you guys not native English speakers or something? The article said the Wii is a "system that will win over kids of all ages" which is a very common turn of phrase meaning young *and* old. Mud -November 29, 2006 I find it hard to believe that anyone truthfully considers the Wii controller a novelty that loses its effect after a few minutes. Wii Sports does a great job of showing us what is to come. There will be some incredible games thanks to this controller. PS3 and XBox appear to be trying to be a PC for the gamer who doesn't play PC games. Sure I could buy an Xbox and play high-res games online, but I can already do that on my computer. Not only that, a mouse/keyboard combo is far superior to the controllers for XBox and/or PS. If I want a quailty online-gaming experience then I'm going to my PC. The only reason there are people playing Halo online with their XBox is because they haven't realized that while they are pressing the analog stick to turn around (and getting shot in the process), they could be on their PC whipping around instantly with a mouse and firing back. req -November 29, 2006 [MY DISCLAIMER] I bought an Xbox360 in March, scored a Wii for myself off eBay, and my roommate (my brother) was one of the lucky couple hundred thousand to get a PS3 this last week. I also own a Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, Nintendo Gamecube, Microsoft Xbox, Sony PS2, 2 Windows PC, an iMac and a MacBook, and a Sega Dreamcast- what I'm trying to say here is I have **NO BIASES** whatsoever. What I do have is an accurate assessment as an actual OWNER and GAMER... and I can tell you that I definitely think the PSP is the best bang for buck piece of videogaming joy ever- you will spend no better $200, ever. It's portable, has wi-fi, plays music and movies on it's HD(!!) screen, has great games, and the OS is updated often. For $200 that is f*cking ridiculous!! The DS is fun as hell, but it's not a portable wi-fi HD movie viewer so it just cant hold a candle to PSP's overall value. [MY OPINION ON NEXTGEN] Of the new next-gen systems, the Nintendo Wii is the obvious choice. It's cheaper and REALLY, REALLY entertaining. The controller is just plain addictive and fun. I dont know how else to describe it, but playing Gears of War and Resistance with a regular controller, pretty as they are, seems boring now. I hope developers get smart and release TONS of games for the Wii, because I want to see a Wii version of every game now. Between the xbox and PS3... I dont know if the PS3 is worth it for the price. Not to sound cheap or anything (I just listed like a million dollars worth of gaming euqipment! lol) but why pay outrageous prices to score a PS3 right now when you can stroll down to any store and buy an xbox360 for cheap? I remember when I was in Tokyo about 6 months ago the xbox 360s were already on SALE! (They arent too popular in Japan). AfrikaGamebataa -November 29, 2006 I guess most of you guys just concern about violence-packed gameplay than all other factors. XBOX 360 have alot of those.... I can see why XBOX360 is the champ. This is temporary only. As a gamer ourselves, should also try to be an analyst. Wii and PS3 would definitely stands out in this war of consoles.... VistaCorruptor -November 29, 2006 I think it's fair to say that the Wii has the worst name ever, because it's a horribly lame console. Eat it, fangirls. Steve -November 29, 2006 i have a sealed ps3 in my room which ill sell for some money to pay for the wii which i already bought. im fifty hours into zelda. im sure every system is fun but when it comes down to it im not about to drop over $600 for video games. all i hope is that the wii gets some original, fun games, or im screwed. joosh -November 29, 2006 While XBOX might have much to offer this season (add-ons, games, features, etc.), the Wii offers a unique style of gameplay that EVERYONE must try. The add-ons, games, features, etc. of the XBOX are just like the games, played out. It is time for something new ... the WII. If you think about it, the potential of what the Wii can offer in terms of peripherals, games, add-ons, etc. can easily surpass the XBOX in the near future. Maybe, my blog is a little biased, but I like to open my discussion up to thinking that isn't constrained. =D GO WII!! Rabbit -November 29, 2006 This... Has the most examples of FANBOYISM IN TEH WORLD! Good Xbox 360 - Good, Solid, Platform. Games, Online, HD.... Wii - Funky. Interactive. Budding Online... Interative with DS.... PS3 - Graphics Avalanch. Budding Online. BIG SIZE FOR MEMORY. Bad Xbox 360 - Not many "REALLY GOOD!" "GOODY GOODY!" games. Interface - Medium Wii - Graphics... PS3 - Sell your soul to buy. Clunky/somewhat confusing/depressing controler. Balanced. I like the PS3 for it's graphics, the XBOX for it's games, and the Wii for fun. It's a Balance. THE GUY WITH NO LIFE -November 29, 2006 Your characterization of the Wii as a video game console for the younger generation is ignorant. Games like Zelda, Call of Duty, Red Steel, Need For Speed, etc are not meant for children. Future games like The Godfather and Tiger Woods golf are not marketed to children. And games like Mario (to be released), Wii Sports, and Excite Truck are accessible to all. Your description of the Wii games are incorrect also. Having had played Madden 07 on the Wii and PS3, I can tell you that the Wii version is much better, and that it is not a simpler game. The gameplay is more immersive, but it is not simpler. Additionally Call of Duty 3 has excellent gameplay, and shows how the Wii is more intuitive for first person shooters than the dual analog stick of the other consoles. Abe -November 29, 2006 . I want a wii badly. tried a demo and it was so addictive. i'm 30 and married and would like my wife to play games with me and i know that i can get her to play the wii. It's exciting to see something completely new and innovative. I like the ps3 for the ability to use linux on it and alot of the other cool factors.using linux the ps3 can duplicate as a pc. But for 600 i fall into the buy a 360 and wii 360 has some great games now and will lead for 2 years at least in game development and by the ps3 should be 400 i hope.. bho -November 29, 2006 Mud said: "Are you guys not native English speakers or something? The article said the Wii is a "system that will win over kids of all ages" which is a very common turn of phrase meaning young *and* old." Umm... The point was that it will win over PEOPLE of all ages, not just KIDS of all ages. Are you not a native English speaker? Abe -November 29, 2006 The author of this article needs to realize that Nintendo is NOT just a kid-friendly company...although to corner that portion of the market will do wonders for the Wii against Sony, since many kids demanded a wide selection of kid-friendly titles that were available only for the PS2, and it seems that most of those games--being less technically demanding--may be migrating to the Wii, where Pokemon already resides. My point is this: Nintendo has been yapping a lot recently about reaching out to nongamers--or at least less-avid gamers--and many software developers already signed on to help out with the Wii have shared that vision, especially Activision. But the funny thing is that many of these "nongamers" are ADULTS who have "grown out of video games." Nintendo's strategy is to bring them back into the fold...and it will likely work, especially with the publicity Wii's been getting. I mean, look at the recent Nintendo DS "Brain Age" commercials that have been geared toward middle-aged adults! My GRANDMA even said "that looks interesting" without realizing she was commenting on a Nintendo product! Nintendo has taken a lot of heat recently for stubbornly insisting that this generation was not yet the HD generation for gaming. But why should we disagree? DVDs haven't been mainstream 10 years yet and DVDs are ALREADY being reissued in different, incompatible formats! (As if Sony didn't do enough damage with the push for UMDs, which has seemed to die off as most movie advertisements no longer say "own it today on DVD and PSP!") Average people (unlike avid, even rabid gamers) are realizing that ever-more-realistic simulations of real life, a 21st-century thing, that are controlled by 1970's interface/input devices, being the controllers, of course, is a senseless paradox. Think our conception of virtual reality and artificial stimulation: FEELING that something is real is more important than SEEING that something is real. Up until now video games have been a brain-teasing pastime that relies a heck of a lot on the imagination to fill in the rest of the gaps--or else video games just proved mindless. But NOW, with the innovation of the Wii, there is a perfect balance between the artificial intelligence controlling gameplay and the human imagination providing the entertainment value: even if actions we WANT to perform to control the Wii gameplay are unnecessary to produce the desired action on the screen, excess does not hurt and the animations and reactions of the software/hardware match real-life behavior--the exact reaction we EXPECTED. When games unambiguously do as they are told, there is no frustration and no slamming of controllers (not that that would happen with the wrist strap securely fastened anyway), and the juices commonly associated with real physical and mental exercise (adrenaline, endorphins, etc.) get flowing. It feels GOOD to let off steam, and when you're hitting/shooting something that ISN'T REALLY THERE, but the TV screen is TELLING YOU OTHERWISE, it feels good...and natural. Video games--and this goes PS3 and 360--conventionally have been a challenge. Something as responsive and interactive as the Wii, on the other hand, is fun--AND challenging. But that's not all. People who have "grown out of gaming" have often done so because of the increasing complexity of games and the amount of time demanded by them. They yearn for the simplicity of "old-school gaming." Well...(besides emulators, of course) only Wii has that, all in one package, the old-school side-by-side with the next-gen. And finally: the Wii has more graphical potential than most have given it credit for. It is NOT a Gamecube 1.5. Teqsinterrier -November 29, 2006 I think the wii will win the war. Nintendo has rightly placed gameplay above graphics. Rob H -November 29, 2006 The PS3 is head above shoulders the better system, not just TRUE hi-def gaming but unlike the 360 it is a console that offers wi-fi, free online capabilites, bluetooth. This system is well worth 600.00 and the price will not be changing any time soon. The processor is unmatched and the expandabilities are uncompromised. this system will still be very alive in 5 years unlike its competition. If you have an HDTV this is a must, this is the future of gaming. the wii is also awesome. In the end Sony will have more games and the 360 will be extinct along with HD-DVD Think outside the box....and into the future henry S -November 29, 2006 Lets take a look at the possibilities of the Wii compared to what current consoles offer. Lets also do a little cost-benefit analysis. ENJOY. 1) Media: The WII will be able to play DVD's in the future and DVDs are very abundant/popular. Who needs HD-DVD or Blu-ray? Its too expensive and the new discs will probably be just as expensive. 2) Memory: The WII has an SD card slot; SD cards will be able to hold 10-20Gigs in the future; Wii games don't require much memory/hard drive space, while high quality games in XBOX360 and PS3 do! Thus those systems need the bigger hard drives and greater memory ... the WII doesnt. 3) Games: More gaming developers are switching over/developing games for the WII. This equals more types of games rather than their tradionall PG-13 games. Greater variety = problem solved. 4) Graphics: The graphics are decent for the WII, but a future system can easily be 10 times more powerful. =D 5) Controller: Nintendo has an advantage of how a motion based controller is, therefore IMAGINE the potential of their future controllers! REAL LIFE & REAL TIME gaming. Gaming developers will already have motion based games for Nintendo's future controller or system, thus there will be more games... Sony and Microsoft will play catch up and want to create gaming with motion. 6) Add-ons: Nintendo can offer the same add-ons that Microsoft's XBOX 360 current has. Nintendo can probably match any feature that the XBOX has, other than it's graphics.Just wait, the WII is still new... more goodies will follow. 7) Price/Cost: Very affordable ... this goes for the system, games, and peripherals. As of today, 11/29/06, I can get each WII game for around $35 shipped. Just know how to find your deals =D ... does the same go for Sony and Microsoft's games? i dont know. 8) WII pretty much rules if you think about the future and what it can offer. =d RABBIT -November 29, 2006 Gaming is gaming; beauty is in the eye of the beholder - whether it's graphics, gameplay, innovation, staying power, whatever. If online is your kick, get a 360 (clear winner), if you're old school, PS3 (which has everything but the kitchen sink), if you're tired of stick shift, go with paddle shifters = WII. I appreciate them all for what they bring to the table, because if they weren't there to choose from, we would be stuck with no choice at all - enjoy your gaming, because YOU can't lose no matter which one you pick! Dave -November 30, 2006 Wii is mostly for kids, graphics are outdated. don't waste your money. If you can't afford a PS3, get the XBOX 360. Has some excellent games like GoW and DoA 4, firmware update now allows you 1080p (mainly for HD-DVD movies), user-friendly interface, on-line movie / TV rentals... But if you can afford the PS3, that's the way to go. graphics slightly better then the XBOX 360, SIXAXIS controller, blu-ray movies, games out in 1080p already, many killer-app games to come, karaoke, internet browsing... Steve -November 30, 2006 anyone got a ps3 here and what is the best game for the ps3? just bought it Name (required): -December 29, 2007 READER COMMENTS: We want to hear what you have to say about this article!     Acceptable Use Policy Your Comments (required): Your email is only used if our editors need to contact you. It is not used or stored for any other purpose, nor posted with your comments. Enter the text from the image below Please refresh the page if you have trouble reading this text.