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Wii vs PS3 vs Xbox 360
With Nintendo's Wii currently flowing rapidly through the High Street, two out of three of the next-gen machines are now battling it out for coveted space next to your TV. With the PS3 available everywhere in the world except Europe (Grr!), Tiscali Games thought it would be an excellent opportunity to take a look at all three machines and see which, if any, are right for you.
Wii
Manufacturer: Nintendo
A veteran videogames company that got trounced in the last console battle with the outclassed GameCube. Nintendo is currently enjoying a return to form thanks to the phenomenal success of the Nintendo DS handheld and the positive initial response of its revolutionary new console, Wii.
Price:
A very reasonable 180 (GBP) gets you a Wii console, a remote and a bundled title - Wii Sports, that means you can enjoy the Wii experience without having to fork out any more cash!
Leading Games:
Red Steel: A game that takes full advantage of the console's innovative controller and puts players directly a first person weapon fest where samurai swords and martial arts weaponry are the order of the day. The Legend of Zelda - Twilight Princess is another sure fire winner.
Tech Specs:
There's a lot less to shout about from a hi-tech perspective but Nintendo admits that its focussed on playability and gameplay rather than cutting edge visuals. A 3Mb graphics card capable of generating 500 million polygons is at the heart of the console. The processor is a surprisingly low 243MHz.
Claim to fame:
It's all about the control - the revolutionary motion sensor design means you feel a lot more part of the action. Then there are the very unique game types that will only come out on Nintendo such as Zelda and Red Steel. It's also a great deal cheaper than the competition!
Aimed at:
People who rate gameplay higher than graphics, those who like the idea of a more active control system and gamers on a budget.
Chance of success:
Very high - innovation at an affordable price, what's not to like?
Xbox 360
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Bill Gates and his billions got into games in a big way with the launch of the Xbox. Then, as if out of nowhere he went and launched the Xbox 360 before Sony had enough time to say 'PS3!'
Price:
A console without a Hard Drive (but you most certainly need one) can be had for around the 200 GBP mark. But in truth, you need to consider splashing out around 280 GBP that includes the Hard Drive (essential for saving games) and a wireless pad.
Leading Games:
Gears of War is a benchmark co-operative shooter, Fight Night Round Three is the definitive boxing game, for an expansive RPG look no further than The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and for racing -Project Gotham Racing 3 or Test Drive Unlimited.
Tech Specs
With a clock speed of 500 MHz, the Graphics Processing Unit (designed by ATI) is able to support up to 48 different pixel shaders - something which will allow developers and artists to use some truly gorgeous rendering and special effects in their games. Then there's Xbox Live - a chance to play other gamers, download new demos and generally feel part of a massive online gaming community.
Claim to fame:
A combination of Xbox Live for online play combined with HD playback functionality as long as you've got a shiny HD Ready TV to enjoy them. A HD DVD add-on can also be purchased for movie viewing enhancement.
Aimed at:
People who want the most from their games and who enjoy online play and downloads.
Chance of success:
It's already shifted nearly 1 million in the UK and that number is growing rapidly. The question isn't will Xbox 360 succeed, but to what degree it will build on its initial success.
PS3
Manufacturer: Sony
The world's number one console manufacturer has sure taken its time with the PS3. But considering the phenomenal success of the PS2 combined with its overall market dominance, Sony could be perhaps forgiven for being the last to get in the ring for the third round fight.
Price:
This is the biggest obstacle for the PS3. The budget package with a 20Gb HD will retail for approx 499 Euros or 335 GBP But most will want the 60GB version which is pushing around the 450 GBP mark. Not cheap, in any language.
Leading Games:
Reports from across the pond suggest Sony has yet to release a 'killer game' to attract the punters. But notable titles include Resistance: Fall of Man - a Half-Life style sci-fi shooter, Fight Night Round 3 - EA's classic boxing title and Call of Duty III, Activision's WWII franchise.
Tech Specs:
There's an awful lot under the hood, which at least goes some way to justify the high cost. For a start, the PS3 is one of the first machines to boast a Blu-ray player, that enables ultra high definition picture quality for both games and movies. Then there's the graphics card - a market leading Nvidia chipset that can display 1920x1080pixel resolution and has built in Wi-Fi.
Claim to fame:
It's PlayStation! The originator and still the market leading console. Plus it's the cheapest way to combine a cutting edge console with a state of the art Blu-ray player.
Aimed at:
Any existing PlayStation fans (all games are backwards compatible). But you'll need deep pockets with the current cost of kit.
Chance of success:
There is little doubt that the PS3 will succeed, but it'll take time. The high price, delayed launch and impressive competition at more affordable prices, all stand in Sony's path. But it's a PlayStation! It can't fail - can it?
A console without a Hard Drive (but you most certainly need one) can be had for around the 200 GBP mark. But in truth, you need to consider splashing out around 280 GBP that includes the Hard Drive (essential for saving games) and a wireless pad.
Leading Games:
Gears of War is a benchmark co-operative shooter, Fight Night Round Three is the definitive boxing game, for an expansive RPG look no further than The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and for racing -Project Gotham Racing 3 or Test Drive Unlimited.
Tech Specs
With a clock speed of 500 MHz, the Graphics Processing Unit (designed by ATI) is able to support up to 48 different pixel shaders - something which will allow developers and artists to use some truly gorgeous rendering and special effects in their games. Then there's Xbox Live - a chance to play other gamers, download new demos and generally feel part of a massive online gaming community.
Claim to fame:
A combination of Xbox Live for online play combined with HD playback functionality as long as you've got a shiny HD Ready TV to enjoy them. A HD DVD add-on can also be purchased for movie viewing enhancement.
Aimed at:
People who want the most from their games and who enjoy online play and downloads.
Chance of success:
It's already shifted nearly 1 million in the UK and that number is growing rapidly. The question isn't will Xbox 360 succeed, but to what degree it will build on its initial success.
PS3
Manufacturer: Sony
The world's number one console manufacturer has sure taken its time with the PS3. But considering the phenomenal success of the PS2 combined with its overall market dominance, Sony could be perhaps forgiven for being the last to get in the ring for the third round fight.
Price:
This is the biggest obstacle for the PS3. The budget package with a 20Gb HD will retail for approx 499 Euros or 335 GBP But most will want the 60GB version which is pushing around the 450 GBP mark. Not cheap, in any language.
Leading Games:
Reports from across the pond suggest Sony has yet to release a 'killer game' to attract the punters. But notable titles include Resistance: Fall of Man - a Half-Life style sci-fi shooter, Fight Night Round 3 - EA's classic boxing title and Call of Duty III, Activision's WWII franchise.
Tech Specs:
There's an awful lot under the hood, which at least goes some way to justify the high cost. For a start, the PS3 is one of the first machines to boast a Blu-ray player, that enables ultra high definition picture quality for both games and movies. Then there's the graphics card - a market leading Nvidia chipset that can display 1920x1080pixel resolution and has built in Wi-Fi.
Claim to fame:
It's PlayStation! The originator and still the market leading console. Plus it's the cheapest way to combine a cutting edge console with a state of the art Blu-ray player.
Aimed at:
Any existing PlayStation fans (all games are backwards compatible). But you'll need deep pockets with the current cost of kit.
Chance of success:
There is little doubt that the PS3 will succeed, but it'll take time. The high price, delayed launch and impressive competition at more affordable prices, all stand in Sony's path. But it's a PlayStation! It can't fail - can it?
Tiscali has the best deals on games and consoles courtesy of our partner, Atomic Pixie. PSP, Xbox 360, Game Boy Micro and all the latest, and favourite, games to go with them. >>
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