by Scott Blackburn

Created on: January 23, 2008

I have been blowing out Nintendo cartridges since I got my 8-bit NES in 1987. For any video game enthusiast or child of the 80s, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Everybody had their own science for getting their Nintendo to work right, and it was always worth the wait! Needless to say, video games have changed since then. The graphics are better, the sound is better, the games are more intense, and so is the competition between manufacturers. The three main video game consoles now are the Xbox 360 by Microsoft, the Sony Playstation 3, and the Nintendo Wii. But which one takes the cake? Well, I guess that depends on your gaming needs. Let's take a look.

Late in 2005, the world was introduced to the next generation of gaming. The Xbox 360 hit shelves in November, right in time for Christmas rush madness. Months passed before a casual gamer could get their hands on a 360, but Microsoft's new gem was worth the wait. The graphics on this system are fantastic. But, to this point, the amount of games is what separates this system from the competition. With a head start on the PS3 and Wii, the Xbox 360 has compiled a massive amount of game titles in every genre imaginable. Another positive thing for the Microsoft product is the price. You can get started with an on-line-ready 360, a game, and a controller for around $300 now. There are also some knocks on this system. The standard 360 does not come HD ready for those with hi-def interests. The HD adapter for this system is usually priced around $150! Nearly half the price of the system! Another pet peeve I have with the 360 is the loud internal fan. This thing sounds like a nuclear power plant gearing up. It may not come stock with all the bells and whistles, but it doesn't lack much.

A year after Xbox 360's release, Sony unveiled its new baby, the Playstation 3 (PS3). This too lived up to the hype. The graphics and multimedia capabilities of the PS3 are second to none. The cell processor used by Sony is top-notch, and produces very fluid and brilliant graphics. The PS3 comes HD ready and with a built-in Blu-Ray player! It definitely meets the needs of the HD generation, and does so quietly. The sleek black PS3 has a quiet fan unlike the 360. However, with the pros there also cons. The PS3 lacks many of the titles that the Xbox 360 has. To their credit, however, they got into the mix a year late. Also, the price of this system is a bit steep. To have a fully functional PS3 sitting in your living room, expect

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