Are you interested in purchasing a next generation console, but you’re not sure which one you’d like to buy? Are you unsure of the features of each? You’ve come to the right place. Next generation consoles such as the Xbox 360, Sony PS3, and the Nintendo Wii all have different features and are made to appeal to different audiences. You can read on below to find some of the very important differences and whether they suit your needs or not.

The Wii: The Wii is made by Nintendo. It features WiFi and a different control system which is used by attaching a sensor bar to the top of your TV. This sensor bar uses lasers to determine the position of the Wii-mote in your hand, and in turn, you can perform different actions in games with different movements of the Wii-mote. The Nintendo Wii has been hailed as the console to get gamers moving again, with several fitness minded attachments, including Wii Fit. The games on Wii are usually geared towards children and young adults which offer fun for the whole family, however, more serious games such as Call of Duty and Resident Evil are being produced for use on the Wii. If you’re looking for a unique gaming experience you can’t obtain from any other gaming system, the Nintendo Wii might be for you.

The 360: The Xbox 360 is made by Microsoft as was the first of the next generation consoles to be released. It features many improvements over the first generation xbox, including a better controller and Xbox LIVE, which is Microsoft’s content delivery system. Using Xbox LIVE, you can rent movies, buy additional games, and coming soon, stream movies from Netflix through your Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 includes a detachable hard drive which can hold games, movies, and music, which is a plus over the Wii as its memory blocks are built in. If you’re a serious gamer who plays hardcore mature games, you might be interested in the Xbox 360 for titles such as Halo 3, Gears of War, and Assassin’s Creed.

The PS3: The Sony Playstation 3 was the last of the consoles released and remains the most expensive. One of the factors which figures in to the price of the Sony PS3 is the ability to play Blu Ray movie disks. These disks are also what most Playstation 3 games use as their format, so given the processing power and the huge capacity of Blu Ray, Sony PS3 games are able to reach an unparalleled quality in visual experience. Gamers that are interested in several of the PS3 exclusive titles like Metal Gear Solid 4 and God of War 3 might want to check out the Playstation 3. It also includes a hard drive of varying capacities, however it is not as easily accessible as the Xbox 360′s hard drive. The Playstation Network also offers free game demos and the ability to purchase games online, similar to Microsoft Live service.

As you can see, each of these consoles offers unique features which can only be found with that brand. If you’re an adventurous gamer, you might consider owning more than one of these consoles.

While both just released worldwide, there is already a great deal of discussion between those who side with Sony on the video game wars and those who side with Nintendo. These games have obviously not begun just yet, but you should be excited to learn just what is possible with both the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii consoles.

While Nintendo has a great reputation and history in the video gaming industry, it has also taken criticism recently for falling behind in the video game arms race that calls for more power and realism. Sony has taken off in the video gaming world and the Nintendo Wii matches up with the PS3 just like this:

* With PlayStation 3, Sony is all set to introduce not only one of the biggest and best gaming consoles in the world today and possibly forever, but they are also releasing a system that demands a plethora of cash to possess. With the prices for the various PS3′s falling between $499 and $699 you are looking at the prospect of missing next month’s mortgage payment. However, Nintendo Wii has come right out of the box with guns a blazin’ to get into these wars with the nice price of $249. There is no alternative packages or upgrades, $249 is it!

* While both companies are certainly innovators in this respect, it remains to be seen if the Nintendo Wii or Sony PlayStation 3 has the best version of motion detection controllers. The Nintendo Wii does require a small sensor bar in front of your television before playing to help with the motion detection, while the PlayStation is ready to play without anything extra. This sounds like an easy choice, but once the controllers are even at purchased and signed on, the Nintendo Wii controller will outstretch the PlayStation 3 by just a tad in distance.

* Sony is obviously a maker of televisions, media players, television, and movies so it stands to reason that their major video gaming console is aimed at adults. Video games with the PlayStation 3 are of an adult nature with scantily clad women and people looking to shoot other people at any moment. However, the Nintendo Wii offers a more wholesome and family-friendly experience with their games. If Wii is right for your children, don’t bat an eye, they will love it!

*PlayStation 3 is set to offer an online community where gamers can compete against one another or download previous versions of PS1 and PS2 games. This is similar to Nintendo allowing Wii users to download old Nintendo games at their choosing.

If you are still unsure of which system that you should go with then you should visit your local electronics retailer and see if you can play a demo in the store. The comfort and ease of the system could help you make the right choice in regards to the purchase.

It is sleek, it is thin, and it took the US by storm in 2004. At issue, of course, is the dual screen, portable original style Nintendo DS. Followed in 2006 with the next generation of even thinner and sleeker looking technology, the Nintendo DS Lite, consumers eagerly gobbled up the lite version, but did not forsake the original one either.

In stark contrast to the Game Boy mimicry of the Nintendo DS stands Sony‘s PlayStation Portable, the PSP. It hit the American market in 2005, and even as the Nintendo DS had a head start and already established brand name recognition, PSP garnered a small market share. It failed to really take off until Sony releases the PSP Slim and Lite in 2007, which sent its sales through the roof worldwide – albeit for a limited period of time.

This of course begs the question any discerning consumer must ask: which system is better? Right on the heels of this line of questioning must be the inquiry over which system is most likely to be more appropriate for the 10 and under age group. After all, handheld gaming devices are now the after school activity of choice for youngsters facing lengthy commutes, or prolonged grocery shopping trips with mom.

Nintendo DS vs. Sony PSP: Just the Specs

Nintendo DS operates on a 67 MHz platform that accepts GBA cartridges and DS game cards. Game Boy owners rejoice! The system features four MB in storage and connects to Wi-Fi, and WLAN. The DS Lite is cosmetically enhanced and offers a few more bells and whistles, such as an extension of the battery life and a larger stylus, but the bottom line technology is pretty much the same.

The DS features two screens with a 256 x 192 pixel resolution, which is formidable for a handheld device. A rechargeable battery enables game play on the go, and fully charged batteries support about 10 hours of play, although this number is affected by the sound volume, the use of one or both screen, and even wireless activities.

Sony PSP operates on MIPS technology and plays Sony specific universal media discs, making this a premier mode of on the go entertainment system. Storage requires the use of memory sticks. Users may connect their PSP to Wi-Fi, USB, and also IrDA, which gave some false hopes as to the future of the gadget.

Somewhat of a dud when compared to the DS, the PSP Slim and Lite has added significant upgrades, namely a doubled internal memory, which makes it a real player in the handheld gaming market. On the other hand, the 480 x 272 pixel resolution is nothing to scoff at. The most commonly expressed complaint is the somewhat limited battery life that – fully charged – extends only to about five hours of game play or video replay, and about 10 hours of strictly audio replay.

Nintendo DS vs. Sony PSP: Game Libraries and Associated Options

DS offers the user choices. There is of course the ability to play DS and Game Boy Advance games; yet there is also the option to use PictoChat and even utilize DS Download Play.

Secondary functions of the DS are an alarm clock and an input mode that remembers some personal preferences with respect to choice and name.

PSP plays UMD discs and therefore doubles as a mini movie theater. In addition to playing games or watching movies, the user may choose to display a photo slide show, listen to music, and of course download upgrades. Initially the slow internal memory frustrated gamers who had to wait for games to load or for the system to switch between tasks, but since this has been corrected it is no longer a valid problem.

Games for the PSP are a mix of Sony‘s who’s who, and a compilation of lesser known characters: there are “2 Xtreme,” “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” “World Series Poker,” “NHL,” “NBA,” “FIFA,” “Crash Bandicoot,” and of course “Grand Theft Auto.”

DS offers backward compatibility with Game Boy Advance, thereby entering the market with a sizeable game library already intact. Currently boasting about 600 titles, gamers may find some similarities with PSP but also a lot of oldies but goodies. There are “FIFA,” “Barnyard Blast,” “Call of Duty,” a soon to be released “Crash Bandicoot,” and of course the ever popular “Mario.”

Nintendo DS vs. Sony PSP: Consumer Appeal

Even as the demographics are not etched in stone, it is quite apparent that both handheld game consoles are targeting different audiences that overlap only slightly. In a step that has baffled industry insiders, the rumors surrounding the futures of both devices outline an embrace of the divide, rather than an attempt to bridge the gap and woo away members of the other demographic.

Starting out at $149.99 and later dropping to $129.99, the Nintendo DS is reasonably priced, and consumers who – worldwide — bought more than 80 million of these portable game consoles agreed. The vast numbers of games, the backward compatibility with Game Boy, and of course the availability of kiddie and teen favorites, such as “Mario” and “Crash Bandicoot,” make this a favorite for parents.

This unit has a prolonged useful life in that it may grow with the interests of an elementary school kid and continue on being used when she is in her teens, or until the next unit model comes out. There are several games that are waiting for release, and the homebrew underground has gone wild in creating cards that allow for the playing of movies and other software.

The Sony PSP originally made a rather impressive splash but, once the novelty wore off, sales were sluggish when compared to the DS. Retailing at $169.99, it is pricier than the Nintendo system, and market watchers estimate that worldwide about 26 million units have been sold thus far. Sony is banking on promises that would add GPS capabilities to its units as upping the sales, but the critics are still unsure.

Since many of the PSP games are aimed at the teen and adult market, this is not the kind of gadget parents would buy for the younger set. In addition, the added online connectivity makes this the premier system for the independent young adult who is not under too much parental supervision.

Parents have come to see the DS as the next logical step of the Game Boy system, while teens are viewing the PSP as the natural extension of the PS3. This puts both systems before slightly different demographics, and it is apparent that for the parent driven market share, the DS is the system of choice, while the teen market is willing to do the extra chores and spend the birthday money to afford the PSP.

Nintendo DS vs. Sony PSP: What Does the Future Hold?

It is unlikely that the PSP is going to transcend its target audience and it is evident that Sony is not even trying to broaden the handheld console’s appeal. Instead, it is seeking to cement consumer loyalty by introducing a PSP 3000, differentiated from the PSP and Portable Slim and Lite by the moniker PSP Brite.

Sony concentrated on the quality of its LCD screen and is timing the release of the PSP Brite to coincide with the pre holiday sales rush in October of 2008. The cost is $169.99 for the bare bones model, which will not be released until after the bundle version for $199.99 makes its debut.

True to form, the bundle is paired with the movie “National Treasure 2,” platform game “Ratchet & Clank,” which earned a debatable ESRB E10+ rating, a single player puzzle game download coupon, and a memory stick. The alternate bundle substitutes the “Everyday Shooter” game which is considered a somewhat more difficult shoot ‘em up game.

Nintendo is unlikely to improve upon its DS Lite in the very near future, and accordingly original style DS owners breathe a sigh of relief that there is no immediate upgrade to the console in sight. In its place there is a good chance that yet another special version will be released. Consumers may remember that the latest such release took place in June of 2008 when the “Guitar Hero: On Tour” special edition DS hit store shelves at a cost of $179.99.

Although there is no immediately verifiable buzz on the gaming forums, there are some rumors that another special edition may coincide with the planned PSP Brite release, but thus far the rumors are unsubstantiated.

The Nintendo Wii is a video gaming console introduced by Nintendo. As a matter of fact, it could be compared to other gaming consoles such as the Sony Playstation 3 or the Xbox 360. Some people may prefer these other gaming consoles over it. However, the this console comes with its own set of advantages that make it a “must-have” among avid gamers.

For one, the controller of the Nintendo Wii is very impressive. Bluetooth wireless technology is used to translate the movements of a player’s body directly onto the screen. This is quite an improvement over other gaming consoles, wherein users have to press buttons in order to initiate the desired changes. The game play thus becomes more engrossing and intuitive with it, which is the purpose of video games in the first place.

One could say that the gaming experience has become more passionate with the Nintendo Wii. The Wii remote is one of its kind. The remote is quite slim and looks more like the remote for your television. The remote is connected wirelessly with the console. In addition, innovative motion sensors are a part of this sophisticated remote. This sensor can distinguish movement in three dimension.

With the Nintendo Wii, one can relate physically with the virtual world. With this gaming console, even a game with simplistic game play becomes more interesting and engrossing. Players feel as if they are actually playing the games which make them more fascinated with this gaming console.

It can be said that this device has given an altogether different dimension to video gaming. Thanks to the intuitive motion control system, players using this gaming console can make the most of their leisure time. Playing a game with the Nintendo Wii is a great way to de-stress and wind up after a hectic day’s of work.

Game consoles not only attract kids but also adults. Kids enjoy playing game consoles which is popularly called ‘video games’ or ‘computer games’. These consoles are exclusively designed for fun and entertainment. With the help of controller, buttons, joysticks and pads player interact with the unit. These games console are easily connected with external devices like computer, television and other output devices. You can enjoy both audio and video features with the gaming consoles. Some of the reputed game consoles are Nintendo Game Cube, Microsoft Xbox360 and Sony PlayStation.

Today, video games are the main source of entertainment as you they accompany hundreds of interesting game features. The game consoles are very popular with excellent gaming units available in the market. It comes with the mind blowing features and is designed in a user-friendly way. A new Nintendo DS game called Face Training is going to be introduced very soon. This computer game will help in strengthening face muscles thereby tempting women to play video games. Its Wi-Fi Connection service will support two exquisite games one is the own Mario Kart DS and other is Activision’s Tony Hawk’s American Sk8land.

This game company has announced its latest redesigned Nintendo DS handheld system. This new system is named DS Lite with functionality very similar to standard DS. It is quite smaller and lighter than older one. This extended dual screen handheld has been pulled to smaller chassis. Measuring 133X 73.9 X 21.5 mm, DS Lite weighs 218g. The most innovative technical feature in this game is the advanced set of backlit LCD screens. The system has different levels for setting brightness.

The DS Lite games console has brought revolution in the entertainment sector and in the concept of computer games. Several online shopping portals are facilitating different game consoles. Go through the online reviews to get an idea about games. Make a search to choose a best online retailer and order different computer games.