The next-gen battle

Last week on the exchange, my good friend Cristal A. Pinnix talk about ways to deal with stress. However, I believe that she missed out on what people my age really deal with their stress, playing video games. Anytime I want to avoid doing homework, and thats alot, I divulge myself playing mario tennis and getting fed up because my roommate beats my ass everyday. Though I could go into how much I want to throw the controller at my roommate, it would defeat the purpose of this blog.

Every three years or so, the multi-million dollar video game industry comes out with their next console that little kids will torture their parents to give them for christmas. Next-gen consoles, as they are usually called, are up for what could be the biggest battle of supremacy in years. Microsoft has had the XBOX 360 out for near a year now and with Sony and Nintendo coming out with the Playstation 3 and Wii, respectively, the industry is expecting to make a substantial amount of money, both first and third party company.

But which one to buy? Usually in the past, you would go buy the system with the best games, but seeing most companies make the same game for all the consoles, the main three must find ways to lure the gaming, and non-gaming, communties to buy their product. Heres a list of pros and cons for all three consoles.

Microsoft's XBOX 360
Pros-
Been out a year already, so people are familar with their games.
Awesome graphics. FridayNight Fight and Gears of War are the best example.
Soon be able to work with Mircosoft Vista and you be able to transfer stats and saves from your pc to your console.

Cons-
Not as powerful as the PS3 and more expensive than the wii.
Besides the US, the 360 isn't doing well in other countries.

Sony's Playstation 3
Pros-
Best Graphics out there
Has the most exclusives games and loyal with 3rd parties companies.
Cool motion senor controller

Cons
500 dollars?! Because its supporting some rare hardware (IBM's CELL and Blu-Ray) Sony is expecting to lose alot of money with every system sold.
Only 400,000 units are going to be out at the November 17th launch. They may not seem bad, but most stores are only supplying 5 units.
If the PS3 doesn't do well, Sony may scrap the playstation all together.

Nintendo Wii
Pro-
Unlike its competition, Nintendo is taking the biggest risk with their controller. It operates in a three-dimensional field. So imagine playing tennis, the controller is your racket. So it brings innovation to the industry.
Only $250, half of the PS3. Also, because they are a gaming company, they make money unlike the others when a unit is sold
4 million units are guarannteed by '07

Cons-
Not as powerful as the other two consoles.
Could scare off non-gamers into buying
Havn't had the best relationship with third-party companies.

So there you have it. You now know all the key items you'll need when you need to buy the console of your choice.

More indepth with of the pros and cons
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/72857/pros_and_cons_of_the_next_generation.html

Incase your parents think that video games are bad for you.
http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/2-27-2004-51038.asp