Video game systems: the best sellers

Many people assumed that home video game systems had entered indefinite suspension following the Atari craze of the early 1980s.  Although computing technology continued to improve, most of the effort was shunted back into arcade games whose profit margins and high sales prices drove much of this industry.  All that changed with the introduction of the Nintendo Entertainment System to Japan in 1983 and North America in 1985, a move which changed everything about our relationship with interactive entertainment.

Since that time, several generations of wildly popular consoles have evolved to drive this market.  If you have been wondering which to buy, it’s essential to educate yourself about the basic advantages and disadvantages of each.  A little research is all you need to make an informed decision that can bring you countless hours of thrills and fulfillment.

The gaming community may debate which of the two major consoles was hyped more in 2006, but few can argue with the marketing weight thrown behind the Xbox 360.  This highly anticipated follow-up to Microsoft’s original 2001 console offered vastly improved ATI graphics, an IBM tri-core CPU and outstanding live connectivity.  Although sales have fallen somewhat below expectations, the console is without question a runaway hit, selling over 12 million units worldwide in two configurations: Core and Premium.  Titles such as Call of Duty 2 and Gears of War have helped propel sales of the 360, and the release of Halo 3 will inevitably provide far more in the near future.

Neck and neck with the Xbox 360 worldwide is Sony’s own followup to its Playstation 2: the aptly named Playstation 3.  PS3, like the 360, offers high-definition output, USB connectivity and live gaming.  Nvidia graphics and Blu-Ray media help the PS3 become more of a home entertainment device, a move confirmed by Sony in much of its marketing material.  That said, the games themselves remain the coin of the realm, and major franchises like Virtua Fighter and Metal Gear Solid continue to offer new thrills for avid fans worldwide.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in the gaming console wars came from a nearly forgotten corner: Nintendo.  Rather than focus on HD graphics and cutting-edge rendering engines, Nintendo made a lateral move into more dynamic game play with the introduction of the Wii.  Advanced motion sensors, Bluetooth connectivity and ingenious game play have made the Wii a true blockbuster in this competitive field, dwarfing sales of the more expensive entries from Microsoft and Sony.  Countless reviewers have cited Nintendo’s overarching sense of fun and activity as the principal reasons behind this console’s success, and today over millions of North American players would seem to agree.

Of course, serious gamers continue to swear by PC play as the continuing gold standard in real-time action, but the last chapter is yet to be written.  If you want to get your hands on top consoles, titles, reviews and advice, the Web offers a number of substantive resources for your use.  Try a little research to make sure you have the perfect console for your needs.