Which console is better? Xbox 360 vs. Playstation 3 vs. Wii

So right when you've finally decided to shell out some cash to buy a new gaming console, you unexpectedly run into the dilemma of: Which gaming console should I buy? Well don't worry, this is a pretty common problem.

There are three consoles out in the market right now that you are probably debating about. Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's Playstation 3, and Nintendo's Wii. These are the most current video gaming consoles out in the market right now. The choice isn't an easy one, but I'll try to highlight some points about each of the consoles to help you make your decision.

The biggest distinction about the Wii is the fact that they have the best party multiplayer games. If you are aiming for a console to enjoy together with your friends and family, then without doubt, the Wii is the best console for you. With games such as Super Mario Kart, Wii Sports, and Super Smash Brothers Brawl, the Wii is definitely your top choice when it comes down to playing enjoyable and relaxing games with at big group gatherings.

With the Wii, you can challenge your relatives to a game of Bowling or Tennis with Wii Sports, race against your grandfather in a game of Mario Kart, or even leave beat the daylights out of your best friend in a quick game of Super Smash Brothers Brawl.

The Wii differs from the traditional gaming consoles, in that they use something called a WiiMote to play. This allows for a rather interactive style of gaming, where you can actually use the Wiimote's motion sensor ability to swing your arm to throw the bowling ball, swing your tennis racket, or slash your with your sword.

Of course, this isn't to say that the Wii is only for party games. There are still many of Nintendo's classic games such as Mario (Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Brothers for Wii) and Zelda (Twilight Princess for Wii) that you can enjoy on your own free time.

Now this is the hard decision to make. Both these two machines can be considered as consoles aimed at the "hardcore gamers". This involves action packed games such as Splinter Cell, first person shooter games like Call of Duty, and even Role-Playing games like Final Fantasy 13.

These are games that involve more time, attention, and concentration, so they are thusly meant for those who are more "hardcore." Generally speaking, the graphics for these games are very detailed and realistic, which adds to the dimensions of the games, as opposed to the Wii games, which are generally more cartoonish.

More recently, many gaming companies have chosen to release their games simultaneously for both the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360, making the decision between the two consoles a rather tough one.

Below I will attempt to highlight the specific points about each console which may be factors in helping decide which of the two consoles is right for you.

The feature that draws the most attention towards the Playstation 3 console is the Blu-Ray ability of the console. Not only can does it function as your gaming console, but this console can double as a Blu-Ray player. Considering the direction towards Blu-ray that we are moving in, it may be quite a smart idea invest in this console, which will allow keep you on the cutting edge of media technology.

Another feature offered by the Playstation 3, is the ability to play on PSN, or in other words, Playstation Network. This feature allows you to play certain games over the internet together with other players around the world. In games like Call of Duty, you can put your shooting skills to the test against other players on the internet. For games like Splinter Cell, you can play in co-op mode with another player online to gain additional content of the game, with an entirely different storyline. The ability to use PSN is free, meaning you can simply plug your console to your router, you're set. Keep in mind that a broadband internet connection is required for this feature.

On the down side, the Playstation 3 costs $300 dollars, which is $100 dollars more than the cheapest Xbox 360.

The biggest appeal to the Xbox 360 right now, is the price. At $199 for their cheapest console, buyers can save $100 dollars over buying a Playstation 3 (as mentioned above). This could make a huge difference for people who are only looking to buy a gaming console purely for playing games, and don't have any intention of watching blu-ray movies.

The Xbox also tends to have a few exclusive titles for their console that particularly stand out. Halo is probably the most obvious title that has always been exclusive to the Xbox systems. Many choose the Xbox over the Playstation 3 because of Halo alone. A few more popular titles for the Xbox includes Gears of War, and Fable. Fable is a role-playing game made popular with its first release for the original Xbox 1 system. Gears of War is an action game, easily one of the most popular Xbox 360 games in the early days of the console.

On a more personal note, I also find the Xbox 360's controller much more comfortable than it's counterpart. The bigger grip and overall heavier build is more comfortable for my hand, giving a more solid hold on the controller.

On the flip side, the Xbox requires a subscription in order to play online (called Xbox Live). This may be a deal breaker for many, who intend on using their console for online gaming purposes.

To sum up the points that we have discussed:

Wii

• Great for parties
• Wiimote allows interactive experience
• Many classic games (Mario, Zelda)

Playstation 3

• Blu-Ray support
• Playstation Network (PSN)
• Expensive

Xbox 360

• Decent price range
• Exclusive titles (Halo, Fable, Gears of War)
• Comfortable controller