The Next Gen Wars: Which System Should You Buy?

When it comes to the gaming world, it won't be along until you hear someone mention the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, or the Nintendo Wii. Which system should you choose?

Xbox 360

Good: The best thing the 360 has going for it is time. it will always be a year ahead of the other thus the developers have had a year longer to learn how to push it to its capabilities creating better graphics and higher frame rates.

Bad: Early machines have had bugs and are loud but it is to be expected by all consoles. Microsoft has mostly fixed the problem with new additions and becoming more efficient in producing them. Also, the 360 was created to utilize high-definition TV's and many do not own them so they cannot experience it as it was meant to be. With that said the games are the same and the graphics are still better than its predecessor. the PS3 doesn't even come with the HD cords for the people that do have an HDTV.

Overall: The 360's year early release has proven to be a great move by Microsoft. Most games look more crisp and have higher frame rates in the same games on its competitors. Microsoft looks to take a higher margin of the gaming industry profits this time around.

Playstation 3

Good: Sony's Playstation 3 has, without a doubt, the most raw-processing power of any of the "next-generation" consoles. Its new "CELL" chip is the most innovative processing engine currently on the market, consisting of eight processor cores, all independent of each other. For owners of previous Sony systems, the Playstation 3 offers unparalleled complete backwards compatibility.

Bad: A valid concern for potential buyers is that game developers will face too much of a challenge programming with its unique hardware. This may result in some of the Playstation 3's massive potential remaining untapped, limiting its advantage over the Xbox 360. However, the biggest disadvantage for the Playstation 3 is its price ($500-600)

Overall: Though the Playstation 3 packs a powerful punch in the computing and graphics department, its price tag is a limiting factor for many consumers, and nobody knows if game developers can fully utilize the CELL chip.

Nintendo Wii