Wii Vs. Xbox and PlayStation – Which Is Better?
With three major and mature game consoles on the market, it can still be hard to determine what are the similarities and differences between the three. This guide will help explain how each of the three game consoles – Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation - stack up against the others.
Before Buying A Console, Think What Games Will You Play?
There is a wide variety of types of video games to play, and similarly the consoles that are used to play them are just as different. If you know what type of games you want to play, you’ll know what features you need on the game consoles you’re considering to achieve the best gaming experience you can get based on the game's genre. For example, games created for the Nintendo Wii are usually more accessible, family-friendly type games which are often based on Nintendo's classic games from the past. These have many cartoon-like and toy-like characters, such as Mario and Link, and occur in Arcade-style game situations. You might hear Wii games referred to as “mini-games”, "Casual Games," or "Party Games" which describe the simple and easy to play nature of these games. You will even find some have games-within-games and they focus on appealing to players who are new to the puzzle-solving side of gaming and how the player interacts with the game on that level.
With hardware that is a little more sophisticated than the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 come with the processing power that first person shooter, Action-Adventure, Racing and RPG games require.
Early game design in the areas of Action-Adventure, Shooters, Racing, Sports, Role-playing games (RPG) and others are the history behind development of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles where the consoles started out with these game genres. To play these games requires more skill and focus on the part of the player, and the games need better more graphics processing power from more powerful consoles to give players the high quality experience they have come to expect. This high quality graphics capability continues to be the primary focus of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. These consoles are capable of full 1080p HD quality graphics, well beyond what the Wii can handle. These powerful platforms have led to development of game titles like God of War, Fable, Halo, Call of Duty, Gears of War, Killzone, Mass Effect, The Elder Scrolls and many others. Along with increased demand for online multiplayer gaming using Xbox LIVE and PlayStation Network, the requirement for high level graphical qualities on these platforms only continues to grow.
Motion Sensitive Gaming
The Wii was first with motion sensitive gaming, and ever since then it’s been a major focus for game console manufacturers. Both Kinect and PlayStation Move have also found an audience for their unique versions of play. Here is a breakdown of the motion capabilities of each of the different game systems.
Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk
The Wii Remote Plus controller comes standard with every Wii console. It has enhanced motion controls over the original Wii Remote along with addition of the Wii MotionPlus technology, built into one controller unit. Users wave the controller like a wand, and the wand uses an internal gyroscope and accelerometer to determine the players’ positions and movement. This is translated into the game through a sensor bar connected to the console. The Wii Remote Plus is easy to use, with just a few buttons. It also has a built in speaker, a rumble feature, and a connector slot for other input devices like the Nunchuk and the Classic Controller.
PlayStation Move
The PlayStation Move is Son’s attempt to add motion control to its PlayStation 3 system (PS3). It adds a new gaming experience by combining realistic, high-definition gaming along with accurate, intuitive motion control. With the PlayStation Move controller, the PlayStation Move Navigation controller (which is optional in many games) and a PlayStation Eye camera (each sold separately), the PlayStation Move inserts accurate motion control and interactive gameplay on the PS3 system. The PlayStation Eye also adds the ability to allow users to engage in video chat capabilities.
Kinect for Xbox 360
Microsoft’s entry into motion controllers is the Kinect. It’s very easy to use and fun for all ages, since it doesn’t use a controller. Instead, the Kinect sensor for Xbox 360 is similar to a camera, with full-body tracking putting players in the center of the gaming fun! The sensor will configure itself by checking a range of points across the person standing in front of the sensor. The Kinect can actually recognize and mirror your movements directly into the game, which is like making your body the controller. All Xbox systems can use the Kinect, which comes with a color VGA motion camera (640 x 480 pixel resolution @ 30 frames per second), a depth camera (640 x 480 pixel resolution @ 30 frames per second) and four microphones which support single speaker voice recognition.
How To Get Started With Online Play
The functionality for online gaming is a main focus today of game consoles. All three game consoles can be used when offline, but when you add them to your home wireless network connection, you’ll have many more options for game play, Internet access and more. This is what makes them truly all around entertainment centers. Each system possesses its own unique features and different ways gamers can interact.
Wii Ware
On the Wii, WiiWare is the online service that provides downloadable games and applications for Wii players. Games are downloaded directly to the Wii console after paying with Wii Points bought on the Wii Shop Channel. If you are playing an online game, such as Mario Kart, there is no other cost, it's free to play and names aren’t used so young children are protected from unwanted personal contact. Nintendo has also uploaded hundreds of its familiar classic arcade games as well as those of other developers, available for download using the Virtual Console function. On the Nintendo Channel, gamers can watch gameplay videos, trailers for upcoming releases, developer interviews, and even download game demos. Wii owners can also watch Netflix (requires a Netflix subscription) for watching movies, television and other video.
PlayStation Network
The PlayStation Network is a PS3 owner’s all access pass to both gaming and a world of entertainment. The PSN is 100% free, needing just the PS3 (or PlayStation handheld) and a broadband connection to the Internet. At the online PlayStation Store, users can download a variety of games, game previews and demos, other extras, as well as music and streaming video. Users can purchase with a credit card or a PlayStation Network Card which can be purchased offline. The console has storage for games, or games can be stored on external media. It’s easy to join in multiplayer gameplay using PSN, by simply inserting a compatible multiplayer disc into the console, choose the multiplayer option and start your own game or join one already in progress. The PS3 can also access Netflix, as well as original programming just for the PlayStation owner.
Xbox LIVE
For Xbox, the Xbox LIVE network is the main hub of online entertainment. Xbox has been using the LIVE service since 2002, and it has only grown with Xbox 360. It’s set up as a two tier service, where all users get a free "Silver membership," opening access to free game demos, video rentals, Xbox LIVE avatars and chat. Paying members upgrade to the "Gold Membership" which gives access to the free services plus other expanded features, such as online gaming, a variety of HD movies and TV choices through Netflix, HBO Go, ESPN, and others, plus downloadable games, Facebook, and much more content. To purchase, players use Xbox LIVE points, available both online and off. Xbox LIVE membership level keep track of a player’s Gamer Score, which is a running tally of all of the achievements they have unlocked in the games they have played. Gamers around the world share this information and their accomplishments.
As you can see, there are significant differences among the three major game consoles, but there is one thing they all have in common: The ability to bring a wealth of entertainment and fun to your home.
Comparing Wii To Other Consoles
There's been a lot of discussion about which game console is the best, whether it's the Wii, the Xbox or PlayStation 3. While Nintendo is coming out with a new console in 2012, they are still selling many of the current Wii consoles. It's also likely that the new Wii U console will be more expensive than the Wii right now, and you can guess that this Wii console will be off the market.
To make the confusion even worse, both Microsoft and Sony are talking about new versions of their game consoles expected in the next year or two, the Xbox 720 and the PlayStation 4. Some industry watchers are asking the question, do we really need new consoles coming out like this? With high definition already built into the PlayStation and Xbox, what else will justify paying several hundred dollars on a new game system, for anyone other than the hardcore game fanatic?
Not only that, but are current capabilities even being taken advantage of? We haven't seen anything for the PlayStation Move recently, for example. Plenty of ads for Kinect on tee vee, but not for the Move, and game choices seem to be fewer than the other two. Developers have at least been making more games for the Xbox Kinect system, including games for it's teen players.
Unlike the other two systems, the Wii focuses more on family games, games for young kids, as well as the standard gaming fare for pre-teens and teens. Many holdout buyers have been waiting for prices to come down, but right now is the best price on Wii that we've seen in years, if not ever. We've seen prices for the white Wii bundle as low as $123! Other than free, that's likely the best price ever. (Will some great retailer put them on sale at Christmas for just $99? We'll see!)
Getting a Wii now means you won't likely want to buy the next generation Wii next year, but if you do, your Wii games today will be compatible with the new system. We think the Wii still has some advantages over the other systems in terms of ease of use for "the rest of us" - and that the new Wii U will only continue that trend.
Wii Bundles
Wii Console with Mario Kart Wii Bundle - White
Sale Price: $169.76
