Best Gaming Consoles

S
ony announced the introduction of its new 40GB of its Playstation 3 (PS3) game console. The Sony playstation 40GB model will be hitting the game stores beginning of November. The 40GB version of the PS3 will be bundled with the blockbuster movie Spider Man 3 Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and will be available in North America for a suggested retail price of $399 (USD). Sony also announced that effective immediately, the current Playstation 80GB PS3 will be available...

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hose who grew up in the time of the Sinclair, Atari and Commodore gaming consoles, where games were the order of the day, or those who entered the gaming world solo or online with their PC, but who chose digital photography as a ‘serious and responsible' hobby, will reminisce, with melancholy, about last March 23rd 2007 when the Sony PS3 was introduced officially in Europe. Nevertheless, it doesn't have to remain nostalgia. I found the perfect excuse to account for the purchase of a Sony...

The high-end Sony PlayStation 3's larger hard drive and ability to play PS2 games makes it a worthwhile alternative to the cheaper model--so long as you're willing to wait several months for the more promising exclusive titles to hit store shelves. If backward compatibility is your top priority, this hard-to-find model may be worth the search.

The bottom line:
If you do a lot of movie watching with your PS3, the Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray DVD Remote is a nice luxury, but it's not a must-have accessory for the PS3.

Razor-sharp 1080p playback and huge processing power make the PS3 a tempting Blu-ray proposition.

With its extensive digital media features, a superior online service, and an excellent game library, the Xbox 360 remains the game console to beat.

All games are also optimized for 16:9 widescreen viewing, like modern widescreen DVDs, and support antialiasing technology for an even more natural-looking picture on HDTVs. *

The bottom line:
With its extensive digital media features, a superior online service, and an excellent game library, the Xbox 360 remains the game console to beat.

It's possible to connect an mp3 player via a USB port and play your music on your Xbox 360--even as you're playing a game. *

Getting your online video fix on the big screen is finally getting easier.

The bottom line:
The Sony PSP elevates portable gaming to the next level, but its multimedia functionality falls short of its full potential.

The bottom line:
While it may not be a must-have upgrade for existing PSP owners, a host of subtle improvements make the latest Sony PSP (aka the PSP 2000) an even better deal for anyone looking for a solid portable gaming and multimedia device.

The bottom line:
The Sony PSP elevates portable gaming to the next level, but its multimedia functionality falls short of its full potential.

There are terrific details such as a background theme and motion images specific to a music, movie, or game UMD. *

Running on full brightness, we managed about 5.5 hours of gameplay before having to recharge the included 1,800mAH lithium-ion battery pack; gaming time can vary significantly depending upon screen brightness (two dimmer settings are options) and the game you're playing. It's worth noting that recharging a battery to full capacity takes a lengthy 2.5 hours. Playing in peer-to-peer wireless mode reduced game sessions by a little more than 2 hours; the battery pooped out after 3 hours and 15 mi...

With its extensive digital media features, a superior online service, and an excellent game library, the Xbox 360 remains the game console to beat.

All games are also optimized for 16:9 widescreen viewing, like modern widescreen DVDs, and support antialiasing technology for an even more natural-looking picture on HDTVs. *

The bottom line:
With its extensive digital media features, a superior online service, and an excellent game library, the Xbox 360 remains the game console to beat.

It's possible to connect an mp3 player via a USB port and play your music on your Xbox 360--even as you're playing a game. *

Getting your online video fix on the big screen is finally getting easier.

Unless you don't have a GameCube controller or any GameCube games, give this Wii peripheral a pass.

You'll be able to purchase Wii Points at retail outlets or with a credit card online. Your movements can become more subtle (and less energy consuming) as you learn how various games work. Lets you download games from old consoles. *

The bottom line:
It lacks the graphical prowess and rich media features of the Xbox 360 and the PS3, but the Nintendo Wii's combination of unique motion-sensitive controllers and emphasis on fun gameplay make the ultra-affordable console hard to resist.

The bottom line: It lacks the graphical prowess and rich media features of the Xbox 360 and the PS3, but the Nintendo Wii's combination of unique motion-sensitive controllers and emphasis on fun gameplay make the ultra-affordable console hard to resist.

You can also use the two controllers in tandem for more complex games. *