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Why the Playstation 3 is the best System AvailableDirectron Scholarship 2008 Essay No. 24
by Jon M. Hair
Current School: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Current Major: Business Administration
Being an owner of the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft XBOX 360, and PlayStation 3 , I have had plenty of time to enjoy all three systems thoroughly as well as compare and contrast the positives and negatives. Prior to this I owned the first XBOX, the PlayStation 2, and the Nintendo Gamecube. I have had a thorough experience with the evolution of all three systems and the games that accompany them. What makes them each unique? What features differ from system to system? I will take a brief look at each in a simplistic yet practical comparison and contrast.
Let's begin with the Nintendo. Anyone who knows anything about video games understands Nintendo's role and importance in the market-it's a global juggernaut that many agree will never rest. Mario has become an iconic figure and continues to appear in many games still being released; I have nephews and nieces that can identify Super Mario Bros. and this was a game that was released almost ten years before their birth!
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The Wii, originaly entitled the "Revolution", was released in fourth quarter 2006. With Nintendo always pushing the envelope, it was no surprise that this system was another brilliant design and led the pack with it's innovation and style. It's wireless controller, also used as a pointing device, came with the ability to detect movement in three dimensions. This was a feature that was never before recognized in the gaming console industry, but is this true?
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With Nintendo's overwhelming success and popularity of the original Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986, many will remember an accessory called the "Power Glove". Here we can see Nintendo's very first attempt at creating a controller that would work within three-dimensional space. The Power Glove used three sensors that were fed an analog signal from the glove. The glove was actually a cheaper version of the VPL Data Glove; where the Data Glove could detect yaw, pitch, and roll the Power Glove was only able to detect roll. This made it extremely cheap to manufacture and advertising allowed Nintendo to sell close to 100,000 units in the United States alone. Unfortantely, the Power Glove barely works at all. I have personally seen it work with few Nintendo games-about five or six. |
The built in wireless device is also a nice feature, and the Wii channels make it simple to navigate between different games and software. You can also compete online with other players for free. Other interesting features include creating a personal profile accompanied by a cartoon version of yourself (a Mii), having a News channel and Weather channel, and being able to download older SEGA Genesis, Super Nintendo, Nintendo Entertainment System, and Turbo Grafx 16 games. Overall the Wii is an enjoyable system that could use a boost from game developers to elevate it to that next level. It's unique controllers do set it apart from the competition, but XBOX and SONY are already working on an answer to that one.
The Wii is fun to play but lacks the library of quality games to compete with the other systems. The best game is arguably "Wii Sports" with it's addictive bowling that has become a phenomenom for young children and senior citizens alike. The backwards compatibility with it's relative Gamecube is a nice feature and definitely helps to keep the old system alive. Nintendo could have done better with the graphics as well, limiting the Wii to a maximum resolution of 480p (progressive). All of this was done to allow the Wii to be sold at it's relatively cheap price of $299.
The XBOX 360 was a clever and innovate update from the original XBOX, adding a hard drive, built in ethernet port, wireless controllers, and true HD graphics at 1080p. Microsoft did a really good job with this system and there is a vast library of games that you can purchase for it. The original XBOX 360 interface was fun and easy to navigate but Microsoft decided to "update it" to a better one, replacing it with a more complex and annoying GUI. XBOX live is still available, a service that allows you to compete with friends and foes across the world-at a monthly rate. Former XBOX games are playable on the XBOX 360, but many popular titles are not. This is a very irritating feature for those who had bought the 360 expecting it to play both consoles games only to discover that in fact it did not.
For a short time there was an HD DVD player that you could purchase to use with your 360. It offered the consumer a chance to view movies at true HD resolution with crisper quality pictures and better quality sound. Unfortunately, the HD DVD was laid to rest when SONY's Blu-Ray won the competition. The once $200 add on can now be found on auction sites for as low as twenty-five dollars.
Strengths of the 360 include it's true HD resolution, built in ethernet card, wireless controllers, and added hard drive. It's weaknesses include a monthly fee to compete against other players, a somewhat confusing and stressful GUI, a multitude of graphic card failures, and it's extremely loud cooling fan. Overall this is a good system but with improvement it could be even better.
And now we come to our final contender-the PlayStation 3. The Playstation 3 emerged onto the scene in the fourth quarter of 2006. As with prior Playstation consoles, the new monstrosity brought with it a hype that had some eBayers paying up to $1,500 for one console. The release of it's predessesor, the Playstation 2, was also in high demand before it hit the shelves. With the latest edition to the PlayStation family, SONY looked to continue it's success with multiple improvements as well as features lacked by current competitors Nintendo and Microsoft. It's predessesor had sold over 100 million units by the time it was ready to launch, and SONY was not one to disappoint.
The PlayStation 3 took what worked with it's older console and made it even better. The controller design is arguably the most comfortable and ergonomically designed interfaces ever and has stayed the same since the very first PlayStation. It's built in ethernet is a nice touch, and the original models have four USB ports on the front where you can charge it's controllers and hook up cameras as well as other devices.
The PlayStation 3, in my opinion, wins over XBOX and Wii in the fact that it's library is enormous. It's backwards compatibility to the very first PlayStation console gives it's use thousands of titles to play. The XBOX and Wii combined cannot exceed the library that the PlayStation offers. This genius move by SONY allowed many to salvage their old systems while keeping the games that they cherished. Another big factor in my decision is Blu-Ray. For the price of most standard Blu-Ray players, you can get an amazing gaming console along with it. Blu-Ray has become the only High Definition media for movies, crushing it's HD DVD competition. Other small advantages include the easiest user interface and the ability to compete online against other gamers for free.
In conclusion, the XBOX 360 and Nintendo are both fabulous choices for gaming entertainment. They provide a nice selection of games and are both reasonably priced. However, I still believe the PlayStation 3 wins the battle with it's free online gaming, multitude of games, simplistic yet efficient user interface, and Blu-Ray player. With technology growing more and more impressive each day, it is only a matter of time before the next big system hits the market. Who will take the crown then?
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