First, I'd like to lead off with the latest thing to be on everyone's wish list
Wait, where have I been, hiding under a rock?
On a serious note, with regard to console systems, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are the big players these days. Nintendo has the Wii, and new Wii U, while Microsoft has the XBox 360 (with modifications along with hardware & software advances), and Sony has the Playstation 3 (likewise with updated versions to meet changing technology.
Games have come along way from the old Pong, Atari, and Intellivision days. Graphics capabilities have become far better from both a hardware and software perspective, allowing much more advanced - and realist appearing - gaming ability.
Today, I'm going to look at some of what's out there, what to expect, and what kind of options you have. As a matter of disclosure here, I am not a big "gamer", and do not own any of these newer systems. My goal here is to give folks an idea of what to look for, not to say who is the best. So, if I don't focus enough on someone's favorite point of one system, it's not a slight against them, or the system.
Let's start with Nintendo. In 2006, Nintendo introduced the Wii, which would become the hot retail item that Christmas season (and then some). I worked retail back then, and believe me, there was such a demand for the Wii, and its accessories, that they generally didn't last a half hour out of the box. Many times they never even made it into the lockup before they were sold. The Wii was different. In addition to just using your fingers and thumbs on the joystick (now complex controllers), Nintendo had motion sensitive games. You could bowl, pitch, bat, etc with your controllers. This added some degree of exercise to your gaming, which was a changeup from only moving the fingers, and maybe getting up for a snack or bathroom break. Games were developed to take advantage of this, and "workout games" were also big sellers - along with the accessories that went with them.
Last month, Nintendo introduced the Wii U, the newest name on the console gaming circuit - and the only "real" new release among the big players. The Wii U comes in a "basic" and "delux" version (indicated by the white or black color respectively). The basic has 8GB of onboard storage, while the delux has 32G. The Wii U also is now able to take advantage of 1080p resolution televisions. A neat feature of the Wii U is the screen built into the controller. This allows for more versatility in gaming, without having to switch screens. While some accessories from the original Wii will work with the Wii U, it appears that Gamecube games will no longer be compatible.
If we look at Sony, they have their Playstation 3, with several variations, as their flagship gaming console. For over 6 years, the PS3 has been out and evolving. Prices have come down, features have increased, and many titles and online content have been released. The PS3 includes a blu-ray player, and a sizable enough hard drive that it makes for a decent media server. Sony has had a bit of an advantage, because of production reasons. Sony has long been a reliable manufacturer of CD, DVD and Blu-ray players. They would incorporate this in their gaming systems, allowing for them to "serve double duty". Having a Playstation 2 meant that you also had a Sony DVD player, as well. Likewise for the PS3, Sony has been able to take advantage of their other products to make the PS3 a very versatile device - outside of its intended purpose. Back to that, though, the PS3 has the "typical" controllers for most games, but has also taken advantage of the motion sensitive games, and has specific controllers to make use of that.
Microsoft got into the gaming world with the XBox. A year before Sony or Nintendo, Microsoft released the XBox 360 in 2005. Like the PS3, the XBox has undergone minor changes over the 7 years of its existence. Software and hardware changes have been made, and motion based games have also become available. Microsoft had taken advantage of having an established gaming community courtesy of most games essentially being tied to their Windows operating system. Migrating to the console world, gamers could play some of their computer favorites on newer and bigger screens. Doom may have been cool on a 14" CRT in the 1990's, but wait till you catch Call of Duty: Black Ops II on a 60" HDTV!
If you're just looking for something fairly inexpensive to clown around with, there are also the Gamecube, Playstation 2 and XBox (along with older systems) that can be picked up for fairly cheap. Be warned though, that most of these are no longer made or supported, so, buyer beware, especially from eBay or Craigslist, as it may cost more money than you think.
Many titles are available for all three major consoles. Some, like Mario, are proprietary to Nintendo. Also, all of these allow for the option of networking to receive online content and downloads. Microsoft has tied their XBox 360 with the XBox Live, Sony has the Playstation Network. Nintendo was a late joiner to this, as the original Wii had limited network ability, the Wii U has the Nintendo Network. These networks allow for multiplayer games, user created content, collaboration, etc.
In my opinion, Nintendo seems to be playing a bit of catchup, on one hand, however they do seem to be more family oriented in content. Mario, and the characters from that universe, have been a staple of Nintendo for decades. Parents may find assorted Mario or Sonic adventures more suitable for family or child play than Grand Theft Auto, Medal of Honor, Resident Evil, etc. However all of the systems have a wide assortment of "family friendly" content available, as well as sports, and the games for the older or more .... let's just call them the "guys who like shoot 'em up and gore games".
I can't tell exactly what you should get, but I hope the basics I've shown here can help make some choices a bit easier. In the different base descriptions, I've put links to the manufacturers, as well as some Wikipedia pages, for further reference. I can't tell you what is the "best value". That's something you'd have to determine for yourself. Look at the following factors: What do you have? What do you want? Who will play it? Do you need suitable content or controls? How much do you wish to spend? What will it connect to? Parents of 10 year olds will probably look at this differently than a 30 year old bachelor, or a 20 year old college student. Try to find the sweet spot between needs and budget, and happy gaming to you, or those you buy for!
Check back tomorrow for another gift idea!
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