The James Kilgour BlogA Life Blog.

The PS3 is described as one of the most powerful consoles to be sold. With games packed with ultra-realistic graphics, a blu-ray HD drive and full net functionality, it’s strange to see that it’s flagging behind its competitors.

The Nintendo Wii is furthest ahead, followed by Microsoft’s Xbox 360. Why is there such a gap?

Is it because of the price perhaps? The Wii retails for around £179.99; the cheapest of the three. The Xbox is close behind, at a price of £229.99 for the elite version, (the basic Arcade version can be bought for as cheap as £129.99).  The PS3 however is a little more. £299.99 for the basic PS3 console, with 80gb. That doesn’t include a single game. (The Wii has Wii Sports for example).

In the current economic climate, are people really going to spend that much on a gaming console? Especially the ‘casual gaming’ market that these consoles want to tap into?

Plus, the games themselves are £40 each, and for the UK consumer, the consoles are a rip off! In the US, the same console sells for $399.99, which is today equivalent to £270.00, almost the price of a game cheaper. The same console!

If Sony wants to actually have a successful console, they shouldn’t make it so expensive. End of story. They can always make any loss back through the sale of games and accessories, which would increase if they lowered the price of the console in the first place!

Here is a funny little video I found anyway:

JK

So, I finally got my hands on a Nintendo Wii. I know, a bit behind everyone else, but still. It’s mine at last.

So my first impressions of the Wii, was wow! It looks like something Apple would have created; sleek and beautiful, with that cool neon disk slot.

Installation was very easy. Simply plug in the power cord, the AV cord and the small sensor bar, which sticks above your TV. Then just switch on.

The Wii Menu is designed to look like TV channels, and from here, you can surf the web, (with the additional, downloadable Internet Channel), see news updates, the weather, and Shop for downloadable games, from the Wii Shop Channel.

My first game was Wii Sports, which is included with the console. Normally, I wouldn’t buy a sports type game, as I find them nothing like the real thing. But Wii Sports is different. With the Wii Remote, Tennis, Bowling, Baseball, Golf and Boxing fell identical to the real thing.

Of course, the Wii Remote will take some getting use to. This console, is not for the hardcore gamer either. It doesn’t have the graphical capability of the Xbox 360, or the BluRay drive of the PS3. But this console is a revolution, because it is a new type of gaming system. A realistic, active one.

JK