CORBIE'S GAME BLOG

I get tons of email each and every day asking the same old question - "Which console(s) should I buy?" While there's certainly no easy answer to that nagging question, there is an easy system you can use to help make that fateful decision. The first thing you need to look at is the pros and cons of each console. See how they stack up against each other and see which features appeal to you the most. Then it's time to look at the exclusive games that you just can't play anywhere else. Finally, take a look at the price tag and see which console offers more bang for the buck and which one fits into your gaming budget. Take a look below to see a breakdown of each console.

Sony Playstation 3 - There's no arguing that the Playstation 3 console has the most horsepower under the hood. It's capable of visuals that no other console can equal. That being said, we're now finding out that the Xbox 360 is not too far behind it. The Playstation 3 also has another ace-on-the-hole with it's built-in Blu-Ray drive. With the Playstation 3 you can play high-definition Blu-Ray movies right out of the box, unlike the Xbox 360 that requires you to purchase an external $200 HD-DVD drive. The main drawback of the Playstation 3 system at the moment is its astronomical $600 price tag. If you can grab a system right now, you can take advantage of the $500 60GB model that's just been discontinued, but they won't last long and once they're gone it's back up to $599.99 for the new 80GB model. Another negative with the Playstation 3 is its software library. There just aren't a lot of great games available for the system at the moment, and not an overly large amount coming anytime soon. Sure there are a handful of solid titles that will see the light of day during the holiday shopping season, but not nearly enough to justify the high cost of the console. If you're a diehard Playstation fan you likely already have the console so my best advice for those who don't yet own one is to wait awhile and see what Sony does between now and early next year. Who knows, Sony may drop the price of the 80GB model before too long. Grade: 6/10

Nintendo Wii - The Wii has already proven to be a huge hit for Nintendo. Retailers just can't keep this system in stock. The number one reason for that is what the Wii brings to the table. Using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk attachment, gamers are able to play games in a way not possible on any other console. The motion-sensing technology also allows developers to create unique games that appeal not only to seasoned gamers, but also to those who've never played video games before. It also doesn't hurt that the Wii has three of its marquee titles coming to the system over the next 5 months either. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Metroid Prime 3, and Super Mario Galaxy will all see release sometime before the end of 2007 and this has to have the Nintendo faithful excited. As if things weren't golden enough, Nintendo Wii also has a very attractive $249.99 price tag to further add to its mass appeal. Now it's time for the downside. The Wii certainly can't compete with the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 consoles when it comes to visuals, as it's just not capable of pumping out the high-definition eye candy found on the competing systems. The Wii also can't play either of the new high-defintion media formats either, not even with an attachment. That being said, it's still hard not to love the little Wii, and sales of the system show that many others feel the same way. Grade: 8/10

Microsoft Xbox 360 - Last, but certainly not least, is the Xbox 360. There are those that will tell you that the Xbox 360's showing at E3 was lackluster at best. But one game is set to send the popularity of the Xbox 360 through the stratosphere and that game is Halo 3. This game alone will sell a ton of systems for Microsoft and they know it. There's also a couple of terrific RPGs coming for the system over the next 3 months in Blue Dragon and Eternal Sonata. Couple that with the hugely popular online Xbox Live service and what you have is easily the most well rounded console of the three and also the safest choice as well. The Xbox 360 already has a solid library of games to choose from, and with an ever-increasing number of Xbox Live Arcade games flowing forth, there's sure to be something for everyone. It's also nice to have a choice of two system packages with either the $299.99 model with no hard drive or the $399.99 model with a hard drive and wireless controller. About the only drawbacks of the Xbox 360 is the fact that you have to shell out another $200 to play HD-DVD movies and also the fact that the system has had such a high failure rate. Luckily Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and extended the warranty of the Xbox 360 system to 3 years. Other than these two slight annoyances, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better overall system on the market right now. Grade: 9/10

No matter which system you choose, just be sure you get the console that you'll enjoy the most. It's easy to pick these three systems apart, but at the end of the day, it's still about personal taste and that's what you need to use to base your decision on. Each system has its own strengths and weaknesses, so do some research before you buy and that will ensure that you come home with the console that best suits your gaming needs.