Next Gen Face-off

What is commonly referred to as "Next-Gen" in the video gaming world is the "Current-Gen." We now live in a gaming world dominated by Xbox 360, PS3 and the Nintendo Wii. All of you holding onto the past--well, it's time to let go as the development days are coming to an end for older systems such as the PS2. I'm going to break down what each system has to offer and what to look for to best enhance your overall gaming experience.

All three systems have a little something different for everyone. I am a fan of both the Sony PS3 and the Xbox 360 from Microsoft. These two systems are the closest in terms of offerings and capabilities. In fact both consoles are sitting in my living room right now.

The Sony Playstation serves both as a gaming console and Blu-ray player. It has a pretty functional web browser you can utilize when connected online. Want to check Youtube or surf Google? You can do all of this and more using the PS3 custom web browser. It's a bit pricey as consoles go, but it's still one of the cheapest Blu-ray players on the market. It also plays HD DVDs--but as they say, once you go Blu-ray, you will never go back.

The difference in sound and image quality on a Blu-ray disc is astounding. Game wise, you have full access to the PS3 online community through the console. You can download games, demos and updates from the PS3 store, as well as connect with friends and fellow gamers via a message system on the dashboard. As with the 360, you can play and communicate with anyone, across the globe, from the comfort of your own room. The PS3 is also equipped with Wi-Fi networking and HDMI output.

Since it came out first, many 3rd party, non-exclusive (developed by outside companies for all consoles) games are developed on the Xbox 360 first and then ported over to the PS3 and in some cases the Wii. This means sometimes the 360 has better graphics when comparing the same game across consoles. It's not a stark, unsettling difference in image quality, but it is noticeable. Games developed exclusively for the PS3 tend to look absolutely beautiful and crisp as they take full advantage of the space available when utilizing Blu-ray technology. The 360, like its Sony counterpart, is a very powerful system that also functions as a CD, DVD (HD-DVD only) and game system.

The 360's online community is widely considered to be better simply because of the speed and ease of its online network. Where the PS3 online experience is completely free, however, there are levels to gaming and interacting via the Xbox 360 online. A "Silver" Live membership is absolutely free, but comes with certain limitations. You won't be able to play friends online or will have to wait to download certain content online. "Gold" membership, which can be purchased monthly or for a whole year, will cost a small fee of up to $50 but comes with all of the perks missing from silver membership.

All of this same content can be gotten for free via PSOnline on the PS3. Microsoft has also formed a partnership with Netflix, so that existing and new Netflix users can download their movies directly to the 360 console. Both consoles allow you access to PPV movies and TV shows as well. As far as gaming goes, they are both widely considered to be the more mature consoles in terms of game content on the market.

The Wii is a great system that embraces the inner child in all of us. A favorite amongst the geriatric, kid and young adult sets, Nintendo Wii has becoming the popular cheaper alternative to the PS3 or Xbox 360. It offers a ton of games geared towards full family fun or group entertainment. You can also get a decent workout with certain games such as WiiFit and EA Active. The Wii is the ultimate party machine, popping up in, not just homes, but bars as well. The Wii is also great for re-living past gaming glory as it has a deep library of older, classic Nintendo games to choose from.

Price-wise the three systems run at different rates. For the PS3, depending on which model you get (there is currently a 40GB, 60GB and 80-160GB fully backward compatible models), it will cost you anywhere from $399 to $499 for new bundles or solo consoles. The 360 will cost $199 for the Arcade, hard drive-less version. The 360 Pro and Elite run from $299 - $399 respectively. The Wii, the most affordable of the bunch, will cost you just around $250 brand new. Since you'll need some cool games to go along with that new console, check out this cool Toys R Us offer for discount games.

I hope that helped you make a decision on which console is right for you. Drop me a line or follow me on Twitter @SavingsGCapes for more hot gadget deals and news.