Latest in video game systems

By Jason E. Silvers

Herald -- Tribune

Long gone are the days of video games like "Pong," "Pac-Man," "Donkey Kong," and even "Super Mario Brothers."

Today, those games, once hugely popular in the 1970s and 1980s, are replaced by next generation games such as the "Grand Theft Auto," "Metal Gear," and "Halo" franchises.

One has to dig fairly deep to find systems manufactured by Atari and Nintendo that still play some of the old favorites. But today, thanks to the Internet, many of those old games can be played online, and devoted Internet surfers might be lucky enough to procure one of the "old-school" systems that today have been replaced by next generation consoles like the Sony Playstation, the Microsoft Xbox, and the Nintendo Gamecube.

Three major companies are currently battling it out for the right to be at the top of consumer wish lists this holiday season -- Sony's Playstation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360, and Nintendo's Wii. All three systems have something to offer both the casual and avid gamer and multi-media enthusiast. Two of the systems -- the Xbox 360 and the PS3 -- play digital movies and present games and movies in high-quality high-definition style. The most recent video game console wars -- which seem to take place every 5-7 years when game companies introduce their new consoles -- began in November 2005 with the release of the Xbox 360, Microsoft's successor to its original console, the Xbox, that was released in late 2001. The Xbox 360, priced at $300-$400, offers high-definition graphics and features a 3.2 gigahertz processor. The system can support up to four wireless controllers, and will play all of the original Xbox games. With its release date last year, the 360 got a year's head start on the new Sony and Nintendo systems, and has sold 6 million units since then. Microsoft expects to sell 10 million of the systems by the end of this year. One of the major drawbacks of the PS3, which was released nationwide on Nov. 17, might be its high-end price -- two versions of the system are currently available for between $500 and $600. The PS3 also has a 3.2 gigahertz processor, but unlike the 360, is compatible with Blue Ray technology, a format for the storage of digital media, including high-definition video. Blu Ray is expected to be the next standard for digital video, much like the digital video disc is today.

The PS3 is also compatible with Bluetooth, a wireless technology that connects digital devices and allows communication between them. The system is reported to be compatible with many old Playstation and Playstation 2 games, but minor glitches the company has discovered recently will not allow playback of some older titles on the new system, according to a USA Today article last week. Those reports apparently didn't put a damper on the spirits of many consumers, who lined up days in advance at many stores nationwide to hopefully land one of the much sought-after systems.

There were many reports of violence last week after the system's launch, including robberies, shootings, and a man who was injured after being trampled by a crowd of people outside a store who were waiting for the store to open to nab one of the systems, according to one Internet Playstation news source.

Sony was also initially supposed to release about 400,000 of the systems nationwide, but ended up only releasing about 250,000 of the systems last week, leaving some stores with only a few systems on their shelves. Since that time, eBay, the popular Internet auction site, has about 20,000 PS3 auctions listed on its pages, with some of the units selling for as much as $9,000 each. Nintendo's new system, the Wii, is a much less expensive alternative to those who simply enjoy the game playing experience and wish to purchase a system that appears to be more devoted to its gameplay than some of its other functions.

The Wii, priced at a more affordable $250, features special "nunchuck" style controllers that are equipped with motion sensors that detect movement of the person playing the game, allowing for a more immersive, interactive gaming experience.

The Wii is also compatible with Bluetooth technology and older Gamecube titles. All three of the new systems offer online game services, where gamers may play against opponents from around the world, and other digital storage options. The PS3 and Xbox 360 play digital video discs and are compatible with many high-definition televisions. All systems have some ability to connect to other digital devices, and various accessories may be purchased to upgrade any of the systems.

The three new systems offer a little something for everyone as the manufacturers continue to clamor to be "number one" over the Christmas shopping season. For now, there is a system out there that will appeal to any gaming enthusiast, no matter what his or her preferences might be.

And the video game wars will once again eventually quiet down -- at least for the next five years or so.