History of Video Games

This History of Video Games timeline is our attempt to group all our console and handheld systems descriptions onto a single page. While it’s still incomplete at the moment, it will be expanded the coming year, but let’s begin describing the newest systems first in 60 pages.

Nintendo Wii

Nintendo Wii
Release Date: US Nov. 19 / Japan Dec. 2 / Europe Dec. 8 2006
Created By: Nintendo
Price: $249.99 / €249 / £179.

Nintendo will soon be set to make what is arguably their boldest move ever, with the release of their next-gen console system, the Wii, code named Revolution.

For those who have yet to hear, the Wii eschews just about everything you’ve come to expect from a console, tips it on it’s head, and gives gamers a totally new and unique experience that you won’t be able to find anywhere else with any other video game system. Here’s a gameplay introduction:


The design of the casing is actually very sleek and cool looking, more in line with the PS2 and Xbox than the GameCube was, no square-shape or holding handle in sight here. It’s small and light-weight, and should fit very comfortably into your entertainment center. For the first time in a console, the disk drive is a slot-loading drive not the “tray” kind that slides in and out as featured in the Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2 and presumably the PS3. The Wii uses the kind of drive you see for car CD players where you simply push the disc into the drive. While this is cool in and of itself, the drive is also lighted with a very cool blue glow, giving the system a very high-tech look that’s arguably sleeker looking than either the PS3 or Xbox 360. And in another first, it’s the first drive of this kind to accept more than one disc size, as the Wii will play both smaller GameCube game discs as well as Wii game discs (which are on DVD). The Wii can play all previous 530 Nintendo GameCube games!

However, as you’ve probably heard by now, it’s not the look of the system, or even what’s under the hood, that’s the most interesting. By far the most interesting aspect of the Wii comes from it’s controller, which wasn’t originally unveiled along with the system when it was shown for the first time at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) ‘05, but was shown later on at TGS (Tokyo Game Show) ‘05 by Nintendo President Satoru Iwata.

What was unveiled would once again (as Nintendo is well versed in doing) send ripples throughout the game industry just as they had done many times in the past, from the first truely 3D game and revolutionary analog movement of Super Mario 64 to the SNES controller’s shoulder buttons, Nintendo is no stranger to innovation. The introduction of the new controller for the Wii, which is shaped like a standard TV remote, shocked and perplexed many people who saw it initially. While gamers were filled with questions and even alienated at the thought of playing traditional games on such a wildly new-conept controller, fears have since been eased and many naysayers are now embracing Nintendo’s bold new direction. Since those player’s saw it up-close and personal, trying it out for themselves, at E3 2006, where the console was fully unveiled and playable. Suffice it to say, every gamer at the show did whatever they could to get their own hands-on play-time with Nintendo’s new baby.

The Nintendo Wii controller (or remote, which some have taken to calling the “Wiimote”) is by far one of the most simple controllers ever seen, harkening back to the days of few buttons and doing a complete 180 from the industry standard of many buttons, duel analog sticks and “complex” configurations. Designed by Nintendo mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto himself (creator of Mario as well as nearly every other Nintendo controller, and the one who made shoulder buttons and analog sticks an industry standard), this game pad closely resembles that of a TV remote. It’s got a vertical design and is just as skinny and lightweight as a standard television remote controller. And in a complete rebuff of video game controller conventions, the Wii controller, in it’s normal vertical state, only needs one hand to use; Yes, just like a TV remote.

The layout of the controller is as follows: The top of the controller has the D-Pad, below it is a big round A button resembling the A Button on the GameCube controller. Below that in the middle of the remote are three small, round buttons lined in a row. They are, from left to right: Select (counter-clockwise arrow, similar to the “refresh” button on browsers), Home (pic of a house), and Start (two vertical lines similar to the “pause” button icon). Below that are two single buttons aligned vertically from each other at the bottom of the remote. These buttons have been seen labeled as either lowercase “a” and “b” or as “1” and “2”. At the very bottom are four light indicators telling you which port your controller belongs to, and at the very top left of the remote is a power button. The back of the controller features a trigger button similar to the N64’s “Z Button”, that’s labeled “B”. All these labels have yet to be completely finalized and are subject to change.

As you can tell, this kind of controller has scared many people who can’t picture playing many games with so few buttons and such a strange layout. Luckily, that’s not all Nintendo has up it’s sleeves. Matter of fact, it’s only the beginning.

You likely noticed that the aforementioned controller is missing the all-crucial analog stick. So the Wii controller comes with an attachment that plugs into the bottom of the controller and has subsequently been labeled the “nunchaku” (due to the shape it gives the whole controller when you hold both pieces in your hands, similar to how you would with a nunchak). This attachment is shaped similar to a computer mouse and features an analog stick on the top and two clickable buttons directly under, where your fingers naturally rest. The top button is smaller and more of an oval shape, and is labeled “C”, while the lower button is more of a traditional square shape and has been labeled “Z”. Before this they were simply called “Z1” and “Z2”. As with the standard Wii remote, these labels are still subject to change.

While all of this may sound underwhelming so far and you might be perplexed yourself, there are still several totally innovative features that will make the Wii unlike any console you’ve ever played.

The Wii and the Wii’s controller make use of a sensor bar placed near the TV set, as well as motion sensors inside both the controller itself as well as the nunchaku accessory. These allow the system to detect the placement of the controller in real-time 3D space. Both it’s position and orientation as well as sensors inside the controller that detect the controllers tilt and yaw (unfortuneatly, only the Wiimote will detect tilt & yaw, not the nunchaku, which only has the motion sensor inside it). This effectively turns the controller into both a 3D mouse or pointer, as well as an instrument that will allow players to “mime” actions, performing what needs to be done in the game as they would in real life (such as swinging a baseball bat) for in-game results, instead of merely pressing buttons. Add in the well-known rumble feedback feature (a feature that the new PS3 controller lacks) and you’re starting to get a feel for what’s going to be possible on this new system, but not all has been unveiled yet . . . Nintendo insists there are STILL some secrets they haven’t revealed about the Wii controller. We will know in due time as the Wii gets closer to release.

A promotional video showed examples of the many ways the controller could be used. They range from the player actually swinging the controller like a baseball bat or golf club, to using it as a drumstick, to swinging it like a sword or shooting it like a gun, to making precisions movements in say, a surgeon game. This type of actual “hands-on” gameplay is unlike anything ever before attempted, and could potentially forever change the way the player interacts with the their video games. See for yourself:


That being said, Nintendo has acknowledged that, as with their unique handheld system the DS, (which features two screens, the bottom of which is a touch screen, as well as a built in microphone) developers won’t necessarily have to use this new 3D space style gameplay in their games if it isn’t desired by the developers. Traditional gameplay will be readily possible on the system, just like the DS has games that don’t use it’s unique features. The controller can also be used simply as a pointer (basically mimicking a mouse) which could open up many possibilities for genres that have yet to really break into the console sector, especially where traditional PC genres like strategy games, point & click adventure games, etc., are concerned, which don’t normally work well on console systems since they require the precision of a PC mouse or simply don’t mold well to a control pad.

Several new and innovative features were also announced at 2006’s E3. They include a speaker built directly into the Wii remote! Which has already begun to be used in making games more immersive (via Bluetooth). For example, in Zelda: Twilight Princess if you shoot an arrow, you’ll hear it take off from the controller to your TV’s speakers! The arrow literally makes the “thwipt” sound using the controller’s built-in speaker and as the arrow sails through the air the sound can be heard out of the TV’s speakers until you hear a loud “thunk” as the arrow hits it’s target (coming from the TV). It’s as if the arrow literally just flew by your head!

If you have a broadband internet connection then a great new feature that Nintendo has many planned and innovative uses for is being called Connect24. The idea is that your system will always be online (via your broadband service), even when you power the system down. All the console’s core features will be accessible in it’s low-power state. What does this mean for you? It means that, if you are playing a game like Animal Crossing, then your village will still be accessible to other online players, even though you are asleep and your console is off. While you are sleeping, your friends could leave you messages, visit your town, trade items, and when you wake up and turn your game on, the changes made while you were away will be reflected in the game. It’s as if you never went to sleep in the first place! Developers can even send new updates, levels, items, maps, etc. to your game while your system is powered-down and you are away, via Connect24. Shigeru Miyamoto himself has stated that he has many ideas for this new feature and insists that it will add much to the uniqueness of the Wii and the kind of experiences that can only be found on their system.

Probably the second most exciting feature of the Wii is what Nintendo has labeled the “Virtual Console“. In addition to being backwards compatible with GameCube (which means all your favorite GameCube games will be playable on Wii), you will also be able to connect to the Internet through Nintendo’s “WFC” (Wi-Fi Connection) service where you can download games from Nintendo’s extensive back-catalog of titles, including games for the NES, SNES and N64. And that’s not all! You’ll even be able to play Sega, Hudson and SNK’s classic console games on Wii! Yes you heard it right, you can download all your favorite Sega Genesis (Mega Drive), Sega Master System (in 2008), TurboGrafx 16, and NEOGEO games on the “Virtual Console”! For prices ranging between $5 to $10, the games will download directly onto the Wii, where they will be fully playable in their original form, and Nintendo has even announced that (framerate) updates to the games will be possible since the Wii features full emulation, unlike the backwards compatibility on the Xbox. There’s even the promise of MSX and PC games, not to mention the WiiWare download service that will allow users to download full games like a Final Fantasy city builder or a remake of Dr. Mario and Pokemon Farm, but Indie games will also be prevalent on the service when it launches in May 2008.

This is a potentially huge plus for the Wii, since the “Virtual Console” basically makes the Wii every Nintendo system in one and then some Sega, Hudson/NEC & SNK systems thrown in. What’s more, if you flip the Wii controller on it’s side, it mimics an NES controller, which should be perfect for playing classic games on the system. The GameCube controller can be used for playing certain older games, as well as a special Classic Controller that works for all downloadable games.

The biggest concern so far about the Wii obviously comes from the systems lack of buttons, making people wonder how multiplatform games will far when they are ported from other systems. At the same time that’s also it’s biggest asset, as it’ll allow the “remote” Wii controller to fit into the classic controller & lightgun shells easily. Of concern is the fact that Nintendo has downplayed the graphics of the system, and many sources seem to point to the fact that it will not be as powerful as either the PS3 or the Xbox 360, which certainly seems disappointing, although it still remains to be seen how games on the system will actually look since no games have yet to be shown.

According to virtually all developers who have tried the system (Nintendo has showed several demos for the controller, including a version of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes) the controller feels natural and is really easy to get used too, and comfortable once you start playing.

Nintendo’s philosophy for the Wii has been on innovation aimed at bringing in new game players, people who have never played a game, due to their “complex” controllers and button layout, which can be daunting if you’ve never picked up a controller since the Atari or NES days. The TV remote design is meant to attract new gamers and older players and was consciously designed so that it will be easy for people to pick it up and play without any complications, due to their familiarity with TV remotes, which everyone knows how to use.

Nintendo believes that video games have gotten into a sort of rut nowadays, especially where innovation and new ideas are concerned, which is why they say a system like the Nintendo Wii is in order, because if the industry continues at it’s current rate, where few new gamers are being brought into the fold due to the sheer complexity of gaming, that it will ultimately lead to the downfall of the industry. So Nintendo is planning on being the champions of innovation when it comes to their newest system.

The main problem is that not everyone sees things the way Nintendo does, and while the new system will likely harbor a lot of innovation in the way the Nintendo DS has, it will also bring more challenges in regard to Nintendo being able to get third party multiplatform games on it’s system, due to the unique controller. A lack of third-party support has been a huge problem for Nintendo since the days of the N64, and it came to a head with the Nintendo GameCube as more and more games became for Xbox and PS2 only, leaving the GameCube in the dust. Most of the problems stemmed from Nintendo’s complete lack of online support, thus making any third-party games released for the GameCube obsolete since they were missing a crucial part of the gaming experience.

But Nintendo is naturally being optimistic, and hopefully we will see a good amount of third-party software for the new Nintendo system, as it has the potential to be one of the greatest platforms yet, if it receives the support it deserves. There are many excited third parties, so that bodes well in the early on.

Nintendo has announced that the Wii will not support HDTV output, although 480p will be standard. The Wii also will have the ability to link up to the Nintendo DS, most likely through Wi-Fi, although this hasn’t been elaborated on. It has also been rumored that the system will hook up to the PC.

Montage of lots of Wii games being played:

The 28 launch games are: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Barnyard, Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII, Call of Duty 3, Disney’s Cars, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2, Excite Truck, GT Pro Series, Happy Feet, Madden NFL 07, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Metal Slug Anthology, Monster 4X4 World Circuit, Need for Speed Carbon, Open Season, Rampage: Total Destruction, Rapala Tournament Fishing, Rayman Raving Rabbids, Red Steel, SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent, Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Wii Sports (free pack-in game) & World Series of Poker.

Classic games are a big attraction for the Wii. When your Wii gets connected to the internet, from day one, you can download 30 so-called Virtual Console games from Nintendo’s online store to the Wii’s internal memory. Available at launch are:
* NES Games cost 500 Wii Points = $5/€5. List: Baseball, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Ice Hockey, Mario Bros., Pinball, Soccer, Solomon’s Key, Tennis, The Legend of Zelda, Urban Champion & Wario’s Woods.
* SNES Games cost 800 Wii Points = $8/€8. List: F-Zero & SimCity.
* N64 Games cost 1000 Wii Points = $10/€10. List: Super Mario 64.
* Genesis Games cost 800 Wii Points = $8/€8. List: Altered Beast, Columns, Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, Ecco the Dolphin, Golden Axe, Gunstar Heroes, Ristar, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Harrier II & Toe Jam & Earl.
* TurboGrafx 16 Games cost 600 Wii Points = $6/€6. List: Bomberman ’93, Bonk’s Adventure, Dungeon Explorer, Super Star Soldier & Victory Run.

PlayStation 3

Sony’s Playstation 3 video game console was announced at E3 on May 16, 2005 and was released worldwide in 2 packages, with either a 20GB hard drive or with a 60GB hard drive for roughly $100 more. In Japan the system was released on November 11th. In North America the system was be released on November 17th and the 20GB package (when it was available) costed $500 (€500) with the 60GB package costing $499 (€600). Europe and other PAL territory launches followed on March 23, 2007. The most notable launch after that was the 80GB PS3 model that was only for Korea on June 16, 2007. The only color available since launch has been black. A memory card/SD reader will be made available separately to play your old PS1/PS2 savegames.

According to the specs released by Sony, the 20GB version did not only have 40GB less hard disk space, it missed the WiFi option. Sony stopped production of 20GB model PS3 in April 2007, since 90% of customers wanted the 60GB version.

In July 2007 Sony dropped the PS3’s price of the 60GB package by $100 to US$499 / $549 CND. At the same time Sony introduced the new PS3 80GB package including Motorstorm costing US$599/$659 CND.

The PS3 is an absolute powerhouse of computing power, where developers will be able to create real-time graphics that look as good as any high quality CG you’ve seen, such as that in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, using the power of the unique Cell processor.

While this won’t change the way games are played necessarily, it will, as next-generation platforms always have done, be able to astound and further immerse gamers in the virtual world developers have created, with characters and environments that are more detailed than ever before, with near life-like photo-realistic graphics finally a reality. Here’s a preview of the system (ignore the French) & some games:

Because of the high quality graphics and richer audio, the PS3 will use a brand-new disc medium known as BD-ROM (Blue Ray Disc ROM) that has a maximum dual-layered storage capacity of 54GB, which is much higher than what can fit on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 platform, which uses standard DVD’s. Although so much space isn’t necessarily needed, especially with such advanced compression technology available (Capcom for instance was able to fit the entire original Resident Evil, all FMV & speech, onto a tiny DS cart) this will still likely give the PS3 an edge when compared to its competitors. Every game will ship on a BD-ROM, in an effort to prevent piracy. PS3 games that are coded region-free will be region-free, which is great for game (not movie) importers, but sadly means almost all PS3 games will not be region-free.

So in reality, games likely won’t be much different between platforms graphics-wise, that is the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii games will probably look pretty close to each other. Although there is a good chance that the PS3 version games will look the best. Just as Xbox games typically look the best now, when compared to their PS2 & GameCube counterparts. Sony also announced that the PS3 will have HDMI support.

The PS3 controller design is exactly the same as the PS2 controller, it still maintains the exact same shape and button layout. But it now Sony has gone in and added six-direction motion sensoring technology. This allows you to control the game by moving your hand like a steering wheel, unlike the Wii controller though, there is no 3D motion sensoring or pointer-style technology. That means that it doesn’t sense where you are in a room or your relation to the screen, but since this feature was added a week before E3 2006, it’s unlikely many developers will be using it (aside from Warhawk & Monkey Ball). The controllers, like on the Xbox 360 and Wii, will come wireless as standard. The PS3 will also ship with an included 60GB hard drive that will be pre-loaded with the Linux Operating System.


Gamers will be able to go online via what’s so far dubbed the “Playstation Network” (original name, yes) and Sony is shooting for the stars when it comes to it’s network directly competing with Xbox Live, even announcing that their basic online service will be free. According to some reports via official Playstation magazines and interviews with Sony execs, the company plans to push a “lifestyle” edge by allowing users to upload any type of file to their hard drive, be it videos or music, to share with others, allowing others to see your online blogs, or even possibly “vlogs” (video blogs, using the PS3’s Eyetoy camera) and even going so far as to say that you’ll be able to record gameplay footage or game “highlights” to show off to your friends, saving it directly onto the hard drive and either allowing other gamers to access what’s on your hard drive, or allowing you to send it to your friends. Games will also feature some type of an “achievement”-style system, just like every game on the Xbox 360 has, which presumably everyone will be able to see on your profile. It’s to be seen what Sony can do to differentiate itself from Microsoft, so far they seem to be trying to include everything Xbox Live offers and more, shamelessly copying in many places. Not that that’s a bad thing necessarily…

Sony is also very proud of the fact that the PS3 will be backwards compatible with most popular PS2 and PSOne games, which means all the thousands of titles available for those systems will be playable from the get-go on PS3, giving the system a huge library at the starting-line. Go to the American PS3 database or European PS3 database to see if your old games are compatible. All older PSOne & PS2 games, when played on PS3, will go through hi-res texture filtering to upscale the graphics. Hopefully Sony will be able to have most games play on PS3 without much incident.

There are reportedly over 100 games already under development for the system, and it already has some very high profile titles announced, including: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Devil May Cry 4, Heavenly Sword, Final Fantasy XIII, Virtua Fighter 5, Killzone, Gran Turismo HD and many more.

The 13 PS3 launch titles are: Call of Duty 3, Genji 2: Days of the Blade, Madden NFL 2007, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire, NBA ’07, NBA 2k7, NHL 2k7, Resistance: Fall of Man, Ridge Racer 7, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07, Tony Hawk’s Project 8 & Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom.

Also available from day one are 2 downloadable games from the PS3’s PlayStation Store. They are: Blast Factor and Cash Guns Chaos, both priced at $7.99.

Xbox 360

Xbox 360
Released: November 22, 2005
Created By: Microsoft
Price: Core System ($279.99 / £179.99 / €279) Premium: ($349.99 / £249.99 / €349) Elite: ($449.99 / £299.99 / €449) Halo 3 Edition in Sept. ’07: (US$399.99 / $449.99 CAN)

The Xbox 360 is the first console of the next-generation. It is the second home console from Microsoft, who’s successful Xbox system released in 2001, and went on to gain much critical acclaim and to secure 2nd place in overall worldwide sales, behind Sony’s Playstation 2 and ahead of Nintendo’s GameCube.

As the first next-gen system (that is, the newest cycle of systems for 2005 and beyond), the 360 has a lot to live up to. Microsoft had proved with their first console that they could compete in the highly competitive console video game market, against juggernauts Sony and Nintendo, and now with their newest system, which has a year lead on both Nintendo and Sony’s follow-up systems. Here’s an Xbox 360 introduction:


Microsoft is hoping that they will be able to sell enough systems initially to place them ahead of Sony by the time the Playstation 3 launches. Thus putting them in the position to overtake Sony as the console leader.

It is still very early in the life of the Xbox 360, so it’s to be seen whether Microsoft will be able to accomplish it’s lofty goals. But if the launch is anything to go by, then they are certainly in a very capable position to do so.

The Xbox 360 launched on November 22nd, 2005 in the US and initial supplies completely sold out, making it very hard for some people to actually get their hands on a 360 system, even if they had pre-ordered one (which has backfired in some respects due to unsatisfied customers not receiving their systems), but this also created an environment where, due to the shortages, the 360 was made into a must-have item for the Christmas season, which is exactly what Microsoft was banking on.

The 360, while it launched in North America first (The US and Canada), is also the first console system to have a near-simultaneous worldwide launch. The system launched in Europe on Dec. 2nd to the same kind of demand and sales as in America, but unfortunately the response in Japan, where it released Dec. 10th, was no where near that of Western countries. This was probably due, in part, to the unexpected delays of some key Xbox 360 games, as well as the fact that Japanese gamers aren’t as open to international games or systems as other countries are (both Nintendo and Sony are native to Japan). The lukewarm Japanese launch was unfortunate given that Microsoft had made a huge push for the success of the 360 in Japan. This included opening an entertainment center for the sole purpose of promoting the 360 (called the Xbox 360 Lounge), and grabbing some very key 3rd party developers to make exclusive Xbox 360 titles targeted at the Japanese audience, including Japanese RPGs, a genre that was sorely missing on the original Xbox. However so far, while interest in the 360 is up over the original Xbox, it still hasn’t gotten the kind of reception that Microsoft was hoping for. Although it’s still too soon to say either way whether the system will catch on and become a success in Japan or not.

The 360 is available in two separate packages (everywhere but Japan, where they only have one package that kind of combines the two), the “Xbox 360 Core System” and the “Xbox 360 Premium Pack”. The Core system will run you $299.99 and the Premium a whopping $399.99. So what’s the deal with the two packages? The main difference is that the Core system doesn’t include a hard drive, which you’ll want if you are going to go online (though you can get online without it using a memory card but won’t have enough space to download any large content) and need if you are going to be downloading a lot of stuff, which is one of the best parts of the 360. Some games also require the hard drive or use it for optional stuff like faster loading times, and you’ll need the hard drive as well for backwards compatibility (you can’t play original Xbox games on your new 360 unless you have the hard drive).

The Core System includes: An Xbox 360 console, one wired controller, a standard AV cable and an Xbox Live Silver membership.

The Premium Package includes: An Xbox 360 console (with metallic detailing), an Xbox Live Silver membership (and free Ethernet cable), a wireless controller ($50 separately), a component HD AV cable ($40 sep.), a headset for use with Xbox Live ($20 sep., this is an updated version of the original headset and includes a mute button and volume control), and a detachable 20GB hard drive ($100 sep.).

Starting in August 2007, the official price of the Xbox 360 packages was reduced, most notably the Premium (standard) package was dropped by $50 to $349.99 worldwide, at the same time this package got an extra feature included for free, an HDMI port and cable, the same that was on the new black color Xbox 360 Elite (with bigger hard drive at 120GB) before.

So in actuality, if you are planning on buying any of the extra stuff that comes with the Premium Package later on, especially the hard drive which is a whopping $100 separately, then you might as well just spring for the Premium Package to begin with as it will actually save you money in the end.

And you may be wondering if there is any difference between the original Xbox controller and the new 360 controller. There are some key differences, but the basic layout is largely the same. The position of the control sticks, d-pad and the four main face buttons (X, Y, A and B) and the two triggers (R and L) remain exactly the same. However, the Black and White buttons have been moved to a new position. They are both now buttons located on the shoulders, above the L and R buttons, for easier access. This basically mimics Sony’s PS2 controller, and is largely a plus, as the original buttons were considered by many to be out of the way and in a weird position. The Start and Back buttons have now been moved to the middle of the controller and in between them is a brand new button called the “GameGuide” button. The Guide button is large, gray colored and engraved with the Xbox 360 logo. Around the button is a circle that lights up depending on which controller port the controller is assigned too (for example, if you are player 1, then the 1st section, the upper left corner, of the circle will light up). Pressing the Guide button while in a game gives you easy access to your profile, friends list and more. Holding the button will actually allow you to turn the system on and off, which is a very convenient feature. As long as you have the wireless controller, then there’s no need to ever get off the couch! (well, unless you want to put a new game in.)

“So, what what are the standard features of the Xbox 360 anyway? Why upgrade if you already own the original Xbox?”, I hear you ask. Well, there are lots of reasons. The most obvious being the fact that this is the first next-gen console, and the others won’t be launching for at least 6 months from now, and could very well not release until 2007. That means that the Xbox 360 is by far the most powerful system out right now and thus will be able to pump out high-quality graphics that are like nothing you’ve seen before, and are impossible to pull off with the current-gen systems (PS2, Xbox and GameCube), in addition to having higher quality sound and visual hardware for those people with high-end TV’s and surround systems.

The Xbox 360 also has lots of really cool features and upgrades from the original Xbox, sporting all the multimedia features (including the ability to play DVD movies) of the original plus much, much more.

The first Xbox allowed you to save music onto the system by inserting a CD and saving them onto the hard drive. The 360 updates this by including support for not only music, but also videos and photos, which can be saved onto the hard drive from a CD or streamed from a networked PC. Music can be saved by inserting a CD and copying it to the hard drive, the preferred way (and how you did it with the original system), or by plugging in your iPod, Sony PSP or other mp3 device and copying the files over to the 360’s hard drive. If you are connected to the Internet through a broadband connection, then the system will automatically retrieve information for the album, or you can enter it yourself. The original Xbox had a feature called “Custom Soundtrack”. Games that were built to support Custom Soundtrack would allow you to listen to any music that was saved on your hard drive in the game you were playing. The 360 does a major upgrade to this by having the Custom Soundtrack feature built into the system itself, so you can now listen to the music on your hard drive in ANY game, whether the game was built to support it or not (which is very, very cool, especially if you don’t like the licensed music in certain games).

And that there touches on one coolest features of the 360, every available feature comes from the console itself, so they are fully integrated into every Xbox 360 game, no longer will games only support the features that developers have worked the game to support. So no matter what the game is, you can replace the in-game music with your own tunes that you have saved onto the hard drive.

The 360 also can show images saved onto the hard drive from a compatible Media Center PC (if you’re PC isn’t compatible there will be a Windows Media Connect program you can download onto your PC so you can stream them onto the Xbox) as a slide-show, and can also playback videos (though only ones streamed from the PC onto the 360 using a Media Center PC, which means you can’t stream videos with a regular PC that isn’t a “Microsoft Media Center PC”).

However the greatest upgrades to the 360 come into play when you connect online through the new Xbox Live 2.0. These new features will be gradually explained below.

The 360 system menu is divided up into numerous tabbed pages called “Blades”, where you will be able to view information and customize settings for the system as well as your Xbox Live Profile, where you can customize what other players will see when they view your profile while online.

The available Blades are: System, Games, Xbox Live, Marketplace, and Media.

System Blade: This blade lets you customize system settings that will be reflected across every game you play. They include things like high-def output for your TV (480p or 1080i), memory card and hard drive management, rating restrictions (so parents can set what games or movies their kids can or can’t play, based on their ratings) and more. This blade will also walk you through on how to get an internet connection set up. And let you download the Windows Media Connect program to your PC so you’ll be able to use a USB flash device to transfer all your network settings from your PC to your 360, which will connect your 360 to your PC home network, allowing multimedia (music, audio, pictures) files to be streamed or transferred from your PC onto your 360.

Games Blade: If you aren’t connected to Xbox Live when you turn your 360 on you’ll start at this blade. This gives you easy access to Xbox Live Arcade games (such as Hexic 3D, which comes already saved on your hard drive. More about the Live Arcade below) and downloaded trailers or demos, your profile will even store common game preferences, such as inverted controls in first-person shooters, difficulty options (which is nifty if you are one of those gamers who likes to play every game on easy first, etc.), transmission settings in racers, etc., this way you don’t have to go into each game to tweak the settings every time you buy a new game, since your profile is universal, saved on the system so it can be accessed for new games you pop-in. And these settings can always be changed in the future.

Another really cool features that is so far exclusive to the Xbox 360 system (and is viewable via the Games Blade), and one that has the potential to pump new and extended life into video games, is the Achievement system. Every Xbox 360 game has unlockable achievement “trophies”. These trophies can be viewed by others on your profile when you go online, and they essentially show players how hardcore you are and offer bragging rights, as well as a nice little reward for pulling off certain feats in your various game titles. Achievements can be anything, and can be earned both offline and online. For example, you may receive an achievement for unlocking all the tracks in a racing game, or you may receive one for unlocking all the bonus content a game offers, or for playing a game for a certain number of hours, beating a certain boss or character, etc. These will be different for every title, and developers are required to have at least 5 unlockable achievements, with a maximum of 50.

The Achievement system is really unique, and it will totally extend the replay value of games, as hardcore types will want to try and unlock every achievement a game offers. And just imagine how cool it will be to have a certain achievement that none of your other friends have.

The Games Blade will keep track of every game you play, and will show your achievements for each game. And all of your achievements will be available for the world to see once you hop online via Xbox Live.

Xbox Live Blade: If you are online when you power-up your system, then it will start you at this blade. This is where you will manage your friends list and communicate with other players, friends or strangers, when online via your Xbox Live Silver or Gold membership (You can only play games online if you have a Gold membership, which costs $50 for a year of service, or you can go for the 3-month Starter Kit at $40, or a 12-month Starter Kit for $70, the latter comes with more marketplace points and a heftier rebate). From this blade you can add new friends, initiate a voice chat (which can be done no matter what the other player is doing, whether they are playing a game, watching a movie, listening to music, or whatever else, you can still voice chat with them if they’ve accepted your request), or send them a voice or text message.

Another really cool feature of the new Xbox Live 2.0 is that every online gamer has a “Gamerscore”. This little feature can’t be hidden and will show up on your profile when you are online. Your Gamescore will rise depending on how many Achievements you open up in your games. This allows other players to tell how hardcore of a player you are just by glancing at your score, giving them a relative idea how your game-playing habits.

Another new feature of the new Xbox Live 2.0 on 360 is the Gamer Zone, which dictates how you are matched up with other players when you hop online. Every player has a Gamer Card that will show your mug (or avatar; that is, whatever picture you put online to represent yourself), your Gamerscore, and your reputation, which is a five star meter affected by how you play in your Gamer Zone. The Gamer Zone effects which kind of person you will be matched up with when you attempt to play a game online.

You will be able to select which Gamer Zone you want to join while playing Xbox Live, and there are four of them: Underground, Pro, Family and Casual.

Underground is for players who like to cheat and use cheap tactics in their games. They like to do whatever it takes to win even if it’s shunned at by other players. This zone is for people who don’t like to play by the rules, and there is also no censoring while in this zone, so smacktalking and rampant cursing should be expected going in.
The Pro Zone, obviously, is for professional players (or those who think they are pros). This is for those people who take their competitive gaming seriously. They are there to play and to win, with no messing around or wild antics. You are going to be expected to be a team player if you are in this zone, and to follow the rules. Expect expert opposition if you are in this zone.
The Family Zone is for those players who want to avoid the curse-filled, smack-talking side of people that populates the Internet. While not necessarily for younger players, this zone will likely be where younger kids gravitate towards (here’s hoping there is a “hardcore” set of the Family Zone for those players who simply want to avoid all the cursing and smacktalking that regularly pops up while playing online).
And finally there is the Casual Zone. This is for those people who simply want to hop online and play a few rounds of whatever game it is. They don’t want to get into the seriousness or deadly competitiveness of the game, they simply want to play and have fun.

You are expected to obey the “rules” of your zone, and if you don’t you will likely get negative feedback which will effect your reputation, making it harder to get matched up with opponents (who obviously won’t want to be matched up with a negative player who doesn’t obey the rules of their own zone). Everyone is allowed to send feedback on other players, and if you get lots of negative feedback, it will be that much harder to get back into a positive rep. So the number one rule is to play by the rules.

Market Place Blade: The Xbox Live Market Place is accessible through the Xbox Live blade. This online store is another very unique and really cool feature of the new Xbox Live 2.0. This is your one-stop shop for every addition to any Xbox Live game you own (as long as updates are available for it). Enter the Market Place through a specific title and you’ll see the updates available for that game. They can be anything from new weapons or cars, new outfits or levels, or entire patches or upgrades, in addition, your Xbox Live dashboard can be changed with wallpaper from your related game. The Market Place will also have various game trailers (and this may include movie trailers as well) and demos, etc. Once purchased these will be downloaded directly to your hard drive.

However, you don’t buy stuff on the Market Place with money, rather, you use points. Points however are bought with money, and then used to purchase items on the Market Place. The Market Place can even be browsed without having to purchase something.

Media Blade: This blade is where you will access all the “beyond gaming” features of the 360, that includes music, videos and photos as well as watching DVD movies. Most of this was already detailed above so I won’t go into more detail about it here.

In addition to all this there is also a “GamerGuide” blade/window, this is what pops up when you hit the glowing “Guide” button on your Xbox 360 controller while you are playing a game. It combines all the blades into a sort of summary. It lets you check your inbox of text or voice messages (as well as accept incoming chat requests), shows which friends or recent players are online (including the game that they are playing, down to the very level they are on. Although they, and you, can hide this info with privacy settings), offers customization options for your dashboard theme and Gamer Picture avatar and lets you browse your music library. This also shows your Gamer Card.

Amazingly, all that info above was really just explaining the basics of the new Xbox 360 and Xbox Live 2.0. There are a ton of things that the Xbox 360 can do. I hardly touched upon the fact that the hard drive will allow you to play old Xbox games, though the list right now is small. But Microsoft promises that eventually every original Xbox game you would want to play should be playable on the 360. (though a broadband connection is required to download the codec for the game you want to play)

I also didn’t mention the Xbox Live Arcade much. The Xbox Live Arcade is an area where you can download “Arcade” games. These games range from simple electronic versions of popular card, board and parlor games, to old video game classics like Pac-Man and Tetris, that will be licensed from third-party developers and available for purchase using your GamerPoints. Not only that, but the arcade will also feature new games, often times highlighting small up-and-coming developers. The list of awesome, but simple, games available on the Xbox Live Arcade is already pretty large, and will likely only prove to grow much larger in the coming months as more and more games are added. Microsoft is touting the Arcade as a draw for casual gamers, or even non-gamers, people who want a simple, casual gaming experience where the games have a small learning curve but are fun to play. So far Microsoft has succeeded in providing these types of games, and the best part is that many of these games are fully featured, which means that you can play multiplayer with them, and that the system keeps track of your score, and also many games feature leaderboards, where the best scores in the game are posted online for the world to see! However the best feature may be that many of these games, such as Gauntlet (from Midway) will even be playable online! Which means that even if you don’t have four players in your house to play, you can connect online and play with three other people, effectively mimicking the original arcade gameplay. Features like these will breath new life into older titles released on the Live Arcade and offer a girth of easily accessed and cheap games to purchase and play in between actual Xbox game releases.

And there are many more features and intricacies of the Xbox 360. The bottom line is that the 360 is an improvement over the original Xbox in every way possible. Everything you liked about the original is here, and it’s been updated and expanded beyond belief, especially in regard to Xbox Live and online gaming, and in the total customability of the entire system. Even the look of the system itself can be customized with additional faceplates that you can buy, as the front of the system has a removable faceplate. There really isn’t much more you can ask for in a gaming/multimedia system, and Microsoft promises even more updates and upgrades in the future. The Xbox community is already huge, and it’s likely to increase 10-fold once people get their hands on the system and realize what can be done with it, both online and off.

But what if you don’t play games online? If not, then that’s what the Core System is for. Is the 360 a must-have? You ask. That really depends on whether or not you are the kind of person who wants to be on the cutting edge. If you are an avid online gamer, love customization and the feel of a new system that has unmatched graphics and performance, and you loved the original Xbox and the games available for it, then there’s no reason not to take the plunge into the 360. Although that $400 price tag is quite hefty, and since systems are sparse during this holiday season, you may want to hold out for a while longer, depending on whether or not you are attracted to the launch line-up and upcoming titles.

Looking at the installed base of the original Xbox leads me to believe that eventually every one of those gamers is going to want to upgrade to the new 360, which means that Sony has a major contender on their hands. In the end however, competition only breaths better games for all of us. And that’s reason enough to celebrate the release of the 360.

Features: A multimedia powerhouse, the 360 plays DVD movies, and can be used to listen to music and view both photos and videos, an optional hard drive is available, the updated Xbox Live makes online gaming easier and better than ever before, wireless controllers come standard with the premium package

Pros: Expanded online features will change the way you play online, the detachable hard drive pretty much makes the days of memory cards a thing of the past (thank goodness and good riddance!), the next-gen is now for those that want to take the plunge, standard wireless controllers are also a very good thing, the 360 library is guaranteed to have nearly all the genre bases covered, and the addition of more Japanese developers and RPG’s is a definitely plus over the original Xbox library. Some games are not region protected.

Cons: Steep price, no matter how you slice it (though you get what you pay for, and it’s definitely bang for your buck), backwards compatibility so far is weak.

Launch Games Included: Amped 3, Call of Duty 2, Condemned: Criminal Origins, Every Party (Japan), FIFA ‘06: Road to World Cup, Gun, Kameo: Elements of Power, Madden NFL 2006, NBA 2K6, NBA Live ‘06, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, NHL 2K6, Perfect Dark Zero (Limited Edition also available), Peter Jackson’s King Kong, Project Gotham Racing 3, Quake 4, Ridge Racer 6, Tetris: Grandmaster Ace (Japan), Tiger Woods PGA Tour ‘06 & Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland.

It doesn’t end at those 18 US retail games. Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade games download service launched with 11 additional titles: Bankshot Billiards 2, Bejeweled 2 Deluxe, Gauntlet, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, Hexic HD, Joust, Mutant Storm Reloaded, Outpost Kaloki, Smash TV, Wik: The Fable of Souls & Zuma Deluxe.

Sony PSP

Playstation Portable (PSP)
Released: March 24th 2005 (USA), September 1st 2005 (EU)
Created By: Sony
Price Value Pack: $249.99 / £179.99 / €249.99 Giga Pack: $299.99 / £294.99 / €299.99 PSP Slim: $169.99 / €169

The Sony PSP is the third entry in the Playstation family, following Sony’s two home consoles that went on to dominate the console sector, the Playstation and its follow-up, the Playstation 2.

The PSP 2000 (AKA PSP Slim or Lite) will be released worldwide for $169.99 / €169 on September 10th, 2007. This new PSP will slowly replace the old PSP! Compared to the PSP 1000 (AKA the normal PSP) it features these enhancements: a 33% lighter weight, size is 19% slimmer, improved responsiveness D-pad, new speakers that have also been moved up, WiFi switch moved to the top, new UMD loading tray, the USB port now charges the PSP as well, of course the new video-out function for pictures, videos & games where the PSP becomes the controller (cable not included), twice the RAM (now 64MB) for shorter loading times, and new enamel colors Piano Black & Ice Silver for the handheld (Ceramic White bundle will be released later on at $199.99).

Sony had for years wanted to break into the handheld video game market, which has always been dominated by Nintendo, who has ruled the portable sector with an iron fist ever since their Game Boy debuted 1989. Many other companies have tried to get in on the portable action and take a piece of Nintendo’s 90%+ pie, though no one truly succeeded. The closest company to challenge the Nintendo throne was Sega, with their successful Game Gear handheld. Most recently (not including the PSP) was Nokia, with their N-Gage and N-Gage QD (there are also two other recent portable systems, the Zodiac [by TapWave] and the Gizmondo [by Tiger] although they aren’t exactly what you’d call a major challenge to Nintendo). But outside of the Game Gear, no company has even come close to dominating in the way Nintendo has. However, no other company has had the resources, or more importantly, the gaming success (Sega did but not to the degree of Sony) that the Playstation brand brings with it, so if anyone could truly give Nintendo a run for their money, it would be Sony. And Sony sure put out all the stops when it came to developing their PSP.


The PSP is by far the slickest handheld gaming system you’ve ever seen. Using a horizontal design, with four face buttons (the patented Playstation symbols square, circle, X and triangle) and two shoulder buttons (R and L), the PSP has a huge, high definition, screen, displayed in the 16:9 ratio (the same as widescreen DVD movies). It also includes a little analog nub (to replace a full fledged control stick) in addition to its D-Pad. The design of the system casing itself is about as purdy as a handheld comes. The system has a sleek shine (some would say too sleek, fingerprints are left when you touch the system) that gives it a really high-tech-gadget look, one that screams “You gotta have me!” from the shelf.

And that’s only the tip of what the PSP offers. For one thing, the system uses custom Sony discs called UMDs (Universal Media Discs); this unique medium is designed to not only house games, but also movies and eventually music as well. The UMD holds a TON of information (1.18GB, about the size of Nintendo’s GameCube discs), especially when compared to Nintendo’s DS medium (which is only 1/14th the size!). And the graphics on the PSP are better than Playstation One quality, and almost comparable to PS2 games. In other words, it has unbelievable graphics for a handheld.

In addition to games, movies are also available for the UMD, and Sony is trying to sign artists to release albums on UMD as well.

A browser for Internet surfing was recently released for the PSP in the way of a firmware update (click here to download) and the system also plays mp3s along with Sony’s own ATRAC3, for audio, as well as MPEG-4 for video, and JPEG images. Sony promises that updates for the PSP will keep coming, adding more and more file support to the system.

All of this music, video, pictures as well as games, are saved onto a Memorystick Duo, and files can be transferred from the PC to the Duo for playback on the PSP.

All of this makes the PSP a multimedia juggernaut, something that the Nintendo DS simply can’t compete with (although an accessory for the DS called the Play-Yan, will allow the DS to play mp3s along with video, similar to the PSP, and the DS could theoretically do Internet browsing as well) since it was designed from the ground up to simply be a game machine, while the PSP was built from the ground up to be more than a game machine, since it also plays music and movies, in addition to Internet browsing.

The PSP, like the DS, supports wi-fi Internet play. Several games are already out that support the future, although strangely Sony doesn’t seem to be pushing Internet play in a large way like Nintendo is doing with their Nintendo Online Connection network. You can also play wireless multiplayer with people in close proximity to you with the PSP, which is a feature the DS also supports.

Of course, all this talk of multimedia can make you forget that, at it’s core, the PSP is a game machine, and most everyone is making PSP games, although the system has yet to have any huge sellers like the DS. Most games on the PSP have graphics that are far and away better than what the DS can pull off, with graphic and sound capabilities mimicking very closely what you would see and hear on a home console.

The PSP is a very expensive system, there is no hiding that fact.

All in all, the PSP is certainly created for the tech-savvy gamer, and the one who is willing to slam down some serious cash for a serious device. However, since the system does support just about anything under the sun that you can think of, that makes it ideal for just about anyone, as there is bound to be something you will like. While the game selection is surprisingly small with not many great games, that will most certainly change as more and more gets released for the system, and as the installed base grows.

But I’m sure Sony isn’t worried, with the reputation of the PSOne and PS2 behind its belt, Sony is surely in this for the long haul, and hey, it’s always better to have two choices instead of one for those of us who want to take the portable dive.

Features: Huge widescreen display, top quality graphics and sound capabilities, wi-fi support, UMD movies available, music support, web-browsing support through wi-fi as well as multiplayer support through wireless

Pros: Ultra slick looking system, huge screen, high quality graphics and sound capabilities, support from just about every third party company, multimedia juggernaut

Cons: Really expensive price, game line-up is lacking in top titles, slick look of system prone to fingerprint uglyness, system isn’t as pocket friendly as the DS and prone to scratches

Launch Games Included: Ape Escape: On the Loose, Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower, Dynasty Warriors, Gretzky NHL, Lumines, Metal Gear Acid, NBA, Need for Speed Underground: Rivals, NFL Street 2 Unleashed, Ridge Racer, Spider-Man 2, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix, Twisted Metal: Head-On, Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, WipEout Pure, World Tour Soccer

Great Exclusive PSP Games Include: WipEout Pure, Twisted Metal: Head-On, Lumines, Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Daxter

Nintendo DS

Nintendo DS
Released: Original Model: Nov. 21, 2004 Lite: June 11, 2006
Created By: Nintendo
Price: $129.99 / £99.99 / €129,99

On Nov. 21, 2004, Nintendo released their newest handheld video game console, the Nintendo DS (DS stands for “Dual Screen”, as well as “Developer’s System”, a nod to the unique opportunities the system affords for game developers, and the ease at which games can be developed). The DS released to major critical praise and sales around the globe. Nintendo actually had to bump up manufacturing of the handheld when demand exceeded the number of DS’ Nintendo initially expected to ship. The DS would go on to outsell the rival Sony PSP console 2:1, so far, and to break sales records by topping 40 million units sold by May 2007.

A redesigned DS called the Nintendo DS Lite launched in 2006 in Japan in March, the USA on June 11 (in white only) and Europe on June 23. Nintendo DS Lite (in black & white) is less than two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS and more than 20% lighter. The new design is thinner, weighs less (from 275 grams to 218), has 4 levels of brightness control (much brighter screens, twice that of the PSP), as well as different button placement. The microphone & power button have moved, and the GBA slot remains, but now has a cap to close it off.

The DS is the most unique mainstream video game system ever developed by a major manufacturer like Nintendo. And it is unlike anything ever released that was created exclusively to play video games. The DS has two screens, the bottom of which is a touch-screen where you can interface with it using your finger, a stylus (pen-type device) or anything else (like a strap-on numb that mimics a PC mouth in ways), and a clam-shell design (which means it closes, like the GBA SP or a laptop). It also features a built-in microphone, free Wi-Fi internet support, and wireless multiplayer for up to 16 players.

The DS has four face buttons, A, B, X and Y, and two shoulder buttons, R and L, as well as Start and Select. The control scheme mimics that of Nintendo’s classic Super NES. The DS has two cartridge slots, one for DS games and another that can play GBA games, and can also be used for accessories like the Rumble Pak, that came bundled with Metroid Prime Pinball. The system hardware can be compared to that of the Nintendo 64 graphics-wise, although the DS can pump out even better visuals, in addition to being able to display in-game graphics on both screens, as is demonstrated in the game Sonic Rush, which uses both screens to create a huge playing field.

Nintendo has stated that the DS is a “third pillar” for them, meaning that it is separate from their popular Game Boy line of portables, which you can read about here, and thus it isn’t associated with the Game Boy name (despite being backwards compatible with GBA games, although GBA games don’t support multiplayer if you use a DS, so a regular GBA will still be desirable). Some have stated that one reason Nintendo distanced the DS name from that of the Game Boy line was in case the system ended up being a failure, however, since that didn’t happen, some say that the DS will eventually phase out the GBA, even though Nintendo insists that that won’t happen. It is rumored that the true follow-up to the GBA is actually in the works, and that it will use discs ala Sony’s PSP.

The DS uses a flash-card medium, similar to memory cards that are used in consoles and other devices like laptops, digital cameras or PDAs. The cards don’t hold nearly the amount of information that a disc does, although so far that doesn’t seem to have effected the kinds of games that can be made, if the upcoming port of the original Resident Evil is any indication, since that game includes all the full-motion video, cut-scenes and voice as the original Playstation version, with no loss in detail or clarity. And it includes more new features, proving that space shouldn’t such a limitation to determined developers.

The DS comes bundled with a demo of Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt, as well as the communication feature “Pictochat”, which allows users to type text using the touch screen, or draw pictures and send them over to anyone within wireless reach. Similar to an Instant Messenger program.

So why would anyone want a DS over a PSP or GBA? The DS allows developers to make unique games that literally can’t be mimicked on any other console or portable system at this time.

The touch screen can be used in a variety of ways to offer new experiences, here are some examples. The game Trauma Center: Under the Knife has the player in the role of a surgeon, you use the touch-screen to work on patients, to do everything from cutting open the skin to removing tumors. Metroid Prime Hunters uses the touch-screen to effectively mimic the control of a PC mouse (which could also be used in upcoming RTS titles). The action is displayed on the bottom screen, from which you can look in any direction by moving the stylus, and shoot by tapping on enemies, as well as switch weapons by tapping the corresponding icon. In Wario Ware, the player uses the DS in several micro games to cut things, move things around the screen, scratch a person’s back, and other fun, random things requiring touch. In Meteos, a puzzle game in which pieces have to be matched and then launched up into “space” (the top screen), the player has to literally “fling” the pieces to launch them, by placing the stylus on the object and forceful “throwing” it up. You have to use more force depending on the weight of the piece. In the upcoming Animal Crossing: Wild World, the touch screen is used simply to write and send messages, or draw pictures and create art, and in Kirby: Canvas Curse, the user controls Kirby (who is rolled up into a ball) by drawing lines under him to get him to roll where he needs to go.

The touch screen can literally offer endless control schemes, everything from mimicking the precise control of a mouse or an analog stick, or even more complex systems by say, having the controls of a tank or jet be displayed on the bottom screen, having you pulling levers, turning dials, pushing buttons, etc. in true simulation style, or simply using the touch screen to cut something, like wood, or using the touch screen to move objects, write or type. This is a first for a game system however, and developers are just now getting the hang of having players control with touch, and it’s only the tip of the iceberg in relation to what can be done with this unique tool.

Even the DS’ built-in microphone is being used in unique ways. Some games have you blowing on the microphone to blow out candles or cool off food, others like Nintendo’s puppy-dog simulation Nintendogs, uses voice recognition to speak to your dog, after which it will obey your commands. The mic can theoretically be used to talk to people over the Internet, although implementation of this has yet to be seen in a game.

The two screens also offer unique capabilities. Some games use one of the screens to simply display a menu or a map, or other information, others have the bottom screen offering new controls, while others combine both screens into one huge display, or have you interacting with the top screen (by say having you attack airborne enemies where the top screen is the sky, as in Advance Wars: Duel Strike) or the bottom screen (for example, you could be playing on the top screen and fall into a hole, at which point you’d continue on the bottom screen).

And lastly, Nintendo’s online service, called Nintendo Online Connection, has been launched with the release of the first Nintendo game to use the service, Mario Kart DS. Wi-fi is freely available in “hotspots” throughout the country from which you can connect online to play other players (such as in book stores, cafes, McDonalds restaurants or other places, check Nintendo’s site here for a list of the places closest to you that support Wi-fi). You can also buy an Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector adapter that allows you to connect online at home, through your PC, though a broadband internet connection, is required, for more information go to nintendowifi.com. Although unofficial, there is a way to share a Mac wireless connection with the DS. Using OSX, your Mac Airport can function as an access point for your DS.

The DS is the first Nintendo system to officially go online in a mainstream capacity. Using wi-fi you can play people from all over the world, and Nintendo’s service is free, which is really nice (though third-parties have the ability to charge if they wish). Although the list of online games that have internet support is small right now, the list will hopefully grow substantially as new games that support the feature are released.

Any gamer looking for unique gaming experiences that are outside of traditional gameplay (although games that play in a traditional way are also in abundance) need look no further than the DS. The combination of two screens, a built-in microphone, touch-screen capability and free online play adds together to equal one heck of a unique package. And games will only get better as time goes on and developers experiment and refine the capabilities that the DS supports in their games.

Features: Top and bottom screens, the latter which doubles as a touch screen, built-in microphone, free online play through wi-fi

Pros: two screens, one touch screen (the bottom), both screens are backlit, backwards compatible with GBA games, built in microphone, free online play, unique gameplay that can only be found on the DS, relatively cheap price, strong third-party support, popular Nintendo franchises getting the DS treatment, strong sales mean the system is here to stay

Cons: Graphical capabilities aren’t any where near as powerful as that of the Sony PSP, likewise, the flash cards can’t hold as much information as a disc, some people might be scared off by the unique controls, which take some getting used to

Launch Games Included: Asphalt Urban GT, Feel the Magic: XY/XX, Madden NFL 2005, Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits, Ping Pals, Ridge Racer DS, Spider-Man 2, Sprung, Super Mario 64 DS, The Urbz: Sims in the City, Tiger Woods PGA Tour (Pictochat built-in, Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt demo bundled in initial systems)

Great DS Exclusives Include: (Newest Titles Listed First) Released in ’06: Point Blank DS, Big Brain Academy, New Super Mario Bros., Lost Magic, Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes A Day!, Tetris DS, Metroid Prime Hunters, Super Princess Peach, Super Monkey Ball: Touch & Roll, Age of Empires: The Age of Kings, Resident Evil: Deadly Silence, Electroplankton
Released in ’05: Animal Crossing: Wild World, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble, Tony Hawk’s American Sk8land, Sonic Rush, Mario Kart DS, Metroid Prime Pinball, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Castelvania: Dawn of Sorrow, Trauma Center: Under the Knife, Lost In Blue, Trace Memory, Nintendogs, Advance Wars: Duel Strike, Meteos, Bomberman, Kirby: Canvas Curse, Pac-Pix, Polarium, Yoshi’s Touch & Go, Wario Ware: Touched!
Released in ’04: Super Mario 64: DS, Feel the Magic: XY/XX.

Nintendo GameCube

Nintendo GameCube
Released: September 14th 2001 (JPN), November 18th 2001 (USA), May 3rd 2002 (EU), May 17th 2002 (AU)
Created By: Nintendo
Price: $99.99 / / £79.99 / €99,99
Potential buyers note: The Wii includes all needed GameCube hardware, controller and memory card ports.

As the holidays close in on us the video game industry is about to make another big transition as the newest batch of video game consoles close in. Microsoft’s Xbox follow-up, the Xbox 360, dropped on Nov. 22nd in North America, and will be released in all major territories by the end of January. Nintendo’s Wii will likely follow up in mid-2006, and the PS3 will likely fall either late 2006 or early 2007, though these are just estimates and subject to change.

With all this talk of new systems, a video gamer newcomer might be wondering where exactly to start. That’s what this guide is for, and we’ll fill you in on Nintendo’s fourth home console, the GameCube (abbr. “GCN” or just “GC”).


First off, a little bit of history. The GameCube was released in 2001 at about the same time as Microsoft’s Xbox, and was the follow-up to Nintendo’s previous, cartridge-based console, the Nintendo 64. GameCube was a big evolution for Nintendo, as their previous console took a lot of flack for sticking with the expensive cartridge format for its games, while Sony and Sega stuck with the cheaper-to-make CD-ROMs, which had many advantages over cartridges, mainly being the fact that they could hold a ton more data in comparison. While more data doesn’t necessarily add up to better gameplay, it did allow Playstation games to offer slick, impressive, high-quality computer generated graphics during movie-scenes, as well as a lot more speech at a higher quality than what could be held on a cartridge. CD ROMs are also cheaper to produce than cartridges. This, among other things, caused a lot of developers to side with Sony during the Playstation/Nintendo 64-era. Wherein Nintendo lost a large group of developers (not to mention customers wooed by the Playstation’s impressive CG graphics, high quality voice-work and huge game library) who gave the N64 little support and thus some of the biggest franchises were birthed on Sony’s Playstation.

Luckily for Nintendo, they know how to make great games. And thus some of the best games ever were released on the Nintendo 64, almost all of which were published and developed by Nintendo themselves and Nintendo was able to keep the N64 afloat even if it’s market share was tiny compared to that of the Playstation. That in itself is a testament to the strength of the Nintendo-brand and fan-loyalty to the company and its numerous franchises, which are almost always outstanding in any right.

Add all this together, and Nintendo had a somewhat big act to follow with the GameCube. They not only needed to fix the many mistakes made during the Nintendo 64 era, but they also had to show people that they could still compete and that third-party companies would support their system with lots of games (the Playstation had a huge library of games compared to the relatively small library of the N64).

So, for the first time, Nintendo chose to use a disc-based medium for its system. Of course, Nintendo is never one to do things conventionally, so they went with propriety disc by Panasonic, custom-made for the GameCube. To fight off piracy (among other reasons), they chose to make the disc mini-size, and also to have the system read the disc in the opposite direction of standard disc-players. When it comes down to it, the GameCube disc is basically a small DVD, holding more space than a CD but not as much as a standard DVD would.

So what does all that mean? It basically means that it’s almost like Nintendo took one step forward (disc-based medium) but also one-step backward (still at a “disadvantage” when compared to their competitors due to limited space on the disc). Nintendo however claimed that the smaller size wouldn’t be a problem due to advanced compression methods and the fact that simply having more space available doesn’t mean developers will use it. Since it can be difficult to fill all that space when it’s not technically needed all the time, and the more space you fill the more it’s going to cost the developer to make the game. And that assertion proved to pretty much be the case, as developers found ways to fit nearly everything from a game on Xbox and PS2 onto the tiny GCN discs, without having to compromise in most cases. And if it didn’t fit on one disc, all they had to do was include another. Just as developers would do in the Playstation days when they needed more space.

The GameCube ended up being a little more powerful than the PS2 hardware-wise, but less powerful than the Xbox. Even so, the cube-shaped console has been able to hold it’s own against Sony and Microsoft, and has a dedicated fan base with a great library of games, even if Nintendo is trailing behind Microsoft & Sony in 3rd place sales-wise.

Probably the biggest knock to the GameCube is the fact that online-enabled games have been virtually non-existent on the system with the exception of two Sega games (Both are Phantasy Star Online titles). This is a big deal since it puts the GCN version of games at a disadvantage when compared to other versions. Why buy the GameCube version if you can get the same game on a different console with online features included (not to mention better graphics, a higher framerate, and everything else that comes with the powerful Xbox hardware)? Even if you don’t play online, it’s still better to have the option in case you ever do.

Nintendo does know this, and has tried to incorporate exclusive offline features into their version of the games to offset the lack of online play (examples include being able to unlock a Nintendo-themed court and play with a team that includes Mario, Peach and Luigi as players in NBA Street Vol. 3 or being able to unlock Little Mac as a playable character in Fight Night Round 2 along with the entire Super Punch-Out) but the lack of even basic online features has really put Nintendo in a bad light when compared to their competitors, in the mind of many people.

This is finally being remedied however with Nintendo’s upcoming Wii console (in which Nintendo’s own titles will feature FREE online play) and their newest portable system, the Nintendo DS, which finally went online with Mario Kart DS, the first online game for the system. More online games from Nintendo and 3rd parties are in the works.

The Wii will also be backwards compatible with GameCube games, which means all your GameCube titles will be playable on the Wii, which is a big plus.


So, should you buy a GameCube now if you don’t have one (or another console), or wait for the Wii? Is the GameCube the right system for you?

It really depends on how hardcore of a gamer you are, and whether or not you are on a tight budget. At $100 the GameCube is the most affordable system (and there are even packages for you to get a game along with the system for $100 which basically means you are getting the game for free) and there are a ton of games that you can get for really good prices, in the $20-$30 range. The GameCube also has enough exclusive, great games to warrant a purchase for those that would like to jump onto the GameCube bandwagon now and have no regrets.

However, DON’T buy a GameCube if you are buying it for sports, fighting or racing games (Unless you’re a big Mario Kart fan), as there are very few of these types of games and you can usually find a better version of what is on GameCube on PS2 or Xbox.

Hold out on buying a GameCube and save up for a Wii if you can wait for a few months (probably late 2006) before having to get your Nintendo game-on, or if $99 is too much for you to spend at the moment. But keep in mind that the Wii will likely cost between $200-$300, but will also most likely be the cheapest (in price) next-gen system, which is a major plus.

In the end, the GameCube is a great system altogether and has something for everyone. Nintendo is the king when it comes to family-friendly titles, and titles that are easy to pick-up and play without a difficult learning curve, but are deep enough to satisfy the hardcore. And while it may first seem that the GameCube is geared only towards a younger crowd, that isn’t necessarily true, since most of Nintendo’s titles can be enjoyed by anyone, including hardcore gamers, and there are Mature rated games for the system, such as Capcom’s Resident Evil series (three of which were made from the ground-up for Nintendo’s GameCube) and Silicon Knights’ Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, there just aren’t as many as on other consoles.

Nintendo’s greatest asset though will always be its stable of popular, well-known and well-liked characters, and the franchises that these characters hail from. Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Kirby, Donkey Kong and Pokemon are franchises that have been going strong for years, some since Nintendo’s 8-bit glory days, and show know signs of slowing. Gamers the world over, some of the hardest of hardcore, froth at the mouth whenever new installments in Nintendo’s classic franchises are announced, and with good reason. Nintendo games simply can’t be contested, they are some of the best of the best, and as any gamer will tell you, Nintendo games themselves should be reason enough to own a Nintendo system, and the GameCube, with games like Zelda: The Wind Waker, Metroid Prime and Super Mario Sunshine, is no different.

Features: Four controller ports, compact design, does NOT play CDs or DVDs, some games interface with the Game Boy Advance system or GBA games by linking up to them through the GameCube Game Boy Advance cable (sold separately), only place to find Nintendo titles.

Pros: Great four-player party games available, many games are family friendly, lots of games are easy to pick-up and play without much complication, cheapest price, tons of top-quality Nintendo-developed games, first-party wireless controller, the Wavebird, available (sold separately), Game Boy Advance games can be played on the system through the Game Boy Player (sold separately)

Cons: Small library compared to competing consoles, has a lack of fighting, sports, simulation racing, and, to some extent, RPG and first-person shooting style games compared to competing systems, online-play is basically none-existent (note: say something about the visual display and sound compared to competing systems), has few adult, Mature-rated games compared to competitors, like horror titles or the GTA or GTA-inspired series of games.

Launch Line-up Included: All-Star Baseball 2002, Batman Vengeance, Crazy Taxi, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2, Disney’s Tarzan Untamed, Luigi’s Mansion, Madden NFL 2002, NHL Hitz 2002, Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2, Super Monkey Ball, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and Wave Race: Blue Storm

Great GameCube Exclusives Include: Metroid Prime 1 & 2, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Pikmin 1 & 2, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Baten Kaitos, Super Mario Sunshine, Resident Evil, Resident Evil Zero, Animal Crossing, Wario World, Luigi’s Mansion, Wario Ware: Mega Party Games, Tales of Symphonia, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, Lost Kingdoms 1 & 2, Donkey Konga, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, the Mario sports titles (Mario Power Tennis, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Mario Superstar Baseball and Super Mario Strikers), Star Fox Adventures, Star Fox Armada, Viewtiful Joe, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Geist, the Mario Party series, Pokemon Colossuem, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness.

Xbox

Microsoft Xbox
Released: November 15th 2001 (USA), February 22nd 2002 (JPN), March 14th 2002 (EU & AU)
Created By: Microsoft
Price: $149.99 / £79.99 / €169,99

It may seem hard to believe now, but when word first got out that Microsoft was going to make a new console system to challenge the likes of video game heavyweights Sony and Nintendo, nearly everyone sided with the fact that the company was too inexperienced in this area and that a system from them wouldn’t last in the highly competitive market place, and would go the way other American systems like the 3D0 or the Atari Jaguar. Matter of fact, a lot of people didn’t believe that three systems could survive simultaneously in the first place. It’s all about the games though, so here’s a peek:


“An American game system?”, people exclaimed. “I’ll stick with my Sony and Nintendo, thank you.”

The interesting thing is, Sony was looked at the same way before they introduced their Playstation to challenge then video game mainstays Sega and Nintendo. As everyone knows, the Playstation would go on to become the most successful game console in history. So how has Microsoft fared?

Microsoft, as most people know, is one of the richest, most powerful companies in the world. Thanks to their almost complete domination of the PC market due to their Windows Operating System and multiple other products for the PC. The pockets of Microsoft run very, very deep; obviously, this put Microsoft (MS) in a very good position to be one of the few companies in the world that could stand to break into the industry against such juggernauts as Sony (the largest electronics company in the world) and Nintendo (the largest video game developer and publisher in the world) and succeed. Due to their vault of billions of dollars, MS didn’t have to worry as much about the costs of developing, marketing and producing a video game console and game titles.

The Xbox (sometimes abbreviated “XB”) was in development for years, and thanks to MS deep pockets, they were able to attract most 3rd party developers to make at least one game for their system, even if it was just an updated port of an existing game from another console. Microsoft did have some previous game experience in the PC sector (and with once-console creator Sega), but it wasn’t nearly enough experience that was generally thought to be needed in the console sector, which differs widely from the world of computer games. Thus they went out and made some prize accusations, such as buying the creators of Halo, Bungie, for $5 million dollars, and later on they would buy one of Nintendo’s greatest 2nd-party developers, Rareware, for over $100 million (all that cash of which Nintendo pocketed outright, covering the losses they were set to endure that year due to slumping sales and the development costs of the GameCube).

MS also did extensive research into what gamers said they wanted for a new game system (which they incorporated into the design of the controller and the system itself), and they included broadband internet support out of the box (and would later launch their highly praised Xbox Live service, still considered to be the best online infrastructure for a game console), the ability top play DVD movies (although you had to buy a separate remote due to licensing issues with the DVD format, the remote was later bundled with the system) as well as a hard drive built directly into the system (a first for a console). The hard drive was really the first thing about the system that truly made it stand-out from its competitors, breaking the rule of having to have memory cards to save your games. With the Xbox no memory cards were needed (although they could be bought separately for those times when you wanted to take a saved game to a friend’s house), you simply saved games directly onto the Xbox’s hard drive, and the hard drive was so huge that you never had to worry about space, which was a huge breath of fresh air, due to the expensive prices of memory cards for the PS2 and GameCube and having to manage the cards. Nothing was worse than starting a game and making good progress only to realize that there isn’t enough space on the memory card to save, which by then it was already too late.

It was features like these that really caught the eye of the mainstream audience, and that’s not even mentioning the Xbox’s superior graphic and sound capabilities when compared to its competitors.

When the Xbox launched in 2001 it was a major success. Despite not having the greatest launch library, the system still did extremely well (even though people complained the controller was too big. It was later replaced with a smaller one) and continued to sell, and Microsoft’s fan-base grew and grew, eventually catching the eye of nearly every game developer the world over, who continued to pump out high quality games for the system.

Interestingly enough, the biggest selling point in Microsoft’s game library was the Bungie first-person shooter Halo (a launch game for the system), which would go on to become one of the best-selling games of all time, certainly the top-selling game in the entire Xbox library. The popularity of Halo simply shot through the roof; matter of fact, some people have gone so far as to suggest that the Xbox system as a whole may have failed if it wasn’t for Halo. People literally bought the system for Halo, and the release of the sequel was a landmark event in gaming, debuting with the crazy success that is usually only reserved for feature films. In fact, the rights to a Halo movie were recently announced and the film will be executive produced by The Lord of the Rings mastermind Peter Jackson. Halo has literally become Microsoft’s savior, and it’s funny to think that the company that made it, Bungie, was a relatively unknown developer before the insane success of Halo, which originally started out as a real-time strategy game on the PC before the company was scooped up by Microsoft.

The Xbox would go on to become the 2nd best-selling console in nearly all the regions of the world except for Japan, where the American console has yet to even make a crack in the market-place, which is dominated by Sony and Nintendo (both Japanese developers). However neither Microsoft nor Nintendo can even come close to catching up to Sony sales-wise, whose Playstation 2 console has sold over 100 million units worldwide. Compared to the GameCube’s 20 million and the Xbox’s slightly higher 22 million units sold worldwide.

On Nov. 22nd 2005, Microsoft launched its successor to the Xbox, the Xbox 360, in North America, and will have launched the system in Europe on Dec. 2nd and Japan on Dec. 10th (the first ever near-simultaneous global console launch). The launch was a huge success for Microsoft, despite shortages of the system, although that only served to increase demand for the hard-to-get console for the upcoming Christmas season. For more information on the 360, see our Xbox 360 console overview.

So for the person who’s looking for a system to buy, should they look into the Xbox? At this point in time, the original Xbox is still very much a viable option; it will take a while to be phased out by the superior Xbox 360. There are still plenty of upcoming games for the system and the Xbox library itself if massive, with tons of great games. If however you are big into Japanese RPGs, then you would be better of springing for a PS2, since if there’s one genre the Xbox lacks, it’s Japanese RPGs (American RPGs however are in abundance, unlike on Sony’s system). But anyway you slice it, the Xbox has the games to satisfy, and if you are looking for online gaming, then the Xbox, with it’s superior Xbox Live service, is definitely the way to go (unless you’d like to go for the more advanced Xbox 360 and Live 2.0).

Features: built-in hard drive, online-ready out of the box [requires a broadband internet service], the hard drive means you don’t need to spend extra cash on memory cards, the hard drive allows you to save music from your CD’s onto the system for future listening and also allows you to put your music into certain games that support the “Custom Soundtrack” feature, four-controller ports, can play DVD movies if you have the DVD remote.

Pros: A huge library of games, the best graphics and sound capabilities compared to the PS2 and GCN, a huge library of great games at a budget price (Microsoft’s Platinum Hits line-up), the included hard drive means you don’t need to spend extra money on memory cards, the original Xbox Live online service is still better than what the PS2 offers.

Cons: Will become more and more obsolete due to the Xbox 360, the console is still expensive when compared to the GameCube

Launch Games Included: Halo, Cel Damage, Project Gotham Racing, Dead or Alive 3, Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee, Max Payne, MX 2002 featuring Ricky Carmichael, Amped, Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2, Airforce Delta Storm, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Batman: Vengeance, Dark Summit, Azurik: Rise of Perathia, Kabuki Warriors, Shrek, NBA Live 2002, NHL 2002, Fuzion Frenzy, NFL Fever 2002, Star Wars: Obi-Wan, WWF Raw Is War, NASCAR Thunder 2002, NHL Hitz 20-02, Mad Dash Racing, Starfighter: Special Edition, New Legends, UFC Tapout, Nightcaster, Test Drive Off-Road: Wide Open, Transworld Surf, SSX Tricky, NFL 2K2, NFL Blitz 20-02, The Simpsons: Road Rage, Arctic Thunder

Great Exclusive Xbox Games Include: Halo 1* & 2, the Dead or Alive series (3, Ultimate, Extreme Beach Volleyball), the Oddworld Series (Much’s Oddysee and Stranger), Crimson Skies, Blood Wake, Fable* and Fable: The Lost Chapters*, the Project Gotham Racing series, the Amped series, Jade Empire, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 1* & 2, Ninja Gaiden & Ninja Gaiden: Black, the Otogi series, Forza Motorsport.

* = PC version also available

PlayStation 2

Playstation 2
Released: March 4th 2000 (JPN), October 26th 2000 (USA), November 24th 2000 (EU), November 30th 2000 (AU)
Created By: Sony
Price: $149.99 / £104.99 / €149,99

Sony’s Playstation 2 (abbr. “PS2”) is the follow-up to their hugely successful Playstation game console.

The original Playstation (abbr. “PSX” or simply “PS”) was released in Sep. 1995 in America and it quickly became the best-selling console system of all time (eventually selling over 100 million units). A large reason for the popularity of the system, especially among the mainstream and casual gamers, was thanks to incredible marketing, aimed towards giving the Playstation a cool, hip image. An image that stuck with the Playstation brand throughout the console’s lifetime, giving it an edge over Nintendo, whose brand was regarded as “kiddy” in comparison.


Of course, what really sold systems were lots of outstanding games, many of which featured high-quality CG sequences, FMV (full-motion video) and voice, which hadn’t been as prevalent in previous consoles, especially Nintendo’s, due to the limiting cartridge format. The Playstation also hit with a unique line-up of stand-out games that you couldn’t find anywhere else, and that list only grew with the system’s age. Many popular franchises were birthed on the Playstation, including: Twisted Metal, Wipeout, Resident Evil, Tomb Raider and Metal Gear Solid. Thus the Playstation brand quickly become one of the most popular brands amongst America’s youth and Sony easily ended up dominating their competitors Nintendo and Sega. The original Playstation hit heavy, hard and edgy and people ate it up.

By the time the PS2 was announced, Sony already had the majority of the video gaming market in their grasp, and interest in the system was through the roof, even early on; simply by brand recognition alone. It didn’t hurt that, at the time of its release, the PS2 was the most powerful system anyone had ever seen.

The Playstation 2 debuted on Oct. 26, 2000 in the US and it quickly sold, as people lined the streets to buy the system. However, despite the huge number of system sales upon release, the PS2 had an initially sluggish year due to few great games, resulting in low sales once gamers found out that there actually weren’t that many must-have titles being release. Many people bought the system in part for its ability to play DVDs, and so game sales suffered.

It wouldn’t matter in the end, however, as eventually the PS2 did get great games, and once they started coming the games would never let up. To this day, five years after the systems debut and months after the announcement of the Playstation 3, PS2 sales are still going strong.

So if you are a newcomer to video games, should you still buy a PS2? The simple answer is yes, because the PS2 really is the system to own for casual gamers, and any gamer in general. There are literally thousands of games available for the system, and any genre you could possibly conceive is covered. Not to mention that the PS2 has the greatest amount of Japanese RPGs and Tactical/Strategy RPGs, way more than the Xbox or GameCube, so particularly if you are an RPG fan, then the PS2 is where the action is (that’s not to say that other systems don’t have RPGs. But the PS2 simply has the most). But whether its sports games, online games, racing games, fighting games, first-person shooters, platformers, or whatever else, the PS2 has you covered.


The system itself is backwards compatible with original Playstation games, which means the thousands of PSOne games available are also playable on your PS2. This is a great feature for anyone that never owned an original Playstation, as there are tons of great PSOne games that can now be found for really cheap and that are definitely worth tracking down. The PS2 also plays DVD movies right out of the box, although it’s not the greatest DVD player around, but it works.

However, the PS2 only has two controller ports, so four-player party games aren’t as common on the system (not to mention that you have to buy an optional multi-tap for around 30 bucks if you want to play four-player), so if you plan on playing lots of multi-player games with more than two people crowded around the TV, then you may want to consider investing in either an Xbox or a GameCube.

Having said that, there really is no reason any gamer should not want to own a PS2, it quite simply has the most games, and many great ones at that. It’s to be seen however whether Sony will be able to keep the console-war lead going into the next-generation, with their upcoming Playstation 3 console. Microsoft is determined to do whatever it takes to win, and with the Xbox 360 (the first next-gen console) hitting over a year before the PS3, Sony may actually find itself fighting to fend Microsoft off, who is the one getting the head start this round (in relation to the last console war, in which Sony got a head-start with it’s PS2 releasing before the GameCube or Xbox). But no matter what happens, you can be sure that Sony isn’t going anywhere. And in the end, that only benefits the gamer.

Features: Plays DVD movies, backwards compatible with PSOne games, only two console ports (You need a multi-tap device to play four-player games), online enabled through both 56k and broadband but an optional adapter must be purchased first to connect online, and for some games an optional hard-drive is also required.

Pros: More games than any one person could ever play, still plenty of life in the system which means new games will continue to be released, a huge budget library of cheaply-priced but high quality games available in Sony’s “Greatest Hits” line-up

Cons: More games means more bad games that you don’t ever want to play, Sony’s online-gaming sector isn’t quite as good as Microsoft’s, especially with the Xbox 360 now released, the PS2 version of a third-party game usually isn’t as good as the Xbox version.

Launch Line-up Included: Madden NFL 2001, SSX, Ridge Racer V, Smuggler’s Run, TimeSplitters, Tekken Tag Tournament, Kessen, Armored Core 2, Dynasty Warriors 2, Dead or Alive Hardcore, Midnight Club, Summoner, Street Fighter EX3, Eternal Ring, Evergrace, Gradius III & IV, Fantavision, The Bouncer, Silpheed: The Lost Planet, Gun Griffon Blaze, Rayman 2, Unreal Tournament and more. (more includes: Jet Ion Grand Prix, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Round 2, ESPN Winter X Games Snowboarding, Swing Away Golf, ESPN International Track & Field, Silent Scope, Wild Wild Racing, X-Squad, Them Park Roller Coaster, Orphen, Stunt GP, RC Revenge Pro, NHL 2001, ESPN Primetime, ESPN NBA Tonight, F1 Championship, Star Wars Episode 1: Starfighter)

Great PS2 Exclusives Include: Final Fantasy X, the Jak series, the Ratchet & Clank series, the Sly Cooper series, God of War, ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, the Gran Turismo series, Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, Rez, Twisted Metal: Black, the Katamari Damacy series, the Tekken series, Soul Calibur 3, Clock Tower 3…

Game Boy Advance and older versions

Game Boy Advance
Released: Original Model: June 2001 SP: March 2003 Micro: Oct. 2, 2005
Created By: Nintendo
Price: Original Model: [now discontinued in favor of newer model, if found should be below the SP price] SP: $79.99 / £64.99 / €99,99 Micro: $99.99 / £69.99 / €99,99

Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance (abbr. “GBA”) is the follow-up to the most successful portable video game system ever created, the Game Boy (abbr. “GB”).


But before we get into the Game Boy Advance, first we’ll delve into some history on its precursors.

For years Nintendo’s Game Boy dominated the handheld video game market, even against some highly advanced game machines that utilized color displays, had more buttons, and/or offered better sound and graphics than Nintendo’s machine (which only had two action buttons, A and B). For some reason the Game Boy never failed to triumph, even though the system had a dull, black & white screen (actually, the original model was black & green, and the opposite of what you’d call “sharp”) and was less powerful than Nintendo’s first home console, the NES.

However, Nintendo dominated because the system had a long battery life and a huge library of games, many of which were new iterations in popular Nintendo franchises, such as Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Kirby and Donkey Kong. Not to mention Wario Land and later, in what would become one of the most popular franchises of all time, Pokemon, which would also go on to become the best-selling Game Boy game of all time.

The original Game Boy was released in August 1991 in the US in a standard gray color. The launch game was Tetris, and this portable puzzler was a large reason why the system became so popular early on. Tetris was an addictive game and it was packaged in with the system; thus the Game Boy flew off store shelves. Nintendo finally released a rainbow of different colored casings for the Game Boy in 1995, but the core hardware remained the same throughout the early 90’s. Which meant no updates in graphics or sound, and that was the case again when Nintendo finally redesigned the system into a slimmer and more modern case and released it as the Game Boy Pocket in 1996. It was said to be so slim it could fit into any pocket and it required fewer batteries, two triple A instead of four double A, than the earlier models.

Eventually developers called for Nintendo to update the antiqued Game Boy hardware, and they did just that with the release of the Game Boy Color in Nov. 1998. Although the graphic capabilities weren’t substantially more powerful, they were a big enough leap from the original to make a difference, not to mention the fact that games could now be played in full color. The GBC was the first system ever to be backwards compatible, meaning all previous GB games would play on it. The graphics allowed for 56 different colors simultaneously on-screen from it’s palette of 32, 768 colors, which was a huge update from the original Game Boys four shades of gray. It also had an increased processor that was twice as fast, and it had twice as much memory as the original GB, in addition to an infrared communications port, which would not appear on any other GB iterations. This allowed for more detailed graphics and larger games than what the original GB could offer.

All this eventually lead up to the Game Boy Advance’s debut in June 2001 in the US. The GBA featured a blazingly fast 32-bit processor, and had graphical capabilities on par, if not exceeding, that of Nintendo’s Super NES home console. The original GBA featured a horizontal design, making it easy to hold, and featured four action buttons, two on the face (A and B) and two shoulder buttons (R and L). The GBA’s debut was the best ever for a handheld game system, and the it continued to absolutely dominate the market, due to it’s long battery life, advanced graphics and it’s great launch line-up that included an updated version of Super Mario Bros. 2 and an all new 2D-side-scrolling Castlevania game, among others.

Subsequently, Nintendo released an updated version of the system, the Game Boy Advance SP (SP stands for “special”) in March of 2003. This re-design of the GBA has a clamshell design (that is, you hold the bottom part of the system, where the buttons are, and the screen is on the top, hinged to the bottom section, allowing it to close, becoming compact and easily carried) as well as a lighted screen (the original SP screen was front-lit, while the newest revision is backlit, which offers improved lighting, and was updated alongside the release of the GB Micro). The one drawback to this was the lack of a headphone joke, an optional accessory has to be bought that plugs into the top of the system if you want to use headphones. The SP also used a rechargeable battery, the same kind used in cell phones. Some people however prefer the horizontal design of the original GBA, saying it is easier on the hands to hold and play.


You’d think that no more revisions of the GBA design would be necessary, but Nintendo apparently didn’t think so. The Game Boy Micro is the most recent Game Boy Advance re-design and it was released in Oct. 2005 in the US. The Micro makes several changes from the SP, going back to a longer horizontal design, while being a whole lot smaller than any previous iteration. The screen is more like that of a cell phone, which can make it a little hard to read text, but the plus side is that the screen is much brighter than the original SP (although the new backlit SP model makes this point mute) and the resolution is much sharper, thanks to the smaller size of the screen.

Nintendo is touting the Micro as a portable game machine for the image conscious gamer. The system has a sleek design that includes removable faceplates with various designs and colors (additional faceplates are sold separately) for those that want to give their system some unique flair. Nintendo is expressly trying to target the 20-something gamer who wants a more modern, hip looking portable, and while they have succeeded to a large degree in Japan, the system so far hasn’t sold as well elsewhere. And one major knock against the new Micro model is its lack of backwards compatibility with original GB titles. Only GBA games can be played on the system. A lesser knock is the fact that it isn’t compatible with a lot of original GBA and SP accessories, like the link cable and the GameCube GBA Cable (a cable that allows games to be hooked up to the GameCube to interface with certain games that support the feature).

For reference-sake, check out information on Nintendo’s other portable, the Nintendo DS, in our left side-menu. Which is a separate line than Nintendo’s Game Boy portables.

The Game Boy Advance has become a haven for 2D gaming and old-school gamers. In this day and age of fancy 3D graphics and computer generated movie scenes, 2D gaming on consoles has become almost nonexistent, much to the dismay of many a side-scrolling platformer fan. Thankfully, the GBA has stepped in to keep 2D gaming alive, in both original games built specifically on the GBA’s strengths, as well as the many ports of classic games from the by-gone era that have found a new home on the handheld. And it’s not just side-scrolling platformers or isometric adventure games, but games of all types and genres, including classic isometric RPG’s, are plentiful on the GBA, which is the main reason that the system has been so successful. And while everyone loves to have improved ports of their favorite classic titles, which the GBA has in abundance, they also love original games, and the GBA has plenty of those as well, making the system ideal for mainstream audiences as well as hardcore gamers who were weaned on the glory days of the NES, Genesis and Super NES.

And thanks to the power of the GBA hardware, ports lose none of their shine, as the GBA is basically an improved Super NES. Which has resulted in many new takes on 2D gaming that might never have seen the light of day if it wasn’t for this wondrous handheld.

The GBA also allows for four-player play, unlike older Game Boys where each player had to have a copy of the game to take part in the action, and some titles even support four-player play where only one copy of the game is needed (which is very convenient). Making multiplayer gaming that much easier on the system.

So is the GBA still viable in today’s marketplace? Sales certainly indicate so, and the GBA looks to continue to be a solid system for at least another year or so, despite the release of the DS (which is backwards compatible with GBA games), which will most likely replace the GBA, SP and Micro eventually, although it is rumored that the true follow-up to the Game Boy Advance is in the works and that it will use a disc-based medium like that of Sony’s Playstation Portable (abbr. PSP).

So which system should you buy if you’re in need of a good portable system? If you only care about getting the latest games, then you should probably splurge on either an SP, Micro or a Sony PSP. Get a PSP if you want a lot of 3D games along with your 2D games, and if you want games that largely emulate what the big consoles can do. However if you enjoy mainly side-scrolling games or isometric adventure or RPGs, then the Game Boy Advance is a good way to go. Go for an SP over a Micro if you want a bigger screen and if you think you may like to dig into some of the older original-model Game Boy games. If all you care about is the latest that 2D gaming has to offer, and you don’t mind gaming on a smaller screen, then the Micro is the way to go. Exchangeable faceplates and the sleeker look being icing on the cake.

If what you are looking for are highly unique gaming experiences that can’t be done on any other system, then the DS is a good bet for you. The system has a higher price point, but also remember that it is backwards compatible with Game Boy Advance games, so all GBA titles can be played on the DS (except those that use a tilt sensor). The DS however is not compatible with original GB games.

All in all, no matter which Game Boy variation you chose, a lot of gaming fun is sure to be had, whether you are old-school or new-school, so you really can’t lose any way you slice it.

Features
Original Game Boy Advance’ horizontal design, two action buttons and two trigger buttons, no screen light, cheapest price for a portable system, backward compatible with original GB games, can hook up to the GameCube with a separate cable.
Game Boy Advance SP’ Clamshell design makes the system more compact and protects the screen from dust, etc., a frontlit (and now backlit model) means no more having to tilt the screen to catch the outside light and see what you’re playing, lacks a headphone jack (a headphone adapter can be purchased separately), battery is rechargeable, very affordable price, backwards compatible with original Game Boy games, can hook up to the GameCube with a separate cable.
Game Boy Micro’ Sleek design, smallest Game Boy to date, can fit in virtually any pocket, small size also means small screen, light is very bright and screen is twice as sharp as the regular model, horizontal hardware design, must buy two separate link cables to enable full multiplayer, GameCube GBA cable doesn’t work with the Micro, not backwards compatible with original Game Boy games, at $99 the system is more affordable than a DS or PSP.
All GBA’s: Support four-player play, some titles feature four-player with only one cartridge needed

Pros: huge library of games, many ports or updates of old-school classics from the NES, SNES, Genesis and Master System are available, likewise, lots of new, original games on the system that take advantage of the powerful 2D hardware, new games are cheaper than on console systems

Cons: Very few 3D games available, the GBA library is flooded with lots of crappy games, lots of kid’s titles, and lots of cheap movie or TV show-cash-ins

Launch Games Included: Super Mario Advance, Chu Chu Rocket, Earthworm Jim, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Super Dodge Ball, Rayman Advance, Army Man Advance, Bomberman Tournament, Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure, Pinobee: Wings of Adventure, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, Iridion 3D, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, Konami: Krazy Racers, Top Gear GT Championship, GT Advance Championship, Ready 2 Rumble: Round 2, Firepro Wrestling, Tweety & the Magic Jewels, Namco Museum

Great GBA Exclusives Include: the Super Mario Advance Series, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, the Castlevania series (Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance and Aria of Sorrow), the Mega Man Battle Network series, the Pokemon series, Golden Sun 1 & 2, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/Four Swords and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, the F-Zero Series, the Donkey Kong Country series, Donkey Kong: King of Swing, Mario VS Donkey Kong, Mario Pinball Land, the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, Metroid Fusion and Metroid: Zero Mission, Game & Watch Gallery 4, Mega Man and Bass, Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls