Following up on yesterday’s “Console Wars“; Here is a short profile and buyer’s guide for each of the video game systems available today.

Consoles:
The term video game console is used to distinguish a machine designed for consumers to buy and use solely for playing video games.

Nintendo Wii

Simply put, the Wii is fun — really fun. It’s not what you traditionally think of when you think of video games. It’s a parents’ dream in that it gets kids off the couch and may even induce sweating. But it’s also a gamer’s dream due to its fun gameplay and the possibilities for the future. A great choice for anyone. Pros: Price ($249 MSRP). Very compact and light design. Plays all your old GameCube games. If you’re playing a tennis or baseball game, you can swing the Wii controller like a tennis racket or like a bat. How cool is that?! The Wii Remote controller also includes a speaker, rumble feature and expansion port. Cons: Small internal memory 512k, The graphics are not at the level of PS3 or Xbox 360. Does not play DVD’s. Games: Age 6+ Cooking Mama, Age 10+ WarioWare, Age 12+ Zelda

Microsoft Xbox360

Microsoft’s year head start has led to an impressive lineup of games and downloadable content on Xbox Live. This machine is a great all-around value and a comparable alternative to the PlayStation 3. Don’t get suckered into buying the Core System though. The hard drive is key, and that plus the included wireless controller is worth the extra money. Pros: The Premium version of Xbox 360 sells for $399, which is $200 less than the PS3’s top shelf offering. Xbox Live offers online multiplayer gaming in a hassle-free a child-safe manner (if parental controls are activated). Good selection of diverse games. Cons: No HD-DVD player, external HD-DVD Player is available for $199 MSRP. Games: Age 6+ Viva Pinata, Age 10+ Lego Star Wars II, Age 12+ Madden’07

Sony PlayStation 3

This system is really built for hardcore gamers and technophiles and the $600 + cost of entry should deter anyone who isn’t — at least at this early stage. However, Sony’s PlayStation 3 is currently one of the cheapest Blue-Ray DVD Players on the market. Pros: Computing Powerhouse, Integrated Blue-Ray DVD Player. Cons: Price ($600 MSRP). Lacks children friendly games. Games: Age 6+ N/A, Age 10+ MotorStorm, Age 12+ NBA Homestreet Court.

Sony PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2 may not have the allure of next-generation video game consoles like the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360, but it’s significantly cheaper and has a huge library of games to choose from. This is a great choice for casual gamers and those looking to save a few dollars on a new system. Pros: Price ($129 MSRP). Exceptionally large variety of games. Cons: Developers will stop making new PS2 games. Games: Age 3+ Dora, Age 10+ Sims, Age 12+ GuitarHero II

Handhelds:
A Handheld device (or simply handheld) is a pocket-sized gaming device, utilizing a small visual display screen for user output.

Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS is a very kid friendly handheld gaming system. It’s good for adults, but the goofiness of some of the games may turn some off. Nintendo is very committed to their handheld business and you can be sure there are many exciting new features and attachments on the way for this very pocket-friendly distant cousin to the Game Boy. Pros: Backwards compatible, plays Gameboy Advance Games, Touch Screen input, Large variety of games. Cons: Screen can be difficult to see outside or from an angle. Games: Age 6+ Nintendogs, Age 10+ Pokemon Pearl, Age 12+ Final Fantasy III

Sony PSP

Though the PlayStation Portable is a little large for a pocket and UMDs can be a pain to carry around, there’s no better looking handheld in terms of graphics and screen quality. A healthy offering of great games and the ability to play back video, music and photos make the PSP a great buy for teens. Pros: Plays music and movie’s. Cons: UMDs (Universal Media Disc) can be scratched and/or broken; Many PSP games are for older gamers. Games: Age 6+ Scooby Doo, Age 10+ FIFA, Age 12+ Ratchet & Clank

Personal Computer:
Personal computers are also known as home computers. Sometimes the term “Personal Computer” is used exclusively for computers running a Microsoft Windows/Vista operating system, but this is erroneous. For example, a Macintosh running Mac OS, or an IBM compatible PC running Linux, are also personal computers.

Windows/Mac

Getting into PC gaming can be expensive if you don’t already own the equipment, but if you do it’s a no-brainer. Your computer is capable of playing some of the best games out there and with a new graphics card every couple of years, you can stay on the cutting edge. Pros: Can be used for other things besides gaming. Easy to upgrade. Cons: Ease of use for children. Games: Age 6+ I Spy, Age 10+ Zoo Tycoon II, Age 12+ The Sims II

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