Xbox, PS3, Wii do battle
2006-11-08 14:46
Tokyo - Game console titans Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft are gearing up for a fierce battle with their state-of-the-art new machines boasting realistic graphics and fast action.
Following are the profiles of their next-generation consoles.
PlayStation 3 by Sony
The sleek, black PS3 is described by Sony as a "super computer" for entertainment.
At its heart is the "Cell" processor developed jointly with IBM and Toshiba which Sony says is 40 times faster than the chip that runs PlayStation 2.
The PS3 comes with a 20-gigabyte or 60-gigabyte hard disc and incorporates Sony's Blu-ray high-definition new DVD player.
Users can browse the internet, chat to friends, listen to music and store photos as well as download content and access online games.
Five games will be available at the launch but more are coming soon. Games for the PlayStation and PS2 will also be compatible.
Sony has incorporated a "six-axis" sensing system into the boomerang-shaped controller, which it aims to make feel like a part of your body. The controller has Bluetooth wireless technology but the vibration feature has been dropped.
The standard 20-gigabyte version will sell for 49 980 yen in Japan where it launches on November 11 and for $499 in the US from November 17.
The launch in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia has been delayed again until March next year.
Wii by Nintendo
The video game pioneer is on a quest for market dominance again with the Wii which launches in the US on November 19 for $249.99 and in Japan on December 2 for 25 000 yen - almost half the price of the PS3.
Nintendo caused a stir last year when it unveiled a one-handed wireless controller similar to a television remote and equipped with motion sensors.
By waving or swinging the controller, it can serve as a tennis racket, car steering wheel or weapon. It includes a speaker and rumble feature.
Several players can compete against each other simultaneously. The system has a wireless internet connection.
It is powered by the "Broadway" microprocessor jointly developed with IBM.
Nintendo is promoting the Wii as a family-friendly machine, allowing users to view news and weather information, look at digital photos, browse the internet and to post messages to other family members.
Nintendo will also try to win back old game fans by stirring their nostalgia with an updated version of the classic Mario Brothers that takes the pudgy Italian plumber with his trademark moustache into space.
The Wii is also compatible with all Nintendo GameCube games.
Xbox 360 by Microsoft
The US computer software giant launched the Xbox 360 in November last year, a whole year ahead of the PS3, seeking revenge for the mediocre debut of the original XBox which flopped in Japan.
In October Microsoft said it had sold six million XBox 360s worldwide.
The new version is equipped with a DVD player capable of handling CDs and digital photographs through a built-in Windows Media Centre - the same bundle of applications found in Microsoft's Windows XP PC operating system.
The console has an Ethernet port to enable high-speed internet connections for the popular "Xbox Live" subscription service, and other ports to hook up digital cameras or MP3 players.
Xbox 360s retail in the United States for $299 and 29 800 yen in Japan, or $399/39 795 yen with a 20-gigabyte hard-disk drive.
Microsoft will soon launch a service that allows users to download movies.