One of the questions people ask me the most, is which video games console they should buy - a Wii vs PS3. It's a really difficult question to answer in one sentence because these two consoles are so different from each other.
The features of both games consoles go beyond simple gaming, and the best console is the one that matches your lifestyle. To help you make the right decision, here are the 6 most important features to think about when comparing the Wii vs PS3:
Casual gamer or hardcore gamer
Type of games
Graphics
Online features
Entertainment system
Price
Casual gamer or hardcore gamer
The Nintendo Wii is designed for people who have never played video games before. The Wii mote controller makes you feel like you're inside the game, and creates a gaming experience that's a real thrill.
The Wii is at its best when you're playing with a group of friends.
It always amazes me how much fun we have with our friends every time we play on the Wii. Everyone gets really into it even if they have never played video games before. Playing the Wii definitely has a WOW factor about it.
In contrast, the Playstation 3 is designed with gamers in mind. Everything from the sleek black lines of the console, to the High Definition graphics and massive hard drive space heightens the senses of more experienced gamers. The PS3 is a great machine for getting some mates together, and spending hours playing the latest shooter or your favorite sports game.
Type of games
The simplest reason why the Wii has become such hot property around the world is because the Wii games are easy for everyone to pick up and play. The Wii mote controller is easy to master and most of the games have fairly basic stories.
Instead of complex characters and cutscenes, Wii games are designed to be highly interactive and a little quirky. The characters are often outrageous and the emphasis of the Wii games is usually more on fun than on winning.
PS3 games are often part video game and part movie production compared to the Wii games. Action games for the PS3 have complex characters and stories, and the games bring the characters to life through the highly detailed action and cinematic cutscenes that tie in the past, present and future of the main characters.
Most of the sports games, music games and action games for the PS3 are also available on the Wii, although these are often cut down versions of the PS3 game. The stronger graphics and processing ability of the PS3 make the Playstation's games more complex, more intense, and more satisfying if you're an experienced gamer.
Graphics
Although the graphics on the Wii are very, very good, the Wii doesn't have High Definition (HD) capability. The PS3 has full HD capability and the PS3 games have stunning, life-like graphics.
Most Wii games are designed with bright, crisp graphics. This creates a more playful and relaxed gaming experience that appeals to both younger and less experienced gamers. The graphics in many PS3 games, however, make full use of the HD picture quality, and can be beautiful to look at.
Online features
The Wii has some great online features but not all games can be played against other people online. The Wii Shop is the place to buy downloadable games and software for your Wii. The Wii Shop has lots of great games and Wii Channels to download, and new content is released every week. The Wii's online service is more focused on social networking through the Miis, friends message boards and sharing photos, than on playing games against other people.
Sony is busy building a social network for PS3 users called "Home" but this has had some major problems and is still under construction!
The PS3 Store has a good line up of game demos and downloadable content for games, and is a match for the Wii Shop in this area. At this stage the PS3's online features are more focused on playing games against other people online, and this is where the real action is when you go online with your PS3.
Entertainment system
The PS3 is more of a complete entertainment system than the Wii.
The Wii is made to play video games and occasionally surf the internet through the Wii web browser. The Wii can't play DVDs or CDs, so you'll use it mostly to play games and communicate with your friends over the internet. This isn't an issue though if you already have a DVD player and a CD player.
The PS3 sells itself as an entertainment system rather than a pure games console. One of the PS3's key features is the built-in Blu Ray DVD player for watching High Definition DVDs. The PS3 can also play regular DVDs, CDs and MP3 music files. You can even store your music on the PS3's hard drive like you do on your computer.
Price
Nintendo has built the Wii to be a no frills games console that's designed to give you a great gaming experience. It plays great games and it plays them brilliantly!
Because Nintendo has cut out the expensive entertainment and graphics hardware, the Wii console is relatively cheap at $250 in the US and £179 in the UK. It's affordable to a lot of people, and because the games are not as complicated to make as the PS3 games, the Wii games are cheaper to buy than PS3 games too.
The PS3 has gorgeous graphics, a High Definition Blu Ray DVD player, a huge hard drive, wireless internet and great looks. But all of this comes at a price...
The PS3 costs $399 in the US and £279 in the UK.
The Wii vs PS3 Wrap Up
These are the 6 most important features to look at when comparing the Wii vs PS3!
The Wii is a great video games console guaranteed to give you, your family and friends hours and hours of fun and laughter. Although not complicated, the games are fun and quirky and the console is relatively cheap. If you enjoy playing more casual games and you're looking for a video games console that brings friends together for a great time every time, then the Wii is the perfect console for you.
If you're more of a hardcore gamer and you're looking for a gaming experience that stimulates your senses with stunning graphics, complex stories and a complete High Definition entertainment system to boot, then I recommend spending your hard earned money on a Sony PS3.
Steve Braude runs the website Nintendo Wii Explained.com. Like the Nintendo Wii, this website is fun and vibrant with articles that explain all the features of the Wii console, its games and accessories in plain, simple English.
Learn about all the great features of the Wii console in a way that's easy to understand at http://www.nintendo-wii-explained.com/
