Nintendo Wii vs. Sony PlayStation 3

Just what we've been waiting for, Nintendo Wii vs. Sony PlayStation 3. It has been a long time coming, but finally both these gaming consoles have arrived. The Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) was released on November 17th, whereas the Nintendo Wii was released 2 days later, on the 19th. So which of the 2 systems is better? Which should you buy for Christmas? Who has the better launch? Read on to find the answers!

Launch by Numbers

PlayStation 3:
After numerous delays and production problems, Sony was finally able to release its PlayStation 3 in time for the Christmas holidays…Well not quite. Sony was indeed able to release the system; however the shipment numbers are laughable. It is estimated that only 500,000 units will be shipped by the end of the year. This means trying to get your hands on a PS3 before Christmas will be nearly impossible.

Wii:
Although it may be also difficult to get your hands on a Wii at the moment, Nintendo plans to ship over 4 million units worldwide by the end of the year. This easily dwarfs the PlayStation 3 number of 500,000. A steady supply of Wiis is being shipped weekly to retailers thus making it easier to get a Wii with each passing week.

Winner: Wii
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Games:

PlayStation 3:
When it comes to the PS3, it is generally thought that there are no games worth getting at this point in time. I have had the privilege of playing the PS3 and most of its games. The only game that held my interest for more than 15 minutes was Resistance: Fall of Man. It is obvious that better games will make their way to the system, but I would not suggest holding your breath for them. Games like Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy 13 are expected to come out in late 2007 or early 2008.

Wii:
For the first time ever, Nintendo is releasing a Zelda game at a console launch. This launch title is without a doubt the best game available on the console. In fact, it is widely believed to be the best Zelda game ever. Another thing to take note of is the variety of games available. Nintendo and its third-party developers have covered all the bases. Whether you like sports games or shooting games, there is plenty to choose from.

Winner: Wii
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Graphics:

PlayStation 3:
Although they don’t even come close to realizing the full potential of the PS3 in terms of graphics, the launch games are much prettier than those of the Wii.

Wii:
Nintendo has taken a different direction this generation and is less concerned about graphics. Although that doesn’t mean that the games look bad. You certainly won’t get the same level of realism that you would get on the PS3 or XBOX360. The Wii’s graphical power is a little stronger than that of the original XBOX.

Winner: PlayStation 3
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Price:

PlayStation 3:
The PlayStation 3 comes in 2 different versions. You have the $499.99 version and the $599.99 version. No, I did not make a typo with the prices. Although both systems are similar, the $600 version comes with, among other things, a bigger hard drive. It is estimated that over 80% of the PlayStation 3 consoles shipped will be the $600 version. All this makes the $500 version fairly obsolete. Both versions are able to play BluRay discs. One remote and the necessary cables are included in the box.

Wii:
Currently, the Nintendo Wii retails for $249.99. Included in the box are: the Wii game console, all the necessary wires and adapters, Wii Sports (a game featuring 5 different sports), the regular Wii remote, as well as the nun-chuk attachment.

Winner: Wii
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Final Score: Wii – 3 vs. PlayStation 3 – 1

Nintendo Wii vs. Sony PlayStation 3 Verdict:
The Wii is the obvious choice for all gamers right now. The cheap price, great launch games, and fantastic innovation make it the console to get this holiday season.