The console wars have finally settled into their mid-lifespan period. Many thought that the three major game companies would announce new consoles within the past year, instead two of the three have instead released additions to their current consoles to expand their market to a broader customer base. All three systems now have an established game and program base, and all three have their advocates for various reasons. This is now a good time to look at the three different consoles and evaluate their state in the market, and where they go from here.

The Xbox 360 has always been the consistent seller of the three current generation of console systems. After following the original Xbox Microsoft wanted to create a console that would work with the upcoming high definition standards. The previous Xbox system simply couldn‘t keep up with what was being developed in Microsoft‘s game studios. Now the 360 offers full 1080p support, and HDMI surround audio. Microsoft also introduced Xbox live with the first incarnation of the Xbox, and they refined the concept with the 360. Xbox live now offers connections to Netflix, ESPN, the Zune market, as well as a complete arcade system. It is also the first to offer tiered service, in order to access all the content a user needs to have a yearly subscription.

Microsoft has recently tried to revamp their console system with the addition of the Kinect motion tracking system. This is their attempt to revolutionize again and take advantage of the casual physical gamer, as well as the potential for the exergaming market. It remains to be seen whether or not this is a gimmick, or a real revolution in the gaming environment, but it has sold millions of units within it‘s first months, and looks like it has found a market among those that want a bit more physicality in their gaming.

The Playstation 3 was originally the dark horse of this console generation. It originally released with an immense price tag, incomplete support for blue-ray discs, and buggy backwards compatibility with Playstation 2 console games. Sony struggled to find a market for their console by trying to keep a few exclusive high end titles, but it looked for a long time that this console had failed it‘s market. Then, three things happened. Blue Ray won the format war over HighDef DVD, Sony dropped the price tag on their console, and they released the Playstation 3 Thin model. All of a sudden you had a price competitive, high definition gaming system that also doubled as a blue ray player with full 1080p support for all the new higher end TVs.

Since then Sony has managed to catch up quickly in the console market, they have regained ground by getting more exclusive titles that are critically acclaimed such as the God of War series. They have also refined their own online community, the Playstation Network. Set to compete with Xbox live by providing a more social gaming environment it appears that Sony has integrated their market system with a Second Life style social environment called Playstation Home. Sony is trying to play up the more social parts of their networks, as well as their free full featured online system.

Sony has also released the Playstation Move system. This is another motion tracking system using a camera and wand system similar to the Nintendo Wii. There is some debate whether this is just a casual gamer grab, duplicating Nintendo‘s efforts, or whether there is substantial improvements in the system, but Sony has also bragged millions of units sold of this system.

Nintendo looked like they had a lock on the current generation of console systems when they released the Wii. They decided to forgo high definition in favor of a comfortable price point and a revolutionary control style that brought in a whole market of casual gamers. When the Wii first released Nintendo dominated the market, they blew through all sales figures posted by Sony and Microsoft for years, and the Wii was nearly impossible to find in the market. This has severely dropped in recent years, as Nintendo‘s sales figures for new Wii consoles have plummeted.

There is a lot of speculation regarding the drop in sales, but many now blame Nintendo‘s choice not to support high definition gaming, as well as their clumsy social networking system. Though the Wii control system still promotes casual games, and works decently for serious games, the generally dated graphics and limitations of their game format is starting to become glaringly obvious. However, though they have the largest stockpile of refined motion sensitive games that may not be true for much longer. Now that Playstation and Microsoft have also released their own motion control systems as well, the Wii‘s shortcomings are starting to pile against it.

Simply put, the Wii has a practically unusable social networking system. In order to find a friend online you have to enter in their archaic 'friend code' and then provide them with yours so that they can confirm that you are, indeed, their friend. This makes matchmaking and keeping track with your friends nearly impossible, so most social gaming turns to random pairings and matchups with people you will never see again. Their market is still full featured, they have added Netflix support, though without high definition, and they offer a huge library of legacy Nintendo games as well as third party games, but their overall support just seems, lacking compared to the other two consoles.

Right now the console wars have reached an uneasy market truce. They have each found their market, and except for the breakthrough into the motion tracking market, they each have their own 'niche' that they fill. Whether this is going to be the status quo for a long time to come, or if it is just a brief lull before the next generation wars is difficult to tell. Right now all three consoles have their attractions, so that when it comes down to it, which one you choose becomes a complete matter of personal preference.

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Say what you will, but not only do video games capture the imagination and entertain us when we immerse ourselves in them, but they also have plenty to teach us. From age 5 to 105 video games have a lot to offer. We learn multi-tasking, communication, hand eye coordination, and teamwork among other things.

Gaming provides far more than simple entertainment. Studies show that we are actively engaged, learning, and interacting with the monitor or television screen while we play. Our brains are firing and we're alert and focused. Compare this with the average mindless, unfocused television watching, and it leaves a lot to be desired

There has been an astonishing amount of studies and research, many in the attempt to prove gaming is harmful, but although there are a few bad apples who take things to the extreme, overall, gaming is a positive experience.

Leaving aside questions of content, video games are good for kids-within limits-because game play helps them to adapt to the demands of the new information environment. Surgeons are already using video games to refine their hand-eye coordination for the ever more exacting demands of contemporary procedures. The military uses games to rehearse the complexity of coordinating group actions in an environment where participants cannot see each other. And all of us can use games to learn how to function in the era of continuous partial attention.

These multitasking skills will be most developed in those who have had access to games from an early age. Our sons and daughters will be the natives of the new media environment; others will be immigrants. Educators have long talked about a hidden curriculum, things kids absorb outside of formal education that shape their thoughts, tastes, and skills and that enable some groups to advance more quickly than others. The same pattern is developing around new media technologies-those who grow up with them as part of their recreational life relate to them differently than those who only encounter them later at school or work.

Video Game Systems

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