Post by solidbatman on Jul 23, 2010 20:14:55 GMT -5
2005
Xbox 360
Microsoft's second console, the Xbox 360 continued the popular Xbox Live and Halo series. Unveiled in 2005, the 360 was being planned for in 2003. During development, Microsoft recruited IBM to build the processor for the 360. The result is a modified version of a Xenon processor, and slightly different from Sony's PS3 cell processor. IBM hid their work from Sony officials at the time. On November 22, 2005, Microsoft launched the Xbox 360 in North America. Europe received their 360's on December 2, 2005 and Japan on December 10, 2005. A 20 GB hard drive version of the 360 sold at $399 at luanch. The Core version, the one without a hard drive, sold for $299. The Elite version, with a 120 GB hard drive sold for $480. All these systems were discontinued when on June 14, 2010, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox 360 S (called slim by some). The version announced features a 250 GB hard drive, and built in wi- fi functionality. This model sells for $300. Later, Microsoft announced that a cheaper version would be sold for $200. This version only has 4 GB of memory. All models of the 360 come with a HDMI cord to allow the 360 to play games in 1080p resolution if the game can play in that resolution. On June 1, 2009, Microsoft unveiled Project Natal, a wireless, controller-less, motion controller. On June 13, 2010, the product was renamed Kinect. It will be released on November 4, 2010. Their will be bundles to buy a new system with Kinect. Kinect will work with all previous models of the 360. The 360 has had a high failure rate with some surveys showing as much as a 51% failure rate. Microsoft has extended the warranty's on 360 to assist those with broken 360's. The 360 S is said to fix the high failure rate. The 360 ranks second in sales worldwide for the current generation of consoles, 2nd in the US and last (3rd) in Japan. It is essentially tied with the PlayStation 3 in Europe.
2006
Sony PlayStation 3
At E3's 2005 convention, Sony unveiled the Playstation 3 with it's prototype controller. A functional version was not available at the time though. The E3 2005 PS3 featured 6 USB ports, 2 HDMI ports, and 3 Ethernet ports, but at E3 2006, the PS# only showed 1 HDMI port, 2 USB ports and 1, Ethernet port. Two models of the PS3 were also announced, a 20GB model, and a 60GB model. Sony set the release date of the PS3 in Japan for November 11, 2006 while the US and PAL regions would see the system hit the shelves on November 17, 2006. The PAL release was delayed due to a Blu- ray shortage in those regions. PAL users did not see the system until March 2007.
The PS3 features some of the most advanced graphics capabilities to date, only rivaled by cutting edge gaming computers and select Xbox 360 games. The PS3 has built in Wi- fi connectivity,HD gaming, Blu- ray playback, and free PSN access. Early models of the PS3 had PS2 compatibility, but this option was removed after the PS3 slims became available. Until firmware update 3.21, the PS3 had the ability to install other operating systems, such as Linux. The removal of this option has led to numerous lawsuits.
Reception the the PS3 was mixed. The hefty price tag and lack of launch games led to the PS3 being labeled as a failure. Developers also found the system hard to program for. Sony worked to make the system more user friendly and recently, game developers have recanted statements criticizing the PS3.
On September 1, 2009, the PS3 Slim was released. The slim model is smaller, lighter, and uses less power than the original PS3 models. The slim models are unable to play PS2 games, but PS1 gaming is still available. The slim models, being cheaper than the originals, received generally positive reviews. Currently, only 2 models of PS2's are sold, a 160GB slim, and a 320GB slim.
Nintendo Wii
Xbox 360
Xbox 360 S
Microsoft's second console, the Xbox 360 continued the popular Xbox Live and Halo series. Unveiled in 2005, the 360 was being planned for in 2003. During development, Microsoft recruited IBM to build the processor for the 360. The result is a modified version of a Xenon processor, and slightly different from Sony's PS3 cell processor. IBM hid their work from Sony officials at the time. On November 22, 2005, Microsoft launched the Xbox 360 in North America. Europe received their 360's on December 2, 2005 and Japan on December 10, 2005. A 20 GB hard drive version of the 360 sold at $399 at luanch. The Core version, the one without a hard drive, sold for $299. The Elite version, with a 120 GB hard drive sold for $480. All these systems were discontinued when on June 14, 2010, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox 360 S (called slim by some). The version announced features a 250 GB hard drive, and built in wi- fi functionality. This model sells for $300. Later, Microsoft announced that a cheaper version would be sold for $200. This version only has 4 GB of memory. All models of the 360 come with a HDMI cord to allow the 360 to play games in 1080p resolution if the game can play in that resolution. On June 1, 2009, Microsoft unveiled Project Natal, a wireless, controller-less, motion controller. On June 13, 2010, the product was renamed Kinect. It will be released on November 4, 2010. Their will be bundles to buy a new system with Kinect. Kinect will work with all previous models of the 360. The 360 has had a high failure rate with some surveys showing as much as a 51% failure rate. Microsoft has extended the warranty's on 360 to assist those with broken 360's. The 360 S is said to fix the high failure rate. The 360 ranks second in sales worldwide for the current generation of consoles, 2nd in the US and last (3rd) in Japan. It is essentially tied with the PlayStation 3 in Europe.
2006
Sony PlayStation 3
PS3 Slim
At E3's 2005 convention, Sony unveiled the Playstation 3 with it's prototype controller. A functional version was not available at the time though. The E3 2005 PS3 featured 6 USB ports, 2 HDMI ports, and 3 Ethernet ports, but at E3 2006, the PS# only showed 1 HDMI port, 2 USB ports and 1, Ethernet port. Two models of the PS3 were also announced, a 20GB model, and a 60GB model. Sony set the release date of the PS3 in Japan for November 11, 2006 while the US and PAL regions would see the system hit the shelves on November 17, 2006. The PAL release was delayed due to a Blu- ray shortage in those regions. PAL users did not see the system until March 2007.
The PS3 features some of the most advanced graphics capabilities to date, only rivaled by cutting edge gaming computers and select Xbox 360 games. The PS3 has built in Wi- fi connectivity,HD gaming, Blu- ray playback, and free PSN access. Early models of the PS3 had PS2 compatibility, but this option was removed after the PS3 slims became available. Until firmware update 3.21, the PS3 had the ability to install other operating systems, such as Linux. The removal of this option has led to numerous lawsuits.
Reception the the PS3 was mixed. The hefty price tag and lack of launch games led to the PS3 being labeled as a failure. Developers also found the system hard to program for. Sony worked to make the system more user friendly and recently, game developers have recanted statements criticizing the PS3.
On September 1, 2009, the PS3 Slim was released. The slim model is smaller, lighter, and uses less power than the original PS3 models. The slim models are unable to play PS2 games, but PS1 gaming is still available. The slim models, being cheaper than the originals, received generally positive reviews. Currently, only 2 models of PS2's are sold, a 160GB slim, and a 320GB slim.
Nintendo Wii
