The Wii

The Wii is Nintendo’s latest gaming console. This 5th generation platform for Nintendo has a unique game controller that sets it apart from the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 (PS3). The game controller can be used in “live motion gaming” like pitching and swinging the controller at the virtual ball in the screen. Hitting a tennis ball back and forth would be another good example of how the Wii controller can operate. This revolutionary addition to interactive gaming has helped the Wii outsell both Xbox 360and PS3 as of the end of 2008.

The Wii hit the market in late 2006. The Wii also has the capability of playing all of the Nintendo Cube games so that people will still have all their old games available for play when they move up to the Wii.
The Wii console is also has online capacities. It is so evolved that people can play from the same console on different TVs and be interactive in online play, thus avoiding the need for the frustrations of split screen play. Like the Xbox 360 and PS3 you can take your gaming to the online world with Wii.

The will even offer a parental control to keep kids from playing games that are unfit for their age. As for Wii exclusive games, they are too numerous to mention. Because of the uniqueness of the motion sensing hand help controllers, Wii games that use this feature of the controller are all exclusive games.

This for of video gaming has made gaming a more physically active event with some f the games you can play. An entire list of dance and exercise “games” are available. The Wii is perfect for this kind of interactive action. Here is an interesting exclusive that we thought that we probably should mention: The Conduit is a first person shooter game wrapped into a science fiction world. You have the campaign to do, and when you finish you can go online and battle with or against your friends in online battles.

Although all of the current gaming consoles are truly incredible (Xbox 360,PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Wii), what the Wii has done with the motion sensitive game controller, and the way they have learned to use it in various game situations, makes it stand out, at least in the innovation phase of the evolution of gaming. Perhaps this is what has make the Wii the number one sold gaming console in this generation of consoles.
To think of people playing games on their Wii gaming console to get their workout in is truly a different outlook on gaming that we would expect from the past. It is no longer just sitting on the couch and pushing buttons. The addition of the motion detection systems that Wii bought into gaming has allowed Nintendo to expand its demographic impact on the gamer world. In the past they had more of the young children’s market cornered. The Wii allows Nintendo to keep this audience but to bring in young adults, older kids, and even some adults into the Wii world.

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 is Microsoft’s latest edition of gaming console. The Xbox 360, along with the PlayStation 3 and the Wii make up the latest generation of gaming consoles. This cutting edge system has a powerful online interaction potential for those willing to tap into it with an Xbox live subscription. Now you can play games at home on your own, and when you get good at them, you can go online and battle with your friends (and enemies) online. War games like Call of Duty are heavily played in various online battles.
Like the other gaming giants, Microsoft has some exclusive titles that are designed to get you to “need” the Xbox 360 console so you can enjoy these great games.

For the Xbox, and now the Xbox 360, the mother ship game for this platform is Halo, Halo 3 when thinking about the Xbox 360. Halo is considered by many gaming experts to be the best online game series ever. Halo is a first person shooter game of epic proportions. Now a full trilogy of evolving yet connected action, the game has many standout qualities.

First off, the visuals are simply top of the line. The entire world that is created to play in has immense depth, clarity and detail. Zooming into objects with the sniper rifle gives great examples of this. The story line of the Halo games is a full and complete sci-fi story. The weapons and vehicles involved in the game are all brilliantly conceived, with each serving its own purpose, and having certain drawbacks. There is an array of both marine and alien weaponry that you use.

Then you have all the vehicles to learn to operate, both marine and alien. You will drive basic jeeps, ride on or drive tanks, fly in hovering type crafts and full fledged flyers (called banshees). Again, there is almost always an equivalent alien craft for any marine craft.

As you battle through the campaign (which you can choose the level of difficulty you can handle), you work your way from one incredible place to the next, even within the level itself. The story line and plot you are within just increases the entertainment value of the games. In Halo 3 the lead in that sets up each level forms almost an entire movie on their own.

Having said all of that, one of the best features of the Halo games is the incredible smooth flow to the player controls. There is no jerkiness or over complexity to operating your player. Once you have become accustomed to your chosen set up you will feel very intuitive operating your player. He performs the actions you desire in a way that becomes quickly natural. Definitely as good a feel as it seems possible. Along with that, the movements of the other characters and vehicles, weapons and bullets are superb.
Add to all this some incredible online fun, with a number of cool maps to battle in, and this game has it all.

One of the coolest features of the game is the replay mode where you can watch an entire game you have just competed in. You can view the game from the eyes of any player in the game, or, take the camera and fly it independently any where you want to view the action, including following actions as they progress. This is mindboggling technology, and very cool to use.