Xbox 360 vs PlayStation 3 vs Wii

By Randolph Ramsay on 17 March 2007
Xbox vs PS3 vs Wii

Are you passionate about the PlayStation 3, ecstatic about the Xbox 360, or are you now a Wii fan?

Sony's PlayStation 3, with a price tag that's close to AU$1000 for the bundle, is the most expensive of the three games consoles, but Sony is hoping the PS3's processing grunt and the inclusion of a Blu-ray DVD drive will be enough to entice gamers to part with their hard earned cash.

The name may still invoke giggles from some, but Nintendo's Wii has won over many converts thanks to a solid games line-up and its unique control system that has to be played to be appreciated. In fact, "playing = believing" is Nintendo's catchcry for its next-generation console — and from our extensive experience, the Wii's wireless movement-sensitive control system feels and plays like a winner. The Wii is also the cheapest of the three next-gen consoles, coming in just under AU$400.

Microsoft may have been the first off the rank with the Xbox 360, but it nonetheless has an exciting year planned out for its new console. Top of the list are the online video features for Xbox Live!, as well as the soon to be released games including the new Halo and Grand Theft Auto IV.

Which next generation console is best? See the specs below and tell us what you think!

Xbox 360
Xbox 360

Microsoft's Xbox 360, launched in Australia in March 2006. With a strong line-up of games and almost a year's head start on its competitors, the 360 was in a top position to seriously challenge the PlayStation brand.

Available in four bundles: Xbox 360 Core System (RRP AU$399.95 Includes: Xbox 360 console, wired controller, S-VIDEO AV cable), Xbox 360 Premium System (RRP AU$549.95 Includes: Xbox 360 console, wireless controller, media remote, 20GB hard drive, component HD AV cable), Xbox 360 Elite (RRP AU$729.95 Includes: Xbox 360 black coloured console, 120GB hard drive, black wireless controller, black headset, HDMI) and to coincide with the Halo 3 launch the Special Edition Halo 3 console (RRP AU$679.95 Includes: Xbox 360 Halo 3 paintjob console, 20GB hard drive, Halo 3 wireless controller, Halo 3 wired headset, HDMI)

Processor: IBM PowerPC-based CPU with three symmetrical 3.2GHz processors

Graphics: 500MHz custom ATI Graphics Processor with 10MB of embedded DRAM

Memory: 512MB GDDR3 RAM and 700MHz DDR

Hard Drive: None included in Core system. 20GB with Premium and Halo 3 systems, and 120GB with the Elite system.

Inputs: USB 2.0 (Game controller port) x 2, Memory Unit Slots x 2, Wi-Fi adaptor slot, Ethernet RJ-45 (Ethernet cable with Premium, Elite, and Halo 3 systems)

Outputs: S-VIDEO AV on Core system, Component HD AV on Premium and Elite systems, HDMI out for Elite system

Screen sizes: 480p, 480i, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p

Controllers: Wired x 1 on Core system, Wireless x 1 on Premium, Elite, and Halo 3 systems

Disc media: DVD, CD

Accessories: Universal Media Remote (RRP AU$49.95), Wireless controller (RRP AU$79.95), Wireless Networking Adapter (RRP AU$169.95), Headset (RRP AU$49.95) , Hard Drive 20GB (RRP AU$169.95)

Xbox Live! Silver membership

300 games available by the end of 2007 (Average: RRP AU$99.95)

Backwards compatability: Limited Xbox backwards compatibility. For full list of games, click here.

Sony PlayStation 3
Sony PlayStation 3

Sony has built the PlayStation 3 with a definite eye on the future — and it has a high price tag because of it. Can it maintain its lead in the gaming arena with its new console?

Cost: RRP AU$999.95 which includes the PlayStation 3 Console, 2 SIXAXIS Controllers, and 2 games: Resistance: Fall of Man, and Motorstorm

Processor: Cell Processor PowerPC-base Core @3.2GHz

Graphics: RSX @ 550MHz

Memory: 256MB XDR Main RAM @3.2GHz, 256MB GDDR3 VRAM @700MHz

Hard Drive: 60GB 2.5" Serial ATA

Inputs: USB Front x 4, Rear x 2 (USB2.0), Memory Stick standard/Duo, PRO x 1, SD standard/mini x 1, CompactFlash(Type I, II) x 1

Wireless: Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR), IEEE 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi

Outputs: HDMI out x 1, AV multi out x 1, Digital out (optical) x 1

Screen sizes: 480p, 480i, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p

Controllers: SIXAXIS Wireless controller

Disc Media: Blu-Ray, DVD, CD

Accessories: Blu-Ray Disc Remote Control (RRP AU$49.95), SIXAXIS Wireless (RRP AU$79.95), Component AV Cable (RRP AU$39.95), S-VIDEO Cable (RRP AU$29.95)

80+ games available by the end of 2007(Average: RRP AU$99.95)

Backwards compatibility: Yes with PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games.

Nintendo Revolution
Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii boasts the ability to play GameCube titles along with a wide range of NES, SNES and N64 games via the Virtual Console download service. Is that be enough to make it competitive against the powerful PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360?

Cost: RRP AU$399 which includes the Wii console, 1 x Wii remote controller, 1 x Wii Nunchuk, and Wii Sports collection

Processor: PowerPC Broadway CPU

Graphics: ATI Hollywood GPU

Memory: 88MB main memory, 24MB 1T-SRAM integrated to graphics, 64MB GDDR3 SDRAM, 3MB embedded GPU texture memory and frame buffer

Storage: 512MB built-in flash memory

Inputs: USB 2.0 expansion ports x 2, GameCube controller port x 4, GameCube memory card slot x 2, SD memory card slot x 1, and built-in support for Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Sensor bar input

Outputs: Multi-output for component, composite, or S-VIDEO

Screen sizes: 480p, 480i, 576i

Controllers: Wireless remote, Nunchuk

Disc Media: DVD

Accessories: Wii Remote (RRP AU$69.95), Nunchuk (RRP AU$29.95), Wii Classic Controller (RRP AU$29.95), Joytech Sports Pack (RRP AU$49.95)

100+ games available by the end of 2007 (Average: RRP AU$89.95)

Backwards compatibility: Yes with GameCube. NES, SNES and Nintendo 64 are available to purchase and download through the Nintendo's Virtual Console service.

Topics: 360, console, e3, entertainment, expo, game, gaming, next-generation, nintendo, playstation, revolution, sony, xbox, microsoft

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Comments (1502)

  • wii and xbox 360 gamer commented on 21/11/2009 05:46 Report abuse

    I personly like the xbox 360 the best out of them all.The other two aren' that bad but they're okay

  • eddie commented on 16/11/2009 02:55 Report abuse

    fichshits ive had a wii there **** i played ps3 and xbox 360 the 360 wins by a fuking mile its gr8 online is **** on wii and ps3 wii and ps3 games are a load of horse **** im selling my wii tomorrow for a 360

  • bogan commented on 11/11/2009 07:20 Report abuse

    kimya, i'd get a wii if i were you. many sports games and party games are fetured on the console. and the console is family friendly

  • Kimka commented on 08/11/2009 16:25 Report abuse

    Hiya, I'd appreciate help as a rank beginner in the console arena. I like the idea of playing sports, maybe a bit of fitness and perhaps the odd bit of bad singing and guitar playing...what do I need..have a 5 year old and 2 70+ playmates this Christmas..what do I need and where do I get it from..all help much appreciated!

  • the ganz commented on 08/11/2009 08:27 Report abuse

    for all you dumb ps3 fans if you dont want your 360 to overheat and get red ring simply get an intercooler theyll take you back 30AUD but are definetely worth it ps3 sucks the games dont even use blu ray but the game developers for non-exclusives like infinity ward for cod 4 and cod 6 in 3 days care more for the 360 for the wii

    wii sucks big balls and is for little 7 year olds i had one for a year but only played it for the first month it only has like 10 good games and the online sucks

  • the ganz commented on 08/11/2009 07:59 Report abuse

    guys watch this cnet vid about 360 v ps3 it will change your mind forever there are 2 parts this is the link number1

    http://cnettv.cnet.com/prizefight-xbox-360-vs-sony-ps3-part-1/9742-1_53-26047.html

    Number 2

    http://cnettv.cnet.com/prizefight-xbox-360-vs-sony-ps3-part-2/9742-1_53-26047.html

  • malteser deluxe. commented on 28/10/2009 14:32 Report abuse

    there's no two-hoots about it; the wii has revolutionised the gaming industry. and i'm not simply speaking of the unique controller and its 3-dimensional-space sensor. it's also taken the idea of gaming as being only for a specific audience and turned it on its head. anyone can play, hence the name "wii", as in 'we'. and it's because of this that the game variety for the wii is so broad - shooters, adventure, racing, fitness, you name it. the wii can attack any genre of gaming and make it infinitely more interactive. these are the main reasons as to why the wii's sales are far greater than that of the xbox 360 and the playstation 3.

  • very nicea commented on 09/10/2009 20:11 Report abuse

    i think wii and 360 blow em all away ive played em all and wii wins! heres the order from best 2 worst wii,360,ps3 wii is innovative with motions!!!!! 360 has better games than ps3 but 360 and ps3 are mostly concentrated on graphics especially ps3

  • Dialup56k commented on 05/10/2009 23:06 Report abuse

    Xbox360 has by far the greatest games and the price is always affordable

  • 2 1/2 years old commented on 01/10/2009 21:39 Report abuse

    people...before you all get into a fanboy flamebait war, read the date at the top, for when this article was written...

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