Wii vs. PS3 vs. 360

With the holiday season approaching quickly, many people are scrambling to pick up the latest generation of video game consoles for their children. The question that is on every parent's mind, however, is a simple one: how do you know which of the three most popular consoles to buy for your child or children? Should you go with the Xbox 360, which is the system that has been around the longest or the PlayStation 3, which features graphics just as good as the Xbox 360, if not better? Or should you purchase the Nintendo Wii, which is probably the most well-established name in the video game industry.

Well, the answer is not so simple. If you are looking for a game console that will be played mainly by younger children, the Nintendo Wii is the winner hands down. Because the controllers are smaller and less complex than either the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3, it is much easier for a young child to get started in gaming with the Nintendo Wii. Another strong selling point for the Wii is that most of the games that have been released so far are, for the most part, aimed at children, whereas the other consoles focus on an older audience.

The PlayStation 3 is a good choice for preteens and teenagers, and even young adults. The graphics of the PlayStation 3 are top notch, but the lack of games keeps it from being a clear winner in the game console race. Many people trust the Sony brand name however, and stick to the Sony PlayStation 3 quite loyally. There are also some quite popular games that stay loyal to Sony as well; Metal Gear Solid 3 is only one that comes to mind.

And the first console to be released out of all of the next generation consoles was the Xbox 360 - and it still a strong competitor to say the least. Because it was released first, Microsoft has had time to fix some bugs and make a few hardware upgrades to their Xbox 360. Again, because Microsoft's Xbox 360 has been on the market the longest, it also has the largest selection of games. And the Xbox 360 has games suitable for all ages and all skill levels, too.

Overall, each console really does offer gamers something different. The Nintendo Wii is appropriate for all children, and led by their iconic character Mario, they continue to keep kids of all ages occupied for hours at a time. The PlayStation 3 offers some quality graphics and even some exclusive titles, while the Xbox 360 offers the widest variety of games. The one you choose really depends on your exact tastes in gaming - or the taste of those whom you are buying the gift for.