What is a next-generation console?

A next-generation console is an advanced piece of home entertainment equipment, where the Internet, video games, movies and music converge in a single, easy to use system. There are three next-generation consoles to choose from, each have their own advantages and disadvantages. What they all have in common, however, is that they offer a markedly different gaming and entertainment experience to any other video game console made previously. We will go into more detail later, but first we'll introduce the next-generation console contenders:

Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Leading the charge for Blu-ray optical disc, Sony's late arriving but eagerly anticipated gaming platform is technologically the most powerful of the three.

Microsoft Xbox 360

With the power of Microsoft behind it and first on the scene with a 36 country launch, Bill Gates' plan is to deal Sony a decisive blow through Microsoft's excellent online gaming portal and win the war for HD DVD optical discs in the doing.

Nintendo Wii

Leaving the big guns to the big boys, Nintendo's diminutive, family-orientated console has snuck under the fence and stolen the hearts of millions already by banking on multiplayer interactivity, simple, fun games and general appeal in favour of high-powered, cutting-edge technologies.

What is Next-Generation?

Unlike previous video game consoles (generations 1 - 6), these machines are capable of doing much more than simply playing video games. Let's take a look at some of the features that they have in common - for these are what make a console next-generation.

Next-Generation Video Games
Next-generation consoles are capable of rendering high speed top-quality graphics at high definition resolution (except the Wii). High definition resolution means picture quality 3 to 10 times greater than normal television. This affords a sense of in-game realism far beyond what was previously possible. Booming stereo sound and a range of vibrating, spatially-aware controllers only add to the excitement.

Connect to the Internet
You no longer need a PC to connect to the Internet; your video game console allows you to browse the WorldWideWeb from the comfort of your couch. With a Wi-Fi connection and a Bluetooth controller you don’t have to worry about wires trailing all over your living room, either. With each console having its own dedicated portal offering reams of content, the benefits of connecting to the Net are endless -

1. Rent or buy Video Games online, including classic old titles from earlier console generations.
2. Download movies and television series, including those in high definition (excluding Wii).
3. Play video games online in real time. This opens up huge virtual worlds of interactive playability where video game friend and foe alike are controlled by other human players across the globe. You can play with people you know or have never met; massive online multiplayer games previously only available on high powered PCs are considered to be the future of advanced video gaming.
4. Download music in high quality digital audio formats to be played through your speaker set-up and saved on your console's hard disc or other memory device.

View Photos
Next generation consoles come with a variety of ways to upload, store and display your photos. You will be able to flick through and see your photos or movie clips blown up to the size of your television screen for all to enjoy.

Play Music
Download and store music from the Internet or upload it to your console. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 can also play normal Audio CDs. With a variety of optimal quality audio output leads, these consoles can easily replace your hi-fi in producing great quality sound through your speaker set-up. With a hard drive, your next generation console can become your home media centre storing literally thousands of songs and outputting them at high quality through your connected sound system (excluding Nintendo Wii).

Play Movies
The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 can both play standard DVDs. The latter can even upscale DVDs to HD resolution. But both are locked into a costly format war, supporting opposing sides of the next-generation optical disc divide - Sony with Blu-ray in one camp and Microsoft with HD DVD in the other. For now, all you need to know is that you can play HD discs in both machines and that the resulting audio and video quality is simply breathtaking (you will need an HD-ready TV set).

Backwards Compatibility All next-generation consoles boast of their ability to play games from their previous versions, meaning that you can dig out those old boxes or download the classics anew. They achieve this in various ways, though software emulation (whereby a specialised program runs the game on your console) is by far the most common.