If you are considering purchasing a home video console, start here. Queen of PAWNS has something from all three of the market’s top manufacturers: Sony’s PlayStation, Microsoft’s Xbox and Nintendo’s Wii. There is a lot of information out there about video game consoles and it can get a little confusing. This week in our video game series, we will break down for you these three platforms, including the different existing versions of each system and finally make suggestions based on general gaming preferences. Ready? Let’s get started.

How the 3 Contenders Rank

Best Sellers of All Time, World Wide

1. Sony PS2 2. Sony PlayStation 3. Nintendo Wii (also worth a mention are 4^th & 5^th places) 4. PS3 and 5. Xbox

Did you notice that Sony’s PlayStation takes THREE positions within the top five sellers? Just making sure you’re keeping track here.

Top 3 Consoles That Have the Most Titles (or games) Available

PS2 2. PS3 3. Wii

This list includes downloadable games too.

Backward Compatibility

This term means that more recent versions of a console can play the games designed to be used with previous models. Backward compatibility varies between manufacturers and from one generation to the next within each platform. Be sure to check with manufacturers if this is an important feature for your shopping.

Sony’s PlayStation (aka “PS”)

Sony has several different consoles floating around in the new and used market. The manufacturer has the PlayStation, PS2 and three versions of the PS3. Something worth noting is that the best selling console to date and world wide is the PS2. That is huge.

Other features consistent with the PS consoles: free online game playing, first and currently the only console that still has a Blu-ray player built in, only system that offers full stereoscopic 3D gaming and videos.

Demystifying the 3 versions of PS3

The three generations of Sony’s PS3 are known as:

PS3

PS3 Slim

and the PS3 Super Slim

Here’s the main differences between each of these.

PS3 vs Slim - Size of course, is the main difference between these two models. The slim needs a separate mount to stand the console up vertically, is more energy efficient and has a larger hard drive 120GB versus the PS3’s original 80GB. (We’ll elaborate on storage in just a sec.)

Slim vs Super Slim - Besides the obvious weight loss of each generation another change includes the discontinued slot loading disc tray. The slot loading was convenient for tight spaces. The manual tray or sliding disc cover, as we find in the Super Slim model is more convenient if you need to clean disc reading lasers.

Ultimately, all three are excellent choices. But wait, there’s yet another factor to consider when shopping for PlayStations and that is storage capacity. PS3’s come stock with varying storage from 12GB to 500GB. What should you care about gigabytes? Well, more storage or GB means more game files, recorded game scores, music and videos. Think of it similarly as the storage space for your iPod (not to confuse manufacturers here.) If online gaming is important to you, then you want more space. If you are a game hound and come across a PS3 that doesn’t have enough storage for you, the coolest thing is that all generations have replaceable hard drives.

One More Thing About PS

This is a mention of a part accessory, part handheld device, it’s called the PS Vita. It is a periphery that can take your television/console game on the road. If you are in the middle of an epic win but the clock tells you it’s time to leave the house, just continue your game on the PS Vita and leave everything else at home. In the spirit of Sony’s PlayStation products, this too has much to offer for the most serious of gamers.

Microsoft’s Xbox

Xbox came on to the scene in 2001. The next iteration was released in 2005 as the Xbox 360 and once an upgrade appeared in 2010, the 360 is now sometimes referred to as the Xbox 360 E or Elite. Yet a newer version is the Xbox 360 S for, what else? “Slim.”

Enough splitting hairs, what does this mean to a consumer. Here’s what the Xbox brings to the table:

Streaming media (must pay for online access).
Best motion control gaming and hands free - meaning no remotes - when you add the the Kinect for Xbox 360, a motion and voice control periphery. Note that not all Xbox games are compatible with the Kinect periphery.
Free smart glass app available to use your tablet or mobile device as a second screen.
Built in DVD player.
Xbox put online gaming on the map - subscription fees are required to play most of the online library.
If you have a Windows XP Media Center Edition PC, you can use your Xbox 360 as a Media Center extender that will allow you access to the TV, music, photos and video functionality of your Media Center PC over your home’s wired or wireless network.

The Xbox 360 S is slightly shorter but not much smaller than it’s previous version. It is marketed as requiring less energy for operation, quieter and sleeker with touch-sensitive buttons. The newer Slim model also has five USB ports versus the Elite model which has three USB ports. Another thing new for the Slim model is built in wireless. Before the 360 Elite, Xbox came with a 20GB hard drive and no HDMI cable. Once the Elite arrived, it came with a 120GB hard drive and an HDMI cable.

Microsoft developed the original console with online gaming as one of the company’s key pillars for the Xbox strategy. For the committed online gamer, this is an important side note.

Nintendo’s Wii

There is a good possibility that you may still come across an original Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo 64 or even a Nintendo GameCube at a second hand business. The latter was released world-wide in 2002. These consoles were still very much like arcade games - before the days of Wii’s workout video games. If you have a GameCube and you are thinking about a Wii, editions made before 2011 support backward compatibility. Whenever considering a purchase based on such a feature, it would be best to check in directly with the manufacturer. Released just this year is the Wii U, which is fully backwards compatible with Wii games and still allows free online access. The Wii U is currently under scrutiny with the gaming experts out there, even though there is innovative technology used in the GamePad. With the GamePad, the game can go from your television screen on to the GamePad screen, which is complete with controllers - much like an oversized hand held GameBoy. This is an excellent feature if you have some one who wants to play their games but the rest of the house wants to sleep.

The Wii calls itself “active entertainment” and without a doubt, encourages the entire family to get off the couch. Controllers for the Wii are handheld and motion controlled, for active play. Some of the Wii games or activities require special accessories to be played.

As parents of the beloved Donkey Kong and Mario Brothers, Nintendo has a loyal following to these characters and the delightful, colorful surrealism their worlds bring. Wii games, almost all across the board, are younger audience appropriate. We don’t see the same shoot ‘em kill ‘em games that you will find available for PlayStation or Xbox.

Bottom Line - What System Suits You Best?

PlayStation rates best for HD gaming and if you are also looking for a Blu-ray player, it is the only console that has one built in. The same console is also best for streamlining other digital media almost seamlessly. And with a PS, online access is free. If you know that you want to play games like Final Fantasy, Gran Turismo and God of War then definitely go with a PS, because those are exclusive titles.

The Xbox may be preferable to the avid online gamer. It also has the best motion control and hands free option with the Kinect accessory. If that is to your interest, some of the Xbox 360’s already come complete with the Kinect included. Again, about exclusive titles - if you want to play games like Halo, Gears of War or Fable, those can only be played on Xbox.

Wii is reliably the most family friendly system and is recognized for innovative game controls. If you are a devoted fan of Nintendo’s iconic franchises such as Donkey Kong, Mario Brothers and Zelda, then the Wii is sure to delight.

Good News For the Second Hand Customer

This is a big year for game consoles. All three platforms are releasing or already have released their next iterations. What does this mean for us? Well, keep an eye out for people unloading their perfectly good consoles and accessories at pawn shops. That’s good news if you are a smart shopper and want the fun without paying full price. Queen of PAWNS has something from every one of these manufacturers, so come on by any of our five locations, pick up a console that best suits your playing style and let the games begin!

Digital Trends, “The History of the Xbox” -Ricky Marshall, May 12,2013

CNet, “Games and Gear: Best Video Game Consoles” Updated July 24, 2013

ConsumerReports.org, “Video-game console buying guide: What you need to know about the top three platforms” Published: June 2013

Xbox.com

Nintendo.com

PlayStation.com

and personal experience were referenced in the writing of this article.