Smackdown!

Vrooming through the sizzling video game console market.

Yeh duniya khel tamasha
Ethhe jeene ki bhasha,
Kanu khich pich tan ke shoo shaa
Ede chakde phatte…
Oola hoo! Remember these lyrics from that recent flick Khosla ka Ghosla? I can’t help thinking of these lines gawking at the khel-tamasha raging in the video gaming console arena. This genre of gaming has hot-footed into its 7th generation on all four paws this November. The battle that was blasted off with the launch of Microsoft's Xbox 360 on November 22 last year has all making of the Ultimate Joystick Joust. Raring to scorch the combat zone comes Sony's PlayStation 3 (released on November 11, 2006), with Nintendo's Wii gnashing nastily at its heels almost week later (November 19, 2006).

Before heading into the rumbles and tumbles of the smackdown, let’s get one thing straight at kick-off: A video game console is a dedicated electronic device designed to play video games which usually uses a separate television or a monitor for viewing. Earlier, game consoles were a distinct breed that employed a TV for display and did not support standard PC accessories like keyboards and modems. But now those lines have blurred. Nowadays, it is easier to look upon gaming consoles interactive entertainment computers that do not choose to undertake “serious” computing tasks.

Microsoft Xbox 360
www.xbox.com/xbox360
The Xbox 360 CPU comprises three separate IBM PowerPC-based core processors that clock a sizzling 3.2 GHz each. The console is armed to the teeth with a 500MHz ATI graphics processor with 10MB of embedded DRAM, 512MB GDDR3 RAM and 700MHz DDR, 20 GB hard disk, a DVD drive, wireless controllers, three USB 2.0 ports, a WiFi adaptor slot, and an Ethernet port. Being a next gen gizmo, it is ready for the HDTV era and delivers all its games in high definition format at 720p and 1080i—thus becoming the first home video game console to do so. (Oh yes, it works work with your regular TVs too.)

To shore up its awesome hardware capabilities, Xbox has used its headstart to build up a strong array of games on this platform. Last week Microsoft also launched its TV and Movie download service in the US allowing 360 owners to view standard and high-definition TV shows and movies sitting at home. Just released add-ons include: HD-DVD player, wireless steering wheel, headset, networking adapter, camera etc. Price: Rs.23,990.

Sony PlayStation 3
www.playstation.com
The king of the console gaming ring’s newest offering features a Cell processor with PowerPC-base core running at 3.2GHz, backed by an Nvidia G71 550MHz RSX chip for graphics. There is 256MB of 3.2GHz XDR for the main RAM and 256MB of 700MHz GDDR3 VRAM as memory. A 20GB hard drive sits in base model, while the upgrade comes with 60GB. Six USB 2.0 ports, a memory stick standard/Duo (in the upgrade model), a PRO (upgrade), an SD standard/mini card reader, and a CompactFlash drive (upgrade), an HDTV out, an AV multi out, and digital out comprise the I/O options. And ah, there’s in-built WiFi compatibility too. Nothing to beat that kind of ammo, dudes! Controllers: Bluetooth. Disc media: Blu-ray, DVD. Backward compatibility: Of course; with both PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games.

Unarguably, that’s a zinger of a config. Also in PS3’s favour are its familiar PSP like interface, all high-def games, free online gaming, and no external power supply. So what are the downers? Paltry selection of games for now and a hefty $600 price tag.

Nintendo Wii
http://wii.nintendo.com
Originally dubbed Revolution, this most compact of consoles in the new crowd, Wii is built around a PowerPC CPU (code-named "Broadway"), developed jointly with--and manufactured by—IBM, and an ATI graphics processing unit. For input, it has USB 2.0 expansion ports, a bay for SD memory cards, and built-in support for WiFi Internet access. Four remotes can communicate with a console wirelessly. The Wii features a single AV multi-output port for component, composite or S-video. A single self-loading media bay plays DVDs as well as 8-cm Nintendo GameCube discs. Backward compatiblilty? Yes, with GameCube, NES, SNES and Nintendo 64, via a virtual console.

Wii real uniqueness lies in its revolutionary motion sensitive remote control styled controllers. Apart from a motion-sensing, multi-function Remote, the Wii also comes with another ergonomically contoured, motion-sensing control device with an analog stick to assist in character movement called the Nunchuk. Bundled also is one freebie: Wii Sports, a medley which includes tennis, golf, baseball, bowling and boxing games. No DVD movie playback abilities here yet. Price: $250.

To see who comes out tops as the khilaryon ka khilari, keep watching this space. Meanwhile, hum this:
Yeh duniya mast kalandar
Taa ate utte bethha bandar,
Samjhe apnoo sikandar
Ede chakde phatte, chakde phatte, chakde phatte…