>> Older and current consoles avalible on the market.

The older and current consoles avalible on the market have been reviewed below. The specification have not only been listed, but a detailed review and overall consluion of each console has been produced. Please click on the links below, to go to the appropraite section:

Menu

The Playstation 2

The machine is powered by the 128 bit engine'running at 300MHz which, according to Sony at least, runs at three times the speed of a Pentium III. This combined with a 150MHz graphics processor capable of shifting up to 75 million polygons a second (a Voodoo 2 does 6 million) means that Sony's new machine could have a serious effect on the PC games world.

The console utilizes a DVD-ROM drive and an MPEG2 encoder, so it will be a game console and a dvd player. Sony have now confirmed that a modem will be available for the Playstation 2 soon. The modem will be a 56k modem with broadband capabilities. It can be used as a dial up or broadband connection. This modem simply plugs into the back of the Playstation 2 so your ps2 can be used to surf the net and play your game online. One of the first online games for the Playstation 2 will be Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3. The modem will cost around £40 and it should be released sometime next year.

Sony have now made a hard drive for the Playstation 2. This can be used to store game files and for downloading extra games and other add on's from the net. Just like the xbox.

The console does, however, look to have numerous expansion possibilities, with the inclusion of PCMCIA and USB interfaces. Tantalizingly there will also be a IEEE 1394 port. Commonly known as Firewire, but referred to by Sony as 'I-Link', this is designed to enable fast data transfer to and from high performance digital devices.

Sony have thought hard about the new machine and their market strategy is as on-the-ball as ever. The new playsation will be backwards compatible with not only old Playstation software, but also with peripherals built for the old machine like dual shock controllers and memory cards. Note: you can not save any playstation 2 game on a normal 1mb Playstation 1 memory card. The future looks bright for the Playstation 2, but the xbox could change the future of the Playstation 2 and sony may be forced to start making the Playstation 3. They have more than 20 million so far and with a built in dvd player you carn't go wrong. They are a great choice for Christmas. Get one now before they are all sold out.

What Playstation.com say about it?

Imagine walking into a movie and taking part in real-time...this is the world you are about to enter. PlayStation®2 is a revolutionary computer entertainment system set to reinvent the nature of video games. Incorporation both CD and DVD formats, PlayStation®2 has been designed to offer you a range of computer entertainment options combining games, video and music.

Not only is it be supported by numerous high quality software titles with hundreds more in development, it is the first machine of its kind to offer backwards compatibility. So, you can use your existing PlayStation® software on the new system.

As well as games, PlayStation®2 also offers both CD and DVD formats. The fusion of interactive entertainment with music and video will open the doors to new entertainment experiences in the home.

PlayStation®2 delivers a new dimension to your gaming experience. You will not only be able to play your original PlayStation software on the system, but you will be able to enjoy the enhanced graphics of a range of new games developed specifically for PlayStation®2. The inclusion of Dolby Digital, AC-3 and DTS capabilities allow you to experience staggeringly real sound effects and mood defining music that will deliver a truly emotional experience.

It is the "Emotion Engine" at the heart of PlayStation®2 that enables you to cross the line into a new universe of digital interactivity. The "Emotion Engine" is a 128 Bit CPU that takes 3D graphics into another sphere - gravity, friction and emotive materials from fire to snow are stunningly and realistically recreated on-screen. This "Emotion Synthesis" produces completely accurate physical simulations, elevating gameplay to a higher level. The "Emotion Engine" simultaneously processes high-resolution 3D graphics at the same time as high quality DVD images, resulting in superior real-time graphics and sound quality.

PlayStation®2 includes:

Click here for news on METAL GEAR SOLID 2 including news, info and lots of pictures of in-game footage. Check it out ! One of the best games on the Playstation is coming to the Best Console Ever "The Playstation 2"

What i think about it?

I own a Playstation 2 myself and i think the graphics and the DVD player are very good. The good thing about it is there is a massive chose of games to choose from. This is because it is backwards compatible and can play all old Playstation One games, some of which you can get for only £10.00 New. The DVD player is great and unlike the Xbox you don't have to buy a remote to get it working. Sony are now bringing out some great games for the console. My two favorite games are Grand Theft Auto San andreas and Gran Turismo 4. The graphics on these 2 games are incredible. Puts a lot of pressure on the Xbox.

A review of some of the games has been produced on the following page:
Reviews

My rating for the console 9/10.

The Powerful Playstation 2 (the best console ever !!)

The Microsoft Xbox

The Xbox is microsoft's only console. It is even more powerfull than the Playstation 2 and plays dvd's cd's. It even has its own hard drive and Internet access.

Specifications:

> Cpu;730 mhz intel
> Graphics processor:300 mhz custom xchip developed by microsoft and nVANA
> Total memory:64 mb
> Memory bandwidth:6.4 gb/sec
> Polygons: 150 m/sec
> 4x dvd, 8 gb hard drive, 8mb memory card
> 3D audio support
> MIDL DLS2 support
> AC3 encoded game audio
> Broadband enable 100mbps
> Modem enable fully upgradable
> DVD movie playback
> Maximum resolution 1920x1080
> MDTV support
> xbox power 150million different shapes on the screen every second.

Xbox power 150 million Polygons on the screen every second.
Playstation 2 77 million Polygons on screen every second.
Xbox more than twice the power of the playstation 2

Xbox = 733mhz
Playsation 2 = 350mhz

What i think about it?

I have now played on the Xbox. I played on Halo. The graphics are simpler to the Playstation 2. It is more powerful than the (so was the N64 than the Playstation and Playstation still sold more consoles). Playstation 2 but the Playstation 2 has a wider choice of games and a great Dvd player. It may be powerful but i think many gamers will go for the ps2 because the playstation was great and it lasted for over 5 years, will the Playatstion 2 do the same. Many gamers go by experience and what the last console was like. Also the Playstation 2 can play all the games that the original Playstation did. It will be a very popular games consoles. Sony have all ready sold over 20 million world wide. It is the first time Microsoft have ever made a console, they have not made another console before so it may flop easily.

Not much is know about the graphics the xbox can produce. But like the Ps2 as time goes along the graphics will become better revealing the exact power of the console.

I thought the Playstation 2 looked big. Wait until you see the Xbox !!. Its massive !!. It is the size of 2 PS2's put together. It must be so big because of the built in hard drive and the graphics power.

One of the good things about the Xbox is that you do not need a memory card. You dont have to shell out another £20 - £30 for a memory card beacuse you can save all your gameplay on the built in 8 gb hardrive. Lets hope you you don't have to install the games like you do the P.C. One of the bad things is you have to pay £30-£40 for the DVD remote for you to be able to operate the DVD player.

Microsoft have spent over a $Billion on there new machine. Good job Microsoft are rich and have deep pockets. It should be good console.

.
My rating for the console 9/10.

Nintendo have developing the central processor with IBM and Matsushita, and promise a clock speed of 400 Mhz. The graphics processor has been developed by ArtX and will have a clock speed of 200 Mhz. Again there is nothing firm on the exact system memory of the gamecube, but a bandwidth of 3.2 Gb/second is expected. Nintendo are abandoning the cartridge format and the gamecube will run on cd's that hold 2.0 gb of data. They claim that their mini DVD software will be stop pirates copying the disks, like so many other systems, every disk is also encrypted, so pirates will need special software to hack the codes. Nintendo's intentions are evident from their promise that the machine will be competitively priced on launch and that Matsushita will launch a Panasonic branded DVD drive utilizing the Nintendo technology soon after the Gamecube arrives. First it was the Dolphin then it was the gamecube.

The original Nintendo Gamecube and the multi colored Gamecube's

The Gamecube is now available in Over 6 different colors.

Above is the Panasonic Gamecube. This is the same as the original Gamecube except unlike the original it is able to play cd and DVD disks. It also comes with a free Remote Control (and batteries) so you can operate the DVD player with ease. It is now available in Japan but Nintendo has said it may not be released in the U.k and Europe. Remember if you have imported this console into the U.k remember to buy a Power step-down unless you want to blow your console up !! This converts the Japanese power from 180 volts to the U.k massive 230 volts .

The official GameCube 4mb memory card. Needed to save gameplay.

The official controller needed for multi player games.

Specifications:

CPU: IBM PowerPC Gekko, 128bit, 405MHz
Graphic Processor: Flipper 128bit, 202.5MHz
Main RAM: 24Mb
Graphic RAM: 16Mb
Memory bandwith: 3.2Gb/sec
Theoretical performance: 12million polygons/second
Estimated Real performance: 6-12million polygons/second

The disks

Each disk holds 1.5 gb of data that is enough to fit over 100 mario 64 games on one disk. the disk are like mini Dvd's. Nintendo have finaly changed from cartridges over to cd's. The games are mini dvd's and they were designed so they can not be pirated, like so many other systems. Every disk is also encrypted so pirates will need special software to hack the codes. Each disk takes hardly any time to load. Very fast loading.

The Gamecube can not play cd's or dvd's like most other next gen consoles. It has 4 control ports and a memory card slot. I have currently played on a jap Gamecube and i think the graphics are very similar to the Playstation 2. I played on WaveRace. The graphics and good and Colorful. There are some great launch games and it will be on the shelfs in the U.k just after Christmas.

What i think of the console?

The Gamecube another console i have played on. I played on Wave Race. The smallest console of all 3 and the least powerful of all 3. The graphics are quiet good almost the same as the Playstation 2 graphics. They will cost about £200-£250 when they come out in the U.k. They have a great lineup of games including Sonic Adventure 2, Soul Calibur 2 and many others. The graphics are O.K good and the console has internet access. It will have a tough time trying to compete with the Playstation 2 and the Xbox. But it is still a good console and has some great games coming out. Only the future can tell what the console will do and how good the games will become. One bad thing about the Gamecube is it can not play DVD disks or any Cd's like the other consoles. It can also only do 12 million Polygons per second unlike the PS2's 77 Polygons per second and the Xbox's 150 Polygons per second.

My rating for the console 8/10.

The Dreamcast is the new 128 bit machine from console giants Sega. It was released in Japan December 1999 and there are more than 1000 games now available. Sega worked very closely with Microsoft, Hitachi, NEC, VideoLogic, and Yamaha to customise each partner's Dreamcast contribution for unmatched 3D gaming performance. The machine is designed to make PC ports very easy and as a result most high profile PC games are getting Dreamcast conversions. It also uses Windows CE, a cut down version of Windows 95 and so PC gamers will feel very much at home.

After making some great games, sega have now give up on there Dreamcast. No new consoles will be made now and next year they will stop making the games. The Dreamcast will never have the chance to compete with the Playstation 2. It was one great console with some of the best games i have ever seen. The Dreamcast is now dead and is part of console history. Sega are not dead, they are now making games for other consoles such as the Playstation 2, Gamecube, Xbox and Gameboy advanced. Crazy Taxi is now out on the Playstation 2 another great Dreamcast game. Sonic Adventure 2 will also be comming out on the Gamecube. They helped Microsoft make the xbox. They may change there mind in a few years and start producing dreamcast consoles again. Only the future can tell. They may also bring out some new hardware or software that enables dreamcast owners to play xbox or Ps2 games on there console. It is the only next gen console at the moment that has internet access via a built in 56k modem. The Ps2 will have internet access some time next year. But for now, the Playstation 2, gamecube and xbox are the sucessors, until the next bread of next generation consoles including the likes of Playsation 3 and Xbox 360 become avalible.

The great Dreamcast above !

What i think of it?

It is a great console with some great graphics. I also own one of these. It was the first ever 128 bit next gen console. It was also the first console to have internet access and the ability to play online games with other games all over the world. The were very popular for a while and still are now. But then sega announce they were to stop making the console. This left many Dreamcast owners including myself in shock. I have over 20 Dreamcast games and they were all great. Such as Sonic Adventure 2 which had better graphics than some of the Playstation 2 games. They also had very slow but great internet access and you could play online games such as chuchu rocket with many gamers from around the globe. They have now stooped making the console and Sega have dropped the price from £200 to £80. The console had a revolutionary VMU (virtual memory unit) which could be used to play games, Save game Data, and show additional information or logo's during game play. This console does not have a very good future now. But there are some new games coming out in 2002 and hopefully they will continue to make games in 2004. A great console with 6-12 polygons per second same as gamecube. They have now made Dreamkey 3.0 for the internet. This allows you unlimited internet access with other companys such as free surf. You can play online games on the net all day for only £12.99 a month. You can use any ISP instead of using the dial up Sega Net charging you 1p per minuite. The dreamcast does not have a very good future now unless sega change there mind. There is still some great games now though.

My rating for the console 7/10.

The Power Sumary

The current consoles listed on this page are almost dying out, and will soon be relaced by the next generation of new contoles, such as the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Revolution. These new conlsoles are un-confimed whether or not they will be backwards compatable, but they will go down in console history.

Who won the console war?

1st Place = Sony Playsation 2

2nd Place = Microsoft Xbox

3rd place = Nintendo Gamecube

After looking at the sales of the consoles over the past years, the follwoing details have been revealed:

Copyright © Craig Poulton All Rights Reserved.

Site created by Craig Poulton
No part of this site may be copied. CheatMonster™

Site should run perficaly on netscape, internet explorer and aol browsers. For some things on this site you will need Macromedia Flash Player. Download it here Remember to add us to your favorites.