The Battle of Gaming Systems - PlayStation Versus Wii

To be honest, it’s not even fair to compare the latest generation of PlayStation to Nintendo’s newest unit in terms of graphic capability. At a glance, the PS3 blows Wii out of the water and allows no reasonable request for a rematch.

However, in the spirit of the age-old suggestion that apples need not be compared to oranges, further examination stands to reason. The different levels of graphic acuity actually represent two very different gaming philosophies.

The PS3, like it’s predecessors, was built to represent the cutting-edge in virtual world display technology. By nature, PlayStation owners crave and seek the latest and greatest visual theatres to immerse themselves it. Whether playing a first-person shooter, or an epic fantasy adventure, stunning visual elements are integral to the game experience.

On the other hand, the Wii was designed to usher in a new age of interactivity between user, console, and virtual environments. At least half of a gamer’s attention during play is focused on their body movements and the coordination of one or more unconventional (by other console standards) control mechanisms.

With the Wii, it’s not about lifelike animations and cinema quality backdrops. It’s about the experience of coordinating with the interface in a manner that drives the game engine forward. For this reason, the high quality but cartoon-like imagery of most Wii games is completely appropriate.

These two gaming systems employ completely different types of graphic display, because they represent completely different types of gamers.

Both the PS3 and the Wii are great consoles that will bring hours of enjoyment into a gamer’s life. However, each of the two game systems was designed for a very specific type of user.

The PlayStation 3 represents the highly successful progression of standard game play into a new realm of improved graphics and intuitive capabilities. In some ways, a user gets the feeling that the world is not yet ready for advancement beyond the stunning visuals and phenomenal control acuity this platform offers.

At the same time, the PS3 maintains the standard console concept that started with the original Atari; you have the box that houses your processor and memory and one or more hand-held control devices that are essentially highly advanced “joy sticks”. The same general format that worked in the 80’s has stood the test of time and is still used with the cutting-edge systems of 2008.

But Nintendo has pushed the envelope of convention with the somewhat evolutionary control and game play configuration of the Wii. Relying on body movement technology and highly unconventional hand controls, this console invites gamers to get off the couch and physically participate in the virtual environment.

The Wii requires a leap beyond directional pads and push-button execution. Players actually hold the control pads and explore a variety of range-of-motion requirements to interact with the game process.

If a player intends to hit a baseball, for instance, he or she must assume a batting stance and physically swing the control device in order to prompt the correct response from the digital character.

This is either viewed as a welcome departure from the norm, or a pointless annoyance to be avoided. In many ways, Wii fans want (and get!) more than push-button satisfaction from an afternoon of video gaming.

While many games are produced to span the console gap, and are thus available for all three of the current generation systems, each platform also has a core of unique games that are only available to its users. When comparing games that are specific to either the PS3 or the Wii, the vast differences in gaming philosophy become abundantly pronounced.

Most gamers would agree that Sony has the market cornered for high-intensity driving games. Wii and Xbox versions are available for most racing titles, but it seems a good deal is lost in translation.

Additionally, the majority of people who follow the GTA franchise will tell you if it’s not on PlayStation it’s not the same game. Whether the subtle nuances make a legitimate difference or we’re just looking at some sort of high-tech “sentimentality” is unclear, but retail activity speaks loudly and clearly to the validity of these opinions.

One thing that can’t be argued with, however, is the fact that Wii games generally offer a completely alternate experience from the cross-console hits. Due to the drastic differences in the control and play mechanisms, it’s just not possible for a total translation to occur.

And it’s interesting to note that, while the interactive fundamentals of the Wii are totally different from previous themes, the cartoon-fantasy games and characters that have long been exclusively Nintendo continue to thrive in the new gaming environment. Characters like Mario and Yoshi have not only made the leap to the new console, they appear to be thriving!

Core video game selection, like every other facet of Wii and PS3 comparison, has more to do with the gamer’s paradigm than title content and difficulty.