Let the games begin
Sony’s PlayStation 3, which hits local retail shelves this week, not only serves up games with the elan of a top-end games PC but also plays high-definition Blu-ray movie discs, CDs, DVDs, and music, movie and still image files in a wide range of formats.
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 can’t handle Blu-ray but it matches most of the PS3’s media management tricks and boasts the extra ability of being able to latch on to PCs and stream all sorts of content through the Media Centre software that comes with some versions of Windows XP and Vista.
Nintendo’s Wii can’t play CD or DVD discs and its graphics prowess is more in line with the original Xbox and Sony PS2.
But the Wii’s stunningly different motion sensitive controller means you can stand in your living room, swing the Wii’s remote like a real golf club, slice the shot too much and watch the ball bounce into the bunker just like down at the local course
