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In the 20th century, nothing provides more cheer to kids than video games on high tech video consoles. The video game console market is controlled and dominated by only 3 players, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. For more than 5 years, these 3 giants have been engaged in the console wars. In the past 5 years, it has been Sony winning the console wars with the Playstation and the Playstation 2. In 2006, the console giants launched another full-scale war with their new consoles — the Sony Playstation 3, the Microsoft XBox 360, and the Nintendo Wii. This time, Nintendo has emerged the winner with the highest worldwide sales that has reached 34.55 million as of September 2008.

What makes the Wii better than its competitors? The Wii is a the game console that can be enjoyed and played by the entire family together. While the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 were both targeted for hardcore gamers, the Wii features games that will make the family have fun. Another distinguishing feature that sets it apart from its competitors is its wireless controller (the Wii Remote) that can be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect movement in three dimensions. Father and son can play a game of tennis together and controlling the game would mean holding the remote and swinging your arms to simulate a real tennis swing in coordination with the character on the monitor. When I got my kids a Wii, it came with the Nintendo Wii Sports where we played tennis, baseball, bowling, and a lot more. It is probably the only game console that allows its players to exercise.

And because the Wii has been known to provide its players exercise, one of its bestselling games that was launched this year was the Wii Fit. The game was so in demand that it had become difficult to find one in the market. Same as the Wii, people were willing to pay a fortune to be able to get their hands on one. I have found it to be the best fitness tool so far. It comes with a Wii Balance Board that measures a user’s weight and center of gravity. The software then calculates the user’s body mass index and it includes activities like yoga, push-ups, and other exercises to keep you fit and strong.

Millions of people can’t be wrong about the Wii. Why not get one for the entire family and enjoy hours of fun together this holiday season? It would be the perfect gift for the kids. As a matter of fact, it has become the perfect tool for me and the kids to bond together.

Since I already got my kids a Wii, I’m planning on getting them a Nintendo DS this Christmas, Nintendo’s handheld game device. And like the Wii, it will definitely provide them hours of fun and entertainment. Check out price comparisons online and make sure you get a good deal on your Nintendo products.

Still trying to save up to buy that new game console? You may have to check the balance in your savings now — the Xbox 360 just cut its price on the entire line with the Arcade edition now as low as $199. This makes it cheaper by $50 than the Wii.

The Xbox 360’s Arcade has the lowest specs of the three Xbox 360 models currently available. It includes a wired controller and a 256 MB memory card rather than the hard drives found on higher-priced bundles. It seems that Microsoft is targeting the Wii’s market share while stock shortages still hound potential Wii buyers. The possibility to overtake the Wii in market share may have moved a notch higher considering that the Xbox 360 has increased its selections on family-friendly games and is planning overhaul to its interface that will make the dashboard more user-friendly.

Other Xbox 360 bundles received comparable price cuts with the Premium edition (which includes a 60 GB hard drive) at $299, and the Elite (with a 120 GB hard drive and a matte black finish) at $399.

Sony’s PlayStation 3 continues to be the most expensive game console with the cheapest system in its range retailing at $399. I guess the PS3 still prides itself as being the best console in the market in terms of specs and game quality. With Blu Ray now expected to be the leader in HD formats, you can still say that the PS3 outranks both the Xbox 360 and the Wii in terms of value. With the PS3, you still have a high quality game console together with a Blu Ray disc player. Nothing still beats watching a movie in a Blu Ray disc on your HD television. The quality and experience is still no match to other formats. Despite the price and its market share, my vote still goes to the PS3. It is still the better choice.