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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.

Despite the plummeting price of real estate and the skyrocketing cost of gasoline, video game sales seem to be surviving the slump. Even while everyone is trying to make ends meet, it seems that everyone still feels the need to play video games to relax and enjoy life. Why not? If we are going down the drain, why not do it while having fun? Besides, I believe we are able to find solutions to our problems when we are not too uptight about them. Creativity is spurred better when we’re not stressed. Read the rest of this entry »

When I became a parent, I swore my kids would have the time of their lives.  There was one thing that I wanted them to be — happy.  I believe that having a wonderful life started by having a happy childhood.  Of course, this had to be balanced by helping them develop self-esteem.  They had to have a sense of achievement — knowing that they are capable of doing something with their lives.  Making them independent and responsible was balanced by having fun playing with each other and friends.  For their leisure, I wanted them to have the best — it was a way of making them believe they deserved the best.  This meant that I had to provide them the best entertainment any kid could have — state-of-the-art games and gadgets.

Game consoles had then become something they looked forward to every Christmas.  Of course, they had to have good grades and no major misdemeanors were allowed throughout the year.  The first console I got them was an Xbox.  They were already given a PS2 as a gift earlier, so it was the next console on the line.  The following year, it was a PSP and then an Xbox 360 in the next.  Between my gifts and those they got from their uncles, my kids almost had all the consoles in the market right at their fingertips.  Other than those I mentioned, they have a gameboy advance, a gameboy SP, a Nintendo gamecube,  a Nintendo DS, and a PS3.  There was one thing left they didn’t have, it was the Nintendo Wii.  They were already expert gamers and the Wii was the last option because they thought it was for babies — the games were for adults playing tennis or little kids swinging swords.

Yep, my kids were considered the luckiest kids on the block.  But there are times I am concerned when I watch them playing games that border on violence and notoriety.  As I watch games becoming more explicit and violent, I started to be more strict with what they play.  I don’t usually mind the ESRB Ratings on the box, now I am more conscious.  I started when I watched my kids laugh while they ran over someone while steering a stolen car in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.  I bought the game based on their request, not knowing that it had an M (Mature) ESRB rating.

After having a serious talk about how these games can affect their perspective about things in life, they were not allowed any more Mature rated games.  The most they were allowed were T (Teen) ESRB rated games.  I had to give in to that because I realize that challenging games rarely went below a T rating.  Luckily, our serious talk seemed to be working.  They know the difference between games and real life.  And even while they play, I can see that they avoid killing whenever possible — none of them ever chose to play the antagonist, even in role-playing games (RPG).   I have not been called at school for any misdemeanors.

I try to watch them play whenever possible so I can monitor how they characterize themselves while playing.  Any sign of going over the dark side, would mean a serious debriefing and a warranted punishment.  So far, my security measures were working.  I just have to keep reminding them that it’s still best to be the nice guy.

Could it be that in the console war between the Xbox 360, PS3, and the Wii, the casualty are the players? Considering that my players include a 13-year old kid and 2 younger boys, this can be alarming news for Moms like me. I want all my boys to get the best out of their childhood. As much as possible, I want to balance learning with enjoyment. Thus, I got them the best consoles to make their leisure the best ones possible.

Greenpeace released in their new Playing Dirty report that all three home video game consoles, Sony’s PS3, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii, tested positive for hazardous chemicals such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), beryllium, bromine, and phthalates.Phthalates were found in relatively high levels in both the Xbox 360 and PS3. These are not allowed as components in toys or any childcare product. But game consoles are not classified as toys and thus, are not subject to existing legislation.

All three systems also contained significant levels of bromine which has been linked to impaired memory functions and other health problems. One of the phthalates found in the 360 and PS3 is also known to cause problems with sexual development in mammals.However, they also indicated that the three console manufacturers have “avoided or reduced uses of individual hazardous substances in certain materials within their consoles.” As such, if would be possible to make a green console if the 3 manufacturers combined efforts to do.

Please . . . I’d really like to have grandchildren.

Christmas is merely breaths away and I’m starting to decide what to give the kids this Christmas. It has been a tradition to give 3 rowdy boys just one big gift every Christmas instead of 3 separate smaller tokens. Last year, they got their PSP. This year they were hinting on any of the bigger consoles that came out the market about a year ago. I did some research and thought it might help out anyone who may be in a similar dilemma.

Sony’s PS3 is the most expensive of the new consoles at a hefty price of $499 or about PhP22,000. Bulk of the cost is attributed to the Blu-Ray DVD capabilities of the console, a new format that enables high-definition DVD playback and allows for better resolution and more sophisticated games. It has a 3.2 GHz cell processor which is the most powerful chip ever found inside a video game console and holds either a 20GB or a 60GB hard drive, depending on which version you opt for. The 60GB version ($599) comes with WiFi and a media card reader. Sony updated its bluetooth controllers to the new SixAxis controller –looks and feels like a DualShock controller, but is motion-sensitive in six directions. It’s not as innovative as the Wii controller, but the SixAxis does add another element to gaming, such as utilizing the motion sensitivity to control skating or driving. It also allows up to 7 bluetooth controllers — that means the entire family can play together. Moreover, unlike the the XBox live, Sony’s online service is absolutely free, allowing free multiplayer games without any add-on softwares or upgrades.

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