IN TODAY’S COMPETITIVE MARKET, gaming consoles have become an increasingly popular purchase for consumers over the years. There are many different types of gaming consoles ranging from consoles, for the less experienced gamer, to the best consoles for the hardcore, expert gamer. When shopping for a gaming console, it can be very unnerving to try and figure out which one would be the best fit for yourself or if you are shopping for someone else. Knowing how much to spend on a console and whether to choose between Nintendo or Sony can be stressful. We, at Will Power PCS, want to help you choose the right gaming console with little hassle. Following our short but informative guide will help you make the right decision.
What Should I Look For In A Gaming Console?
Consoles are unique, prepackaged, mini PCs which are used for playing video games on your TV. They have a tendency to be much less expensive than gaming PCs. The PlayStation 4, for instance, will only support PlayStation 4 games. There are a few special cases to this, for instance, Nintendo’s Wii U gives you a chance to play every one of the generations that came out from its ancestor. When shopping for a gaming console you are going to want to look at things such as; hardware, graphics, and entertainment options.
Hardware– Gaming consoles offer a consistent hardware platform that allows developers to work with it, and they will remain relevant for years. It’s extremely possible that a game, that comes out five years from now, will look better on your gaming console, regardless of the fact that you probably are using older equipment. Over the years, designers learn how to create the best execution out of what’s accessible. This is why purchasing a gaming console over a PC is a better choice for a gamer.
Graphics- Technically, the best graphics come from the games that are purchased for the gaming consoles. PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One are two of today’s most popular gaming consoles. Both consoles are technologically similar except for the fact that the PS4 has a larger GPU. Games played on the PS4 have substantially more graphics power available excels in real-world comparisons. Beyond clock speeds and core counts, both GPUs are identical. They’re both based on the Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture, and therefore support OpenCL 1.2, OpenGL 4.3, and Direct3D 11.2.
Entertainment Options- Gaming consoles have evolved over the decades to do more than just play video games such as surfing the web, streaming movies on Hulu or Netflix, and playing music. The Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 all have Blu-ray drives. The Xbox One is a popular console choice for the non-gamer. It is a fully functional Blu-ray player which can hold a large archive of downloaded on-demand movies, television shows and music. The console has an HDMI connection and an infrared blaster that allows you to connect your cable and integrate TV watching through your console. It even offers changing the channel by your voice. This console does come with a price though. Depending on what you are searching for in your gaming console will depend on how important your entertainment options and special features are.
What About The Games?
Many games that are produced are known as cross-platform which means that they can be played on several different gaming consoles. Each system has its exclusive games meaning that they produce games that can only be played on that system. Games that come out for multi systems usually will only play on the Xbox or PlayStation because they have similar capabilities. Nintendo’s consoles are not as powerful but have unique features which makes it more difficult for producers to make compatible games for other consoles. The rule of thumb here is to check which games you or your loved one is looking to play, then match them up to the console that supports the those games. You will find that the Xbox and the PlayStation will support the most cross-platform games. Every one has different desires which makes choosing those exclusive games specifically for the preferred gamers, a tough choice.
Multiplayer Gaming- All of the latest gaming consoles offer internet connectivity and some form of multiplayer gaming. Although, you can only play other players who have the same console as you. In the future, Microsoft and Sony have announced that they would be willing to work with one another to create multiplayer access between their networks. Sony’s PlayStation 4 has been ranked the best console for multiplayer gaming.
Budget Gaming- The latest gaming consoles are not cheap by any means as they offer you the best graphics and best gaming advances. The PlayStation 4 starts at $400. In today’s world, that price may not be affordable for some people. In order to save yourself money, choosing an older version of the console may be a considerable option. It will ultimately be lower in cost and still give you the same experience of the gaming world. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are preferable cheaper versions if shopping on a budget.
Portable Gaming- Handheld gaming devices are another option that some consumers may prefer over the console. If you are always on the go then this may be an option to consider. There are not as many options on the market today since smartphones have taken over the hand held device era. Two popular portable gaming devices are the Sony PlayStation Vita and Nintendo 3DS.
What Is An Entertainment Center?
Numerous cutting edge TVs have connectivity networks and inherent applications that enable you to watch Netflix, listen to Spotify and peruse YouTube without having to connect to a PC. In any case, regardless of the possibility that you have such a TV, those implicit applications are once in a while exceptionally smart and quite often hard to upgrade. DVD and Blu-ray players can have the same applications, yet they’re regularly included as bits of hindsight.
High quality gaming consoles such as the Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 stream Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, HBO, etc. These amazing consoles generally become your at-home entertainment center for all of your recreational pleasures. They have the processing power to make your viewing experience top notch which is why these gaming consoles come at such a high price.
The Xbox One has been ranked the best gaming console for your entertainment experience. It allows voice command to turn your device on and off which shows that it was manufactured with the consumers best interest in mind.
Are There Specific Consoles For Kids?
If you are looking for a gaming console intended for a child then the Nintendo Wii U would be a great option for you to consider. It is a bit pricey but considerably cheaper then the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4. It comes with a unique game pad that is easy to use and that kids will be sure to love. Nintendo has just released the multi-age package which contains the New Super Mario Brother U and the New Super Luigi U for the console. The Wii U was manufactured with the intention directed towards family play. The whole family will all play together. Your child won’t get tunnel vision as he or she puts in hours of play.
Top Gaming Consoles Of 2016
- Sony PlayStation 4 Pro
- Sony PlayStation 4 Slim
- Microsoft Xbox One
- Nintendo Wii U
- New Nintendo 3DS XL
Resources:
http://www.toptenreviews.com/electronics/gaming/best-video-game-consoles/#Console_Basics
https://www.cnet.com/topics/consoles/best-video-game-consoles/