every ybp has a way to relax. whether that aggression and stress causes you to read a book, watch some tv, or exercise…relaxation is key. well, what about gaming? i encourage all ybp’ers, guys and gals alike, to explore opportunity of GAMING as a viable way of de-stressing.

besides, many are calling november ‘next-gen gaming month’. why? because xbox 360 releases its most anticipated game this month, the next generation playstation 3 (ps3) arrives, and nintendo’s new console, the wii (pronounced ‘weee’), also looks to change things. so, where should your hard-earned dollars go? let’s take a look at a comparison:

xbox 360 : microsoft’s continuation of the original xbox system; debuted in march 2006 and has enjoyed console monopoly thus far
pros : medium price-range ($299 – $399); has quite a few titles available right now; connects to the xbox live arcade (xbla) that allows you to play online (via broadband) to other users, download exclusive content (movie trailers, game demos); able to connect an hd dvd drive to it and watch hd dvd movies; able to stream files (pictures, music, movies) back and forth between windows devices (including pc, smartphones running windows mobile, etc.); can play selected originial xbox titles in better resolution; higher-priced option has built-in hard drive
cons : runs extremely hot (reports of literally being able to cook on it); not the cheapest next-gen console; more adult-oriented games (shoot ‘em ups, etc.); not technically able to output full 1080p resolution; first editions were a little buggy; streaming movies is not the easiest process; not able to play games on hd dvd drive; need adaptor for wireless gaming
release date : available now
most anticipated game : gears of war (november 7th)

ps3 : sony’s continuation of the successful playstation 2 (ps2); debuts on November 17, 2006 worldwide
pros : able to play high-definition games in 1080p via hdmi (more expensive option); built-in blu-ray player; supposedly more powerful gaming architecture because of newer hardware (processor, RAM, graphics card); possible 30 titles at launch; able to play online; SIXAXIS; built-in wireless and bluetooth; built-in hard drive; shiny box
cons : wallet breaking price ($499 – $599); no rumble feature in game controllers; freakish purchase price (just in case you didn’t see that the first time); will be hard to find on release date
release date(s) : november 17th (u.s.); november 11th (japan); march 2007 (u.k.)
most anticipated game : resistance: fall of man (november 17th)

wii : nintendo’s contender in the next-gen market looks to bring the ‘fun’ back into gaming by offering a more interactive environment
pros : wii controller (requires actual user movement….think having to swing the controller in a baseball game or brandishing the controller for sword-fighting games); relatively inexpensive ($249); built-in wifi and bluetooth; more likely to have ‘unique’ games (fishing, exercise, puzzle, etc.) allowing for a newer audience to get involved in gaming; backwards compatible with gamecube games; able to play old-school games via online download and virtual console; confirmed launch titles; 62 titles by christmas
cons : wii controller (different is necessarily better if not pulled off correctly); not as powerful architecture and graphics; no 1080p gaming; demand is expected to exceed supply, so maybe hard to find on release date
release date(s) : november 19th (u.s.); december 2nd (japan); december 7th (u.k.)
most anticipated game : legend of zelda: twilight princess (november 19th)

if you’re a first-time gamer, i suggest sticking to the nintendo wii. it promises to be a fun experience with the new user interactive environment, won’t break your bank, and usually has a lot of fun titles centered around the loveable mario as well as offering your typical sports titles.

obviously if you’ve got the ridiculous high definition setup, the wii maybe too kiddie for you. since xbox 360 is already out, you may already have one. i think the biggest advantage this system has over ps3 is its ability to interact with your devices on your network. however, the ps3 is just plain (from a brute force perspective) more powerful. expect mind-blowing graphics, tons of titles, and (of course) the built-in high definition blu-ray media player…..which you’ll pay an arm and a leg for.