This is not a full review; it's just an observation.
Recently, my personal budget has loosened up some what and I decided to get a console gaming system. I looked at the Play Station 3, the Xbox 360 and the Wii. Unfortunately, none of them made the cut.
My current favorite gaming system is the Play Station 3. It the most powerful system period. The down side is that there aren't that many games (although more are being added all the time). It is also very expensive. I had heard that prices have come down, but when I went to look, they were still $500 for the 'good' one. There is one for $400, but it doesn't play the older PS2 games that I love and is still too expensive.
I skipped the XBox because I am tired of years of technological oppression by Microsoft and try to avoid giving them money or market share whenever possible. On a completely unrelated note, try Ubuntu Linux now, for free, without even installing it!
The Wii is a much better value than the Play Station 3 in terms of fun vs. money. Sure, it doesn't have all the fancy graphics, HD capabilities or a Blue Ray player. What it lacks in features, it makes up for in innovative controls and internet capabilities. Also, it's half the price. Wait, wasn't the Wii $250 when it launched? Maybe it was a little more, but I feel like it should be no more than $150. Also, the games are a little childish and many are only fun with groups. What will I do when I'm alone?
Well, I guess I've eliminated all the systems. Too bad that PS3 can't play PS2 games. I loved those. Just for fun, I went to see if the PS2 was still available. It is. For $99. With over 1,800 games available. Most for $19.99 or less.
I am now the proud owner of a Play Station 2. It's the new version that's incredibly tiny but still packs all the power of the original, plus Internet support for online play. Sure, it's not HD, but then neither is the Wii. It still looks good on my 'Near HD' projector and 84" screen too. It also uses the best game controller ever devised by a mortal - the Dual Shock II.
Over all, I love the current generation of video game systems. They all have some very innovative features (yes, even the evil empire's XBox 360). Some of them have graphics that will blow your mind. The games are fun and engaging. There is one important ingredient missing, though. Value. For the price of the Wii, I can have my PS2 plus seven or eight amazing games. All hail the new king of video game consoles - the PS2!