PlayStation 3
Available now (US/Japan); March 2007 (Europe) Price £350-£425

WHAT IT DOES: Sony’s new gaming machine is also the first mass-market high-definition DVD player to use the Blu-ray format, which is set to slug it out with HD-DVD for market supremacy. Current Blu-ray players cost £1,000, so early buyers will see the PS3 as a bargain. The top-end console will include a 60-gigabyte hard drive for media storage, and internet connectivity is standard. Sony plans to market downloadable game add-ons and invite players to program their own.

KEY TITLES: Like the Xbox 360, the PS3 will be launched with fast-paced titles designed to show off its superior graphics. Sport, shooting and driving will feature heavily. By the time it is launched in Britain more titles with a wider appeal should be available.

VERDICT: Thanks to the combination of the Blu-ray discs, which hold more than twice as much information as a standard DVD and a specially developed CPU (central processing unit), the PS3 is the first machine that can produce images that are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. It’s a stunning achievement, but a high price, initially poor range of games and an over-reliance on sequels may prove damaging.

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Nintendo Wii
Available December 8 Price £180

WHAT IT DOES: plays disk-based games developed for the Wii, and its predecessor, the GameCube. Promises a new way of playing video games, using a motion-sensitive controller which can be used, where appropriate, as a sword, a shield, a golf club or a steering wheel. Internet connectivity will allow users to download and play older Nintendo titles, while a series of dedicated internet channels for weather, news and family is designed to foster a feeling of community. Web browser will allow users to surf the internet on TV sets.

KEY TITLES: Super Mario Galaxy, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Rayman Raving Rabbids, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves.

VERDICT: Exclusive rights to Super Mario and Zelda are Nintendo’s ace in the hole, and many players will rush out to buy this console for these titles alone. Pricing is attractive, and although this is the least graphically powerful of the three new consoles, Nintendo is unique in chasing a family market with games that are fun to play. What we’ve seen so far, particularly Rayman Raving Rabbids, brings a smile to the face in the same way as an old Warner Brothers cartoon.

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Microsoft Xbox 360
Available now Price £200-£280

:image:WHAT IT DOES: Plays high-definition 360 and standard Xbox titles, and commercially available DVDs and CDs. Can connect to the internet for global tournaments, and act as a “home hub”, streaming digital content such as music and films from Windows PCs. An HD DVD drive will be available in the coming weeks.

KEY TITLES: Relies very strongly on games designed for males. Bestselling titles include Gears of War, Pro-Evolution Soccer 6, WWE Smackdown and Tiger Woods PGA Tour.

VERDICT: Microsoft has had the high-definition console market to itself for a year now, but has failed to capitalise. Emphasis on war, shooting, driving and sports, coupled with the high cost, has deterred many buyers. Fresh ideas are needed.

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