Seventh generation of video game consoles
The seventh generation of home video game consoles began on November 22, 2005, with the release of Microsoft's Xbox 360 home console. This was followed by the release of Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation 3 on November 17, 2006 and Nintendo's Wii on November 19, 2006, the following year. Each new console introduced new technologies. The Xbox 360 offered games rendered natively at high-definition video (HD) resolutions, the PlayStation 3 offered HD movie playback via a built-in 3D Blu-ray Disc player, and the Wii focused on integrating controllers with movement sensors as well as joysticks.[1] Some Wii controllers could be moved about to control in-game actions, which enabled players to simulate real-world actions through movement during gameplay. By this generation, video game consoles had become an important part of the global IT infrastructure; it is estimated that video game consoles represented 25% of the world's general-purpose computational power in 2007.[2]
Joining Nintendo in releasing motion devices and software, Sony Computer Entertainment released the PlayStation Move in September 2010, which featured motion-sensing gaming similar to that of the Wii. In November 2010, Microsoft released Kinect for use with the Xbox 360. Kinect did not use controllers, instead using cameras to capture the player's body motion and using that to direct gameplay, effectively making the players act as the "controllers". Having sold eight million units in its first 60 days on the market, Kinect claimed the Guinness World Record of being the "fastest selling consumer electronics device".[3][4]
Among handheld consoles, the seventh generation began somewhat earlier than the home consoles. November 2004 saw the introduction of the Nintendo DS,[5] and the PlayStation Portable (PSP) came out in December. The DS features a touch screen and built-in microphone, and supports wireless standards.[6] The PSP became the first handheld video game console to use an optical disc format as its primary storage media.[7][8] Sony also gave the PSP multimedia capability;[9] connectivity with the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, other PSPs; as well as Internet connectivity.[10][11] Despite high sales numbers for both consoles, PSP sales have consistently lagged behind those of the DS.[12]
A crowdfunded console, the Ouya, received $8.5 million in preorders before launching in 2013. Post-launch sales were poor, and the device was a commercial failure. Additionally, microconsoles like Nvidia Shield Console, Amazon Fire TV, MOJO, Razer Switchblade, GamePop, GameStick, and more powerful PC-based Steam Machine consoles have attempted to compete in the video game console market; however they are seldom classified as "seventh generation" consoles.[13][14][15]
The seventh generation slowly began to wind down when Nintendo began cutting back on Wii production in the early 2010s. In 2014, Sony announced they were discontinuing the production of the PSP worldwide. Microsoft announced in 2016 that they would discontinue the Xbox 360. The following year, Sony announced that it would soon discontinue the PlayStation 3. Around that time, the remaining Wii consoles were discontinued, ending the generation as all hardware was discontinued. The final PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 physical games were released in 2018, as FIFA 19 for the former and Just Dance 2019 for the latter. Despite this, several more Wii games were released, including a few more annual Just Dance sequels,[16][17] as well as a limited 3,000-copy print run of a physical release of Retro City Rampage DX and a port of its 2019 sequel Shakedown Hawaii that were both released on July 9, 2020, exclusively in PAL territories.[18][19] A PS3 version of Shakedown was also released as a digital-only title. The eighth generation had already begun in early 2011, with the release of the Nintendo 3DS.
Home video game consolesEdit
Xbox 360Edit
Microsoft Xbox 360 gained an early lead in terms of market share, largely due to its established Xbox Live online gaming system, and its early launch date, which was one year before its rivals. Sales in North America and Europe continued to be strong, even after the release of the Wii and PlayStation 3. Like its predecessor, the Xbox 360 received a muted reception in Japan,[20] attributed to the lack of content aimed at Japanese gamers.[21]
This early launch did come with some trouble, as technical problems appeared in a portion of Xbox 360 units sold. The most well-known problem is the "red ring of death" and Error E74, which received a great deal of attention due to some users having to replace their consoles multiple times. Microsoft attempted to address this by offering a three-year warranty on all affected consoles and repairing them free of charge.[22] It also retroactively reimbursed owners of affected systems who paid for repairs.[22] According to The Mercury News, new models of the console featuring 65-nanometer technology will address this and other issues; the new technology is expected to reduce heat production, which will lower the risk of overheating and system failures; although, this has never been officially confirmed by Microsoft.[23]
As they share many cross-platform games and compete for the same audience as their predecessors, frequent comparisons are made between the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.[24] The PS3 uses the Blu-ray format, while the Xbox 360 uses a standard DVD9. The Xbox 360 is less expensive to produce, and analysts expect that a mid-revision will allow Microsoft to break-even on manufacturing costs,[25][26] while industry consensus is that the Xbox 360's conventional architecture is easier to develop for.[27][28]
At the end of first half of 2007, the console stabilized at 11.6 million units shipped as sales dropped 60% while its rival, Wii, gained momentum and Sony announced a competitive price drop on the PlayStation 3.[29][30] Microsoft's strategy to boost sales with the release of the highly anticipated Halo 3 in September 2007 paid off, outselling the Wii that month in North America.[31] Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division experienced a huge increase in revenue, largely driven by the release of Halo 3, and posted a quarterly profit for the first time in two years.[32]
The Xbox 360 focused on the release of high-profile games, such as additions to the Halo franchise. The 2007 Game Critics Awards honored the platform with 38 nominations and 12 wins – more than any other platform.[33][34] At the 2008 Game Developers Conference, Microsoft announced that it expected over 1,000 games available for Xbox 360 by the end of the year.[35] The Xbox 360 has managed to gain a simultaneous release of titles that were initially planned to be PS3 exclusives, including Devil May Cry,[36] Ace Combat,[37] Virtua Fighter,[38] Grand Theft Auto IV,[39] Final Fantasy XIII,[40] Tekken 6,[41] Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance,[42] and L.A. Noire.[43]
In November Microsoft released Kinect. Kinect did not use controllers, instead making the players act as the "controllers". Having sold eight million units in its first 60 days on the market, Kinect claimed the Guinness World Record of being the "fastest selling consumer electronics device".[3][4] At E3 2010, Microsoft revealed a new Xbox 360 SKU known officially as the Xbox 360 S and referred to as the "Slim" by various media outlets. At E3 2013 Microsoft revealed the Xbox 360 E, the final iteration of the Xbox 360 series, to be succeeded by Xbox One.[44] The 360 E featured a new square design with a simplified exterior akin to the Xbox One.[45]
PlayStation 3Edit
Sony PlayStation 3 was released on November 11, 2006 in Japan and November 17, 2006 in the US and Canada. The system's reliance on new technologies such as the Cell microprocessor and Blu-ray format caused difficulties in manufacturing, especially the Blu-ray diode, leading to shortages at launch and the delay of the PAL region launches; however, by early December 2006, Sony announced that all production issues had been resolved.[46] Market analysts[47] and Sony executives noted that the success of the PlayStation 3 and the Blu-ray format were dependent on each other; Rich Marty, VP of New Business Development at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment stated that the "PS3 is critical to the success of Blu-ray,"[48] while Phil Harrison stated that the PlayStation 3's success would be ensured because "the growth of the Blu-ray Disc movie market."[49]
Sony would provide support for its console with new titles from first-party franchises such as Gran Turismo, Team Ico, and God of War, and secured a number of highly anticipated third-party exclusive titles, including Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Yakuza 3 and Valkyria Chronicles. Titles that were originally exclusive or recognized with the platform, such as Devil May Cry,[36] Ace Combat,[37] Virtua Fighter,[38] and Monster Hunter,[50] have been released on other platforms. The previous Grand Theft Auto titles were originally timed exclusives on the PlayStation 2, before making their release on other platforms, such as the Xbox, months later; however, Grand Theft Auto IV, the latest installment, was released simultaneously on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.[39] Announced exclusives titles for the PlayStation 3 such as Assassin's Creed;[51] Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War, and Fatal Inertia were released on Xbox 360 as well, with the latter making its release on Xbox 360 before the PlayStation 3 version.[52] Sony has blamed the lower-than-expected sales due to loss of exclusive titles in the PlayStation 3 software library, its higher price, and stock shortages.[53][54][55]
The high launch price of the PlayStation 3 was considered a major drag on its popularity.[56] In July 2007, Sony announced a drop in the price of the console by $100.[57] This measure only applied to the 60 GB models and was exclusive to the United States and Canada, where those models are no longer in production.[58] On October 18, 2007, Sony announced a US$100 price drop for the 80 GB model and a new US$399 40 GB model to launch on November 2, 2007[59] with reduced features such as the removal of backward compatibility with PS2 games. Within weeks, Sony announced that sales of the 40 GB and 80 GB models by major retailers had increased 192%.[60] In November 2008, Sony launched a 160 GB model,[61] and on August 18, 2009, Sony announced the PS3 Slim. The PS3 slim sold 1 million in under a month. It was then announced that a 250GB slim model was to be released. It was released on September 1 (or 3 depending on country).[62]
In September 2012, Sony announced a new slimmer PS3 redesign (CECH-4000), commonly referred to as the "Super Slim" PS3. It was released in late 2012 it became available with either a 250 GB or 500 GB hard drive. The "Super Slim" model was the last model to be produced by Sony before the system was slowly discontinued around the world. Shipments of new units to the United States were terminated in October 2016 and Sony officially discontinued the system in Japan on May 29, 2017, the last territory where it was selling new units up until then.[63][64]
WiiEdit
Nintendo entered this generation with a new approach embodied by its Wii. The company planned to attract current hardcore and casual gamers,[65] non-gamers,[66] and lapsed gamers by focusing on new gameplay experiences and new forms of interaction with games rather than cutting edge graphics and expensive technology.[67] This approach was previously implemented in the portable market with the Nintendo DS.[68] Nintendo expressed hope that the new control schemes it had implemented would render conventionally controlled consoles obsolete, leading to Nintendo capturing a large portion of the existing market as well.[69] This strategy paid off, with demand for the Wii outstripping supply throughout 2007.[70] Since Nintendo profited on each console right from the start unlike its competitors,[71] it achieved very positive returns.[72] With only a few exceptions, monthly worldwide sales for the Wii were higher than those of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3,[31][73][74] eroding Microsoft's early lead and widening the gap between its market share and Sony's.[68] In 2007, it was reported by the British newspaper Financial Times that the Wii's sales surpassed those of the Xbox 360, which had been released one year previously, and became the market leader in worldwide home console sales for the generation.[75]
As in previous generations, Nintendo provided support for its new console with first-party franchises like Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Pokémon. To appeal to casual and non-gamers, Nintendo developed a group of core Wii games, consisting of Wii Sports, Wii Play, Wii Fit,[76] and Wii Music,[77] where players make use of the motion-sensing abilities of the console and its peripherals to simulate real world activities.[78]
Publishers such as Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, Capcom, and Majesco Entertainment continued to release exclusive titles for the console, but the Wii's strongest titles remained within its first-party line-up. Analysts speculated that this would change in time as the Wii's growing popularity persuaded third-party publishers to focus on it;[73][79] however, some third party developers expressed frustration at low software sales.[80] Goichi Suda, developer of No More Heroes for the Wii, noted that "only Nintendo titles are doing well" and that he "expected more games for hardcore gamers."[81] Conversely, the PAL publisher of No More Heroes Rising Star Games were greatly impressed with the game's sales.[82] Goichi Suda later retracted his comment, saying his "point was that No More Heroes, unlike a lot of Nintendo Wii titles currently available is the kind of product that will attract a different kind of consumer to the hardware."[83]
In early 2008, the NPD Group revealed sales data showing that, while the Wii's life-to-date attach rate was low, in December 2007, it reached 8.11—higher than the attach rates for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in that month.[84] The Wii's low overall attach rate could be explained by reference to its rapidly increasing installed base, as financial analysts have pointed to the Xbox 360's high attach rates as indicative of an unhealthy lack of installed base growth, and warned that what actually benefits third-party developers is "quicker adoption of hardware and a rapidly growing installed base on which to sell progressively more game units," which tends to lower the attach rate of a product.[85]
ComparisonEdit
|Console||Xbox 360||PlayStation 3||Wii|
|Logo|
|Manufacturer||Microsoft||Sony Interactive||Nintendo|
|Image(s)|
|Left: An original model Xbox 360 Premium and controller||Top: An original model PlayStation 3 placed next to a "slim" model PlayStation 3 and DualShock 3 controller||Left: An original model Wii and Wii Remote|
|Release dates||More...||More...||More...|
|Discontinued||Original Model:|
|Units sold||>84 million [89]||>87.4 million [90]||101.63 million [91]|
|Media||DVD-DL||Blu-ray Disc||Wii Optical Disc (proprietary DVD-DL)|
|Best-selling game|
|CPU||3.2 GHz IBM PowerPC tri-core codenamed "Xenon"||Cell Broadband Engine (3.2 GHz Power ISA 2.03-based PPE with seven 3.2 GHz SPEs)||729 MHz PowerPC based IBM "Broadway"[96]|
|GPU||500 MHz codenamed "Xenos" (ATI custom design)||550 MHz RSX 'Reality Synthesizer'[97] (based on NVIDIA G70 architecture)[98]||243 MHz ATI "Hollywood"|
|Memory||512 MB GDDR3 @ 700 MHz shared between CPU & GPU||256 MB XDR @ 3.2 GHz||24 MB "internal" 1T-SRAM integrated into graphics package|
|Dimensions|
|Weight|
|Included accessories[a]|
|Accessories (retail)|
|Controller[b]|
|User interface||Xbox 360 Dashboard||XrossMediaBar (XMB)||Wii Menu|
|System software|
|Backward compatibility||465 Selected Xbox games (as of November 2007). Additions made with software updates. Official Xbox hard drive required.||The first generation model is backwards compatible with PS1 and PS2 titles through the inclusion of the Emotion Engine and Graphics Synthesizer chips.[111]||Supports all Nintendo GameCube software and most accessories.|
|Online servicesd|
|Video and entertainment services|
|Consumer programmability||Development on PC with XNA Game Studio ($99/year subscription, binary distribution with XNA 1.0 Refresh)[124]||Featured development on console (excluding RSX graphics acceleration) via free Linux platform or PC (excluding all Slim models and any console updated to firmware 3.21 and later)||Homebrew Channel (Unofficial)|
|I/O|
|Optical media||12× DVD (65.6–132 Mbit/s), CD||2× BD-ROM (72 Mbit/s), 8× DVD, 24× CD, 2× SACD*||Wii Optical Disc, Nintendo GameCube Game Disc (DVD-Video playback was announced for Japan in 2007, but has not been released)[127]|
|Video outputs||HDMI 1.2a (on models manufactured after August 2007),[128] VGA (RGBHV),[129] Component/D-Terminal (YPBPR), SCART (RGBS), S-Video, Composite||HDMI 1.3a, Component/D-Terminal (YPBPR), SCART (RGBS), S-Video, Composite||Component/D-Terminal (YPBPR), SCART (RGBS), S-Video, Composite|
|Resolutions||HDTV-capable (480i, 480p, 576i (50 Hz), 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p)||HDTV-capable (480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p)||EDTV-capable (480i, 480p, 576i)|
|Audio||Dolby Digital, WMA Pro, DTS*, DTS-ES*||Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Digital Plus*, Dolby TrueHD*, DTS-HD Master Audio*, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio*,[130] DTS-ES‡, DTS 96/24‡, DTS-ES Matrix†[131]||Dolby Pro Logic II surround, stereo sound and an additional Mono speaker is built into the controller.|
|Network||100BASE-TX Ethernet||10BASE-T/100BASE-TX/1000BASE-T Ethernet||Built-in 802.11 b/g Wi-fi|
|Storage|
|Integrated 3DTV support[c]||Yes||Yes||No|
Middle: A redesigned model Xbox 360 S and controller
Right: The latest model Xbox 360 E and controller
Bottom: A "super slim" model PlayStation 3
Right: A Wii Mini and Wii Remote Plus
Kinect Adventures (pack-in with Kinect peripheral), 24 million[92]
Best selling non-bundled game: Grand Theft Auto V, 15.34 million[93]
Grand Theft Auto V, 17.27 million[94]
Wii Sports (pack-in, except in Japan), 82.87 million (As of March 31, 2019)[95]
Best selling non-bundled game: Mario Kart Wii (37.20 million) (As of March 31, 2019)[95]
10 MB EDRAM GPU frame buffer memory
256 MB GDDR3 @ 650 MHz
64 MB "external" GDDR3 SDRAM
3 MB GPU frame buffer memory
Original: 310 × 80 × 260 mm (12.2 × 3.2 × 10.2 in)[99]
Xbox 360S: 270 × 75 × 264 mm (10.6 × 3.0 × 10.4 in)[100]
Original: 325 × 98 × 274 mm (12.8 × 3.9 × 10.8 in)[101]
Slim: 290 × 65 × 290 mm (11.4 × 2.6 × 11.4 in)[102]
4.4 × 16 × 21.5 cm (1,513.6 cm3) / 1.7 × 6.3 × 8.5 in (92.4 in3)[citation needed]
Original: 3.5 kg (7.7 lb)[99]
Xbox 360S: 2.9 kg (6.4 lb)[100]
Original: 5 kg (11 lb)[101][103]
Slim (2009): 3.2 kg (7.1 lb)[102]
Slim (2011): 2.6 kg (5.7 lb)[104]
Super Slim (2012): 2.08 kg (4.6 lb)[105]
- Controller:
- Wired headset (all models except Core, Arcade and 4 GB Xbox 360 S consoles)
- AV cable:
- Ethernet cable (Pro/Premium and pre-Sept 2009 Elite only)
- HDMI cable and audio adapter (pre-Sept 2009 Elite only)
- Removable storage:Various removable hard disk drives, size dependent on SKU (all models except Core, Arcade and 4 GB Xbox 360 S consoles)256 MB Memory Unit (some Arcade models only, later replaced with on-board (non-removable) storage)
^note 1 250 GB "Super Elite" consoles come with 2 Wireless controllers. 320 GB Xbox 360 S consoles come with a "transforming d-pad" controller.
^note 2 replaced with the D-Terminal HD AV Cable (D 端子 HD AV ケーブル) in Japan
- Controller:Sixaxis wireless controller (1st, 2nd, and 3rd (40 GB) generation only)DualShock 3 wireless controller (3rd (80 GB, 160 GB) and 4th generation)
- USB A → mini-B cable
- AV cable (composite video/stereo audio)
- Ethernet Cable 1st generation (20GB and 60GB)
- Composite AV cable
- Wii Remote controller and Nunchuk attachment
- Sensor Bar
- Console stand and plate
see Xbox 360 accessories
see PlayStation 3 accessories
- Wii Remote
- Composite AV cable
- RGB Scart cable
- Component AV cable
- D-Terminal cable
- S-Video Cable
- Wired LAN adapter
- Wii Wheel
- Wii Zapper
- Classic Controller
- Classic Controller Pro
- Xbox 360 controller (up to 4; any combination of wired or wireless)
- Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel
- Big Button Controller/Scene It Trivia Controller (up to 8)
- Xbox Live Vision Camera
- Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote
- Kinect Motion sensor
- Sixaxis/DualShock 3 controller (up to 7 via Bluetooth or USB)
- PSP or PS Vita via Wi-Fi* or USB (supported titles only)
- PlayStation Eye camera
- Buzz!: Quiz TV wireless buzzers
- PlayStation Move motion controller
- PS3 Bluetooth Blu-ray remote
- Various generic USB HIDs, including keyboards, mice and game controllers
- Wii Remote (up to 4 via Bluetooth)
- Wii MotionPlus attachment
- Nunchuk attachment
- Classic Controller
- GameCube controller with selected Wii games, all GameCube and Virtual Console games (up to 4)
- GBA via Link Cables
- Nintendo DS (via Wi-Fi)
- Wii Balance Board
- Wii Zapper
New Xbox Experience (NXE)
features
- Audio file playback (non-DRM AAC, MP3, WMA)
- Video file playback (MPEG4, WMV, DivX, XviD[107])
- Image slideshows
- Connectivity with Windows PCs for more codec support and external playback (compatible natively with Windows XP Media Center Edition and Windows Vista, with Windows XP with downloadable utility)[108]
- Keyboard support
- Audio file playback (ATRAC3, AAC, MP3, MP3 Surround, WAV, WMA)
- Video file playback (MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, WMV, DivX, XviD)
- Image editing and slideshows (JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, BMP)
- Connectivity with DLNA compliant servers
- Mouse and keyboard support
- Folding@home client with visualizations from the RSX
The second generation model offers less backward compatibility for PS2 titles. Owing to only featuring the Graphics Synthesizer, and having to emulate the CPU.[112]
Third and later generation models dropped support for all PS2 titles via disc, but some games in digital format, marketed as "PS2 Classics" via the PlayStation Store are still compatible via software emulation.[113] All PS3 models will play most PS1 discs regardless of PS2 compatibility.
The "Family Edition" and "Mini" models drops support for GameCube games.[114]
Xbox Live
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Marketplace
Xbox Live Vision (webcam), headset
Xbox Live Video Marketplace
Windows Live Messenger
Internet Explorer (Xbox Live Gold not needed)
VideoKinect (Kinect sensor is needed)
Remote Play
PlayStation Network
PlayStation Store
Internet browser (Flash enabled)
Video chat using PlayStation Eye camera or other USB webcam
What's New
PlayStation Home
Life with PlayStation
Facebook
PlayStation Plus
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
WiiConnect24
Internet Channel (web browser)
News Channel
Forecast Channel
Everybody Votes Channel
Wii Shop Channel
Check Mii Out Channel
Nintendo Channel
Wii no Ma (Japan only)
Wii Speak Channel (Available only with purchase of Wii Speak)
Food Delivery Channel (Japan only)
TV Guide Channel (Japan only)
Today and Tomorrow Channel (Japan and UK only)
Everybody Loves Theatre Channel (Japan only)
Homebrew Channel (Non-official software)
4oD* (UK Only; Xbox Live Gold required)
AT&T U-verse (North America only, separate subscription required)
BBC iPlayer (UK Only)
blinkbox* (UK Only; Xbox Live Gold required)
Canal+ (FR Only(?); Xbox Live Gold required, separate subscription required)
CanalSat (FR Only(?); Xbox Live Gold required, separate subscription required)
CanalPlay (FR Only(?); Xbox Live Gold required, separate subscription required)
Dailymotion* (Xbox Live Gold required)
Demand 5* (UK Only; Xbox Live Gold required)
ESPN (North America only, Xbox Live Gold subscription required)
Foxtel (Australia only, Xbox Live Gold subscription required)
Hulu Plus (North America only, separate subscription required)
Last.fm
LoveFilm (UK only, separate subscription required)
MSN*
MUZU TV* (UK Only; Xbox Live Gold required)
Netflix (North America, UK, and Republic of Ireland only, separate subscription required)
PLUS 7 (Australia only)
Sky Go* (UK Only; Xbox Live Gold and separate subscription required)
Telus Optik TV (Canada only, separate subscription required)
Twitch
Vodafone Casa TV (Portugal only, separate subscription required)
YouTube*
Zune
*"Twist Control" update is needed. See 'User Interface'
4oD (UK only, via internet browser)[115]
ABC iview (Australia only)
Amazon Video (North America only)
Access (UK only)
BBC iPlayer (UK only)[116]
Crackle
Crunchyroll (North America only)
Hulu Plus (North America only, separate subscription required)
ITV/STV/UTV Player (UK only, via internet browser)[115]
Laugh Factory Live (North America only)
LoveFilm (UK only, separate subscription required)[117]
MLB.tv (North America only, separate subscription required)[118]
MUBI (Europe only, separate subscription required)[119]
Music Unlimited (separate subscription required)[120]
Neon Alley (North America only)
NHL Gamecenter (North America only, separate subscription required)
NFL Sunday Ticket (North America only, separate subscription required)
Netflix (North America, UK, Republic of Ireland, and Australia only, separate subscription required)[121]
PLUS 7 (Australia only)
Qore (North America only)
SEC Digital Network (North America only, separate subscription required)
TVNZ ondemand (New Zealand only, via internet browser)[122]
Video Unlimited (separate subscription required)
VidZone (Europe, Australia & New Zealand only)
Vudu (separate subscription required)
YouTube (North America only)
BBC iPlayer (UK only)
Hulu Plus (North America only, separate subscription required)
Kirby TV (Europe only)
Netflix (North America, UK and Republic of Ireland, separate subscription and Internet Channel required)[121]
Nintendo Channel
Television Friend Channel (Japan only)
Wii no Ma (Japan only; ceased operations on April 30, 2012)
YouTube
Crunchyroll[123]
IrDA-compliant infrared for remote
2 Memory Card slots*
3 USB 2.0 ports**
1 Ethernet port
*Discontinued on Slim models
**5 USB 2.0 ports on Slim models
Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
4 USB 2.0 ports*
1 Gigabit Ethernet port
1 Memory Stick slot Pro/Duo**
1 SD/mini SD port**
1 Compact Flash port**
*2 USB 2.0 ports on 3rd gen and 4th gen (slim) models
**60 GB and 2nd gen 80 GB models only
Bluetooth 2.0
2 USB 2.0 ports
Four controller and two memory card ports (GameCube)
1 SD(HC) Card slot[125][126]
*Compatibility removed in 3rd & 4th gen models
Various monitor resolutions available via VGA and HDMI/DVI (640×480, 848×480, 1024×768, 1280×720, 1280×768, 1280×1024, 1360×768, 1440×900, 1680×1050 & 1920×1080)
*(DVD and HD DVD movies only)
- 256+ audio channels
- 320 independent decompression channels
- 32-bit processing; 48 kHz 16-bit support
*DVD and Blu-ray movies only.
‡DVD movies only.
†Blu-ray movies only.
- Audio mixed by software
- Audio mixed by software
Optional 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi adapter (Built in with the Slim models)
Built-in 802.11 b/g Wi-fi (all models except 20 GB)
Optional Ethernet via USB adapter
Included/Optional* detachable SATA upgradeable 20 GB, 60 GB, 120 GB, 250 GB, 320 GB, or 500 GB hard drive.
Xbox 360 memory cards
USB mass storage
Cloud storage (512MB) (Xbox Live Gold subscription required)
*Premium version includes 20 GB or 60 GB HDD, Elite includes 120 GB HDD, and all HDDs are available for separate purchase.
2.5-inch upgradeable SATA hard drive (upgradeable with any 2.5-inch SATA 1.0 compliant HDD or SSD).
Memory Stick, SD, & Type I/II CompactFlash / Microdrive*
USB mass storage
Cloud storage (2GB) (PlayStation Plus subscription required)
*60 GB and 2nd gen 80 GB models only
512 MB built-in flash memory
SD card (up to 32 GB with 4.0 software) Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards
The Wii Remote contains a 16 KiB EEPROM chip from which a section of 6 kilobytes can be freely read and written (used to store up to 10 Miis).
^a Game packages not listed. Bundles, special editions and limited editions may include additional or exchanged items.
^b There is a variety of other input devices available for all three consoles, including rhythm game controllers, microphones and third-part gamepads/controllers.
^c All consoles are capable of producing 3D images using anaglyph or frame-compatible systems (side-by-side/SbS, top and bottom/TaB), as these do not require any special output hardware. As such, these display modes are dependent on the software being displayed rather than the console.
[132]
Sales standingsEdit
Worldwide figures are based on data from the manufacturers. The Canada and the United States figures are based on data from the NPD Group, the Japan figures are based on data from Famitsu/Enterbrain, and the United Kingdom figures are based on data from GfK Chart-Track.
Discontinuations and revisionsEdit
- The PlayStation 3 20 GB was discontinued in North America in April 2007[147] and effectively discontinued in Japan in early 2008.[148]
- The PlayStation 3 60 GB was discontinued in NTSC territories by September 2007, and replaced with the 80 GB version.[149]
- The PlayStation 3 60 GB was effectively discontinued for PAL territories in late 2007. When the remaining stock in stores was sold, the 40 GB version served as its replacement.
- Sony announced before the PS3 launch in Europe that the PlayStation 2's Emotion Engine CPU would be removed from it for cost savings, and all backwards compatibility would be software-based.[150] This is also the same for the 80 GB model launched in the North American market in 2007.[151]
- An HDMI out port was added to the Premium Xbox 360 in May 2007.[152]
- The Xbox 360 Core system was discontinued and replaced by the "Arcade" version in October 2007.[153]
- The price of the Xbox 360 Premium version was dropped to US$299 in North America on July 13, 2008. Supplies of the existing 20 GB model were exhausted by early August and it was replaced by an identical model with a 60 GB HDD at a MSRP of US$349.[154]
- The PlayStation 3 40 GB was discontinued in all territories in early August 2008 and the new 80 GB version served as its replacement.
- The Xbox 360 Arcade 256 MB internal memory SKU was discontinued in all territories in early 2009 and a new 512 MB internal memory SKU still named the Xbox 360 Arcade was released.[155]
- The PlayStation 3 Slim was introduced on August 18, 2009. At US$299, it is US$100 cheaper than the previous model; it is also approximately ⅓ lighter and more energy efficient.[156] The two original PS3 Slim models, priced at US$299.99 and US$349.99 respectively, hold 120/250 GB. These were then superseded by 160 GB and 320 GB models, which are priced at US$249.99 and US$299.99 respectively.
- The black Wii console was released in Japan on August 1, 2009[157] and in Europe in November 2009.[158]
- The Wii package for North America has been updated to include a copy of Wii Sports Resort as well as the required Wii MotionPlus accessory to play it, beginning May 9, 2010. The console is also available in black.[159]
- A special edition red Wii console was released in honor of Super Mario Bros. 25th Anniversary.
- The Xbox 360 S was announced at E3 2010 by Microsoft. It is a smaller revision of the Xbox 360 hardware, which includes either a built-in 250 GB hard drive or 4 GB of Flash storage, 802.11n Wi-Fi, a TOSLINK connector, 5 USB ports and an AUX connector for the Kinect sensor device.[160]
- The Wii Family Edition was released on October 23, 2011. It drops support for GameCube games and accessories, and is designed to sit horizontally.[114]
- The Xbox 360 E was revealed and released at E3 2013 on June 10, 2013.[161] It featured a new slimmer design, that was quieter than previous models.
Backward compatibilityEdit
Early models of the Wii are fully backwards compatible with GameCube software and most of its accessories; the Wii Family Edition and the Wii Mini iterations lack GameCube support.[114] Early versions of the PlayStation 3 and all models of the Xbox 360 only offer partial support and use software emulation for backwards compatibility. Current versions of the PS3 do not offer PlayStation 2 compatibility, though PS1 compatibility is retained. Some models of the first generation of the PS3 offered full backwards compatibility for PS2 games. The Xbox 360's compatibility is increased through game-specific patches automatically downloaded from Xbox Live or downloaded and burned to a CD or DVD from the Xbox website[162] and the PS3's compatibility is expanded with firmware updates.
All three consoles provide titles from older consoles for download; the Xbox 360 through the Xbox Originals service, the PlayStation 3 through the PlayStation Store, and the Wii through the Virtual Console. When purchased, the game is saved to console's internal memory or, optionally on the Wii, to an inserted SD/SDHC card. Initially the Xbox 360 also provided Xbox Live support for backwards compatible games, but the service has since been discontinued for original Xbox games. No more games will be added to the list of backwards compatible games for the Xbox 360. In response to the lack of backward compatibility for most PS3s, many popular games have been released for download as PlayStation 2 Classics and other popular series have been updated with gameplay/graphics as high-definition remasters for PlayStation consoles and have been released on Blu-ray Disc or are available for download on the PlayStation Network.
HDTV-capable video support and serviceEdit
Both the PlayStation 3[163] and the Xbox 360[164] support 1080p high definition video output. However, the output signal may be protected by digital rights management and may require an HDCP-compliant display if HDMI is used. The Xbox Live Marketplace service and the PlayStation Store offer HD movies, TV shows, movie trailers, and clips for download to the console's HDD.[165][166] Other regional PlayStation Stores only allow download of movie trailers and short segment clips. As of November 2009, the Video Download service present on the American PlayStation Store will be available for select European countries.
While only a small number of games render video in native 1080p, many games can be automatically scaled to output this resolution. The Wii is capable of outputting 480p for the Wii Menu and most games through a component cable, which must be purchased separately.
ReliabilityEdit
In the September 2009 issue of Game Informer magazine, survey results were published in which among nearly 5000 readers who responded, 54.2% of those who owned an Xbox 360 had experienced a console failure for that system, compared with 10.6% for PlayStation 3, and 6.8% for Wii.[167]
In August 2009, warranty provider SquareTrade published console failure rate estimates, in which the proportion of its customers reporting a system failure in the first two years is 23.7% for Xbox 360, 10.0% for PlayStation 3, and 2.7% for Wii.[168]
Handheld systemsEdit
For video game handhelds, the seventh generation began with the release of the Nintendo DS on November 21, 2004. This handheld was based on a design fundamentally different from the Game Boy and other handheld video game systems. The Nintendo DS offered new modes of input over previous generations such as a touch screen, the ability to connect wirelessly using IEEE 802.11b, as well as a microphone to speak to in-game NPCs.[169] On December 12, 2004, Sony released its first handheld, PlayStation Portable. The PlayStation Portable was marketed at launch to an above-25-year-old[170] or "core gamer" market,[171] while the Nintendo DS proved to be popular with both core gamers and new customers.[172]
Nokia revived its N-Gage platform in the form of a service for selected S60 devices. This new service launched on April 3, 2008.[173] Other less-popular handheld systems released during this generation include the Gizmondo (launched on March 19, 2005 and discontinued in February 2006) and the GP2X (launched on November 10, 2005 and discontinued in August 2008). The GP2X Wiz, Pandora, and Gizmondo 2 were scheduled for release in 2009.
Another aspect of the seventh generation was the beginning of direct competition between dedicated handheld gaming devices, and increasingly powerful PDA/cell phone devices such as the iPhone and iPod Touch, and the latter being aggressively marketed for gaming purposes. Simple games such as Tetris and Solitaire had existed for PDA devices since their introduction, but by 2009 PDAs and phones had grown sufficiently powerful to where complex graphical games could be implemented, with the advantage of distribution over wireless broadband.
Sony announced in 2014 that they had discontinued the production of the PlayStation Portable worldwide.
Handheld game console comparisonEdit
|Product Line||Nintendo DS family||PlayStation Portable|
|Console||Nintendo DS / DS Lite / DSi / DSi XL||PSP-1000 / PSP-2000 / PSP-3000 / PSP Go / PSP-E1000|
|Manufacturer||Nintendo||Sony (SCE)|
|Console|
|Release dates|
Pictured left to right: Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DSi XL
Pictured left to right: PSP-1000 series, PSP-2000 series, PSP-3000 series, PSP Go, PSP-E1000 series
|Nintendo DS:||Nintendo DSi:|
- Launch model DS: Stylus, wrist strap, Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt(not in Japan)
- DS Lite: Stylus, wrist strap (Japan only)
- PSP-1000 Value Pack: PSP Case, Hand Strap, 32 MB Memory Stick Pro Duo, Headphones with Remote control
(retail)
- PSP Camera attachment
- GPS attachment
- PSP Extended Battery Pack
- PSP Portable Travel Case
- LocationFree Player
- PSP Microphone
- PSP Media Manager
- PSP analog AV cable
- PSP component cable
- PSP USB cable
DSi: 133 MHz ARM9 and 33 MHz ARM7
DSi: 16 MB
PSP-1000: 32 MB
PSP-2000, PSP-3000, PSP Go: 64 MB
- D-pad
- Six face buttons
- Two shoulder buttons
- Touch screen
- Microphone
- 0.3 Megapixel camera & VGA camera (DSi only)
DS Lite: 133 × 73.9 × 21.5 mm (5.24 × 2.9 × 0.85 inches)
PSP Slim & Lite:71.4 mm (2.81 in) (h) 169.4 mm (6.67 in) (w) 18.6 mm (0.73 in) (d)
PSP Go: 69 mm (2.7 in) (h) 128 mm (5.0 in) (w) 16.5 mm (0.65 in) (d)
DSL: 218 g (7.7 oz)
DSi: 214 g (7.5 oz)
DSi XL: 314 g (11.1 oz)
PSP Slim & Lite 189 g (6.7 oz)
PSP Go: 158 g (5.6 oz)
Internet browser, Digital comics, Remote Play
1 GBA slot (DS, DS Lite only)
1 SD (HC) card slot (DSi Only)
1 USB device port (proprietary connector on PSP Go, mini-b connector on other models)
1 Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo slot (Memory Stick Micro (M2) on PSP Go)
1 IrDA (PSP-1000 series only)
DS Lite, minimum brightness setting: 15–19 hours[177]
DSi, minimum brightness setting: 9–14 hours[177]
Game: approximately 3–6 hours
Video playback: 3–7 hours depending on screen brightness setting
Wi-Fi internet browsing: approximately 3–4 hours
Japan: 32.99 million (as of December 31, 2013)[140]
United Kingdom: 8.8 million (as of January 3, 2009)[178]
United States: 28 million (as of January 31, 2009)[179]
Australia: 3 million (as of December 2010)[180]
Japan: 11,078,484 (as of December 28, 2008)[182][183]
United Kingdom: 3.2 million (as of January 3, 2009)[178]
United States: 10.47 million (as of January 1, 2008)[184][185][186]
Australia: 675,000 (as of December 31, 2010)[134]
Note: First year of release is the first year of the system's worldwide availability.
Other systemsEdit
There were also other consoles released during the seventh generation time period. Generally, they are either niche products or less powerful.
Home video game consolesEdit
|Console||Manufacturer||Release date||Notes|
|EVO Smart Console||Envizions||2006||Can be considered as a Media PC|
|Zeebo||Zeebo Inc.||2009||Designed for emerging countries. Sold in Mexico, Brazil and China only|
|HyperScan||Mattel||2006||Designed for children's use|
|Game Wave Family Entertainment System||ZAPiT Games||2005||Family-friendly built-in games|
|Vii||JungleTac||2007||Chinese Wii clone|
|V.Flash||VTech||2006|
|V.Smile V-Motion||VTech||2008|
|V.Smile Baby||VTech||2006|
|ClickStart||LeapFrog||2007|
HandheldsEdit
|Name||Manufacturer||Release date||Notes|
|N-Gage 2.0 Platform||Nokia||April, 2008||Runs commercial downloadable games|
|Gizmondo||Tiger Telematics||March, 2005 in UK, Sweden and eventually US||Runs commercial games|
|VideoNow XP||Tiger Electronics||2005|
|digiBlast||Grey Innovation||late 2005||Multimedia system for young children|
|CAANOO||GamePark Holdings||August 16, 2010||Runs emulators|
|Fusion: 30-In-1 Portable Arcade||Jungle Soft||2010?||Built-in games|
|GP2X Wiz||GamePark Holdings||May 12, 2009|
|Leapster2||LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.||2008||Educational games|
|Leapster Explorer||LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.||2010||Educational games and downloadable apps|
|Mi2 / PDC Touch||Planet Interactive / Conny Technology / Videojet||November 2009 – Benelux, China, France,||Many built-in games|
|Pandora||OpenPandora||May 2010||Runs on Linux and designed for homebrew|
|Pelican VG Pocket||Pelican Accessories||August 2006|
Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Portugal
Released in China only
|Name||Manufacturer||Release date|
|Dingoo A320||Shenzhen Dingoo Digital Co., Ltd.||March 2009|
|Ez MINI||Mitac or Mio||2005|
|Gemei X760+||Gemei||2009|
|LetCool N350JP||2011|
Released in South Korea only
|Name||Manufacturer||Release date|
|GP2X||GamePark Holdings||November 10, 2005|
ClonesEdit
Cloud gaming/gaming on demand servicesEdit
|Name||Manufacturer||Release date|
|OnLive||OnLive||June 17, 2010|
|Gaikai||Gaikai||February 27, 2011|
|OTOY||OTOY|
|Playcast Media Systems|
|G-cluster|
|Spoon.net|
See alsoEdit
NotesEdit
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