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-------------------------------------------------------------- This story was printed from ZDNet Australia. --------------------------------------------------------------
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I Gotta Have This Game Machine! September 03, 2001 URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/coolgear/electronics/soa/I-Gotta-Have-This-Game-Machine-/0,139023382,120107189,00.htm
Ask your kids what they'd like this holiday season and chances are they'll tell you how much they need a very specific video game machine. There are four major video game consoles - the Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, Sony PlayStation, and Sony PlayStation 2 (scheduled for release on November 30th). While each has its own strengths and weaknesses, ultimately what sets them apart are the games available for each machine and the buzz generated by word of mouth. Some kids may also want the more mobile alternative: the Game Boy Color. This handheld device, which operates on batteries, keeps kids happy when they're away from the TV. Whichever game machine you opt for, don't expect to be satisfied for long. Microsoft and Nintendo have announced plans to release new game systems next year. Microsoft's X-Box will be a full-fledged PC with a fast Intel processor optimised for incredible gameplay and Internet connectivity. And Nintendo's GameCube promises to thrill gamers with a super fast Intel processor and breathtaking graphics.
Nintendo 64 Nintendo 64
The Nintendo 64 (N64) is a solid gaming system, especially for young children; many of its
best games, such as Donkey Kong 64 and Super Mario 64, are family-oriented. Unlike
the Sega and Sony consoles, which boast top titles from a variety of game developers,
most games for the N64 come from Nintendo's internal development teams. And new
games for the N64 tend to cost at least $20 more than comparable titles for other machines.Graphics:Better than the PlayStation's, but not as impressive as what the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 can display. Multiplayer Capability: Up to four players using a single console.
Sega Dreamcast
Gamers are wowed by Dreamcast's spectacular graphics, impressive stable of games,
and online capabilities. Many Dreamcast games, which run from speedy, proprietary CD-ROMs
(called GD-ROMs), easily outclass their Nintendo 64 and PlayStation counterparts through sheer
3D graphics and raw processing power. The add-on Visual Memory Unit has its own LCD that
can be used to show additional game information or to take with you to play simple, self-contained
minigames. And while the software library for the Dreamcast is still relatively young, it features
an array of titles in every genre and is growing at a good clip. To top things off, the Dreamcast
is the only console that has a built-in modem for Internet access.Graphics: Phenomenal 3D graphics and fluid animation. The PlayStation 2 has it beat, but the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation are left in the dust. Multiplayer Capability: Up to four players using a single console or online.
Sony PlayStation
The PlayStation is the world's most popular video game console. And now Sony is unveiling a
redesigned version - the PS One - which should be available by the time you read this. It will have
the same technical specifications and capabilities as the original PlayStation, but in a unit small
enough to fit inside a backpack, so kids can tote it to their friends' houses or - brace yourself
- bring it along on holidays. The sleek device will play a colossal library of CD-based game
titles in every conceivable genre. If the pricey PlayStation 2 won't fit into your budget, the PS
One will be a fine alternative.Graphics: Decent 3D graphics, but with choppier animation and less detail than the competition's. Multiplayer Capability: Two players using a single console; up to four players via Sony's Multi Tap Adaptor.
Sony PlayStation2
Sony's PlayStation 2 is the best console available, sporting the most up-to-date technology and a
nearly flawless feature set, including the ability to play DVD movies (the absence of a modem is
a bit of a mystery). The PlayStation 2 has enough raw processing power to deliver killer 3D graphics -
the visuals are so good they often look like live-action film. Best of all, the unit is compatible with
existing PlayStation games, so you won't have to trash your game library. To top everything off,
the system looks really cool. Future peripherals will include a broadband Internet device and a
sizable hard drive.Graphics:State-of-the-art - the best 3D graphics and animation available in a video game console. Multiplayer Capability: Two players using a single console; up to four players via Sony's Multi Tap Adaptor.
Nintendo Game Boy Color
Good things do come in small packages. With a sleek, compact design and the ability to run the same sort
of video games that once sat in hulking arcade cabinets, Nintendo's Game Boy Color (GBC) has a
32,000-colour palette, runs on a pair of AA batteries, and is available in six case colours with names like
Kiwi and Atomic Purple. It also supports the midget game cartridges made for the original, monochrome
Game Boy (although they'll merely be "colourised" on the GBC rather than displayed in full colour).
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