NINTENDO REVOLUTION – Little is officially known about Nintendo’s next generation console, code named Revolution. The system specifications have not been entirely confirmed, but here’s what we know so far.

Manufacturer: Nintendo

Processor: Intel Broadway Processor

• A rumored four cores running at 2.5 GHz each

Memory:

• 512 MB of RAM

• SD slot for expanding internal memory

Online play:

• Wi-Fi ready

Graphics: ATI Hollywood Processor

Release Date: Spring 2006, though rumors indicate a possible push back to Winter 2006.

Price: Speculated near $300

Games in production: Metroid Revolution, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006, Madden 2006

The hype: Not only will the system be backwards compatible with GameCube games, Revolution will allow users to download 20 years worth of Nintendo titles from the original Nintendo, Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64. The compact system will have two USB ports and be nearly the size of three DVD cases stacked together. Look for it to be the least powerful of the three but to revolutionize gameplay.

XBOX 360

Manufacturer: Microsoft

Processor: IBM PowerPC-based CPU

• Three cores running at 3.2 GHz each

Memory:

• 512 MB of GDDR3 RAM running at 700 MHz

Storage:

• Detachable and upgradeable 20GB hard drive

• 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM

Online play:

• Built-in Ethernet port

• Wi-Fi ready

• Xbox Live

Graphics: ATI Graphics Processor

• 500MHz processor

Audio:

• Multi-channel surround sound output

• Supports 48KHz 16-bit audio

Release Date: Holiday 2005

Price: Speculated from $300 – $500

Games in production: Quake 4, Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland, Top Spin 2, Halo 3, Perfect Dark: Zero

The hype: Xbox 360 may only support four controllers, but the online play and system linking that made the original Xbox superior for multi-player gaming will be back — and better than ever. The system will be backwards compatible with “top-selling Xbox games” — whatever that means.

PLAYSTATION 3

Manufacturer: Sony

Processor: Cell Processor

• PowerPC-base Core at 3.2GHz

Memory:

• 256MB XDR Main RAM @3.2GHz

• 256MB GDDR3 VRAM @700MHz

Storage:

• Detachable hard drive

• 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM

Online play:

• Built-in Ethernet port

• Wi-Fi ready

Graphics: RSX graphics chip

• 550MHz processor

Audio:

• Dolby 5.1ch surround sound, DTS

Release Date: March 2006

Price: Speculated near $300

Games in production: Metal Gear Solid 4, Devil May Cry 4, Tekken 6, Gran Turismo 5

The hype: PS3 will be the most powerful game system of the three. The cell processor gives the system an edge in performance. The console will be able to play Playstation and PS2 discs as well as DVD+/-R discs. Up to seven Bluetooth wireless controllers are supported. On paper, this system has the best specs.