Seventh generation of video game consoles: Difference between revisions

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On October 18, 2007, Sony announced a $100 price drop for the 80 GB model and a new $399 40 GB model to launch on November 2, 2007<ref>{{cite news| title =Sony Press Release| url=http://www.us.playstation.com/News/PressReleases/429| date =[[2007-11-23]]| publisher =[[Sony]]| accessdate=2007-12-02}}</ref> with reduced features such as the removal of backward compatibility with [[Playstation 2|PS2]] games. Within weeks, Sony announced that sales of the 40 GB and 80 GB models by major retailers had increased 192%.<ref>{{cite news| last = Williams | first =Martyn | title =PS3 sales jump in US on heels of price cut | publisher =''[[Washington Post]]'' | date =[[2007-11-23]] | url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/23/AR2007112300645.html | accessdate = 2007-11-25 }}</ref>
On October 18, 2007, Sony announced a $100 price drop for the 80 GB model and a new $399 40 GB model to launch on November 2, 2007<ref>{{cite news| title =Sony Press Release| url=http://www.us.playstation.com/News/PressReleases/429| date =[[2007-11-23]]| publisher =[[Sony]]| accessdate=2007-12-02}}</ref> with reduced features such as the removal of backward compatibility with [[Playstation 2|PS2]] games. Within weeks, Sony announced that sales of the 40 GB and 80 GB models by major retailers had increased 192%.<ref>{{cite news| last = Williams | first =Martyn | title =PS3 sales jump in US on heels of price cut | publisher =''[[Washington Post]]'' | date =[[2007-11-23]] | url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/23/AR2007112300645.html | accessdate = 2007-11-25 }}</ref>


On August 20, 2008, Sony announced a new $499 160 GB model to launch in November 2008.<ref>{{cite news| title =GC 08| url=http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/08/20/160gb-model-also-announced-for-america-499-november-release/| date=2008-08-20| publisher =[[PS3fanboy]]| accessdate=2008-08-20}}</ref>
On August 20, 2008, Sony announced 2 new models a $399 80 GB model and a $499 160 GB model to launch in November 2008. Backwards Compatibility has been removed completely <ref>{{cite news| title =GC 08| url=http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/08/20/160gb-model-also-announced-for-america-499-november-release/| date=2008-08-20| publisher =[[PS3fanboy]]| accessdate=2008-08-20}}</ref>


===Wii===
===Wii===

Revision as of 04:16, 8 October 2008

Part of a series on the
History of video games
Early history
Consoles
Arcade video games
Personal computer
Mobile games
Virtual reality
Cloud gaming
Other platforms
Genres
Lists

In the history of video games, the seventh generation, which is also the current generation, primarily focuses on the consoles released since Template:Vgy by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony.[1]

For home consoles, the seventh generation began on November 22, 2005 with the release of Microsoft's Xbox 360 and continued with the release of Sony's PlayStation 3 on November 11, 2006 and Nintendo's Wii on November 19, 2006. Each new console introduced a new type of breakthrough technology. For example, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 offered high-definition graphics, while the Wii focused on integrating controllers with movement sensors instead of using joysticks[2] (the PlayStation 3 also employs motion sensitivity, but to a lesser degree). All three consoles have wireless controllers. However, the Xbox 360's wireless controllers are optional. The Playstation 3's controllers are charged via USB cable, but they are still wireless.

For handheld consoles, the seventh generation began on November 21, 2004 with the North American introduction of the Nintendo DS as a "third pillar", alongside Nintendo's existing Game Boy Advance and GameCube consoles.[3] The Nintendo DS features a built-in microphone and supports wireless IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standards.[4] The PlayStation Portable, released later the same year on December 12, 2004, followed a different pattern. It became the first handheld video game console to use an optical disc format, Universal Media Disc (UMD), as its primary storage media.[5][6] Sony also gave the PlayStation Portable robust multi-media capability,[7] connectivity with the PlayStation 3 and other PSPs and have Internet connectivity.[8][9] The Nintendo DS likewise has connectivity to the internet through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and Nintendo DS Browser, as well as wireless connectivity to other DS systems and Wii consoles. Despite high sales numbers for both consoles, PlayStation Portable sales have consistently lagged behind those of the Nintendo DS.[10]

Home consoles

Xbox 360

Main article: Xbox 360

Microsoft's 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 have 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,[11] attributed to the lack of content aimed at Japanese gamers.[12]

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", which received a great deal of attention due to some users' claims of having to replace their consoles multiple times. Microsoft addressed this by offering a three year warranty on all affected consoles and repairing them free of charge.[13] It also retroactively reimbursed owners of affected systems who paid for repairs.[13] 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 not been officially confirmed by Microsoft.[14]

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.[15] The PS3 uses the Blu-ray format, while the Xbox 360 uses a standard DVD. The Xbox 360 is less expensive to produce, and analysts expect that a mid-revision will allow Microsoft to break-even on manufacturing costs,[16][17] while industry consensus is that the Xbox 360's conventional architecture is easier to develop for.[18][19]

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.[20][21] 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.[22] 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.[23]

The Xbox 360's advantage over its competitors has been its quantity and quality of titles. The 2007 Game Critics Awards honoured the platform with 38 nominations and 11 wins – more than any other platform.[24][25] By March 2008, the Xbox 360 had reached a software attach rate of 7.5 games per console in the US – a record for any console in history; the rate was 7.0 in Europe, while its competitors were 3.8 (PS3) and 3.5 (Wii), according to Microsoft.[26] At the 2008 Game Developers Conference, Microsoft announced that it expects over 1,000 games available for Xbox 360 by the end of the year.[27] The Xbox 360 has managed to gain a simultaneous release of titles which were initially planned to be PS3 exclusives, including Devil May Cry,[28] Ace Combat,[29] Virtua Fighter[30], Grand Theft Auto 4,[31] and Final Fantasy XIII.

In August 2007, the first price drop was announced for all Stock Keeping Units (SKU's) of the Xbox 360.[32] The Core system's price was reduced in the United States by $20, the Premium by $50, and the Elite model by $30.[32] Also, the HDMI out port, previously exclusive to the Elite system, was added to new models of the Premium and Core systems (and the new Arcade system).[33]

PlayStation 3

Main article: PlayStation 3

Sony's PlayStation 3 was released on November 11, 2006, with a higher price than its direct competitor, the Xbox 360. The system's reliance on new technology such as the Cell microprocessor and Blu-ray format has 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.[34]

Market analysts[35] and Sony executives have stated that the success of the PlayStation 3 and the Blu-ray format are dependent on one another; Rich Marty, VP of New Business Development at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment stated that the “PS3 is critical to the success of Blu-ray,"[36] while Phil Harrison stated that the PlayStation 3's success will be ensured because "the growth of the Blu-ray disc movie market ... is a positive factor which will play more into the consumer psyche ... as more consumer electronics firms launch standalone disc players, as more Blu-ray disc movies become available, and as more shelf space is dedicated to the category at retail."[37]

Sony will provide support for its console with new titles from acclaimed first-party franchises such as Gran Turismo and God of War, and secured a number of highly anticipated third-party exclusive titles, like Metal Gear Solid 4 and Tekken 6. Titles which were originally exclusive or recognised with the platform, such as Devil May Cry,[28] Ace Combat,[29] Virtua Fighter,[30] Monster Hunter,[38] and Dragon Quest,[39] have also 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 4, the latest installment, arrived day one on the Xbox 360 with the release of the PlayStation 3 version, as well as having exclusive content due to arrive in time for the Xbox 360.[31] Announced exclusives titles for the PlayStation 3 such as Assassin's Creed;[40] 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.[41] The Katamari series, which has long been PlayStation 2 exclusives, found the latest installment, Beautiful Katamari, exclusive to Xbox 360.[42] These releases have fueled rumors and fear that Metal Gear Solid 4, Final Fantasy XIII, and Tekken 6 would also be available for Xbox 360.[43][44][45][46][47] At E3 2008, it was announced that Final Fantasy XIII would be simultaneously released on the Xbox 360 in Europe and North America;[48] however, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Tekken 6 still remain to be PlayStation 3 exclusives.[49][50][51][52] Sony has blamed lower-than-expected sales on the lack of titles in the PlayStation 3's slim software library, its higher price, and stock shortages.[53][54][55]

In July 2007, Sony announced a drop in the price of the console by $100.[56] 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.[57] When stock of this model runs out, only a new model with an 80 GB hard disk will be available, and for the same as the launch price of the 60 GB version.

On October 18, 2007, Sony announced a $100 price drop for the 80 GB model and a new $399 40 GB model to launch on November 2, 2007[58] 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%.[59]

On August 20, 2008, Sony announced 2 new models a $399 80 GB model and a $499 160 GB model to launch in November 2008. Backwards Compatibility has been removed completely [60]

Wii

Main article: Wii

Nintendo entered this generation with a new approach embodied by its Wii console. The company planned to attract current hard-core and casual gamers,[61] non-gamers,[62] and lapsed gamers by focusing on new gameplay experiences and new forms of interaction with games rather than cutting edge graphics and expensive technology.[63] This approach was previously implemented in the portable market with the Nintendo DS.[64] Nintendo expressed hope that the new control schemes it has implemented will render current conventionally controlled consoles obsolete, leading to Nintendo capturing a large portion of the existing market as well.[65]

So far this strategy has paid off, with demand for the Wii outstripping supply throughout 2007.[66] Since Nintendo profited on each console right from the start unlike its competitors,[67] it has already achieved very positive returns.[68] With only a few exceptions, monthly worldwide sales for the Wii have been higher than the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3,[22][69][70] eroding Microsoft's early lead and widening the gap between its market share and Sony's.[64] On September 12, 2007, it was reported by the British newspaper Financial Times that the Wii's sales had surpassed the Xbox 360, which was released one year previously, and became the market leader in worldwide home console sales for the current generation.[71]

As in previous generations, Nintendo has provided strong support for its new console with popular first-party franchises like Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Pokémon, among others. To appeal to casual and non-gamers, Nintendo has also created the Wii Series of games, where players make use of the motion-sensing abilities of the console and its peripherals to simulate real world activities, such as sports, table games, music, or doing exercises.[72][73]

Publishers such as Ubisoft, EA, Capcom, and Majesco continue to release exclusive titles for the console, but the Wii's strongest titles still remain within its first-party line-up. Analysts speculated that this will change in time as the Wii's growing popularity persuades third-party publishers to focus on it;[69][74] however, some third party developers are beginning to express frustration at low software sales. Goichi Suda, developer of No More Heroes for the Wii, noted that "only Nintendo titles are doing well. This isn't just because of the current situation in Japan, as this is happening outside Japan. I am very surprised about the reality about Wii, because before I was making this game, I wasn't expecting that Wii would be a console targeted only for non-gamers. I expected more games for hardcore gamers. The reality is different to what I expected."[75]

In early 2008, the NPD Group revealed sales data showing that, while the Wii's life-to-date attach rate is low, in December 2007, it reached 8.11—higher than the attach rates for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in that month.[76] 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.[77]

Comparison

Name Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 Wii
Console
United States launch prices US$279.99 (Arcade)
US$299.99 (Core) (discontinued)
US$399.99 (Premium) (20GB) (discontinued)
US$349.99 (Premium) (60GB)
US$479.99 (Elite) (120GB) 		US$499.99 (20 GB / Basic)[78] (discontinued)
US$599.99 (60 GB / Premium)[78] (discontinued)
US$399.99 (40 GB)[79] (discontinued)
US$599.99 (80 GB/ old)[80][81]
US$399.99 (80 GB / new)
US$499.99 (160 GB) 		US$249.99 (Wii Sports included)
Japan launch prices ¥27,800 (Arcade)
¥29,000 (Core) (discontinued)
¥39,795 (Premium) (20 GB) (discontinued)
¥29,800 (Premium) (60 GB)
¥47,800 (Elite) 		¥49,980 (20 GB / Basic) (discontinued)[78]
¥59,980 (60 GB / Premium) (discontinued)
¥39,980 (40 GB) (discontinued)[82]
¥49,980 (80GB / old) (discontinued)
¥39,980 (80 GB / new)[78] 		¥25,000
Europe launch prices £199.99 (Arcade)
€299.99 / £209.99 (Core) (discontinued)
€399.99 / £279.99 (Premium)
£299.99 (Elite)
 €399.99 / £299.99 (40 GB) (discontinued)
€599.99 / £424.99 (60 GB/ premium) (discontinued)
€399.99 / £299.99 (80 GB/ new) 		€249.99 / £179.99 (Wii Sports included)
Release dates More... More... More...
Best-selling game Halo 3, 8.1 million (as of January 3, 2008)[83] MotorStorm, 3.31 million (as of December 30, 2007)[84] Wii Sports (pack-in, except in Japan), 21.56 million (as of March 31, 2008)[85]
Wii Play, 11.51 million (as of March 31, 2008)[85]
Included accessories (game packages not listed)
Accessories
(retail)
CPU 3.2 GHz IBM PowerPC tri-core codenamed "Xenon" Cell Broadband Engine (3.2 GHz POWER-based PPE with seven 3.2 GHz SPEs) 729 MHz PowerPC based IBM "Broadway"[86]
Memory

512 MB GDDR3 @ 700 MHz shared between CPU & GPU
10 MB EDRAM GPU frame buffer memory

256 MB XDR @ 3.2 GHz
256 MB GDDR3 @ 650 MHz, GPU can access CPU memory

24 MB "internal" 1T-SRAM integrated into graphics package
64 MB "external" GDDR3 SDRAM
3 MB GPU frame buffer memory

GPU 500 MHz codenamed "Xenos" (ATI custom design) 550 MHz RSX (based on NVIDIA G70 architecture) [87] 243 MHz ATI "Hollywood"
Controller
Dimensions

8.3 cm × 30.9 cm × 25.8 cm (6,616.9 cm3)

9.8 cm × 32.5 cm × 27.4 cm (8,726.9 cm3)[88]

4.4 cm × 16 cm × 21.5 cm (1,513.6 cm3)

Weight

3.5 kg (7.7 lbs)[89]

5 kg (11 lbs)[90][88]

1.2 kg (2.6 lbs)[91]

Online services Xbox Live
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Marketplace
Xbox Live Vision (webcam), headset
Xbox Live Video Marketplace
Windows Live Messenger 		Remote Play
PlayStation Network
PlayStation Store
Internet browser
Video chat using PlayStation Eye camera or other USB webcam
PlayStation Home
Qore
VidZone
Life with PlayStation 		Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
WiiConnect24
Internet Channel
News Channel
Forecast Channel
Everybody Votes Channel
Wii Shop Channel (including Virtual Console)
Wii Message Board
Check Mii Out Channel
BBC iPlayer Channel
Nintendo Channel
Backward compatibility 465 Selected Xbox games (as of November 2007). Additions made with software updates. Hard drive required.
Some Xbox titles are also available for download from Xbox Originals service. 		North American and Japanese 20 GB and 60 GB models have full backwards compatibility for PS1 and PS2 titles.[92]

The PAL region 60 GB model and North American and Japanese 80 GB versions offer partial backwards compatibility through software emulation[93] with additions made with software updates.
The 40 GB, 80GB (2008 version), and 160GB models in all regions have support for PS1 titles, but not PS2 titles.[94]
Some PS1 titles are available for download from the PlayStation Store.

Supports all Nintendo GameCube software and most accessories. Many games from systems prior to Nintendo GameCube are available for download through Virtual Console.
User interface Xbox 360 Dashboard XrossMediaBar (XMB) Wii Menu
System software
features
Consumer programmability Development on PC with XNA Game Studio ($99/year subscription, binary distribution with XNA 1.0 Refresh)[99] Development on console via free Linux platform or PC (but no access to RSX graphics acceleration) WiiWare or development on Mac os X with Unity3d
Resolutions HDTV-capable (480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p) HDTV-capable (480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p) EDTV-capable (480i, 480p, 576i)
Video outputs RGB, VGA,[100] Component, S-Video, Composite, SCART
HDMI 1.2a[101] (on models manufactured after August, 2007) 		RGB, Component, S-Video, Composite, SCART, HDMI 1.3a RGB, Component, S-Video, Composite, SCART, D-Terminal
Network 100BASE-TX Ethernet
Optional 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi adapter 		10BASE-T/100BASE-TX/1000BASE-T Ethernet
802.11 b/g Wi-fi (all models except 20 GB) 		Built-in 802.11 b/g Wi-fi
Optional Ethernet via USB adapter
Audio Dolby Digital, WMA Pro, DTS (DVD, HD DVD movies only) Dolby Digital, DTS*, Dolby TrueHD*, DTS-HD Master Audio*, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio*[102], DTS-ES‡, DTS 96/24‡, DTS-ES Matrix†[103]
*DVD and Blu-Ray movies only.
‡DVD movies only.
†Blu-Ray movies only. 		Dolby Pro Logic II surround, stereo sound and an additional Mono speaker is built into the controller.
I/O 2.4 GHz ISM band radio
IrDA-compliant infrared for remote
2 Memory Card slots
3 USB 2.0 ports
1 Ethernet port 		Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
4 USB 2.0 ports*
1 Ethernet port
1 Memory Stick slot Pro/Duo**

1 SD/mini SD port**
1 Compact Flash port**
*2 USB 2.0 ports with 40/80(2008 version)/160 GB versions
**Only 60/80(2007 version) GB versions

Bluetooth 2.0
2 USB 2.0 ports
Four controller and two memory card ports (GameCube)
1 SD Card slot[104]
Optical media 12x DVD (65.6–132 Mbit/s), CD 2x BD-ROM (72 Mbit/s), 8x DVD, 24x CD, 2x SACD*
*Not supported in 40 GB model 		Wii Optical Disc, Nintendo GameCube Game Disc, DVD-Video playback announced for Japan, 2007[105]
Storage Included/Optional* detachable SATA upgradeable 20 GB, 60 GB, or 120 GB hard drive.
Xbox 360 memory cards
USB mass storage (AV content)

*Premium version includes 20 GB or 60 GB HDD, Elite includes 120 GB HDD, and all HDDs are available for separate purchase.

2.5" upgradeable SATA 20/40/60/80/160 GB (depending on model) hard drive.
Memory Stick, SD, & Type I/II CompactFlash / Microdrive*
USB mass storage
*60/80(2007 version)GB models only 		512 MB built-in flash memory
SD card

Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards

Discontinuations and revisions

  • The PlayStation 3 20 GB was discontinued in North America in April, 2007[106] and effectively discontinued in Japan in early 2008.[107]
  • The PlayStation 3 60 GB was discontinued in NTSC territories by September 2007 ,and replaced with the 80 GB version.[108]
  • 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.[109] This is also the same for the 80 GB model launched in the North American market in 2007.[110]
  • An HDMI out port was added to the Premium Xbox 360 in August 2007.[111]
  • The Xbox 360 Core system was discontinued and replaced by the "Arcade" version in October, 2007.[112]
  • The price of the Xbox 360 Premium version was dropped to $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 $349.[113]
  • The Playstation 3 40 GB was discontinued in all territories in early August 2008 and the new 80 GB version served as its replacement.

Backwards compatibility

The Wii and the original two models of the PlayStation 3 are fully backwards compatible with titles from their previous counterparts and the Wii also offers support for some of its predecessor's accessories. Later versions of the PlayStation 3 and all models of the Xbox 360 only offer partial support and use software emulation for backwards compatibility. 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[114] and the PS3's compatibility is expanded with firmware updates. All three consoles provide titles from previous generations for download; the Xbox 360 through the Xbox Originals service, the PlayStation 3 through the PlayStation Store, and the Wii through the Virtual Console. The games are repurchased and saved to the console's internal memory.

High definition video

Both the PlayStation 3[115] and the Xbox 360[116] 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 North American PlayStation Store offer HD movies, TV shows, movie trailers and clips for download to the console's HDD.[117][118]

While only a small number of games render the video output in full 1080p, all games can be automatically scaled to this resolution.

Sales standings

See also: List of best-selling game consoles

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 Enterbrain, and the United Kingdom figures are based on data from GfK Chart-Track.

Console Units shipped to retailers (worldwide) Units sold to consumers in Canada
(as of August 1, 2008)[119] 		Units sold to consumers in Japan
(as of September 1, 2008)[120] 		Units sold to consumers in the UK
(as of September 2008)[121] 		Units sold to consumers in the US
(as of July 1, 2008)[122]
Wii 29.62 million
(as of June 30, 2008)[123][124] 		1,060,000 6.67 million 3.6 million 10.9 million
Xbox 360 20.3 million
(as of June 30, 2008)[125][126][127] 		870,000 684,695 2.3 million 10.5 million
PlayStation 3 14.41 million
(as of June 30, 2008)[128] 		520,000 2.32 million 1.4 million 5 million

Handheld systems

See also: Comparison of handheld game consoles

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 IEE 802.11b, as well as a microphone to speak to in-game NPCs.[129] On December 12, 2004, Sony released its first handheld, PlayStation Portable. The PlayStation Portable was marketed at launch to an above 25 year old[130] or "core gamer" market,[131] while the Nintendo DS proved to be popular with both core gamers and new consumers.[132]

Nokia Corporation plans to revive its N-Gage platform in the form of a service for selected S60 devices. This new service launched on April 3, 2008.[133]

Other less-popular handheld systems released during this generation include the Gizmondo (launched on 19 March 2005 and discontinued in February 2006) and the GP2X (launched on 10 November 2005 and discontinued in August 2008). The GP2X Wiz and the Pandora are due to be released before the end of 2008.

Comparison

Name Nintendo DS / Nintendo DS Lite PlayStation Portable / PlayStation Portable Slim and Lite
Console
Launch prices DS:
Japan: ¥15,000
North America: US$149.99
Europe: €149.99 /£99.99

DS Lite:

Japan: ¥16,800
North America: US$129.99 / CDN$149.99
Europe: €149.99 / £99.99
 PSP Value Pack:
Japan: ¥24,800 (¥26,040 tax incl.)[134]
North America: US$249.99 / CDN$299.99[135]
Europe: €249 / £179.99[135]

PSP Core Pack:

Japan: ¥19,800 (¥20,790 tax incl.)[136]
North America: US$199.99 / CDN$229.99[137]
Europe: €199.99 / £180.00[138]

PSP Slim Core Pack:

Japan: ¥19,800[139]
North America: US$169.99 / CDN$199.99[140]
Europe: €169 / £129.99[141][142]
Release dates
Media Nintendo DS Game Card, Game Boy Advance cartridge Universal Media Disc (UMD), Memory Stick Duo
Best-selling game Nintendogs, 18.67 million, all versions combined (as of March 31, 2008)[85]
New Super Mario Bros., 14.16 million (as of March 31, 2008)[85] 		Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, 2.4 million (as of June 30, 2008)[143]
Included accessories and extras
  • Launch model DS: Stylus, wrist strap, Metroid Prime Hunters demo (not in Japan)
  • DS Lite: Stylus, wrist strap (Japan only)
  • Value Pack: PSP Case, Hand Strap, 32 MB Memory Stick Pro Duo, Headphones w/Remote control
Accessories
(retail)
CPU 67 MHz ARM9 and 33 MHz ARM7 MIPS R4000-based; clocked from 1 to 333 MHz
Memory 4 MB SRAM 32 MB EDRAM, 64 MB for PSP Slim (8 MB reserved for kernel)
Interface
  • D-pad
  • Six face buttons
  • Two shoulder buttons
  • Touch screen
  • Microphone
  • D-pad
  • Six face buttons
  • Two shoulder buttons
  • "Home" button
  • Analog nub
Dimensions 148.7 × 84.7 × 28.9 mm (5.85 × 3.33 × 1.13 inches) (DS)
133 × 73.9 × 21.5 mm (5.24 × 2.9 × 0.85 inches) (DS Lite) 		170 × 74 × 23 mm (6.7 × 2.9 × 0.9 inches) (PSP)
169.4 mm x 71.4 mm x 18.6 mm (PSP Slim & Lite)
Weight
 275 g (9.7 oz) (DS)
218 g (DS Lite) 		280 g (0.62 lbs) (PSP)
189 g (PSP Slim & Lite)
Online service Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection PlayStation Network, RSS reader, web browser, Skype (for PSP-2000 series only)
Backward compatibility Plays almost all Game Boy Advance cartridges Plays PlayStation games through PS3 via remote play or downloaded from PlayStation Store or custom firmware
System software Proprietary OS, Pictochat XrossMediaBar (XMB)
Consumer programmability See Nintendo DS homebrew See PlayStation Portable homebrew
Resolutions 256 × 192 (both screens) 480 × 272
Network Wi-Fi (802.11) Wi-Fi (802.11b), IrDA (only for 1xxx series), USB
Audio Stereo speakers, headphone jack Stereo speakers, headphone jack
I/O 1 NDS Card slot
1 GBA slot 		UMD drive
1 USB port
1 Memory Stick Duo slot
1 IrDA (pre 2000 models only)
Storage Game Card Memory Stick PRO Duo
Battery life DS, backlight on: 14 hours
DS Lite, minimum brightness setting: 19 hours 		MP3 playback: 10 hours
Game: approximately 3–6 hours
Video playback: 3–7 hours depending on screen brightness setting
Wi-Fi internet browsing: approximately 3–4 hours
Units sold Worldwide: 77.54 million (as of June 30, 2008)[123][124]

Japan: 22,169,761 (as of March 30, 2008)[144][145]
United Kingdom: 7.1 million (as of September 2008)[121]
United States: 17.65 million (as of January 1, 2008)[146][147][148]

Worldwide: 41 million (as of August 20, 2008)[149]

Japan: 8,574,026 (as of March 30, 2008)[144][145]
United Kingdom: 2.9 million (as of September 2008)[121]
United States: 10.47 million (as of January 1, 2008)[146][147][148]

Note: First year of release is the first year of the system's worldwide availability.

Upcoming consoles

Name Manufacturer Product family Release date Predecessor Suggested retail price
GP2X Wiz GamePark Holdings GP2X November 2008 GP2X ~US $180
Nintendo DSi Nintendo Nintendo DS Nintendo DS Lite
Pandora OpenPandora none none (developed with close input from the GP32 and GP2X community) US $329.99
€249.99
£199.99
PSP-3000 series Sony PlayStation PlayStation Portable Slim and Lite US $199.99 (bundle package)
US $169.99 (core package)

Milestone titles

See also: List of console game franchises
  • BioShock (Microsoft Windows, PS3, Xbox 360) is considered a major influential and artistic game of this generation[150][151] with a plot that quickly created controversy with the decisions the player makes during the game.[152]
  • Gears of War (Windows, Xbox 360) had preorder sales which were second only to Halo 2 in the studio's history.[153] Gears of War was also the first Xbox or Xbox 360 game to sell out and reach the top ten charts in Japan.[154] On November 7, 2006—the day that it was released—it became the most popular game on the Xbox Live service, overtaking Halo 2, which had held the spot since its launch in November 2004.[155] By January 19, 2007, just ten weeks after its debut, over three million units of the game had been sold.[156]
  • Halo 3 (Xbox 360) broke many first day records, including preorders (1.7 million+), and first day sales (US$170 million+), surpassing its predecessor, Halo 2, in both of these fields.[161][162] It also featured advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology for enemies, though the player's allies' intelligence was less refined.[163][164]
  • Super Mario Galaxy (Wii), currently one of the most critically acclaimed titles of the seventh generation, sold more copies in its first week, including over 500,000 in the US, than any other game for the Mario title in the history of the franchise.[172] As of July 2008, it is currently second only to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as the overall best-reviewed game of all-time, as listed on Game Rankings, along with being the recipient of many game of the year awards.[158]
  • Wii Sports (Wii) has been attributed as a major factor in the Wii's worldwide success.[179] The game, along with Wii Fit, has been cited as attracting more casual, female, and elderly gamers.[180] This is a rarity among seventh generation games, as developers tend to try and attract young men.[181] It has also been cited as one game that can provide a bonding experience among family members,[182] and as a means of exercising and losing weight when played regularly.[183] As of March 31, 2008, the game has sold 21.56 million copies worldwide—including bundled copies, making it the best-selling Wii game published by Nintendo.[85]

Other systems

Remakes

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