It’s been seven years since Sony introduced the world to the PlayStation 3. The company tried to sell the PS3 as a living room hub where you could use a multimedia device to not only play video games but also watch movies and listen to music. Sony learned a lot of lessons on what makes a great console. The PS3 was viewed as a difficult system to program for developers. It was expensive to purchase and had an ambitious goal to try to reach out to casual fans with gimmicks that weren’t always about the video games themselves. Sony was introducing Blu-ray media technology for the first time which eventually became the adopted physical media standard. Now, Sony no longer needs to worry about these distractions and their new system reflects this fact with a clear message that it’s a video game console before anything else with an aggressive price point. Let’s take a look at some pros and cons to the PlayStation 4.

Pros:
-Graphics are good
-Dual shock 4 controller is good
-PS Vita remote play over wi-fi
-Excellent hardware performance
-Interface is fast

Cons:
-No DLNA Streaming
-No mp3,mkv,mpg playback
-Payment plan for online gaming
-No bluetooth headset support at launch
-Interface has too many cluttered menus

The first thing to enjoy about the PS4 is its design. The half-gloss, half-matte finish is a pleasant visual compromise and makes it look like a grown-up machine. The PS4 is 6.1 lbs. Sony has tucked the PS4’s power supply inside the system, leaving no external power brick to trip over. In the front, you’ll notice the Blu-ray disc drive to the left followed by two powered USB 3.0 ports on the right, which can charge your DualShock 4 controllers when the system is turned off. On the top, a clear blue line lights to signal when the device is turned on. If you flip to the back of the system, you’ll see only digital/optical ports as Sony no longer supports any video/analog ports. The system is also built with stability in mind as gamers can place the console either horizontally or vertically .

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The Xbox One is Microsoft’s third attempt at a video game console and their latest attempt is the company trying to recreate their system into an all-in-one entertainment center. The Xbox’s new interface allows users to watch live TV service along with streaming media options, recorded programs and video chat. The Xbox One also includes a built-in Kinect motion sensor/remote extender/voice controller that was previously an accessory for the Xbox 360. Let’s take a look at some pros and cons to the Xbox One.

Pros:
-Easy to share videos with friends
-Powerful interface
-Kinect included in the box
-Good integration with television and DVR

Cons:
-Controller still requires batteries
-Hardware design not aesthetically pleasing
-Live subscription required for Netflix
-Price is way too expensive

The first thing that you’ll notice about the Xbox One is its design. It runs cool and is relatively quiet. It’s quite bulky and won’t be winning any awards for hardware design but its large size leaves a lot of room for the system to be able to breathe. The last console by Microsoft was easy to overheat and break down so we’ll give Microsoft a pass by trying to fix a potential hardware error early rather than to wait for problems down the road. There’s no ports or slots in the front. The only thing in the front is the disc drive and the Xbox One logo that lights up when powered on. All of the ports are neatly hidden in the back. You have all of your standard ports such as HDMI-Out, USB 3.0, ethernet, IR-Out and HDMI-in, which is how you feed the Xbox One your cable or satellite signal.

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Nintendo is stepping into the next generation of game consoles with its very first high definition gaming display. The system’s graphics and hardware are similar compared to other consoles such as the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. This might seem like an odd choice since those consoles came out nearly 7 years ago. Nintendo isn’t hoping that people will care as much about the graphics and hardware when they get a chance to use the console’s new tablet controller which has motion control and touch screen technology. We know from experience with the Nintendo Wii that Nintendo will try to compete its two main rivals through innovation. Let’s take a look at some of the highs and lows of this system.

Highs:
-Nintendo E shop is great for playing NES and gameboy classics.
-Gamepad works well as a TV remote and second television
-Miiverse is lots of fun
-Fast internet browser

Lows:
-Short gamepad battery life
-Gamepad range is too short
-Gamepad resolution is low
-Initial firmware update takes too long

The Wii U is slender and compact and weighs 3.4 pounds and measures 10.5 inches long while keeping a relatively slim 1.9-by-6.6-inch profile. It has an optical drive in the front. The power and reset buttons go in the front along with a syncing station to connect the gamepad controller. There’s a slot for an SD card and a USB drive. You’re going to need an SD card if you want to transfer any of your old Wiiware or virtual console games over to the new system.

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It’s the weekend and you’re bringing some friends over for a late night gaming session. This will mean that many hours of your life will be devoted to sitting in one place and staring at a television or computer monitor without blinking. At some point, you’re going to get very hungry and want to eat or drink something very fast without interrupting your gaming session. Sure, you can run up to the kitchen and patiently wait for food to be ready but this will cut valuable time that you should be focusing on defeating your enemies and becoming the #1 super ultra gaming master. We’ll now share with you some valuable gaming energy foods that will help to keep you alert and keep your tummy from growling during your gaming marathon.

-Gummy bears are a fat-free food. They can be packaged in a variety of different fruit flavors and have a low calorie intake. They don’t melt and will leave no residue on your hands. These foods can be easy to pop in your mouth without having to pause the game. They offer no nutritional value and no added minerals so you’ll be enjoying these only for the sugar and not to help keep your senses alive or to keep you from falling asleep.

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