2009
Entertainment
Consoles compete for your cash
15
In the video game world, the "console wars" have remained fierce. Three companies have been trying hard to win over customers for their game hardware
and software despite these tough times, and each company has had to suffer as a result of the recession. How do each of the video game consoles stack up
after being out for a couple years, and which is best for you when you have the extra money?
B enjamin M ann
consoles.
+Home to many of the
most popular Nintendo
series.
Cons:
- Least graphically ad
vanced.
-A large amount of
titles, but many are
poor quality and
mini-game compi
lations, and there
re few "hardcore"
ames.
-Requires exces
sive amounts of
peripherals.
-N o d o w n
loadable con
tent for Wii
games from
discs. Most
online games
are weak and
require "friend
codes."
The verdict: Began
strong, but shows its
age. Decent quality
games have been few
and far between late
ly, making it's worth
questionable. Still, it
contains some decent
titles and can be good,
wholesome fun for the
family.
Wii
Created by: Nintendo
Price: $200 (includes
Wii Sports)
Features:
Controller is remote
for more interactiv
ity, plays Gamecube
games, contains many
different "channels”
such as the Weather
Channel.
Notable games: Wii
Sports, Wii Fit, Super
Mario Galaxy, Super
Smash Bros. Brawl,
The Legend of Zelda:
Twilight Princess
Pros:
♦Strong downloadable
library: many older
titles can be played
from Virtual Console
as well as new ones
through WiiWare.
♦ F a m ily -o r ie n te d .
Many games are de
signed for both young
and old.
♦Least expensive of the
Dear Confused,
If she is so close-minded that
she refuses to give anyone but
football players a chance, then
she's simply not worth your time
or attention. Do your best to
forget about her.
Ani and Maggie
Dear Ani and Maggie,
I have a friend who I've
known for a year or so. He's
everything I look for in a guy. I
told him I loved him a few weeks
ago, and he said he wanted to
be just friends with me. I've
I
still liked him ever since; he's
basically the only guy I want as
a boyfriend. Should I keep my
hopes up for a real relationship?
Even though I know he was
honest in telling me we're just
friends, am I crazy to think he
might come around?
Thank you,
Lovesick Blues
Dear Lovesick,
You're not crazy, but it
probably won't happen. If he
specifically told you that he only
wants to be friends, then its likely
what he really means. Though
it's not impossible that he would
change his mind, you definitely
shouldn't wait around for it to
happen. Put forth an effort to talk
to other guys, and see if there
are some great people you didn't
know about before. For now, just
try to enjoy his friendship while
making other friends as well.
Ani and Maggie
Dear Ani and Maggie,
I am having a hard time
Created by: Microsoft
Prices: $400, (250 GB
Elite) $300, (120 GB
Elite) $200 (Arcade)
Features: Has a very
strong online compo
nent with download
able content, a very
large hard drive de
pending on the version,
smooth dashboard and
interface.
Notable games: Halo
3/ODST, The Elder
Scrolls IV: Oblivion,
Gears of War/2, Fable D.
Pros:
♦Xbox Live is a great
feature that allows for
online play and in
cludes downloadable
content both for games
and original Xbox Live
Arcade titles.
♦Backwards compat
ible with many Xbox
titles for the hardcore
such as Halo 3, and
more family-oriented
ones such as Viva Pi
ñata.
_
_
deciding which sport to play. I
would love to take part in the
Equestrian Team, but I already
ride my horse five times a week.
I have been so excited about the
Equestrian Team, but it's also
really expensive. Then there is the
school Ski Team! I love to ski, but
it would be the second best sport
next to riding horses. However,
my family loves to ski and it
would be cheaper. Help! I want to
be involved, but I can only afford,
time and moneywise, to do just
one.
Sincerely,
Stressing Sports
Dear Stressing,
Assuming that your parents
are paying for your sports fees,
you should talk to them about
what they'd be willing to pay
for. If they're fine with covering
either cost, think about what
you'd be happiest doing. If you
join Ski Team, you'd still be able
to ride your horse for recreational
purposes, but if you do
Equestrian Team, you'd probably
Cons:
-Can become expen
sive, especially the
more advanced ver
sions and having to pay
for Xbox Live.
-Very prone to crashes.
Many Xbox 360s have
"Red rings of death"
that cause the console
to no longer work cor
rectly.
-Prone to other issues
as well, such as fre
quent disc read errors
Xbox 360
(
Created by: Sony
Prices: $500, (20 GB)
$600 (60 GB)
Features: Blu-Ray, abil
ity to connect to PSP,
many things you can
do such as listening to
music on the internet;
controller provides tilt
1 a a u a u \ e
design, though the Slim
version is a bit better.
The verdict: An ex
tremely ambitious and
powerful console that
started slow. Since then,
it's become stronger
with more features
and available games. It
could become the most
successful of the three
consoles, with games
like Final Fantasy XIII
on the way.
I
Playstation 3
o
Dear Ani and Maggie,
I am in love with a
cheerleader, but the source of
my problem is she only likes
football players. However, I do
not play football due to religious
reasons. I cannot decide whether
to abandon my God in order to
appease my heart, or to live every
day knowing I could be with the
girl of my dreams. What should
Ido?
A Confused Man
sensitivity, contains the
Playstation Network
for online play.
Notable games: Metal
Gear Solid 4, LittleBig-
Planet, Uncharted/2,
Ratchet and Clank Fu
ture: A Crack in Time
Pros:
+Uses Blu-Ray discs
which allow for very
high definition and
games with very large
file size.
+Unlike the Xbox 360,
Playstation Network
is free and does not
require a subscription.
♦Some of the strongest
graphics and speaker
quality.
+Contains many fea
tures such as a web
browser.
Cons:
-Very expensive: Con
soles and games cost a
large amount of money.
-Not a ton of exclusives
compared to other con
soles: many PS3 games
are also available on
Xbox 360.
-Bulky, heavy and
somewhat clunky
The verdict: Being
released earlier than
the other two con
soles, the Xbox 360 still
stands strong, if you
can handle the cost.
The console and games
can be expensive, and
the hardware itself can
be spotty, but it offers
a great collection of
titles to satisfy hard
core gamers and has a
strong online compo
nent to boot.
fM m sìa H i as
still be able to ski with your .
family occasionally. Make the
choice based on what you want
to spend the most time doing
because being part of a sports
team is a big time commitment.
Good luck!
Ani and Maggie
Dear Ani Maggie,
My boyfriend broke up
with me last Tuesday. I'm really
sad and I can't get over him.
Yesterday I saw him making
out with my best friend. I can't
tell you how mad I am; I want
to scream. What do I do? I don't
want to lose my best friend, but
it was a JERK MOVE. Thanks so
much for your time.
Jealous Jill Without Jack
Dear Jealous,
You're absolutely right — it
was really mean of them. You say
you don't want to lose your best
friend, but how much of a best
friend is she if she went behind
your back and made out with
the guy you still have feelings
for? Talk to her and try to figure
out why she did what she did. If
she seems sincerely sorry, there's
room for forgiveness, and the
relationship can be repaired. As
far as the boy is concerned, forget
about him. As hard as it may
be to hear, he's over it if he has
already moved on to other girls
so quickly, and you'd be better
off focusing your attention on
someone who may be interested
in you too.
Ani and Maggie
Dear Ani and Maggie,
My pet velociraptor ate my
parents last night, and I don't feel
guilty. Why?
Oswald Greenfield III
Dear Oswald,
Maybe you're still in shock.
Give the tragedy time to sink
in, then seek counseling to help
you through this hard time. It
might also be best to part ways
with your pet, who seems to be a
destructive force in your life.
Ani and Maggie