The good and bad news is that all three consoles offer significantly different pros and cons with their motion-sensing thrills. Choosing which is right for you and your family comes down to more than just price point and typical game content, although the latter is your best guide overall.
We’ve broken down the major for-and-against arguments for Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3 Move and Xbox 360 Kinect based on a family of four, including one teenager and a little-un. We’re assuming that Dad already has an interest in games and Mum is equally partial or open to persuasion.
In each case the quoted costs are based on the official recommended retail price (RRP) for the console and required accessories. You can, of course, find better offers online or in the high street. As with any gift buying at Christmas, it pays to shop around. Prices are unlikely to get much lower than they are now however, so we advise that you pick the best deal and reserve yours soon.
Nintendo Wii
Price: £179.99 (console inc. two games)
+ £49.99 (additional Motion Plus controller) = £229.98 RRP,
+ £89.99 (‘Wii Fit Plus’ and balance board) = £319.97
In brief: The original motion-sensing console, ready to go out of the box. Nintendo Wii generally targets a younger, family-oriented crowd and the majority of its games use gesture control.
Pros Set up is easy, a narrow sensor sits below or on top of the TV connected by a wire to the console.
Forgiving about the interaction, you can lazily point at the screen under most lighting conditions.
Wii has deserved its fun reputation based on Wii Sports (included) and Wii Fit (sold separately).
Because every Wii console is motion-sensing, most games are created to make the most of this.
As many as four people can participate in one game if you’re willing to purchase more controllers.
Cons Batteries! You’ll find yourself buying lots of these unless you invest in a rechargeable alternative.
Other than child-friendly games and Nintendo titles such as Mario, blockbuster games are scarce.
You can use your feet with Nintendo Wii, but this comes at extra cost for ‘Wii Fit’ or ‘Wii Fit Plus’.
Because not every Wii console has a balance board there are very few games that support this.
Wii doesn’t support high definition and its online support is minimal compared to PS3 and Xbox.
PlayStation 3 Move
Price: £249.99 (160GB console, no games)
+ £49.99 (PlayStation Move Pack inc. controller + one game)
+ £34.99 (additional Move controller) = £334.37
In brief: A high-definition, precision-oriented take on the Wii concept. It requires a PlayStation 3 console to operate, but this already supports a decent range of non-gesturing family titles.
Pros
There is a notable improvement in accuracy when using the Move controller, ideal for sports games.
Visual fidelity adds to the realism with high-definition scenes and detailed avatars to represent you.
Has potential to enhance many traditional PlayStation experiences, including first-person shooting.
As many as four people can participate in one game if you’re willing to purchase more controllers.
Motion-detection is partly handled by a camera, useful for other game types plus video messaging.
Cons
There’s no option to use your feet, although the camera could make this possible to a limited extent.
Only a small percentage of PS3 owners own PlayStation Move, so publisher support isn’t strong.
Calibration is sensitive to light conditions, requiring roughly two metres between you and the screen.
Interaction requires strong gestures owing to the accuracy; you can’t relax as much while you play.
So far even the official Sony titles have received lukewarm reception from the press and the public.
Xbox 360 Kinect
Price: £129.99 (Kinect inc. one game), or £249.99 (4GB Xbox 360 console inc. Kinect plus one game),
or
£299.99 (250GB console inc. Kinect plus one game)
In brief: Introduces a new concept of motion-capturing your entire body so that you become the controller. It requires an Xbox 360 console, until now served best by the top shooting games.
Pros
Easy to set up next to the telly, the newer ‘Slim’ consoles also have a dedicated port at the back.
Generous with its tolerance of lighting and distance from the screen, it auto-adjusts camera angle.
The controller-free gimmick works extraordinarily well, and getting your legs involved feels great.
Kinect is voice-activated so can be launched from the dashboard without picking up a controller.
The launch line-up is very strong, with at least two potential hits among 20 or so worth considering.
Cons
You need plenty of clear space to move around, with beyond two metres advised for two players.
A maximum of two players can take control at the same time, so forget four-player simultaneous.
Slower response time to actions than Wii, therefore unlikely to enhance traditional Xbox 360 games.
All of the launch games require people to stand and move to play and are, frankly, exhausting.
As with Nintendo Wii, all bases appear to have been covered at launch. Get ready for Me Too titles.
On one hand, and then the other…
So, PlayStation 3 Move looks like having the most potential to enhance familiar blockbuster games owing to its precision response. Meanwhile Kinect for Xbox 360 has paradigm-shifting potential, but could equally fall flat if it succumbs to shovel-ware in its inaugural year. We find it hard to shake the notion that Nintendo Wii is the people’s champ, especially with so many cheaper games available. Judged purely on wiggle-value, Wii remains strong – but hasn’t everybody got one already?
Which of these motion-sensing consoles will you consider buying for Christmas?"
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