Rivals gear up for tough competition

PLAYSTATION 3

Misses the vital Christmas market after supply problems. Only available in March 2007. Will feature a 20GB or 80GB hard drive as well as a Blue-ray high definition player. Also includes USB ports, memory card slots and a built-in internet browser with free access to the Playstation network. Redesigned wireless controllers promise a better gaming experience. The PS3 promises to play PS1 and PS2 games. It is the most expensive and Blue-Ray may lose out to HD-DVD.

XBOX 360

Microsoft's Xbox 360 has an advantage having been on the market for a year. Its price point is significantly below that of the PS3. Its earlier arrival also means it offers a far greater range of games. The console is also compatible with nearly 270 earlier Xbox titles.

The Xbox 360 features a detachable 20GB hard drive and wireless controllers. A HD-DVD drive is optional as is subscription-based access to the online Xbox network.

It also includes Windows media centre and USB ports.

NINTENDO WII

Nintendo's Wii carefully avoids going head-to-head with PS3 and the Xbox 360. It is also, by some distance, the cheapest of the three consoles.

The trade-off is that its graphics are clearly not on a par with its rivals. The Wii also does not provide online gaming.

On the plus side, its revolutionary Wii remote is motion sensitive, providing a better gaming experience on new games.