Microsoft Xbox 360: More than just a cutting-edge game system.Xbox 360 intergarates high-definition video,DVD movie playback,digital music,photos,and online connectivity into one sleek,small tower.The system can act as a repository for your digital media from cameras,MP3 payers,and any Windows XP-based PC.Microsoft has annouced plans for an upcoming video-conferencing camera that will work with the system.

          The included service lets anyone creat a Gamertag and gamer card to express their online identity,chat live with voice chat,and connect to the Xbox Live Marketplace to buy expansions,maps ,and other digital goods.The subscription service box Live Gold adds to that online competition,game stats,and video chat/messaging.

 Most Anticipated Games: Halo 3, Halo 3, and Halo 3

Bottom Line: Gamers are most excited about the Xbox 360's enhancements to the already successful Xbox Live,including video-conferencing,achievements,and Gamerscore--a 21st century online equivalent of the high score tally.

Sony Playstation 3: Sony's Play  Station 3 games are encoded onto the Blu-Ray disk media format,which can hold six times as much data as traditional DVDs.This increase in capacity--combined with awesome power of its processor and graphics card--promises mind-blowing games once developers have learned how to fully harness the new console's power.

  The PS3 features IBM's "Cell" processor and a co-developed Nvidia graphics processor that  makes the system able to perform two trillion calculations  per second.That's aproximately 320 times more calculations per second than PS2.Along with the traditional AV connections,it also boast an HDMI port,which delivers uncompressed,unconverted digital pisture and sound to compatible high-definition TV and projectors.

 The PS3,too,has some hefty multi-media features are built in,such as video chat.Internet access,digital photo viewing,and digital audio and video.Out of the box,it will have the capability to support up to seven Bluetooth controllers.Sony plans similar online connectivity and services as the next generation of Xbox Live,only without the subscription.

 Most Anticipated Games: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Vision Gran Turismo,and Devil May Cry 4.

Bottom Line: The machine's raw power,top-line high definition support,and built-in support for all Play Station games will make this the centerpiece of many home theaters.

Nintendo Wii: Like the 360,and the PS3,Nintendo's Wii is also backward compatible,but unlike those systems,the Wii will play games dating back to the mid-1980's.How? the Wii's drive is compatible with GameCube disk,while NES,SNES,and Nintendo 64 games are to be available on Nintendo's free wireless gaming service,Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.And with a small,self-contained attachment,Wii will play also movies and other DVD content.

At its heart,the system is a game machine.It boast 512 MB of internal flash memory,wireless controllers,two USB 2.0 ports,a slot for SD memory expansion,and built-in Wi-fi access.

 The real revolution in this system though,is its controller.Shape like a TV remote,it's been designed to be easily used by people regardless of their video game experience.Internal sensors determine the controller's position is in 3-D space,whish means that racing-game steering and fighting game punching,for example,are done through movement of your hand rather than just by your thumbs.

Most Anticipated Games: Metroid Prime 3,as well as unconfirmed Mario and Legend of Zelda titles.

Bottom Line: Built -in Wi-Fi and downloadable legacy titles make this Nintendo fan's dream come true.