The game is an integral part of the life of any person. Someone plays the guitar, someone plays basketball, chess, and someone likes computer games. In general, consoles occupy a special position in the hierarchy of this kind of entertainment. More than 20 years have passed since the appearance of the first prefixes “Dandy”, “Sega” and our domestic “Wait a minute!”, Which won the hearts of not only children but also adults.
Since then, a lot of time has passed, but the army of fans of console gadgets is growing day by day with the only difference that the games have become much more beautiful, diverse and interesting. A modern game console is essentially the same high-performance computer, only sharpened specifically for the gaming industry, but with one drawback critical for some - the inability to upgrade.
Should I buy a console?
Game consoles "Sony", "Xboxes" and others connected to a home TV can give a lot of joy, excitement and pleasant experiences. In addition, such a pastime sometimes brings together different generations of people, if you spend evenings on your favorite game.
Also, one of the distinguishing features of consoles is universal accessories for game consoles. Almost anyone who has never been familiar with the computer game world is able to cope with a simple joystick / gamepad. Keep this in mind before choosing a game console.
What to prefer?
In principle, choosing a console is not so difficult. There is a completely logical principle - the more expensive, the better. If you want to diversify your evenings with high-quality graphics and the ability to immerse yourself in virtual reality, as they say, with your head, then it is better not to be stingy and take the latest generation or Playstation models. There you will see a truly mesmerizing picture and a lot of additional features like a virtual helmet and original gamepads.
The main “salt” of consoles is the absolute optimization for their products. When playing, you will never see any brakes, friezes or subsidence on the FPS - everything will happen exactly as the developer intended.
If you want to buy a console exclusively for your minor child who does not play “heavy” games, then you can stop on models of past generations, such as “Dandy”, “Sega”. Well, when you yourself like to pass the evening or two for a beautiful toy, it is better to spend more money on the device. Also keep this in mind before choosing a game console. Many experts advise buying good equipment right away so that its technical "filling" lasts for several years.
So, we denote the list of consoles, which included the best representatives of this segment. Let's talk about the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of models and what features have accessories for game consoles (gamepads).
Sony PlayStation 4
The company's engineers took into account almost all the flaws and errors of the previous generation of consoles and equipped the new device not only with an excellent set of chipsets, but also gave the device an attractive appearance. Sony’s game consoles of the latest generation look very stylish thanks to the black color and the original design in the form of a parallelepiped.
Slightly noticeable touch keys, correctly located on the front of the panel, are used to turn the console on and off, as well as to work with a very quiet "Blue-ray" drive. The back of the device is reserved for numerous interfaces and connectors, which have become even more universal.
Console features
Today, the Playstation 4 game console is the most productive set of chipsets among all consoles. On board the device there is an eight-core processor "Jaguar" from AMD, working in tandem with the graphic chip "Radeon". In addition, the console has 8 GB of RAM and a 1 TB hard drive. Such a powerful "filling" and functionality allowed the model to receive the title of "best game console of 2016".
In addition, the game accessories of the console were distinguished by convenience and even greater comfort for the user. The wireless joystick, by all the laws of ergonomics, lies in the hand, and all buttons are ideally located. The battery of the “Dualshock 4” class allows you to play on the console for up to 8 hours continuously. The best game console from Sony has sold over 40 million copies, and this already says a lot.
Advantages of the model:
- great picture on the output (if you have a good TV);
- original and attractive design;
- large selection of exclusive games;
- the design is compact in size;
- built-in power supply unit;
- ergonomic gamepad;
- absolutely no friezes, freezes or subsidence on FPS during games.
Disadvantages:
- network service (PS TM Network) has many complaints;
- high cost of games.
Estimated price - about 25,000 rubles.
Xbox one
Like Playstation, the Xbox One is the best gaming console for the home. Both brands have been competing for each customer for many years. The first difference that catches your eye if you put these two consoles together is the design and size of the devices.
“Xbox One”, like the previous generation of the Xbox 360, can’t be called a compact model, in addition, the power supply here is a remote type, and the appearance of many users causes conflicting feelings.
What's inside?
Nevertheless, the hardware of the gadget did not disappoint at all and is inferior to its competitor only in the volume of the hard disk (1 TB to 500 GB) and the number of computing threads of the graphics core (1152 to 768 units). Despite this, many “boxed” fans believe that the Xbox One consoles, as well as the Xbox 360, are the best game console. And to convince them is almost impossible. On board there is still the same powerful processor from AMD, a nimble Radeon card and 8 GB of RAM. A variety of interfaces allows you to connect almost any third-party device.
Technological internals from AMD have always been characterized by low power consumption, and this console was no exception: the device works very quietly and practically does not heat up. One of the interesting and distinguishing features of the Xbox is the presence of an additional HDMI interface for input, which made it possible to receive images from external devices.
Accessories
The accessories included with the console are also convenient, and there is no discomfort during operation. The gamepad is made of high-quality black plastic and covered with matte crumbs - tenacious and non-marking. Positive reviews about convenient triggers and smartly thought out analog levers roam all specific forums. Despite how much the game console costs, more than 21 million people have become its owners.
Pluses of model:
- comfortable and ergonomic joystick;
- even under heavy loads the console does not make noise;
- a separate battery slot, which can be easily replaced;
- thanks to the presence of an additional HDMI-input, you can significantly expand the functionality of the console;
- well-developed and high-quality games, including exclusive ones;
- uninterrupted operation of network services (Xbox Live).
Minuses:
- picture quality is slightly weaker than the PS4 and a little bit falls short of Full HD-development;
- the external battery is too bulky;
- the drive does not support 3D functionality;
- games are installed much longer than in the PS4.
Estimated cost - about 20,000 rubles.
Nintendo 3DS XL
If the first question you ask the seller in the store is: “How much does the game console cost?”, Then the Nintendo series of 3DS XL portable game consoles is just for you. And the price does not bite, as in the case of previous respondents, and you can play with proper comfort.
In general, the 3DS line has become famous for allowing its user to enjoy games with a three-dimensional picture without special glasses. With its appearance, the portable console resembles a small laptop, but instead of the usual working area with a keyboard, we see a second display. The upper screen has a spread of 800 by 240 pixels, and the lower, on touch control, has 320 by 240 pixels. That is, the main "chip" of the device is a three-dimensional supply of material, regardless of the position of the user's eyes. The pupils of the player are monitored by a special system that automatically adjusts stereoscopy to the position of the gamer's head.
Console Features
The control itself does not raise any questions, everything is intuitive and simple, and the lower screen on the sensors is convenient and highly sensitive. In addition to its own database of games, the line works correctly not only with applications from previous generations, but also with third-party software, which makes it an almost universal tool for leisure.
The battery of the device is enough for six hours of continuous games. If you do not indulge in three-dimensional capabilities, then the gadget is enough for the whole day.
Advantages of the Nintendo Portable Console:
- 3D picture;
- competent motion sensor;
- the presence of a gyroscope;
- very convenient and intuitive controls;
- It is possible to listen to music in high bitrate;
- huge game library.
Disadvantages:
- the filling is rather weak for “heavy” games;
- screen resolution could be better;
Estimated price - about 13,000 rubles.