Gamers are everywhere!! On the streets, you
see them play on their mobiles or they would play on their Pc’s or consoles at
home. The video game industry has come
from humble beginnings. In the current
age games have almost life like graphics in 4k resolution. To enable such high
intensity games to work, one needs high end computers. Some gamers spend more
than Rs. 100,000 for a proper gaming pc. The reality is different for lot of
gamers, with a tighter budget. Buying a pc which can run all current and even
future games is an expensive affair. This is where a game console trumps the
pc. Thanks to companies like Nintendo and Sony who launched consoles way back
in the 80’s & the 90’s the console gaming market is worth billions in this
day and age. You can get a console for less than half the price of an average
pc or a gaming laptop. Let’s check out the top 5 consoles available in the
market currently.
Nintendo
Founded in 1989 Nintendo is the one of the
world’s largest video game companies in the world. Their market value is
estimated to be about 85 billion dollars. They have created some of the most
influential video game titles in gaming history, like Mario, Zelda & more. Nintendo
are known to have a closed eco system with less third party involvement in
their games and hardware.
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Nintendo Switch
Their latest offering this year is the
Nintendo switch which is priced at Rs. 33,490 on Amazon in India. Nintendo has
not officially released the console in India yet. Launch titles like Zelda breath of the wild
and Skyrim were released with the console to push sales. Sales have been
exceptionally well for the newly released console even at such a price. The
console features a small portable screen with a handheld controller in the box.
The console can be connected to your television for big screen gaming and can
be carried out for handheld gaming. This is Nintendo’s solution for a handheld
cum home console. They have also let third party game developers to work on the
console to make more games after listening to critics and fans.
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Nintendo 2ds XL
The handheld console with 2 screens is
available online in India at Rs. 14,697. Like the switch this console is not
officially launched in India. So if you are looking to buy this be aware of
after sales service issues. The 2ds Xl features backwards compatibility and
plays all the previous generation games. Nintendo aims to offer double the fun
at a lesser price.
Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is a global
leader in the computer software, consumer electronics. They entered the video
game market in 2001, which was then dominated by Sony & Nintendo. They
launched the Xbox and It went head to head with industry leaders. It performed
pretty well due to its games like the Halo series & features like inbuilt
hard drive, and online gaming through a broadband connection. The Xbox 360 was
released as a successor to the original Xbox, and was a hit in the market. Now
considered only second to Sony’s Playstation.
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Xbox One S
The Xbox One S is the latest console
offering by Microsoft. It is an upgraded variant of the Xbox One which was
released in 2013 as a successor to the Xbox 360. The Xbox controller is said to
be the best gaming controller in the world, and the Xbox One S controller
carries the same legacy. It will be launched on October 10th in
India in 500 Gb & 1 Tb Variants. The base variant is available for
pre-order at Rs. 29,990 online. The console features gaming at 4k resolution
for bright and vivid colors.
Sony
Sony is the global leader in the gaming
industry, with its Playstation consoles. The first playstation was launched in
1994. Sony has sold more than 100 million units of Playstation. Sony invests
heavily in making exclusive console games which work with their console. Their
game titles like the Uncharted series & The Last Of Us have sold millions
of copies.
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Ps4 Slim Model
The PS4 which was the successor to the
Playstation 3, marked a new generation of consoles in 2013. It featured the
latest in console technology, with an octa-core processor and an 8 GB Ram. The
slim variant was launched in 2016 as an updated model with a more streamlined
and compact body. The console supports HDR color profiles for better viewing.
This model is available at Rs. 27,380 At Amazon.
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Ps4 Pro
Sony announced the Ps4 Pro in September
2016 and called it mid-generation refresh. It is an upgraded variant with
better hardware and 4k gaming capabilities like the Xbox One s and also
features Vr Gaming. The Pro is priced at Rs.37,999 and also features Netflix
streaming.