The Xbox 360 was constructed by the Microsoft Cooperation. The 360 was also co-constructed by IBM, ATI, Samsung and SiS. The 360 was officially unveiled to the public on MTV on May 12^th, 2005 with the expected launch date and video game information. The 360 is the 1^st console to have a simultaneous launch across 3 major regions as well to provide wireless controllers as a standard. Microsoft believes its year-early head start, high-definition gaming, and its Xbox Live online gaming will help the consoles success.

     The ever popular “Playstation” has upgraded again to the PS3. Made by Sony, this machine will also have the Xbox 360’s two configurations, the 20GB core system and the 60 GB expansion. It was showcased on May 16^th 2005. The first working model was not at E3, 2005 or at the Tokyo Game show in September. It wasn’t until E3, 2006 that the actual   PS3 is expected to be launched in the US on November 17^th, 2006. The estimated price is $500 for the core and $600 for the expansion.

      The Nintendo Wii was originally named the “Revolution.” Revolution was actually the official “Project Code Name.” A major feature of the Wii is a revolutionary design of its unique controller which is actually a remote. The controller has a built-in motion senor and rotation in 3 dimensions. It also contains a speaker and the Rumble Pak. The system has a special configuration called “Wiiconnect 24”, which enables it to receive messages and updates over the Internet using very little power. It was unveiled under the code named “Revolution” at E3 2005 conference. It is expected to launch in the US in 2006. The Nintendo company has not yet released the official launch date, but Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s president, says he wishes it to launch before Thanksgiving in the US and he also says it will not be more then $250.

     Sony’s 6^th Generation console was the Playstation 2, which was a keeper in the beginning of the 6^th generation and sales still continue today. The development of the Ps2 was announced in March, 1999. It was the first released in Japan in March 4^th, 2000. It was released in the US on October 4^th, 2000. The PS2 has become the fastest selling game console in history, with over 100 million consoles shipped by November 2005, beating the previous record holder the Playstation, by 3 years and nine months. As of July 2006, the PS2 still outsells its competition, the Xbox, Xbox 360, and Gamecube in North America and Japan.

     A new competitor in the 6^th generation is the Microsoft’s Xbox. It was released on February 22^nd, 2002 in Japan and November 15^th, 2001 in the US. The Xbox was Microsoft’s first independent venture into the video game console arena. Great games hosted by the Xbox are Halo, Halo 2, Amped, Dead or Alive 3, Fable: The Lost Chapters and Unreal Championship.

     Just as the Nintendo Wii was code named “Revolution” the Gamecube was codenamed “Dolphin”. The Gamecube was Nintendo’s 4^th home video game console. The Gamecube was in the 6^th generation era of video games. It competed against Sega Dreamcast, Sony Playstation 2, and Microsoft Xbox. The Gamecube was released on September 14^th, 2001 in Japan and November 18^th 2001 in the US.