The video gaming technology has changed dramatically in just a few years. What is on the designers minds is how can we attract new customers and evolve into the 21st century. They have changed the way we look at video games. Instead of the typical man-hunt, machine guns killing aliens games, there are more games that are puzzle like. Forget the standard controller games, now there are more interactive games that really get you out of your seat. The consoles leading the trend are the Nintendo Wii and the Sony Eye Toy. The travel and compact video game players that are now big are the Nintendo DS (Dual Screen) and the Sony PSP ( PlayStation Portable).

Now, the Wii is newer then the Eye Toy but there are a few things you need to know before you head out and get that console. The Wii right now it still very hard to get, and take a lot of hunting and knowing your local video game retailer’s shipments. Wii will run you up about $300 just for the basic console. If you chose to get a bundle that includes 2 games, extra controllers and Wii points that will run you about $500. The Sony Eye Toy has been out a longer, there isn’t any wait, and doesn’t have as big as a hype then the Wii. You could say that the Eye Toy launched the Wii. Eye Toy is also much cheaper, it’s only $50 and already had plenty of games to choose from already.

We have all seen those people who get so into the Wii games that they really hurt themselves with the motions and the controllers, that can be quite negative. Eye Toy doesn’t have any controllers because they use a special web camera, that they provide in the box, and everything is all monitored. However, the Eye Toy does have a few problems in monitoring the movements where as the Wii doesn’t have that big of a problem. Then again you have you realize that Eye Toy came before Wii.

As for portable video games, DS and PSP are the top players to get. The DS is about $130 and the PSP is $170. The PSP has more options like storing photos, playing movies, and playing music. While the DS has a more interacting games like Cooking Mama, where you use the stylus on the touch screen to cook. With the DS, you can join other people in their games even though you don’t have the game yourself. The PSP are for more serious gamers who enjoy the more action games like Grand Theft Auto. The DS has more lighter games like Tetris, and Mario Kart.

When I found out my assignment from my awesome editor, I was more then please to play video games in the name of research. When I started, I too was in the dark as to what kind of system I should buy. I hope this will help you a little bit and if not, maybe you should do a little research yourself and play video games. After all this research, I came to the conclusion that I liked the DS more than the PSP. As for the Wii vs. Eye Toy, I’m still undecided. Maybe I should do more research.