Streamyx Activation: Which Console is Best?

During the earlier days of video games, most games were restricted to 2-D views. As technology progressed, 3-D games became available, but the graphics were absolutely horrendous. If they weren't blurry, they were 'blocky', especially around a character's face and hands.

Fortunately, things have changed as 3-D games make up the majority of video games on the market. However, by the fact there are six major gaming consoles, (the Xbox 360, the PS3, the Nintendo Wii, the PC, the Nintendo DS and the PSP), one must wonder which one is the best for playing 3-D games.

Now, if a person were to go strictly on popularity, one would assume that the Xbox 360 is the best for 3-D games. And in many ways, it is a very powerful platform for playing 3-D games. Consider titles like Fable 2 or Oblivion, where the graphics are so intriguing you feel as if you are in another world.

Yet, what if a person was interested in the type of innovative game play the Nintendo Wii offers? Yes, the Xbox 360 might showcase some pretty impressive 3-D games, but the overall game play must be expressed through a gaming control. At least with the Nintendo Wii, you can play 3-D games while using your body as a joystick.

Well, here's the deal with the Wii. While it does allow you to play 3-D games in a unique way, the graphics are horrid in comparison to its competitors. An example can be seen in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Some of the landscapes look blurry, despite the fact they are being rendered on a next-generation system.

So, where does that leave the other gaming systems on the market? How do they fare when it comes to playing 3-D games? In terms of non-portable systems, the PS3 actually offers the best graphics. They are crisp, clear and contain virtually no blocky characters. Even the Xbox 360 doesn't offer such presentation, at least on some of their cheaper 3-D games.

The PC offers the worst graphics among non-portable systems, though there are a few surprises every now and then. The Witcher is an example, especially when you look at some of its cut scenes. The graphics still don't compare to the 3-D games on the Xbox 360 or PS3, but they are still impressive, nonetheless. You'll just have to make sure your PC has a powerful graphics card to support them.

As far as portable gaming systems, it's no question that the PSP is the best choice for 3-D games. Again, it won't replace its non-portable competitors, but the graphics are surprisingly clear considering the PSP's diminutive size. Also, some 3-D games look even more brilliant because designers use a top-down approach with viewing. This creates the illusion that the 3-D graphics are clearer than what they are, since you're not seeing your characters or their landscape close-up.

And maybe this is why the Nintendo DS is such a poor choice for 3-D games. Instead of trying to make the graphics look better through artistry, game designers still act as if they're working with an Xbox or a PS3. They're not, and it really shows on some of the 3-D games available for the DS. They look just like N64 games, which are considered ugly by today's standards. The ones that look better, (like Zelda: Phantom Hourglass); use innovative designs, such as cell shading. So, there are a few gems out there... you just have to be on the lookout for them.

For more information on 3D games, visit http://www.3-dgames.com

Having spent the past couple of days in Finland visiting some of the country's most interesting startups, the omnipresent Nokia and attending the great MindTrek conference, I'm starting to get some insight into the Finnish tech scene. In short: it's relatively tiny but surprisingly fascinating. Apart from Dopplr, Jaiku, Floobs and some others, I wasn't really all that familiar with the web startup scene in Finland, but I've met a couple of companies I'm going to feature on TechCrunch Europe over the next couple of days. First up: Muxlim, a media company that is all about 'enhancing the Muslim lifestyle'.