The Nintendo Wii has been a phenomenal success so far, outselling all of its competitors in every territory around the world. The PS3 and Xbox 360 are both magnificent consoles, but in sheer sales numbers, the Wii is kicking both their arses. But is the Nintendo console a novelty? Microsoft certainly thinks so.

The Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii are all capable of providing hours of entertainment at home for people of all ages. But buying one of the consoles, and then keeping the games coming in to the house, is still seen as quite an expensive hobby, especially being with the prices still high this early in the generation.

Wii Fit has been out for almost two months in America now, but it has been out in Europe a little longer, and in Japan, the home of Nintendo, for over six months. Which means Japanese gamers are pretty much over their initial interest in following the daily regimen. But worry not Wii-owning fitness freaks, as Wii Yoga is on its way.

Japan is a very important territory for the video games industry. Although it is smaller than either the USA or Europe, what happens in Asia can affect the rest of the world’s markets substantially. Which is why the fact that the Playstation 3 has caught up substantially with the Wii during June is big news. The Xbox 360 of course is still trailing far behind, and the life support machine should probably just be turned off now.

Games consoles can often live and die by the exclusive games available for them, and while Rock Band 2 is set to be released on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 2 and Wii before year’s end, the Microsoft machine has managed to secure timed exclusivity which will means months between the release on the Xbox 360 and the other consoles.

Which current-gen console has the best games due out over the next few months? Is it the Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii? Can either of the hand-held console options, the DS and PSP, even compete? We asked our readers, and the results are in.

Being a games console manufacturer is a tricky business, and one which by no means guarantees profits. Just ask Sega. With news that Sony has lost over $3 billion from just making and selling the PS3, and the fact that the Xbox 360 has already cost Microsoft $1 billion due to the Red Ring of Death recall, is it the case that the Nintendo Wii will be the only profitable console this generation?

We are all surely enjoying this generation of video games aren’t we? There is a fine choice of consoles, from the hardcore, online capable Xbox 360, the middle of the road, improving all the time, Blu-ray enabled PS3, and the casual gamers dream that is the Nintendo Wii. But let’s not get too blinkered by all that is current and next-gen. Let’s also remember the good old days when games were hard, and gamers were more geeky teenagers than casual grandmas.

Reviewers have said Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is one of the best video game ever made and that includes this gen systems such as PS3 and Xbox 360 all the way back to NES. High praises are given by the big three industry review giants: Gamespot, IGN and Gamepro. These reviewers have been in the industry for over 22 years. Practically most of us grew up reading their reviews.

Casual gaming is on the rise. That’s a fact. You can see this not only by the success of the Nintendo Wii, which is built on casual gaming, but also the success of games such as Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Singstar. The question now is how much of a lurch towards casual will Sony and Microsoft take the PS3 and Xbox? And how much that will influence the games industry for the future?