Latest Games Consoles 2011 2012

The Nintendo Wii is a fun games console with motion sensor. It's the cheapest option games console for use with a big screen TV. It has loads of fun titles with lots of colorful and cartoon graphics. 

We have a Nintendo Wii and it's brilliant fun. Our kids are small and just starting to play games. I use the balance board on the Wii for fitness games. There are lots of fun games we can play together as a family. 

The Wii uDraw is also a great family accessory for the Nintendo Wii. It's a drawing tablet that connects to the Nintendo Wii and has various titles to teach kids to draw and have lots of creative fun. A great way to prepare future graphic designers!

The next generation of this console will be the Nintendo Wii U. All Nintendo have said about the release date is that it will be announced in 2012. I'd say there's a reasonable chance of it being released in 2012, but not at the beginning, but releases often get pushed back.

The Wii is fairly inexpensive now so it's worth getting if your family will get lots of use from it. Nintendo have said that Wii games and controllers from the current Wii console will work with Wii U so you'll still be able to make use of the extras if you upgrade later. This is very sensible. 

The Sony PlayStation 3 is a serious games console with great graphics and lots of titles that come from Japan. 

We have a PS3 which is used primarily by my partner to play proper games. Though the fun PlayStation Buzz junior games are an exception - the kids love those. So you can keep a serious gamer and young kids happy with the PS3. 

At the moment the PS4 is just a rumor. Sony are working on a next generation console, but it's not due until at least the end of 2012, possibly later. 

But, there is a new Sony PS Vita handheld games console coming out in early 2012. This console is compatible with the PS3 and allows you to move games to and from the PS3. Very convenient when you want to kick a gamer off the TV so someone else can watch their favorite show!

The Nintendo 3DS is a handheld games console with a difference. It has a 3D display! Yes, the top screen creates a 3D effect without glasses. This is a fun games console for older kids. 

For younger kids, stick to the Nintedo DS - it has loads of fun games and the 3D effect on the 3DS is not recommended for kids under 7. 

The PlayStation Vita is Sony's new portable games console. This is a grown up games console that older kids and adults will enjoy. This is an exciting new console packing with all sorts of controls and sensors. 

Unfortunately it's not out in time for Christmas in the US. It is coming out in February 2012 though so not long to wait and it's available to preorder now.