Productopia | Video Game Consoles

Hardcore video gamers don't exactly have a reputation for being mild-mannered. During an intense game in which your onscreen character is getting throttled, there's a good chance that both controllers and curse words can fly across a room. But what if the game understood your shouts of barely coherent anger? Wouldn't it be cool if when you told Halo's Master Chief to jump, he asked "How high?" In early June, Microsoft unveiled an expansion of its voice-control features for its Xbox 360 console at the E3 trade show in Los Angeles.

Fans and would-be fans of Nintendo's popular Wii gaming console have had a bit of news to chew on of late. Nintendo has confirmed that the second generation of the gaming console is on the way. While rumors about what's inside continue to abound (or run amok, depending on your point of view), expect the details to be fleshed out at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles next month, when a working prototype is promised to be on display. For those who can't wait -- or don't have very deep pockets if the high-price rumors are true-- Nintendo will soon be dropping the price of the current generation Wii to a tempting $150. Should you buy now or hold off for the new Wii? That depends.

We've all seen stories like this one about folks who've cancelled their cable or satellite TV service in favor of getting television programming over the air or via the web, either for free or at reduced cost . That many people are considering such a move comes as no surprise, given the state of the economy and that cable bills can run well over $100 per month for anyone desiring more than just the basics. This article at WalletPop.com explores just how much cord-cutters can save. On the other side of things, research indicates cancelling the cable subscription is probably not yet right for everyone. Whether it's right for you depends on factors like what you watch, how much you watch, the quality of your Internet connection, and even where you live. ConsumerSearch already has a number of reports that lay out some of the considerations for you, including brand new reports on video streaming services, and on digital media players that bring those services to any TV. Let's pull all of that together so you can see whether cutting the cord to your cable or satellite TV provider will work for you and your family.

One thing is evident upon a perusal of the Black Friday circulars: if you're buying video games for friends or family, there are some attractive deals on interesting titles for all the big consoles. Sure, you may need to brave the crowds, but it might just be worth the effort.