Now that all three next-generation gaming consoles have been released and have had some time to mature, it is a good time to compare the Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360.

Each console has a lot to offer and this comparison may help if you are deciding which console is best for you.

Microsoft Xbox 360 – Released: November 2005 – Current MSRP: $399.99 (20GB model)

The Xbox 360 was the first of the next-generation consoles to be released, and with more than a year of experience under its belt, there is plenty to praise. The 360 currently has the largest library of original and downloadable games of the three consoles and features the most extensive and accessible online network ever to appear on a home console.

Most games that appear on the 360 are more mature titles with the action and sports fan in mind. Games like Fight Night Round 3, Gears of War, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, and Rockstar's Table Tennis stand out like Al Gore at the Academy Awards. Most games for the system look outstanding and play equally well. Perhaps the greatest thing going for the 360 is Xbox Live, the online network that just about everything is based on.

Almost every game has some sort of Xbox Live functionality, whether it be leaderboards, online play or video chat. Xbox Live also features a robust download system where you can update your existing games with new maps or features. You can also download new or classic casual games as well as movie rentals and television shows.

If you're turned off by action games, the Xbox 360 may not be for you. Plus, the theme for this generation of systems seems to be motion control, which the PlayStation 3 and Wii both have; Microsoft decided against motion control, so you'll have a very conventional gaming experience with the 360. But that does not mean the 360 can't offer a lot of enjoyment; at $399.99, the Xbox 360 is a great deal.

Sony PlayStation 3 – Released: November 2006 – Current MSRP: $599.99 (60GB model)

The PlayStation 3 has the most raw power of the three consoles with a Sony-manufactured cell processor. Although the game lineup has been a bit slim, current games look about on par with Xbox 360 games and future games will likely see an improvement over their 360 counterparts.

The PS3 will have a slight edge over the 360 in the graphics department soon but you will likely see many of the same games on both. There will be more role-playing exclusives for PS3, as well as a new Metal Gear Solid game slated for release this year, but it is hard to distinguish between the PS3 and 360 in this area. The three areas where these two consoles actually do differ are in online gaming, control and DVD playback.

Currently only some PS3 games have online support and the online network is scattered and empty. Sony will likely improve its network as time goes by, but it is hard to see them take over the reins of Xbox Live. Another feature that comes with the PS3 is motion control in its Sixaxis controller. The Sixaxis may seem like a gimmick aimed at stealing Nintendo's thunder, but it works well and feels very fluid. The downfall to the motion control is that there is no built-in rumble, a key element in many 360 games. Perhaps the one thing that justifies the $599.99 price tag is the built-in Blu-ray player that plays high definition Blu-ray movies. If you have a nice television and want to live in the high-definition world, PlayStation 3 would make a worthy purchase.

Nintendo Wii – Released: November 2006 – Current MSRP: $249.99

Nintendo may seem like an outlier in the high definition, ultra-realistic graphics battle between Microsoft and Sony and that is primarily because it is. Nintendo positioned the Wii as an alternative to get new audiences — like non-gamers and the elderly — to play games as well as satisfy old fans and so far, it looks like they have succeeded.

The Nintendo Wii is a cheaper but aesthetically sleek system and the greatest thing going for it are the free motion controls. Graphics take a backseat while fun and inventive game play comes to the forefront. Games like Wario Ware: Smooth Moves and Rayman Raving Rabbids will have you using the Wii Remote, a wand-like controller, in a variety of ways. You essentially get to control characters and actions onscreen with the motions you perform while the remote takes you further into the game. The Wii is almost perfectly suited for the college dorm party because with four controllers and a game like Wario Ware or Wii Sports everyone can get involved and have some friendly competition.

If you can connect the Wii to wireless Internet, there are a variety of features available, like a News Channel, Weather Channel and Shop Channel. They are self-explanatory spaces that display news, weather and items for sale for the Wii; classic games are the big attraction on the Shop Channel.

If you don't mind lower-level graphics but appreciate some good old-fashioned party gaming fun, the Nintendo Wii is your best bet.