PS3 vs. Xbox 360 vs. Wii: The Current Breakdown

• >> Skip to At-A-Glance Breakdown

Latest developments

There have been more developments in the ongoing next-generation console war. The first would be Sony's recent announcement that they're dropping the cheaper 20GB PlayStation 3 package at retail. Or, as Sony's PR director Dave Karraker put it last week, "Due to the overwhelming demand for the 60GB model from both retailers and consumers, we have ceased offering the 20GB model here in North America."

Sure, there are plenty of ways to spin that move, but few that seem to make sense for PS3 buyers. The basic PS3 model certainly looked like poor value next to its better-equipped colleague, and what's an extra $100 when you're already blowing $500 on a new toy? So it's no wonder demand was lackluster. But why would Sony opt to ditch the cheaper model altogether, instead of increasing its value by trimming the price or packing it with a game or two?

Meanwhile, and almost unbelievably, the Wii shortages that made headlines last holiday season continue in many areas of the country. Media outlets six months ago confidently predicted the PS3 would be the one with lasting availability problems, while the Wii was supposed to be in ample supply by January. No end is in sight, either; Nintendo marketing veep Perrin Kaplan said last week she expects this situation to continue for "some time."

WATCH SUPER MARIO GALAXY TRAILER WATCH HALO 3 TRAILER

Another interesting item is that while Sony ditched one of its retail SKUs, Microsoft decided to introduce a third retail package: the Xbox 360 Elite. The $479 box includes everything from the $399 Premium edition, as well as an HDMI port and 120GB hard drive. It seems consumer choice is working for Microsoft, even if current hardcore 360 owners are left feeling neglected with an unreasonably priced hard drive add-on ($180) and no HDMI upgrade option.

Game drought

Sony's move comes at a quiet time for gamers, with all three consoles in the middle of a release drought. There's only light at the end of the 360's tunnel, with May holding two triple-A exclusives: Forza Motorsport and online shooter Shadowrun... of course, by the end of the year, we'll have forgotten them both for Halo 3. Sadly, with the excellent Paper Mario out of the way, Wii fans have some months to wait for compelling exclusives. Unless you're a Pokemon fan, there's little of real interest on Nintendo's machine until fall, when Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3 should kick the Wii back into the headlines -- not that it's being staying out of them.