7th Generation Game Consoles 2004-Present
The seventh generation made another leap in graphic power. The graphics started to get close to looking like real life. Also, new ways to play games were introduced. Nintendo made lots of peripherals that required movement,Microsoft made their Kinect, and the PS3 had the Playstation Move. Some important games released during this time are Super smash Bros. Brawl, Grand Theft Auto IV, Super Mario Galaxy, Mass Effect 2, Halo 3, and LittleBigPlanet.
Xbox 360
Xbox 360 Slim
The Xbox 360 came out in 2005 by Microsoft. It has three 64-bit processor cores (making it 192-bit).This console has backward compatibility with most Xbox games. It can also play DVDs and CDs like its predecessor. Later, an Xbox 360 Slim version was released, and it was smaller. The Xbox 360 also plays its games in HD, a new thing for the time. In 2010, an accessory called the Kinect was released, which allowed players to control the game with their own bodies. Extra games can be played or downloaded off the Xbox Live Arcade.
Playstation 3 (PS3)
Playstation 3
The Playstation 3 came out in 2006 by Sony. Unlike other consoles, the Playstation 3 uses Blue-ray disks instead of DVDs, so it can also play Blue-ray movies as well as DVDs, CDs, PS1 games, and PS2 games. Later, a Slim version was released in 2009. In graphics, it has 128-bit graphics, but it is also backed up by the Processing Cell inside it, which has eight processor cores (nine if you count the PPE core). As you can see, we no longer talk about bits in graphics anymore with the new consoles, because the bits no longer have a significant effect on the graphics anymore. For instance, today, processor cores, and floating points are what tell the graphics. Extra games can be played or downloaded off the Playstation Network.
Nintendo Wii
Nintendo Wii
The Nintendo Wii came out in 2006 by Nintendo. One of the unique things of the Wii, was the controllers. They have motion sensors built inside them, which can be upgraded with the Wii Motion Plus accessory. Also, sound effects can come out of the remotes from a speaker in the remote. The Wii remotes are used to interact with the games with real life movements. Many games such as Legend of Zelda: Sklyward Sword, use this feature for the main gameplay. Another accessory called the nun-chuck was made and added an analog stick to the controller. Some games require this item. The Nintendo Wii has 128-bit graphics. Extra games can be played or downloaded off the Wii Shop.
Handhelds
Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS Lite
The Nintendo DS came out in 2004 by Nintendo. Overall, this is the second best selling console of all time. It sold about 148 million units worldwide. The graphics are similar to a Nintendo 64, but are not explained in bits. The console comes pre-loaded with Pictochat and DS Download Play applications (The Dsi comes with more things like a camera, browser, and Flipnote). The controls are comparable to a SNES. The console has two screens and closes like a book. It also has backwards compatibility with Gameboy Advance Games. Later, an update to the DS was released called the Nintendo DS Lite. The DS Lite was smaller and lighter than the original, and its screens could be set brighter, but not turned off. Later the Nintendo DSi and DSi XL were released, which had built in cameras, and could download extra content.
Playstation Portable (PSP)
Playstation Portable
The Playstation Portable came out in 2005 by Sony. It had a widescreen to display the games, and also had a built in web browser. The games were on mini-disks and used Memory Sticks to save game data. It has 128-bit graphics. Later, an update was released called the PSP Go. Worldwide, the PSP has sold about 68 million units.