Microsoft and Sony, eternal rivals in console market

Microsoft Corp cut the price of its Xbox 360 video game console by $ 100, or 25 percent, intensifying price war in the market for game consoles, ahead of the shopping season this year.
The Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite was lowered to $ 299.99, just days after rival Sony Corp. slashed the price of its console, the PlayStation 3. So far, Nintendo Co Ltd said it has no plans to reduce the price of the Wii, despite rising pressure to do so.
Here is a breakdown of the current generation of game consoles. Hard drives are typically used to save games in progress and also store downloaded content like video, music and photos.

Microsoft and Sony and the console market

Microsoft Xbox 360
* Launched in the U.S., November 2005
* About 30 million units sold
* Each model of hardware comes with the ability to view high-definition video via HDMI output, access to the Xbox Live online capability to play DVD discs.
* The current models (as of September 2009)
- Xbox 360 Arcade, as $ 199 (hard drive sold separately)
- Xbox 360 Pro, with 60 gigabyte hard drive, $ 249 (discontinued)
- Xbox 360 Elite with 120-gigabyte hard drive, $ 299

Nintendo Wii

* Launched in the U.S., November 2006
* Around 52 million units sold
* Model only $ 249
* Less than 1 gigabyte of internal memory
* Do not play DVDs
* Wii controllers have the technology that detects the user's movements

Sony PlayStation 3

* Launched in U.S. and Japan, November 2006
* About 24 million units sold
* Each model comes with the ability to view high-definition video via HDMI output, an online membership of PlayStation, the ability to play DVDs and Blu-ray.
Current models * (as of September 2009):
- 120 gigabyte hard drive, $ 299 (new)
- 80 gigabyte hard drive, $ 299 (previously $ 399)
- 160 gigabyte hard drive, $ 399 (previously $ 499)