With my new addition to my gaming stock, I currently have a Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, PSP and a DS now. Each with it’s own pros and cons, and just showing how big of a game junkie I am. What really struck me the other day as I hooked up my new PS3 to the HDMI slot in my TV was the drastic change that gaming has taken in the last few years.

I was now hooking up my systems into a HD television via either component cables or HDMI, which in the past I used to just hook up my NES into Red/Yellow/White inputs, shoot I thought I was cool when I got an AV switcher and could go from my PS1 to my GC or Dreamcast by flicking a button. Now I do this from my television remote and it’s numerous AV inputs in HD.

Not only have the hookups changed drastically, but just the mind frame in general. Gamers are now interested in the FPS (frames per second), HD capabilities, size of HDD and wireless connectivity. Right now I have the Wii, PS3 and my Xbox 360 all running via wireless networks, not to mention my PSP and DS as well.

I realized what kind of shift has occurred when I had finished my PS3 hookup and started downloading some demos via the PSN, then switched over to the Xbox 360 and began downloading content from the marketplace, while updating my Wii software and DVR’ing a television program. I sat back and thought, damn, this is ridiculous what technology and gaming have done in the last few years.

These things were unheard of years ago, no one worried about the FPS in Super Mario Bros. or downloading expansion packs to FFVII, you were happy if the game played well and it kept you entertained. People found it normal to blow into cartridges as a means to fix your games and there was no worry about recalls or RROD. Things were simpler then and some will argue that they were just as much fun. Is our quantum shift in technology providing us a better experience or are we just moving with the times and expecting more?

Here is a quick shot of my set up, send us pics of yours. I lament selling my old systems, goodbye to my NES, SNES, Dreamcast, GC, Xbox, PS1 and PS2, I got pennies on the dollar for you all.

[Update] Here’s drunk pandas’ setup: