Play on with novel, tech-savvy gaming consoles

SO you want to buy a new video game system, but are not sure which one to go for. While your tech buddy may suggest the Xbox 360, your brother says PlayStation is the way to go, while your grocery shop clerk says go for Gamecube. Confused? Read on.
The market for consoles is getting hotter, with the next generation consoles like Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Wii expected to hit Indian stores later this year. Yes, like cars and shoes, gamers love to argue about brands, but in the end it is YOU who has to decide on what suits the best.
The market: The market for the consoles as four main players -Sony’s PlayStation, Microsoft’s Xbox and Nintendo’s GameCube and Wii. In Sony’s stable, the much awaited PlayStation 3 (PS3) is expected to be launched in India later this year. But if you want a cheaper gaming experience, there is always the PlayStation 2 (PS2). On the other hand, Microsoft’s offering, the Xbox 360, is one generation ahead of Sony’s PS2. And then there is Nintendo, which still has the capacity to come out with gems like Wii.
Handhelds or Home Playables:You must decide whether you want a system that sits in your living room or a portable one which can always be with you. Brands that fall under the home playables category are usual suspects from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. Brands in the handheld category include Sony’s PSP, Nintendo’s Gameboy Advance and Nokia’s Engage.
Choice of Games: Established consoles like the PS2 or Xbox tend to offer a huge range of games, while the recent launches are likely to offer you fewer choice of titles. Having said that, many consoles now offer backward compatibility. This means that you can play games designed for the earlier models of games console made by the same company on the new console.
The PS 2, for example, allows you to play PS1 games on them, and it is rumoured that you’ll be able to play both PS2 and original PlayStation games on the new PS3. Similarly, you can play Xbox games on Xbox 360, and Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance SP has been designed to allow you to play every Game Boy game ever released!
If you are thinking of upgrading to a newer consoles, then you might want to consider buying a console which lets you play your old games as well. Traditionally, the Xbox has been known for its first person shooters such as Halo or Counterstrike, while few of the biggest franchisee titles like MetalGear or Fifa series best come with the PS range. Meanwhile, the Wii is expected to bring to the table an advanced versions of good old classics like Mario, Xelda which has already caught the fancy of gamers across the US and Japan.
Price for game titles: Make sure that the cost of the games you may want to play on your console does not burn a hole in your pocket. Generally for a Xbox, a game may cost anywhere between Rs 3,000-3,500, while the same for Sony’s existing consoles will cost in the range of Rs 7,000 and Wii games could cost Rs 2,500-3,000.
courtesy:economictimes

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