Which games console should I buy?
What’s the difference between an Xbox and a PlayStation 3. I’ve seen ads for Xbox Elite and 360 – are they the same thing? Or should I get a Wii instead? Does it have similar games? Help, I’m lost!
Dave, via text
There are three major consoles on the market at the moment:
- The Microsoft Xbox 360, which comes in a load of different guises, like the Xbox 360 Elite, which has a few extras on it.
- Nintendo Wii, which has a wireless paddle that you wave around like a lunatic.
- The other is the PlayStation 3, made by Sony, which includes a Blu-ray player for high definition playback.
Some of the games are available across all consoles, which others are exclusive to a particular brand. Have a look at which games you’d like to play and if it’s only available on one console, then that can help you make your decision.
It does depend what age group you are buying for. Amongst 12-year-olds, Xbox is the most popular, as they are playing against each other over the net on Xbox Live.
Playstation 3 also has network games and unlike the Xbox, you don’t have to pay for the subscription.
Both the Playstation 3 and XBOX 360 have movie rental options too.
The Wii is a lot of fun, but the novelty of it does wear off after a while. It’s great fun with friends, but can get a little dull on your own.
Playstation 3 has the BBC iPlayer built in and another great option is PLAY TV. For around £50 you can buy an adapter that plugs into the unit. You then attach your ariel into the PlayTV and your Playstation becomes a Freeview player and recorder!
Why not buy all three? Then at least you know you’re covered!