It's playtime

The right console is needed to experience the thrills of computer gaming. Here are some tips for the hardcore gamer.

Buying a new video game console can result in hours of entertainment for you and your family—or in disappointment due to a lack of knowledge. The checklist you need to keep in mind is continually expanding – they must have USB ports, wireless connectivity, high definition, video streaming features, peripherally expandable and flash upgradeable, too.

If this is too much of a bother, then here’s what you should do when you head to the neighbourhood electronics store. Determine the budget you are comfortable with, but remember original game titles will cost extra (over and above the cost of the hardware). Still, with Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo shedding hardware prices, it’s a pretty good time to talk about buying a Playstation, an Xbox 360 or a Wii.

Rs 5,000-Rs 10,000
Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) is a favourite among the young and teenagers, both because it is affordable (around Rs 9,000; usually one or two games are bundled along) and portable. Choosing a handheld video game system like PSP shouldn’t be too hard if you know what to look for. Aside from the great graphics technology PSP delivers, this handheld video game system has a wide variety of games easily available. Each game costs Rs 800-900.

For children, who are just beginning to play games, Nintendo DS is an ideal purchase. At just Rs 6,000, this dual screen handheld brings touch screen interaction to users, and even embedded wireless communication. A built-in microphone allows you to interact with the console simply by speaking to it. Voice control features are included in several games, too, but you can also use the feature to communicate with friends using the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection.

If you would prefer handheld console to do more than gaming, then look to Sony PSP that can play MP3s and videos, besides allowing image viewing and surfing Sony’s Playstation networks. The PSP is capable of graphics quality comparable to the PlayStation 2, but in a pocket-sized package you can take wherever you go. Sony Playstation 2 (PS2), available for Rs 5,500, is an ageing console platform that has made a special corner for itself among gamers. Yes, it can play DVDs and music, besides just games. But, of course, the main focus of PS2 is still on playing the games.

The Nintendo DS Lite is inundated with puzzle games, such as Brain Age and Tetris DS or even family adventure games such as Super Mario and Nintendogs. If you prefer first-person shooters, sports games or role-playing games, then Sony PSP will offer you better games and good images on-screen.

Rs 10,000 - Rs 15,000
If you want to graduate from handhelds and if you don’t crave for cutting-edge gaming performance, then you can get a GameCube or PSP 3000 for about Rs 10,000 or even lesser (depending on your bargaining power), along with pre-bundled game software.

Nintendo Wii (pronounced “we”) can cost up to around Rs 13,000 (depending on where you buy it from) and is a clear favourite among those looking for action-packed gaming. The unique way the Nintendo Wii can be controlled makes this console stand apart from others. The controller is designed to be used with either one or two hands. When picked up and pointed at the screen, it gives lightning-quick interaction, sensing motion, depth, positioning and targeting which is dictated by movement of the controller itself.

Rs 15,000 and above
Serious gamers cannot give Xbox 360 Arcade a miss. Coming from Microsoft, Xbox 360 boasts of the widest selection of games across genres to meet any gamer’s needs. It costs Rs 16,990 and is the most probable bet for those who are always game for fresh titles.The Xbox 360 Arcade console lets you play right out of the box, including a pre-formatted ‘Family Settings’ that allow parents to restrict game access for younger players. The package includes a wireless controller, five arcade games, and a memory unit. The USP, however, is Xbox LIVE, its online gaming service, much more popular than the online services on the Wii and PS3, and one of the XBox 360’s USPs.

Sony’s PS3 will do a lot more than just play games. The new console has a Blu-Ray DVD drive, Bluetooth connectivity and a price tag of Rs 20,000. A favourite of high-end gadget lovers everywhere, Sony PS3 has exclusive game titles like LittleBigPlanet, Metal Gear Solid 4, MotorStorm and Killzone 2.

Extra costs
If driving games are your passion, then a steering wheel and pedals make for a very realistic ride. Gaming accessories can cost Rs 1,500 or more (per unit). You also have to invest in acquiring games that cost Rs 1,200 or more. Then again, if you want nothing but the best, then brace yourself to add the costs of wireless headsets – for those shattering game sounds – at an extra Rs 1,000 onwards.