In the good old 80s (aka my childhood) video game arcades were quite 'in' for the young lot. Pop in a coin or two and you could enjoy a game of 'Green Barret' or Street Fighter (now classic). Owning a gaming console at home was a previlage and the choices were limited to Atari, or the new kid SEGA Megadrive and NEO GEO
(See http://www.gamesradar.com/f/consoles-of-the-80s/a-200806189420522063 or http://videogame2play.com/platform/console/video-game-consoles-of-the-1990s/ for a peek into the past)
Starting from a second generation Atari my uncle bought from abroad, I was and am still hooked up to electronic gaming in one way or the other. While I currently own an XBOX 360 (and contrary to the 'opensource' movement am a hardcore microsoft fan) questions put forward by some colleagues and relatives on what console to buy nowadays warrants an quick rundown on the available stuff.
In Pakistan, currently you have three choices (am not discussing PC based gaming and handhelds like the PSP or DS)
Nintindo Wii
Best party entertainer of the three consoles I would list here. Easy to set up, fun to use, this was the console which actually prompted the other market players (Microsoft and Sony) to introduce controller less gaming. The Wii handheld controller (called wii-mote also) converts your hand movements into character movement in a game. (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bJtBt0ynsU&feature=relmfu for an example). The system itself is based on quite old technology and is not for serious gamers. Graphics are good and fun to watch but nothing if compared to the other two options available. The console is available at around 24K in local markets. Buy it if you are not very serious in gaming but want a good party entertainer and exerciser.
Sony Playstation 3 (PS3)
Successor of a highly successful PS2, this machine is full of features and latest in gaming power. It is supported by a huge library of games, some of them famous from the good old PS2 days. It is the most advanced machine of the three I have reviewed here. After introduction of XBOX 360 Kinect controller less gaming add-on, Sony has introduced their own MOVE controller which is less advanced than microsofts gig but nevertheless allows you to use your PS3 for motion sensing games. Games on PS3 come on Blue ray format so you get a Blue ray player for free when you buy this console. PS3 will cost you somewhat around 35~40K and mod versions (which allow you to buy cheap locally reproduced games instead of the expensive ones) are also available. Buy this if you are into gaming seriously and a hardcore Sony fan
Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wuvia1-Mw8&feature=relmfu
Microsoft XBOX 360 with Kinect
While XBOX 360 has been around even before sony introduced PS3, Kinect add-on is a recent one enabling existing and newer 'Kinect ready' XBOX consoles to go 100% controller less. This means nothing to hold onto like with WII or PS3. (Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf44bWQr3jc). This is a revolutionary advance in gaming and has a much wider appeal to non gamers and gamers alike. Although technically speaking PS3s graphic hardware is more powerful, these are yet to be explored fully and only evident to the most prolific of gamers amongst us. So if you are a serious gamer and would like others in your family (who are not) to enjoy it equally, go for this console. It is currently available (with mod chip) at around 45~50K. The games are also cheaply available at around 150~300 Rs a piece.
(See http://www.gamesradar.com/f/consoles-of-the-80s/a-200806189420522063 or http://videogame2play.com/platform/console/video-game-consoles-of-the-1990s/ for a peek into the past)
Starting from a second generation Atari my uncle bought from abroad, I was and am still hooked up to electronic gaming in one way or the other. While I currently own an XBOX 360 (and contrary to the 'opensource' movement am a hardcore microsoft fan) questions put forward by some colleagues and relatives on what console to buy nowadays warrants an quick rundown on the available stuff.
In Pakistan, currently you have three choices (am not discussing PC based gaming and handhelds like the PSP or DS)
Nintindo Wii
Best party entertainer of the three consoles I would list here. Easy to set up, fun to use, this was the console which actually prompted the other market players (Microsoft and Sony) to introduce controller less gaming. The Wii handheld controller (called wii-mote also) converts your hand movements into character movement in a game. (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bJtBt0ynsU&feature=relmfu for an example). The system itself is based on quite old technology and is not for serious gamers. Graphics are good and fun to watch but nothing if compared to the other two options available. The console is available at around 24K in local markets. Buy it if you are not very serious in gaming but want a good party entertainer and exerciser.
Sony Playstation 3 (PS3)
Successor of a highly successful PS2, this machine is full of features and latest in gaming power. It is supported by a huge library of games, some of them famous from the good old PS2 days. It is the most advanced machine of the three I have reviewed here. After introduction of XBOX 360 Kinect controller less gaming add-on, Sony has introduced their own MOVE controller which is less advanced than microsofts gig but nevertheless allows you to use your PS3 for motion sensing games. Games on PS3 come on Blue ray format so you get a Blue ray player for free when you buy this console. PS3 will cost you somewhat around 35~40K and mod versions (which allow you to buy cheap locally reproduced games instead of the expensive ones) are also available. Buy this if you are into gaming seriously and a hardcore Sony fan
Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wuvia1-Mw8&feature=relmfu
Microsoft XBOX 360 with Kinect
While XBOX 360 has been around even before sony introduced PS3, Kinect add-on is a recent one enabling existing and newer 'Kinect ready' XBOX consoles to go 100% controller less. This means nothing to hold onto like with WII or PS3. (Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf44bWQr3jc). This is a revolutionary advance in gaming and has a much wider appeal to non gamers and gamers alike. Although technically speaking PS3s graphic hardware is more powerful, these are yet to be explored fully and only evident to the most prolific of gamers amongst us. So if you are a serious gamer and would like others in your family (who are not) to enjoy it equally, go for this console. It is currently available (with mod chip) at around 45~50K. The games are also cheaply available at around 150~300 Rs a piece.
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