Console Buyer's Guide: Home Consoles

Wii marks a shift in the games industry. It's the first machine to let players control a game by just moving a remote, and it works brilliantly for everyone - from complete beginners to the Nintendo hardcore. Wii is the deserved leader in the console market.

Accessible: ANYone, of ANY age with ANY skill level can pick up and play a Wii. Fuelled by innovative motion detection technology, Wii is for everyone: spouses can play together, grandparents can play with grandchildren.

Communal: Entertaining to play and amusing to watch, the Wii even comes with the FREE Wii Sports to have you playing tennis, bowling, boxing and baseball out of the box!

Channels: Make a mini you with Miis, get the latest news and weather, plus surf the web and download classic Nintendo and Sega titles with the Wii's Wi-Fi net connection!

Nintendo Faves: Play the newest Zelda, Mario, Metroid and more with innovative motion-sensing controls, or play your old GameCube titles with Wii's backwards compatibility.

Home to many of gaming's top franchises and boasting the ever-improving Xbox Live service, Xbox 360 is the serious player's pick for competitive action gaming.

Huge HD Range: Including gaming's biggest brands like Call of Duty, FIFA and Assassin's Creed. The 360 is also backwards-compatible with old Xbox titles.

Market-Leading Online System: A £40 yearly subscription fee gives Xbox Live Gold members demo, game and movie downloads, paid-for premium content, voice and video* chat, online play and pretty soon even Facebook and Twitter access!

An Xbox For All Budgets: There are now no fewer than FOUR different types of Xbox 360 console. Pick the one that's right for your wallet...

1. Arcade: with wired pad (No HDD).
   
2. 20GB: with wired headset, wireless pad, 20GB HDD.
   
3. Premium: with wired headset, wireless pad, 60GB HDD.
4. Elite: HDMI output, black wireless pad, black wired headset, 120 GB HDD.

Xbox 360 Exclusives: The only console with Gears of War 2, Fable II, Halo 3 and Viva Pinata, plus the upcoming Halo 3: ODST, Forza Motorsport 3, Crackdown 2 and Mass Effect 2!

* With Xbox Live Vision Camera (sold separately)

With more graphical grunt than its competitors and a built-in Blu-Ray drive, PS3 is the ultimate set-top box and a fave of high-end gadget lovers everywhere. The system's online service is free, and the console plays host to some big name Sony faves.

Powerhouse: The market leader in terms of technology and sheer raw power for true cutting-edge HD visuals.

Living Room Media: Play Blu-Ray Discs, DVDs and music, plus surf the internet, download demos, music and movies, play online and access paid-for premium content - all with no subscription!

PlayStation Home & Store: The PS3's online service is almost like playing a game in itself, while the Store is Sony's answer to Xbox Live Marketplace, letting you download FULL games like PSone classic Final Fantasy VII!

PSP Connectivity: Download PSP demos and games from the PlayStation Store to your PS3, then transfer them to the PSP Go!

Sony Exclusives: The only console with LittleBigPlanet, Metal Gear Solid 4, MotorStorm and Killzone 2, plus the hotly anticipated Gran Turismo 5, Uncharted 2, God of War 3 and Massive Acton Game!

Gaming's most successful ever home system is eight years old and still boasts great value. PS2 is still a fave with party gamers and boasts an enormous array of classic titles that you can pick up cheap.

Superb Value: The industry's biggest selling home system for under £100!

Recent Releases: Harry Potter, Tiger Woods, Transformers, Guitar Hero... the PS2 is still churning out top-notch new releases!

Party System: Get friends and family together for all-night gaming fun with the Buzz, Singstar and Guitar Hero series!

Classic Games Preowned: including Grand Theft Auto, Metal Gear Solid 3, Tony Hawk, Canis Canem Edit and many more - both online, and in your local GAME Store!

Backwards Compatible: Plays classic PSOne games, giving PS2 the largest gaming library around.