There are three main contenders you should consider: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii.
Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3 offer wireless connection as an out-of-the-box option, if you want Microsoft Xbox 360 to go wireless, you need to purchase an additional component. If you don’t want to use a wireless connection or don’t have a wireless connection at home, Ethernet is the way to go. The console is configured just like any other network device, you can use DHCP or manually enter IP, DNS, etc.
The Sony PlayStation 3 has the ability to act as a media server, if you are not going to use this feature remember to turn it off as it will hog your network bandwidth at home. I didn’t realize this and had my Sony PlayStation 3 connected wirelessly and couldn’t figure out why no one else in the household could use wireless while my Sony PlayStation 3 was on. After shutting down the Network Media Server, everything was fine.
Broadband is a must for online gaming, but it doesn’t have to be the fastest broadband, a basic package is fine. Online gaming is all about upload speed, not really download speed. Most UK broadband supplies only offer 256k upload speed, so if you can find one that beats that, it will be better for online gaming.
Almost all new games offer some form of online play, some games are purchased just to play online. Checking the back of the game box should tell you what that game has to offer. If a game comes out on all 3 systems then it is almost identical and sometimes 100% identical. Each system will have exclusive titles, this means the game will only be on that system.
The most played online game (to date) is Halo 3 on the Microsoft Xbox 360, although it is a few years old, it is still widely played. Most of the games offer add-ons through downloadable content, giving the game a new lease of life. The things to download could be new levels or new characters. These plugins are usually charged.
Microsoft Xbox 360 has what it calls GamerScore, this is your overall score for playing games on the system. You get different prizes and points for completing certain levels in a game. Even though the score doesn’t mean anything and it’s just to show your friends how good you are, it’s very addictive trying to get the highest GamerScore. The Sony PlayStation 3 has trophies instead of GamerScore and they work exactly the same way.
You can purchase certain titles online and also download game demos for FREE. You can also download videos, music videos, and movie trailers. On Microsoft Xbox 360 you can also rent movies online.
Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 offer HDMI output to connect to an HDTV. In the box with Microsoft Xbox 360 you get a component cable and in the box with Sony PlayStation 3 you get a standard scart cable. So remember to buy an HDMI cable if you want to go that route. All games written for Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 must support HD with a minimum resolution of 720p. The Nintendo Wii doesn’t offer any kind of HDMI connection, but you can get 480p resolution if you buy the right cable.
Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3 are FREE to play online and Microsoft Xbox 360 has to pay. You can get a monthly, 3-month or 12-month subscription. In the UK, Microsoft’s official price for a 12-month subscription is £39.99, but shop around as there are good discounts.
Although you have to pay to play on the Microsoft network, you get what you pay for and of the 3 consoles, Microsoft Xbox 360 is much better than the other 2 for online gaming. The interface is better, the way you communicate with friends is better, and it feels more robust and complete than the other 2 offerings.
Add friends by sending them an invite through your console. Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 allow you to create any nickname to use as your online name, but Nintendo Wii gives you a random load of characters to use, I also think this can change depending on the game you’re playing.
The best way to improve the online experience is to gather a good friend list and then not play against people who drop out all the time while in the middle of a game to ruin a game by team killing. Over time you can build a very good list of friends. All friends can join the same party and then chat with each other, but actually play different games.
Only Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 allow game chat via headset. Microsoft Xbox 360 comes with a headset in the box, it connects to the wireless controller and is pretty good for a FREE headset. Sony’s PlayStation 3 can take wired headsets or BlueTooth headsets (like the ones you’d use on your mobile phone). Unfortunately, so far I haven’t found a decent headset for the Sony PlayStation 3. They all seem to hiss and buzz or are too loud. When chatting through the headset, it’s like sitting next to them and everyone can participate, so it’s a group game chat, not just one on one.