PC

I know what you're thinking - it's not a console! However it has been included for review as it is a viable alternative and is something to bear in mind when buying a console.

Noteable advantages over consoles are your ability to upgrade with technology. With all the parts of a PC available separately you can customise and upgrade your PC to your own needs and not be restricted to that of a console or have the endless wait until the next generation. A modern-day PC can far outweigh the graphics capability of a PS3 (the best console graphically at the moment).

It should be noted that it is likely to be more expensive, however most of us will use a PC or Mac for general use in the home anyway, so why not upgrade to a gaming variant for that little bit more money?

The most obvious downsides of the PC however, would be that depending on the set up you would more than likely not be able to play in the living room or be able make use of your brand new plasma or LCD (with gadgets this actually can be achieved though). If this is no proble, then the PC could be of interest.

Lately the game consoles have made a step up in terms of controller technology. With the PC, you won't have the extra features like the 'Wii Motionplus', 'Kinect for Xbox 360' or the 'PlayStation Move'; however, the PC is an excellent games platform for driving (using a steering wheel), first-person shooters and strategy games (using the mouse and keyboard or gamepad). With the progression of games such as Call of Duty and Crysis it owns an important genre. You may say I can get them on the PS3 and Xbox 360. IMO using a handheld controller instead of a mouse is less accurate and cumbersome to use. First-person shooters require precision that's why the combination of mouse and keyboard makes for the ultimate first-person shooter experience... well until the new controllers in the main consoles can prove their worth. Also, PC games, on release retail for under £30, some as low as £18, quite considerably cheaper than the games for consoles.

Another advantage worth mentioning, which is probably the most beneficial to sports games, is the ability to apply unofficial patches to games to enhance the user experience. One example is the ability to alter all the elements of graphics in PES (Pro Evolution Soccer). Have you ever been infuriated with the lack of licensed kits and incorrect names and updates? These can all be corrected and even graphics levels and textures improved to give a far better game than anything the console can achieve.

When it comes to the crunch, what do you want when you play games? The latest graphics technology? Intense precision gaming? Then this is what you need. If you're looking to ask your friends over or games for the family or kids, then the standard consoles like the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii are far more appropriate. Sports games and the new breed of games coming out with the specialist controllers (or non-controllers with Kinect!) could mean that the PC would be pushed aside and the console will be a whole new experience than we have ever had before.