Ask the expert: Game consoles

Q. I’m keen on downloading cheaper console games, rather than buying them off the shelf. Out of PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii which machine is best for downloadable games?

A. All three games consoles on sale today can download games. However, the Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 all approach the task differently. We’ve summed up their special skills and flaws below, so you can make up your own mind.

Solution 1: Nintendo Wii
The Wii offers a massive choice of downloadable games, either through the Virtual Console service, or the WiiWare service. The quality of titles is high, since they’re either proven classics, or created specifically for the console, and they’re cheap too, with full games for less than £6. However, WiiWare games are generally mini-games, so while they’re inexpensive, they won’t keep you amused for too long.

Solution 2: Microsoft Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 can download small games through the Live Arcade service, although they’re relatively simple and not as long as proper Xbox titles. They’re cheap, at around £5 each, and even boast multi-player features so you can challenge friends. Unfortunately, there’s no way to download full-blown Xbox 360 games to the console, although you can grab free demos through the Live service for free.

Solution 3: Sony PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 is the only console that’ll let you download mini-games as well as full-blown titles through the PlayStation Network. The service also lets gamers download classic games from the PlayStation One back catalogue, so there’s tons of choice and it’s all ultra-simple to use. Prices range from £2 to around £6, although new releases often cost more, sometimes up to £20.

Get chatting about games consoles over at The PriceRunner forum

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