Conclusion

The most attractive aspect of both 360 and PS3 is their small form factors, and that they're designed for lounge-based gaming. The problems they have are twofold. Firstly, the Wii tackles this social, purely fun type of gaming - the traditional strength of gaming consoles - better than both, despite a limited library of games and disappointing graphics. Secondly, both the 360 and PS3 try to do more, and we felt that every time they did, their failures were obvious. The PS3 really tries to be a computer, but its OS, when compared to any computer OS, is so woefully inadequate that it's tempting to describe its much vaunted media playing abilities as tickbox features.

The 360 succeeds better than the PS3 in this respect, as it's less a computer, and more a box tied to an online content library. Its problem is that its core games are for the most part done better on the PC. Indeed, as a PC gamer, the 360 is faintly depressing. It's as if someone has looked at the PC and instead of attempting to improve it and make the best of its potential, designed a new machine, which opts for an inflexible, expensive and narrow definition of gaming. That the designer of this console is Microsoft - perhaps the one firm with the financial power, industry clout and technical resources to have radically improved PC gaming - is all the more galling.

The best bits of the 360 - its convenient wireless controller, slick online play and comprehensive store - could have been easily added to the PC to complement its strengths, which are wide-ranging, but perhaps best summarised as the fact that many, many people contribute to it. From the companies designing hardware and games, to the individuals who code freeware demos, set up and admin their own servers, forums and blogs, PC gaming is built on the efforts and imagination of millions. It's just better by numbers.

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