Desmond Kurz, MWEB GameZone Manager, says the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and Xbox 360 are best suited to online gaming with online gaming networks in the form of the PlayStation Network (PSN) and Xbox Live.
“The majority of games now come with a multiplayer option, which allows gamers to connect through the various networks to play against other gamers online. While games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or Battlefield 3 do come with the traditional single player campaign, once that’s completed, it’s the multiplayer option that keeps gamers coming back for more,” says Kurz.
The PSN allows gamers to play against each other for free, while the PSN Plus is a premium service that includes a number of extra additions to games such as skins, wallpapers or exclusive access to certain demos.
Unlike the PSN, the multiplayer option on Xbox LIVE is not free and forms part of the Gold Membership, which costs around R600 per annum.
“Connecting your gaming console to the Internet through a high-speed uncapped, unthrottled ADSL connection will give you a chance to challenge gamers from around the world as well as download game demos and multimedia content,” he says. “Connecting via a network where game play traffic is given top priority and assurance levels will give you the best possible gaming experience for a chance to compete at your highest level.”
Some consoles also come with browsers, so you can surf the Internet and check email too. A number of the consoles also come with social media integration, which means you can not only connect with your friends, but let them know how you’re doing in the latest game you’re playing.
Consoles require regular firmware updates which can be quite large to download. Games are also increasingly requiring patches to be downloaded to improve the game once it has been launched as well as downloadable content (DLC) which extends the lifetime of the game with extra missions or challenges. These usually cost extra and can be purchased through the PSN or Xbox LIVE.
“The PS3 and Xbox 360 can also act as media centres, allowing you to stream multimedia content from your PC onto your console. This allows you to use your PC to download, while you game online on the console,” he says.
Given the sheer diversity of online options offered by consoles, Kurz says an uncapped, unthrottled data plan is the best option if you are serious about online gaming and want to avoid out-of-bundle data rates surprising you at the end of the month.
“Not only does MWEB not throttle our customers on uncapped but we also prioritise gaming traffic for the best possible experience on our network,” he says.
Here’s easy step-by-step guide on how you can connect your gaming console to the internet.
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