Gaming broadband explained

Although still a relatively small sector of the videogame industry, internet gaming is increasing in popularity exponentially, and it has never been easier to get involved. This guide will take you through a few things to take in consideration if you decide that you want to start gaming on the internet.

Factors to consider:

• Speed- obviously you are looking for as fast a connection as possible.
• Download allowance- download limits are soon reached when gaming intensively, so if you‘re a high internet user you might prefer an unlimited package.
• Avoid ISPs that use datastream- such as Tiscali and Bulldog as the internet speed slows down as the telephone exchange becomes busier with datastream.

What platform do you want to play on?

• PC - Connecting to the internet is simple enough.
• PSP, PS3, Wii or DS- Pretty simple to connect too and these three have wireless capability - just make sure your wireless router is compatible.
• Xbox 360- You're going to need to buy a wireless adapter, or connect directly to a modem.
• Playstation 2, or Xbox, or older- You may have to buy additional hardware such as a network adaptor.

Note: - Some internet games require subscription payments even after you have bought the game. Mostly these are MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) such as the very popular World of Warcraft, this is because when you play these games you involve yourself in a community that needs maintenance, hence the subscription.

However if you just want to race someone on the other side of the world on Mario Kart DS, then your DS will connect immediately through a wireless network straight out of the box.