A customer enjoys a network computer game at a Yangon games shop.

THREE years ago, computer network games such as Counter Strike and Age of Empire were all the rage, but their popularity among young people has since been eclipsed by console games.

Many kinds of used console games are available on the market. Each console is rated according to its graphics and audio capability and the quality and variety of the games.

The top selling console games include PlayStation 2, PS 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii.

PS2 is the most popular, especially for home entertainment, and includes video games, music and DVD movie playback and online network game facilities.

“PS2 is the best value entertainment console on the market and the best value in home entertainment too. It is sleeker, smaller and stylish, and the price is affordable,” said Ko Sein Linn from the New Place DVD game centre on Seikkanthar Street.

The National CD sales centre on Bogyoke Aung San Road says most young people prefer action, sport and strategy-based PC games. Among the best sellers are the Legend of Jack Sparrow, Para World, F.E.A.R.-Extraction Point and Winning Eleven.

Sony’s highly anticipated PS3, which has state of the art graphics, a built-in processor, blu-ray drive and video card, was released in Japan and the United States last November and has since become available in Myanmar.

“We sell PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii,” said Ko Ye Win Htut from the Toshiba Kyaw Win video game and game tape centre on Anawrahta Road.
“Most game centres in Yangon use PS2 but for home entertainment many people prefer the PS3, which costs K1.2 million,” he said.

“Nintendo Wii, a new console with outstanding features, entered into market one week ago, and costs K850,000. It can accept original and copy game discs,” he said.

There are three main categories of gamers: those who play sports games such as golf, basketball or boxing; those who are more interested in strategy games; and those who enjoy the challenge of role-playing games, some of which have more than 15 levels.

Another popular console game on the market is Microsoft’s Xbox 360. It was launched in November 2005 and has excellent graphics, a video card, HD-DVD system, and 20GB processor. It can also be used to copy DVDs, connect to the internet, play online games, listen to MP3 songs, watch photos as a slide show and chatting on Gtalk.

“We use both Xbox 360 and PS2 at our centre, and the most popular games among young customers include Winning Eleven X, Saints Row, Need for Speed and Dead or Alive,” said Ko Sein Lin from the New Place DVD game centre.

“Most customers are aged between 18 and 25 but we have a few middle-aged men too; some gamers play for two or three hours a day: we charge K250 an hour for PS2 and K700 an hour for Xbox 360,” he said.

“The graphics in Xbox 360 are better than those available on PS2 or PS3; at K650,000 the Xbox 360 is also cheaper than PS.”

During school holidays, game centres are crowded with young people, many of whom play for 10 hours straight, while others watch while waiting for a chance to play.
Ko Ye Win Htut from Toshiba Kyaw Win said hand-held games attracted strong interest among children aged between eight and 10. “Nintendo’s Pokemon is one of the most popular game and costs K135,000 and has colour or black and white displays,” he said.