My own interest in computer games originated in watching my elder brother play on his old ZX Spectrum and Commodore Amiga (popular games consoles in the 1980s). Games have come a long way since, and the video game market is now about the same size as the film industry: which means we're talking billions of dollar.

I have witnessed first-hand as graphics approach photo-realism at a stuttering pace, and experienced ever more immersive gameplay and storylines. Games appear on all kinds of devices these days, including mobile phones and portable media players, but here I have selected the three finest machines available in 2008 for the ultimate video game experiences.