Four reasons why your next gadget should be a game console

Consoles are no longer mere self-contained boxes, they can easily be synced to be part of a larger multimedia ecosystem. So if you own a smart phone, a HD set top box or a tablet, your console will become you living room hub.

Never mind the naysayers who say video games are only either for children or for those who never grew out of their teenage years. Take a look around and you'll see video games everywhere, from the pages of your social networking site to that 'all-in-one' smart phone of yours, to the tablet and even to that trusty old PC of yours. But most casual gamers stop short of buying a console because of a few preset notions. Make no mistake: modern gaming systems have evolved many fold since they were first introduced about two decades ago, and can now even interact with the other gadgets in your living room or your pocket. No longer mere self-contained boxes, most devices can easily be synced to be part of a larger multimedia ecosystem. So if you own a smart phone, a HD set top box or a tablet , your console will become you living room hub, the tool through which all your entertainment needs can be fulfilled

Still not convinced gaming consoles are good fun even if you are not a hardcore gamer? We give you 4 reasons that will change your mind in an instant.

1. Entertainment powerhouse
Both the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 come laden with multimedia features. Both systems are the by far one of the most feature laden BluRay players your money can buy. The Xbox One has some built in TV integration features as well. "If you have an HD DTH or Cable set top box, you can plug it into the Xbox One and control your TV from within the Xbox One." says Anshu Mor, Head of Xbox India. "You can even snap the TV to one corner of the screen and use the rest to play games," he added.

2. Voice and gesture commands
The 'Minority Report' gave us a glimpse of a world where man could interact with machine using voice and gesture commands. The new consoles are turning this fantasy into reality. The PlayStation comes with an optional camera accessory which can be used for voice input and gestures. The Xbox One offers the Kinect 2 which can be used for the same. "The Kinect recognizes voice commands with ease, the user give commands in his/her own accent without any issues." Anshu Mor said.