I only own one console, a dusty GameCube which has gone unused for some time now, though I did have a GBA SP until it was nicked back in April 2007. But I now live with a friend who has both a PS2 (similarly dusty) and a 360, and after trying out Obliivion (nice RPG setup, but the story and very generic-feeling fantasy world failed to grab me) I decided to hire out Lego Star Wars II.

I got hooked pretty badly. That game is a hell of a lot of fun, and I decided that I'd buy the 360 edition of Complete Saga when it was released. My housemate very obligingly bought a second controller (we've since enjoyed some co-op matches of FIFA 2007) and, once I found it for a reasonable discount, I snapped up a copy. I played through all of Episode I with my girlfriend and completed the prequels on my own (quick and dirty story mode only) over the course of a week or two.

Then, during my fifth or so attempt to finish the Lego City level (when I'd finally caved in and looked up what I needed to do to get the final few thousand studs), the Red Ring of Death cast its baleful eye upon me and my fun died. Housemate hasn't had the time to organise a replacement yet, though no doubt he'll find the time in the new year since his FIFA senses must be tingling.

After all that, the important thing is that I remembered the dusty PS2 and brought it out into the light. I haven't gamed much this year, I've been too busy, and the holiday season was definitely a chance to relax and have some fun. I kicked off with Jax and Daxter (the first one), a game I'd never played before, and it's an awful lot of fun. Still playing it, but after reading about the GTA-like style and atmosphere of the sequels I'm intrigued and might pick them up. I also received Final Fantasy XII as an impromptu Christmas present, and it's very, very pretty. The combat system is great, and the story political and interesting, a contrast to X's heavily spiritual mythic storyline.

So that's where I'm at: enjoying some older games and newer ones for an older console. And loving it. If I had the money, I'd buy Guitar Hero and hardly ever leave the loungeroom on my evenings off.