Last month was a crazy one in my gaming life. Having just sent off two, count ‘em, TWO 360’s which had decided to have a synchronised red-lighting competition I then brought home my new baby in their stead – the oh so very black 360 Elite. No it doesn’t run quieter. No it isn’t so cold that it has icicles hanging from its faceplate and no, it doesn’t make me a better gamer. It’s just black, has a bloody big hard drive and is all hooked up with the HDMI cables to my super lovely HDTV. I bought extra controllers and battery packs in this season’s most fashionable colour. Black is the new black, you see?

When I got home it occurred to me that I am a serious console addict. I mean I know I’m a games addict - but it seems that my hardware obsession has almost as big a grip on me these days. So while I await the return of my other two consoles and the release of the 360 chat pad and pink and blue controllers, I gaze at all my gaming stuff and ponder whether the Elite is a console too many? A totally unnecessary product merely cashing in on obsessive’s like myself? Or is it a natural progression from the original console and a positive way to give gamers the best of choices?

It’s very black.