EmailChoosing a game console partly depends on who will be playing and what type of games you think you'll want to play. The Nintendo Wii is popular for its family-friendly titles and numerous fitness offerings, while the Xbox 360 has an extensive collection of games for serious gamers. The Sony PlayStation 3 includes fewer games than the Xbox 360, but boasts extra features like a Blu-ray drive and Wi-Fi. Here are the major considerations when shopping for a video game console:
- Consider the games. Before you buy, visit the manufacturer's website to get a sense of what games are available for that console. Each manufacturer lists compatible games on its website.
- Who will be playing? For younger kids, the Wii gets the best reviews with its family-friendly games. For teens and adults, especially those interested in realistic graphics and action, the Xbox 360 and PS3 are the better choices.
- Try out the controller. If you can, play around with your console's controller at the store before you buy. In reviews, users frequently complain that a particular controller style is uncomfortable or the buttons are too small for their fingers.
- Are you interested in extras like online gaming or playing movies? The Xbox and PS3 both play DVDs and CDs, but the PS3 can also play Blu-ray Discs. Both offer online gaming, but experts say the Xbox 360 does a better job in this regard. The Wii does have Internet connectivity and is less expensive, but it can't play DVDs. The Xbox 360 and soon the PlayStation 3 offer Netflix streaming.
- Consider capacity. If you're not that interested in online gaming, you can probably get by with less storage in your game console. Both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 come in two versions with separate capacities.
- Backwards compatibility. Keep in mind that new consoles aren't guaranteed to play older games. Sony has dropped backward compatibility with PS2 games on all current and recent versions of the PlayStation 3. Microsoft's Xbox 360 Elite can play older Xbox games, but the Xbox 360 Arcade cannot, since it lacks a hard drive. The Nintendo Wii can play some older games via its Virtual Console feature.
- Figure in accessories to the total cost. While prices have dropped for each of the major video game consoles, be sure to include optional accessories in your budget. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 no longer include an HDMI cable, so you'll have to buy that separately. The Nintendo Wii offers a host of accessories -- like the Wii Balance Board and Wii Wheel -- that are required for certain popular games, but they all cost extra, too.