How to Pick a Gaming System

• by Trent
• Also try: Buy Nintendo Wii | PS3 vs. Wii vs. Xbox360 | How to Fix a Red Ring of Death

Introduction

• As we embark on the seventh generation of video game consoles, we are faced with a myriad of choices—and that's a good thing. Budget, graphics, HD and online capabilities, catalogue of games, machine power and revolutionary game play are just a few of the many options consumers must consider in order to find the console that best suits their needs.

• There are three major game consoles, Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. All of them have unique features and range in price, so the question is: which system should you buy?

Playstation 3

(Creative Commons Photo by Michael Ngilen)

• Arguably the most controversial console around, the Playstation 3 delivers quite a powerful punch. However, that punch will cost you. What makes the PS3 so expensive is the Blu-ray DVD player. The bulk of the cost of a PS3 is for the Blu-ray DVD player. If you spend $399 on the 40GB PS3, you are essentially paying $350 for the Blu-ray player and $50 for all of its other features. Given the fact that Blu-Ray players have recently surpassed HD-DVD in terms of product support, this is clearly a better investment now than it was in 2007.

Pros

1. The Sony name. Sony is the king of the electronics hill.
2. Built-in WiFi and flash card readers, allowing you to transfer photos, videos, and music easily to the PS3.
3. Full media center. Download pictures or videos from your camera.
4. Lots of Emotion. Also known as "backward compatibility", The 60GB console comes with the Emotion chip that allows you to play Playstation and PS2 games.
5. Bluetooth wireless controller. Like the Wii, you won't have to worry about the controller cords getting tangled up or being too short.
6. Free online gaming. Unlike the Xbox 360, you do not have to pay to play online.
7. Three hard drive sizes. For now, the 40, 60 and 80GB consoles are available. Eventually, the 60GB console will be discontinued.
8. HDMI output 1080p support. If you have a High Definition TV, you will be able to play your games in total HD.
9. Blu-ray DVD player. At least a $350 value alone for the Blu-ray player. Fear not, the Blu-ray player will play your regular DVD's too.
10. Price drop. 60/80GB dropped from $599 to $499 and the 40GB is $399.
11. Playstation Network. Download games from the Playstation Network. This is why the hard disk drive (HDD) is important. If you feel like you will download several games to your PS3 or plan on using it as a media center, then you should think about getting a 60/80GB console.

Cons

1. The Sony name. While the Sony name means reliability, it also means expensive.
2. Speaking of expensive, the cheapest PS3 console (40GB) is selling for $399 while the 60/80GB systems are selling for $499.
3. Heavy hardware. The PS3 console is quite heavy and may prevent you from carrying it from place to place.
4. Lack of games. Sony has been slow to release games and still trails the Wii and Xbox 360 in that regard.
5. Doesn't upscale DVD's to HD resolution.
6. Not that emotional. The 40/80GB console will not include the Emotion chip that allows backward compatibility for your Playstation and PS2 games. However, there is software available on the 80GB console that can handle some backwards compatibility.

• Official Site: Playstation 3

Xbox 360

• For its price ($280 for the Arcade package—their basic unit), the Xbox 360 has all of the features you want in a game system. It is more expensive than the Wii, but cheaper than the PS3. However, there are several different packages that Microsoft offers making it easy to customize your hardware and peripherals.

• The Xbox 360 has a standard 20GB system, compared to the standard 40GB system for the PS3. For the casual gamer, 20GB is plenty of space. However, if you plan on taking advantage of all of its features, you might want to get a larger hard drive.

(CC Photo by Eduardo Mendes)

Pros

1. The Halo franchise. Halo 3 is the Xbox's crown jewel—and for good reason. Microsoft has marketed the dickens out of Halo 3, thus attracting the casual gamer
2. Superior catalogue. The 360 has more titles than the Wii and PS3, giving consumers more options.
3. Price. With basic packages starting at $280, buying an Xbox 360 is more economical than a PS3.
4. High-Def ready. The HDMI port allows you to play your games in high definition.
5. Backward compatible. Do you have a plethora of Xbox games that are sitting around collecting dust? The 360 has the ability to play your Xbox games so that you can continue to play Halo and Halo 2 without buying them online.
6. Microsoft power. One of the ideas behind the 360 is that it is not just a video game console. It can connect to any Windows Media Center PC and stream recorded TV shows, music and more.
7. Elite status. Microsoft knows that it must compete with the Blu-ray capabilities and expanded hard drive of the PS3. That's why the Xbox 360 Elite is on the market. The Elite comes with a HD DVD player and 120GB of space. Both the PS3 and the 360 see the future; and the future is buying games online in digital format, storing them to your console, and the HD quality of movies and games.
8. Xbox Live. If you don't have any friends and are sick of playing against the computer, you can play against gamers all over the world.

Cons

1. The red ring of death. Some Xbox 360's have experienced hardware malfunctions, which is largely due to overheating.
2. Elite status. At $450, the Xbox Elite has entered the 80GB PS3 price level.
3. Pay to play. If you want to play other gamers online, you'll have to pay. There are a variety monthly subscription prices available, whereas, the PS3 is free.
4. Peripherals. The basic 360 is definitely cheaper than the PS3, but once you add all of the peripheral items, upgrades and online fees, you've spent more than you initially planned.

• Official Site: Xbox 360

Wii

(CC Photo by Guillermo Ruiz de Loizaga)

• The most revolutionary system yet. Nintendo took a huge gamble with the Wii, and so far, it has paid off. Supply has been slow to meet demands and finding a Wii is still much tougher than finding a PS3 or a Xbox 360. The Wii retails for $250, which is significantly cheaper than the other units. The only problem is actually finding one.

• The Wii may not have the overall power of the other systems, but it has succeeded in attracting people who would have never bought a game console.

Pros

1. Price. Compared to the PS3 and the Xbox 360, the Wii's super-reasonable price of $250 can't be beat.
2. The Nintendo name. With the Nintendo name comes reliability and familiarity.
3. Catalogue of games. If you love the Mario/Metroid/Zelda franchises, this is the system for you. In addition to those games, the Wii has specific titles that can only be played on such a unique system.
4. Online store. The Wii allows you to download old games.
5. Backwards compatible. Like the Xbox 360 and the 40/60GB PS3 consoles, the Wii is able to play games from their sixth generation system (Gamecube).
6. Take it anywhere. The size and weight of the Wii make it conducive to travel.
7. Wii-reless controller. No wires, no problems.
8. SD port. Like the other consoles, you can insert your memory card from your camera directly into the Wii and browse your photos on your TV.
9. Standing up. That's right, standing up. Not only will you stand up, but odds are that you will move around. For those who are afraid of getting blisters on their bums from sitting in front of the TV for hours on end—fear not, the Wii is here!

Cons

1. Availability. Finding a Wii these days is like finding a golden ticket in a Wonka bar. Nintendo hasn't been able to produce Wiis fast enough to meet demands. The best way to find a Wii is to call all the retailers in your area before you go into the actual store, or visit Wii Tracker.
2. No HD. The Wii has no HD capability and is not meant to be a media center.
3. No DVD. Unlike the Xbox 360 and PS3, the Wii cannot play DVD's.
4. Graphically speaking. The graphics of the Wii are not as advanced as the other systems.
5. Small hard drive. Unlike the PS3 and Xbox 360, the Wii has 512MB. That's enough space to download old Nintendo games, but not much else.
6. Say goodbye to the lanes. Once you play Wii bowling, you will find that dingy, yet colorful bowling alleys are obsolete. As virtual games become more popular, we will become less likely to leave our own living rooms and co-mingle with other humans.

• Official Site: Wii

Recap

• All three systems are excellent and will provide years of fun. If you want an inexpensive system and like playing interactive games with several people, the Wii is for you (providing you can find one). If you like online gaming, HD capability and a large selection of games, then the Xbox 360 is your machine. If you don't mind spending a little more and want to get a jump on the Blu-ray craze, you will love the PS3.

• For this generation of game consoles (360 & PS3), hard drive space and HD readiness is the future. However, Nintendo has finally made it cool to play video games at a party. You can't go wrong with either system, plus, who's to say that you can only get one?

Resources for How to Choose a Game Console

• • Mahalo's Guide to Playstation 3
  • Mahalo's Guide to Xbox 360
  • Mahalo's Guide to Nintendo Wii

• Gaming Today: Halo 3 Captures Casual Gamers for Xbox 360
• Joystiq: Xbox 360 Arcade finally official, released today for $280
• Xbox.com: Xbox 360
• Xbox.com: Xbox 360 Games
• Xbox.com: Upcoming Xbox 360 Games
• Xbox.com: Xbox Live
• Xbox.com: Xbox 360 Elite
• Wii Plus: Wii Games
• Wii Tracker: Find Nintendo Wii

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