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Step 1
Who are you buying this for--yourself or your children? The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are primarily for older gamers and offer fewer games for younger children and teens than the Nintendo Wii.
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Step 2
What type of gamer are you? If you are a beginner to gaming, then the Nintendo Wii may be the best option. This console brings a new perspective to gaming so that all gamers have to learn the format. Since it's based on motion-sensing, anyone can quickly learn to play. The Xbox 360 is not geared toward beginners or casual gamers and is more appealing to the serious or veteran gamer.
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Step 3
What games are you most interested in? Research exclusive games for each console. Does one console have more exclusive games that you're interested in than another? You won't find Mario Kart on the 360 or PS3, and likewise you won't find Tom Clancy's first-person shooters on the Nintendo Wii.
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Step 4
Are you interested in playing with others online? All three offer the capabilities of playing games online, but the Xbox 360 has the best service of all three with LIVE. The PlayStation 3 comes in a close second, but Nintendo straggles far behind with their service.
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Step 5
Do you also want to watch movies in high definition? If you do, then seriously consider the PlayStation 3. With Toshiba folding on their HD-DVD product, the PS3 is the only console that offers the capability of watching high definition with its Blu-ray format.
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Step 6
Have you tested a particular console yourself? Visit gaming retailers and test each console. Most retailers have demo versions of these consoles on display for customers to tinker with.
