How to Choose a Game Console

The console gaming market has an extensive and diverse amount of games for each system. The current companies releasing consoles are Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. Because of the developers that make games for each system, certain consoles have more appeal to certain gamers than other consoles. It is important to choose your console carefully before making an investment.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A computer with Internet access

1. Decide what types of games that you prefer to play. Each system tends to have common genres and developers for each system, although all consoles do carry one type of game that you would be looking for. All console companies carry lists of all the games released on their web sites.

2. Find out which console has the most games that you are interested in playing. For example, if you are looking into sports games, the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 would be the best choice. Each system has extensive online capabilities for players to go head-to-head with other players around the world.

3. Decide who is going to primarily be playing this console. If it is something you are getting for your child, you may want to consider the Nintendo Wii, as it has many games that are geared more towards a younger audience. If this console will be for a teenager or young adult, they may want to go with either the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3.

4. Consider any extra features that you would like your console to do beyond playing video games. The Nintendo Wii, because of its design, does not have many extra features since it is geared solely towards gaming. The Xbox 360 has downloadable media content, like movie trailers, and can also connect directly to any Windows Media Center computer. The Playstation 3's Blu-ray player can allow users to play High Definition movies on their HD television set.

5. Choose how much you would like to spend on a console, games, and accessories. Nintendo remains the lowest cost console, at an MSRP of $249.99 with games starting around $49.99. Microsoft has three versions of the Xbox 360: the Arcade edition at $279.99, Pro at $349.99, and Elite at $479.99. Each one comes with their own sets of accessories and games start at $59.99. The Playstation 3 costs $399.99 and games start at $59.99. Budget is an important factor, so choose carefully.

6. Search for the best place to buy your console. Some places will try and force customers in buying bundled systems, but they choose the games for you. If the bundles are sold by the company, you might be getting a deal, but make sure that the costs are less than buying separate.

Tips & Warnings

• Look carefully through each systems games, qualities, and price before buying the system. Just because a system has many games geared towards one audience doesn't mean they only have games for that audience. Every system has a variety of games and specific features.