Buyer’s guide: Which video game system is best: PS3, Wii or Xbox 360
By Mike Ferro
Many of you may have been pondering what next gen video system to buy. With so much information flying around on the Internet sometimes it can get difficult to decipher what is viable information.
Here is a comprehensive guide to buying a video game system, weighing all the pros and cons while delving into the system details. Hopefully this guide will help you determine which system is just right for you.
Wii
The Wii is the next gen offering from Nintendo. Arguably Nintendo is the company that brought the home console gaming to the forefront as it is today, so you can be rest assured they know a thing or two about video gaming.
The Wii is hailed not for its graphical marvel but its innovative motion sensing controls. This is definitely a system to play with your friends with fun and exciting games such as Wii Sports and Mario Cart. This console is geared for the casual gamer for those that don’t have the time to worry about a deep story, but just want to pick up the controller and start playing. However that doesn’t mean you won’t find games for the hardcore gamers with Zelda and Metroid Prime.
Wii cost - $249.99
Pros
- • Fun innovative motion sensing controls
• Wii comes bundled with Wii Sports
• Download classic NES/SNES games via the virtual console
• The Wii offers a decent Internet browser so you can surf the internet from the comfort of your couch
• Has Wi-fi built in so you can connect to the internet wirelessly
• Backward compatible to Gamecube games
Cons
- • Lack of rechargeable batteries included or offered by Nintendo, they should at least offer official rechargeable batteries instead of third party vendors
• Lack of Hard-drive cause constant deleting of downloaded games, this is a definite issue with so many great games on the virtual console to download
• The Wii loses some of its appeal when not played with a group of people; yes when friends are not over, the Wii sits collecting dust - Hidden Costs
- • You will find yourself quickly going through batteries, and will eventually have to buy rechargeable batteries.
• The Internet browser costs approximately $5 to download.
• With only a 512mb internal memory, you will have to get at least 1GB SD card or greater to take full advantage of all that the Wii offers through the downloads
• Considering how much of a social console the Wii is, it really is surprising Nintendo only bundles one controller, so purchasing at the minimum a second controller is a must.
| Hidden Costs | Cost |
| Rechargeable Batteries (avg third party) | $10 |
| Internet Browser purchase | $5 |
| 1GB SanDisk SD memory card (minimum) | $15 |
| Wii-mote & Wii Nunchuk | $60 |
| Total Potential Hidden Cost | $90 |
Xbox 360
Microsoft’s offering the Xbox 360 is their next gen platform capable of producing high quality graphics. Unlike the Wii the Xbox 360 is geared towards the hardcore gamer, with titles such as Halo 3, Gears of War and Bioshock as their staple franchises.
In the past the Xbox 360 garnered some harsh criticism to their alleged 30% failure rate, however in response to that Microsoft has since rectified the issue by extending all Xbox 360’s warranty to 3 years.
The Xbox 360 has been out a full year longer then its competitors Sony’s PS3 and Nintendo’s Wii, thus they have a larger library of games dating back to late 2005.
Xbox 360 comes in three configurations:
- Xbox 360 Elite
- Xbox 360 Premium
- Xbox 360 Arcade
Difference between the three models:
| Features | Elite | Premium | Arcade |
| Cost | US $449.99 | US $349.99 | US $279.99 |
| Storage | 120GB | 20GB | No Harddrive; 256mb flash |
| Ethernet cable | Yes | Yes | No |
| USB Headset | Yes | Yes | No |
| HDMI Cable | Yes | No | No |
As you can see the Arcade is a gimped version of the Xbox 360, it is definitely not worth the money when you can pay a bit more and get almost everything the other consoles have. The Arcade also lacks a crucial component, a hard drive. Without the hard drive online functionality is practically useless, with no real means of downloading any demos or videos.
Pros
- • A huge selection of games with over 200 games to choose from.
• Xbox Live: Great online functionality, chat with friends, message each other
• Small tid bit sized games, and puzzle games offered via Xbox Live
• Backwards compatible to 400 some original Xbox games
• High definition games in 1080p, 1080i and 720p
• 3 year warranty
Cons
- • Recurring fee for Xbox live every year, this cost should be included in the price of the games, we shouldn’t have to pay to play online
• Lack of rechargeable batteries included, this should be standard
• Lack of wireless Wi-Fi capability, have to purchase the wireless adapter for $100, what were they thinking? Nobody has Ethernet cables running to the entertainment den
• No Internet Browser, can’t buy one or download one, absolutely no option
• No old Xbox library games to download from Xbox Live
• High failure rate reported by Microsoft due to what is know as “Red Ring of Death”
| Hidden Costs | Cost |
| Wireless Adapter (Wi-Fi) | $100 |
| Quick Charge Kit (Rechargeable Batteries from Msft) | $30 |
| Xbox Live (recurring annual charge) | $50 |
| Total Potential Hidden Cost | $180 |
PS3
The PS3 is Sony’s next gen system utilizing the next gen format Blu-Ray. The PS3 houses the much publicized powerful Cell processor as well.
The PS3 truly is the ultimate media center, being the only game system on the market capable of playing next gen movie format as well as next gen games. This is definitely the right system for those who love video games and movies. The PS3 is known for games hit games like Resistance Fall of Man, Motorstorm, Ratchet and Clank, and Uncharted Drake’s Fortune.
There are two PS3 configurations on the market:
- PS3 40GB
- PS3 80GB (available June 2008) *Bundled with Metal Gear 4
| Features | 40GB PS3 | 80GB PS3 |
| Cost | US $399.99 | US $499 |
| Storage | 40GB | 80GB |
| Flash Card Readers | No | Yes |
| PS2 Compatible | No | Yes |
| PS1 Compatible | Yes | Yes |
There is not much difference between the two versions except PS2 backwards compatibility and the flash card readers. Both systems will play Playstation 1 discs though.
- Pros
• back catalog to over 1000 PS1 game titles
• back catalog to over 2000 PS2 game titles(80GB)
• Comes with rechargeable batteries for controllers
• plays blu-ray movies
• Approximately 160 PS3 games available
• Has Wi-Fi built into system
• Playstation Network(PSN) – Great online functionality, chat with friends, message each other; is free in contrast to Xbox 360’s annual fee
• Has Internet Browser; nice for surfing the web from the sofa
• Small tid-bit games can be downloaded from PSN
• High definition games in 1080p, 1080i and 720p
- Cons
• Lack HDMI cable, they should really bundle this with the system considering it plays hi-def movies
• Lack of headset, this should come standard as well
• Does not have as much games out as Xbox 360
• Lack of PS2 backward compatibility support for 40GB system
| Hidden Costs | Cost |
| HDMI Cable | $10 |
| USB Headset | $10 |
| Total Potential Hidden cost | $20 |
In conclusion, every console really targets different consumers with different needs you just have to decide what needs are. Ask yourself several questions, are you looking for an all in one solution or are you looking for something basic and fun for the kids? How much are you willing to invest in a game system, and what is the best cost for what your needs are.
Here is a chart of realistically what you can expect to spend per console; many will agree these are accessories you will eventually find you can’t live without.
Expected cost on each console
| PS3 | Wii | Xbox 360 |
| 80GB PS3 - $499 | Standard - $249 | Elite - $449 |
| Hidden Costs | Hidden Costs | Hidden Costs |
| HDMI Cable - $10 | Rechargable Battery - $10 | Wireless Adapter (Wi-Fi) - $100 |
| USB Headset - $10 | Internet Browser - $5 | Quick Charge Kit - $30 |
| 1GB SanDisk SD - $15 | Xbox Live (recurring annually) - $50 | |
| Wii-mote/Wii Nunchuk - $60 | ||
| Expected Cost: $519 | Expected Cost: $339 | Expected Cost: $629 |
Related:
May 19th, 2008
Great article Microsoft should stop robbing its customer wow $629 rip off. PLAYSTATION 3 is the best deal.
May 21st, 2008
xD
HAHAHHAHAHAHA
The 360 costs more….. MORE!!
there goes kevins argument… xD
May 24th, 2008
And the Wii is the cheapest, big deal.
Sorry, I don’t by the need for an Elite or a Wi-Fi adapter, which brings the cost of the 360 back down to $430 w/Live and a charge kit. And yes, the 20 gig is fine for games, which is what these consoles were supposed to be made for, PS3 aside.
What every gamer worth his/her salt should really want to know is the quality and number of exclusive titles which the 360 has in the bag, at least this year:
http://www.digitalmagazine.com.au/2008/05/24/xbox-360-annihilates-ps3-with-two-times-more-exclusives/#comment-13289
May 24th, 2008
XBox 360 Pro $350 + Live $50 = $400
The Wii is cheapest, but the 360 has the most exclusives this year:
http://www.digitalmagazine.com.au/2008/05/24/xbox-360-annihilates-ps3-with-two-times-more-exclusives/#comment-13289
May 29th, 2008
The games are evenly matched on both Sony and Microsoft systems. Out of the top 20 rated titles on Metacritic roughly four or five are only exclusive to each one.
Both: Grand Theft Auto IV, BioShock, Orange Box, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Call of Duty 4, Rock Band, Guitar Hero, Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six Vegas, Virtua Fighter 5, Burnout Paradise, GRID, Unreal Tournament 3, Devil May Cry, Skate, Ninja Gaiden (Sigma).
360: Gears of War, Halo 3, Forza Motorsport, Mass Effect, Rez HD (XBL)
PS3: Ratchet & Clank, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Resistance: Fall of Man, Motorstorm, Warhawk.
In the next two weeks Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3) can be added for certain to that list. Ninja Gaiden II (360) reviews already out and not favourable enough.
Looking further ahead I think Sony have the stronger line up for this year, Little Big Planet will be massive.
Better value for the Sony hardware and the lack of games myth should finally be laid to rest.
June 4th, 2008
Good list Sparced, people go on and on about ps3 having a rubbish time until MGS4 is out, but that list proves them wrong and that’s with the 360 having a year headstart! and 2007 was the best year it is ever goin to have!!!
July 1st, 2008
I’m glad I stuck to pc gaming and waited for the ps3 to be a viable option. Just got a 40gig and love it. I don’t intend to play any ps2 games as they are old. Yes older things are worse then new things so why bother with backwards compatibility.
Just my 2 cents.
July 24th, 2008
no offense but alot of people say PS3 online sucks , its not very user friendly and has terrible lagging times
And where u get the same multi platform games on both consoles why pay R5500 ($600) a console just doesnt seem worth it to me
July 31st, 2008
Wesley, what are you smoking if you going to compare prices that are not us prices then give us the prices of the others. Plus there are allot of childish fanboys out there ho’s only motive is to fill in as much bs about the other competitive console to the one they have invested in. So unless you are one of them do not post on information that you have no facts on. I have never run in to any major online problems on the PS3 that I have not run into on the xbox360. both have great online playability the main difference being the user interface with friends is a bit more friendly on the xbox360 but the ps3 COULD make leaps and bound over the 360 with the installment of HOME. plus on the 360 the exclusive games are almost always released on the PC witch is not true for the PS3 witch kinda makes me feel like selling my 360 and upgrading my PC. I have to say ever since about may of this ear I have not really been using the 360 as much as the PS3 but then I did get sick of the High school jock mentality the 360 online crowd tends to attract. Kind of like the geeks hidden alter ego.
August 19th, 2008
Remember that the PS3 is also a Blu-Ray drive; with one purchase, you get two birds. Blu-Rays are about $300-$400 right now when bought separately.
August 20th, 2008
Wesley, i have my ps3 connect to wi-fi and i play metal gear solid online and it has no lags whatsoever. besides, ps3 online is not user-friendly and alot of lagging times? are you serious? xbox live has more content indeed, but psn is so easy to navigate. wtf. if you know how to use a controller and how to read, then you’re good to go. lagging times? maybe your friends use a dial-up. then it isn’t the ps3’s fault. LOL. please don’t say stuff if you haven’t even tried it. please. and what’s with this BS exclusivity? just release the games for ALL consoles. i only remember mario and sonic being the only big exclusive games. i had a 360 and now i have a ps3. why? because the $100 wi-fi adapter, $55 xbox live yearly bill, and the noisy, overheating system just don’t work for me. besides, i can change my ps3’s hard drive without voiding the warranty.
September 1st, 2008
so i suppose ps3 controllers are free? you nailed on a good hidden fee for wii controllers but could add on a good 60 bucks for the ps3? same thing with xbox- either you include them in all three consoles are don’t mention them, because they are literally even as far as controller costs go. the 360 online service being 50 bucks a year is understandable, it’d be cool if it was free, but i can understand why its not happening. the wii browser being 5 bucks is all due to the fact that they don’t own it. Can you imagine how much opera must have made: 5 dollars on every wii user? it may not be the best but its still better than ps3’s browser.
September 1st, 2008
quote:
# Beavis:
July 1st, 2008
I’m glad I stuck to pc gaming and waited for the ps3 to be a viable option. Just got a 40gig and love it. I don’t intend to play any ps2 games as they are old. Yes older things are worse then new things so why bother with backwards compatibility.
Just my 2 cents.
older things are worse than newer things? yeah, like those controllers- only thing new about them is the price.
September 11th, 2008
Platomaker:
Ps2 didn’t have motion sensing technology. Nice omission.
September 13th, 2008
Platomaker:
You such a fanboy the PS3 controller now has rumble and motion sensing technology plus a built in Lithium Battery. He didn’t need to add PS3 controller as a hidden cost. Platomaker you a real dumb ass…
October 5th, 2008
I think that he did not add controller as the hidden cost for the PS2 and the X-Box 360 is because you can play them ALONE and still have a lot of fun. If you play the Wii alone, it won’t be fun, and people around you tend to doubt your sanity if you are waving a stick in front of a TV screen and yelling :”BOOYAH” every five minutes.. .
November 15th, 2008
I have had all systems and now own PS3, The only thing I’m waiting for is some really good plat formers to come out. Little big planet is okay, but something is missing. I guess I’ve been gaming to long. I’m not enjoying much of anything lately out there. But all in all I think the PS3 is the way to go, its capabilities are far superior to that of any other system out there.
December 22nd, 2008
If the ps3 had a great hengistbury goob sprocket it would be much easier tu use on cloud 9, apart from that i have no problems
January 6th, 2009
i just purchased a ps3 and was stunned to find no backwards compatibility. it is an 80gb. went to website and not all 80 gb have it. NO ps3’s produced in 2008 can play ps2 games. i have 60+ games.. i think its wrong for playstation to not inform the public. most web sights still clain 80gb ps3s play ps2 games. NOT AT ALL PLEASED WITH MY PURCHASE
January 10th, 2009
xbox 360 is only $200 now, and you dont need wifi, or a charger kit or XBOX live. and the newer versions of the 360 are alot less prone to get the RRoD. also the 360 has a huge variety of great games such as halo 3, gears of war 2, bioshock 2, ninja gaiden, prince of persia and a ton more!
February 12th, 2009
you’re all idiots/
March 1st, 2009
i Love my xbox 360 ps3 sucks
March 8th, 2009
# Ivan_PSP:
September 13th, 2008
Platomaker:
You such a fanboy the PS3 controller now has rumble and motion sensing technology plus a built in Lithium Battery. He didn’t need to add PS3 controller as a hidden cost. Platomaker you a real dumb ass…
maybe I’m not explaining this right;
Ivan psp, all im saying is that they tacked on the cost of a controller onto this chart for one system, am i to assume that not all (complete) controllers cost 60 dollars?
the 360 comes with a battery pack which you have to charge with a cord- this all comes bundled in for about $64.00.
The ps3 controller cost about $60.
the wiimote/nunchunk combo cost about $60.
the total expected cost should be $280 instead of $339.
oh yeah and Jofamang, yeah you got me there- sorry about that. I didn’t really consider it because if I buy a ps3 it won’t be for the motion sensing.
May 27th, 2009
Ps3 is the right choice today. This is message is being sent in the date May 26, (2009). Now the ps3 is different and its kicking microsofts a$$. It already beat microsoft in UK, and now it’s gonna beat it in the US too. So if you want to pick the right system, pick a ps3, because you may want a system that can connect to any phone,printer,other ps3,and many more things easy. It also has the better looks. I have a Ps3 and a 360 elite, I compared them and my ps3 is better. I sold my 360 so i can buy assassins creed 2, god of war 3, and MAG. 3 games that are gonna send the 360 burning to the ground. All the 360 has right know to protect its #1 spot is better online and gears of war 2, halo 3 already got shoot down so you 360 fanboys girls out there stop making up these bull$h**ing lies and face it! 360 is gonna lose to the ps3 and the wii is also goona beat the 360. So make sure to buy a ps3, or end up having the 2nd best system, the 360…..
May 27th, 2009
I forgot to tell you guys this, THE 360 IS TAKING MOST OF THE PS3 GAMES LIKE CALL OF DUTY!!!!
June 3rd, 2009
I am newbie…..the last video game system I used was the Super Nitendo from 1990….I am now more confused than ever…maybe I should buy both the PS3 and the Xbox 360…..
June 26th, 2009
Ok this article completely overcomplicates everything. Wii’s are by far the cheapest, unique games, fun for kids and adults the first time you use it. Eventually it becomes boring and collects dust. Next the PS3, it has spectacular grafics and the blue ray player is quite handy. But sometimes the gameplay isnt up to speed it seems slugish. Its “live” is no where close to xbox live. Also contradicting to the aricle it is more expensive to x box. In my personal opinion the xbox 360 is the best it plays most of the games the ps3 plays and it plays them better. Xbox live is amazing and tons of fun. And if people complain about rechardeable batteries u can by controllers with wires for 15 bucks.
June 26th, 2009
Shit Balls
June 26th, 2009
If you found my comment helpful please go to my website http://www.meatspin.com
Thank You