Xboxist

The Best Value Console

Prices have dropped across the board on all 3 consoles. The Wii went down $50, the PS3 went down $100 while the Xbox went down to $70. But which of these consoles give you the most bang for your buck? Which system is the best value in town? Let's take a look.

The Wii

Starting with the Wii, it comes with the standard console, one motion controller and one nunchuck attachment, as well as Wii Sports. Not a bad deal for $199.99. But unlike the other two systems where games can be played single or multiplayer, the Wii is unique for its reliance on a party atmosphere of competitive/co-op gameplay, which makes it absolutely necessary to buy another set of controllers, if not three. Wii remote costs $39.99 and nunchuck is $19.99 ($59.98 total). Add in Wii motion plus ($19.99) for both controllers and that's another $39.98. Add in a Wii Charge Station for your remotes for another $30. Total costs for the Wii system for two players is $330. Still it's a pretty good value but only as a dedicated game system. If you want multi-media entertainment, only PS3 and Xbox 360 offer those features.

PS3 Slim

Now onto PS3 Slim. The 120 GB system costs $299.99 but comes with just about everything you need for playing straight out of the box. It includes built in wi-fi, Blu-Ray player, rechargeable controller with charge cable, and free networking service, The only thing it lacks is an hdmi and ethernet cable, but those can be bought for cheap over at monoprice. Total price after cables is $310.

Xbox 360 Elite

Microsoft looks like a great value on the surface. Their latest package -- Xbox 360 Elite Winter 2009 Lego Batman / Pure Bundle -- comes with 2 games, DVD player, and a 120 GB HD and costs $300. But following a disturbing trend, Microsoft likes monetizing every little accessory. To fully enjoy the wireless controller requires an additional purchase of the Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit. If you can't stand being tethered for 10 hours, better spring for the $30 Quick Charge Kit. Wi-fi? Sure, just leave your $100 bucks in the bucket. Don't mind that it's wireless-g. Sorry. At least rumor has it that a wireless-n adapter is on the way though. Total purchase price for a functional wireless next-gen system -- $430. On the bright side, there are certain intangibles exclusive to the 360 that aren't easily quantifiable in terms of monetary value -- such as the unmatched quality of the Xbox LIVE service and the almost certain superiority of the 360 version of multi-platform games. For top of the line, cutting-edge gaming, the 360 is hard pressed to find a worthy competitor.

The Verdict

The numbers are in. All said and done, all three systems cost around $300-400 after accessories. Although the Wii is a great dedicated system for gaming, the other two systems nudge it out of the way when you compare the sheer versatility and functionality of those systems (HD gaming and streaming media content) versus price paid. But clearly there is a winner among the remaining two. Just in terms of value, for a competitive full-featured HD entertainment media system, the best choice is the PS3 Slim. For serious gamers who demand the best graphics and performance, the nod goes to the 360. Because for some people, gaming is priceless!

test