Should I get a PS3, XBox 360 or Wii?
Wii PS3 XBox 360 Controller
Thinking about which next-generation video game console to buy? The PS3, XBox 360 or Nintendo Wii? Ask yourself the following questions to get some clarity on which game console will best fit your needs.
1. What kind of gaming experience are you looking for?
- Casual gaming – Consider getting a Nintendo Wii. Wii games are easier to play.
- Social gaming – The Nintendo Wii is a great party games console. Get four sets of controllers and have a blast on the Wii with your friends.
- Serious gaming – Both the XBox 360 and PS3 are targeted at the serious gamer. The XBox 360 and PS3 have more first person shooters and M-rated (Mature – for persons age 17 and above) games.
- Online gaming – Get the PS3 for free online play, for the XBox 360, there is a yearly subscription fee of $49.99 for online gaming with XBox Live.
- I don’t play games – Get the PS3 to watch Blu-Ray movies if you’re into movies.
2. Who will be playing the video game console?
- Kids below 12 – Get a Wii.
- Teenagers and adults – Guys will love the PS3, the XBox 360 and the Wii. Girls may prefer the Wii instead.
- Seniors – They will love the easy-to-play Wii games such as Wii Sports and Wii Music.
- First time buyer – A Nintendo Wii is a great game console for those starting on video games.
- Long time gamer – Depends on the game titles that they are interested. The PS3, XBox 360 and Wii each have their exclusive titles. For multi-platform games, the PS3 and XBox 360 version will have better graphics than the Wii version.
3. Will the video game console be used as a home entertainment media center?
- PS3 – The most excellent choice. Comes with Blu-Ray support and plays most audio and video file format out of the box. You can utilize the internal Hard Disk Drive (HDD) for storing your audio and video files.
- XBox 360 – Plays most audio formats out of the box. Requires you to download the DIVX codec to play DIVX movies. You can’t store your own audio or movie files in the internal HDD. Only the Pro and Elite Bundle comes with an internal HDD. You can however convert your audio CDs into MP3 files and store them in the internal HDD.
- Nintendo Wii – It’s not a media center device. Doesn’t play video files, CDs or DVDs.
4. What other factors to consider in getting a video game console?
- Price – The cheapest video game console is the XBox 360 Arcade Bundle at $199, the Wii comes next at $249.99 and the PS3 with 80GB HDD costs $399.99. (All prices taken from Amazon.com). The XBox 360 also comes in a Pro Bundle with 60GB HDD at $299.99 and an Elite Bundle with 120GB HDD at $399.99. These two XBox 360 bundles are targeted at online gamers.
- Backward compatibility – The Wii is compatible with Gamecube titles. The XBox 360 allows you to install XBox games on to its internal HDD. The newer PS3 model isn’t backward compatible with PS2 games. The earlier versions of PS3 had backward compatibility with PS2 games.
Conclusion
For casual gaming in a family with kids and seniors, the Wii is your best choice.
For those who want a more intense gaming experience and online gaming, the PS3 or XBox 360 will provide the thrills. The XBox 360 has a slight edge over the PS3 with more game titles.
For those looking for an all-in-one gaming and home entertainment media center device, the PS3 with its Blu-Ray support has the edge over the XBox 360.
This is my current personal take on the PS3, XBox 360 and Wii. I currently own a Nintendo Wii and am looking to get either a PS3 or XBox 360. You may register your agreement or disagreement in the comments section. 
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