How to choose a video game console
There are six major video game consoles available from retailers right now; Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii and Nintendo DS. It can be difficult to choose which one is right for you. And after adding the older consoles as well, it makes the choice even more overwhelming. Don’t worry too much though. Just ask yourself a few simple questions outlined below and you can easily decide which system is right for you. Points to consider are price, graphics, game selection, and other capabilities.
Price –
Probably the most important factor for someone choosing a video game console is the price they have to pay to purchase the system itself. Prices range from $599 for the PlayStation 3 to $129 for the Nintendo DS. And if you really want to save money, you can buy older generation consoles like Playstation, Nintendo 64 and Super Nintendo and spend no more than $20 for a used system. The prices of the games should also be taken into account when making your choice. PS3 and Xbox 360 games typically start at $59.99 new, while Nintendo DS games retail for $29.99 new. Games for older systems are hard to find in regular retail stores, but they’re usually a bit cheaper if you buy them online.
Graphics-
Graphics are always getting better with the newer video game consoles, so the newer systems will always have the best graphics. The Xbox 360 and PS3 have the best graphics and can display in high definition if you have a TV that can display them as well. The Wii doesn’t have the same graphical capabilities as the other two, though many casual gamers won’t be disappointed. The Nintendo DS and PSP lack the graphical power that home consoles have because they are portable. And the PSP can display graphics much better than the DS.
If you’re considering older systems, each generation has roughly the same graphical level no matter which system you choose. PlayStation and Nintendo 64 are almost the same, as are Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. But the Nintendo 64 will have better graphics than the Super Nintendo, which in turn is better than the original Nintendo.
Game selection –
The main reason you buy a system is for the games, so you want to make sure the games you want to play are on the system you choose. Some systems have very wide selections of games because they were so popular, like PlayStation 2, Playstation, and Super Nintendo. With these systems, you can almost always find a game in the genres you like. If you really like a particular game series (Mario, Halo, Final Fantasy, etc.), you should make sure you choose the system those games are released on. Mario games are only available on Nintendo consoles, including the Gamecube, Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, and Super Nintendo. Halo is only on Microsoft, Xbox, and Xbox 360 systems. Meanwhile, Final Fantasy has switched systems. You can only find the newer Final Fantasy games on PlayStation 2 and you can find the older ones on SNES, Game Boy Advance and Playstation.
Other capacities –
Many systems have unique features that may be important to you or drastically change the game. For example, the Wii uses motion sensing controllers so all of their games use a different style of play compared to the other systems with a regular joystick. Also, the Nintendo DS has a touch screen, another screen on top and is also portable. If portability is important to you, be sure to choose one of the PSP, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance or Game Boy handheld systems. If online gaming is an important feature, you should go for Xbox or Xbox 360. They have the most capable online features.
After considering all of these questions, you can decide which features are most critical to you and choose the system that best meets that criteria. If you’re on a tight budget but want a wide selection of games to play, you should go for PlayStation or Super Nintendo. Systems and games are very cheap now and thousands of games were made for them. If you want the best graphics and online gaming, you should probably go for the Xbox 360. It has some of the best graphics and online settings.
Once you’ve weighed all of these options, you should be well on your way to choosing the best system for you. Now go buy it and start enjoying your gaming purchase.