Which game console should you buy?

Which game console should you buy?

UPDATE: On 7/12/10 we updated this feature with information on the Xbox 360 Slim, Microsoft Kinect, PlayStation Move, ESPN, HBO, and other news announced at E3 2010.

A lot has changed since the Xbox 360 debuted in November 2005. After what has seemed like dozens of upgrades, improvements, omissions, price drops, and bundles, the dust has settled (once again) and we're left with three competitively priced consoles.

Such an evenly matched trio of hardware makes for the perfect time to reignite the ultimate question for prospective video game console buyers: which home console should you buy?

This question doesn't necessarily have a definitive answer. Quite frankly, the answer could be any of the three. In other words, there is no default "best console." It's about finding the one that's right for you--and what will be the deciding factor in your case will ultimately depend on what you plan to use the console for. That said, in lieu of detailing every last bit of functionality that each console offers, let's discuss the type of person we think would benefit most from each console.

Nintendo Wii ($200)
On May 9, Nintendo introduced a new bundle for the Wii that includes Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort and a Wii MotionPlus attachment. While the Wii isn't regarded as a "hard-core" gamer's console, the system has served up some pretty compelling titles over the past three years, like Super Mario Galaxy (and its sequel), The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime Corruption, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. We are looking forward to games like Metroid Other M, but big-name titles like these are few and far between. However, the company has seemed to have made a new-found dedication to resurrecting old franchises again with announcements of new Donkey Kong Country and Kirby games in 2010 exclusively for the Wii.

All things considered, the Wii has become best known for its addictive party games, the occasional fitness game, and shooting titles that emulate light-gun arcade games. The amount of first-party Nintendo titles is small, and a large amount of third-party games are mostly written off as gimmicky cannon fodder.

The Wii's online multiplayer experience isn't anything to write home about, but we definitely recommend playing Mario Kart Wii online. Unfortunately, the Wii's 16-digit friend code system did not catch on with most gamers. The established Virtual Console offers an impressive amount of classic games from various older gaming systems and WiiWare provides a platform for inexpensive titles from independent developers.

Aside from games, the Wii doesn't offer much in terms of additional functionality. Only within the last few months did the Wii obtain Netflix streaming and it can't play DVDs or CDs. Besides Netflix, its only streaming media compatibility comes from PlayOn's third-party PC software.

Accessories for the Nintendo Wii can add up. The console supports up to four Wii remotes and Nunchuks (the system comes with one of each), and now, with the debut of Wii MotionPlus, you'll want to get a few units so that you can play titles that take advantage of the new motion technology in addition to the one included in the console box. All this, plus extra chargers and batteries can become quite pricey, creating a lot of hidden costs. With the other two consoles becoming even more affordable, we don't think it's out of the question to see another Wii price drop come this 2010 holiday season.

The Nintendo Wii is best for: Parents with children who are just beginning to enter the world of gaming, family gaming, and an environment with a lot of people (dorm room or apartment with numerous roommates); loyal fans of classic Nintendo franchises.

The Wii is not the best choice for: Those who are looking for a game console that doubles as an all-purpose entertainment hub, want state-of-the-art HD graphics, enjoy a robust online community, and/or those who prefer a wide selection of adult-targeted titles.

Key Wii exclusives: All Zelda, Mario, and Metroid games.

The Super Mario Galaxy franchise is one of the best available for the Wii.

(Credit: Gamespot)

Xbox 360 ($300)
The Xbox 360 still remains the better-selling of the two powerhouse consoles of this generation. This is partly due to the system going on sale an entire year before the PlayStation 3 and because the console had a much stronger lineup of exclusives early on in its life cycle. Also, at launch, Xbox 360 was considerably more affordable than the expensive PlayStation 3. That said, a lot has changed since.

With over 20 million members worldwide, Xbox Live is the most complete online console experience available today. The caveat is that the "Gold" Membership tier--required for online gaming and access to the best perks--requires an annual fee of $50. (By comparison, the standard Sony and Nintendo online networks are free, though Sony does now offer a premium PSN experience called PlayStation Plus.) Like Sony's PlayStation Network (PSN), Xbox Live offers downloadable games (both casual "Arcade" titles and full games), game add-ons (downloadable content, or "DLC"), and the capability to buy and rent TV shows and movies, many of which are in high-definition video. Some of the purchased videos can also be transferred to Microsoft's Zune portable media player. (Note that you'll need a hard drive to fully enjoy most of these features; the current "Slim" console includes a 250GB model, but it's a separate purchase for the Arcade). Only recently has a new dashboard update given Xbox 360 owners the ability to use USB sticks as a means of storing media and game saves.

E3 2010 also saw the debut of a completely redesigned Xbox 360 console. Dubbed as the "Slim" or "S" console, the newer unit is 17 percent smaller than its predecessor, has built-in Wi-Fi, runs much quieter, and has a dedicated port for Microsoft Kinect. This console will inevitably become the standard Xbox 360, as older models are no longer in production.

In terms of additional functionality, the Xbox 360 offers streaming Netflix, Facebook, and Twitter applications in addition to ESPN content (coming soon). You can stream digital media from a networked Windows PC, and the 360 can double as a full-on Windows Media Extender for those running Windows Media Center on their PCs; third-party products such as PlayOn and TwonkyVision can also expand the 360's default streaming capabilities. Xbox 360 will also recognize most music players and hard drives, so you can manually plug these types of devices into an open USB port and play music, photos, and videos right on the console. However, unlike the Blu-ray-capable PS3, the Xbox 360 can only play standard DVD movies.

Beyond all of its impressive media capabilities, the Xbox 360 is also an excellent game machine. Most triple-A titles are available on the 360, save for a few PlayStation 3-only games, and the games generally look as good as or better than their PS3 counterparts. The console also has its fair share of exclusives, including the Gears of War, Halo, Forza, and Fable series.

There are plenty of Xbox 360 accessories that can extend the overall cost of owning the system. Additional controllers and rechargeable batteries represent the core add-ons, but you can also spend money on wireless headsets, charging docks, and messaging keypads.

Note that the older Xbox 360 consoles have a notorious (and deserved) reputation for bad reliability, thanks to the "red ring of death" problem that afflicted far too many early models. However, the current iterations of the 360 now sold in stores use updated components that have largely made this problem a thing of the past. Also, the new slim Xbox 360 promises much more reliability and as of this writing, we've yet to hear of any major issues with the new unit.

In an effort to compete with PlayStation Move and the Wii's motion control, Microsoft will release Microsoft Kinect (previously referred to as Project Natal) for the Xbox 360 on November 4, 2010. Kinect allows players to use their bodies as a motion controller instead of a wandlike accessory found in PlayStation Move or the Wii. Early demos of Kinect in action seem fun, but we're not sure the technology can live up to the initial hype.

The Xbox 360 is best for: Those who want an easy-to-use interface; gamers who take online gameplay seriously; gamers who already have friends on Xbox Live; hardcore and casual gamers; anyone who wants a good all-in-one gaming and entertainment system; fans of full body motion control.

The Xbox 360 is not the best choice for: Those who want the PS3's added value of built-in Blu-ray.

Key Xbox 360 exclusives: The Halo, Gears of War, Forza, Fable, and Left4Dead series.

Gears of War 2 is possibly the best-looking game on the Xbox 360.

PlayStation 3 ($300)
There's no doubt about it, the PlayStation 3 did not get off to a great start when it was released in November 2006. Fast-forward three and a half years, and the console has definitely righted the ship. Now available in just one $300 model (or a $350 250GB model), the PlayStation 3 Slim offers a solid library of games (including the Uncharted, Killzone, and Resistance series), access to the PlayStation Store, and one of the best Blu-ray players on the market. (It also plays DVD movies and CDs, of course.)

While the base plan is totally free, the PlayStation Network doesn't necessarily provide you with the best online gaming experience around, but if you don't consider such a thing important, its offering is more than sufficient. At E3 2010, Sony announced PlayStation Plus, a fee service that promises to enhance the overall PSN experience.

Like Xbox Live, the PlayStation Store is host to tons of movies, TV shows, demos, and downloadable games. PlayStation 3 also offers Home, a "Second Life" sort of experience where you can set up shop in a virtual world. While Sony had been hyping the feature for years, PlayStation Home is now generally regarded as a dud.

Just like the Xbox 360, there are plenty of ways to get digital media streamed over the console via a home network or a third-party product like PlayOn. You can also hook up a device via USB and play media that way as well. In early November 2009, the PlayStation 3 introduced a Netflix streaming solution that requires a BD-Live Blu-ray disc that can be obtained for free from Netflix. The PS3 will also be getting access to Hulu Plus, a fee-based Hulu service that opens back catalogs to various TV series and movies. Sony also recently inked a deal with HBO to bring content from the premium cable channel to the PlayStation Store.

While the Xbox 360 and Wii have various accessories available, you probably will need to purchase only a few for the PS3. Aside from additional controllers, there is not much you'll need. (The biggest annoyance: you'll need an infrared-to-Bluetooth adapter if you choose to use the PS3 with a universal remote.) The console uses Bluetooth technology so you can use almost any headset for chatting purposes. Also, the PS3 allows for user-replaceable hard drives, so you have the option of upgrading yourself.

Sony has marketed the PS3 as an exceptional deal due to its built-in Blu-ray player. While getting a "free" Blu-ray player is one of the console's major selling points, its benefits to the gaming experience remain mixed. It offers game developers much more space to work with than a DVD, but that hasn't translated into a quantum leap in graphics quality--the PS3's graphics are essentially on par with that of the 360. Also, the Blu-ray drive's fixed speed is problematic: it requires many PS3 games to do a preliminary hard drive installation when playing a game for the first time.

Sony will offer the PlayStation 3's answer to controller-based motion control with PlayStation Move when it releases on September 19, 2010. While Move feels a lot like the Nintendo Wii experience, it offers the same control with HD graphics. Also on the horizon for the PS3 is 3D gaming and Blu-ray movies, the latter of which was just delayed to September 2010. On the other hand, 3D gaming is available now.

The PS3 is best for: Hard-core and casual gamers who aren't concerned with the ultimate online experience, early adopters and fans of 3D, do-it-yourselfers, and videophiles who need the latest and greatest in Blu-ray.

The PS3 is not the best choice for: Those who don't care about HD graphics or video.

Key PS3 exclusives: The Uncharted, Gran Turismo, Resistance, and Killzone series; LittleBigPlanet.

The Uncharted series has quickly become the PS3's staple franchise.