If you go shopping (online or in real stores), you’ll see these game consoles, all begging to be bought. Each one claims to be the best and will provide the ultimate gaming experience. If you’re confused, here are some basic guidelines you can use.

Money Matters

Budget will be a factor for most buyers. The most expensive is the Sony Playstation, which retails for $500 or more. The Nintendo Wii costs about $250 while Microsoft’s Xbox is sold for $300 to $400. These are just averages of course.

Depending on the season, economic situation and your location, the prices may differ. It’s therefore a good idea to compare prices to see where you can get discounts.

Consider Your Recipient

If you’re buying the game console for yourself, you can base your choice on the games available. If you’re buying for someone else, do some research on the games available for each console.

Some games are available on all platforms, but others are exclusive. Ask yourself: what type of games does my recipient like? Also keep in mind the age of the recipient.

Analyze the Accessories and Games

Each console comes with a variety of accessories to heighten the gaming experience. These consist of dance pads, steering wheels, some eye gear and many others. Each of these things brings something new to the game. Look them over and decide which ones appeal to you the most.

When it comes down to it, the game consoles are about the games. A lot of the popular ones are sold for all three major platforms. But these consoles tend to be dominated by specific genres.

The Playstation has a lot of RPG (role playing) games. The Nintendo Wii is known for its party / dance games. The Xbox is renowned for its multiplayer features. Some prefer one over the other; it’s really up to you.

Assess the Additional Expenses

To get the most from the games, you’ll need to get some accessories. Some may require another hard drive or a subscription to play online games. Remember, the game console isn’t the only thing you’ll be paying for. There are the accessories too. You’ll need to factor this in before buying.

Tips and Hints

Try doing your shopping before or just when the holiday season begins. These units can be difficult to find during the holidays. Also keep an eye on the store promotions and sales. Some might offer the unit with a free game.

Avoid buying just released consoles as they can be very expensive. The price plunge occurs a year or two after the release. If you can wait that long, you’ll save some money.

When buying consoles, also factor in the cost of getting more controllers. These usually cost $25 or so. If you’re buying the portable types, consider getting a case to protect them from getting bumped around.

The great thing about buying game consoles today is that you really can’t go wrong with any of them. When it comes to graphics, sound and playability, they’re sure to have a few games that will please you.