No, you don't. Not if you don't plan on buying them, anyway. Look at my GameCube list. Does it include component cables? No. But I'd need component cables to get the best image quality, right? But do I really *need* the best image quality? I can see just fine with my current setup. I'd rather use wired internet, buy a separate HD-DVD player (or Blu-Ray player) once the market norm has been re-established, not spend extra for an HDMI cable that my standard-def TV doesn't even have an input for... When you do these things, you have to take into account the user, and what they'd *realistically* buy. you can't just throw on every accessory in the world, or you'd have to include things like Eye Toy and DDR pads and that HDD they came out with in the price of a PS2. But name me a single person that has all three of those.

Don't forget electricity costs since we're getting detailed here. It can really add up depending on how much you play and where you live. I don't recall the site but if I've read the PS3 uses 200 Watt/hrs, the 360 180, and the Wii 20. Such that each hour you average per day would cost you between $5-10 each year on the PS3, $4.5-9 on the 360, and $0.50-1.00 on the Wii (in the US, Japan and Europe would tend toward the high end and higher I think). If your household averages 4 hours a day thats up to $200 over the life of a PS3, $180 for a 360, and $20 for a Wii. This isn't even including more heavy usage (my N64 was on almost ever second I was at home when I was in high school) or if you take part in folding@home and run your PS3 non-stop. I know this is very little in monthly terms, but then so is buying 10 video games over 5 years.

Its clear X360 is the more expensive once you take in count all the costs ,and Wii the cheper .PS3 sits somewhere in between ,although it has the highest entry price .

Isn't this horse flogged to death yet? Yes with everything added up the 360 is more expensive than the PS3. The argument for the 360 is that you do not have to by all of the add-ons. So aside from preferred titles, if you "do not" want everything the 360 is a better choice and if you "do" want everything the PS3 is a better choice. In my opinion I prefer things built in so devs can take advantage of them. I had to get a live account to play with friends (because silver does not allow that) So right now in terms of online gameplay I think the PS3 wins out just because of it being free. You miss out on the great matchmaking service (and the Xbox team worked hard on it) but I do not mind missing out on the People that pervade the service. No matter which game, or anywhere I go there always has to be one or a few people that annoy me on live. It might happen on the PSN soon but I hope not too soon.

For the sake of completeness, a couple of points added: i/ Many Wii titles are/will be less than $40US. Here in Australia 360/PS3 titles vary between $100-$120 (good ones are $120), and the last three new Wii titles I have picked up for $80 (and one for $60). ii/ The Wii comes with one FREE title. It should be counted, as its a significant title. iii/ Extra controller is too expensive, as many people WILL buy Wii Play (basically a free controller - or $10 game). (so I would take $100 off the Wii package personally... ) Another thing to potentially add is Bandwidth/Internet costs (although this may vary in each country, etc). We upped our ADSL plan at our house for all the consoles - but mainly for the 360, as its more bandwidth heavy. Obviously, as you buy more games (across any platform), the other costs even out. If you assume purchase of 100 titles - the cost ratio comes down to the cost ratio of the software.

This is what I have bought for my Wii since launch $250 Initial Purchase $120 - 3 Extra Wii-Motes $60 - 3 Extra Nunchuck $40 - 2 Classic Controllers $10 - Pack of 400 AA batteries (I know people) $600 - 12 New Games $60 - 9 Virtual Console games Total Cost: 1,140 And I enjoy every bit of it. I just feel bad that I've spent that much! That's 285 dollars a month but I spent $360 the day I bought it! So it comes out to a little less.

You N-boys completely BUTTFUCKED his post... adding stupid stuff like electricity bills and what not... Point is, you can't compare TCOs without comparing the consoles themselves. With a PS3 you own EVERYTHING (The PS3 gives you more so I dub it as "EVERYTHING"). with the 360 you must pay a whole lot more to own the same thing. See? And with the Wii?? You could never own everything since it wasn't designed to. Built in Wi-Fi in the 360? no. HDD for every SKU? no. And that is a negative for developers since because of that they can't fully utilize the HDD. Next-gen HD format?? NO. The elite has HDMI output and a HDMI cable included.. big fucking deal. I can buy a good one for 7 dollars.

I gotta take my Vitamins... It would be best for you to lay off the Nintendo pills maybe... (It's bad for your brain )

Something for the thread