Finally, we got price drops for consoles across the board! Which makes it that much more tricky to decide which console to get. Comparing console prices can be a bit like comparing apples to oranges simply because each system comes packed with different options, peripherals and features. So we here at The Kartel have conducted some research to help you decide which system to get next! And we got to the bottom of these two big questions:
Which console currently has the best value out of the box?
Which console is the cheapest when optimized to its full potential?
There are a couple of factors to consider when calculating value-out-of-the-box here including:
- Current Retail Price: For the most popular SKU
- Cables: Component or HDMI
- Wi-Fi out of the box: No 100-foot cables!
- Online-Play Subscriptions: I have to pay just to get online?
- Controller, Headsets and Hard-Drive sizes: For the first-party optimized consoles.
Let's crunch some numbers, do some fancy calculations, then conduct a gut check... and here are the results!
Best Value Out of the Box Chart:
Best Value Out-of-the-Box: PlayStation 3
Analysis: Let's face it, you're getting the most powerful gaming system on the market. And if you factor in one of the best selling points for the system, a Blu-Ray player, then you are really getting two pieces of hardward for one price.
- Blu-Ray Player ($0-200 on average)
- Next-Gen Console functionality (The remaining $0-150)
Blu-Ray movies are finally taking off, as Microsoft has bowed out of the HD movie race. The PS3's dual-functionality is unrivaled and will be used often in households in some degree regardless, and this was the same strategy that made the PS2 a household name.
Add on top of that are some great extras that cost nothing. You also get free online play, something that isn't free if you have an Xbox 360. You also get the biggest hard drive compared to all systems. The PS3 has the best long-term value at this stage.
Now let's be realistic, no one buys just the console. Console makers are banking on the fact that you'll have to add on an extra controller, or buy internet access, and better video cables. So we recrunched the numbers, based on upgrading your console with all the extra stuff that you need.
Peripherals Not Factored In:
- Promo Game Bundles: Some aren't available anymore
- Wireless Sensor Bars: Not really needed for the Wii.
- Wired Controllers: Nintendo Wii is all wireless; this is afterall the 21st century folks!
- More than One Controller Charge Kit: One is enough for a system.
- AA Batteries: These are usually included with each new controller.
- Optical Audio Cables: Not all of us have extreme sound systems.
Interesting to note is the difference of Wii's visual value, obviously limited to 480p component cables. Let's not forget about its 512 MB storage deficiency as well. Obviously, the 360 and PS3 need to include a game to provide similarity with the Wii's included Wii Sports game.
Cost for First-Party Optimization Chart:
Cheapest Console When Optimized: Nintendo Wii
Analysis: The Wii excludes wireless headsets for its online gaming experience, but at what cost? The Wii Speak is an accessory that not a lot of games use (The Conduit, Animal Crossing) and even worse, the online experience is nothing comparable to the other two.
However, gamers will be spending around two-hundred dollars less for a system that will probably make the most out of using four controllers, since the Wii encourages a lot of offline-play to enhance the party game experience. Not a lot of Xbox 360 or PS3 owners utilize all headsets (so I make the max two wireless first-party headsets), and I didn't even include Xbox Live's extra cost for the additional online play subscription needed for both headsets to work.
The Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 seem to be the best values right now in the tight console race. We'll see how it plays out soon. With that being said, and real gamer will claim that ultimately it comes down to the games. That's a whole different analysis, for sure.
