Next-Gen Console Score Card (page 9 of 10)

VALUE

This is the real question, isn't it? Which console offers you the best bang for your buck?

Xbox 360

Now that Sony's announced its pricing for the PS3, even the premium $399 Xbox 360 model is looking like more and more of a bargain. With all the attention being paid to the Sony PS3 and Wii, Microsoft may have to institute some sort of price cut in order to regain some of the spotlight. On the plus side, the $299 core model (sans hard drive) is a great way to get the Xbox 360 experience without breaking the bank.

You also have to factor in the price of the HD-DVD add-in: while PS3 owners get an HD ready movie player out of the box, 360 owners will have to shell out extra ($199), which may leave some consumers with lighter wallets and heavier hearts. On the other hand, this strategy has a big benefit in that HD-DVD support isn't mandatory -- you can skip the added expense if you want to, something that isn't possible with Sony's machine.

Value score: 4.5 (out of 5.0)

PlayStation 3

Pricing is another area that could help or hinder Sony's quest to dominate the gaming industry. The $499 20 GB PS3 model, for instance, is an absolutely fantastic deal for customers seeking an affordable Blu-ray player (other Blu-ray movie players start at $999 and go up from there). But for a gaming console, $499 and $599 is almost shockingly expensive, and the annuals of history are choked with the lifeless carcasses of consoles that priced themselves into oblivion (the 3DO and the Saturn being two key examples). Whether the steep price will turn off consumers will ultimately be a test of Sony's brand leverage -- if people want the PS3, they'll pay for it.

On the other hand, in the overall bang-for-the-buck department, the PS3 undeniably makes a strong showing. For $499, you get a top-notch gaming console, an HD-ready Blu-ray player, backward compatibility with all prior PlayStation and PS2 games, some sort of nebulous online support, plus an array of smaller bonuses like a hard drive and HDMI video output. It's a stellar array of features, but you'll pay for it.

Value score: 4.25 (out of 5.0)

Wii

Easily the strongest point for the Wii, Nintendo's next-gen console will be the cheapest and the most readily available during launch. Gamers seeking an affordable next-gen console will spend $249.99 for the basic bundle, which will include the Wii console, a single controller set (Nunchuk and Remote), and the Wii Sports Disc, which features five sports games. The Nintendo Wii is the most affordable and playable console straight out of the box, though it lags behind its more expensive competitors when it comes to full-fledged feature suites. As a gaming console, the Wii excels; as a focal point for your living room media experience, not so much.



Value score: 3.75 (out of 5.0)

DECISION



Xbox 360

A very close call, perhaps the closest of all the categories we evaluated. On one hand, the PS3 should easily win this round: after all, when it comes to bang-for-the-buck, it's hard to turn down buying a killer Blu-ray movie player and gaming combo for $499 when Blu-ray movie players alone run $999. And the Wii's super-friendly price is the cheapest of all the consoles. So why did the Xbox 360 win?

Because of the $299 Core system, that's why. For $299, you can buy a high-end gaming system; for $99, you can add a 20 GB hard drive, and for $199 more, you can add HD-DVD support. In short, the unit's modular design gives the consumer a stable foundation on which to build. Sure, the PS3's all-in-one approach is damn sexy, but it necessitates a monstrous retail price. Not so with the Xbox 360: just 300 clams will buy you a very capable next-gen gaming machine, a very nice DVD player (720p upsampling!), and killer online gaming support. That's a hard, cheap combo to beat.

Victor!

Victor!

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