Finance Tips

Which one is better? There is quite a bit of competition between online games and gaming consoles that you play on your television set. It’s hard to say which one is better because it really all depends on the personal preference of the player. Still, it would be safe to say that online games are extremely popular toady.

Both ways to play games has something special to offer the gamer so let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages each of them have to offer.

Gaming Consoles:

The cost of some of the more modern gaming consoles are reasonably priced considering all the great features they have to offer.
The HD TV can greatly enhance the graphics on some of the games.
Once you pay for the console and the games you want to play, there is no ongoing fee each month that you have to pay.
They’re fast and easy to set up.
They can be played by gamers of all ages.
There are many excellent and exciting games available for these systems.
You can gather together with friends or family and have a game night to socialize.

The biggest downfall of the gaming consoles is the fact that updating the system is not normally an option.

This means when a new system comes out with better graphics and features, you have to buy new games as well. Although, manufactures are working on this problem and the Xbox 360 is the perfect example. It was designed with backwards compatibility making it possible to continue playing many of the Xbox games with the new console.

Online Games:

The game options available online can’t be beat. There are literally thousands of games that you can choose from.
There are many free games that you can play online.
Many games can be downloaded to your PC for convenience.
Massively multiplayer online role-playing games are available which makes it possible for large groups of gamers to interact together in a virtual world. These games are fun, exciting and challenging.
When problems occur with online games the developers of those games can install a patch to correct the problem. Upgrades can also be made this way.
Some games allow you to customize your avatar to make it more personal.
You can interact with gamers from all over the world. You can always find someone to play with or compete against anytime day or night.
It’s a great way to make new friends with a common interest.
Online gaming offers both high quality sound and excellent graphics.

Of course, before you can play online games you do need to invest in a good computer system. Depending on the games you choose to play you will most likely need a high speed Internet connection as well. Some games require a monthly fee to participate. Another concern with online gaming is that it’s possible to become a little obsessed with the games and some people become anti-social because they spend all of their time playing these games.

When you compare online games to gaming consoles you can see that they all have good and bad issues. You have to decide which one suits your needs the best and offers the type of games that you’re the most interested in. Each person is different and what works for one, may not be suited for another. However, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy both if you have the time for lots of gaming.

Do you want to buy an Xbox console but don’t have a fortune to spend? Do you want to know where to shop to save money? And what to buy with the console to get the most out of your investment? Below are 8 tips to help save you money buy shopping for an Xbox console.

1. Buy the Xbox Used: Xbox’s are not longer being manufactured so you pay a higher price for a new console. Buy a used system that has been cleaned and tested. A used console will usually work just as well, but will save you about $50.

2. Buy Online: The best prices on Xbox consoles are online. You might have to shop around to find the best prices, but they are out there. Price comparison websites are great place to start the search. Plus, when you shop online you usually won’t have to pay sales tax. But watch out for high shipping! It can eat into a lot of the savings if you aren’t careful.

3. Bundle Games and Accessories: Buy games and accessories at the same time you buy the Xbox. Many retailers give discounts on bundled items. And Shipping is almost always less than if you bought everything separately. This makes a big difference when it comes to the controllers and other heavy items.

4. Buy Used Games: Buying used games is a great way to save money. They will usually be at least 50 percent less than the game was new and with many games the discounts are more than 75 percent! Be sure to buy games that are in good condition though. If the game has a bunch of scratches it might not load, or might break later in the game. Be sure you see a clear description of the game’s condition before you buy it.

5. Read Game Reviews: There are a lot of games and to be honest many of them are no good. Do a little bit of research into the games before you buy them. What are critics saying? Or better yet actual gamers? Many websites like gamerankings.com and gamestats.com give overall rankings for Xbox games. Some good video games to start with are: Halo, Halo 2, Project Gotham Racing, Ghost Recon, and Medal of Honor.

6. Buy Games that Interest You: Reviews can only take you so far because the critics might have different opinions than you. If you love skateboarding, you will probably enjoy a skateboarding game. If you son is obsessed with Spiderman, he will probably enjoy a Spiderman game. Even if the reviews aren’t very good.

7. Buy Microsoft Accessories: You will probably want an extra controller, or memory card, or some other accessory to go along with your console. When at all possible, but accessories made by Microsoft. They will be more expensive initially but many third party accessories (especially controllers) will break on you. Microsoft’s controllers and other accessories will last much longer and be worth the extra money up front.

8. Buy Useful Accessories: There are lots of accessories made for the Xbox, but many of them are not worth your money. The most important extra accessory to buy is a controller. Each console comes with one controller but if you want to play with friends, you will need an extra (or three if you really want to have a good time). Memory cards are not as important as other systems because the Xbox has a built in hard drive. You will only need a memory card if you want to bring saved data to another Xbox.

Follow these 8 tips and you will save money and start enjoying your Xbox console, games, and accessories.