Top Deals From the Weekly Email
Games Consoles
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This is a rundown of all the top current games console deals. If you've seen a better deal, please post in the Cheap Games Consoles discussion and we'll add it here.
For more shopping tips read the Cheap Online Shopping article.
Nintendo Wii
The most family-oriented of the consoles, Nintendo's Wii appeals mainly to casual gamers rather than the hardcore, who are still far more likely to opt for an Xbox or PS3.
In terms of computing & graphics power the Wii lags well behind the other two, but this isn't an issue since its appeal is in its innovative controllers and instant playability rather than fancy visuals.
The Wii's popularity has meant that even though it was launched at the end of 2006, prices are only just coming down. Wii sports is included in the box so you can get playing straight away. If you want an extra controller, look out for bundle deals including the Wii Play game which includes one, and can often be found cheaper than buying one separately.
- Wii basic package (inc Wii Sports) £139.99 delivered at Amazon*.
- Wii plus Wii Sports Resort + motion plus & 3 other games £179.99 delivered at Gamestation
- Wii plus Wii Sports Resort + motion plus & 2 other games £179.99 delivered at Amazon*. Choice of games includes Super Smas Bros. Brawl & Fifa '10.
- Wii plus Wii Sports Resort + motion plus & Wii Fit w/board £209.99 delivered at Toys 'R' Us.
Microsoft Xbox 360
The 360 has seen more aggressive price drops than its competitors, though lately prices have stabilised somewhat, a sure sign they can't go much lower. The 360's set to see a new lease of life upon the launch of Project Natal; a control mechanism which uses your body as the controller, dispensing with buttons and joysticks entirely.
Still very much the hardcore gamer's console, the 360 offers the most games (it was released earliest of the three) as well as top-quality graphics. While it's the cheapest of the three to buy outright, there are some added costs if you plan to play games online (see below).
Xbox 360 Arcade (Comes with 256MB memory card and one controller)
- £134.99 delivered with Sega Superstars Tennis at Amazon (get an extra game for £15 with promotion)
- £149.99 delivered with Sega Superstars Tennis and Halo 3 at Game
- £159.99 delivered with Sega Superstar Tennis, Burnout, Trivial Pursuit & a wireless controller at Gamestation
- PREOWNED: £99.99 delivered at Game
Xbox 360 Elite (Adds a 120GB hard drive, headset, network cable, and the ability to play some old Xbox titles - pictured)
- £184.99 delivered with Bioshock and Connect 4 (Xbox live required) at Shopto.net
- £189.99 delivered with a choice of 2 free games at Amazon (choice includes Fifa '10 and Halo 3)
Sony PS3 Slim
The PS3 is the most expensive of the consoles, though prices have dropped with the launch of the sleeker and more energy efficient slim version (pictured).
The only console that doubles as a true high-def media player owing to its Blu-Ray drive, it also offers a large hard drive as standard.
- 120GB PS3 Slim £235 in-store with Fifa '10at ASDA (Limited availability - phone ahead to check stock)
- 120GB PS3 Slim £249 in-store and online with Assasin's Creed, Saints Row 2 and Hancock Blu-Ray at Tesco*
- 120GB PS3 Slim £249.73 delivered with Fallout 3, HDMI cable and Day of the Dead Blu-Rayat The Hut
- 250GB PS3 Slim £284.95 delivered with Killzone 2 (Platinum), Little Big Planet, HDMI Cable & Day of the Dead Blu-Ray at Zavvi* & The Hut*
- 250GB PS3 Slim £284.99 delivered with 3 selected games & HDMI cable at Amazon
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Planning to play online? Watch out for added costs.
Many games now allow you to compete with other players over the web, so you can test your mettle on the world stage. Online gaming access is free for Wii and PS3 owners, but costs £40/year (can be had for £35) for Xboxers.
Furthermore, all three consoles can be connected to your home web connection using a standard ethernet cable, but only the Wii & PS3 include integrated wireless adaptors. If you want to connect an Xbox wirelessly, the official route is to buy Microsoft's Xbox wireless adaptor for around £40. Thankfully, there are plenty of cheaper workarounds, though you may need a bit of experience with setting up wireless networks to make them work.
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You shouldn’t notice any difference, the links don’t impact the product at all and the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by the revenue. If it isn’t possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, its still listed in the same way. The following links: Amazon, Tesco, TheHut are identical unaffiliated links provided for the sake of transparency. Click on the following link for more details on how this site's financed.
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