Switch Lights

The lights are on

What's Happening
Home Features The Hidden Costs Of Gaming
recent news
related posts

The Hidden Costs Of Gaming

Feature
by Annette Gonzalez on February 24, 2011 at 07:15 PM
138,938 Views
149

Any gamer knows the cost of gaming goes far beyond the sticker price of the console. Before you know it you’re dropping bills on extra controllers, batteries, online subscription fees – the list goes on. With 3D gaming, motion controls, and downloadable content increasing in prevalence, the cost of gaming continues to rise steadily. How much will an ambitious gamer spend beyond the initial console purchase? We break down the costs for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii.

PlayStation 3
Want to play games like Killzone 3 in 3D and blast through Helghast with Move? Play Uncharted 2 multiplayer online? Download movies and games to your hard drive? Watch Blu-rays in full HD? Here’s what it’ll cost:

Console: PlayStation 3 (160 GB, includes DualShock 3, AV cable, USB cable): $300

Extras
HDMI Cable: $10
3D TV: Sony BRAVIA 46”, 1080p, 3D LED-LCD HDTV $2,500
3D Glasses: Sony BRAVIA $150
Extra DualShock 3: $55
USB cable extension: $10
Bluetooth: $15
Game: $60

Estimated Total: $2800 + console = $3,100

Motion Control (2-Players)
Two PlayStation Move Controllers: $50/each ($100)
Two Navigation Controllers: $30/each ($60)
PlayStation Eye: $40

Estimated Total: $200

Grand total: $3,300

Services
Basic PSN account ($0); PlayStation Plus ($50/year; $18/3 months) [PageBreak]


Xbox 360
Want to play Gears of War online with your buddies? Download the latest games from Xbox Live Arcade? Knock out your kids while dancing around in your living room? Here’s what it’ll cost:

Console: Xbox 360 S (250 GB, includes wireless controller, composite AV cable, one month Xbox Live Gold membership, headset): $300

Extras
HDMI Cable: $10
HDTV: Sony BRAVIA 46”, 1080P, LCD HDTV $1,000
Extra wireless controller: $50
Controller batteries: Duracell Value Charger With 4AA Pre-Charged Batteries $17
Game: $60

Estimated Total: $1,137 + console = $1,437

Motion Control (2-Players)
Kinect (includes Kinect Adventures): $150

Estimated Total: $150

Grand Total: $1,587

Services
Xbox Live Gold account ($60/year; $25/3 months; $10/1 month) [Silver is free, but limits online activity]

Filed under: , , , , , , ,
Comments
sort by date:
  • by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 07:48 PM
    My question is what is more expensive? Console or computer? When you add up the prices like that though it gets pretty close.
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 07:48 PM
    I don't care what the cost is, video games are totally worth the money, assuming you have time to play them. When you consider the number of hours that you can get out of a good video game these days, the overall cost doesn't amount to much at all.
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 07:50 PM

    Sure that is if you're into 3d gaming and motion control and accessories. My costs including games right now may add up to that total.

  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 07:51 PM
    Don't forget to include the costs of paying to get your system fixed/replaced if it fails after the warranty expires.
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 07:56 PM
    We've spent about all of that, the $5700, within the 3 years we've had a console. Batteries, replacements, new games, new TV. The works. It doesn't surprise me at all for this. If you want no lag at all (which has been a b*tch to me since switching from SD to HD) you have to spend another $1999. Forget that. And remember, that's for no lag what-so-ever.
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 07:58 PM
    this is kinda lame, I don't know anyone that would buy a TV because of a console, I use my monitor at my desk which was 300$ it has 3d is 1080p whats wrong with that? I don't need to go buy a 2,500$ TV just because I got a ps3, next time remove the TV cost because everyone already has a TV.
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 07:58 PM
    I want to play sexy party games with a Wii
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 07:58 PM
    So if 360 did 3D then the prices are pretty much the same for 360 and PS3.
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 08:01 PM

    all & all i have spent a total of $4,887 for this gen system, don't want to even think about how much i have invested in gaming since my ColecoVision days till now.  

  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 08:02 PM

    Ouch, my PS3 is destroying my bank account.

  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 08:02 PM
    Add in the fact that consoles are now so fragile that many people are having to buy a second... I've been thinking about this a lot and the costs are getting out of hand. With the way the economy is, necessities rising and such, I was wondering if gaming's boom could lead it to a mini crash.
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 08:10 PM
    wow, and console gamers give pc gaming *** saying it costs thousands?,my total comp was worth 600 (500, upgraded so its total was worth 600), way cheaper than all this
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 08:11 PM
    I'd just pay for the console and my games of choice. I'm not interested in 3D gaming.
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 08:15 PM

    I am going to go play Canabalt.

  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 08:16 PM
    You're over paying for that 46" tv. I got an Auria 55" 1080p 120hz LCD tv last week for $800.
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 08:18 PM
    I really don't like this post. It assumes that every gamer is going to buy the top of the line stuff at MSRP -- which isn't the case at all.
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 08:20 PM

    Its definitely astounding how much it can cost. The plus side is that it's not like all at once. Really makes you think though.

  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 08:23 PM
    lets see, i got;
    A PS2 with one controller, 8 games, 1 memory card,
    & a shared HD cable with the Wii (which works fantastic surprisingly.)
    A Wii with 2 controllers (one nunchuck), a GameCube controller, 7 Wii games, 4 GameCube games, 2 VC games downloaded, 1 GC memory card, & the steering wheel that came with Mario Kart.
    A PS3 with 2 controllers, the Move (with the camera), HDMI cable, 7 PS3 games, 8 PSN games, 6 PSOne downloaded games, & 2 minis.
    All of these are played on a 42' insigna plasma which was on sell at the time.
    A PSP 2000 with 3 games & 2 memory cards (one 1gb & the other is 4gb)
    A DSLite & DSiXL with 8 DS games, 2 GBA games, & a 4gb SD memory card.
    My old GBC but with no games.
    & a 3DS on the way.
    ...........***, thats sad. :P
  • by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 08:25 PM
    Chump Change next to PC gaming. I spend hundreds every 6-8 month to keep my gaming rig humming. That doesn't count regular games, MMO fees, STEAM downloads... I have a 360. I buy games once in a while, but don't play online with it, so no "Gold" fee. Anyway you cut it though, gaming isn't a cheap hobby if you are really serious about it.
  •
    by Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 08:31 PM
    yeah but you don't need HDTV or 3DTV Kinect is just stupid and move is pretty much a waste of money live is overpriced. PlayStation plus gives you a bunch of useless crap....bet you cant tell wich system I have
1 2 3 4 5 Next ... Last