UPDATED MAY 9, 2009: NEW SECTION ADDED - MUSIC GAMES

I own both a Wii and an Xbox 360. What often comes up is that many people want to know which video gaming console is the one for them, and ask me why I have two.

I have two because they both pretty cover the needs of all family members in our households, plus they're both fun!

So, after much usage of each console, I believe that I can compare both consoles and you can see which one works for you.

I will do my best to give you a hopefully completely unbiased perspective. While I did as much research in addition to what I already know from my experience, I am only human, and am prone to errors just like everyone else. Please let me know if I make a factual error.

So, let us break this down!

Wii

Wii has one configuration for sale... the console that comes with a Wii Remote and the extremely popular & fun Wii Sports for $250. It comes with a built in 512 megabyte flash drive and wireless networking capabilities built into the system. Not to mention a San Disk card slot. SWEET!

Here is what they don't tell you... It comes with a Wii Remote. That is all fine and dandy. However, that is, essentially, just HALF of one controller. The main attachment you will need is the nunchuk, which almost every single game requires. That is $20. A 2nd Wii Remote is $40. You will eventually want a Classic Controller, that is $20.

So, lets add up...
$250 for the Wii System +
$40 for the 2nd Wii Remote +
$40 for 2 nunchuks +
$20 for 1 Classic Controller.

You got $350. $330 if you take off the Classic Controller.

New released games are at $50 unless they come with an expensive accessory (e.g. Wii Fit is $80).

Xbox 360

They have several configurations for sale. The cheapest being the Arcade system for $200 which comes with 1 controller, a 256 megabyte memory card, and recently it has came with an Arcade game pack (featuring Pac-Man Championship Edition) and Sega Superstars Tennis.

However, a 2nd controller is $50. A wireless network adapter is $100 (biggest fucking ripoff in gaming history, to be honest). You could go Ethernet, but that really isn't convenient for most people. A wired headset to communicate with online gamers is $20 ($60 if you want to go wireless). $60 for a 20 gig hard drive.

So, let us add this up...
$200 for an arcade system +
$100 for the Wireless networking adapter +
$50 for the 2nd controller +
$20 for the wired headset +
$60 for the 20 gig hard drive

That adds up to $430.

If you get the "Pro" configuration for $300, you get a 60 gig hard drive and a wired headset. So let us look at this:

$300 for a pro system.
$100 for the Wireless Networking adapter.
$50 for the 2nd controller

That adds up to $450. Wow...

Now, let us take a look at their Elite configuration. It is $400. It is a nice shiny black system. Oooo... blaaaack. It has a 120 gig hard drive and a wired headset.

$400 for the elite system
$100 for the wireless networking adapter
$50 for the 2nd controller.

That adds up to $550!

Also, most new released games are at $60. Damn.

Xbox 360

If you have an HDTV, get ready the ultimate experience.

If you have a CRT TV, you are going to run into a few issues. Namely... it seems as if the game developers assume that everyone has a big expensive TV or that their gamers are kids that sit 3 inches from the TV screen. So, txt can be pretty hard to read, at times. Plus, a lot of the games for the system are darker, so its harder to see what is going on.

I have a 32 inch TV purchased two years ago too, so it is not like I have a 19 year old TV which the color is going out from the 1980s.

Yeah, I plan on getting with the times someday once we actually get the money.

As for the audio, all games are Dolby Digital 5.1 compatable. In other words... AWESOME if you have a Dolby Digital 5.1 system. If you don't, then it won't make much of a difference to you.

Wii

The Wii was built to be economical system to purchase, so they didn't do much to up the processing power. Nintendo wanted to focus on changing the way we play games rather than just creating a system

If you have a CRT, the Wii is perfect. The text is actually readable. The graphics are bright and vibrant. It is definitely the ultimate experience for you.

If you have an HDTV, the only output that's going to look remotely okay is 480p, which means you're going to need to buy some new output cables. You're also going to have to mess around with your settings on you TV to make sure it doesn't look blurry.

The Wii is Dolby Pro Logic II-capable. This isn't exactly state of the art, but it is better than the days of Atari.

Wii

Nintendo basically got it right the first time in terms of reliability. They always get it right on the first try. But, that's how Nintendo has always been. The updates that have been made to the system software has been to improve the functionality of the Wii, not put band-aid on problems.

Xbox 360

Come on, this is Microsoft we are talking about here. We know their reputation.

In the beginning, Microsoft got cheap and invested in some cheap soldering which would soften up when people would use their systems for several hours at a time. Lots of motherboards were fried.

They have businesses CENTERED around fixing Xbox 360s. Some people are making big bucks.

The latest chipset they released allegedly fixes all of the problems. But really, it took them 2 years? And how do we know that there isn't something wrong with this chipset?

Wii

Here is the good news, it is absolutely 100% free. It even comes built in with wireless functionality.

I haven't ran into hardly any lag in the games I play online and most of the people you play against are very friendly. I can't tell you how many hours I've burned away in Dr. Mario Online Rx.

Here is the bad news... FRIEND CODES. It wouldn't be so bad if your numerical friend code was your universal username for Wii's online service. But that isn't the case. Instead, every single damn game has a Friend Code. Mario Kart has a friend code. Super Smash Brothers has a friend code. Tetris Party has a friend code. It just keeps going on. I probably have around 20 friend codes by now! You have to exchange each one for each game.

Why do they do this? Nintendo claims its for children's safety from harassment, which doesn't make any sense to me at all because wouldn't it more safe to play with people you know rather than people you don't? Not to mention that the Wii already has parental controls? If anyone can point me to a link where an XBox Live Gamertag compromised someone's safety, I will STFU
instantly.

However, playing online with random people is still fun... although you're likely to get some less honorable people who cheat or disconnect before you actually win a game so they can keep their stats up. I call "BULLSHIT!"

Xbox 360

The good news... Unlike the Wii, all you generally need is ONE username... that is your GamerTag that you set up when you setup the console to begin with. Adding friends is easy and the majority of Xbox 360 owners are online.

The interface for signing up for Xbox Live is very slick. The network is great with no more lag than you would normally find in online gaming.

With your friends, you are likely get more people who actually play by the rules. After all, you know where they live!

The bad news... it is going to cost you some $. First... if you want to go wireless... an Xbox 360 Wireless adapter is going to run you $100! There are workarounds, but you have to be savvy to do so.

Not only that, but Xbox Live actually charges you anywhere in the neighborhood of around $50 a year to play games online for a "Gold" membership. Not only that, but that is just for ONE username! So, if you and someone else you live with wanted to have separate usernames so you can track your achievements and what not, you're going need to shell out more money. You could still share a username, but that kind defeats some of the purpose. Not only that but there is a good percentage of achievements in games that have to be unlocked by playing online.

You can still get a free silver membership. It allows you to have friends lists, chat with friends, and download content, but no playing games online. DAMN. Oh yeah, and no streaming Netflix either.

I am going to break this down a bit for you...

Wii

A common misconception amongst hardcore gamers is that the Wii doesn't have enough games for the "hardcore gamer."

A lot of it is what one would define as a game for the hardcore gamer. For many, it just seems to be a game with blood, guts, and realism. A Post Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Zombie World War 2 simulator tends to that type of game. I am not saying I don't like those games, it just seems to be a common theme. For others, it is old school gameplay. Whether it would be an addicting puzzler like Tetris or a "bullet-hell" game like Ikaruga.

You will find that while the Wii does have a good assortment of games for the hardcore gamer, there is a lot of bullshit games that you have to sift through to. Thanks, in part, to the success of Wii Sports, there are several cash-in attempts on it. The only one of those attempts that was both actually playable and actually sold semi-well was Carnival Games. As for the rest, thankfully, a lot of those BOMBED BIG TIME over the holidays.

THE Games to Get - Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Mario Strikers Charged, Super Paper Mario, Wario Land: Shake It, and Resident Evil 4

Games You Probably Haven't Heard Of But Are AWESOME - Boom Blox, de Blob, Okami, WarioWare: Smooth Moves, Samba de Amigo, Excitebots: Trick Racing, and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn.

Avoid - Wii Sports clones and "Mini Game Collections."

Upcoming Titles to Look Forward To: Punch-Out!!, Sin and Punishment 2, Boom Blox Bash Party, The Conduit, TMNT Smash-Up, and lots more.

Xbox 360

If you are a hardcore gamer, this game should have plenty of titles. Whether you are a fighting game buff (Virtual Fighter 5 and Street Fighter IV), a FPS fanatic (BioShock, Halo 3), a MMORPG person (Fable II, FFXI), a survival horror nut (Dead Rising, Resident Evil 5), Racing game guy (Project Gotham, Burnout), Sports (Madden, Skate), or what have you, the 360 has got you covered.

If you are a casual gamer, be prepared to basically not be interested in most of the gaming library. That's not to say there is absolutely nothing for you. Just don't expect a cooking game.

Also, if you don't like First Person Shooters or any type of game that is played from the first person perspective, that eliminates a good portion of many of Xbox 360's premiere titles.

THE Games to Get - Gears of War 2, Dead Rising, Resident Evil 5, Halo 3, Dead Space, Grand Theft Auto IV, Fallout III, Fable II, BioShock, Mass Effect, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Street Fighter IV

Games You Probably Haven't Heard Of But Are AWESOME - Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, Viva Pinata, Virtual Fighter 5 Online, and Banjo & Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

Avoid - The majority of licensed titles. The majority of games that have a busty female on the cover (excluding the DOA series). The majority of sports games not by EA or 2k Games.

Upcoming Titles to Look Forward To: Final Fantasy XIII, Tekken 6, Wolfenstein, Mass Effect 2, BioShock 2

Wii

Like it or not, Wii has got the edge here.

With WiiWare, in thanks to the Wii Remote and Balance Board, it has allowed to developers to go back and "reinvent the wheel" on classic gaming genres. Games such as World of Goo and the Art Style series exhibit exactly what I am talking.

With Virtual Console, you can play games from the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo 64, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, TurboGrafx-16/Turbo CD, SNK Neo Geo, Commodore 64, and, just recently, classic Arcade titles. They also have imports, which are games translated for American audiences and released to us for the first time, such as Sin and Punishment.

As for the hardcore gamer, Wii has the edge here. While there are still plenty of WiiWare titles for the casual gamer, most of the downloadable library is for the hardcore gamer, plain and simple.

Xbox 360

It is almost the exact opposite situation for the Xbox 360. The games you can buy in the store are is geared more towards the "hardcore gamer" while the Live Arcade games are generally geared towards the casual gamer. On the Wii, the story is essentially the opposite.

Now, just like the opposite situation, that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of hardcore games. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night ALONE makes up for games like Feeding Frenzy, Dominoes, Gin Rummy, and Hasbro's Family Game Night lineup.

The games also have achievements, which means you can add to your GamerScore with these games.

There is also community games that was recently launched. These are games made by independent developers. Unfortunately, the majority of these games aren't all that great and they don't have achievement point opportunities.

Wii

There is only a handful of games that have downloadable content. I can probably name most of them off the top of my head too... Guitar Hero World Tour, Guitar Hero: Metallica, Rock Band 2, Samba De Amigo, and the upcoming Boom Blox Bash Party are some of the few meager titles with additional downloadable content. Some games will let you send your created levels to other Wii users like the original Boom Blox and Super Smash Brors Brawl. Outside of that... not all that much in terms of DLC.

Xbox 360

Lots of games have downloadable content. Yeah, that was vague, but let us just say that even freakin' UNO has downloadable content. Without a doubt, Xbox 360, FTW. No contest.

Wii

The Nintendo Wii comes backwards compatibly with the Nintendo GameCube built into the system and works great. Granted, you will need a GameCube controller and a Memory card, but it is compatible. The GameCube is easily one of the most underrated video gaming consoles of all time. If you can get your hands on some titles, seriously check out Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. It is one of my favorite games EVER.

Plus, all of the Resident Evil games from Zero to 4 are available for the GameCube. Can't go wrong there!

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 is backwards compatible with MOST Xbox titles. You will need a hard drive and be able to download an update, but it is there. I was never a huge fan of the Xbox library but there still is something for everyone.

For some people, they are all about Guitar Hero and Rock Band games. Some people despise these games, but hey, I like them. They are fun. So which console is right for you? As with the other sections, you will find that both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Wii: The biggest issue one will run into when owning a Wii and wanting to play games is instrument compatibility. Rock Band controllers will not play on Guitar Hero games. However, Guitar Hero controllers will play on Rock Band 2 (but not 1), Rock Band Track Pack Vol. 2 (but not 1), and AC/DC Track Pack. This is basically due to Activision being difficult in legally allowing Harmonix to add instrument capatibility in the first Rock Band.

The best source that I have found is this link which has it all laid out for you in nice and pretty graphs: http://www.joystiq.com/Instrument-Compatibility-Matrix/

Guitar Hero controllers require that you plug in the Wii Remote, which can both be a hassle and a drain on your batteries. I have also noticed that iniating star power on Wii Guitar Hero controllers can be difficult at times. My personal guitar of choice for the Wii was still the Guitar Hero: World Tour "Generi-caster." It came equipped with a button that you cold press to launch star power. If you want to play drums, the Rock Band drums are both cheaper and play better, but the Guitar Hero drums work with more games.

The good news is that almost any USB microphone will work with almost any game involving vocals. This includes Rock Band games, Guitar Hero: World Tour, Boogie, American Idol: Karaoke Revolution, Disney Sing-It, and more! With Wii having a lot of games dedicated to the casual gamer, if you are a karaoke fiend, you're going to have some fun.

With downloadable content, both Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2 gives the player the option of saving their songs onto a SanDisc. That, obviously, is a very convenient feature. Unfortunately, downloadable content wasn't offered on these music games until Guitar Hero: WT and Rock Band 2 were released. Harmonix is doing its best in slowly but surely making the whole Rock Band DLC catalog available. Also, some games like American Idol Encore: Karaoke Revolution do not offer DLC as well.

Another thing I would like to point out that the Wii offers is that for those can't afford $80 for one video game, some developers have made some rhythm games that only use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Some of them are pretty decent (e.g. Samba De Amigo). Some of them, the jury is still out on (e.g. Wii Music). Some of them are just outright awful (e.g. Battle of the Bands). My personal favorite of these is Samba De Amigo. It is a remake of a classic Dreamcast game and it is only $20 and uses the Wii Remote and Nunchuks as Maracas. If you own a Wii, give it a rental, at least.

For you Dance Dance Revolution fans, the Wii does offer some DDR games. I have not personally played them but I hear they even try to add a spin on the classic gameplay by working in the Wii Remote and Nunchuk into the dancing. Admittedly, you will notice that the DDR games are geared towards younger audiences, as is indicated by the Disney Grooves edition.

Xbox 360: Like it or not, if you like rhythm and music games, Xbox 360 is likely your system of choice in terms of instrument compatibility, downloadable content, and a few other extra perks.

First of all instrument compatibility is really good. Almost all controllers works for almost every game. This website is the best source I have found for finding out what is compatible with what: http://www.joystiq.com/Instrument-Compatibility-Matrix/ As you will see, there's lots of good news.

Once again, the good news is that almost any USB microphone will work with almost any game involving vocals! This includes Rock Band games, Guitar Hero: World Tour, Lips, and more! With Wii having a lot of games dedicated to the casual gamer, if you are a karaoke fiend, you're going to have some fun.

Downloadable content is available for almost all of the music games on the Xbox 360. This includes Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero III, Rock Band, Rock Band 2 (which that series has a GIGANTIC catalog to choose from), and even American Idol has lots of DLC to choose from. Before its all over with, its easy to predict that you're going to want to get a bigger hard drive.

Once again, for the DDR fans, there is plenty of dancing action for with not one, not two, but three Dance Dance Revolution games that are sure to cover that need.

I mentioned some perks. The biggest perk is that for only $5, you can import almost all of the songs from Rock Band 1 into Rock Band 2! The only three songs you can't are Metallica's "Enter Sandman", Black Sabbath's "War Pigs," and Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills." (With me being a metalhead, those were my three personal favorite songs in the game, but oh well.)

Wii

The first major innovation that the Wii offers is Wii Remote. It has motion detection built in, and it is Nintendo's attempt at changing the way you play games.

However, the Wii Remote is not without its faults.
#1. The motion detection isn't 1:1 (ie. It doesn't detect every movement). So, games like Zelda, you don't need to do the full sword slashing motion, just wiggle the remote and get the same result!
#2. Software developers have felt the need to tack on pointless motion controls to games that really don't need them.

#1 is getting fixed with Wii Motion Plus that is coming packed in with the upcoming game Wii Sports Resort.

#2 is simply is a combination of critic reviews, software developers learning how to properly program for the new hardware, and software sales & trends are hopefully fixing that problem.

The Mii, an idea of the great Miyamoto's dating back to the days of the Famicon Disk System (add-on for the old NES), is definitely one of the most fun aspects of the Wii. Sometimes, it is just fun creating Miis. Not to mention the "Check Out My Mii Channel" will let you import other user's Miis... some of them are pretty damn freaky in how they resemble their actual counterpart (especially the Jack Black one).

In addition, there is now the Balance Board that comes with Wii Fit. Basically, these are games that use your shift in weight to move your character in the game. It is a fun interactive experience. Wii Fit is a fun game/excercise program. Some other great games for the Balance Board include Rayman Raving Rabbids TV, Skate 2, and the balance board mode in Tetris Party (Yes, Balance Board Tetris!). I personally look forward to what developers will offer us with this peripheral.

Xbox 360

Xbox 360's biggest innovation is the achievement system and your GamerTag. Each game has a set of goals or "achievements," if you will. This adds to your GamerScore. So this makes every outing on the Xbox 360 seemingly more important, if that kind of thing matters to you. Basically, they took the old days of high scores in your local arcade where it would be cool if you saw your initials at the top of everyone else and updated it for a new generation.

My only small criticism is that it would be nice is for like every 1000 GamerScore points you got 100 free Microsoft Points or something like that. Instead, its just "I have a higher gamer score and that's it."

However, if you are a guy who doesn't give a shit about profiles and scores, then none of this matters to you. I fall somewhere in the middle. I feel that its a cool addition and I find myself doing bizarre things in video games I wouldn't normally do, but I don't care if I rank high or not.

Wii:

- With all the accessories you need to get started to play with 2 players, iti s about $330 ($350 with Classic Controller accessory)
- Most new games are $50.
- Graphics are perfect for your CRT TV.... but require some tinkering for to look decent on your HDTV.
- Online is FREE. It is wireless right out of the box. However, it is hindered by 1000s of "Friend Codes" for "security reasons."
- The gaming library you can get at the store has some classic games such as Zelda, Mario Kart, and Smash Brothers, but you have to sift through a lot of crap, whether you are a hardcore gamer or a casual gamer.
- The selection of games that you can download is fantastic.
- Not much in the way of additional downloadable content. If you are a DLC fiend, PASS.
- Backwards compatibility with the GameCube is built into the system, and this means you can play some great games from the excellent library.
- Innovation is what the Wii tries to be all about. With the balance board, Miis, and the Wii Remote, the Wii tries to change the way you play. However, the motion detection is not perfect and there are a lot of instances where motion controls are just "tacked on" to a game.

Xbox 360:

- With all the accessories you need to get started to play with 2 players, it is about $430.
- Most new games are $60.
- Graphics are perfect for your HDTV.... but there are some visibility issues on a CRT.
- One username to rule them all with Xbox Live! However, it is going to cost you some $$$ no matter how you look at it.
- The gaming library has lots of great games for the hardcore gamer. If you are a casual gamer, just stick to what you can download online on the Xbox Marketplace.
- The games you can download online have some good hardcore games, but the majority are geared towards the casual gamer.
- Xbox 360 is the king of downloadable content. New content is coming out each week. Even fucking UNO has downloadable content.
- Backwards compatibility with the original Xbox can be downloaded. I wasn't really into that library of games, but there are some decent ones in there.
- While it is essentially just a really powerful video game console, a lot of the innovation lies in your GamerTag. However, if that's not your thing, then don't look here for anything new because the rest has been essentially been done before.

Either way, anyone would be pleased with whatever console they purchase. I can't recommend one over the other. However, if you look at what I listed above, you need to know what is important to you as the consumer and gamer, then make your informed decision. I just hope that I helped you out a bit.

For those asking about the Playstation 3. I don't own one. I don't plan on getting one for now. If they come WAY DOWN in price, then I might consider it. But until then, I'm good. I am not going to review something I don't own like a lot of people would.

Thank you everyone. I will consider any feedback and continue to update this guide as time goes by.