Do Xbox or PS3 systems go on sale?

[LisaR]

My son wants one of these systems for Christmas. I would love to buy it now so I can get closer to finishing up my shopping but if they run specials on them, I will hold off. Is it worth waiting? Thanks!

 

[JB2K]

Yes and no.

Typically, they don't go "on sale" meaning you are going to pay a lower dollar amount - but rather special variations with:

• A store gift card included, free of charge
  
• Bundled with accessories and/or game(s)

 

[Wolfpacklegion]

they do go on sale. Last year Walmart had a deal on the Xbox 360 arcade model, buy it for $199 get a $100 dollar gift card. I haven't seen anything yet this year, but keep your eyes opened if you can be patient you can find it on sale.

 

[SpecialK]

I've never seen them on sale, but the closer you get to Christmas, they'll offer bundles that include games that are usually pretty pricey. I'd wait.

Also, in case you're not aware of this, stores like GameStop and EB Games sell used games for a fraction of the price. Used games can also be returned iin 7 days if your son doesn't like them.

***Just read above post: There are differences in the models you'll probably want to check out before you buy.

 

[kamik86]

They don't really go on sale as the manufacturers set the price.

However stores will bundle things with the system to make a "deal". For example give you a gift card with purchase or include a game (they will sometimes be a specific one, sometimes one you pick from a selection) or an extra controller, etc

Also for the holdays sometimes Sony and Microsoft will make their own bundles. Sony seems to do this more the PSP then the PS3 though.

BTW unless your son is REALLY into online first person shooters (as in this is 90% of why he wants the system) go with the PS3. It has some first person shooters too and is good online (and online is free unlike for the 360 where you have to subscribe) but also has alot of other stuff to enjoy.

We have all three consoles out right now. The PS3 was on last night, the wii was on in the last month (normally on more but we had a week vacation and being really busy in between) I can't tell you the last time we turned on the 360.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks everyone. I will definitely wait.

DS hasn't decided which one he wants yet. He has played on both systems and doesn't see a huge difference between them. He was leaning toward the PS3 because they have a game coming out that he wants and Xbox doesn't have it. However, he played Halo this weekend on the Xbox and loved it and that isn't available on the PS3. I never thought this would be that complicated!

He is saving up his own money and is hoping to buy himself whatever one we don't end up getting him.

 

[DCrockett]

Buy the PS3, you won't regret it, IMO, best system you can buy.
I use it to play blu-ray discs and stream movies from Netflix
Has built in Wi-Fi, that was an extra for Xbox, but that my have now changed with the new Xbox models. They are right about deals, these gaming systems are a fixed price, but the stores offer extras like gift cards, free games etc so it would probably be better to wait.

 

[LisaR]

Buy the PS3, you won't regret it, IMO, best system you can buy.
I use it to play blu-ray discs and stream movies from Netflix
Has built in Wi-Fi, that was an extra for Xbox, but that my have now changed with the new Xbox models. They are right about deals, these gaming systems are a fixed price, but the stores offer extras like gift cards, free games etc so it would probably be better to wait.

The biggest thing I keep hearing about the advantage of the PS3 is blu-ray. DS will not use this feature. He will have an old analog TV to use the PS3/Xbox on. If he wants to watch a movie, he does it on his laptop or on our family room TV that is excellent quality. We also have Tivo Premium and we stream Netflix from that. From my understanding, WiFi is now built in to the Xbox. So, if you take out the Blu-ray option aren't the two systems pretty similar?

 

[kamik86]

The games for the two systems are pretty different. Personally I like the PS3 ones much more.

I am not 100% sure on this (have to check with my husband who sells these for work to be sure... I'll have him come on and give you a way more detailed then you care about list to show your son when I get home) but I believe the XBOX you have to pay for a subscription to play online with friends. Now I don't play online much so I wouldn't care but if he likes HALO thats pretty much the whole point of the game so I'm sure your son would want this.

The XBOX also has a MUCH higher failure rate... Like I don't know how microsoft gets away with this high. The few people I know that actually think the XBOX is best and will always go that way... have all had to buy at least 2 because they have had one die.

 

[mkel34]

Free online gaming for the PS3 vs charged for the Xbox. Also, I don't know anyone who has a Xbox that hasn't had to get a replacement unit.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

The biggest thing I keep hearing about the advantage of the PS3 is blu-ray. DS will not use this feature. He will have an old analog TV to use the PS3/Xbox on. If he wants to watch a movie, he does it on his laptop or on our family room TV that is excellent quality. We also have Tivo Premium and we stream Netflix from that. From my understanding, WiFi is now built in to the Xbox. So, if you take out the Blu-ray option aren't the two systems pretty similar?

I would check to be sure if wifi is built into the xbox. It may be now but it was not when we bought one last year. We had to buy a special xbox adapter to go online, pay for the online subscription so ds could talk to/play with his friends and you also have to have the paid subscription for netflix to work on the xbox.

It came down to my son wanted to play halo and my daughter wanted to play viva pinata and both of those are xbox only titles so we are not getting a ps3.

 

[Scurvy]

The biggest thing I keep hearing about the advantage of the PS3 is blu-ray. DS will not use this feature. He will have an old analog TV to use the PS3/Xbox on. If he wants to watch a movie, he does it on his laptop or on our family room TV that is excellent quality. We also have Tivo Premium and we stream Netflix from that. From my understanding, WiFi is now built in to the Xbox. So, if you take out the Blu-ray option aren't the two systems pretty similar?

Yes, Wifi is built into the XBox now so as long as you get a new one it can go online right out of the box, assuming you have a router. XBox Live does require a membership. The silver version comes free with your system - it allows you to browse the marketplace, create an online profile, add friends and send messages. To actually play online with other people, you need a Gold membership which is around $50 per year. (There are weekends occasionally where Silver members can play online, but not very often.) With the next major system update, Gold members will have access to lots of ESPN content - including watching live games and trivia - through their XBox. There were lots of problems with earlier models of the XBox having hardware failure issues, but I have heard that they have solved most of those problems with the newer hardware. I still have my original XBox 360 (as in, I bought it when they first started selling it) and have never had it fail. My son uses it primarily now and I have a newer one with a larger hard drive that I also haven't had any problems with. The one good thing is that Microsoft has extended the system warranty each time they have discovered a hardware problem. Though I know several people - including me - who haven't had console problems, I know some people who have had problems and all of their systems were replaced or repaired at no charge.

The Playstation Network is free to play online, although they have recently come out with a premium membership that you have to pay for, which gives you access to additional content and some free downloadable games while you have your membership. You don't keep the games when you let your membership lapse, though.

I have - and enjoy - both but spend much more time playing on my XBox. The two systems are very similar, but I prefer the user interface and controller on the XBox and more of my friends are on XBox live. Any games that are available on the XBox 360 (either exclusive or multi-platform titles) I buy for it, and only buy PS3 exclusive games for use on the PS3. Little Big Planet, which is a PS3 exclusive, is one of my favorite games so for that reason alone I would replace the PS3 if something happened to it, but I also use it quite a bit as a Blu-ray player.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks everyone! You guys have been very helpful but I still don't have a clue which one to get.

I think I will base it on whatever one has the best deal this Christmas and let him save for whatever system we don't end up getting.

 

[Planogirl]

I would let your son looks at overall games to get an idea of which one to buy. We are a confirmed X-Box family but we want the games exclusive to X-Box.

X-Box also has a new redesigned system that is supposed to be less prone to failure. We'll see if that's true. Microsoft builds great stuff but it seems to break down too much particularly at first.

Whichever one you get, make sure that you get one with memory. The arcade version of X-Box has little memory which can be a pain at times.

 

[javaj]

They do go on sale. We bought an XBox 360 250 GB for 269.99 from dell.com a few weeks ago. They normally retail at 299.99. I check out slickdeals or fatwallet boards when I'm looking for something like this.

 

[jacos11]

check your local game stop stores for used ones.

 

[kamik86]

check your local game stop stores for used ones.

Normally I'm ok with used consoles (never go used with handheld though as they tend to be dropped/thrown in backpacks/scratched etc.) However I would NOT get an XBOX used. As had been said here they have HUGE amounts of problems so you would have no idea how long it may last and it would already be out of any warrenty (if XBOX gives one, I know PS3 and nintendo do but they don't tend to break much either).

Also you will need to do a bit more research as SKUs if you want to go used since the models for both systems have changed numerous times so you want to make sure you have enough memory if you need anything extra (like how old 360's need the wireless adapter) and what else may have changed from your system to the current ones.

 

[torinsmom]

If he likes Halo, he will probably like the other Xbox series like Call of Duty, Metal of Honor, etc. DS16 loves his Xbox. He gets a year of Xbox Live from my mom every year for Christmas. Amazon has 12 months for $39.96.

Xbox has Kinect coming out next month. It makes the Xbox act sort of like the Wii(but better) for various games. If he wants that, I would pre-order it. It may be hard to find after pre release through Christmas.

Oh, he got his a few years ago at Circuit City. He got the arcade version for $99 and it came with a free hard drive and controller, so GREAT deal!

 

[Jex]

Granted the xbox should not have the fail rate that it does, it is an easy ten minute fix.

 

[torinsmom]

Knock on wood, my DS' X box has only had one problem. He has had it since Nov. 2008 and he had to replace the CD drive last summer. Cost $50. He leaves it on even when he is not playing, so I think that is pretty good odds. He has not had a PS3, but when he had a PS2, it was always glitching up and his PSP broke every few months. I don't know what it is about Sony; we have had great luck with Nintendo products too.