Choosing the right gaming console for you
in order to become engrossed in this expensive hobby can be a difficult task
for a lot of people. With so many different options to choose from like the Wii
U, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch it can be a crowded space to
confidently choose and be happy with the decision you’ve made down the
road. Therefore, this “How To” will
address what steps you should take in your decision process in order to make
sure you make the right decision from the beginning on a video game console.
Step 1: First, think about how
much portability means to you. If you plan on traveling a lot and playing on
the go then a Nintendo Switch will offer you the flexibility you are after. The
Wii U is also semi-portable, but it is impossible to use the WII U controller
once you move outside your home or further then 30 feet from the WII U
console. If you want a stationary
console to play on under the comfort of your home, then the PlayStation 4 and
Xbox One is the way to go. With these options you also get fuller experiences
compared to their more portable counterparts.
Step 2: Second, think about what
console most of your friends have. All of these
consoles have multiplayer online as part of their overall experience. Thus,
especially if you are on the border between an an Xbox One and PlayStation 4, you should think about if you would want to play a game like Need for Speed
with your friends. Cross-platform games are still few and far between, so if
you cherish playing online games with your friends or you mostly stick to
multiplayer games over single-player games then choose the console that they
are using.
Step 3: With portability and
multiplayer experience out of the way, you absolutely need to consider what
your budget allows. These eighth-generation consoles are expensive, so
purchasing one is an investment you need to think about. The Wii U has become
discontinued from Nintendo with the release of the Nintendo Switch, but you can
find one for about $150. The PlayStation 4 at the time of writing this is $300
- $350 and the Xbox One is in between that price point as well. Finally, the
Nintendo Switch is $250 - $300. With these prices in mind, choose which one
fits inside your budget especially after factoring in games and accessories. Be
aware the Wii U may be cheap, but it will stop getting updates soon and
eventually be completely phased out by the Nintendo Switch. With the
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One being the same price, you are going to have to weigh
other features.
Step 4: You absolutely need to
investigate what games you want to play and what kind of a library you
want. On the Nintendo front, you have
the classics like Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros and Animal Crossing along with
other Mario games. For PlayStation 4 and Xbox One you have a lot of the same
games, but you also must look into exclusives you are interested in. For
instance, on the PlayStation 4 you have The Last Of Us , Infamous, God Of War,
Uncharted, Marvel’s Spider-man, and Rachet and Clank to name a few; whilst on
the Xbox One you have access to Titan Fall, Forza Horizon, Gears of War, and
Halo. In addition to exclusives on each
console, the general library and audience of games is worth considering. If you
are into more kid friendly games then the Nintendo Switch and Wii U would be
the better choice, but if you like adult/mature games more than the
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One would be worth deciding on.
Step 5: Probably the most important step of all, take into account and compare the features that you want between consoles. On the Nintendo front, the features that each deliver are similar. The Nintendo Switch has the ability to “switch” configurations from a home console to a portable device. It Utilizes a 6-inch game-pad equipped with joysticks, directional buttons, and shoulder buttons, a 1280 X 720 resolution display, and a portable battery life of 3-6 hours. On the Wii U there is a similar experience, you also get a 6-inch game-pad equipped with joysticks and directional buttons, a 854 x 480 resolution display, and a game pad battery of around 3-5 hours. I have used both the Wii U and the Nintendo Switch and the screen quality on the Switch is one of the bests I've seen. Especially, compared to the Wii U it is at least 3 times better In my opinion. Neither of these options have a DVD/Blu-Ray player or large storage capacities so that is something to take into consideration. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One differ quite a bit more when it comes to features that may be important to you. Both have 500 GB as their base storage capacity, offer 1080P game-play, and offer robust online experiences, but on the Xbox One you have an included 4K Blu-Ray player and the ability to use your console as a cable box/multimedia platform. Likewise, on the PlayStation 4 you have access to a Virtual Reality experience if you are into that. Personally, I chose the PlayStation 4 largely because it has virtual reality which is one of the coolest things to experience. I was on the border between an Xbox One and PS4 but this is the feature that really drew me in. Overall, the console that you choose should be one that ultimately has the features that you care about and can see yourself using. Although, you may have to make some trade-offs.
Step 6: Lastly, consider the longevity of
the console. Technology is advancing at a rapid rate so it is increasingly important to make sure your gaming console will continue to satisfy you once newer more advanced technology comes out. This especially is true about the
Wii U, this console is eight years old, and it is hard to imagine still being
satisfied with it four years down the road with portable handheld consoles five times as
powerful coming out. Remember this is an
investment that should last you at least 5-6 years.
In conclusion, before you make this final
decision, just take the time to further reflect on all the steps mentioned
above. Deciding on a console can be a tough choice considering you are spending a lot of money not only on the console but also on games that you purchase. I hope that I have helped you make this decision and game on!
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