Get in the game

There are big differences among the top-three video-game consoles: Wii, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3. But those differences actually make it easier to choose which is best for you. Grab the Wii if you're looking to get off the couch and play games with the family; the Xbox 360 if you're a hard-core gamer; and the PlayStation 3 if multimedia and movie-watching are as high a priority as popping in a game. Your preference in games could also come into play, since some consoles are better known for particular games than others.

How much you're willing to spend might also sway you. The Wii, from Nintendo, costs the least at $250. Microsoft's Xbox consoles range from $300 to $400 (we don't recommend the stripped-down Xbox Arcade). And the Sony PlayStation 3 costs the most, from $400 to $500.

A couple of the consoles let you watch high-definition movies: The PlayStation has a built-in Blu-ray player; you can also download standard- and high-def movies via Sony's PlayStation Network video service. Though it doesn't play Blu-ray movies, a recent Xbox Live enables Xbox to stream high-def movies from the Netflix video service, making it the first Netflix-enabled device capable of accessing high-def content.

Our video guide to gaming consoles lays it all out for you. This time of year, start shopping as soon as you've nailed down your choice. The Wii in particular has been hard to find even during non-holiday times. To get the best deals, follow our Black Friday buying advice. And be flexible with your budget— many retailers are selling systems only in bundles, with extra controllers, games, and other accessories.

Speaking of budgets, keep this money-saving tidbit in mind: Leaving your PlayStation 3 running all the time can add about $135 a year to your electric bill, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Xbox 360 can add $103. Because of its simpler graphics, the Wii's energy usage is lower—it'll add only $10 a year.

The NRDC's study also found that if 50 percent of gamers are leaving their systems turned on 24/7, they're using enough electricity to power the city of San Diego for a year.

So turn that console off when you're done playing, or enable the automatic turn-off feature built into the Xbox and PlayStation.

—Donna Tapellini