Updated
For Black Friday 2010 you won't see a new video game console on store shelves, but there are some updates to the Sony PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 which may give the Wii a run for its hold on movement-based gaming and give the 42% of Americans who already have a video game console a reason to upgrade.We've rounded up the top video game consoles for a showdown quarterfinal. This is just the second of our Black Friday 2010 Gadget Battles, where we'll be sorting through the most coveted buys of the season in eReaders, video game systems, HDTVs and mobile computers. We will crown one overall best choice, by our experts and by you.
Here's what you need to know before you buy a video game console this year.
- Motion Tech and Price: Each of the video game consoles use different technology to pull off motion-based gaming. Some use a combination of cameras and microphones while others use accelerometers or other motion-tracking technology. Different methods lead to variations in the amount of movement needed and preciseness.
- Game Selection and Price: Overall game selection is quite broad, though some consoles have a larger collection of first-person shooter games (like Call of Duty: Black Ops) and graphically-intense games while others have more casual family friendly offerings. If you are buying a movement-based video game console be sure to see how many games it has that you would want.
- Online Gaming: Each of the consoles now offer some form of online gaming, but there are restrictions and drawbacks that make some more appealing to others. The prices also range from free to $59.99 a year.
| CONSOLE | DETAILS |
 Wii Red 25th Anniversary Model w/ New Super Mario Bros. $199 |
PRICE OF MOTION: $19.99 for regular Wii Remote / $39.99 for Wii Remote with Motion Plus. MOTION TECH: Accelerometers, sensor bar and orientation with Motion Plus combine to turn movement into on screen action. OPTIONS:
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 xBox 360 Kinect $199 4GB model / $299.99 4GB and Kinect Bundle / $299 250GB model / $399 250GB with Kinect Bundle |
PRICE OF MOTION: $149.99 with one game. No additional remotes needed MOTION TECH: Three cameras combine with voice and facial recognition to track your body and respond to movement and voice OPTIONS:
|
 PlayStation 3 Move $299 160GB model / $324 250GB model / $349 320GB model / $399 320GB with PlayStation Move Bundle |
PRICE OF MOTION: $99 with one controller and one game. Additional controllers $49.99. MOTION TECH: Precise 3D tracking of Move controllers mean more realistic movement is needed to control in game characters. OPTIONS:
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Now it's your turn to vote! Tell us which of these is your choice for the best buy, and we'll calculate that into our decision as we move into the semifinals. If you've got more to say that just picking your choice, join us on our Facebook page and continue the discussion.
Josh Smith is a freelance writer who writes frequently about technology and consumer electronics and is based in Ohio. Follow him on Twitter — @josh_smith. You can also sign up for an email alert for all dealnews features.
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Please note that, although prices sometimes fluctuate or expire
unexpectedly, all products and deals mentioned in this feature were
available at the lowest total price we could find at the time of
publication (unless otherwise specified).
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