Hardware & Accessories

Hardware: The Xbox 360 Console

We Recommend: $299 Xbox 360 250GB

Here's Why: The Xbox 360 comes in a variety of flavors, varying by storage options, games, entirely new revisions, and Microsoft's new Kinect motion controller technology. First off, we suggest avoiding the older, physically larger models, even if they come at bargain-bin prices. The newer 250GB and 4GB models are quieter, are cooler running, and have built-in Wi-Fi, which will save you the effort of having to buy a stand-alone Wi-Fi adapter from Microsoft for $100.

The $299 Xbox 360 250GB seems to be the new sweet spot. It comes equipped with a 250GB hard drive, a headset, built-in Wi-Fi, one wireless controller, and standard definition cabling. We recommend it over the 4GB model, as you're going to want more space once you start using the console. The extra hard drive space will serve you well once your downloaded games, DLC, and saved games start piling up.

Should motion gaming pique your interest, you're better off purchasing a bundle with Microsoft's Kinect gaming peripheral. A stand-alone Kinect unit will set you back $150, while the Xbox 360 250GB with Kinect turns out to be $399, a $50 savings.

From time to time Microsoft will also release special-edition bundles. Some come packed with various games or a specific theme. One recent bundle is the Halo: Reach themed bundle, which comes with the game itself, the 250GB hard drive, two wireless controllers, and a headset. The bundle's $400 asking price might look steep; but once you add up the value of all the extras, it's a modest bargain if you're in the market for the console and that game.

Accessories

Controllers

We Recommend: Microsoft's Wireless Xbox 360 Controllers

Here's Why: If you need an extra controller, generally speaking, it's usually a good idea to stick to first-party accessories--that is, controllers that were manufactured by the same company that made your game hardware (in this case, Microsoft--the manufacturer of both the Xbox 360 and its official wireless controllers)--since they tend to be the most reliable. And once you go wireless, you'll be disappointed with the mess any wired controller leaves around.

Kinect

We Recommend: Microsoft Kinect Peripheral

Here's Why: Not to be left behind, Microsoft is also joining the motion gaming kick with its $150 Kinect peripheral. Kinect consists of a camera unit that tracks your movements and converts them into motion-based gameplay. Unlike Sony’s Move and Nintendo’s Wii Remote, Microsoft's Kinect doesn't require a controller in the traditional sense. Your body becomes the controller. The new motion gaming peripheral also works on the Xbox Live Dashboard for navigation.

Check out our Kinect launch center to find out more about the setup and to learn about what kinds of games will come out for it.

Controller Chargers

We Recommend: Play-and-Charge Kit or Quick Charge Kit

Here's Why: Those controllers will run out of juice from time to time, so you'll need a charger. We recommend either the self-explanatory Play-and-Charge kit, which requires you to dock your controllers for a bit, or that you get yourself a Quick Charge Kit to recharge your batteries as needed.

Xbox Live Membership (and Point Cards)

We Recommend: The 12-month + 1 free month Xbox Live Gold Membership card

Here's Why: The Xbox 360 lets you use Microsoft's Xbox Live online service for free, but in order to actually play your games online and explore all there is to offer on Live, you're going to need to get yourself an Xbox Live membership. We recommend the "12 month + 1 month free" Gold Membership card, which is generally the best deal for Gold Membership. Note that while there are other levels, Gold Membership offers the best experience, including support for multiplayer gameplay and Netflix movie streaming. The only exception we might make here would be an extra "points" card if you can find one on sale--points are an Xbox Live currency you purchase for real money that let you buy games and videos on Xbox Live's online Marketplace.