The Thrifty Gamer

The great thing about owning a video game console is that it will be able to provide your teens with a compelling gaming experience, especially with the high tech video game systems and graphic designs currently on the market. It offers a brand new way for teenagers to play and bond with each other.

Video game systems today are now equipped with some of the best processors available and it also offers a totally different gaming experience as it can let you play online with your friends. Whatever country you are in, you will be able to play with people all over the world provided that you have an active internet connection.

It is not really a question of what video game system you should purchase and what is the most expensive video game console available, it all comes down to knowing what you want in a video game system. So, the question that you should ask and answer yourself is what are you looking for in a video game system?

First of all, before answering this question, you have to remember that there are basically three popular video game systems available on the market today. They are: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, and the Nintendo Wii. These three are the latest and the most advanced video game systems available. If you are planning to buy a video game system that provides plenty of fun and excitement as well as one that offers the latest titles in game titles, you should get one of these game consoles.

You need to remember that each of these mentioned video game systems have unique features that will enhance your gaming experience. It is important for you to find out which feature appeals most to your preferences.

For Microsoft Xbox 360, you will see that it emphasizes online gaming. Whatever game you are playing, you will notice that the way you connect to the Xbox Live is the same. Although the online feature is also available on PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 features a more user-friendly online gaming interface. And, it also offers the Xbox Live Marketplace where you will be able to download game add ons, as well as games. Another great thing about the Xbox system is its wide selection of games library. With hundreds or even thousands of game titles available for Xbox 360, you will virtually never run out of games to play with. Xbox 360 is perfect for people who love playing with other people. With the impressive online feature of Xbox 360, you can even communicate with other players via voice chat with headsets and microphone while playing the game.

Sony PlayStation 3 is basically an all-in-one multimedia device. This particular video game console offers amazing graphics and it is also able to play high definition DVDs as well as the latest Blu-ray discs. You can view pictures from your USB flash drive and even play MP3s with this video game system. Because of these features, you can easily tell why this is the most expensive video game system of the three. Other than that, Playstation 3 also provides a large library of game titles. The great thing about PlayStation 3 is that it offers a lot of accessories which can be wired in to the system. You can connect camera and remote to maximize your gaming experience while playing online.

Another great game console system is the Nintendo Wii, this is probably the most interactive of the three popular systems available in the market today. The awesome feature from Wii is that it has a motion sensitive controller. In the past, everybody thought that video gaming was just about sitting down and pushing a bunch of buttons on their joystick or game pad. However, this wasn't the case for Nintendo Wii. You will actually be physically active when you play with Wii system. It will get your entire body involved when playing the game. For example, if you play a tennis game in Wii, you will actually swing your hands and move your body as if you are actually swinging a tennis racket. The same goes for playing golf in Nintendo Wii.The main feature of Nintendo Wii is its remote control. Known as the Wii Remote or the Wii-mote, this particular feature will not just let you play with your favorite games conventionally but it will really take you inside the game itself. It is the finest motion sensitive gaming available today. In addition to that, Nintendo Wii isn't just for gaming, many people also take it as a fun workout tool. In fact, you can practice Yoga with Nintendo Wii. The great thing about Nintendo Wii is that this is the least expensive of the three. This is also preferred by people who want to get their family and friends to join in on the fun. If you are wondering what the future holds for the video game industry, you may want to take a look at Nintendo Wii. This is considered by many as the start of a great future in the video gaming industry thanks to the unique gaming experiences it offers.

These are the things that you need to keep in mind when you plan on choosing and buying video game systems for your teens. By following these tips, you will be able to get the best video game system to entertain your teenagers and their friends in the comforts of your own home.

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I get a lot of criticism for playing video games. "What is a 29 year old doing playing video games?" Aren't you too old to be playing X-box? I've heard it all and quite honestly I'm getting tired of it. Video games have been a part of my life since I was six years old. That's 23 years, so in my eyes this is more than a hobby it's more like a passion. As I have gotten older I play less but video games are still a big part of my life. So that raises the question, "should adults play video games or leave them to the kids?"

First of all there are different ratings for video games just like movies are rated. You have rated "E" for everyone, "T" for teens and "M" for mature. The fact that there is a rating system for video games lets you know that they are made for different age groups. So with that being said would you let a 5 year old kid go see a rated R movie? Chances are you would not because there is going to be adult language and violence. Well, the same principles apply to video games. Some games are designed for children, while others are designed for mature gamers ages 18 and up. Take for example Grand Theft Auto IV by Rockstar Games. This is a wonderful video game, however I would not let my children play it. The main reason being the game has a M rating. There is more violence and graphic language in this game than a Terrantino film. The graphics and the game play are awesome, not to mention the game has a great story line to it but this is meant for a mature audience. My point is, some video games were created specifically for older gamers.

So my answer to the question is no. There is no age limit for someone who enjoys video games. I will still be a gamer when I reach age 50. It's just a part of my life that I don' t plan on changing. Now, let's discuss the adults who have a video game addiction. I am a recovering video game addict. I used to play at least four hours every day. Weekends, forget about it seven or eight hours easy! Listen, if you are playing that much and it is not your profession then you too are a video game addict. It wasn't until I started my online business that I was ready to do something about it. I always knew I had an addiction for video games but I never took that next step to do something about it. I can still remember playing Mario Bros. on my Nintendo for nine hours straight until the ac adapter blew out. A big part of running an online business is personal development. I realized that in order for me to develop into the man I want to be, some things had to take the back seat.

It's as simple as this, older gamers like myself have to get their priorities in order. If you don't have a job, you should not be playing video games all day. If you have kids, you should be spending much more time with them than on the video game. If you have a significant other, he or she should not feel like the video game is more important than they are. If you haven't been outside or seen another human in days because of video games, you need to evaluate your life. You can't expect different results if you don't take a different approach.

I can understand the argument from people who are against adults playing video games. Like drugs and alcohol, video games can ruin lives and destroy families. By no means am I putting video games in the same boat as heroin but it is an addiction. Before I started getting my life in order and prioritizing, my wife and I would argue three to four times a week. 95 percent of those arguments were due to me playing the video game excessively. She had no problem with me playing x-box, she had a problem with me playing for 5 hours a day. She had a problem with me being tired to get up for work. She had a problem with me not coming to bed because I was online with my buddies playing Gears of War. I honestly believe if I didn't slow down on my gaming she would have left me.

So where does a video game addict start when they decide it's time to grow up? Do what I did and listen when someone is telling you that you play too much. You have to admit to yourself and be ready to make a change. Next, you have to find another hobby to replace the gaming. You don't have to quit cold turkey, the point is to learn how to play for a reasonable amount of time. So instead of playing 6 hours a day, you only play 2 to 3 hours daily. Find something else to fill in that time that you would have been gaming. Personally, I started my online business and now this takes up more time than my gaming. Sure I miss playing as much as I used to but when I do play I enjoy it much more now. Not to mention, once my business takes off I will have the freedom to play when ever I want.

We know that us adult gamers have a negative stereotype. They think we are all lazy, burnouts who still live at home playing video games in our parents basement. You have to take responsibility for your actions and one by one we can give the gaming community a new image. I know the World of Warcraft(WoW) has a huge following. Some even go as far as to call it a cult. I'm not big into computer gaming but I can relate to them. There was one guy I read about who lost everything because of WoW. He would play for hours until it affected his job performance. Next thing you know he got fired, then the snowball effect came into play. A few months later his wife left him, then his home was foreclosed. The guy had literally allowed WoW to destroy his life. So to sum it all up, I am still going to side with my gamers and say that there is no age limit for video games. If a 30 year old wants to play Gears of War I feel that he has the right to do that. However, if that person's life is not in order they should not let video game interfere with their personal development. There is one question I want to ask all of those who criticize adult gamers, "how many hours of television do you watch a day?"

Discover how a laid off, video game addict turned his life around and now generates income online. The Paid Gamer