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How Much is Your Console Actually Costing You?

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Games Are Evil writes, "An article today from the Natural Resource Defense Council discusses the cost of leaving your console online when not actively playing. According to the report, a staggering fifty percent of all gamers leave their consoles on when not in use. This can lead to some pretty extreme costs, as you can see from the chart at right.

Those of you who are folding at home on your PlayStation 3 are taking the worst hit, swallowing an extra $145 worth of energy costs every year..."
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bgrundman - contributor
Published: 400 days 9 hours ago | News | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360 | Wii | Gaming | Industry News | Tech
 
 

Showing: 1 - 41 of 41 Comments
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The Matrix - 400 days 10 hours ago
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1 -
If you have a wii it's costing you your manhood.

Just Kidding, don't flame or debubble me.
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bgrundman - 400 days 10 hours ago
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1.1 -
cute, but actually the differences in cost are quite staggering... check it out for yourself.
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CrAppleton - 400 days 10 hours ago
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1.2 -
lol.. no the wii isnt THAT bad.. but what you say isn't the first time ive heard it
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vitz3 - 400 days 9 hours ago
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1.3 -
˙pɐq ʞool ǝldıɹʇsd ǝɥʇ ǝʞɐɯ oʇ ƃuıʎɹʇ ʇsnɾ 'ǝɯ oʇ pǝsɐıq sɯǝǝs ǝlɔıʇɹɐ sıɥʇ ˙ʎɐld ǝuıluo ǝldɯıs ɹoɟ ɹɐǝʎ ɐ 05$ lɐuoıʇıppɐ uɐ sʇsoɔ '063 ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʇ ʇɔɐɟ ǝɥʇ ʇunoɔ oʇ ʇoƃɹoɟ ʎǝɥʇ
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freakyzeeky - 400 days 9 hours ago
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1.4 - @ vitz
You need to get an upside-down spell checker as well... :P
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mikeslemonade - 400 days 9 hours ago
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1.5 -
On 360 you want to play online games so that's $50 on top of the $143. That cost more than PS3 which is only $160 if you leave it on all the time. Most people don't leave it on 24/7 so the $50 xbox live gold is even more staggering if you don't play that much.
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nbsmatambo - 400 days 9 hours ago
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1.6 - lol..
by off do they mean stand-by or completely unconnected?
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RememberThe357 - 400 days 8 hours ago
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1.7 - @vitz3 lol
WTF
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kapedkrusader - 400 days 4 hours ago
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1.8 - Small price to pay...
...to cure cancer. Cause the only time I'm leaving my PS3 on 24/7 is if I'm running Folding@Home.
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Dir_en_grey - 400 days 4 hours ago
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1.9 -
I'd rather use that money on Folding@Home rather than giving it to charity which some of the money will end up in the charity worker's pockets as salary anyway.

Folding@Home is just time and money for data in which if you don't do it, somebody else will still need to spend that time and money to get the same amount of data down the line.

So instead of giving money away to people you don't know and have no idea where the money is gonna end up going to.... Fold!!!
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CrAppleton - 400 days 10 hours ago
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2 - WOW
Yeah.. I've seen the difference in my electric bill since the drought is over
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bgrundman - 400 days 10 hours ago
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2.1 -
Do you leave your console on 24-7 though?
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CrAppleton - 400 days 10 hours ago
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2.2 -
No.. I just play a sh*t load =)
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bgrundman - 400 days 10 hours ago
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2.3 -
I guess I can see where you are coming from then... I used to be the same way. Damn jobs get in the way of all of the fun!
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thebudgetgamer - 400 days 6 hours ago
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2.4 - i got an apartment with all included
so i just play away no worrys

:)
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foo-19 - 400 days 10 hours ago
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3 -
who leaves their ps3 on nonstop..
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bgrundman - 400 days 10 hours ago
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3.1 -
Maybe the folks who are doing Folding@home... I have several friends who do. Or at least they did until today!
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CrAppleton - 400 days 10 hours ago
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3.2 -
With the RROD I'm afraid to leave my xbox on 24-7
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CrAppleton - 400 days 10 hours ago
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3.3 -
My PS3 on the other hand, i have left on for many a days before.. and my Wii has been on for weeks before
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bgrundman - 400 days 10 hours ago
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3.4 - @foo-19
See, this guy does it!
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ThatCanadianguy420 - 400 days 10 hours ago
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3.5 -
I've honestly only turned my PS3 off about maybe 15-16 times in two years.

My electric bill is kinda high.But meh,not life altering or anything.
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Jenzo - 400 days 9 hours ago
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3.6 - @ThatCanadianguy420
It shows. Once you get your own apartment and a job things will get better. Hang in there.
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ThatCanadianguy420 - 400 days 9 hours ago
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3.7 -
Is that what you keep telling yourself jenzo?
Don't worry man.You'll grow up one day,have you're own place,a job.
Life will be great!
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Jamegohanssj5 - 400 days 9 hours ago
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3.8 -
ROFL! I live in my own house.

TGSI
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JimmyJames70 - 400 days 10 hours ago
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4 -
I set my Xbox to automatically turn off after so many hours of no use. I did that after the baby sitter left it on and I never noticed when I got home. Then my bro was like, you know you left your Xbox on over night? Yeah. The babysitter. Go figure.
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Th3 Chr0nic - 400 days 9 hours ago
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5 -
i never leave mine(360) on when im not playing...to scared of rrod since i have an 2006 console that hasnt failed yet. I left a ps2 on for a few weeks onetime cause i wasnt at a save point and didnt feel like playing lol. it was an orginal huge ps2 also and it still works.

but i turn my 360 off even if im going to eat dinner. i fifure it needs a break just like i do from time to time. eh maybe thats why it hasnt gotten rrod yet cause i dont mess around
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gumgum99 - 400 days 9 hours ago
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6 -
hard to say.

its not much as of late thanks to a little thing called Homework.

lol
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Marceles - 400 days 9 hours ago
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7 -
I leave my PS3 on about 4 days a week, sometimes I just don't turn it off and forget. I'm surprised people leave their 360s on
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Ngai - 400 days 8 hours ago
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8 -
Why would you leave anything on if you're not using it? I get when you're downloading something.. or folding@home.. but just idling away doing nothing? It's not like consoles take long to boot up or something. I just dont get it.. i know some people that keep their ps3 on 24/7.. i turn it off when i'm not using it. To save power, save my console, save money in the long run. It's just a waste.. of everything.
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PimpHandHappy - 400 days 8 hours ago
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9 - it has a power savings
built in
use it if you worry about such things

Try turning off your computer and using all the power savings options built into TV's and radios!

When you leave a room turn the light off

Keep your heat at 66-68

peace
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Shoko - 400 days 8 hours ago
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10 -
The 360 cost the most. The fact that you have to pay for live and buy $20 headsets every 5 days and batteries and/or a charger kit........yea. There's a lot of stuff required for a 360. And for those who don't have their modem available to hook up to their 360, they have to be an expensive wireless adapter......
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40cal - 400 days 8 hours ago
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11 - It looks like
the newer versions of the consoles keep getting more energy efficient.

Just an FYI that $145.00 a year spent Folding @ Home is tax deductable. And I am more that happy to help out.
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Nicolator - 400 days 8 hours ago
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12 - i have the original console for 360
been using the same one for 3 years now.. and i leave it on alll the time.. never turn it off.. thu:s
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mirroredderorrim - 400 days 8 hours ago
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13 -
My Playstation 3 has already paid for itself.

One of *my* many examples:
Imagine me in Dallas, using a wi-fi hot-spot to access my PS3 using my PSP, then... I turn on Grandmas Boy and put my bose on, over my ears.

Edit: My PS3 was in California.
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RoguE - 400 days 7 hours ago
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14 -
The PS3 is a Beast so of course it uses a lot of power.
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baum - 400 days 7 hours ago
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15 - What about all the accessories you need to get the full experience
I bought the PS3 and the only accessories I needed were controllers. I will replace my 60GB HDD sometime soon for a 300 one.

PS3: 600 + 180 for controllers + 200 for a 300 GB HDD (and that's expensive) = $980

I bought a 360 and I needed not only controllers, but re-chargeable batteries, and a WiFi adapter. I'm also on my third HDD (no wonder Microsoft sells refurbished HDDs) so that means I've lost my gaming sessions twice, which is why a memory card was needed in case it happened again. I plan to upgrade the HDD to 120GB eventually, which will probably be as expensive as the HDD I'll buy for my PS3. The thing doesn't even have an HDMI even though it's my fourth 360; at least MS had the courtesy of reparing them for free, but I did have to pay for the HDD shippmentS. It doesn't even include a next-gen dvd player. I'm also on my third year of Xbox LIVE now.

360: 400 + 20 for HDD shippment + 150 for controllers (I'm being generous here)+ 48 for 4 rechargeable batteries + 20 for a single play and charge kit + 150 for 3 years of LIVE (and counting) + 100 for a WiFi adaptor + 100 for the 120 GB HDD (that's going cheap, it's a lot more expensive actually)

Total: 988, 8 dollars more expensive and I don't get the same experience I get with my PS3 which is all inclusive, has a lot more storage capabilities, surf's the web seamlessly and plays HD-movies, not to mention that it is compatible with all my PS1 and PS2 games. Next year 360 will finally happen to be more expensive for me as another year of LIVE will cost me what it doesn't on PS3. The only advantage I've gotten from Xbox 360 is two additional frames per second and 40 pixels on a few ok but nothing special multiplatform games.

As for my Wii, it cost me 250, + 50 for Wii play and another controller, + Wii Fit 80 dollars for the balance board, + 80 dollars for 4 classic controllers + 80 dollars for 2 additional controllers + 60 dollars for 3 nunchucks + 40 for 4 rechargeable batteries + 25 for a rechargeable station + what's comming, including 4 Wii-motion plus accessories which should be included in every Wiimote. I haven't even bought the Wii Zapper yet.

That's a total of 665 dollars and it doesn't include the Wii motion plus or zappers I'll eventually buy. That also doesn't include the 4 gamecube controllers I have or even the gamecube which could run the entire Wii library without hiccups. Note that this is the full Wii experience and it doesn't even include a DVD player let alone a next-gen player or a decent storage device.
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BrotherNick - 399 days 16 hours ago
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15.1 -
Lol...No one buys the classic controllers...the only game that truly needs them is Geometry Wars because it's not compatible with gamecube controllers. So subtract 4 of those classic controllers. All vc games are compatible with gc controllers. It makes more sense to get 4 gc controllers which I did. Also most people don't have more than two nunchuks, because most games do not need them for more than 2 players.

Here's my calculations:
250 for the wii
50 for wii play w/ controller
20 nunchuk
80 for two wiimotes
90 for wii fit
60 for 12 rechargeable batteries w/ charger.

550 is probably what the casual buyer will pay.
10% tax brings it to 605

Now a Nintendo core will buy this minus wii fit, but add on at least 2 of the three nintendo mascots (mario, samus, link) and smash bros.

He will most likely have gc controllers already. :P
Gaming in general is an expensive hobby.
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Mutley416 - 400 days 7 hours ago
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16 -
My buddy leaves his Ps3 on all the time...Never turns it off...He don`t care about money he has no kids...lol-

he Tell`s me that it`s like a computer, your supposed to leave them on?
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f789790 - 400 days 4 hours ago
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16.1 - Your not even supposed to leave your computer on
It wastes tons of power. I dont mind walking into the office and pressing CTR-F1 to turn my computer on and coming in a minute later.
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truehunter - 400 days 4 hours ago
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17 -
Didnt they try to compare this energy thing with refrigerator on the PS3 ??
& forgot to say refrigerator turns on n off fome time to time while PS3 is on 24/7 ??

Also tha new PS3 use a bit less watts so i guess thats a good 20 dollar saving there for new owner =)z.

O well whats next they gonna compare it with a PC..... how many PC owner leave theres on ??
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darthv72 - 399 days 10 hours ago
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18 - priceless....
Gaming in general is costing me hours upon hours of family fun and entertainment. That is priceless to me.

Everyone who wants to play has to pay the price of admission. Whether or not you enjoy the end result....that is up to you.
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