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With the holidays coming and the deluge of games upon us, there's a good chance you've either picked up a new console, have one on the way, or have been eyeing one for the past few months. All of the major console platforms offer some flexibility, but much of it comes at an extra price that isn't figured into the original cost of the hardware. Needless to say, it can add up pretty quickly, so we've put together a guide that should give you a general idea of what you're getting into financially, depending on what you want out of your gaming system of choice.

Microsoft Xbox 360

Deluxe Edition

Minimum

If you're looking to grab an Xbox 360, one of the easiest ways to save money is to head straight for the 4GB stand-alone system. The hard drive is small, but you can always purchase a bigger drive in the future if storage space becomes an issue. As with the PlayStation 3, it's also a good idea to invest in some video cables that take advantage of HD resolutions, especially because HDMI cables are usually inexpensive items (avoid purchasing the official cable from Microsoft). It's also a good idea to pick up an extra controller for local multiplayer in case an Xbox Live Gold membership is too cost prohibitive. And while it won't allow you to play games online, an Xbox Live Silver membership is worthwhile for connecting with Xbox 360-owning friends and downloading Xbox Live Arcade games and demos.• Xbox 360 4GB - $199.99
• Xbox 360 Controller - $49.99
• HDMI Cable - $3
• Xbox Live Silver* - Free
Total - $252.98

Recommended

Spending some extra money on an Xbox 360 bundle that includes a bigger hard drive opens up more possibilities than a smaller 4GB unit. For starters, you have more space to install games on the system, as well as more room for demos, Xbox Live Arcade games, and other forms of content that take up generous amounts of memory. The Xbox 360 Kinect bundle is worth looking at because it comes with a 250GB system, as well as the Kinect camera and Kinect for $100 more than the non-Kinect version of the package. There's also a similarly priced holiday bundle that doesn't come with a Kinect camera, but it does have two games--Alan Wake and Forza Motorsport III. An Xbox Live Gold membership will give you access to online multiplayer gaming, as well as additional features, such as Facebook, Twitter, Last.FM, and Netflix, which requires a separate subscription.• Xbox 360 250GB Bundle (Kinect or Holiday) - $299.99
• Xbox 360 Controller - $49.99
• HDMI Cable - $3
• Xbox Live Gold* - $59.99/year
• Netflix* - 8.99/month
Total - $421.96

Deluxe

There's really no exorbitant way to spend money beyond our recommended setup unless you're going for a special edition Halo: Reach console for $399. But if you have some extra dough, you should look into spending it on a Zune pass. This not only gives you access to a streaming music service (not unlike Last.FM), but it also lets you download and keep 10 songs per month. Various types of video content can be viewed and purchased through Zune as well. Rechargeable batteries and charging stations are also a good option because it's pretty easy to plow through a supply of AA batteries in quick fashion.• Xbox 360 250GB Bundle (Kinect or Holiday) - $299.99
• Xbox 360 Controller and Play and Charge Bundle - $64.99
• HDMI Cable - $3
• Xbox Live Gold* - $59.99/year
• Netflix* - 8.99/month
• Zune Pass* - $14.99
Total - $451.95