Deepest, Darkest Secrets About Your Home Videogame Console

With the Xbox 360 and PS3 costing $300 bucks apiece, and the Wii coming in at $200, I don't think it's out of line to ask them to do a little bit more than play games (especially since you've gotta fork out another $40-$60 dollars just for the games!) Often, though, the user's manuals to these games get tossed aside, and nobody talks about those extra features. Furthermore, there are many out there thinking about getting one of the latest consoles, but maybe aren't aware of each platform's features.

So, here I will list ten of the coolest features I've found on the three consoles, listed in no particular order:

10. Xbox 360's music capabilities. You can rip any audio CD you throw into an Xbox onto its hard-drive. Then, by pressing the guide button while you play a game, you can bring up the Xbox's music feature and play those albums WHILE you game! You can even create custom playlists for your favorite shooters. Nothing enhances the Modern Warfare 2 experience like a little Jay Z!

9. The PS3 web browser. Though not quite as full-featured as your PCs web browser, the PS3's web browser is nevertheless a handy little feature if you want to look something up online and don't have a computer handy. Note that the Wii has a browser, too, but the PS3's is ultimately better because it can work in full, high-res HD.

8. Nintendo Wii's News Channel. Before you and Mario start stomping Goombas, you can quickly browse news headlines all over the world, filter them by region or topic, and even check the weather at a glance. This is one of those features that doesn't sound very handy until one day while you're loading up a game and you see a headline that strikes your eye...next thing you know, you've spent 45 minutes browsing news!

7. Playstation Home. Just bought a PS3 and don't have any games? Home is a great way to get your feet wet with Sony's home console. A Second Life-esque virtual life sim, Home allows you to customize your own virtual living space, network with other Playstation fans, and play minigames as you tour the virtual neighborhood. Sony games oftentimes have Home tie-ins that make this feature definitely worth looking into (the kick-ass Batcave you can download from Batman: Arkham Asylum is a MUST!)

6. The Wii's Gamecube Backwards-Compatibility. Nintendo's previous generation console was a nifty little machine with some amazing games. Used-game stores like GameStop, as well as Craigslist or any garage sale can be treasure troves of yesteryear's best games. Be sure to hunt down Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, one of the most underrated games of the last generation!

5. The PS3's PS1 Backwards-Compatibility. Not to be outdone, the PS3 can serve up some incredible old-school gaming on the cheap with its PS1 backwards-compatibility. If you've never played Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, or Chrono Cross, NOW is the time!

4. Xbox 360's full game installation. Though not-exactly an "unknown" feature, the Xbox can now install games onto its hard-drive. You still need the disc to play, but the installation makes the system run quieter, and in many cases can cut down on game loading times. The PS3 can install, too, but its slower disc drive makes the installs mandatory.

3. The PS3's rechargeable controllers. I hate batteries. HATE them. So I can't talk enough about how awesome it is that the controllers on Sony's console are lithium-ion charged out of the box, and only require a mini-USB cord to recharge. If that cord didn't come with your controller, then grabbing any cord, such as the one that came with your digital camera, will work just fine.

2. The Playstation Network. Cry all you want, Xbox Live fanboys, but the truth is plain as day; Sony's online service is better. It's free, the PS3 includes wi-fi out of the box, you can stream Netflix (doing so on Xbox requires a Live subscription), and the system doesn't use any ridiculous "point" system: you want to buy a game, you pay X amount of dollars, NOT points. I'll admit it isn't quite as stable as Microsoft's premium service...but did I mention it's FREE?

1. The Nintendo Wii's layout options. This may sound lame at first, but it's actually pretty handy. The Wii can lay flat or, with the use of an included stand, can be stood up. This makes the system incredibly flexible and able to work with any number of home configurations. Again, this may not sound too handy, but when you've got a DVR, a PS3, and an Xbox 360 all hogging real estate on the TV stand, it's nice to know that at least one of the systems will work with you!