Ten Must Have Xbox 360 Accessories

You've shelled out hard earned cash for one of the best next generation gaming consoles. However the money spent on accessories for your new Xbox 360 can quickly amount to more than its purchase price. To help you navigate through the sea of first and third party Xbox 360 accessories, here's a list of the ten must have Xbox 360 accessories that no gamer should be without.

Nyko Intercooler
Unfortunately, the Xbox 360 has had a bad track record for dying due to overheating, resulting in the frightful red ring of death. With a Nyko Intercooler, you can help extend the life of your console and play for hours on end without worrying about it overheating - making it a no brainer purchase. It retails for an msrp of $24.99, however Amazon.com has it on sale.

Microsoft Play & Charge Kit
Gaming controllers these days are wireless, however the downfall is that they can quickly eat through batteries - putting an end to your gaming and costing a lot of money. The Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit allows you to continue the action while your battery gets a boost, and will save you an untold fortune on batteries. The Xbox 360 Microsoft Play & Charge Kit generally has an msrp of $19.99; however you can pick one up from Wallmart.com cheaper here.

Xbox 360 Live Gold 12 Month Card
As an Xbox 360 LIVE Gold member, you can play demos of games before you purchase them, get exclusive downloadable content and other in game features only available to Gold members, use applications like Facebook and Last FM, watch HD television and movies on Netflix, and more. A yearly membership card has an msrp of $49.99, however Amazon.com currently has a 13 month card for cheaper here.

Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter
Unless you have one of the new Xbox 360 Slim consoles, you unfortunately must run an Ethernet cord to your Xbox 360 in order to connect to Xbox LIVE. With the Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter, you can connect your Xbox 360 console to your home's wireless network and not have wires running through your home. In addition to Xbox LIVE, you can stream video, music, and view pictures from your PC.

A Subscription to Netflix
Now that you have an Xbox LIVE Gold membership, you can save money a lot of money by getting rid of your cable bill and using Netflix. Netflix allows you to instantly watch television shows and movies on your Xbox 360, Windows PC, or Mac. There are three plans available, the cheapest of which is $8.99 a month, and also allows you receive one DVD at a time. Visit Netflix.com to find out more.

SanDisk USB Memory Flash Drive
For those who like to take their gamer profile with them to other people's houses, a USB memory flash drive is needed. Although one can use any USB memory stick to get the job done, SanDisk makes special jump drives that are already formatted for use with the Xbox 360. The SanDisk USB Memory Flash Drive currently comes in two models, as an 8GB for $39.99 from BestBuy.com or twice the size at 16GB for $69.99 from BestBuy.com.

Microsoft Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote
If you're like me, then you love to watch Netflix on your Xbox 360. However using a normal Xbox 360 controller can be a hassle. With the Microsoft Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote, you can control Netflix and your normal television with just one remote. You can pick up the Microsoft Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote from Bestbuy.com for $19.99 here.

Microsoft Messenger Kit
Your Xbox 360 is more than just a gaming console; it's a social device. However, using your controller to type messages one character at a time is tedious and time consuming. The Microsoft Messenger Kit is a small keyboard that attaches to the bottom of your controller and allows you to email friends, makes posts on Facebook, and send messages to other Xbox 360 owners quick and efficiently so that you can spend more time actually playing games. It also comes with a headset for voice communication with other players. The Xbox 360 Messenger Kit has an msrp of $29.99, however amazon.com currently has it listed cheaper here.

FPS Freek
The FPS Freek is a nifty little accessory for an Xbox 360 controller. It is a modification that attaches onto the analog stick so that it is longer, giving players more accuracy when targeting. Check out a review of the FPS Freek here. Although the FPS Freek has an msrp of $19.99 it is being offered for $9.99 at Kontrolfreek.com

Mad Catz Super Street Fighter IV Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition S
If you are a fan of fighter games, or perhaps just want to enjoy Xbox 360's Game Room more authentically, then you need an arcade stick. Mad Catz has made several high quality arcade sticks in the past few years, however the Super Street Fighter IV Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition S is not only the most durable, but also smaller and lighter than the others.

Read a full review of the Mad Catz Super Street Fighter IV Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition S here. The Mad Catz Super Street Fighter IV Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition S has an msrp of $149.99, however amazon.com has it on discount.

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