Got Everything You Need for That Game Console?

Reader Ofelia writes: I bought an Xbox 360 Elite for my son for Christmas. Do I need anything extra for him to set up the Xbox and play on Christmas day? The setup always looks so easy in principle, but whenever we set things up here at our house, there always seems to be an unforeseen hitch to using our new tech gadgets and gear.

Excellent question. Back in the day, all you really had to worry about was whether you had enough "D" batteries to power all your new toys. Now, the question is, "Where's that spare Ethernet cord?" Or worse: "What do you mean, our TV doesn't have an HDMI input?"

So if you've got some red-hot gaming consoles or cool A/V gadgets sitting under the tree, I'd advise you do a quick inventory before the big day arrives. In this case, I'm going to concentrate on gaming consoles, although the same principle applies for, say, a new TiVo or a Blu-ray/HD DVD player.

OK, so for gaming consoles, there are four—check—five primary things you need to think about before Santa comes down the chimney: video, audio, Net access, gaming controllers, and (of course) the games themselves. Let's take a look at each area in detail.

Video: First things first—look at the back of your TV and see what you have in terms of A/V inputs (check out my beginners' guide if you need help). If you got a next-generation console that's capable of HD (like the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3; the Wii can't output HD, but it does deliver a wide-screen 480p image), you'll need either an HDMI or a component input. Don't have an HDTV? Then see if your set has S-Video or composite inputs. Now, check your game console—does it come with the cable you need? Some do (for instance, the 360 Elite comes with composite, component, and HDMI cables), but check the packaging to be sure. No cable? Go back to the store and get some (but don't get gouged in the process).

Audio: Next-generation gaming means surround sound, so again, make sure you have the proper connections and cables (and here's another beginners' guide to help). If you have an HDMI-equipped receiver, your HDMI cable will deliver both video and audio; other options include Toslink (a.k.a. optical digital audio) and coaxial digital audio. Have a receiver with only stereo audio inputs—or no receiver at all? Make sure your console comes with a stereo audio cable with RCA-style plugs. (Ofelia, you're in luck with the 360 Elite—it comes with Toslink and stereo RCA connectors.)

Net access: Multiplayer is the killer app when it comes to console gaming—and trust me, your kid will want to log on and start blast online buddies immediately. So here's a question: Do you have Wi-Fi at home or just wired Ethernet? If the answer is Wi-Fi, make sure your console comes with a Wi-Fi adapter. The Wii and certain makes of the PS3 come with built-in Wi-Fi, but none of the Xbox 360 consoles do—you'll have to buy a separate adapter. Just got Ethernet? Make sure you have some spare Ethernet cable handy.

Gaming controllers: Most gaming consoles come with only one controller—and that'll be a problem if you have more than one little gamer at home, or if you want to play along with your kids. Make sure you have at least one controller per gamer (typically up to four). And yes, they can be pricey; for example, Xbox 360 wireless controllers go for a cool $50 each.

Games: Sounds obvious, but I'm just sayin'. Gaming consoles typically come bundled with a game or two, but it's unlikely that your kid's favorite game will be included—and in the case of the Xbox 360 Elite, don't count on finding Halo 3 in the box. Find out what he or she is dying to play (hint: Rock Band) and grab it at the store.

Have any more advise for Ofelia? Fire away!