Playstation3 or XBox 360?

[71chally383R/T]

360 is the way to go, wireless controllers that u can turn the console on w/o having to go turn it on manually,alot of good games 4 it to and the price is pretty good right now, ps3 id have 2 say i do not like Sony PS consoles ive noticed die way quicker than microsofts xbox consoles

[jeryst]

Walmart hsa the X Box 360 Arcade for $279. Is that a good price? It doesn't have a hard drive, but it does have a memory card. What's the hard drive used for anyways, other than saving games?

[HemiOrange70]

Had the same dilema. Bought a PS3 so I could play PS2 games. Price dropped to 399. I had the same agonizing choice of not being able to play the halo games. Don't buy a PS2 again as soon no games will be made for it. They have already limited what new games get the PS2 platform.

[Scatterbrain]

Walmart hsa the X Box 360 Arcade for $279. Is that a good price? It doesn't have a hard drive, but it does have a memory card. What's the hard drive used for anyways, other than saving games?

Unlike the previous xbox, the hard drive is actually used for something other than saving games.  It lets you connect to the internet, download updates to games you already have, add different levels to existing games, download music, download TV shows, movies and download video games.  Of course to enjoy this benefit you need to have a broadband internet connect for the xbox360 to connect to.  If all you want to do is play games, then all you will need is the basic unit (you can buy the hard drive later).  Also, for backward compatibility with older xbox titles you need to have the hard drive.

[jeryst]

Thanks for the info.

Scatterbrain posted that only the higher-end PS3 will play PS1/PS2 games. I can't believe that they would do something that stupid. The only way I (and thousands of others) will buy a PS3 is if it will play the other games. But I'm also not going to shell out $500-$700 bucks for one either. So by removing that capability, they are not driving us toward the higher end model, they are automatically driving us budget gamers to the XBox and Wii. Their marketing/Engineering departments (Whoever is responsible) should be shot for making a decision like that.

BTW, how do you know which one is the higher end unit? Are there different model numbers? You can't always rely on price with all of the discounting that goes on. I read that they have stopped making the 60GB vesion That's why they are selling for $399), and will come out with an 80GB version next year that will sell for under $300. In that case, would it be better to get the 6oGB verison now if it still plays the PS2 games (Does it?)?

[Scatterbrain]

Thanks for the info.

Scatterbrain posted that only the higher-end PS3 will play PS1/PS2 games. I can't believe that they would do something that stupid. The only way I (and thousands of others) will buy a PS3 is if it will play the other games. But I'm also not going to shell out $500-$700 bucks for one either. So by removing that capability, they are not driving us toward the higher end model, they are automatically driving us budget gamers to the XBox and Wii. Their marketing/Engineering departments (Whoever is responsible) should be shot for making a decision like that.

BTW, how do you know which one is the higher end unit? Are there different model numbers? You can't always rely on price with all of the discounting that goes on. I read that they have stopped making the 60GB vesion That's why they are selling for $399), and will come out with an 80GB version next year that will sell for under $300. In that case, would it be better to get the 6oGB verison now if it still plays the PS2 games (Does it?)?

The 40 gig model will not have the backward compatability, only the 80GB version will.  The 60GB version still has the capability, but has been discontinued, get it while you can.  On a side note, the 60GB version and the older 80GB version will do PS2/PS1 compatability via the hardware.  The newer 80GB systems will be software based emulation of the games.  This can result in possible incompatabilities with PS2 games, notice I said "can" I'm not 100% sure, but if the xbox360 backward compatability (which is also software based) is any indications only select games are backward compatible. 

The reason for the changes is simply cost.  They are trying to reduce production costs in order to reduce the retail costs.  At launch they were losing about 40-50 dollars per system to launch at the prices they had.  They are also removing the super-audio CD capability

 The reason for the 2 systems is a marketing device.  They are banking on selling the higher end systems to the hardcore gamers which will buy the system at whatever price.  The other system is meant for the casual/budget minded gamer (or parents). 

[Andrew]

I dont have much experience with the PS3, but a few months ago I bought an xbox 360 and never really got much use out of it. The console doesnt even allow you to play CDs - it makes you rip them first. Plus it will only connect to PCs running XP or Vista - and it will only play windows media player formats. Ended up swapping it for an Ibanez RG premium - which I also didnt like. But then I swapped the ibanez for a 50w valve amp which I still have and use quite often.

[ViperMan]

Alright hold it hold it hold it...

So many of you have both consoles and NOBODY has added me as a buddy??!

Playstation3 - "TheViperMan"
Xbox360 - "Nerodian"

I need people to race Forza2 against!!!  Look me up!!!

That being said, I too have both consoles.  I have been a Playstation enthusiast/supporter since the days of Gran Turismo 1, when I would visit a friend's house and play until he'd pass out, then would let myself out a few hours later!  I also played many a round of Halo (1) on other friends's Xbox's - usually getting my butt handed to me.

I never liked Xbox - I never liked the way the controller felt in my hand.  Never comfortable.  Playstation always felt natural.  When the price dropped on the 60gb models, I grabbed one.

I played the hell out of Transformers, Oblivion, Motorstorm, downloaded lots of demos and movies, loaded all my MP3's and pictures and videos onto the thing - loved it.  I started getting remotes and extra peripherals to make the most out of it.

But after a while I realized that with no good games, it quickly became a $500 paper weight.  I quit playing it, the downloads just couldn't come out quick enough to give me something to DO with the thing.

So my wife broke down and let me get an Xbox 360 Elite - with a 120gb harddrive.  (They're discontinuing the Elite, and of course have discontinued the 60gb Playstation 3, so really, at least for right now, I've got the "Limited Edition" consoles.)  The controller is a vast improvement - very comfortable, and very heavy - feels solid, well built.  Not crazy about having to load batteries in the thing, and when the battery starts to get low, it flashes it's lights at you constantly which can get pretty annoying.  Of course it rumbles, which I didn't realize how much I missed from the Playstation.  My only complaint with the Playstation controller is that new triggers (they switched the L2 and R2 buttons into triggers al'a Xbox, but they don't feel natural anymore.  My hand actually cramps if I try using my middle fingers on the triggers, but my pointer fingers slip off - I can't find that comfortable angle.)

But I want to follow up here and really give the breakdown:
Prices - what was said above is right - the price difference for the GOOD models is pretty neck and neck.  60GB PS3 - fully loaded, all the bells and whistles - $499.  Xbox 360 Elite, 120gb harddrive, $449.  Also, the controllers (which face it, you need more than one) are $50 for the PS3 (not sure what the DualShock 3's are going to run) but $80 for the Xbox!! (this is for the version which comes with a rechargeable battery, which the PS3 has built-in.)  Also, the Playstation HAS ADAPTERS AVAILABLE that let you use most PS2 controllers AND memory cards.  I was able to move all of my PS2 memory cards onto "virtual memory cards" on the Playstation harddrive.

Online - Playstation is free, Xbox isn't.  Now I read a lot of reviews saying that Xbox's online support was far better than Playstation.  I just dunno...  I haven't played enough online games for either to say - I'm not a huge online fan.  But I do like downloading demos and themes for the console backgrounds and stuff like that.  Plus the playstation has a built-in web browser.  It's not a great browser, but it's nice when the wife is on the computer and I wanna check a sports score or read some game reviews or check my ebay auctions.  As far as actual online "comfort" within games, it's really up to each game.  As far as downloads, both are unique in how you buy things.  Playstation gives you prices - simple and easy - but you have to add money to your "wallet" to buy things.  HOWEVER, you can set it up to automatically add funds to your wallet if your purchase exceeds what's currently in the wallet.  So basically it's click and buy.  Also you can set accounts for kids that limit spending, etc.  Xbox uses "Microsoft Points."  Thank God your points never lock up making you close all active windows and reboot.  (Insert drum kick here.)  Every item you buy has a point value, and you have to buy points at $6.25 for every 500 points.  It's a little more awkward, but adding points literally takes about 3 clicks and 10 seconds.  From what I can tell too, Xbox downloads automatically install, whereas the playstation ones have to be installed, then the game updated - can be a little time consuming when you've just added a new feature to a game and can't wait to get playin'.

The last thing I want to share is non-gaming capabilities.  I really like the browser set up of the Playstation.  It's very easy, it's very sparse.  In fact they recently just upgraded the system (through internet downloads) that lets you choose an image to be your background, as well as free downloadable themes that changes the icons for the various "areas," such as music, videos, settings, games.  Xbox has themes too, but they're barely noticeable.  There's so much STUFF on the Xbox screens that there really isn't room for background images, colors, etc.  You just don't notice it - the Xbox is so "busy."  Playstation feels spacious - clean.  In fact, one system update added small menus that fade in at the bottom right corner showing you what buttons do what things for each item you have selected - before that, you had to guess what to do - there is so little clutter on the screen.

Lastly, Playstation lets you import movies, files, songs - anything - from CD's, flash drives, iPods, etc, and save it all on the harddrive.  The Xbox gives you none of that.  You can rip music from a standard audio CD and nothing else (Microsoft, being American, wants to play it's role in minimizing music pirating.  Sony could care less.)  You can play music off of your iPods, or movies, but cannot copy anything over.  With the Playstation hooked up to my surround sound, I always enjoyed pulling up my music (which they also just added the ability to create multiple playlists) and playing tunes while cooking, cleaning, etc.  Xbox makes it very, very difficult.  That's my biggest gripe - I thought that I was getting a great thing with that 120gb harddrive.  Turns out I'll be wasting most of it.

Oh, and the Playstation controllers can also turn on the console without having to get up and manually turn on the console.  Though really - couldn't we all use the exercise??

I won't tell you which to get, just what you'll get with either.  I will say that I think the Playstation has a LOT of room to grow, whereas the Xbox might peak out a little sooner.  These guys just need to get their acts into gear and start making some GAMES.  (And I will say I'm very, very dissapointed in these new PS3 commercials that show clips from Gran Turismo 5 and Home - two titles that won't even be AVAILABLE on the console until sometime next year.  Bad advertising.)

Jeff

P.S.  Sorry for the unbelievably long thread, but I consider myself a serious gamer.  It's the number 1 way I choose to blow off steam and kill time.)

[bb71challenger]

I have a PS2 and an Xbox but dont really play either much. My son has begged for an Xbox 360 for a while and if he maintains his honor roll status(has to be some sort of incentive) he gets one. I bought an Elite model with the 2 games included, an extra wired controller, Madden 08 so we can play something together and Halo 3. I dont know yet if I will get him online services. I have read all the posts with interest and thank everyone that contributed. I used to be into gaming but hardly ever even play anymore. I have Gods of War that I have never even cut the plastic on if that tells anything.

[jeryst]

Had the same dilema. Bought a PS3 so I could play PS2 games. Price dropped to 399. I had the same agonizing choice of not being able to play the halo games. Don't buy a PS2 again as soon no games will be made for it. They have already limited what new games get the PS2 platform.

I don't agree about the PS2 games. There are millions of functioning PS2's out there, and only a very tiny amount of PS3's. Parents and kids have billions of dollars invested in the PS2 consoles and games. Every major third-party game maker out there that is releasing new games is making a version for the PS2. They'd be losing a ton of revenue if they didn't. And it doesn't cost them much, since they have converters that can easily create a PS2 version. It's only the games exclusive to the PS3 that won't be available. They'll milk it for quite a few more years yet, I'm sure. After all, Sony is still producing the PS2, and I haven't seen anywhere that they are going to cease production anytime soon. I doubt if that will happen until the price of the PS3 gets down to the $200-$250 range.

[Carlwalski]

Neither, PC. (Racing Simulation) 

[bb71challenger]

Why did you change your name to flatline, NZ?

[ViperMan]

Neither, PC. (Racing Simulation) 

Ya know, I used to agree with that...  But with the new age of wireless controllers and the things these controllers let you do...  About the only thing I miss is using a mouse for RTS games.  You can get all the peripherals for consoles that you can for PC's.  The only thing that kinda sucks is a wheel for your PS3 won't work for your Xbox.  But so few people have both consoles - it really doesn't matter much.  Plus, a good PC with the graphic abilities of these consoles would cost thousands, and I don't think PC's have nearly the game options that these consoles have.  PC's just have more simulators - flight, SIMs, etc.

Jeff

[MJS73]

You can use the Xbox 360 wireless controller on a PC - it's a USB device.  Plug it in, then let Windows autodetect it and go online for the drivers.

Mike

[Scatterbrain]

Ya know, I used to agree with that...  But with the new age of wireless controllers and the things these controllers let you do...  About the only thing I miss is using a mouse for RTS games.  You can get all the peripherals for consoles that you can for PC's.  The only thing that kinda sucks is a wheel for your PS3 won't work for your Xbox.  But so few people have both consoles - it really doesn't matter much.  Plus, a good PC with the graphic abilities of these consoles would cost thousands, and I don't think PC's have nearly the game options that these consoles have.  PC's just have more simulators - flight, SIMs, etc.

Jeff

I used to be a strictly PC gamer for a long time.  Even though I had a SNES and Genesis I still preferred playing on the PC.  Starflight (1 and 2), Ultima Underworld and Wing Commander were always installed on my system.  I also had steering wheels, yoke and rudders for PC flight sims.  Each Wing Commander release was the reason for upgrading my system.  Then somewere around the PS2 I kinda made a switch.  PCs gaming can still deliver a better graphical experience, but its just more comfortable to play on the couch in front of the TV.  An added bonus is the wife likes to be involved, she'll knit while paying attention to the game and I can take breaks and hand her the controllwer for a bit so it becomes a team effort to get to the end.  The kid also has started taking an interest as well and sooner or later she'll be asking to take a turn.  I haven't turned completely away from PC gaming, the wife and I still play City of Heroes pretty regularly, but thats pretty much the only game I still play on the PC.

BTW, with the release of ROCK BAND we will have a true team effort to play through the game.