Xbox 360 or PS3?

[Oyeve]

Hi all. I do not want to start a flame-war. so please, let's be mature. Here goes.

I am looking forward to the next gen console games. Namely GTA:4. As it will only come out for the 360 and PS3 (maybe for PC, my preferred choice but most likely it will be DX10 and or Vista, which I have no plans on going to yet), and have been researching both consoles, but cannot conclude which would be better for me. I have read ad naseum about the pluses and minuses of both platforms. But, I need to hear from ATs experts about which of the 2 systems would be the all-around best console for me. I dont give a hoot about HD playback as whichever console I choose with be connected to my 2007fpw screen anyway. I just really need to know if there is any reason to choose one over the other. Minor graphic issues aside, which platform has the better games NOW and which will have the better one in the future? I WAS leaning toward the PS3 as I have tons of PS1 and PS2 games that would work on it, but cannot justify the high cost of it for only backward compatibility. Please, make up my mind for me.


Also, what is the issue with older Xbox games and backward compatibility? I see Xbox games for 5 bucks. Is the 360 only backward compatible with major xbox 1 games?

 

[Aikouka]

Well, I'm looking forward to quite a bit of XBOX 360 games, but you need to mention what kind of games you like, because what I like doesn't mean crap .

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
Well, I'm looking forward to quite a bit of XBOX 360 games, but you need to mention what kind of games you like, because what I like doesn't mean crap .

FPS, RPGs, driving games and GTA type games. Stuff that doesnt make it to the PC.

 

[T9D]

I dont have either yet. But if it matters after looking things over I want to get an x-box 360. The price is way better. And there are a lot more games I'd want. Really looking forward to bioshock. But may just pick that up for the PC anyway.

Seems like the ps3 is still priced just to high and has a year or so before it's got a good catalog of games.

 

[RussianSensation]

Comparing # of Grade A titles and prices, 360 hands down.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Oyeve

Originally posted by: Aikouka
Well, I'm looking forward to quite a bit of XBOX 360 games, but you need to mention what kind of games you like, because what I like doesn't mean crap .

FPS, RPGs, driving games and GTA type games. Stuff that doesnt make it to the PC.

More XBOX 360 games are ported to the PC because of the ease offered by XNA to do so. But the thing is... the only games that are ported out of that list are the FPS games usually. Driving games are sometimes, but the XBOX 360 famous driving games (PGR and Forza) are never ported to the PC that I've seen. The flagship XBOX FPS games aren't ported quickly either (Halo, GoW (still in limbo), etc).

I think both consoles can offer you FPS, RPGs, driving/racing games. Both will have the big names in FPS like Unreal Tournament. XBOX 360 will offer Halo 3 and the Gears of War series. PS3 will offer Killzone (I think that's a FPS >_> I don't know that game well) and Resistance. PS3 will offer Final Fantasy games (the main ones, the offshoots will be on various consoles) and XBOX 360 will offer the Mistwalker Studios games (Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey). As for driving, PS3 has Gran Turismo and XBOX 360 has Project Gotham Racing and Forza.

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Comparing # of Grade A titles and prices, 360 hands down.

I agree.

 

[AmdInside]

I don't know. I have both but if I could only choose one, I would go with PS3 for several reasons, many of which would probably not apply to you:

1) Quiet. I am not an old person who likes to have everything at low volume in my house. Quite the opposite. But I just can't stand the sound that the Xbox 360 produces, even when playing games. Bugs the heck out of me.

2) BD player. Yes, you can buy an HD-DVD player for Xbox 360 but the Xbox 360 is loud and the HD-DVD player is limited in features whereas the PS3 is one of the best BD players out there.

3) No monthly service fee for online access. I am currently on a year subscription with Xbox 360 but will be glad when I won't have to renew Xbox Live membership.

4) Built in wireless. I like how the wireless network controller on the PS3 is built in. Considering I can pick up a wireless card for $10 at Fry's, I don't see why the Xbox 360 Premium, or even the Elite, doesn't come with a wireless card. If Microsoft is going to charge $100 for a wireless controller for the Xbox 360, they should have at least made is 802.11n.

5) Ability to swap out hard drive. With the Xbox 360, you have to pay a ridiculous over priced amount to replace your Xbox 360 hard drive. With the PS3, you can do it on your own at a much lower price with much more choices.

6) Multimedia features. While I like the fact that the Xbox 360 acts as a Media Center Extender, the noise just bugs the heck out of me. The Xbox 360 does not allow you to play video files from a removable USB hard drive. The PS3 does (or from the built in PS3 hard drive).

7) PS1 and PS2 backwards compatibility. I still have to keep my Xbox since there are several games which won't work on the Xbox 360. Not so with my PS1 and PS2. Unfortunately, Guitar Hero won't work with PS3 but pretty much any other PS1/PS2 game out there works fine and I have a lot of PS2 games I still enjoy playing.

8) Reliability. I have already had two Xbox 360's give me problems. I think the Xbox 360 uses overclocked CPU's and it has lead to my problems. WIth the PS3, not only is it quiet, but from the heat it produces, I don't think they overclocked the CPU's to try and get faster performance.

9) I must have Metal Gear Solid 4

10) I must have GT:HD

11) I must have Little Big Planet

12) PS3 works with my Logitech G25 steering wheel. Xbox 360 does not. The Xbox 360 has its own steering wheel but it is more of a toy.

13) Games on BD. I think over time, you will see some amazing games made on PS3 because the PS3 provides more storage space. Games are already having a hard time fitting on DVD dual layer discs. I think it was a mistake on Microsoft to require all games to be on DVD instead of giving developers the option of DVD or HD-DVD since Microsoft sells an HD-DVD player.

14) I have to mention this again. The PS3 is quiet. The Xbox 360 is loud. Louder I think than a Geforce 5800Ultra.

As I stated before, I have both so I am no fanboy but here are my reasons. Who it helps you make an informed decision.

 

[imported_Imp]

Someone in the house just got an Xbox 360 yesterday, haven't touched it yet, but looks pretty cool even on a 10 year old, mono sound television. Like others said, the availability of good titles and just for the sake of the console 'feel' of games, I'd be swayed to go that way.

Then again, I remember a few years back when I was contemplating whether to get a PS2 or Xbox (got neither eventually), the main games I wanted were Japanese/Anime style stuff. So, I would have went PS2. Now the PS3 doesn't exactly have much of those in good form yet, but deep down we all know it won't just die like the 3D0 and friends. So unless you really want to the imported/Japanese style stuff, the Xbox 360 is getting a LOT of PS3 mainstream games (i.e. GTA and friends), so that might be your best choice. Personally, I'd sleep on it (in the case of PS3, hibernate), and see what gets brought over.

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: AmdInside
1) Quiet. I am not an old person who likes to have everything at low volume in my house. Quite the opposite. But I just can't stand the sound that the Xbox 360 produces, even when playing games. Bugs the heck out of me.

Your tv volume should completely drown out the noise made from the xbox360.

Originally posted by: AmdInside
2) BD player. Yes, you can buy an HD-DVD player for Xbox 360 but the Xbox 360 is loud and the HD-DVD player is limited in features whereas the PS3 is one of the best BD players out there.

BD hasent won the format war yet, HD-DVD may still be the way to go.

Originally posted by: AmdInside
3) No monthly service fee for online access. I am currently on a year subscription with Xbox 360 but will be glad when I won't have to renew Xbox Live membership.

It costs for a reason, its much better and far more solid than what the PS3 has. Easy to use buddy lists, quick and simple join a game and kill people setup, also most games do have an online component that uses xbox live.

Originally posted by: AmdInside
4) Built in wireless. I like how the wireless network controller on the PS3 is built in. Considering I can pick up a wireless card for $10 at Fry's, I don't see why the Xbox 360 Premium, or even the Elite, doesn't come with a wireless card. If Microsoft is going to charge $100 for a wireless controller for the Xbox 360, they should have at least made is 802.11n.

Most dont give a rats ass about wireless capability, why increase the price of the console for somthing people arent gonna use? I am hardware savvy and i dont even know what i would do with the PS3's wireless network controller.

Originally posted by: AmdInside
5) Ability to swap out hard drive. With the Xbox 360, you have to pay a ridiculous over priced amount to replace your Xbox 360 hard drive. With the PS3, you can do it on your own at a much lower price with much more choices.

Fair enough yeah.

Originally posted by: AmdInside
6) Multimedia features. While I like the fact that the Xbox 360 acts as a Media Center Extender, the noise just bugs the heck out of me. The Xbox 360 does not allow you to play video files from a removable USB hard drive. The PS3 does (or from the built in PS3 hard drive).

Its supposed to be a console not a media center, this is why the wii is doing really well, its not trying to be an all in 1 thing its just doing 1 thing really well. The xbox does 1 thing pretty well too, plays games.

Originally posted by: AmdInside
7) PS1 and PS2 backwards compatibility. I still have to keep my Xbox since there are several games which won't work on the Xbox 360. Not so with my PS1 and PS2. Unfortunately, Guitar Hero won't work with PS3 but pretty much any other PS1/PS2 game out there works fine and I have a lot of PS2 games I still enjoy playing.

Xbox 360 has backwards compatibility, its simply achieved through software emulation, most major titles will be supported, and theyre adding new titles to the list with every patch. Its lucky your PS3 has such a good features, our european PS3's dont have the built in ps1/2 hardware.

Originally posted by: AmdInside
8) Reliability. I have already had two Xbox 360's give me problems. I think the Xbox 360 uses overclocked CPU's and it has lead to my problems. WIth the PS3, not only is it quiet, but from the heat it produces, I don't think they overclocked the CPU's to try and get faster performance.

The PS3 isnt silent, go google "PS3 noise" or "PS3 heat". Theres people with problems with a PS3 on that front too.

Originally posted by: AmdInside
13) Games on BD. I think over time, you will see some amazing games made on PS3 because the PS3 provides more storage space. Games are already having a hard time fitting on DVD dual layer discs. I think it was a mistake on Microsoft to require all games to be on DVD instead of giving developers the option of DVD or HD-DVD since Microsoft sells an HD-DVD player.

Yes you will get 40GB of CGI movies that look a tad better than on a dvd and about 3-4GB of actual game in the future.

Console games arent like PC games, they dont get gradually better or bigger over time (not by much anyways) what you see is what you get, theres no reason that GTA 5 (if it comes out in good time) will look any better than GTA 4 or will take up any more space than GTA 4. Simply because they will be hardware limited rather than space limited.

Originally posted by: AmdInside
14) I have to mention this again. The PS3 is quiet. The Xbox 360 is loud. Louder I think than a Geforce 5800Ultra.

Its not as bad as the dustbuster.

 

[Maximilian]

Heres some pro xbox 360 points so you can make an informed decision:

1. Its been said already but ill say it again most good games for the PS3 will be out on the xbox 360, some of them will be out on the 360 *first* i think GTA 4 is an example of this, just wiki the game in question and see

2. Microsoft has deeper pockets than sony so you can be damn sure every title worth having will be on their console, maybe exclusively their console.

3. Gears of war is awsome, i used to be a "FPS + Console = lame!" thinker but GoW actually works well, its great.

4. Xbox 360 has better graphics, the ATI xenox is better than what nvidias putting into the PS3

5. It costs less

6. Its a console designed to play games, it does what it does well and you dont get extra useless junk which just adds to the price, so yeah its good in that respect.

 

[BobDaMenkey]

I got a PS3 around christmas time on a fluke. It really was more of an impulse buy seeing as PS3s had nil availability at that point, and I wanted one to be a 'cool kid on the block'. I picked up Resistance Fall of Man at the same time.

I have to say, I've really enjoyed my PS3 since I got it. Although I've been playing mostly cross platform games (Fight Night 3, Need For Speed Carbon, and Oblivion), I still think it was worth the purchase. I've also been enjoying Resistance: Fall of Man, and Motorstorm. I upgraded the hard drive on mine to a 100gb drive, and installed Linux on it. It's a really fun toy, and it delivers a really good gaming experience too. In the GameOS you get a built in web browser, a free store with lots of down loadable trailers, and game demos, free multiplayer match making, free voice and video chat with your friends on your friendlist. With Linux you can run GAIM, FireFox, OpenOffice, and watch movies off of your windows network, and I believe they've gotten some old emulators working as well, like SNES9x.

I've been trying to justify purchasing a 360, but I still only have two games that I want to play on it: GoW and Dead Rising. I can't justify it to myself to drop that much cash on another console if there's only a couple games that I really want to play. If I do get a 360 it'll be an elite since those are going to be a mainstay, and a 20gb drive is just too small to try and take advantage of down loadable content of any kind.

 

[Oyeve]

For those who replied about downloading content, being able to install this that or what ever, I have several PCs for that. I just need pure gaming advice. I dont care about BD or HD as there is no clear winner on those formats and if I ever do get any HD player it will be for the TV, not a game console. Its all about games! WiFi is also a non-issue as I like to hardwire everything. Thanks. So far the 360 is looking good!

 

[Matt2]

Xbox360.

Xbox360 has tons of quality games and PS3 games suck and cost too much.

A console is only as good as it's best game and PS3 sucks.

EDIT: Besides you dont want to miss out on Halo 3 do you?

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: AmdInside
3) No monthly service fee for online access. I am currently on a year subscription with Xbox 360 but will be glad when I won't have to renew Xbox Live membership.

Dude, it's less than $4/month for xbox live.

If you're too cheap to pay that then you shouldnt even be buying games.

 

[AmdInside]

Originally posted by: Matt2

Originally posted by: AmdInside
3) No monthly service fee for online access. I am currently on a year subscription with Xbox 360 but will be glad when I won't have to renew Xbox Live membership.

Dude, it's less than $4/month for xbox live.

If you're too cheap to pay that then you shouldnt even be buying games.

I don't care if it was $1 a month. If one company offers it free and the other charges, why am I going to prefer paying over free? Yes Xbox Live is better right now but I don't care of some of the extra features of Xbox Live. I have a life outside of gaming. I don't need to be some super famous ranked person and I don't need to be interrupted everytime I am watching a movie to let me know a friend signed on or challenges me to a game.

 

[goatjc]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Comparing # of Grade A titles and prices, 360 hands down.

This is my opinion as well. At this moment in time, I wouldn't even think about purchasing the ps3. But, I'm not saying that will change, but, I'd say for at least the next 6 months - year, xbox360 would be the way to go.

 

[secretanchitman]

ps3.

 

[Noema]

360, unless Blu-Ray is somehow important to you.

 

[jkresh]

I have a 360 and a wii, my brother has a ps3 and I might get a ps3 so I can play with programming on the cell. At the moment the 360 has better games hands down, and a lot of the formerly exclusive ps3 games are going crossplatform, so right now I would get a 360, there are some pretty cool games that are coming for the ps3 and arent likely to end up cross platform so if those games interest you get the ps3, on the other hand x360 has some solid games (Gears of War, Halo 3...) which also wont be crossplatform its really up to you.

 

[alimoalem]

XBOX360. before i go on, AmdInside, if you honestly don't think you're a fanboy, check again.

i was trying to convince my brother not to get XBOX Live but eventually realized it is a worthwhile investment. i've never heard anything about PS3's online play so i really doubt it can live up to XBOX Live. there's a reason they charge for it. btw, my university gives all off campus students free 56k internet. guess what? i have DSL. and yes, i PAY for it.

i've never had any hardware problems either. overclocked CPU? unreliable? i don't live at home but when i do visit, we'll play for like 5 hours straight. it's never shut down or whatever you're trying to get Oyeve to believe.

XBOX games are compatible. some might require you to go online and download a patch but that's it. and it doesn't require the xbox live gold membership, just an internet connection.

why would you want 802.11n on a system? what are you smoking?

i don't know any game that's PS3 exclusive that i truly enjoy. xbox/xbox360 on the other hand there are some games.

sometimes on start up i'll hear my 360's fan spin up, but i've never even noticed my 360 making noise while playing anything.

care to share the bad things the PS3 has? i really don't care about other consoles anymore cause we made our decision like a year ago, but i clearly remember something about rumble...or should i say lack of?

i really haven't found anything wrong with the 360, or at least anything glaringly wrong that would warrant me posting something about it. i would say go for it, especially since it's cheaper

 

[jojo29]

Here's my take on it:

Im was in the same boat as you, i couldnt decide what system to buy. So i sat there and wondered which one offered the stuff i wanted.

People will say there are great games on the 360. I agree there are, BUT a lot of them are coming to the PC as well, namely "big hits" like Bioshock, Mass Effect, will also be available for the PC, which IMO those games will be better. Halo 3? It will come to PC..eventually, just like the other Halos, but if your playing Halo on your PC instead of the countless other better FPS out there..sorry sidetracked

Anyways, i have more than enough saved (finally) to buy either system, an extra controller, and about 2-3 games(depends on the system)

Heres the thing that sold me. Xbox Live. Wait not what you think. Xbox Live is what sold me to the PS3!!

How and Why you ask? I think paying to play online is the most stupid thing ever. Yes MMORPGs are an exception. But a lot of Live users LOVE to argue that:

-Live lets you chat with friends, i guess in game?
-Live has one friends list for ALL games

Also heres a fun tidbit:

-CoD 2 i got on PC
-Oblilvion i got on PC
-Gears of War announced for PC
-i think XNA will hurt te 360 in the long run, because if every game on PC goes to 360 and vice versa, i have no reason to jump on the 360 when i can just wait a bit longer and get it on my PC.

yeah those are nice, but to me not worth $50 bucks. Why? well as a PC gamer, i have NEVER had to pay to play games online, or chat with friends. No its not centralized and all neat like Live, but guess what? i've been doing 'uncentralized" for years on my PC and i can do it now..for free.

To me its funny when Live users are like "PS3 can't let you play Madden online for free" but guess what? They do get to play for free, just like i can play any EA game online for free on PC OR Ps3

Anyways what sold me to the PS3 was this:

-FREE online play
-Lair, Heavenly Sword, FF13, Metal Gear Solid...and more on the way
-Sony's first party studios absolutely kill Microsofts( Incognito, ReadyatDawn,Gureilla Games,Insomniac,Naughty Dog, Polyphony, etc..and a few others)They are responsible for titles like:

-Ratchet and Clank
-Jak and Daxter
-Killzone
-Twisted Metal
-Gran Turismo
-SOCOM
-God of War
Yes one can argue that those games are not confirmed or what not, but im pretty sure they will be major franchises in the near future, heck Ratchet and Clank is alreay in the works! Also if you notice, all these games span a wide variety of genres

-Blu-Ray. Yes we don't know who will come out on top, but regardless, its built in, i dont have some chunky add-on that takes even more space, and developers can take advantage of it, even if it doesnt take off in the movie front, the extra space for developers is still nice

-Expandable Harddrive. You see my rig in my sig? yes i will be upgrading that by the end of the year, that 120GB HardDrive is going in my PS3. Cant do that with the 360, actually right now newegg as a special on a Seagate 250GB for like $70!!

-History. Sony has supported their consoles MINIMUM 5 years plus. I like that. I dont like to have to buy a console every 4 years, as i already have my money sucked from me by my PC hobby side, where i upgrade every 4-8 months.

oh yeah..plus my bro has a 360, which brings me to my next point: To those that say, 360s DON'T break down?! YOU GOT VERY LUCKY, my bro is on his 3rd ONE!!! and his friend was on his 5th ONE before he said ****** it and bought a PS3. NOw i know that this doesnt matter, but IN ALL OUR GAMING history, and thats from Sega Master System, to now, we have NEVER had a console bust on us like this before. Only time was my PS2 stopped reading DVDs in i think 2005, when i bought in '01. So you can add

-reliability to things that made me get a PS3

PS: Sorry if i sound a little bit "fanboyish" but man i thought long and hard about this, and when people kept trying force feed my "Live" i was like, it really is not that big a deal, i play console games for the single player experience, with the OPTION to play online, i dont like how MS is focusing the other way around. Gears is a perfect example of this, my bro beat the game in less than 6 hours after he bought it, now it just collects dusts, until he brings it over and we play online, which is like 2-3 times a month i think.

Anywhoo, bear in mind that these are the things that made ME want to get a PS3, it might not be the same for you so like everything else on the net, take my take on this with a grain of salt..heck not even that lol

 

[SickBeast]

If you have a good PC, get the PS3. The only game the PC is missing is Gears of War. The PS3 will have Gran Turismo and all the Sony exclusives, plus the Blu Ray content is a bonus. I would wait for a price drop first tho; think of all the PC games you could buy with $700! I just picked up HL2:E1 for $20, and they had a ton of good games there for $20 or less (FIFA 07, Prey (only $10!).

 

[Kromis]

Whichever one you get, you must buy a Wii.

lol

 

[jojo29]

Originally posted by: Kromis
Whichever one you get, you must buy a Wii.

lol

Good luck finding one. I got lucky,i was xmas shopping for gifts for family, had about $350 on me, then i see the lady at Toys R us was putting a Wii box on the shelf, i was like is that an empty one or full? She was like " I think its just for display"

So i walk around the store, and i hear the manager i guess tell that lady that "that Wii is not a display, go ahead and put it on the shelf to buy" and i was like oh ****** gotta get that BUT there was a little boy, actually my dad's friend's son, who asked the lady if it was for sale, he went to go get his mom..thats where i swooped in and bought it!!!! I know what all you are thinking, but you know what? It's fair game....

So Wiistation3 for me baby!