X-box 360 vs. PS3: Pros & Cons

[Onkel Neal]

Our PS2 is growing long in the tooth, time draws near to get a newer console to play the newer games. I'm finding some games like DAH and Conan are PS3 or XBox 360 only. Which do you have (don't play consoles, fine, move along), what are the pros and cons, which has Blue ray, online, and wireless networking? Which one has the best games? Or the type of games we are likely to play? Ideas and opinions welcome.

thanks!
Neal

[danlisa]

I have always been a Playstation player but I shall try to be as objective as I can.

Not knowing what games you/your family like to play it will be hard to promote either console for your gaming needs. Trying to define the 'best games' is too hard. However, I can layout the major pros/cons of each.

Firstly, I need to explain a fairly major point which maybe instrumental in your decision. As you rightly said, some studios have released their games for either the XBox or PS3 solely. However, most have gone multiplatform to ensure they have titles on both formats should a clear console leader emerge. This has hurt the PS3 somewhat, due to the cutting edge architecture used by Sony, the studios found it too hard to code & utilise it's power efficiently. This has left the PS3 game market with shoddy ports.

To accurately judge each console on the merit of it's games, we must look at exclusive titles which were specifically coded & built for each console.

Lets start with the Pros/Cons of each:

Xbox Pros:
Cheap
Excellent Online Service
Larger Online community
Solid Games library
Offers Video download service

Xbox Cons:
Failure rate
Chargeable Online
No Blu-Ray
No Wireless Net
Have to purchase M$ branded addons (Hard drive)
Noisy & runs hot

IMHO the Xbox was primarily designed as a gaming console which is trying to compete in the Media Centre market now.

PS3 Pros:
Build Quality and repair/replacement plan if it should fail (to date most failures are Blu-ray lazer, ATM all FOC)
Free Online service (Playstation Network), for all services
PS3 is completely Plug & Play with any USB device (Keyboard, camera, memcards, webcam etc)
PS3 is BlueTooth compatible (headsets/keyboards)
PS3 is wired/wireless network enabled
Hard Drive is easily upgradeable in size (Sata 2.5in HDD any brand)
Native 1080p High Def
Remote play/start using PSP (allows you to switch on and access any/all media stored on the PS3 from any wifi hotspot)
Backwards Compatibilty (All PS1 games on any PS3 model & All PS2 titles on the original 60GB PS3, with Software enabled BC coming to the newer models)
Blu-Ray as standard
Quiet & runs cool
Wireless Printing to network printers
Ability to add Linux as an additional OS and all that that brings - word processing, graphics design, anything windows does.
Currently the US (SCEA) offer HD Video download service, with Play TV coming soon (ability to record HD FreeSat/FreeView while playing games, fully programmable with 7 day TV guide) EU already has Play TV but no VOD service.
Safest console - as yet uncracked and Virus resilient.
Ingame Music & Video recording is enabled but must be allowed but the studios for each title.
Video Chat with upto 6 people.

PS3 Cons:
Late to the market meaning the games library is still rather small in comparison to the XBox
Expensive - you get what you pay for
Smaller Online community
Until studios learn the PS3 architecture, we will always get crappy ports.
More expensive games due to blu-ray build costs.
No forced ingame music.
No supplied HDMI cable (but they're v.cheap - HDMI capable TV required)

IMHO the PS3 is trying to accomplish being a Games Console & Media Server. It does both well but excels as a media server. My gut feeling is that the PS3 was primarily developed to get Blu-Ray into as many homes as possible to win that format war. Cynical? Maybe.

As a PS3 owner, I can say that I am more than happy with what my console can do and with what is planned for the PS3. I wouldn't change.

Games:
I will only talk about what I know and that is PS3 games, I'll leave the Xbox games to others.

I don't have a huge PS3 games library but these I do have (not including downloaded/digital purchases):
COD3 - Port
COD4 - Port
COD WaW - Port
Heavenly Sword - Exclusive
Uncharted - Exclusive
Resistance 1 - Exclusive
Resistance 2 - Exclusive
GTA 4
Valkyria Chronicles - Exclusive
Oblivion
Fallout 3
Metal Gear Solid 4 - Exclusive
Assassin's Creed
Burnout Paridise
Dead Space
Buzz Quiz - Exclusive
Mirrors Edge - PS3 developed (ported to others)
Folklore - Exclusive
Gran Turismo Prologue - Exclusive
Little Big Planet - Exclusive
Motor Storm - Exclusive
Motor Storm Pacific Rift - Exclusive
Ratchet & Clank Tools of Destruction - Exclusive
Ratchet & Clank Quest for Booty - Exclusive
Warhawk - Exclusive

Hmm, bigger than I thought. LOL, no wonder the wife says I spend too much.

Anyway, to get an idea of the quality of proper PS3 games search out footage of Uncharted: Drakes Fortune, Metal Gear Solid 4, Ratchet & Clank, Gran Turismo Prologue, Motor Storm Pacific Rift & (probably the best family game atm) Little Big Planet.

If you have anymore specific questions about the PS3, ask away.

Don't waste the money, computers are better. :p

[TheSatyr]

And eventually the 2 0r 3 volumes of FF13 will be coming out for the ps3. (FF is the only reason I bought a ps1,ps2 and ps3.). butttttttt,I don't think the next installment in the FF franchise is gonna be a ps3 exclusive. But I'd rather have the original ps3 version than a port.

Yeah yeah yeah,I'm babbling on,but it's 5am and i haven't been to sleep yet.

[danlisa]

Originally Posted by TheSatyr

And eventually the 2 0r 3 volumes of FF13 will be coming out for the ps3. (FF is the only reason I bought a ps1,ps2 and ps3.). butttttttt,I don't think the next installment in the FF franchise is gonna be a ps3 exclusive. But I'd rather have the original ps3 version than a port.

FF13 will be on the PS3 & Xbox (The PS3 version is finished, the Xbox version os holding up release) Neither will be a port, both are built from scratch using both consoles.

FF13 Versus will be a PS3 exclusive.

[Dowly]

Never tried any of them xbox's, but what I'm heard, it's PS3 all the way!

And some Yahtzee to the end:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/vide...onsole-Rundown

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Rilder

Don't waste the money, computers are better. :p

*, where else are you going to play SH I/II/III/IV ?