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

[ajrimmer42]

It's PlayStation for me, always has been, always will be (unless MS do something absolutely unbelievable in the future, like make a good console). Uncharted beats any xbox exclusive (or should I say "Microsoft Exclusive", it's only a matter of time till Halo 3 comes to PC, all the other exclusives have) hands down, and I've never seen graphics like GT5 anywhere (even on PC). Plus the console doesn't break down, unless your an idiot like my mate, and put it on your living room carpet, it sucked up a load of dust and killed the BD drive, oh how we laughed. There's no extra charges either, it's all free, why would I want to pay for some naff online service like LIVE, how is it different from any other? The controller is nice and easy to use, the UI (or XMB) is great and I have to say the small choice of games doesn't bother me, has anyone else noticed that alot of the 360 games are just xbox/PS2 games? Oh and it looks good. All those shiny black curves... oooh .

Just call me Fanboy! :rotfl:

[mr chris]

Have always been a PlayStation guy.
Brought mine when i was on exercise in Canada last year.
Got a bargain at the time at the 40gb PS3 was about £400 in the UK.
I payed £350 for a 60GB PS3 with 2 controllers and 2 games.

It coming with a Blue Ray player is great if you have a Fully HD TV and want to watch Fully HD movies. Though the Blue Ray player is region coded.
So i want to buy Blue Ray DvD's i need to ship them from the States.

I cant really say much more about the PS3 than Dan has said above.
Other than that im very happy and impressed with it.
If you get one you wont be disappointed.

OT:
Even won a X-BOX 360 when it was released. Sold it to a guy at work for £250

[stabiz]

I dont own either, and probably never will, but there is one huge con for the XBox, and that is that it has no proper racing wheel.

[AJ!]

I would have to say the Xbox for a few reasons.

1. A much better controller. it is alot more comfy then the ps3 controller.

2. There are alot of great games on the xbox. it has a much bigger library then the ps3 and has some good exclusives.

3. The price. You can get an arcade bundle for about 120 quid which is fantastic value if your a light gamer. £160 for the works which is still cheap next to the ps3.

Also while the xbox has had some terrible problems with the red ring etc the new consoles have been rid of this problem and are alot more reliable.

[danlisa]

1) Debatable Which side do you butter your toast?
2) Agreed on the Xbox library but it was released nearly 2yrs before the PS3.
3) Agreed, it is cheaper and an excellent purchase but it lacks a Blu-Ray player. Add an additional BR player to the equation and you're in/above PS3 money.

Xbox reliability in on the up thanks to the latest batch with the smaller processors i.e less heat generation.

I will never rubbish anyone who has/or chooses a 360 but if it were me I would look at what's missing function wise and weigh up the fact that the new XBox is only just around the corner, whereas the PS3's lifespan is estimated to be until 2013/14.

@ Neal

On price of the PS3. Do not think 'bigger is better'. Currently in the US, 80GB & 160GB PS3 models are available.

Amazon lists:
80GB PS3 @ $399 - http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-3-...0659777&sr=1-1
160GB PS3 @ $499 - http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-16...0659777&sr=1-2

That's a $100 more for an additional 80GB of HDD space.

Think not!

Amazon lists:
320GB Sata 2.5 HDD @ $74.90 - http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digita...0659808&sr=8-8


There is absolutly no difference between these two models, other than HDD space.

[TinCanWolf]

I have both systems:

PS3 - 60gig system, older version with backwards compatibility. It is hooked up to my internet wirelessly down in the basement. Paid $600 for it.

360 - 20gig system - Currently not hooked up to the internet because I refuse to pay $100 for a wireless adapter, and it pains me to pay any sort of fee for LIVE which is marginally better than PSN at best. Mine isn't hooked up because I'm terrified the thing is going to burn out, which is stupid, but the lack of quality that went into the consoles is a joke.

As for as usability goes there isn't a huge difference. I liked the 360s interface more at first, but I recommend you don't update to the new user interface as it is overly complicated and IMO is an actual downgrade from the original.

Blue Ray > regular DVD. No argument.

A PS3 can use USB sticks, but for some reason (oh wait $$$) the 360 cannot despite being developed by Microsoft. In order to transfer updates, downloads, or whatever from a PC to the 360 one must by the transfer kit which is I think $100. So even without an equal HDD, rechargable batteries for the controler + a charger, or a HD upgrade to it's movie capabilities the 360 is actually behind the price of the PS3. It's probably equal with the recent price drops, but with the continued ignorance to the failure rate of the systems I don't know that I'd purchase a 360 if I already hadn't.

I bought the 360 for Ace Combat when I found out 6 wouldn't be coming to the PS3. However, since I don't really enjoy shooters on consoles the only other game I own for it is Madden, and that's because my buddy and I have a Franchise going at his house, and I didn't want to deal with memorizing 2 different controls.

I would have gladly paid $600 for a 360 if it had the same quality as the PS3 and had many of those nickle and dime features built in like they should have been. I know I sound like a PS3 fan boy, but in reality I'm more peeved about being consistantly ripped off than anything.

PS3 for me , The biggest advantage that sold it for me, was the home entertainment aspect - for $600au I got one of the cheapest and best Blueray players on the market (Also easiest to upgrade the firmware too , just DL from sony ,stick it on a USB key and update to get new features) , combined with a latest gen games console .

@Danlisa pretty much covered all the other goodness.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by danlisa

...3) Agreed, it is cheaper and an excellent purchase but it lacks a Blu-Ray player. Add an additional BR player to the equation and you're in/above PS3 money....

Why wouldn't you buy a BR player too anyway? The last thing you would buy a PS/3 for is the gimmicky BR player. You need a 'decent' BR player, unless you like cheap decoders, cheap A/D converters, and anything else you want cheap. Might work if you used an alternate decoder, but that's way more money than many people would want to spend when they can just buy a decent BR player.

-S

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

Why wouldn't you buy a BR player too anyway? The last thing you would buy a PS/3 for is the gimmicky BR player. You need a 'decent' BR player, unless you like cheap decoders, cheap A/D converters, and anything else you want cheap. Might work if you used an alternate decoder, but that's way more money than many people would want to spend when they can just buy a decent BR player.

-S

The Bluray player on the ps3 is neither cheap or gimmicky , its one of the best players on the market!

These are just a few reviews after doing a google search on reviews on the ps3 Bluray player , you'd be hard pressed to find one that says its rubbish or you'd be better off getting a stand alone player.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/12789...xperience.html

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content/id...port-v193.html

http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/so...iew-1129.shtml