Play station or X box...I don't know what to do.....?

DogHorse

ses6jwg wrote: »

!! Xbox fanboy alert !!

or not

Link

Though my xbox has been off to the repair center twice now, bought mine second hand too. Microsoft finally coughed up for a new one this time round, hopefully it won't die this time or i will get a PS3 when i can afford one!

Crazy_Jamie

DogHorse wrote: »

or not

Link

You're joking, right? It is quite clear that the differences between the two are so minor that no one who only buys one version is going to know any different, which goes for virtually every game that is on both systems. Descending to such minuscule details in order to try to prove that the Xbox 360 is de facto better than the Playstation 3 simply proves that it isn't. Suggesting that either is factually better than the either is just wrong.

spiritus

I'm a million miles away from being an expert on the merits of an Xbox or a PS3 but I will tell you this. Over the last few weeks I have been tempted to buy one of the two consoles and, as is my habit, I research my future purchases anally over the internet ! Consequently, I don't have any first hand experience of either console but I can share with you what I have found and perhaps others can maybe answer some of my unresolved questions ?

Me and my partner are in our thirties and got a Nintendo Wii the other Xmas FREE as part of a mobile phone contract. We have only ever bought one game for the Wii and have got an embarassing amount of pleasure from playing Mario Kart on a regular basis. The graphics are cartoony, the gameplay isn't sophisticated but it is a lot of fun ! I've tried to look for other Wii games that are held in equal esteem to Mario Kart and soon realised there are not that many "must have" titles for the console (even less if you want a decent offline multiplayer game).

So, my quest began to see would an Xbox or PS3 suit our needs.

First thing I realised is that there isn't much difference between the Xbox or the PS3 when it comes to graphics. On paper the PS3 is technically better than the Xbox but the Xbox holds it's own on the graphics front.

The Xbox is cheaper than the PS3.

It has been out longer than the PS3 and therefore has more games developed for it (a critical point when buying a console).

Most hard core gamers agree that the Xbox online multiplayer is more fun than PS3's version (although if you're not a serious gamer then this may not be a major issue).

However, there's a couple of major concerns about the Xbox. First, it has not got Wi-fi built into the console which means if you want to connect to the internet and play online then you need a very long cable (my router is upstairs !) or you need to buy a Wi-fi add on which are not that cheap. Secondly, the Xbox has a very alarming failure rate with it's much publicised "Red Ring of Death" which is basically a systems failure that occurs on a shockingly large ratio of Xbox's. If it's in warranty, then Microsoft will repair or replace it but you have to wait a few weeks before you get it back.

The PS3 has Wi-fi built in and doesn't have anywhere near the failure rate of the Xbox. It's technically superior to the Xbox but strangely it's technology has yet to be fully utilised putting it on a par with the Xbox in real terms.

The PS3 has a built in Bluray player which lets you watch HD movies if your TV is HD capable. However, the PS3 seems to have less games available for it and costs more than the Xbox.

Also from a personal point of view, both consoles seem to be geared to either solo players or solo players who want to play with other people but do so online. Me and my partner want to play multiplayer games offline and good multiplayer split screen games are few and far between for both console (although there are some great titles).

I yearn to find something on the Xbox or the PS3 with the fun factor of Mario Kart but all I seem to find all gritty, realistic racing simulations or first person shooters. Even strategy games (which are ideal for multiplayer) are not that common on either console.

I'm leaning towards the Xbox as I'm curious to see what all the fuss is about but the Red Ring of Death is a major concern especially as people who have bought the new Xbox 360 Elite are still reporting the RROD on their consoles.

bobby-boy_2

DCFC79 wrote: »

yes there is as you can get banned from live if you flash a console and go on LIVE with it

Hi DCFC if you read the whole post you will see I say you run the risk of being banned!

There is no physical barr to connecting a flashed x-box 360 as a previous poster had stated and I was pointing out this fact.

A threat of a ban may be a deterrent but it does not stop people being physically able to do it.

Also not all flashed consols are used for pirate games some are used to play Japanese imports.

bobby-boy_2

Crazy_Jamie wrote: »

I
Wrong. So very wrong. As of a few weeks ago consoles consoles are instantly banned from Xbox Live whether they are playing copied games or not. .

Crazy Jamie do you mean Flashed consoles perhaps?
How can you get banned if you can not connect as the previous poster stated?
You can and HAVE to connect to get banned.
May sound like a minor detail but to say you can not connect is just misinformation.
Telling people they can connect, will get banned and possible sued would be more factual.

A bit off the subject but if consoles are getting banned then this could be an ideal opportunity for people to pick up a cheap X-box 360 for non LIVE gaming.

Marty_J

Crazy_Jamie wrote: »

You're joking, right? It is quite clear that the differences between the two are so minor that no one who only buys one version is going to know any different, which goes for virtually every game that is on both systems. Descending to such minuscule details in order to try to prove that the Xbox 360 is de facto better than the Playstation 3 simply proves that it isn't. Suggesting that either is factually better than the either is just wrong.

The differences are quite striking, especially in the lighting effects which are totally absent from the PS 3 version. The Xbox 360 version also runs at a higher frame rate. Given that PC gamers spend both hundreds of pounds and hours tweaking their system to wring every frame per second out of their system, it should be taken into account.

The assertion however, that because it can be shown that there are differences, it proves that there aren't any, is utterly baffling in every respect.

Crazy_Jamie

bobby-boy wrote:

You can and HAVE to connect to get banned.
May sound like a minor detail but to say you can not connect is just misinformation.
Telling people they can connect, will get banned and possible sued would be more factual.

The phrase 'splitting hairs' does spring immediately to mind.

Marty_J wrote: »

The differences are quite striking, especially in the lighting effects which are totally absent from the PS 3 version. The Xbox 360 version also runs at a higher frame rate. Given that PC gamers spend both hundreds of pounds and hours tweaking their system to wring every frame per second out of their system, it should be taken into account.

The assertion however, that because it can be shown that there are differences, it proves that there aren't any, is utterly baffling in every respect.

Console gamers almost by default are considerably less concerned with the technical minutiae of what they are dealing with, and more concerned with what the practical playing experience is like. My point is the fact that a carefully constructed side by side comparison is needed to highlight the differences between the consoles just shows that for the vast majority of consoles gamers the differences between the consoles in such ways are just not significant enough to warrant attention. Factors that have a more practical impact, such as cost, wi-fi, game library, and so on are going to make and break the decision, not the comparisons that that website deals in. As such the claim that the Xbox 360 is factually better than the Playstation 3 based solely on the comparisons on that website (i.e. something that is not going to influence most consumers) is nothing short of ridiculous.

For the record, despite owning both consoles I decided to buy Modern Warfare 2 on the Playstation 3. And at no point thus far has it even entered my mind as to whether or not the Xbox 360 version is better or how the graphical performances compare whilst playing the game. I highly doubt there are many Playstation 3 players who have considered it. Now that could just be because the majority of gamers are ignorant. Or maybe, just maybe, it is because the differences are so small as to have no practical relevance.

I'd suggest the latter.

Incidentally, I never did suggest that there were no differences between the consoles. Clearly there are, and in saying that I am primarily not referring to this graphical and performance comparison. My point in that respect was that using such a practically minor and technical point to 'prove' the superiority of one console over another is always going to fail whilst other far more relevant practical comparison points exist.

Marty_J

I couldn't agree with you more; there are other more important factors to consider, the most important of which is probably the game library. Though, all product comparisons deal in minutiae to a certain extent. A high-end TV's picture will be, let's face it, a bit better than a low-end TV's.

Side-by-side comparisons are done, not because the differences are so small as to be infinitesimal, but in an attempt to compare two things in an empirical fashion. With regards to the game in the above link, the supplied Xbox screenshots look much better than the Playstation ones. The differences are quite striking. I don't advance this to prove that one console is better than another; the reader can draw their own conclusions.

But to argue that graphical realism doesn't matter in a game such as MW2 seems a trifle odd given the cinematic nature of the game.

And though exclusive games do exist for all the platforms, I would hazard a guess that most people own a mix of exclusive and cross-platform titles. So a comparison of those cross-platform games would seem to be a reasonable (though by all means, not the only) factor to take into consideration.

If I had the choice of which console to purchase MW2 on, I would have gone for the Xbox 360 as the graphics look to me to be more life-like, it has higher frame-rates, faster load times, I think Xbox Live is a better service than the Playstation Network, and I much prefer the Xbox controller, especially for FPS games. Other people will have their own priorities (not much point buying it on the Xbox if all your friends have it on the PS3), and that's fine.

custardy

i went for the 360 version purely because i prefer the controller
however i now have to change my view on the console preference
for the games i prefer the 360 due to the controller
however for media streaming i have to go with the PS3,having now gone gigabit the PS3 having gigabit makes it the one to choose if this is your preference

johnny22clare

im new to this foum i read your question and understand where you are coming from i have a ps3slim and an xbox360 elite modded i will have to say the ps3 it is quieter does not take up as much space controlers are easier on the hands easier to charge the controllers you get with the console via the batterys in the xbox and havint to go out and buy a battery charger plus the ps3 has built in wireless the xbox charge extra for that privalige they also charge xtra for online gaming ps3 free online gaming and have you heard of the red ring of death for the xbox its a very common problem and very xpensive to get fix all in all i would definately recommend the ps3 the streaming is fantastic if you download ps3 media server on to your pc or laptop you can wirlessly strem practically any video music or pictures to your ps3 the ps3 wins hands down for me