Console Wars

[SWMAN]

Obviously, there are many choices for gamers when it comes to selecting the perfect console. Some go for the user/family friendly Wii, while others like handheld gaming like the PSP. Each system has their own strength's and weakness's, with both good and bad features that we are forced to deal with. Mind you, this is not a topic to hate on the console you don't have or start a big argument over which one is better. This topic is simply a discussion of why you chose your particular gaming machine. I will start...

For years, I played games on the PC. This wasn't because I thought the PC was better, but because my dad would not allow video game consoles in the house. While I liked the PC (because I didn't know any better) I was always frustrated with the limitations due to high system requirements. I had not become a problem until Empire: Total War. I bought a new graphics card, but the computer was simply too old to handle the game at decent graphics. I was determined to abandon the PC.

I got a Wii, which was fun for a wile but got boring. My dad allowed this because it was more of a family system. With games like Guitar Hero and Mario Kart with Wii is great, but for any other games like COD it isn't worth it.

So, my dad finally relented and I was able to get a HD console. I had to chose between the 360 and PS3. But, the choice was easy. Most of my friends are on the 360, which made the decision for me. Plus, we already have a Blu-Ray player, so the PS3 would have served little purpose there.

Edited January 4, 2010 by SWMAN

[prateek]

I'm getting a PS3 because most of my friends got banned from Xbox Live for modding their systems (), PSN is free, it's a good Blu-Ray player, there is Gran Turismo (which my dad likes), and you can use the internet on it, which will be highly used in my house.

[Sergiu]

I got a PS3 because a friend of mine also had a PS3(he is the only one I know who owns a PS3) so we could share games and because almost all the electronic devices my family has are Sony so it seemed a logic choice and I don't regret buying it.

After that I also bought a PS2 so that I could play PS2 games on it, this is the only reason I bought it.

[RileyC]

I chose PS3 because I grew up with the franchise. My cousin had a PS and I played that a lot. Then when the PS2s came out we bought one of them. A while after the PS3s came out we bought one because with the rise of blu ray it served a double purpose. I have rented X-boxs out of the video store but I find their controller configuration just annoying.

[The Crazy One]

I have a Wii and a PS3 and used too have an Xbox, but that kind of got destroyed.....

Personally, I loved them all. The Wii is great for families and groups, and the PS3 is amazing for gaming experience. Since I got the PS3, I have gone of Xbox's, because IMO, PS3's are better, but I can't deny I loved it when I had it, even though the controller was iffy.

Also the PS3's Blu-Ray is so good. It saves so much money rather than having to buy one.

Edited January 3, 2010 by The crazy one

[Millacol88]

I have a pretty competent PC for gaming, a Wii, and a PS3. Chose the PS3 over the 360 because we really wanted a blu-ray player (which is 200$ CAD, PS3 is 300 ). Also, the online on the PS3 is free, it has exclusives like God of War, Resistance, LBP, etc. I don't play the Wii much anymore, just equal amounts PS3 and PC.

[5150 Lego]

Cool topic SWMAN.

My first console was an Xbox. I wanted the Xbox because it carried a couple games that i really liked that were exclusive to it. I was surprised buy my girlfriend with an Xbox 360 a month after its release. Even if it wasn't a gift, i still would have preffered a 360 over a PS3 or Wii for a few reasons.

1.- I preffer racing simulators and at the time the 360 had the best selection. To this day i still preffer the game selection of the 360 over other consoles. Namely Forza Motorsports and Project Gotham racing.

2.- Online play on the 360 is by far superior to any other console.

3.- I never liked the controller of the playstation consoles. After a short time of playing the controller hurts my hands and fingers. The controller for the Xbox is much more confortable for me. And for racing sims, i feel the Xbox controller is better due to its index finger trigger. It allows you to gradually controll the speed, versus just pressing a button. Either your full on the trottle, or off. No good.

These make the 360 my preffered console.

[Siegfried]

And for racing sims, i feel the Xbox controller is better due to its index finger trigger. It allows you to gradually controll the speed, versus just pressing a button. Either your full on the trottle, or off. No good.

You are aware that the PS3 controller is the same, that is an analog travelling trigger?

Also, like the PS2 and (oddly) the first XBOX every button has a analog value, that is you can press a button harder and it registers it. It may not have the same travel as a full trigger but it can be used in exactly the same way. The XBOX 360 lost this functionality and that's the main reason why some games, such as MGS2, can't be emulated.

My console of choice is the PS3, but I still own a XBOX 360 as I wanted to play Lost Odyssey. I prefer the PS3 for many reasons, including;

1. All buttons are analog.

2. All controllers are wireless and don't need a separate battery pack or custom charge cable

3. It doesn't sound like a jet turbine. Ever. The 360 does even with the new install feature.

4. The hard drive is standard.

5. Free networking.

6. Blu-Ray. It's silly that a game like Lost Odyssey needs 4 discs!

7. Easy file and save transfer between profiles and machines that doesn't require data removal. (Most of the time.)

8. A hard drive that is easily upgradable without paying silly prices for a new one.

...entering opinion zone!

9. Better controller for fighting games. (D-Pad placement)

10. Stunning games.

11. Superior interface.

[Peppermint_M]

Well, our first console was a PSone when the PS2 was out... So as a generation behind I want a Gamecube or a Dreamcast .

We have a Wii and my annoying younger brother has an Xbox360. I am not the best of gamers, making a better player two and "point" than anything, so I don't play often. All of the games I like best and want to play go on my DS or a PS2. I like the Wii at parties, we take Mario Kart, Brawl and Guitar Hero along and have a great time. I still have no idea which "next gen" console I want as neither big dog has an exclusive I have to own. For a long time it was PS3, but then I bought myself BluRay and Final Fantasy became non-exclusive... I think it will all come down to cost when I get around to purchasing a console.

I will see what you all think about your consoles to help!

[CP5670]

I have always been a PC gamer and never found any console that attractive. Mods and a much greater level of customizability in general are the biggest draws for me. Some of the best things I played over the last year were mods for various games. Multiplayer is usually better on the PC too due to the user-made content. Other factors include mouse control for FPS and RTS games as well the superior graphics and other technical aspects. I like the higher resolutions, AA and often better framerates on the PC, and don't mind getting whatever hardware is needed to achieve that.

The one thing I do like about consoles is splitscreen gameplay, which is a lot of fun. The PC can do this too but it has hardly ever been done, and I can only think of 2 or 3 games over the years that had it.

[SWMAN]

Other factors include mouse control for FPS and RTS games as well the superior graphics and other technical aspects. I like the higher resolutions, AA and often better framerates on the PC, and don't mind getting whatever hardware is needed to achieve that.

The one thing I do like about consoles is splitscreen gameplay, which is a lot of fun. The PC can do this too but it has hardly ever been done, and I can only think of 2 or 3 games over the years that had it.

I definitely agree with you when it comes to the mouse. It makes it so much easier when it comes to FPS games to control where you are shooting and going. You can be a lot more precise with a mouse than a stick. When I first started on the 360, I missed the mouse. Now, I am used to it though. My problem with the PC was a money problem. My computer was kind of low-end, and I didn't feel like spending a lot of money to get a really nice gaming one. I would upgrade the ram and video card, but the computer was just too old.

And you are right, consoles make it much easier to play with someone while not being online with split-screen. One time I made a copy of a game onto another disc so me and my brother could play each other online on separate computers.

[Big Cam]

I see this thread as being a huge arguement pretty soon so I will offer my point of view and then i won't post again, becasue I don't want to be apart of this nasty arguement.

I used to be a playstation fanboy for the longest time. I had a regular playstation and then a PS2 for years and years, along with every Nintendo system up until the Wii.

Then the xbox came out and I rented one a few times but couldn't justify the proce of one, and a few more years went on and I got an XBOX 360 and it has served my interest for 3 years now and is in no threat of being out dated. The PS3 was very late to the game and nothing worked at first. The online gameplay is still horrible and yes I've played one quite a few times actually, a few of my friends have one. Honestly the only good thing about it is the fact that it's a Blu-Ray player, I mean it can't even stream netflix without a disc in the machine, and this has only been available for a few months, where the XBOX could do it with a 6megabyte download.

Basically for me the online play and online community is 100% better on the XBOX and the PS3 will always be left in the dust, especially since there is a rumor of a new 360 with a blu-ray player but with Netflix this isnm't as important.

Playstation lost a loyal customer and microsoft picked one up.

The Wii is a fun novelty device but that's about it, for regular play it's just annoying.

[The Crazy One]

I think generally people's opinions are going to be on what they got first. If you get the Xbox first, you think the PS have rubbish controls and vice versa.

I got a PS first, then PS2, then an Xbox. I enjoyed it, but when I got the PS3 I just thought, ' OWNED '.

[Siegfried]

I see this thread as being a huge arguement pretty soon so I will offer my point of view and then i won't post again, becasue I don't want to be apart of this nasty arguement.

I hope you don't try this debating style in pubs. I can just imagine it; you poke your head in one, yell "The Yankees are hopeless!", and then run...

The PS3 was very late to the game and nothing worked at first.

Late? Perhaps, but the way I see it is that the 360 was early and Sony did the responsible thing and didn't release unfinished hardware. The 360 on the other hand was not ready. It had/has major heat issues even though it has an external power brick the size of an actual brick and sounds louder than the average AC unit. It had no HDMI and the system software was the most horrid, ugly and user unfriendly interface I've even seen. To keep prices down features were made "optional", such as the hard drive and the wireless controllers. The backwards compatibility wasn't finished and needed the "optional" hard drive.

The fact is Sony had no reason to rush out an unfinished console as the PS2 was and is selling very well, but Microsoft had no choice. For one, due to a horrid mistake, Microsoft was paying a fixed price for parts so they were unable to drop prices, even though the parts were cheaper to make. Secondly the Xbox wasn't selling as well as hoped. (I didn't mind it and I still use mine for MGS2.) But most of all, the GPU made my Nvidia was discontinued in August 2005. Thus if they delayed the 360 they would have had nothing to sell...

In what way didn't the PS3 work though?

The online gameplay is still horrible and yes I've played one quite a few times actually, a few of my friends have one.

Why? It works, even in Australia. I don't have to pay for it either.

Honestly the only good thing about it is the fact that it's a Blu-Ray player, I mean it can't even stream netflix without a disc in the machine, and this has only been available for a few months, where the XBOX could do it with a 6megabyte download.

That's just nonsense. I don't give a hoot about streaming video due to excessive bandwidth costs in Australia, and I own about 5 Blu-Ray discs. I use my PS3 for games, and I use it a lot more than my 360. I've actually got several new games to play for my 360 but I'm enjoying playing Uncharted 2 for the second time too much! I wouldn't stream movies anyway; I prefer a physical copy that I can keep.

Basically for me the online play and online community is 100% better on the XBOX and the PS3 will always be left in the dust, especially since there is a rumor of a new 360 with a blu-ray player but with Netflix this isnm't as important.

I don't believe that one... and even if it's true it's too late. They would still be forced to sell game on DVD which misses most of the point of Blu-Ray.

Feel free to not reply, but I couldn't let that post stand unopposed.

[Steel Dragon]

I grew up with PlayStation (my first videogame EVER was the original Spyro the Dragon, an amazing game), and have the PS2 now, but hope to someday own a PS3.

I voted for both PS and PS2 due to backwards compatibility .

[Siegfried]

For a long time it was PS3, but then I bought myself BluRay and Final Fantasy became non-exclusive... I think it will all come down to cost when I get around to purchasing a console.

There is no guarantee that FF13 will make it to the 360. They have permission to do it, but it's due in March and they have been awful quiet. It won't be sold in Japan so it seems like a lot of expensive work just for the westerners. Word is it'll be multi-disc.

Traditionally Square are late with ports and I think the massive work converting a PS3 title to the XBOX360 will delay the western release.

On the positive side, I do recommend Lost Odyssey on the 360! The sound track is by Nobuo Uematsu and it's written by the same guy that created the Final Fantasy series.

...oh and I own a Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PS, Nintendo DS, PSP... plus two Amigas and an Atari ST!

[quietworkshop]

As far as the poll goes, I have a PS3 because I use it to watch Bluray media ( I own about 15) and DVDs. I don't own a single game for it, but, when Gran Turismo 5 comes out, that'll change!

As far as gaming goes; my primary gaming rig is my PC. I couldn't afford console games if I wanted to...I'd always choose LEGO! PC games are another story, though.

I've got an ATI HD5870 and an E8500 Wolfdale running the show and that's more then enough for me, especially so given that I'm a very casual gamer and mostly play older stuff (Dungeon Siege, Skies of Arcadia(DC), Gothic 2, SH2, Far Cry, HL2, etc) occasionally. I did enjoy Bioshock and Crysis however :)

Edited January 4, 2010 by quietworkshop

[Ratbat]

I got a Wii. I've always been a Nintendo fan, Mario for the most part. I like the fact that Nintendo tried doing something new, and it was a success.

[Siegfried]

Skies of Arcadia

Is that as good a game as they say? I first heard about that game as Sega re-used the characters from that game in Valkyria Chronicles. (Great PS3 game by the way... ) I've actually been considering buying a GameCube and finding a copy of the port.

[The Who]

Well, way back when I first got a PS1, I knew the graphics were lacking, but I loved it anyway. When I got a PS2, I loved it even more, and the graphics on some games I thought to be amazing, but once in a while were still lacking something. Now I just got my PS3 for Christmas, and you could probably guess that I think it is absolutely amazing. The graphics are excellent, and there are many more things to do other than playing games. (I know, that didn't sound smart. ) I just don't know how they could make a PS4 better.

[CP5670]

As far as gaming goes; my primary gaming rig is my PC. I couldn't afford console games if I wanted to...I'd always choose LEGO! PC games are another story, though.

This is useful to keep in mind. The initial cost of a console is usually cheaper than PC gaming hardware, but the games cost more and don't fall in price nearly as fast, so you may end up spending more in the end if you get a lot of games. Microsoft and Sony both sell their consoles at a loss and make money from game licensing fees.

[5150 Lego]

You are aware that the PS3 controller is the same, that is an analog travelling trigger?

You are correct. But the trigger on the PS3 controller doesn't feel like a trigger to me. And has minimal travel. Also the trigger was just part of the reason. The whole feel of the controller just doesn't feel right. To small and skinny.

Also, like the PS2 and (oddly) the first XBOX every button has a analog value, that is you can press a button harder and it registers it. It may not have the same travel as a full trigger but it can be used in exactly the same way. The XBOX 360 lost this functionality and that's the main reason why some games, such as MGS2, can't be emulated.

Ya, i remeber this feature being on my orignal Xbox, but never cared for it. For racing, it was useless. As you said, minimal travel and very difficult to controll your revs with a button. I don't miss this feature from my Orignal Xbox at all.

My console of choice is the PS3, but I still own a XBOX 360 as I wanted to play Lost Odyssey. I prefer the PS3 for many reasons, including;

2. All controllers are wireless and don't need a separate battery pack or custom charge cable

But you still need to charge your controller regaurdless. And if the charge runs out while playing, you need to plug it in to the console. Alot easier to just replace a couple of batteries.

3. It doesn't sound like a jet turbine. Ever. The 360 does even with the new install feature.

I will give you that the PS3 is virtualy stealth. I've only had the turbine sound on one game i have. Other than that its not bad at all.

4. The hard drive is standard.

Yes, but it also costs more. And the big hard drive is not standard.

Why? It works, even in Australia. I don't have to pay for it either.

It still doesn't even come close to the online comunity of the 360.

Edited January 5, 2010 by 5150 Lego

[Siegfried]

You are correct. But the trigger on the PS3 controller doesn't feel like a trigger to me. And has minimal travel.

That I do agree with. The XBOX 360 trigger is superior.

But you still need to charge your controller regaurdless. And if the charge runs out while playing, you need to plug it in to the console. Alot easier to just replace a couple of batteries.

I hate using Alkalines, and the 360 is very picky with rechargeables. Since I have three PS3 controllers (two for the kids so they don't trash mine!) I just leave one on charge while playing.

I will give you that the PS3 is virtualy stealth. I've only had the turbine sound on one game i have. Other than that its not bad at all.

It was horrid with Lost Odyssey as it's always loading. The problem is mostly caused by the DVD drive so the install mostly solves it. Mostly...

Yes, but it also costs more. And the big hard drive is not standard.

True but I bought a 120GB 2 years ago for $100 AUD. The XBOX 120GB drive still costs more at $199.95 AUD. For this reason I'm still using the 20GB.

It still doesn't even come close to the online comunity of the 360.

I hear that a lot, and I don't get it. But I must confess on-line gaming doesn't excite me. I like the stories of games most of all and I don't do multi-player much. I do however do Soul Calibur on-line as my wife gets grumpy when I beat her....

[Mraz Skintas]

My console of choice is the 360. I've had the same one since they first came out in 05, I think it was, and have had no problems with it. I prefer the 360 because it seems like the best console for shooters, and that's what I mainly play. I've played a couple of shooters for the PS3, but the triggers on that controller don't feel triggery enough, and you can't play Halo on the PS3. Another reason is backwards compatability. It always seemed to me that less PS2 games were backwards compatable compared to the Original Xbox to the 360, if that made any sense at all. While I own several PCs, a PS3, a Wii, a Sega Genesis, and two 360s, I will usually only play the 360s.

-'Skintas

[Sir Dano]

I'm loyal to Sony for home consoles, mainly because of Gran Turismo and Final Fantasy, and Nintendo keeps my handheld patronage with Pokemon and Mario.

When it comes to Bioware RPGs I prefer the PC though, due to the modding communities that always pop up for their games.

I mean it can't even stream netflix without a disc in the machine

IIRC, the only reason you need a disc is due to a loophole in the 'exclusive' contract Netflix signed with Micro$oft to only have streaming on the Xbox360.