Looking to buy a console need help choosing

[Tekoa]

I faced the same dilemma during the summer, eventually buying a PS3. Many posters have made an excellent point that many of the big name games are either out for both systems already or will be released for both systems. Personally, I picked the Ps3 because I saw it as a better investment in the long run.

If I'm not mistaken, Xbox 360 can only reach up to 1080i graphics whereas Ps3 can reach up to 1080p. So from a graphics standpoint, Ps3 wins, though that wasn't what sealed the deal for me. I also wanted a blu-ray player and the Ps3 met that need as well.

In terms of cost, I took this standpoint. When I was looking at the xbox360, a wireless adapter was about $100.00. My Ps3 came with one already in it, so the cost went from $450.00, to roughly $350.00 and it game with MGS4, a game I would have bought anyway so that cut the price down to about $300.00. Mind you, this was before the Xbox holiday price cuts so the Ps3 looked fantastic. I'm not sure if the 360 comes with a wireless adapter now but you should factor that into the cost if it doesn't. Or if your just running an ethernet cable straight to the system then you have no worries ^^

I ended up buying the MGS4 Ps3 bundle last summer and haven't been disappointed in the least.

[Isiolia]

If I'm not mistaken, Xbox 360 can only reach up to 1080i graphics whereas Ps3 can reach up to 1080p. So from a graphics standpoint, Ps3 wins, though that wasn't what sealed the deal for me. I also wanted a blu-ray player and the Ps3 met that need as well.

They both do 1080p, which more often than not is a lower resolution being upscaled anyway. The 360 was updated to do 1080p after its initial release...but then, the PS3's supported outputs were also updated.

[Calina]

have a gigabit gaming router and plenty of cable so going with that over wireless.ive had nothing but problems with wireless here i sware this place was built to block the signals.router i had wouldent even reach the pc in the next room threw the wall even tho the PC was right on other side of the wall.where in my uncles house i tried it out to see if it was just the router and it reached both floors and the basement with ease.

But wired will be faster anyway so iam happy with how it turned out and running the cable's was easy just along the baseboard.

and from a graphics standpoint i think PS3 will take an even bigger lead over 360 then just p over i.Was reading how sony made it hard to program for the PS3 most see this as a bad thing but all that means to me is that the future PS3 games will look alot better then anything 360 can put out.

well my minds made up at this point i guess as long as the price drop comes but even if it dosent maybe ill get it anyway tho ill prolly wait till like may or june befor i give up on a price drop.

[Isiolia]

and from a graphics standpoint i think PS3 will take an even bigger lead over 360 then just p over i.Was reading how sony made it hard to program for the PS3 most see this as a bad thing but all that means to me is that the future PS3 games will look alot better then anything 360 can put out.

The only people that "harder to program for" translates into something good for is Sony marketing.

Easier it is to program for a system, the less time and money it takes. Which can mean that companies are willing to put out games that are less of a "sure thing" on the system.

It's not as though the PS3 has resources that are only there for the truly dedicated or something. Sure, it's architecture is harder to eke full power out of...but it also has straight up limitations that have to be worked around. For example, it has separate RAM and video RAM where the 360 has shared memory, which allows the developers to utilize system resources as they see fit. (example of a dev complaining about this Wheelman: Midway Dev Explains Why PS3 Development Is "A Pain In The Ass" )

IMO, Sony's statement there was probably more to encourage the other thing that dev said. If you're doing cross platform development (which is most games these days), start on the PS3. It's easier to port from the PS3 than to the PS3, because it's the more troublesome platform.

[SephYuyX]

Buy a laptop and pirate PC, PS1, PS2, XBOX, GC, Wii, 360, PS3, GBs, DS, PSP, DC, NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, Atari, CD-i, Jaguar, etcetcetc.

[Tyche]

Easier it is to program for a system, the less time and money it takes. Which can mean that companies are willing to put out games that are less of a "sure thing" on the system.

I know this sounds true logically, but it isn't the case. One of the best things about a PS3 is Sony allowing games that aren't the norm, Flow, Flower, Eden, Echochrome, etc. Sony is a much better platform to find these kinds of niche titles.

[Isiolia]

That's Sony's licensing, not the difficulty of the platform to develop for that makes them happen. Some of the other shifts though, like the inexplicable targeting of the 360 for JRPGs, might be more indicative of what happens when larger budgets are involved.

[Ollieyk]

PS3 go! MGS4 is amazing, Killzone 2 is amazing, Little Big Planet is awsome.
Seems to me that PS3 is just starting to build up steam while 360 is at about it's peak - popularity wise.

[Tyche]

That's Sony's licensing, not the difficulty of the platform to develop for that makes them happen. Some of the other shifts though, like the inexplicable targeting of the 360 for JRPGs, might be more indicative of what happens when larger budgets are involved.

But your statement seemed focused toward saying that these small companies aren't willing to put out these small indie type titles since the development could cost more, and that certainly isn't the case. I think the JRPG to 360 craze is just Microsoft throwing money at devs so they can really dip into the japanese market for hardware sales. It's certainly worked, a pretty brilliant long-term strategy, as the 360 outsold the Wii and PS3 in Japan when Star Ocean (as well as infinite undiscovery) hit.

[Isiolia]

But your statement seemed focused toward saying that these small companies aren't willing to put out these small indie type titles since the development could cost more, and that certainly isn't the case.

I wasn't saying indie titles. Just in general. Most indie titles aren't exactly stressing the hardware in the first place, and XBox Live has some there too, like Braid. 'course, neither even come close to what the PC has for those sorts of things.

Also, MS may be throwing money at devs...why should we assume Sony isn't trying for that too? IMO, Sony just went at the PS3 as a Blu-ray penetration device first, game
machine second.

Still, when it comes to downloadable "indie" games that are generally barely scratching the surface of what the system can do...it's mostly going to be about the publishing agreements n' such I think. Probably could be considered part of "ease of development" as well, but not exactly what I meant =P

[zoobernut]

PS3 go! MGS4 is amazing, Killzone 2 is amazing, Little Big Planet is awsome.
Seems to me that PS3 is just starting to build up steam while 360 is at about it's peak - popularity wise.

I find this hard to believe since there was a massive surge in 360 sales last month in both Japan and the US and in Japan it was the #1 selling console over everything else. I doubt it has peaked yet.

[Tyche]

Well, Sony knew they had the Japanese market cornered, so I'm sure they didn't feel the need to try to franchise a lot of those JRPGs. As far as state-side console installs, I don't think JRPGs are a really huge hit over here. Sure, the large powerhouses will do well, such as Final Fantasy, but they aren't moving a huge number like the GTAs, Maddens, and Call of Duty's. Sony is going to have a great Japanese install, but it wouldn't be worth it to throw huge dollar amounts at the JRPGs, which, for the most part, won't sell systems in america in a large enough number to make fiscal sense.

[zoobernut]

That is very true I think it is stupid to call any of the three consoles superior over others, in the end all you are arguing is your own preference to make you feel better about your purchase.

This era of console gaming has changed drastically from previous generations in that there is clearly not going to be a single winner as most people own multiple consoles and each one has its own stuff to offer. The market is now large enough to accommodate all three.

I know from talking to friends at development companies that there have been quite a few issues developing for the ps3 because it takes more resources and is more difficult as well as getting the GDK from sony is extremely expensive while the xbox360 can be hooked directly to a pc. It is the same issue with the Wii, Nintendo has a tendency to make developing games for their system difficult and expensive as part of their quality control.

In the end all three consoles will do fine and will have awesome games that are exclusive.

[BadKarma]

Yep, these days you're pretty safe on Live with a modded 360, as long as you don't do dumb things like jump on multiplayer servers before they're officially released etc.

Which is why i said if you dont want to play on xbox live, i should have said
"This if you dont want to play on xbox live, right away"

[Darkprophecy]

Ok ive been putting off getting a console for over 2 years now mostly cuase of price of PS3 and my hatred for the original xbox.now with a possible price drop to 300 on the ps3 iam looking to buy.But ive gotten over my hating on 360 after buying a 360 controller for my pc to play GTA4 and found i loved the controller layout and trigger buttons.... so now iam torn between the 2

iam leaning towards PS3 right now because of:

1) Blu ray
2) Gran Turismo 5 coming later this year and PS3 exclusive as far as i know
3) MGS4 PS3 exclusive
4) easily able to slap in a 500gb HDD

What id like help with is what good points does it have vs ps3 and what exclusives is the 360 ganna have since iam not really up on the whole 360 scene so anything you can tell me would be appreciated thanks^^

MSG4 will hit 360... Can get 120g HD for xbox standard on elite console and only good things i can think bout PS3 are GT5 and blueray... But you also gotta look at are you gonna be a internet junkie gamer *(I'd pick 360 for this)* Just cause I played on both and own 360 and PS3 network is just junk imho...

[Wrathbone]

I own both a PS3 and a 360.Personall, its hard to determine a fave. With all things in life, it's about getting exactly what your looking for. But that can be hard to those joining the console fray. I love the holy fuck out of my 360. Functionality, library of games, LIVE.

But, for some odd reason I still cant seem to touch upon, I-fucking-love my PS3. Only have a few games for it, some movies, some other reasons I cant recall atm... But I could never see myself not owning one. BTW, Needs moar games.MGS4 is siiiick, Call of Duty 4, Resistance 2, if your looking for some solid shooters. SOCOM: Confrontations, tho not a contender in the sense of a heavy hitter in the genre, it has it's moments. (Join a good clan, you'll see).

Fallout3 (If u dont have it on PC). 1st single player RPG to ever overwhelm me. Soon as I could make my own choices, I stood their, str8 stupified... wth to go...? (in the best possible way).

Kinda distracted myself. Do a lil homework, play what ya can where ya can, and figure out what will satify your console itch.

@ Calina: slapping a 500gb into cousins PS3 was the 1st thing he did, and accompanied it with ???GB note book. Secksi shit, but I still cant help callin it a $1200 TiVO lol.

[Furtwangler]

I don't think mgs4 will be coming to the 360, guy that made it went on record a while ago saying he won't be doing it around E3 time last year i remember reading it. Anyways my friend has a ps3 and I have a 360.

If you have an HDTV and want blu ray the ps3 is definatley the most functional and well priced blu ray player out there.
PS3 has a few exclusives like MGS4, Little Big planet, Killzone?, few others
Technically better potential hardware wise but that is just starting to be seen now
Ps3 has the ease to upgrade HDD and it not be super pricey

360 has a wayyy better network, better online integration and play period. Although the ps3 has a few exclusives, the 360 has way more mainstream ones IMO, and all the square RPGs were also added to the 360. In addition to things like Gears, the 360 is tuned more to the FPS and multiplayer person, as the controller demonstrates. Only real negative thing at this point for the 360 is the hard drive sizes, so buy elite if you do. Also if you have Netflix the 360 partnered with them now so you can stream movies free of any additional charge to your 360 like you would your PC.

Overall I'd pick a 360 because I'm just into those games more. It seems that the 360 has everything the PS3 has for mainstream games minus a few, but they are an important few (MGS4, LBP etc)