Anyone still on the fence for a 360/PS3?

[courtesi96]

First and foremost it's been games/corporate behavior/quality have been holding me back.

First the games...

Nothing currently released makes me want to pick one up. The only two official titles that have my interest are Left4Dead and Colonial Marines. Colonial Marines may not even be on this list because it sounds like all the multiplayer stuff is co-op (lame.)

The other games that I hope are released is Starcraft 2 and Dawn of War 2 (both RTS.) Unfortunately these two titles are not officially slated for console consumption.

Second corporate behavior...

Back in 1999 you could buy a Sega Dreamcast w/ a keyboard and mouse and play games with them. Now it seems like pulling teeth to use these peripherals. PS3 has been better in this regard with games like Unreal Tournament having been programmed for them. But what the F*#( is up with Microsoft?


I know someone will come on here and say, "BUY A PC" Truth is, I have a semi decent Linux box that does most everything I need (web, surf, irc, e-mail, etc.) and can't see dropping a load for a gaming pc.


Anyone still on the fence for games they like?

[Nophix]

I love my 360, but I've been on the fence about a PS3 since they were released. I have never been a huge fan of the PS controllers, and the PS3 offered nothing in the way of exciting exclusives or incentives to buy one at the original relesae price. Since then, anything I really want has been released on the PC or 360 as well as the PS3. The only exclusives I have wanted to play are the Gran Turismo stuff, which isn't even fully released yet, MGS4, and Little Big Planet. So, 3 titles, 1 of which has yet to be seen. The only other thing making me want one is the BR playback, but a good BR player is now cheaper than the PS3(finally).

[skaar]

It's so cheap for a console these days, it seems more like you're shooting yourself in the foot by not bothering to purchase one if you're a gamer.

Electronic games have never been cheaper to jump in and enjoy. You're looking at a few hundred bucks for a console new and the games are basically disposable these days. So cheap to pick up a few "late" titles a few months behind the curve and just enjoy the hell out of them.

So pick yourself up a console or sit on the fence and miss a whole generation of gaming. You're not hurting anyone but yourself by not doing so.

Or maybe it's the rum talking? Who knows?

It's not a PC, it's a console. Go have fun.

[gepeto]

You know I was going to start a post today on how this year is such a great year for gaming. We have had some excellent games this year just in the past few months. There is a little something for everyone.
For me it is a great time for gaming. Each system has had a decent year. Why is it Nothing currently released makes me want to pick one up? Nothing?

[Poofta!]

i have a 360, ps3 and a gaming rig (i just exited fallout 3 after playing it for about 6 hours).

you can build a top notch gaming rig for ~800$ and definitely less depending on what you desire. this looks like the way for you since most of what you named are pc titles or at least designed with pc in mind (or best on pc).

aside from that, if you cannot find anything interesting on the consoles, then youre simply not a gamer really... that or havent given anything even a chance. find a friend with a game, rent a few top games people recommend, and spend the night playing. then make up your mind.

[ProgrammingAce]

Microsoft does not allow keyboards/mice because they do not want people to regard the 360 as a "computer". It is a gaming console. This way there is not confusion.

[Kid Ice]

It's so cheap for a console these days, it seems more like you're shooting yourself in the foot by not bothering to purchase one if you're a gamer.

Agreed. At this point it's starting to make sense to just go ahead and get all three.

[otoko]

Agreed. At this point it's starting to make sense to just go ahead and get all three.

I don't know.. I bought the Wii at release day, but I purchased my 360 not until recently.

I still haven't the money for the PS3, plus I don't really see anything I absolutely have to have for it yet. It'll probably be the one of the three I buy after the market for it has died. Like the Xbox.

(I have nothing to say... /ok)

[Kid Ice]

I don't know.. I bought the Wii at release day, but I purchased my 360 not until recently.

I still haven't the money for the PS3, plus I don't really see anything I absolutely have to have for it yet. It'll probably be the one of the three I buy after the market for it has died. Like the Xbox.

(I have nothing to say... /ok)

So we agree the Wii and 360 are both worth owning.

Here's what one (not necessarily *you*) might want a PS3 for:

-Blu Ray
-a better media player than the 360
-PSP support
-those few exclusives worth having....Resistance 1 + 2, Wipeout HD, Little Big Planet, MGS4, Super Stardust...surely something of interest to any gamer here

Ten years ago it was commonplace for dedicated gamers to own a PSX, N64, and a Saturn. I think a couple years ago the PS3 was too expensive and it didn't have enough exclusives...that's not the case anymore. And the whole "Wii doesn't have enough good games" thing has expired as well.

[scooterb23]

The PS3 is the only of the current systems I don't own yet. Going off of Kid Ice's list there...as it is a good one.

- I have no interest in Blu-Ray
- I have a spare computer setup as a media player, so that's a non-issue
- PSP Support could be a good thing, I don't know much about how the two are supposed to interact.
- the games aren't *quite* there for me yet. I'm still at only 3-4 games that have really made me want a PS3. I'd probably play the other big games at some point, but not many of them have really done much for me.

So, I expect to get a PS3, possibly in 09, but there need to be more games that really interest me before I'll commit to a jomp.

[Daft Punk]

I have been wanting to get a ps3 , but Im not going to buy one while there is still good ps2 games to play since they were stupid and took out backwards compatibility.

[Leo_A]

I've had a Xbox 360 for two years now, purchased a Playstation 3 today. Got the 80 gig model for 299 at Wal-Mart's sale this morning.

Sucks that it doesn't have PS2 compatibility, but its going to be hooked up to a hd display and I have a perfectly good PS2 hooked up to my sd tv still.

[Mister_Pal]

FYI the 80 gig PS3 does have some backwards compatibility with the PS2 and PsOne. They are basically doing the same thing that is being done on the 360 with sofware emulation and what not. Plus if you can get a 60 gig second hand that has almost full compatibility.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

FYI the 80 gig PS3 does have some backwards compatibility with the PS2 and PsOne. They are basically doing the same thing that is being done on the 360 with sofware emulation and what not. Plus if you can get a 60 gig second hand that has almost full compatibility.

At the present time, no new retail PS3 SKUs have PS2 backwards compatibility.

You can still probably find one new at retail or online that does...but Sony is pretty much eliminating it for the time being.

As far as being on the fence about PS3 or 360 ... if you actually pick one or both up, you'll likely find applications and software that you really enjoy that you wouldn't otherwise have known about...sometimes it takes actual ownership to make the difference.

[kedawa]

I refuse to buy a 360 because of the ads in the Live interface and the fact that they force unwanted updates on users. I don't want to make a stupid avatar, I don't want movies on my game system, I don't want the system interface popping up during gameplay to tell me my e-penis has grown, and I refuse to pay for unfinished console software and then have to download patches to plug all the holes.
The PS3 isn't much better, and the Wii just plain sucks.
I didn't think I'd ever say this, but console gaming is almost as much of a pain in the ass as PC gaming, but without the freedom and customization that a PC offers.

To be honest, I'm just not all that impressed with any of the current systems. The graphics are getting sharper and glossier, but most games just rely on the same superficial smoke and mirrors to paint a pretty facade over the same dated gameplay and physics paradigms.

Of course there are great games coming out, there always are, but modern consoles just bring so much unwanted baggage with them that I'd rather just stick with PS2 and classic stuff.

[geneshifter]

I have a Wii, 360 and a gaming rig. I had a PS3.

For me, I used to be hardcore PC. I never had a console from the SNES generation nor the last generation. I just played PC games. I am now a console gamer primarily. I still play some PC games, mostly BF2 (which none of the console version can touch), Crysis, STALKER, Age of Empires, Company of Heroes and most other RTS games.

As far as consoles, I actually sold my PS3 a while back because of the lack of exclusives and also because the third-party games were more fun for me on XBOX Live due to the awesome multiplayer experience.

The 360 and Wii combination is it for me in terms of games and media center. I'll always keep a beefy PC rig to play a few games here and there, but for the most part I am a console gamer having switched to them for my FPS fix. The Live service and having all my friends on there just makes it much more fun for me even in spite of the RRoD. Next generation, though, if they still have crap hardware, I'm out no matter how fantastic it is. All my friends are of the same opinion so it'll be easy to migrate at that time to the PS3 or some other Nintendo console for our gaming.

So, to answer your question, I certainly understand your trepidation about consoles these days. But I think you'd like the Wii. I would suggest staying away from the 360 now and go with a PS3 since you'd be new to this generation and it'll be great someday soon. I would do the same thing if I were coming in fresh.

[Drifter 2000]

I refuse to buy a 360 because of the ads in the Live interface and the fact that they force unwanted updates on users. I don't want to make a stupid avatar, I don't want movies on my game system, I don't want the system interface popping up during gameplay to tell me my e-penis has grown

To be fair all consoles force the updates on users, movies are optional, and you can turn the achievement notice off so it doesn't pop up during game play. Avatars are optional too, but I agree that less focus on things like Avatars would be nice.

I own both the 360 and PS3 (had a Wii but sold it) and the 360 gets much more use over all. The last PS3 game I bought was MGS4, and in fact it's the last game I played on my PS3 period. I really just use it as a DVD/Blu-Ray player. The 360 gets continual play time not only from brick and mortar releases but also from the FANTASTIC XBOX Live Arcade.

The Live Arcade is a big seller for me. Lots of classic titles, new titles, and reworked classics. Pac Man Championship Edition in particular is one of my favorite games released in years, it's just superb. Duke Nukem 3D, Castle Crasher, Galaga Legions, Braid, Vigilante 8, Carcassone, etc all get major play time from me. PSN's downloadable selection is solid but doesn't really compare IMO.

That's one area you should really pay attention to, especially if you're into retro style gaming. While this generation of games has basically been rather pricey and sometimes less than stellar the area of downloadable games has really started to shine.

[kedawa]

Yeah, XBLA is by far the most tempting aspect of the 360 for me. I'd say at least half of the games that interest me on the system are XBLA games.
I'm just not happy with the direction the industry is going with mainstream releases.
I just want to flip on the power and play, and most game these days have several minutes of loading, splash-screens, intro movies, and menus to wade through before you can actually play them. I just played Gears of War 2 for the first time last night, and by the time I got to actually kill something, I could have been halfway through the first episode of Quake. It's a fun game, don't get me wrong, but it could stand to be a little more focused.
I'm also fearful of the trend toward microtransaction and DLC exploitation. There may well be a good use for these business models, but nickel and diming people that have already payed for a game just isn't right.
It also doesn't help that all of the first-party controllers are overpriced and horribly flawed in one way or another.

[scaleworm]

We have all 3 systems, just finally got a ps3 two weeks ago... found a 60 gig with the 4 usb ports up front... no emulator for me thank you in BC.

Like all 3 systems, they all 3 have good games and all 3 are useful for other apps.

USED is the way to go... got a used Wii with 4 controllers/nunchucks guitar hero super mario galaxy zelda metal slug... and a ps3 with a bluray ps3 remote monster component and two controllers for less than a new 60 gig ps3 at launch...

one word: PAWNSHOP.

gets ya all 3 rather inexpensively... (working on the halo 3 360 next...)

[shopkins]

I've had a 360 for a couple of years, but I didn't really feel any desire to get a PS3 until I got an HDTV. Now I think it would be nice to have for the BluRay and the few exclusives that look interesting, but I'm holding out until I can find a 60 gig model because I'd like to try the backward compatibility.

[Leo_A]

I thought I wanted PS2 backwards compatibility, but all I ever see at places like AVS were complaints that it doesn't quite work right, so I decided it wasn't important enough for me to pay a premium for it.

My thinking was it would be nice to take advantage of my widescreen capable PS2 titles without them looking horrible on a HDTV, but if you turn on upscaling, it seems to mess up the aspect ratio if your trying to play on a hdtv with widescreen PS2 titles, and isn't displayed correctly. So you either turn upscaling off, which means you might as well use your PS2, or turn it on and not have the correct AR.

Here is the thread that basically convinced me to wait for a deal and not pay extra for BC. I'm sticking to playing my PS2 games on a PS2 hooked up with component to a 4:3 CRT.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1064501&highlight=upscaling

[shopkins]

I thought I wanted PS2 backwards compatibility, but all I ever see at places like AVS were complaints that it doesn't quite work right, so I decided it wasn't important enough for me to pay a premium for it.

My thinking was it would be nice to take advantage of my widescreen capable PS2 titles without them looking horrible on a HDTV, but if you turn on upscaling, it seems to mess up the aspect ratio if your trying to play on a hdtv with widescreen PS2 titles, and isn't displayed correctly. So you either turn upscaling off, which means you might as well use your PS2, or turn it on and not have the correct AR.

Here is the thread that basically convinced me to wait for a deal and not pay extra for BC. I'm sticking to playing my PS2 games on a PS2 hooked up with component to a 4:3 CRT.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1064501&highlight=upscaling

Yeah, I've heard bad things. And I recently hooked my PS2 up through component and it doesn't really look that bad. I'd like to be able to see it for myself, I guess, although if I could find one for around the same price as the later models I'd definitely go with the 60gb and try my luck.

[DeputyMoniker]

Yeah, I'm on the fence. Game selection and graphical history sends me straight to the 360. The more I learn of that deplorable warranty, though...I'm taking a second look at the PS3. Say what you will about it but at least it works better than the 360.

[Sniderman]

Yeah, I'm on the fence. Game selection and graphical history sends me straight to the 360. The more I learn of that deplorable warranty, though...I'm taking a second look at the PS3. Say what you will about it but at least it works better than the 360.

I took the next gen plunge this weekend and picked up a 360. I am a Sony fanboy though, so this was a hard decision. But...

1. I don't want to pay an extra $200 for a built-in Blu Ray DVD player that will never be used in my lifetime.
2. The game selection for both is similar since a lot of games are being release across both consoles.
3. Of the games that are console-exclusive, I'm finding more "Oooh!" games on the 360 platform.
4. As much as I like the (somewhat more extensive) backwards compatibility of the PS3, the 360 is backwards compatible with my favorites in my Xbox collection, so that's hardly a deal-killer for me.
5. I have no intention of online play, so Xbox Live vs. Playstation Network is a non-issue. Don't care which is better as I have no interest in either.

The only thing that makes me nervous is the well-documented failure rate of the 360. I picked up one of the new Arcade units hoping that version may be less buggy. I may have good luck. I picked up my PS2 on launch day and, though the system's issues were legendary, mine has been working great with nary a hiccup. So we'll see what happens.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Yeah, I've heard bad things. And I recently hooked my PS2 up through component and it doesn't really look that bad. I'd like to be able to see it for myself, I guess, although if I could find one for around the same price as the later models I'd definitely go with the 60gb and try my luck.

While I can't speak for the PS2 compatibility emulated 80 Gig PS3 (I have a 60 Gig), I'd say that rumors of the PS3's "upscaling" features being anything less than a GOOD feature are greatly exaggerated.

I've played probably 100 different PS2 games on my PS3 over the past few years with and without the upscaling on (on classic collections sometimes I want to see the sprites in their original form) and I've never encountered any type of stretching or strangeness in the way the image is displayed on a widescreen set.

I run my PS3 on a Panasonic 52 inch LCD through HDMI for what it's worth on a technical standpoint.

That thread over at that HD Video forum makes me laugh from the get-go, especially the first post.

"I HAVE ZERO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PS3 .... MY ONLY COMPLAINT (about the PS3) IS:"

[DeputyMoniker]

I picked up one of the new Arcade units hoping that version may be less buggy.

Makes sense to me. I, too, had good luck with my launch PS2. I did, however, experience the "DRE" around '06 and again in '07 but I just open it up, clean the lens with a q-tip and alcohol, and it's back to normal. Takes me about 20 minutes and I played the crap out of it for nearly 6 years before that started.

Yeah, 360 has some good looking exclusives but anything is better than nothing, which is what I'm afraid I'll end up with if the system goes bad. I'd still pick one up if I were to find a really good deal on one. On the other hand, a good deal on the system could still leave me with a stack of software I wasted my money on. It's like being on a diet. "Don't eat that...sure does look delicious...don't do it..." Lol. Grats on the 360, though. Hope it works out!

[demen999]

I want a 360 now, due to having certain priorities I dont buy one. But I am afraid it will turn out to be a ps2 (I barely played it), all the games felt the same. Explosion here, gun over there, cool character and crap.

[BenG76]

Well after being on the fence for a while I finally got a XBOX 360 Sunday. I got the 60 GB version that comes with Kung Fu Panda and Lego Indiana Jones included. I like it so far and have been playing the heck out of the Kung Fu Panda game.

[Chainsaw_Charlie]

There's only like 3 games that I would want a PS3 for and I already have the wii/360

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

i'd love to get a 60gb ps3, but

a) don't have $300+ bucks to throw around
b) wouldn't pay $300 for any system where the majority of games i want to play are on a system i already have (360)
c) i have no interest in bluray

so the ps3 falls into the "would be nice" category. i'll get one when it drops below $150. by that time the ps4 will prob be out.

[AMG]

The only thing holding me back on the X360 is the durability of the machine. It has more than enough good games now to warrant a purchase. But I'm not buying one until the RRoD is a thing of the past, or at least a very rare occurence.

[darkslime]

I have a 360 and wii.

The wii has been sitting since june, and it was only turned on in June because my cousin wanted to play it.

The 360 I play almost every day. Its gotten rrod twice, but its still worth it because of the amount of quality games.

I would sell the wii for a ps3, but its the family's, not just mine, so I can't.

[SegaAges]

EDIT: I got my answer for something.

I own a 360. It is awesome. A mix of new and old games (xbl and retail). You can't really go wrong.

[XYXZYZ]

As I've said before, the only thing keeping me from the 360 is the unforgivable hardware failure. I know it's worth it to you guys who live in 360 land, but I just don't play current generation games enough to justify going through all the BS of waiting for these crooks to send you a box, ship the defective unit to them, wait for them to ship another defective unit back to you, and repeat the process every month.

I'm still keeping an eye on the Jasper boards which were supposed to be out two months ago, there are speculations ("I have a jasper because of the manufacture date/lot no. etc.") but there are no confirmed Jasper 360s on the shelves as of yet. I hope I can get one by Xmas, that'll be a nice present to myself.

And so far the only thing that really interests me are the new Street Fighter games.

[j_factor]

I've been on the fence for a while. Personally, a lot of these "epic", huge-scale, giant-budget games just don't appeal to me. They just feel bloated, require too much time, are often more complicated than they need to be, and often large parts of them just feel like work. I just don't have the patience or the attention span for a lot of these games. I got Rainbow Six Vegas 2 for free (on PC), and I tried, but I just couldn't get into it. It's a competently made game, but it's just not fun. After years of never touching it, I finally gave Oblivion a whirl, and it just about put me to sleep.

I also despise the $60 price point with a burning passion. The price of games is one reason I was a proud Sega CD owner, and also a gamer who completely skipped the N64. I hate -- hate that games cost more. And not only are they $60 initially, they also seem to drop in price less, compared to last-gen and Wii. It is very rare for me to pay $50, or even $40 for a game. I tend to wait until they're $30 or less. On 360/PS3, the price drops take longer, and there aren't very many budget games.

Each system also has its own problems that put me off. 360's failure rate has scared me for a long time. The fact that multiplatform games tend to be slightly better on 360 somewhat puts me off of PS3. Plus, if I were to get a PS3, I would have to track down a 60GB model. Although, the fact that 360 doesn't offer full backwards-compatibility at all is a negative against it. 360's overpriced accessories kind of put me off as well.

I agree with the OP about keyboard and mouse controls. How come Quake III on Dreamcast supported keyboard and mouse control with the system's proprietary keyboard and mouse peripherals that not a lot of people had, but Quake IV can't support keyboard and mouse control on a system with USB ports?

[SpaceHarrier]

Still totally on the fence, yes. Right now I'm leaning toward the PS3, but if they could conclusively prove that the new 360's were at least 95% reliable then I'd snap one of those up instead. Unfortunately, only time can tell..

Either way, I'm getting a Wii first.

[Lord_Magus]

Yeah, I've been thinking of buying a 360 ad PS3 since launch, but haven't seen that many good games on either of them to convince me yet. Sure, Dead Space, Bioshock and Fallout 3 seem like must plays, but I see no reason to buy either system for those since I will (eventually) play them on my PC anyway. The Live Arcade looks decent, but definitely no system seller, and I have zero interest in online gaming either. Furthermore, I don't have an HDTV yet, and playing 360/PS3 games on SDTV actually makes one realize that they really are just glorified PS2 games with better graphics anyway ;-)

Actually, writing this message makes me realize that strangely enough, the Wii is the one offering the best exclusives at the moment, however that may upset some self-proclaimed "hardcore" gamers here. Still, I can't say that any of the big-three are a "must-have" right now, with their value-for-money factor still being abysmally low compared to a PS2.