PS3 vs 360

[Mimi Nakamura]

I know this has probably been done before, but now is the only time that the question has been relevant to me.

I own a PS3, but in previous "gaming generations" I chose the Sega Saturn and then the Sega Dreamcast. I feel like the PS3 wasn't the right choice for me, it seems like the 360 would've been the natural choice given my previous systems. The reasoning behind this is that there are a lot more shooters on the 360, and also Treasure are developing for the 360 too.

The PS3 is far more powerful than the 360 but from the games that have been released so far, we haven't seen much evidence of this! It's like the Dreamcast vs PS2 all over again! The reason I went for a PS3 was that I thought there would be far more exclusives for it (here in Japan anyway), but I really am beginning to wonder if I made the right choice. Of course, the blu-ray player is a huge plus for the PS3, but that was never the reason for buying one.

Did I make a mistake? Which one is the better system and why?

[Ed Oscuro]

The PS3 is far more powerful than the 360
I'm not so sure about this, and as you say, the evidence isn't there that it is. Its odd structure certainly doesn't seem very good for single-threaded applications (not that many games need be) but it's odder to work with than the 360 and the graphics subsystem isn't far ahead of the 360 - which is where almost all of that visual difference comes from.

Agreed on the shooters front; there's a joke at Shmups Forum about how people used to complain that the Xbox had nothing but shooters (meaning Halo-style) but now that has a different meaning (with ports of many arcade shooting games, Raiden Fighers Aces, and some "new" content from Capcom barely worth mentioning like Joint Strike).

On the other hand, there are some interesting games on PS3. The PS3 version of Ninja Gaiden seems to have better textures (not sure about the performance aspect though); there's Demon's Souls, the Uncharted games, Resistance 1 & 2 (these last two are less compelling to me than it would have been before; just more 20 hours-and-done games to me) and some other stuff. There's Nier Replicant with the, erm, different type of character (as opposed to 360 where it's just some random dude), and other stuff I can't think of at the moment.

There's plenty of cross-platform FPS / third person games but I dunno if those are your thing.

[monkeychemist]

Your PS3 isn't crapping out with the RROD every 6 months? Ok then, you made the right choice.

In all seriousness there really isn't much difference in the games. Almost all games are for both systems. It all comes down whether you like "Halo vs MGS" type of comparisons.

I like the free online gaming with my PS3. I know the Xbox Live is not that expensive, but $50/year makes your console kinda expensive on year 2-3. People just don't realize that...

[TheDomesticInstitution]

It's refreshing to see a thread destined to turn into a fruitless flame war, titled in no uncertain terms "PS3 vs 360." Hold on while I go title a thread in Off Topic, Republicans vs. Democrats. Apparently the arguments and name calling in all those other threads weren't good enough.

Seriously though, why? Oh wait, look who's posting.

Let's hope the time hasn't passed around here, where threads like this are locked before they really get going. Do I really need to go and dig up links to show where this has been discussed many times previously?

[neuropolitique]

I think the 360 looks much better than the PS3. Even the re-design PS3 doesn't look that great to me, though it does look better than the original.

[Breetai]

For shit sakes...

Like me, you're in Japan. I went for the PS3 and ignored the 360 and here are the two reasons why:

1. The PS3 games are ALL region-free (aside from downloadable content on some games). Your only worry is language. The X-Box 360 games are not all region-free, only some are. You'll be stuck ordering Asia-region games from Play-Asia (which are usually region-free and in English) or buying them at import prices from shops in Akiba, Den-Den town, or whatever.

2. The 360's failure rate is mind-shockingly high. To be honest, I really don't understand why anyone buy's such a poorly built system. EVERYONE I know with a 360 has had to send theirs in at least once. NOBODY I know has had to send their PS3 in. Sure, there's a three-year warranty on Microsoft's system IN AMERICA and some other countries, but what's the policy in Japan? Do you know? I don't. Why don't I know? Because it's a pain in the ass picking through kanji just to figure out what's covered under warranty, where to send your system when (not if) it breaks down, and sorting everything else out in Japanese. Even if there is some English support, I'm sure you know how fun it is dealing with Japanese bureaucracy. Why bother with it? If you stick with your PS3, you probably won't have to.

It's pretty sad when a decision about which game console to buy has nothing to do with the games at all. I actually wanted a 360. Thanks a lot of building crap, Microsoft. Hopefully the X-Box Mark III will still be backwards compatible so I can play Fable II and Mass Effect.

[scooterb23]

Yes, you made a mistake. It looks like you researched which system would have the games you wanted to play, and then you didn't pick that system. That, in my book, counts as a mistake.

It looks like you answered your own question. Not enough exclusives or shooters, no games by Treasure, don't care about Blu-Ray, yep...you screwed the pooch on that choice!

But hey, you have the more powerful system. That still means a whole hell of a lot when you're using it as a paperweight...doesn't it?

[kupomogli]

The 360 was the better system until about 2 years ago when just about every "supposedly" good 360 exclusive started to get ported over to the PS3.

If you're into shmups though then it seems that you chose the wrong system because the PS3 honestly gets none of those and it's weird that literally all of them come out for the 360, but I don't care as I'm not a fan.

Anyways. You own pretty much the exact same system as 360 owners do as nearly every game is multiconsole now aside from a few exclusives on both systems.

If you want a 360 then go buy one. Then you'll get all the exclusives on both sides.

[walrusmonger]

Yeah, the system prices have come down, just get an arcade and a used 20gb hard drive and be done with it.

[Oobgarm]

I think you should buy another PS3 so you feel twice as bad.

[Damaramu]

Is Idol Master on PS3? I really wanna play that....

[Raedon]

Until I hear about a new 360 that has been redesigned and has taken care of the RROD, the choice is clear IMHO.

There is no excuse for the RROD. This isn't some Jaguar CD system, this is a major player in the console market! Why are people feeding this beast when there is a PS3 on the market that has almost all of the same games?

[skaar]

I know this has probably been done before, but now is the only time that the question has been relevant to me.


So bump an old thread? Yeesh. This one HAS been done to death everywhere on the internet. EVERYWHERE. There's even a thread on FoodTV's forums I bet.

[YoshiM]

The age old question of which system is better. What does make this generation rather unique is because of the high failure rate of the 360.

It's a tough call. I have both systems and even after my first 360 crapped out (and could not be repaired under warranty because the original owner had the case painted and the warranty sticker was gone) I bought an Arcade unit with the latest chipset. Even with all the issues people have had, I still paid the $200. Why? XBLA. There are games on there, when time permits, I play on a regular basis that cannot be found on PSN. Shadow Complex, Geometry Wars 1 & 2, Castle Crashers (though that is coming to PSN soon), Time Pilot, Pac-Man Championship Edition (wife's personal favorite)...the list goes on. The amount of time spent with these games and others warrant the purchase.

I will admit I have been playing my PS3 more lately due to the fact that the online play is free. I have XBL Gold but the last 4+ months my time was devoted to practicing and then performing in a couple plays I was in along with other situations. With my future daughter being born in April, I can see my online gaming time (or any gaming time) getting reduced and thus wasting my subscription. While I had to send my PS3 in for warranty replacement (something crapped out on the hard drive I think), I still feel it's more trustworthy than the 360. The rechargeable batteries on the controllers last way longer than the 360's (even just sitting around doing nothing). For DLC I find PSN to be a lot better than XBL because I can buy what I need in regular currency than have to doink around with points I have to buy in set number blocks.

Personally, I can't answer which is "best". I like them both for the reasons above, though I slant more toward the Playstation side. No regrets for me.

[vivaeljason]

Ironically, I feel as though I made the wrong choice in getting a 360; the exclusives on the PS3 look a hell of a lot more interesting than the exclusives on the 360 have been.

But yeah...if you would have prefered the 360's style of games AND looked into it before the fact, you made a mistake.

[scooterb23]

Until I hear about a new 360 that has been redesigned and has taken care of the RROD, the choice is clear IMHO.

There is no excuse for the RROD. This isn't some Jaguar CD system, this is a major player in the console market! Why are people feeding this beast when there is a PS3 on the market that has almost all of the same games?

I like the 360, because I know I am free from having people that bitch constantly about the system on my friends list.

[dylan0228]

Can we be done with the RROD already? I have purchased 3 different 360`s & never saw a RROD. Not even my launch 360 red-ringed. How much will it cost you when your PS3 breaks in two??

[Richter Belmount]

I like the ps3 cause I like the free online , the bluray player comes in handy and I like the system exclusives.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Okay.

You own a PS3.

So, keep your PS3 and buy a 360.

Buy the system exclusives that interest you for each respective system, and buy the multiplatform titles for the system that has the greater benefit per title (exclusive content, planned exclusive DLC, better frame rates/textures, etc.)

History has proven time and time again, no matter how great exclusive titles are, no ONE system is ever going to do it all and/or please 100% of the gaming public 100% of the time. The mentality we need to make a choice to own one single console/handheld and expect it to meet all of our expectations in terms of exclusive content, graphical comparisons to other current gen hardware, etc. is pretty silly.

I can understand if this conversation was being had at the beginning of this console generation when the PS3 still had a very restrictive price point ... but prices have dropped and normalized on all current gen hardware, if you want in on the 360 exclusives, there's no need to abandon your choice in PS3 prior to the end of this console generation.

[maxlords]

*yawn* *snort* *huh? Oh...yeah.... system war.

I have both systems. They both work fine. They both play games. Neither one has ever died. I have an original Zephyr 360...in fact, I have two. I have an 80 GB PS3. They essentially have the same functionality, most of the same games library, etc. With hard drive loading built into the new 360 firmware, I'm MUCH less likely to ever get a red ring.

That being said, here's what I do:

360:
Stream media (the video decoder is a bit better and looks nicer on my LCD and I stream music on it too)
Play system exclusive games
Never play online, cause I'm too cheap to pay for Live Gold

PS3:
Play system exclusive games
Play multi-platform games (I like the PS3 a bit better for gaming...personal preference - controllers, HDMI, etc)
DL content (occasional DLable game, etc)
Log in to my friends' PSNetwork accounts and share all their DL content for free

I never buy DLable content for the 360 because I hate the MS points system. Same reason I don't ever DL anything for the Wii. I ONLY DL for the PS3 because they charge you the actual price per item in dollars...no more, no less. Most of the wallpapers and themes are free too, which is nice. I don't DL wallpapers or themes unless they're free, so I hardly have any for the 360.

Overall, I like my PS3 better for gaming and my 360 better for multimedia. They're both useful, both good systems for gaming. At this point the decision is almost academic, as 3/4 of their libraries are identical, and both systems have the same media functionality as well. You do get a Blu-Ray player with the PS3, but I bought a separate one anyway.

Short answer: Personal preference only, consider what exclusives you want

[Raedon]

I like the 360, because I know I am free from having people that bitch constantly about the system on my friends list.

I've heard the 360 can just up and explode! :beaten:

[scooterb23]

Has a PS3 ever actually been turned on to find out if they can just up and explode?

[skaar]

I've heard the 360 can just up and explode! :beaten:

Ah, we all hear LOTS of things. ;)

[monkeychemist]

It's refreshing to see a thread destined to turn into a fruitless flame war, titled in no uncertain terms "PS3 vs 360." Hold on while I go title a thread in Off Topic, Republicans vs. Democrats. Apparently the arguments and name calling in all those other threads weren't good enough.

Seriously though, why? Oh wait, look who's posting.

Let's hope the time hasn't passed around here, where threads like this are locked before they really get going. Do I really need to go and dig up links to show where this has been discussed many times previously?

Wow! you are SOOOOO much better than all of us morons, thanks for letting us know with a post that had nothing of value what so ever... Good work, you're the man!

[Rickstilwell1]

Does the 360 have any exclusive platformer games that really stand out? Nintendo's got their Mario etc. that they've had since the beginning, PS3 has Little Big Planet, but does Xbox 360 have anything exclusive of the sort?

I know on the original Xbox it was Blinx who was meant to be the mascot but he eventually was walked away from, but then they still had Oddworld as an exclusive.

Now that Oddworld doesn't have games anymore, I'm curious if any platformer has become exclusive to the Xbox 360 and filled the void that Oddworld and Blinx once filled?

Edit: just looked and Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts sticks out like a sore thumb as the only main one. I still have to get the two Banjo Kazooie titles for the N64 as well. Finally found a 360 game I MUST have besides Fable II.

[chrisbid]

Has a PS3 ever actually been turned on to find out if they can just up and explode?

BOOM!

/ kevin butler

[megasdkirby]

Although I only have a PS3 and Wii, I DO want an Xbox 360.

I know I've mentioned that I will only buy one when a new revision is created, I think I will just pick one up on the next price drop. It's bound to happen, and I know it will be only $50 less (I'm just guessing/speculating, as no one knows how much it will reduce in price...could be less as it could be more), but with my associate discount, it will be another percentage off. So that really helps.

Both consoles are excellent. I am even enjoying the Wii, thanks to some great games I picked up during the holidays.

[kupomogli]

BOOM!

Boom to the power of boom.

[j_factor]

Does the 360 have any exclusive platformer games that really stand out? Nintendo's got their Mario etc. that they've had since the beginning, PS3 has Little Big Planet, but does Xbox 360 have anything exclusive of the sort?

I know on the original Xbox it was Blinx who was meant to be the mascot but he eventually was walked away from, but then they still had Oddworld as an exclusive.

Now that Oddworld doesn't have games anymore, I'm curious if any platformer has become exclusive to the Xbox 360 and filled the void that Oddworld and Blinx once filled?

There's Kameo, but I personally found it to be a huge disappointment, and I'd been looking forward to it since it was a Gamecube game.

I don't own a 360, but I've played many 360 games. Frankly, I've found Xbox 360 to be a series of disappointments. Kameo, Viva Pinata, Import Tuner Challenge, Beautiful Katamari, Ninety-Nine Nights, Chromehounds, Bullet Witch, Infinite Undiscovery, Blue Dragon, Too Human, Lost Odyssey, Project Sylpheed, Guilty Gear 2, Tenchu Z -- all of these were let-downs IMO. And since I've never cared for Halo, GTA, or racing sims, there's little on the system that appeals to me.

[Rickstilwell1]

I just found out that Rare made Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts in disc form so I guess that counts as the one major platformer?

[megasdkirby]

I just found out that Rare made Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts in disc form so I guess that counts as the one major platformer?

Is RARE still making games? Haven't heard from them in quite some time.

[Rickstilwell1]

This Banjo Kazooie game came out in 2008 and was described as being " a bit different from the two N64 titles"

I don't know because I never played any Banjo games but I hear they are good.

[vivaeljason]

This Banjo Kazooie game came out in 2008 and was described as being " a bit different from the two N64 titles"

I don't know because I never played any Banjo games but I hear they are good.

Nuts and Bolts is NOT a platformer. It's a game where you move stuff around with vehicles and the like. The first two games (for the N64) are excellent games and classic platformers (even if at times they're waaaaaaaaaaay too big on COLLECT TONS OF SHIT!), but if you go in expecting that with the 360 game, you are in for a disappointment.

[VG_Maniac]

Which system is better? It all comes down to what controller you like to use more I guess...cause they both basically have the exact same games, except the 360 has Halo and the PS3 has Metal Gear Solid.

I bought a 360 over a PS3 because it was way cheaper at the time, and all my friends had 360's...so I wouldn't have been able to play online with any of them if I bought a PS3.

[kupomogli]

Which system is better? It all comes down to what controller you like to use more I guess...cause they both basically have the exact same games, except the 360 has Halo and the PS3 has Metal Gear Solid.

Isn't Halo and Metal Gear Solid a bad comparison?

If you were a fan of the genre I'd say 360 has Halo and PS3 has Killzone. Or third person shooters. 360 has Gears of War and PS3 has Uncharted.

However the 360 has some big exclusives PS3 owners won't be able to get. Dead Rising. Test Drive Unlimited which is on PS2 and PSP but the 360 version is far better. Dead or Alive Ultimate and 4. Last is Tales of Vesperia which is also on the PS3 but I can guarantee that game isn't coming out in the US for PS3 owners.

PS3 has some big exclusives the 360 won't be able to get. Demon's Souls which unfortunately for 360 owners is both Sony and From Software. Valkyria Chronicles. Siren Blood Curse. Yakuza 3(played the demo and it's Yakuza, so yeah.)

I would have made mention of God of War, as the 360 really only has Bayonetta and Devil May Cry 4 of that type. However, after playing the demo to Dante's Inferno it's obvious EA made the most blatant gameplay ripoff I've ever seen in a game. I've seen quite a few ripoffs of other games but it looks like God of War was used as a template(which I really don't see why as Devil May Cry 1, 3, Ninja Gaiden, and Castlevania Lament of Innocence are far better.) If you haven't played Dante's Inferno go play it, and if you've ever played God of War you'll see what I'm saying. They even use nudity in an art form attempt to keep true to the style of game, basically an attempt at "art," just like God of War.

God of War is extremely overrated anyways, but atleast the 360 owners have something to rant about owning. It's not God of War, but the gameplay is alike.

[masteroftheclaw]

Both the 360 and PS3 are fantastic consoles.

The 360 has the larger online community but when dealing with that online world in comparison to PS3, I'd say the PS3 community is a bit kinder to one another in online games. At the very least, that how it had been when I purchased my console a year or so ago. It'd make sense because the 360 was much cheaper at that point so the PS3 was kind of weeding out the kids who just opted for the cheaper system (and they are generally the ones with foul mouths).

The main upside about PS3 is free online features. This may not always be the case, however, and if they do end up eventually putting a price point on it then I don't think there will really be too much reason to choose a PS3 over a 360. It has Blu Ray, which could be a seller for some. However, I still don't see Blu Ray being the dominant form of media yet.

Beyond these things it all comes down to console exclusives. However, so many "exclusives" are coming out for the other system now that I can't even accurately come up with that many titles exclusive to either. When new games come out I'm often torn between which platform I should purchase it for. Generally the games are EXACTLY THE SAME. Oh, okay, there might be some slight lighting and texturing differences but that doesn't bother me much.

Basically, I guess the two consoles are pretty much equals. You could say that one has [awesome exclusive title] but that all comes down to someone's personal preferences and someone else probably loves [exclusive title on opposing platform].

[SplashChick]

I hear more garbage on PSN, I don't know what you're talking about. It's all luck of the draw when it comes to that.

[VG_Maniac]

Isn't Halo and Metal Gear Solid a bad comparison?

I just compared them because they are both really big series that have a huge fan base and are exclusive to each system.

[Ed Oscuro]

Yes, you made a mistake. It looks like you researched which system would have the games you wanted to play, and then you didn't pick that system.
I tried to make a helpful response, but ultimately I think this applies pretty well too. Nothing we say can or should make up for making the best decision for oneself.

I guess this also comes down to the age-old question of how aware somebody needs to be of the Search Function when they want to ask a question. On the CV Dungeon Forum we called these threads Evergreens (or was that here?)


I hear more garbage on PSN, I don't know what you're talking about. It's all luck of the draw when it comes to that.
IMO People are likely to be obnoxious online on all the systems. 360 honestly just has the worst rap since their system has been around "the longest" (and it has Halo, I suppose that's a lol?) Voice chat on Steam was often extremely irritating to me; then again, I heard some awesome stuff too.

[Leo_A]

This was a post I made in a similar thread over at AtariAge a month ago outlining my opinions of both consoles. I don't see how anyone can go wrong with either system. If someone purchases one and ends up disappointed, I have my doubts the other will be any more to your enjoyment.

Which one is best for you depends on your personal taste

The Playstation 3 is by far the better built of the two (Although I'm unsure about the redesigned PS3). It's worth noting that recent 360's seem to be built better and are close to being the reliable machine we always wished it was.

The Xbox 360 has the better controller, although it's sadly flawed due to having a horrible d-pad.

The Playstation 3 has superior multimedia capabilities out of the box. It's an excellent upscaling DVD player, plays Blu-Rays, has a internet browser, and other good multimedia options for such things as video files and mp3's.

The Xbox 360 has a superior online network that offers good online play, quick downloads, and excellent features like it's video store that put the PS3's one to shame the last time I tried it (Doesn't appear to be accurate now, I've revisited the PSN video store in recent days and it's much improved and has a lot of content).

The PS3's online is free, and significant features seem to get added to it's firmware more often than the 360 gets anything. Microsoft seems to usually concentrate on refining what it already offers.

The integration of things like achievements, friend's list, etc., on the 360 is far better than the PS3.

The PS3 has excellent to decent PSOne backwards compatibility, depending on the title. Some models play PS2 games quite well, especially early releases that had full PS2 hardware compatibility. Few BC Xbox titles run close to flawless on the 360 from my experience.

Games tend to perform better on the 360, often being the lead development platform, while the PS3 port of a specific title sometimes runs much poorer than on the 360, despite having a hardware advantage. Seems like the gap is closing or closed though as the PS3 grows its userbase, forcing developers to pay more attention to their PS3 releases.

PS3 can take advantage of PC controllers in certain situations, such as USB flightsticks and throttles in at least 1 flight simulation and various Logitech and Fanatec wheel/pedal sets for racing sims. The 360 is limited to licensed 360 controllers, and the license isn't easy to get even if you're willing to pay.

The Xbox 360 is a year older than the PS3 and has a lot of nice bargain games from that era that are cheap to buy now, such as Call of Duty 2. That extra year on the market also means there's a larger variety of games available on the 360, though whatever advantage that provides is erased more every week as both platforms recieve most non 1st party releases these days.

The PS3's hardware is easily upgradeable with standard laptop harddrives. Expect to pay a very inflated premium to ever upgrade your 360 to a larger hard drive.

XBLA has a far more engaging selection of new titles than PSN does (Though there's still lots of nice PSN releases). However, the PSN's selection of older back catalog titles from the PSOne is getting better by the week while the Xbox Originals line is dead almost before it even started. Both seem comparable with current generation game downloads (An area I've ignored, I would rather buy a specific game on disc than pay the same amount to download it).

The Playstation 3 is region free, making it easy to purchase and play games from other regions. Through importing points cards from a region you wish to purchase content from, it's easy to even get DLC. The 360 is region locked making this impossible for the average consumer, although many titles that would typically of been a desired import in the past (Such as the Raiden Fighters compilation) have actually recieved North American releases, softening the blow a bit.

Netflix is something many 360 owners have enjoyed, but it will shortly be officially available on the PS3 as well. So they're comparable in that area (Has since happened, with a Netflix application running directly from the dashboard and tailored for the PS3 coming in the future to replace the current disc based application).

That's pretty much how I view both consoles. They both have certain advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I enjoy the gaming experience of the 360 more, while I love the multimedia capabilities of the PS3. The PS3 also provides for the occasional excellent PS3 exclusive (Even in the download arena, GTI Club+, SumoDigital's remake of a classic Konami arcade racer, is excellent and not available on XBLA for one example). Also, despite preferring to game on the 360, I love that the occasional PS3 title, like IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey, allows me to use PC controllers to enjoy it unlike on the Xbox 360. Glad I have both, but strictly from a gaming perspective, the 360 has a definite edge as far as my taste go.

[Raedon]

In the end everyone here will have both of them anyway.

It could take a while though. I didn't buy an Xbox until a friend sold me a modded one last year for $40. I've played emulators on it ... and ... .. .

Just kidding. :P I played Dungeons and Dragons: Heroes, Fable, KOTOR I and II as well as that beach bouncing booby game.

[BHvrd]

All I can say is that if you haven't played some of the PS3 exclusives like Uncharted 1/2, Motorstorm 1/2, Resistance, Ratchet and Clank 1/2, Heavenly Sword, Flower, inFamous, Killzone 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, etc., you haven't experienced "next gen" gaming.

PS3 has next gen gaming galore, the best set pieces and production values on the market. They put alot of money into their games and it shows. Better graphics is debatable, but Sony's production values are through the roof.

What is a "game" on another system is an "experience" on the PS3 and I firmly stand behind that quote.

[Mimi Nakamura]

All I can say is that if you haven't played some of the PS3 exclusives like Uncharted 1/2, Motorstorm 1/2, Resistance, Ratchet and Clank 1/2, Heavenly Sword, Flower, inFamous, Killzone 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, etc., you haven't experienced "next gen" gaming.

PS3 has next gen gaming galore, the best set pieces and production values on the market. They put alot of money into their games and it shows. Better graphics is debatable, but Sony's production values are through the roof.

What is a "game" on another system is an "experience" on the PS3 and I firmly stand behind that quote.

When you put it like that it makes me feel like I've definitely made the right choice!

You should get a job in PR!

I must admit, Motorstorm is great fun and looks really nice on my HD TV screen. I haven't played Unchartered 2 yet, I'm not sure if it's been released in Japan yet? I have seen trailers for the game and graphically it does look incredible. I think it's the first game I've seen where it's made me think "the 360 can't do this".

Leading on from that, is that the reason dual-platform games are made on the 360 first and then ported to the PS3? Is it because developers know that the PS3 can do anything the 360 can, but the 360 isn't capable of reaching the graphical heights of the 360? If that's the case, does it mean that the 360 is holding back the PS3?!? I know that from a financial standpoint, generally speaking, third-party developers cannot make games exclusive to one system given the incredibly high development costs, so is it a case of them developing for the 360 then porting the same game to the PS3 with little or no graphical enhancements? After seeing the Unchartered 2 trailers, it does make me wonder why no other games come close to looking as good as it does on the PS3.

[Bojay1997]

When you put it like that it makes me feel like I've definitely made the right choice!

You should get a job in PR!

I must admit, Motorstorm is great fun and looks really nice on my HD TV screen. I haven't played Unchartered 2 yet, I'm not sure if it's been released in Japan yet? I have seen trailers for the game and graphically it does look incredible. I think it's the first game I've seen where it's made me think "the 360 can't do this".

Leading on from that, is that the reason dual-platform games are made on the 360 first and then ported to the PS3? Is it because developers know that the PS3 can do anything the 360 can, but the 360 isn't capable of reaching the graphical heights of the 360? If that's the case, does it mean that the 360 is holding back the PS3?!? I know that from a financial standpoint, generally speaking, third-party developers cannot make games exclusive to one system given the incredibly high development costs, so is it a case of them developing for the 360 then porting the same game to the PS3 with little or no graphical enhancements? After seeing the Unchartered 2 trailers, it does make me wonder why no other games come close to looking as good as it does on the PS3.

Actually, many developers report that there are certain functions where the 360 is superior to the PS3 and start on the 360 simply because the development tools and architecture are easier to deal with. On the other hand, the PS3 has the advantage of BluRay which means less compression for cut scenes generally. I personally prefer the 360 version of most multi-platform games simply because up until very recently, the PS3 versions were far more prone to graphical glitches and frame rate/resolution problems. Recently, however, both versions have generally been identical. I also don't agree that 360 games don't have great set pieces or amazing graphics, there are incredible looking games on both consoles.

In the end, there is no right choice. Most of us are gamers and collectors and I find it hard to believe that anyone who subscribes to the philosophy of this site will end up not owning all three of the console platforms in this generation.

[Leo_A]

I imagine another major motivation behind the Xbox 360 being the lead development platform for many developers has to do with there being 8 million or so more Xbox 360's in consumer hands.

It's logical for it to be the focus when doing a multiplatform title, much like how most GameCube and Xbox releases this past generation were ports from the Playstation 2 platform and didn't take advantage of the more powerful GCN and Xbox.

[Raedon]

I imagine another major motivation behind the Xbox 360 being the lead development platform for many developers has to do with there being 8 million or so more Xbox 360's in consumer hands.



It's a PC with stronger copy protection. Developers can produce one game for two systems. I've noticed my PC games are dropping in quality. I'm guessing dudes are making the games for the 360 and not the other way around like they did for the Xbox.

[kupomogli]

I imagine another major motivation behind the Xbox 360 being the lead development platform for many developers has to do with there being 8 million or so more Xbox 360's in consumer hands.

The 360 was 8 million ahead just this year. Now it's only 5.7 million all territories combined. The PS3 reaching the same amount of sales as the 360 by next year isn't so much of a long shot after all.

Now in the US only is 8 million ahead with the 360, but games don't sell in US only do they. In both Europe and Japan the PS3 is ahead of the 360.

[Eternal Tune]

This was a post I made in a similar thread over at AtariAge a month ago outlining my opinions of both consoles. I don't see how anyone can go wrong with either system. If someone purchases one and ends up disappointed, I have my doubts the other will be any more to your enjoyment.

Which one is best for you depends on your personal taste

The Playstation 3 is by far the better built of the two (Although I'm unsure about the redesigned PS3). It's worth noting that recent 360's seem to be built better and are close to being the reliable machine we always wished it was.

The Xbox 360 has the better controller, although it's sadly flawed due to having a horrible d-pad.

The Playstation 3 has superior multimedia capabilities out of the box. It's an excellent upscaling DVD player, plays Blu-Rays, has a internet browser, and other good multimedia options for such things as video files and mp3's.

The Xbox 360 has a superior online network that offers good online play, quick downloads, and excellent features like it's video store that put the PS3's one to shame the last time I tried it (Doesn't appear to be accurare now, I've revisited the PSN video store in recent days and it's much improved and has a lot of content).

The PS3's online is free, and significant features seem to get added to it's firmware more often than the 360 gets anything. Microsoft seems to usually concentrate on refining what it already offers.

The integration of things like achievements, friend's list, etc., on the 360 is far better than the PS3.

The PS3 has excellent to decent PSOne backwards compatibility, depending on the title. Some models play PS2 games quite well, especially early releases that had full PS2 hardware compatibility. Few BC Xbox titles run close to flawless on the 360 from my experience.

Games tend to perform better on the 360, often being the lead development platform, while the PS3 port of a specific title sometimes runs much poorer than on the 360, despite having a hardware advantage. Seems like the gap is closing or closed though as the PS3 grows its userbase, forcing developers to pay more attention to their PS3 releases.

PS3 can take advantage of PC controllers in certain situations, such as USB flightsticks and throttles in at least 1 flight simulation and various Logitech and Fanatec wheel/pedal sets for racing sims. The 360 is limited to licensed 360 controllers, and the license isn't easy to get even if you're willing to pay.

The Xbox 360 is a year older than the PS3 and has a lot of nice bargain games from that era that are cheap to buy now, such as Call of Duty 2. That extra year on the market also means there's a larger variety of games available on the 360, though whatever advantage that provides is erased more every week as both platforms recieve most non 1st party releases these days.

The PS3's hardware is easily upgradeable with standard laptop harddrives. Expect to pay a very inflated premium to ever upgrade your 360 to a larger hard drive.

XBLA has a far more engaging selection of new titles than PSN does (Though there's still lots of nice PSN releases). However, the PSN's selection of older back catalog titles from the PSOne is getting better by the week while the Xbox Originals line is dead almost before it even started. Both seem comparable with current generation game downloads (An area I've ignored, I would rather buy a specific game on disc than pay the same amount to download it).

The Playstation 3 is region free, making it easy to purchase and play games from other regions. Through importing points cards from a region you wish to purchase content from, it's easy to even get DLC. The 360 is region locked making this impossible for the average consumer, although many titles that would typically of been a desired import in the past (Such as the Raiden Fighters compilation) have actually recieved North American releases, softening the blow a bit.

Netflix is something many 360 owners have enjoyed, but it will shortly be officially available on the PS3 as well. So they're comparable in that area (Has since happened, with a Netflix application running directly from the dashboard and tailored for the PS3 coming in the future to replace the current disc based application).

That's pretty much how I view both consoles. They both have certain advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I enjoy the gaming experience of the 360 more, while I love the multimedia capabilities of the PS3. The PS3 also provides for the occasional excellent PS3 exclusive (Even in the download arena, GTI Club+, SumoDigital's remake of a classic Konami arcade racer, is excellent and not available on XBLA for one example). Also, despite preferring to game on the 360, I love that the occasional PS3 title, like IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey, allows me to use PC controllers to enjoy it unlike on the Xbox 360. Glad I have both, but strictly from a gaming perspective, the 360 has a definite edge as far as my taste go.

/me applauds

You sir make sense. I congratulate you on being awesome.

Both systems have their ups and downs, plus and minuses. 360 vs PS3? Can't we have the best of both worlds? I mean hey, at least you don't have to play the wii.

[Leo_A]

The 360 was 8 million ahead just this year. Now it's only 5.7 million all territories combined. The PS3 reaching the same amount of sales as the 360 by next year isn't so much of a long shot after all.

Now in the US only is 8 million ahead with the 360, but games don't sell in US only do they. In both Europe and Japan the PS3 is ahead of the 360.

Was only a rough estimate, I knew the PS3 had sold 27 million units as of the end of September and that the Xbox 360 was estimated at just shy of 36 million as of December.

But the point was that is has a significantly larger install base by several million units, which I imagine is why it often is the lead development platform for third party releases.

[SplashChick]

I play and enjoy all 3 systems, it just all comes down to what tastes you have.

[mnbren05]

Heres my take on the "battle":

Xbox 360: Love the games love the controller and I'm satisfied with my purchase. I also prefer the layout of the basic menu etc. My only gripe is the noise the console makes while operating. Plus the lack of built in wi-fi.

PS3: Love having a blu-ray player. The wi-fi built in is a big plus for me. Game selection is good with some good exclusives. My primary media device for DVD/Blu-ray. Nice and quiet which goes back to my pre. point.

Bottom Line:
Xbox 360 is my gaming console and the PS3 is my media console. I like both and they both have some faults and I accept that. I am satisfied with my purchases and until the two decide to procreate and poop out a PS-Box on my console stand I don't see any definitive reasons one is better than the other.

[CDiablo]

All I can say is that if you haven't played some of the PS3 exclusives like Uncharted 1/2, Motorstorm 1/2, Resistance, Ratchet and Clank 1/2, Heavenly Sword, Flower, inFamous, Killzone 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, etc., you haven't experienced "next gen" gaming.

PS3 has next gen gaming galore, the best set pieces and production values on the market. They put alot of money into their games and it shows. Better graphics is debatable, but Sony's production values are through the roof.

What is a "game" on another system is an "experience" on the PS3 and I firmly stand behind that quote.

Next Gen gaming blows. I've played all those and don't like any of them. They are a lot like last gen games with pretty graphics. Thankfully my PS3 plays the good PS2 games.

OT: If theres a few XBOX games you want buy the thing when you got the cash. Its not the "next gen" experience like the PS3 but it offers some good "current gen" gaming. If you want "next gen" gaming keep playing the PS3 or wait for the XBOX720. If you want to go 2 "gens" into the future you should wait on the PS4 cause Sony is always one "gen" ahead.

[Nature Boy]

I would never say one console is better than the other because that's where everything falls into fanboy drivel.

The 360 definitely had RROD issues, but the Jasper chipset (which has been out over a year), from what I've heard, has solved the issue (it uses far less AC power, so the board doesn't overheat, if I'm not mistaken).

If I were you I'd probably just buy the 360 and keep my PS3, because I plan on having them both at some point anyway. I'm actually in the opposite camp at this point, but I'll be eyeing a PS3 once the new Ico game comes out in 2010...

[SplashChick]

Next Gen gaming blows. I've played all those and don't like any of them. They are a lot like last gen games with pretty graphics. Thankfully my PS3 plays the good PS2 games.

OT: If theres a few XBOX games you want buy the thing when you got the cash. Its not the "next gen" experience like the PS3 but it offers some good "current gen" gaming. If you want "next gen" gaming keep playing the PS3 or wait for the XBOX720. If you want to go 2 "gens" into the future you should wait on the PS4 cause Sony is always one "gen" ahead.

I...don't think you really understand what it means by "gen".

[megasdkirby]

The 360 definitely had RROD issues, but the Jasper chipset (which has been out over a year), from what I've heard, has solved the issue (it uses far less AC power, so the board doesn't overheat, if I'm not mistaken).

I would not say "solved". Maybe "considerably reduced", but the issue is still present in it's original form, or the "E74" issue.

I'm hoping that the new revision, if any, uses a 45nm CPU and GPU. I'm not too sure, but Jaspers have 65nm for both? Or 45nm for one and 65nm for another?

Info would be great. :)

[Rickstilwell1]

I never could own just one system in a generation at any time. I HAD to have all of them to satisfy my needs.

Since I didn't start playing my own video games until 1993, I missed out on the 8-bit generations so I can't give a fair experience with them. I was just handed down what was considered the best to my uncle, and that was his NES. Looking back at this time period since I have most of them, I think I would have had fun no matter which of the 8-bit systems I was playing.

Now for 16-bit. I loved Sonic, but I loved Mario so having Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis was a must. They both had so many exclusives that you needed both to get a well rounded gaming experience.

The same thing continued on in the PS1 and Nintendo 64 era. I had to have all those cool PS1 exclusives and get into RPGs, but I couldn't abandon the fun multiplayer experience and favorite franchise continuations with the Nintendo 64.

Now that I own a Saturn and Neo Geo to go with both those generations I say I missed out on the fun that is the arcade experience.

Moving on the Dreamcast, GameCube, PS2 and Xbox all had unique titles as well. Plenty reason to get all of them and this was the first generation where I actually got all 4 systems that came out. I think this was one of the best generations of video games. The 3D was no longer blocky and there was a great variety of games. It's no wonder the PS2 lives on. In this generation there were many good reasons for buying each system.

Now we're in the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii generation and yeah even though each system has their own exclusives, the variety on each system is completely different. They are not as well rounded in their selection of games in my opinion. I think this is what makes the current gen seem like more of a battle than the last gen where everybody was like "OMG all the systems have good stuff!"

It seems like the 3 systems this generation all specialize in a particular genre.
Xbox 360 - shooter
PS3 - RPG
Wii - Platformers

yeah they all have these kinds of games, but arguably the best title for each of these systems is in the category I mentioned. It's kind of always been this way though.

[FxMercenary]

I know this has probably been done before, but now is the only time that the question has been relevant to me.

I own a PS3, but in previous "gaming generations" I chose the Sega Saturn and then the Sega Dreamcast. I feel like the PS3 wasn't the right choice for me, it seems like the 360 would've been the natural choice given my previous systems. The reasoning behind this is that there are a lot more shooters on the 360, and also Treasure are developing for the 360 too.

The PS3 is far more powerful than the 360 but from the games that have been released so far, we haven't seen much evidence of this! It's like the Dreamcast vs PS2 all over again! The reason I went for a PS3 was that I thought there would be far more exclusives for it (here in Japan anyway), but I really am beginning to wonder if I made the right choice. Of course, the blu-ray player is a huge plus for the PS3, but that was never the reason for buying one.

Did I make a mistake? Which one is the better system and why?


PS3 is cool, its got alot of free stuff, 360 is a nickel and dime scheme like the Wii, but with actual storage space to put all that stuff you spent your money on.

But in reality, I own all 3 systems. Why you ask? Because im not poor.

[gepeto]

I must say the ps3 had a great year. IMO Great game releases and the network seems much better and I have noticed on alot of the games the color depth is beautiful. The 360 is still the main system but the ps3 has made great strides.

[duffmanth]

Dude at this point I don't think it really matters what system you own between the 360 and PS3. They both have all of the big 3rd party games on them like GTAIV and Fallout 3 among many others. They both also have their huge exclusives. It just comes down to what you're looking to get out of a console. If you want Blu ray and like your Playstation only games like God of War and Gran Turismo, go with a PS3. If you like your shooters and online play, go with a 360.

Personally I went with a PS3 because I don't give a shit about online gaming and therefore don't wanna pay for it, I want my Sony exclusives like the games I mentioned before among others, I want a system that's reliable, and the Blu ray and builtin wifi are just bonuses. The 360 has some great games, just very little that I wanna play. Aside from Gears, Halo, and Forza, there's very little else the 360 offers that I wanna play. The 360 seems like a better choice when it comes to shooters and MMO's, while the PS3 has more to offer in the way of action/adventure and platformers. The best advice I can give is figure out what system has the games that satisfy your gaming tastes.

[The 1 2 P]

Did I make a mistake?

Yes you did.


Which one is the better system and why?

The Wii is. It's totally outselling the other two systems. And here's a scoop for you: the Wii is actually more powerful than both the 360 and PS3 combined.

I still don't understand how you did the research and determined that the 360 had the majority of gaming experiences you desired and yet you went and bought a PS3 instead. Thats like me going out to buy a nice inexpensive compact car that gets good gas mileage and coming back home with a Hummer.

I also did research for this gen and decided that the 360 was the system that had the most gaming experiences I desired. Because of this I went out and bought a 360 because that made perfect sense.

[Rickstilwell1]

Yeah my biggest gaming mistake was buying a bunch of cheap sports games without researching them, when I don't like sports games as much. Now I take them back to the store and get $3 for 10 games.

[Mimi Nakamura]

Yes you did.



The Wii is. It's totally outselling the other two systems. And here's a scoop for you: the Wii is actually more powerful than both the 360 and PS3 combined.

I still don't understand how you did the research and determined that the 360 had the majority of gaming experiences you desired and yet you went and bought a PS3 instead. Thats like me going out to buy a nice inexpensive compact car that gets good gas mileage and coming back home with a Hummer.

I also did research for this gen and decided that the 360 was the system that had the most gaming experiences I desired. Because of this I went out and bought a 360 because that made perfect sense.

Read my original post again. It quite clearly states why I bought a PS3. :roll:

[Flippy8490]

360 all the way for me. The PS3 just has never caught my attention aside from the Ratchet and Clank Series, which is the only reason I own a PS2, and I can't bring myself to buy a PS3 just for a couple games until the price comes down more.

[skaar]

This thread's still going? I thought she got banned.

*edit*

Oh wait, that was SplashChick :)

[Richter Belmount]

Oh wait, that was SplashChick :)

Kinda surprised

[The 1 2 P]

Read my original post again. It quite clearly states why I bought a PS3. :roll:

Oh I read it. But instead of thinking about which exclusives were coming to the PS3, you should have done some actual research. A $200-$500 console investment is too much money to be spending based on blind leaps of faith of what you "think" is coming to the system:shameful:

[skaar]

I've got 'em all. And the 360 sees the most love as I am an achievement whore.

Also:

http://www.lolwut.com/pics/bestplatform.png

[Ed Oscuro]

PC forever \o/

[j_factor]

Pfft, you can download porn on a PS3 easily.

[Breetai]

A $200-$500 console investment is too much money to be spending based on blind leaps of faith of what you "think" is coming to the system:shameful:In your opinion.

[Zoltor]

PS3 is cool, its got alot of free stuff, 360 is a nickel and dime scheme like the Wii, but with actual storage space to put all that stuff you spent your money on.

But in reality, I own all 3 systems. Why you ask? Because im not poor.

Actually you can't use that argument anymore, it was true when the wii first came out, but thanks to a firmwhare update, the wii now has insasne storage compacity(and It's alot easier to move around then hard drives lol, as if the 360 didn't take up enough space as is), thanks to the SD card compatability.

[j_factor]

Actually you can't use that argument anymore, it was true when the wii first came out, but thanks to a firmwhare update, the wii now has insasne storage compacity(and It's alot easier to move around then hard drives lol, as if the 360 didn't take up enough space as is), thanks to the SD card compatability.

The Wii doesn't support SDHC or XC though.

[Mimi Nakamura]

Oh I read it. But instead of thinking about which exclusives were coming to the PS3, you should have done some actual research. A $200-$500 console investment is too much money to be spending based on blind leaps of faith of what you "think" is coming to the system:shameful:

I'm sorry, but at the time of my purchase I didn't have a time machine to go into the future and research which games would be released or in development for the PS3.

Can you use your special research skills and tell us all which games will be in development for the PS3 and 360 12 months from now?

[Ed Oscuro]

If you can't find out what is currently in development for a console at the time you can buy it...that console must be dead. If you can't find games in development for any console that you think you'll like, you can't assume there will eventually be something you'll like. Your money is worth more now than it will be at the time those games will come out (and so is the console), in which case you can wait until the games you like are released (if they are, which didn't happen in this case) and then buy the consoles and the games.

The only rational explanation I can think of for this is that you had a one-time opportunity to get a games console. Bad break, it happens. Either sit on the console in hopes something good will come out eventually, or sell it so that you get some use out of the money before the system's value is completely depreciated.


Actually you can't use that argument anymore, it was true when the wii first came out, but thanks to a firmwhare update, the wii now has insasne storage compacity(and It's alot easier to move around then hard drives lol, as if the 360 didn't take up enough space as is), thanks to the SD card compatability.
I can't wait to spend lots of money on SD cards (even before factoring in what j_ said) so I can get 1/30th the capacity and far slower speeds and long term reliability at 100% of the price!

PS3...lol let's buy notebook drives for no reason. FABULOUS.

(This coming from somebody who bought a new 500GB notebook drive recently and has SanDisk Extreme IV cards for his digital SLR camera.)

[G-Boobie]

PS3...lol let's buy notebook drives for no reason. FABULOUS.

(This coming from somebody who bought a new 500GB notebook drive recently and has SanDisk Extreme IV cards for his digital SLR camera.)

That's a better deal than Microsoft's insane price gouging for their proprietary HDs. For the same price as a 60 gig 360 hard drive, I bought a 150 gig drive for the PS3.

Here's my take on this whole 'Vs' thing.

I own all three systems. I've been through five 360s thus far, so I do most of my platform agnostic gaming on my launch 60 gig PS3. My Wii has been turned on five times in the last six months, though with Sin and Punishment 2 and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom coming out in the next couple of months, I expect that to change. I love all three systems for different reasons, but something occurred to me this Christmas while buying a console for my girlfriend.

Katie wanted a console with which to stream Netflix. This was just before the PS3 was capable of this function. I bought her a 60 gig 360 bundle, wrapped it, and thought nothing more of it until I was fixing her computer and realized that I'd need to get her a wireless adapter since her router was in a distant room from her main TV. I also then realized that I'd need to buy her a gold membership for Xbox live in order for her to be able to stream Netflix. Let's add that cost up:

Xbox: $250
Wireless adapter: $100
1 Year Gold Membership: $50 (or thereabouts).

That's $400 dollars. That's one hundred dollars more than a new PS3 slim, which contains all the functionality out of the box that Microsoft wants to charge me for separately. Very soon after that Netflix streaming was announced for the PS3. I took the 360 back and got her the PS3 instead, and as an added bonus, she now has an excellent Blu-Ray player too.

The 360 has a huge number of worthwhile exclusives, an arguably better controller, a wider player base, and some fun extras like 1 vs 100, but the price gouging on accessories, the unreliable hardware, and the added expense of the gold membership all turn me off more and more as this generation continues. Of course, this is all my own opinion, which does not invalidate anyone elses. Keep that in mind.