*Picture not to scaleI realize that my review on the latest series of new gaming systems might seem a little late but now that each console has had a chance to stabilize, and get some games to back it up, and now that you can actually find and purchase the various systems, I think now is as good a time as any to review and compare the competing models.
Playstation 3: The sexiest of its class. You could almost justify shelling out the $600 for the Play-trois just for the aesthetical value it will bring to your room. Not to mention, a Sony/Samsung/Panasonic Blu-Ray disc player with specs essentially identical to those of the PS3’s is likely to run for somewhere between $800 and $1000. Free access to the online network as opposed to $50/year for a slightly superior online community with the Xbox 360 is good, I guess, but the real deterrent seems to be the fact that game manufacturers haven’t kept pace with the Sony system itself by providing us with games that really showcase the PS3’s capabilities, and in the cases in which they have, it has only been through games that aren’t especially fun—war games and the like. The PS3 is purportedly much quieter and runs cooler than its 360 counterpart and generates power from a single cord (no unwieldy 360 behemoth power brick). The SixAxis controller with tilt capabilities in select games is a nice bonus, but still does not measure up to the Wii’s motion-sensitive interface.
Xbox 360 Elite: You have to go with the Elite if you are in the Xbox camp. Only an $80 premium ($480) and it comes equipped with an HDMI connector and a hard drive upgrade from 20GB to 120GB. The big plus for the 360 is its extensive library of hi-def games. EA’s next-generation-graphics version of FIFA ’07, for example, has a 12-month exclusivity agreement with Microsoft. And the 360 version of Guitar Hero II checks out (I was always bothered that the Xbox version of Dance Dance Revolution plays so differently than the Playstation version). HD DVD’s (similar to Blu-Ray DVD’s, though slightly inferior) can be played on the 360 but only with the purchase of an external HD DVD player which runs for about $200 [frowny face]. But as I mentioned earlier, the 360 offers a portal to a stellar online network and an expansive media hub. Here you can buy TV episodes in hi-def, and rent HD movies (2 weeks, $5-$10), and even download original arcade games in high resolution (e.g. Street Fighter II). This brings us to the heated debate (which my colleague, Trifecta, so eloquently presented in a previous post) of ‘Physical HD versus Digital HD: Which way is the market headed?’. Being, as it is, a Microsoft product, the Xbox 360 doesn’t seem to make any efforts to cooperate with macs. If you’re a PC guy you can wirelessly stream your computer content to the console and play movies/music/slideshows on your TV (a la Apple TV). For me, the big Ace in the hole the Xbox 360 has is that I have friends that own it. If I “join in” as the commercials have instructed, I could instantly be competing or cooperating with a proverbial ‘friend in Vietnam’.
Playstation 3: The sexiest of its class. You could almost justify shelling out the $600 for the Play-trois just for the aesthetical value it will bring to your room. Not to mention, a Sony/Samsung/Panasonic Blu-Ray disc player with specs essentially identical to those of the PS3’s is likely to run for somewhere between $800 and $1000. Free access to the online network as opposed to $50/year for a slightly superior online community with the Xbox 360 is good, I guess, but the real deterrent seems to be the fact that game manufacturers haven’t kept pace with the Sony system itself by providing us with games that really showcase the PS3’s capabilities, and in the cases in which they have, it has only been through games that aren’t especially fun—war games and the like. The PS3 is purportedly much quieter and runs cooler than its 360 counterpart and generates power from a single cord (no unwieldy 360 behemoth power brick). The SixAxis controller with tilt capabilities in select games is a nice bonus, but still does not measure up to the Wii’s motion-sensitive interface.
Xbox 360 Elite: You have to go with the Elite if you are in the Xbox camp. Only an $80 premium ($480) and it comes equipped with an HDMI connector and a hard drive upgrade from 20GB to 120GB. The big plus for the 360 is its extensive library of hi-def games. EA’s next-generation-graphics version of FIFA ’07, for example, has a 12-month exclusivity agreement with Microsoft. And the 360 version of Guitar Hero II checks out (I was always bothered that the Xbox version of Dance Dance Revolution plays so differently than the Playstation version). HD DVD’s (similar to Blu-Ray DVD’s, though slightly inferior) can be played on the 360 but only with the purchase of an external HD DVD player which runs for about $200 [frowny face]. But as I mentioned earlier, the 360 offers a portal to a stellar online network and an expansive media hub. Here you can buy TV episodes in hi-def, and rent HD movies (2 weeks, $5-$10), and even download original arcade games in high resolution (e.g. Street Fighter II). This brings us to the heated debate (which my colleague, Trifecta, so eloquently presented in a previous post) of ‘Physical HD versus Digital HD: Which way is the market headed?’. Being, as it is, a Microsoft product, the Xbox 360 doesn’t seem to make any efforts to cooperate with macs. If you’re a PC guy you can wirelessly stream your computer content to the console and play movies/music/slideshows on your TV (a la Apple TV). For me, the big Ace in the hole the Xbox 360 has is that I have friends that own it. If I “join in” as the commercials have instructed, I could instantly be competing or cooperating with a proverbial ‘friend in Vietnam’.
Nintendo Wii: Innocent, clean, YSA enjoyment right out of the box; all for only $250. Where the 360 and the PS3 promote lethargy with their everything-remote system, the Wii requires constant interaction through oft intense hand and arm motions. Wii Sports sounds like a blast but other than that, I don’t see too many titillating titles except for maybe Zelda. I fear that the novelty of this unique console could wear off really fast, but maybe I’m wrong. One big plus, however, is the Virtual Console offered through the Wii Shop Channel. This is the place to go to buy replicated versions of classic NES, Super Nintendo, and N64 games. By simply turning your Wiimote sideways you are ready to knock out Soda Popinski in Mike Tyson’s Punchout or crank a dinger off of B. Sbrhgn in R.B.I. Baseball II. This would be an immediate fix to my brother’s and my NES woes since someone recently sabotaged our player 2 controller and effectively rendered the whole system worthless (we’re now relegated to watching the computer play against itself, and poorly at that—worthless Boggs groundouts become triples in computer play). I’m disappointed that only a select few games offer an online multiplayer option; even the DS Lite allows for Wi-Fi multiplayer on most all of its titles. And the online Wii channels are pretty lame. They offer AP news updates and weekly weather forecasts, but who wants to get their news from Nintendo? I can just picture it: “In today’s news, Luigi is released from prison after his 8-year sentence and Princess is enjoying her stay in the Koopa Beach Promises rehab center”.
So what’s my recommendation? I think the only feasible solution is to buy all three systems. PS3 for the Blu-Ray and the tech specs, Xbox 360 for the library of games and the fantastic online network, and the Wii because you can’t afford not to, and it’s so small and cute.
Admittedly, I’m getting pretty close to buying the Xbox 360 Elite but I’m curious to see what my readers have to say so please, chime in on the ‘Comments’ link below.
2 comments:
Hey Pace I would buy a PS3 but the games are not there to make me want to buy on. one.
On XBOX 360 the games are there and the fact that they have a lot of accessories is a bonus. Do not buy the HD DVD the movies will be all on the internet. Prices for the Elite:$479.00 Platnum: 399.00 Core:$299.00 If I were you i would do the Elite.It has a 120gb hard drive for the gamer lovers. I have the Platnum model. I wish they had the Elite when I bought my XBOX360.
On the WII I have played it and I would definietly buy one soon. the Games are fun and everyone can enjoy them.
Being the owner of an Xbox 360 my opinions are biased. However I must point something out; there is a battle going on between HD DVD and Blu-ray. In this battle some people are rushing in and picking sides, but the vast majority of people are sitting the sidelines and waiting for this fight to end before investing in a high definition media player. The Xbox does not force you to choose one over the other, when purchasing an xbox you are not purchasing an HD DVD player, you have the option for a mere $200 msrp (i got my HD DVD for $80) but you are not forced in to picking a side with the xbox.
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