Need help with which 360 and which PS3 to buy

[Dirty Hazy]

There's so many versions of each... how can I decide?

More importantly, how can I tell them apart? Especially when buying them used somewhere, like Ebay, and when the owner perhaps doesn't know which version it is!(... Elite, 20GB, whatever, etc..)

Help!

[Lair of the Shadow MaDaBa]

It's an XBox. If the owner doesn't know what it is, don't buy it. Only reason you'd do that is if it's an antique and rare and it will soon be worth billions of dollars or something.

Right now, you should get an Elite. They just dropped by $100 last week--$300 is a terrific deal on that. For the same price, you can get a PS3 Slim.

Both the XBox 360 Elite and the PS3 Slim have 120GB of memory, and since they're the same price, you're gonna need more details. The 360 has a greater degree of backwards-compatibility; from what I've heard, the PS3 is very, VERY limited in that regard. Second, the 360 versions of the big-time games (BioShock, The Orange Box, many more) are given higher scores than that of their PS3 counterparts, mostly due to the graphics.

The matter of money is a wrench in Microsoft's system--to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to the 360, you have to pay A LOT. XBox Live, Microsoft Points, possibly more controllers, the wireless adaptor...PS3's online stuff is all free (please bear in mind that I don't have a PS3, so if I'm missing anything, I apologize). Also, remember that the PlayStation3 can play Blu-Ray games. The 360 can play HDDVDs, yeah, but...well, y'know.

[Deleted]

PS3 is also the cheapest Blu Ray player. It all depends on the games you like. I bought the PS3 just for Metal Gear Solid 4 alone. I have the 80GB version which came with MGS4 and a Controller for 500 bucks last year. It maybe cheaper. Just do your research on games or ask us on what kind of games you like or what do you look forward in a game.

[Dirty Hazy]

I play WWE, Mario, Zelda, some raqcing like Need For Speed and Burnout, sometimes football... Madden is like the only option these days, and Grand Theft Auto is fun to run around and shoot people in and stuff.

That should sum things up, though Mario and Zelda are no help, lol. I'm a pretty picky gamer. I've played the first two Super Monkey Ball games on the Gamecube but don't like using tilt controls on the Wii like I seem to recall doing on a rental of a Super Monkey sequek.

I buy 007 games but seems like I don't tend to play them. That happens with a lot of my games, probably in part because I work 2 jobs and watch so much tv as well as hang out online so often.

[Dirty Hazy]

I should add that I want to use MY music, put onto my console, IN various games while I'm playing. For instance Entrance themes in WWE games, songs to drive to in Racing games, etc...

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

PS3 is very dependable. Just remember in the passed how many people had to send there system back and ext for the "ring of death". Plus as what said all the extras that you have to buy. PS3 Online is free. That is a big plus side if your an online gamer. The Blueray deal is nice to have being that a normal blue ray did cost about the same.

PS3 can play older PS series games. It plays regular DVDS. It comes with a wireless controllar. Yeah X-Box does have better graphics and some good games on there system like Halo for example. It really comes down to what games to you want the most?

PS3 size is depends on what you plan on having on it. DO you plan on having a lot of music, Video, and ext files on top of your saves? I have the 80 gig and it works just fine for me. But I don't have much on the harddrive but game saves for PS2 games and PS3. Which is another plus. Being able to convert (If you buy the converter, only extra I had to buy.) You can transfer you saves off the memory cards from the PS2 to the systems. Which I liked

You have Sony who is a known electorics building company vs. a company known for software. One has better graphics and some good game but a dark dependablity history. First the other that has less graphics but not that much less. Doesn't have a big rep in the dependablity department but also has good games that are only for it. But the extra you have to put into the X-Box 360 the online stuff, wireless stuff and ext. That adds up.

I vote for PS3 for the dependablity and not having to buy a lot of extras. I brought only the 15 dollar converter for Memory cards which is not a must for anything big.

[Zombie Mod]

if you know anyone who has either one ask if you can have a go on the console, make your mind up that way.

out of the two i went with a 360, but am now tempted by a slimline ps3. for everytime i hear "but a ps3 doesnt break down as much as a 360" i have to disagree i've seen less 360's in the last 6 months than ps3's that have died but that is only at the shop i work in.

[Mattification]

I wouldn't buy anything second hand in this generation. With the heat that these new machines generate it's pretty much inevitable that they'll die sooner or later.

You will be safer buying a second hand PS3 than a second hand 360 however.

As for the games, just look them up and see what you fancy.

The Elite and Slim are considered the top models by each company at the moment.

[emoney3265]

For the PS3 in short:

Get the 120GB Slim one that just came out. It's on Amazon.com for $300 Free shipping, no tax. It has a big HDD plus they have a new chip in it to where it uses 30% less power so far less chance of overheating. Theoretically, it should be superior to the bigger models. It doesn't cost much to upgrade the HDD to something bigger and you can easily do it yourself, just find a guide online. I'd stick with a Seagate 7200RPM HDD since they make the original HDD's for PS3. Plus the slim is 33% smaller than the big one plus it's lighter.

I find the only downside to the slim is that the disc eject and power buttons on the PS3 aren't heat sensitive like the big ones... but who really turns it on and off by that way? I always use the controller to turn it on.

O and none of the PS3 have backwards compatibility for PS2 games other than the 20GB & 60GB PS3s which are very rare now and way more expensive. Much more cost efficient to keep a PS2 around. You can even buy wireless controllers for PS2 which I did (Logitech). Every PS3 plays PS1 games.

And as others said... online is free, wifi built in, blu-ray. It's all nice. It all depends on the type of gamer you are.... someone who is a diehard or someone who likes games but also entertainment too. And both have stores to purchase movies, games etc in it.

I think you get more with a PS3 but I'm not a diehard video game guy... I just casually like them alot but nothing serious.

[Ratings]

I have both systems.

If you are looking for a console just for strict gaming, invest in a Xbox 360.

If you are looking for an all around system and considering upgrading to blu-ray, go with the PS3.

Most games these days come out on both platforms and if there are any exclusives that have caught your eye (Heavy Rain and Uncharted 2 are PS3 exclusives while Xbox 360 are getting Mass Effect 2 before it goes to the PS3), then go buy your personal preference.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Sept 7, 2009 8:03:58 GMT -5 Can you afford to pay me, Gah said:

PS3 is very dependable. Just remember in the passed how many people had to send there system back and ext for the "ring of death". Plus as what said all the extras that you have to buy. PS3 Online is free. That is a big plus side if your an online gamer. The Blueray deal is nice to have being that a normal blue ray did cost about the same.

PS3 can play older PS series games. It plays regular DVDS. It comes with a wireless controllar. Yeah X-Box does have better graphics and some good games on there system like Halo for example. It really comes down to what games to you want the most?

PS3 size is depends on what you plan on having on it. DO you plan on having a lot of music, Video, and ext files on top of your saves? I have the 80 gig and it works just fine for me. But I don't have much on the harddrive but game saves for PS2 games and PS3. Which is another plus. Being able to convert (If you buy the converter, only extra I had to buy.) You can transfer you saves off the memory cards from the PS2 to the systems. Which I liked

You have Sony who is a known electorics building company vs. a company known for software. One has better graphics and some good game but a dark dependablity history. First the other that has less graphics but not that much less. Doesn't have a big rep in the dependablity department but also has good games that are only for it. But the extra you have to put into the X-Box 360 the online stuff, wireless stuff and ext. That adds up.

I vote for PS3 for the dependablity and not having to buy a lot of extras. I brought only the 15 dollar converter for Memory cards which is not a must for anything big.

PS3 has better graphics. Look at games like Uncharted. Few, if any, 360 game comes close to those graphics.

The problem is most, if not nearly every single one, of the mutliplatform titles are made on 360 first and then ported to PS3.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

Sept 7, 2009 8:31:21 GMT -5 Zombie Mod said:

if you know anyone who has either one ask if you can have a go on the console, make your mind up that way.

out of the two i went with a 360, but am now tempted by a slimline ps3. for everytime i hear "but a ps3 doesnt break down as much as a 360" i have to disagree i've seen less 360's in the last 6 months than ps3's that have died but that is only at the shop i work in.

I'm just pointing out how on the net it was a big deal about 360 failing it was a huge thing at one point. I know a great amount of posters here made threads about it.

[Johnny Danger (Godz)]

Whichever one you buy, don't get it used. Save the money for as long as it takes, and get older games if you are on a budget. Enough of BOTH systems break when bought new and taken care of, don't waste money on what could be someone else's broken POS.

[Lair of the Shadow MaDaBa]

Yeah, that's another good idea--be as patient as possible and wait for the next generation. Microsoft said there'll be a new one in 2011, I think, which I personally think is too soon given how versatile this generation is.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Sept 7, 2009 18:56:42 GMT -5 Lair of the Shadow MaDaBa said:

Yeah, that's another good idea--be as patient as possible and wait for the next generation. Microsoft said there'll be a new one in 2011, I think, which I personally think is too soon given how versatile this generation is.

Unless PC graphics take a HUGE leap by then, we don't need one. The last few generations were mainly spurred by graphical upgrades to be on par with PC games, and the only PC game that has overall better graphics is Crysis, and it is only slightly better, so only one game isn't enough to warrant a new generation graphically. And it would be a huge mistake trying to release new systems just to aim at the casuals.

[domrep]

The porting bugs the shit out of me. I played NBA 2K9 on the 360, and on the PS 3, and the difference in terms of graphics between the two is alarming. The PS 3 version looks clunky, while the 360 version looks like its the real deal. I'm not sure how they could fix that issue, either make the game for both systems or...clean it up better. It's ridiculous that there's 1 game, and there are major differences when played on either system.

As for the original question, if you have friends who play online, go with the 360. If you want a system that can play games, and if you want to watch a movie sometime, go for the PS 3. Just my two cents, but the only thing the 360 beats the PS 3 is online play, and even then, you have to pay for that. PS 3 is pretty much its own entertainment console and the best blu-ray player on the market.

You can't go wrong with either, but I'd go with the PS 3, especially with the recent price drop.

[Deleted]

Sept 7, 2009 13:12:54 GMT -5 emoney3265 said:

For the PS3 in short:

Get the 120GB Slim one that just came out. It's on Amazon.com for $300 Free shipping, no tax. It has a big HDD plus they have a new chip in it to where it uses 30% less power so far less chance of overheating. Theoretically, it should be superior to the bigger models. It doesn't cost much to upgrade the HDD to something bigger and you can easily do it yourself, just find a guide online. I'd stick with a Seagate 7200RPM HDD since they make the original HDD's for PS3. Plus the slim is 33% smaller than the big one plus it's lighter.

I find the only downside to the slim is that the disc eject and power buttons on the PS3 aren't heat sensitive like the big ones... but who really turns it on and off by that way? I always use the controller to turn it on.

O and none of the PS3 have backwards compatibility for PS2 games other than the 20GB & 60GB PS3s which are very rare now and way more expensive. Much more cost efficient to keep a PS2 around. You can even buy wireless controllers for PS2 which I did (Logitech). Every PS3 plays PS1 games.

And as others said... online is free, wifi built in, blu-ray. It's all nice. It all depends on the type of gamer you are.... someone who is a diehard or someone who likes games but also entertainment too. And both have stores to purchase movies, games etc in it.

I think you get more with a PS3 but I'm not a diehard video game guy... I just casually like them alot but nothing serious.

My 80GB is backwards compatability

[Brandon Walsh is Insane.]

Sept 7, 2009 19:22:45 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

Sept 7, 2009 18:56:42 GMT -5 Lair of the Shadow MaDaBa said:

Yeah, that's another good idea--be as patient as possible and wait for the next generation. Microsoft said there'll be a new one in 2011, I think, which I personally think is too soon given how versatile this generation is.

Unless PC graphics take a HUGE leap by then, we don't need one. The last few generations were mainly spurred by graphical upgrades to be on par with PC games, and the only PC game that has overall better graphics is Crysis, and it is only slightly better, so only one game isn't enough to warrant a new generation graphically. And it would be a huge mistake trying to release new systems just to aim at the casuals.

Just because we don't need something doesn't mean that it won't be made.

Last year, the 360 was said to be half-way through it's life cycle.

That means, Microsoft planned on a 6 year window... which means, a new system will be here around 2011.

As for graphics, I would take gameplay over graphics anyday.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Sept 7, 2009 21:51:33 GMT -5 Brandon Walsh is Insane. said:

Sept 7, 2009 19:22:45 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

Unless PC graphics take a HUGE leap by then, we don't need one. The last few generations were mainly spurred by graphical upgrades to be on par with PC games, and the only PC game that has overall better graphics is Crysis, and it is only slightly better, so only one game isn't enough to warrant a new generation graphically. And it would be a huge mistake trying to release new systems just to aim at the casuals.

Just because we don't need something doesn't mean that it won't be made.

Last year, the 360 was said to be half-way through it's life cycle.

That means, Microsoft planned on a 6 year window... which means, a new system will be here around 2011.

As for graphics, I would take gameplay over graphics anyday.

While a lot of people may like gameplay over graphics, the vast majority of "hardcore" gamers are graphic whores now, so they would like to see prettier graphics with new systems.

[BigBadZ]

Depends on what kind of gamer you are. If you want to play online most of the time, go with the console most of your friends have. I have both consoles and I mostly buy multiplayer games on 360 because most of my friends have a 360. But choose the console that most of your friends have.

If you don't care about multiplayer too much, I'd recommend a PS3. Although I love Netflix on my 360, buying XBOX Live membership isn't worth Netflix alone. PS3 has Blu Ray, and if you have an HDTV, it should be without question.