XBOX 360 vs. PlayStation 3 vs. Nintendo Wii

Photics · #1 11-16-2006, 09:32 PM

This is quite possibly the most vicious next generation console battle ever. With the PlayStation 3 being released in the US at midnight, and the Wii hitting the market this Sunday, this is an excellent time to be a gamer. Yet, I find myself apathetic toward the new systems.

XBOX 360, PS3, Wii... which one is right for me? I don't know. I'm not crazy about any of them. I'm a PC gamer. I like MMORPGs, like Guild Wars and World of Warcraft. I like hassle free Internet gaming. Regardless, I wandered over to Union Square in NYC. I heard word that people were lining up for the PS3.

When I hit 14th street, I didn't see anything unusual. There was a media van parked in front of Circuit City, but I didn't see any crowds. Was this all hype or really a big hoax? Nope! I simply turned the corner to see a line that stretched for blocks - such enthusiasm for a console.

What am I missing? I've been playing video games for over 25 years. I used to be part of the "I gotta have it" crowd. Since the Atari 2600, I've never skipped an entire generation of console hardware. It's not like I would have to skip any meals to pay for a Wii, XBOX 360 or a PS3. Why am I not excited? That's the point of this thread. If you had to choose ONLY ONE system to play video games with, which one would it be and why?!

XBOX 360
PlayStation
Wii

Side Note: Would you want dedicated forums at Photics.com for the PS3, Wii and XBOX 360?

Nemisari · #2 11-16-2006, 09:48 PM

I think console forums would be a great idea

Jizato · #3 11-16-2006, 10:15 PM

Separate forums? Probably not, maybe something called New-Gen Gaming (seeing as they are no longer the next gen).

I am looking forward to picking up my Wii on Sunday morning, and then heading to pick up Twilight Princess. I have been a Zelda fan ever since I played the original game on my NES. Nintendo has a lot of great companies making games for them, and it seems many more are interested in developing for the Wii, which can only be good.

I love the fact that they are embracing ultimate backwards compatibility, by re-releasing great classics for those of us who's old Nintendo consoles kicked the bucket. I can't wait to start playing some old NES/SNES games again. Sure, I could go download them and play them on my computer, but that takes away from the games (not to mention the legality issues). The old NES/SNES/N64 games were not meant to be played on a keyboard.

I've never bought a console at launch before, mainly because I could not afford them. Now that I have a full-time job, sure, I'll have less time to play it, but I will enjoy the time I spend on it. And I would much rather buy a console thats 1/2 the price of its competitors, especially one from Nintendo.

I didn't get my first last-gen console until a few years ago. I bought a Gamecube when they came down in price, and it was bundled with an awesome Zelda collection. A year later, I traded it in for a PS2 and have enjoyed it just as much.

Graphics aren't as important to me as they seem to be to most gamers these days. Sure, they add more realism to a game, but I would rather play a 2d RPG with SNES style graphics and a great storyline than some of the newer games. Graphics shouldn't be what sells a game, I want something that will keep me wanting to play it to find out what will happen next, not just something that looks good.

People bash the Wii because it doesn't even match the graphical capabilities of the original XBox, but that isn't important to me. I don't have a TV that supports HD, so why do I need a console that will provide HD quality. Gaming on a 27" standard TV works for me.

I may pick up a PS3 in a year or two, once the price goes down. But for now, its all about the Wii.

#4 11-17-2006, 03:37 PM

I don't know about the console forums... there'd be far too much temptation to go to someone else's forum and just flame the hell out of them... but y'know, it's your decision. It probably wouldn't hurt...

... too bad.

-Paralda

Nemisari · #5 11-17-2006, 04:51 PM

The community here is pretty civil.. I don't think we would see much flamming. Maybe Jizato's idea of a generic "consoles" thread would be the way to go instead of breaking it into the three factions

#6 11-17-2006, 07:38 PM

there is no flaming in the gw and wow forums

Photics · #7 11-18-2006, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paralda

there'd be far too much temptation to go to someone else's forum and just flame

I don't think so. Occassionally I'll see an anti-wow post in the WoW forum, as the Guild Wars fans are in the majority at Photics.com. But generally, the discussion here is quite civil. Jude and Nemi are right. I'm more concerned about interest. Is there enough traffic and popularity to justify three more forums? A single console forum concerns me, as the photics community seems to be pro-wii. Seeing 10 Wii threads for every one XBOX 360 or PS3 thread wouldn't be good either.

I'm not sure on this one!

It seems things would be easier to decide if I could actually decide on a console. I'm still not clear on what I should do...

Buy a Wii
Buy an XBOX 360
Buy a PlayStation 3
Buy them all
None of the above

Although, there's a Wii release party in Times Square. It's not often big gaming events happen on the East Coast, so I am interested in that. Although... I'm not so interested in spending $325.10 on a Wii and Zelda. I'm going to do some reading today, to see if I can get excited about a Nintendo product again.

So far, the Wii is 100% on the poll. Why is that?

#8 11-18-2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photics

I don't think so. Occassionally I'll see an anti-wow post in the WoW forum, as the Guild Wars fans are in the majority at Photics.com. But generally, the discussion here is quite civil. Jude and Nemi are right. I'm more concerned about interest. Is there enough traffic and popularity to justify three more forums? A single console forum concerns me, as the photics community seems to be pro-wii. Seeing 10 Wii threads for every one XBOX 360 or PS3 thread wouldn't be good either.

I'm not sure on this one!

It seems things would be easier to decide if I could actually decide on a console. I'm still not clear on what I should do...

Buy a Wii
Buy an XBOX 360
Buy a PlayStation 3
Buy them all
None of the above

Although, there's a Wii release party in Times Square. It's not often big gaming events happen on the East Coast, so I am interested in that. Although... I'm not so interested in spending $325.10 on a Wii and Zelda. I'm going to do some reading today, to see if I can get excited about a Nintendo product again.

So far, the Wii is 100% on the poll. Why is that?

1. Oh, and Wii is 100% because it brings FUN back into gaming. Not just graphics and processing power. Plus, it's easier to make games on the Wii, so there's more creativity there.
-Paralda

Photics · #9 11-18-2006, 09:19 PM

Today might have been a different day, had I seen the IGN review of The Legend of Zelda: Twighlight Princess before I saw the Gamespot review.

IGN says the new Zelda rates a 9.5, while Gamespot says 8.8.

I don't like the idea that this game is basically a GameCube port. I don't like the idea that character dialogue is just on-screen text. I also don't like the constant references to Ocarina of Time. I don't think that game was all that great.

When I saw the Gamespot review, I was like "HA HA!" I thought I was saving myself $325.10. Then, I watched the IGN review. I started to feel excitement about the game. Both reviewers hit on the same key points, yet the reviews feel like night and day.

It's too late to rush off to Times Square... but maybe tomorrow I'll wander over to the mall. You know, just to check things out.

Photics · #10 11-19-2006, 04:17 PM

After playing World of Warcraft for hours, I was getting frustrated with my quest for Rank 11. Plus, I'm waiting until next weekend to play Guild Wars. I'm going to do the bonus mission run with my Elementalist. That's going to take a while. I was in the mood for something different. I decided that I would head to the mall and buy a Wii.

First things first - Raise Capital!

At the end of the day, I toss my extra coins into a cardboard canister. It's shaped like a stick of dynamite. It even has the word "Acme" written on the side. Since it was almost filled with coins, I decided it was time for a trip to the CoinStar.

421 Quarters
254 Dimes
161 Nickles
300 Pennies

It wasn't enough money. It was about half, but that was good enough for me.

Here's a list of stores that I checked for the Nintendo Wii...

Kmart
Best Buy
Toys R Us
Sears
Saturday Matinee
Electronics Boutique
GameStop (two of them)
Circut City

Every single one of those stores was sold out. I was surprised. I could see the PS3 selling out, as there were supply problems. I'm not sure why the Wii was sold out. I remember when I bought my Super Nintendo & Nintendo 64 on opening day - no problems. I guess it goes to show you that there are more gamers in the world today.

While I was there, I got to check out demo units for the XBOX 360 and PS3. There was a basketball game on the PS3. It looked amazing - crisp, clear and glossy.

Gears of War seems to have only two colors - Gray and Red.

Both sytems can produce amazing graphics. Of this, there is no doubt. Yet, for the best experience, a high-definition television is needed. That's why I was interested in seeing a working Wii Demo. Yet, the Wii kiosks were either in some sorta dimmed out mode or completely turned off.

Oh well. I don't mind saving $250.

One thing's for sure, Black Friday is not going to be a pretty day for retailers. I'm sure people must get tired of answering the question, "Do you have the Wii?"