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Games & gear: Help Me Choose!
Help Me Choose!
by brat352 - 6/14/08 1:35 PMI'm ready to buy a game system and cannot decide which is best for me. Maybe you can help me decide!
I am a hard-core PC action, adventure, first person type gamer (Bio-Shock, Quake, Half-Life, Halo, F.E.A.R., Tomb Raider, etc.) and just like a nice little action shooter I can play to relax when I get home from work to blow off some steam.
I do not have HDTV (can't afford the TV or the cable bill) or have a BluRay player, again because of cash issues. I do however, have 5.1 Dolby surround sound set up. I have no interest in playing against someone on-line (reasons are numerous, but suffice it to say I can't stand the mostly "10 year old mentality" that seems to go with (MOST) of the on-line gaming community. I know that is not fair for most on-liners, but the few times I have played on-line I have been so disappointed!). Now here's where you come in...
Which gaming system should I invest in?
I drool over the PS3 80GB, but because it has the built in BluRay, I'm thinking that this is a piece of equipment I don't need and again the price is the highest of all the systems available. The graphics are beautiful and while there are only a few games I would be interested in playing on this system, it doesn't seem to make sense to invest this much money in a proprietary gaming system. Also, because I do not have HDTV, will the PS3 work on my 37" regular color TV?
The Xbox seems to make the most sense in that the graphics are gorgeous, there are plenty of games of my liking for the system and the price is a little more reasonable. Should I get a plain Xbox, or and Xbox 360 Elite? Again, take into consideration I do not have HDTV.
The Wii, while quite cute and would be a hit when I have company over, just doesn't do anything for me graphics wise, though the price is very attractive.
Can (will?) anyone help me with my decision? And please none of the “PS3/X-BOX SUX” thread trolls - and you know who you are. Thanks in advance!
I'd say 360
by Jimmy Greystone - 6/14/08 2:38 PM In reply to: Help Me Choose! by brat352I'd say the 360 is the console system you want based on the type of games you said you like to play.
Traditionally the PlayStation family has been home to RPGs, especially JRPGs (Japanese style RPGs). When the Xbox came along, the majority of it's content was PC ports, and American style action-adventure games. While Microsoft has made a big push to get some JRPGs on the 360, with a new Tales of game and Star Ocean 4 both slated for earlier this year, the 360 still primarily is PC ports and American style games. Lots of flash, very little substance, and they're over in 20 hours or less. If that's what you're into, the 360 is your console of choice.
While I'm a big proponent of the gameplay first mentality, I will say that what I have heard -- and you'll have to decide how much stock you want to put into this -- is that the potential for the 360 has pretty much already been reached. Games will not get much better looking than they already are. The PS3, however, is still quite a ways from having its full potential realized. So as developers get better about programming for the Cell processor in the PS3, games should continue to improve. The Wii doesn't even bother trying to compete in terms of graphics abilities, focusing more on creating fun games.
While I won't argue that pretty graphics are nice to have, you have to figure that at some point there needs to be some kind of gameplay element it you may as well be watching a movie. So, I'd urge you not to focus solely on the graphics end of things. Surely at some point in your life you've played a game that looked absolutely gorgeous, but the controls were so bad, that it was just unplayable.
I can, however, support you completely with the online play idea. I'll see your not even juvenile behavior, and raise you people who have no life besides playing some game online.
One other thing to mull over... I know Sony likes to promote the fact that the PS3 has a Blu-Ray movie player, and it's still probably the cheapest one around because Sony is selling the units at a loss. However, sooner or later regular bluray players are going to come down in price, and be less than that of the PS3. Not to mention the PS3's bluray drive can do one thing other players can't: play PS3 games. Given that the bluray drive is only going to have a finite life span, doesn't it make more sense devoting it to playing games, not movies? Once it craps out, you're looking at buying a whole new console, and until you get a new one, you can't watch movies OR play games. If you have a separate player, and the console craps you, you can still watch movies, or play games if the player craps out.
Anyway, to sum it all up... Since I tend to think the type of games you like to play should choose the console, nothing else, and you say you like action-adventure and FPS games, I'd say the 360 is a clear winner for you. I'm sure you could find some good action-adventure and FPS games for the PS3, but probably not as many as you would for the 360. Look at the available GAMES for the different consoles, and let that decide. Don't worry about graphics, brand, or price, worry about GAMES. That is, after all, why you're buying the thing isn't it?
To Jimmy Greystone - THANKS!
by brat352 - 6/14/08 9:06 PM In reply to: I'd say 360 by Jimmy GreystoneDear Jimmy - Thanks SO MUCH for your HONEST reply! What you had to say really did hit home with me insofar as what do "I" want out of a console system. Being a PC gamer (while it was new, it was VERY high end, graphics card wise), I guess my dilemma is, am I going to have the same "eye candy" appeal that I am used to having? (quote: So, I'd urge you not to focus solely on the graphics end of things. Surely at some point in your life you've played a game that looked absolutely gorgeous, but the controls were so bad, that it was just unplayable - unquote) In point of fact was Resident Evil 4 - totally unplayable on the PC! It states ON THE BOX that it was "Windows compatible mouse" compliant, (EVEN BIGGER laugh here!) I even went out and bought a controller thinking this would help - another waste of money!
But, again, before I get off on yet another tangent, thank you once more for your good, insightful comments.
I believe I have made my decision!
Probably not
by Jimmy Greystone - 6/14/08 10:17 PM In reply to: To Jimmy Greystone - THANKS! by brat352Probably not is the answer to your question about the eye candy. Consoles will forever lag behind the PC, because consoles are fixed. Still, it shouldn't be only about the graphics. There should be something to be said for gameplay and story... I mean, Final Fantasy VII was kind of a blurry pixelated mess graphics wise, but it still kicks the crap out of a lot of more recent games when it comes to gameplay, story, presentation, lasting appeal, etc. It was no Final Fantasy X, but FFX is the gold standard of RPGs IMO.
Anyway, glad to hear my response helped, and I hope you're happy with your purchase, whatever it is. Also, don't forget this isn't an either/or situation. There's no law against having BOTH a 360 and a PS3. You may not have the money now, but maybe a year or two down the road... For now though, enjoy whichever console it is you decide to get.
Xbox or
by not2worried - 6/16/08 9:14 AM In reply to: Help Me Choose! by brat352I agree with Jimmy
The games you like lean toward the Xbox...
As far as online... you could join a sites like I did.
www.2old2play.com
Every one is 25 or old... Because I was sick of playing with "kids"
I would recommend a Xbox360 with a Hard Drive, not the arcade.
The 20gb would be enough... all though I wouldn't say no to the 120gb if someone afford it to me ; )
I think I'll pick up a PS3 but it will be awhile... just no games for me yet.
My sister has the Wii... fun, but it fades after a awhile..
Last I would recommend trying Guitar Hero or Rock Band *** ...
You may like them... ;P
You talked about having company over... that's the main reason I have Rock Band... Always a hit!!!
As far as Shooters go
Call of Duty 4 ( Short game, But Great game!!Maybe a Rental if you don't play online, )
Gears of War
Ghost Recon (or Rainbow Six)
Orange Box
Bioshock
You know !
GL
Xbox 360 on an SD TV
by johnbuker - 6/17/08 6:55 AM In reply to: Xbox or by not2worriedMy take is:
#1) You're going to be sorely disappointed with the Xbox 360 (or probably even the PS3) on a standard definition TV.
#2) All of the games you mentioned liking on the PC are some of the best games on the 360. If you have a high end PC, why buy a 360 to play the exact same games only and only on a SD TV?
My personal experience:
-Bought a Wii last year. Love the system and it looked great on my old standard definition 32" Toshiba. But the only great games for the system that are in a genre that you like are RE4 (which I agree is totally unplayable on the PC but is a blast and looks great on the Wii) and Metroid Prime 3. There are enough good games for the system that I'm still happy with the purchase, but for every good game there are 12 horrible ones.
-I just recently bought a Xbox 360. I chose it over the PS3 due to price and the fact that many of the major franchises are now no longer system exclusive (RE5, GTA4, etc). I bought a new Arcade system and then a 20GB hard drive off of eBay for less than I could get a new Premium version. I was extremely disappointed in the way it looked on my old standard definition TV (text in many games was unreadable). Getting the 360 led to me finally getting an HDTV and it looks great and is a lot of fun in HD, but I wasn't at all happy with the system on my old SD TV.
HD tv
by johnisnotcool - 6/17/08 9:03 AM In reply to: Xbox 360 on an SD TV by johnbukerThat is totally true about SD tv. I used to have one when I first got my 360. Big difference between hd and sd. some game you can't even play in sd. Dead Rising you can't read the missions, lord of the rings RTS you can't tell your guys apart. But most of the games are ok
what?
by kalel33 - 6/20/08 12:14 AM In reply to: HD tv by johnisnotcoolPeople play the xbox 360 on a standard television? I know it happens and it's not some people's choice, but the difference is staggering in the visuals between HDTV and SDTV.
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