# Playstation 2 VS. Xbox VS. Gamecube **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 2, 2001, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565 "2001-08-02T00:17:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![HideoHo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@HideoHo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HideoHo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/41 "2001-08-03T14:20:43Z")
Well, as someone who’s actually in the industry as a media grinch and working on the programming, I can tell you a few things abou the systems, but no one really knows who will actually ‘win’. First off, the PS2 is one of the worst systems to program for that has ever existed. It is actually harder to program for than the old Saturn. It has the EE chip, which is rediculously fast, and the to co-processors which help the EE chip. Of course, the two co-processors aren’t exactly alike so it essentially requires you to write your code for three different chips all running in tandom. Even the Code Warrior stuff doesn’t help much. For actual examples, look at The Bouncer and GT3 as programs that were a) delayed due to difficulty in programming and b) less than originally promised. Bouncer was supposed to have interactive environments, but Squaresoft couldn’t implement it in any reasonable amount of time. GT3 was supposed to come out on release day. XBox and Gamecube are both designed to be easier to program for. Anyone who’s used DirectX can recognize how easy it is to use. Plus, the XBox gives programmers the ability to write games on their PC and move it over to the XBox SDK later in development without a lot of hassle. GameCube uses proprietary software to develop for, but Nintendo recognized how horrible it was to program for the 64 and has done everything they could to change that. Personally, I still like the PS2 controller for fighting games. The GC controller is a little strange but workable. Unfortunatly, the games at E3 didn’t really give you anything like Mario to try the controller on. The XBox controller was like a weird mesh of the Genesis and PSX controllers, though it felt nice after about 20 minutes of play. Onto power… This isn’t as easy to say what’s more powerful as no one can possibly use the PS2 to get real world limits on its graphics. Since the XBox uses Direct X, it will have much more impressive First Gen titles than PS2. Even if the XBox and PS2 had the exact same real world maximums, the XBox games will look better due to the fact that it’s easy to get the XBox to go fast. GameCube will have impressive games at launch due to it being from Nintendo. Mario 64 is still one of the 5 best looking games on that system, and Nintendo will probably do the same on the GC release. At E3, every game in the Nintendo booth looked polished and ready for release. It’s just the way Nintendo does things. I personally want to see the XBox come out on top, as I’m working on proposals for a game in development and it would make my life a million times easier to create the game for the XBox rather than PS2 or GC. From what it looks like, though, GC will be number 2, and Sony and MS get to duke it out for a year or so to see who’s #1. I’m done now. No, really… John ---
**Author:** ![Kunimitsu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/919ad9/32.png) [@Kunimitsu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kunimitsu)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/42 "2001-08-03T15:04:24Z")
Playstation2 is the best console and will inevitably win the console war. All the other systems have is graphics. That’s it Playstation2 is going/has Capcom vs SNK 2 Metal Gear Solid 2 Dead or Alive 3 (Don’t trust Temco with exclusive rights) Twisted Metal Black Gran Turismo 3 Tekken 4 Need I go on? These are and some clearly will be top quality titles. Gamecube will just have Mario, Zelda and all that which will probably end up being better graphical versions of N64 games. X Box has a close chance but I still think Playstation 2 is the best system and will be. The only way it’s losing it’s attention is because of it’s weak graphical prowess compared to the upcoming system. ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/43 "2001-08-03T15:59:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kunimitsu \* > \*\*Playstation2 is the best console and will inevitably win the console war. All the other systems have is graphics. That’s it Playstation2 is going/has > Metal Gear Solid 2 > Dead or Alive 3 (Don’t trust Temco with exclusive rights) > \*\* Of course XBOX will have DO3 first, and is also getting MGS2, and probably a superior version at that. Was thinking about the GC. I imagine there’s probably a good chance that they will focus more on the younger Gameboy-lovin demographic and let the other two split the over-14 market. I know they have some adult titles, but I’d bet the focus shall remain on the younger consumer like the N64 did. It just makes good marketing sense. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/44 "2001-08-03T16:16:23Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Heath Doolin_ > XBOX = HALO XBOX = HALO = hijacked Macintosh title ([first publically shown](http://www.appleturns.com/scene/?id=1681) at Macworld San Francisco, 1999). I still find it amusingly ironic that the Xbox’s most impressive title comes from a developer that’s most reknown for their non-Microsoft work. Amazing what deep pockets from illegal monopolies can buy, eh? 🙂 > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by SPOOFE_ > And, to date, every report I’ve seen (if you know of any that say otherwise, feel free to alert me of their existence) says that the X-box is easier to program for than PS2. Oh, I’m not disagreeing that the Xbox is _easier_ to program for – primarily because its APIs are heavily based on Windows – but you’re making the mistaken assumption that “ease of programming” will translate into “superior product”. I mean, heck, Visual Basic is easier to program with than C++ or Java, but nobody seriously expects you to write an air-defense system or a billion-dollar e-commerce site in VB… > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by seriousart \* > Of course XBOX will have DO3 first, and is also getting MGS2, and probably a superior version at that. Sorry, but you’re quite mistaken. True, Konami is developing **Metal Gear Solid X** for the XBox, but it’s only a ported/tweaked version of the _first_ MGS title. The one that everyone was drooling over at E3, **Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty,** is currently a PS2-only title. ---
**Author:** ![MIKE\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MIKE\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MIKE_P)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/45 "2001-08-03T16:21:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kunimitsu \* > \*\* > > Need I go on? These are and some clearly will be top quality titles. Gamecube will just have Mario, Zelda and all that which will probably end up being better graphical versions of N64 games. > > \*\* Ahem:Crazy Taxi,Duke Nukem Forever,Pikmin(no relation to Pokemon),SSX Tricky,Monkey Ball(Who doesnt like monkeys in clear plastic balls?)Resident Evil Zero,the list goes on and on. ---
**Author:** ![Kunimitsu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/919ad9/32.png) [@Kunimitsu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kunimitsu)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/46 "2001-08-03T17:01:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by seriousart \* > \*\*Of course XBOX will have DO3 first, and is also getting MGS2, and probably a superior version at that. > > Was thinking about the GC. I imagine there’s probably a good chance that they will focus more on the younger Gameboy-lovin demographic and let the other two split the over-14 market. I know they have some adult titles, but I’d bet the focus shall remain on the younger consumer like the N64 did. It just makes good marketing sense. \*\* If XBOX will comprise a superior version of MGS2 than PS2 will make a better version of DOA3. This is going to lie in the inclination of gamers; simply subjective. I think Nintendo should stop aiming at the kiddy market. I’m beginning to think early teenagers are starting to find Pokemon “uncool” and “stupid” now. I seen a huge trend of this, obviously this won’t be in favour of Nintendo. And most older folks are not into the childish games. I’m more of a fighter person anyway. I’m contemplating whether I should get XBOX or Gamecube. But I heard XBOX is going to have the FF series on it as well as PS2. I haven’t found any promising or appealing titles on Gamecube yet. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/47 "2001-08-03T18:32:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\* > > Yet you’re forgetting the two previous systems… \*\* I’m not forgetting the other two systems. I’m one of those people who tends to have brand loyalty. If you build me a product that I like I’ll probably come back and buy something else from you in the future. The quality of the other two systems are exactly the reason I went with N64 instead of Playstation. > [@](#): > > \*\* > The biggest flaw with the N64 was the fact that it was cartridge-based… which isn’t necessarily a bad thing (faster loading times, “tried-and-true”, that sort of thing). However, it just resulted in less “game” being able to be placed on each disk. \*\* Apparantly it also resulted in fewer decent games being made at all. > [@](#): > > \*\* > With the Gamecube, they’ve fixed this flaw. And you have to admit… Nintendo did a LOT with the limited game space they had (heck, Mario 64 was on about 20 megabytes of space… Zelda 64 took up about 60 or so). \*\* I will give the system credit for having some excellent games. The N64 left such a bad taste in my mouth that it made my brand loyalty falter. Instead I went with Playstation because of the number of games available on the 1st one and the amount of quality games. Though I know I will miss Zelda, Mario, and Samas Aaron. Actually if the GC looks really good about 6 months to a year after its release I might buy one. Marc ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/48 "2001-08-03T19:11:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by seriousart \* > > Of course XBOX will have DO3 first, and is also getting MGS2, and probably a superior version at that. > > Sorry, but you’re quite mistaken. True, Konami is developing **Metal Gear Solid X** for the XBox, but it’s only a ported/tweaked version of the _first_ MGS title. The one that everyone was drooling over at E3, **Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty,** is currently a PS2-only title. \*\* Do you have and links confirming that it’s only a “ported/tweaked version” of the first? As far as I’ve read, there hasn’t been anything definitive said by anyone. The makers of MGS2 seem pretty hush-hush about the XBOX incarnation, perhaps due to wanting people to buy the PS2 game (first) and not just wait for the XBOX version to come out. I would be very surprised if it was just the first one, redone. Heck, I’ve even read rumors that the MGS for XBOX will be entirely new, not a port at all. And sadly, no links to back up my claims. It’s all stuff I’ve been reading over the past few months, which to my knowledge isn’t archived. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kunimitsu \* > If XBOX will comprise a superior version of MGS2 than PS2 will make a better version of DOA3. This is going to lie in the inclination of gamers; simply subjective. Often, the ported versions of games improve upon the source, having the extra time to fix problems in the games. Though, I wonder if the PS2 or GC would so easily be able to port games from XBOX, especially if the games relied much on the hard drive to make the games work. Other systems may have to rely on more simplified, or striped down versions of XBOX games. ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/49 "2001-08-03T19:15:17Z")
I stand corrected, sort of. XBOX is porting MGS, but it is MGS **2**. As found here: [http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2630903,00.html](http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2630903,00.html) > [@](#): > > Konami of Japan announced today that it will develop several > high-profile games for the Microsoft Xbox and other next-generationconsoles. The major announcement was the confirmation of Metal Gear Solid X for the Xbox. It will be a port of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 2, which signifies an end to the brief console exclusivity of the franchise. The other games being published by Konami on the Xbox console include Jurassic Park X, Crash Bandicoot X, Silent Hill X, anda game based on director John Carpenter’s The Thing. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/50 "2001-08-03T21:40:13Z")
Rjung… > [@](#): > > but you’re making the mistaken assumption that “ease of programming” will translate into “superior product”. No, no… I’m saying “ease of programming” will translate into “_potentially_ superior product”. As of now, the X-Box system itself has many advantages over the PS2 which, if played right (and the whole “it’s Microsoft so it will suck” argument doesn’t apply), will result in the X-Box becoming a very successful machine. But I’m probably going to do what everyone else does… wait a while to see how things play out. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/51 "2001-08-03T21:59:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by seriousart \* > Do you have and links confirming that it’s only a “ported/tweaked version” of the first? Try this link: [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/story.cfm?sid=2117](http://www.computerandvideogames.com/story.cfm?sid=2117) > [@](#): > > Finally, word has come from the horse’s mouth that Metal Gear Solid X, the recently announced Xbox version of the traditionally PlayStation shooter, will not be a port of Metal Gear Solid 2. Speaking at a press conference in Japan, creator of the series Hideo Kojima confirmed that the Microsoft version will in fact be a mix of the original PlayStation game and the stunning sequel. _The only way you’ll get to play Metal Gear Solid 2 in its entirety will be with a PlayStation 2._ (emphasis added) I know when **Metal Gear Solid X** was first announced that some folks took it to be an XBox port of **Sons of Liberty** (your Gamespot article makes the same error). But I also remember reading the news reports in _Next Generation_ and other magazines that clarified the issue. Not to get too political about things, but since Konami and Sony are Japanese companies, they are somewhat more likely to support each other. As an example, compare the list of Sega’s planned XBox titles with their list of planned PS2 titles – Sony gets the better goods. ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/52 "2001-08-03T23:47:24Z")
Well Rjung, I guess we were both kind of right. Assuming your article was correct, it is in fact “a mix of the original PlayStation game and the stunning sequel.” So, it’s not the first (like you had mentioned), and it’s not the second (like I had claimed). But a melding of the two. But hell, I never got the chance to play the first one, so I don’t mind! ---
**Author:** ![Louie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/53 "2001-08-04T03:49:15Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by seriousart \* > \*\* > I’ve read to the contrary (sorry, no [link-Gamespot.com](http://link-Gamespot.com) maybe?) that there was a projected release of the GC DVD player late 2002/early2003._\* [DVD GameCube Release, Price](http://cube.ign.com/news/36765.html) The Panasonic/Matsushita GameCube/DVD combo is going for around $325 in Japan in November. The article didn’t say what the price will be when it’s released in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/54 "2001-08-04T04:39:24Z")
_from [gamespot.com](http://gamespot.com)_: > [@](#): > > A US release date for the device has been set for sometime between March 2002 and March 2003. Thanks for the link, Louie. So I guess I should amend by previous statement to say “ **early** 2002 to early 2003.” But knowing Nintendo, that’ll most likely translate to **mid** 2003 at best 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/55 "2001-08-04T04:41:17Z")
As much as I love Bungie, Halo at E3 played much like a mediocre version of Starsiege Tribes with a smattering of vehicles and, in some circumstances, quite nasty slowdown. While I’m sure this was merely a beta, it was far from impressive and I’m sure that the PC version will be far superior. And FWIW, technology isn’t everything. To date, my favorite fighting games (SF2:CE, and the DBZ titles) are all SNES titles. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/56 "2001-08-04T06:11:11Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m sure that the PC version will be far superior. This can be said for just about any consol game. > [@](#): > > To date, my favorite fighting games (SF2:CE, and the DBZ titles) are all SNES titles. Damn skippy. I still go ga-ga over _Final Fantasy 3_ (6 in Japan). No other FF game measures up to it, in the slightest. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/57 "2001-08-04T15:13:51Z")
"but you’re making the mistaken assumption that “ease of programming” will translate into “superior product” Windows is easy to program but it’s not superior. So any truth to the rumore Xbox games are going to cost $80 each? ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/58 "2001-08-04T18:03:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*So any truth to the rumore Xbox games are going to cost $80 each? \*\* Don’t know where you read that. The games will be competitively priced against PS2 and GC. Read a rumor at: [http://xbox.ign.com/news/37107.html](http://xbox.ign.com/news/37107.html) which hints at a much lower cost. It’s unlikely, but it’d be nice. > [@](#): > > Xbox Games: $34.99? > Recently an UK website ran a story that listed Microsoft’s launch details that were announced at E3 ($299 price, November 8, etc). The strange thing was the price for the games: $34.99 US. Every other price for the system and accessories was correct from what we have determined, but the game prices seemed a little strange. > We contacted Microsoft and got the standard response that could neither confirm nor deny the $34.99 price. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/59 "2001-08-04T21:55:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Windows is easy to program but it’s not superior. How do you figure, Handy? Do you program Windows OS’s in your free time? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565/60 "2001-08-05T05:47:09Z")
Grand Turismo 3 for the PS 2 looks fantastic. A whole heck of a lot better then anything I ever saw on the PS 1. Marc [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playstation-2-vs-xbox-vs-gamecube/74565.md?page=4)