PS2 vs Xbox

[ElwoodCuse]

Power is not the be-all and end-all of a gaming console. Remember the 3D0? Probably not. It was powerful and cool, but languished in the market.

Ok, better example–the Dreamcast. It was more powerful than the PlayStation, had a ton of good games, was well-liked…and failed way before it was supposed to.

In terms of sales, Sony has already won this round of the console wars. The PS2 has sold millions more worldwide than the X-Box, and the X-box is practically ignored by Japan, which does not bode well.

But in the end, a lot of games will be out for both. Practically every sports game comes out on both, as well as a lot of major titles. You pretty much need to look at the few exclusive titles (Grand Theft Auto, Halo, etc.) and decide from there.

[DKW]

Uh, yeah.

Well, sorry to say that I’ll never be able to do any kind of head-to-head PS2/X-Box experiment…because I have no interest in any of the games that push the X-Box to its absolute limit.

I don’t like mega-complicated first-person shooters. One of my favorite shooters was Wolfenstein 3D, because it was fun and easy to learn, and I didn’t have to keep track of 15 buttons.

I don’t like online play. Finding a way to beat the computer is hard enough. Plus I know I’ll just get absolutely creamed by any hardcore online gamer, and there are plenty of them.

I don’t like most of the sports games out there…just too many things to keep track of. Same deal with RPGs. I don’t go for any game that’s vastly more complicated than my job.

The games I own, and actually play, right now are Swing Away Golf, Capcom vs. SNK 2, CART Fury, and Street Fighter EX 3. I’ve rented Silent Scope, Silent Scope 2, Super Bust-A-Move, Unison, Dead or Alive 2 Hardcore, Bloody Roar 3, Gauntlet Dark Legacy, 18 Wheeler, Knockout Kings 2001, Knockout Kings 2002, and Tekken 4. Other than that last one, I’m sure you’ve never heard of any of them, and none of them pushed the limits of the PS2’s capability.

Games I’ll be buing in the future: Pop 'n Music 7. DDRMAX. Beatmania IIDX (probably 3rd Style). Bemani games. Not an envelope-pusher in the entire lot.

So what I’m trying to say is…

ice2001 - …you should get the system with the games you want, no matter what they are!

Man, I’ve always wanted to do a segue like that…

[amanset]

*Originally posted by Monster104 *
**
I was talking specifically how graphics IMPROVE upon gameplay. Better framerates and further draw distances directly enhance game playability, while sharper textures, better anti-aliasing, and more powerful 3D effects allow game developers to create far more intrinsic and immersive worlds.
**

I agree with you about draw distances and framerates (not that I have had a problem with any PS2 games and them)

I would disagree with sharper textures, anti-aliasing (the war cry of every Xbox zealot) and “3D effects” creating a more immersive environment. For me, the two most immersive environments I have ever come across have been Elite (on an Acorn Electron, with black and white wireframe graphics) and Everquest (which until the Luclin expansion pack last Christmas had probably the most basic 3D engine, in terms of your quoted features, of a PC games still under commercial development).

**
What, are you going to attempt to tell me that PS2 has better games? What a generalization. I will tell you, however, that there are many Xbox games that are magnitudes of order better than many PS2 games, and vice versa. If you prefer to look at it as “all Xbox games are not better than PS2 games, so Xbox sucks”, that’s your own right to be of the opinionated, close-minded type.
**

No, what I am saying is that I believe there is far more innovation on the PS2. There are far more original ideas, especially coming out of Japan, on the PS2, whereas the Xbox seems to be the standard racing, beat-em-up, FPS etc. The most original concept on the Xbox, Blinx, appears (according to reviews) to have somewhat fallen on its face.

Finally, if you are going to accuse me of some sort of fanboyism, you might like to know that if anything, with 3 of their consoles permanently in front of my TV, I am a Nintendo fanboy. When I bought my PS2 I got SSX and then nothing else for months, using it mainly as a DVD player or for playing my PS1 titles.

[Monster104]

Power is not the be-all and end-all of a gaming console.

Which I’ve been completely agreeing with all along. However, system capabilities ARE a major factor you should consider, because it WILL impact aspects of the game, sometimes rather seriously.

In terms of sales, Sony has already won this round of the console wars. The PS2 has sold millions more worldwide than the X-Box, and the X-box is practically ignored by Japan, which does not bode well.

Who cares about sales? Just because it sells more doesn’t mean it’s a superior product (although I must admit that more systems is an advantage of its own, as it tends to mean more games will be developed).

And the reason Xbox isn’t doing well in Japan is because it’s an American product.

DKW: So, in other words, you don’t like GOOD games? And I have heard of most of those games, and was thoroughly unimpressed by every single one of those that I saw.

not that I have had a problem with any PS2 games and them)

So you’ve never played GTA3?

I would disagree with sharper textures, anti-aliasing (the war cry of every Xbox zealot) and “3D effects” creating a more immersive environment. For me, the two most immersive environments I have ever come across have been Elite (on an Acorn Electron, with black and white wireframe graphics) and Everquest (which until the Luclin expansion pack last Christmas had probably the most basic 3D engine, in terms of your quoted features, of a PC games still under commercial development).

Ah, but those are exceptions to the rule. I found the worlds of Ultima 6 and Ultima 7 to be among the most immersive gaming worlds ever, even though they had extremely limited graphics. It’s because of the attention to detail put into the game. Better graphics capabilities allows game developers to create even more immersive games because it allows them to put even more detail into a game.

Whether developers do it or not is a different issue entirely, and it’s an issue that exists for every gaming system.

(Btw, I just noticed I wrote “intrinsic”…I meant to type “intricate”. I guess I got distracted or something)

No, what I am saying is that I believe there is far more innovation on the PS2. There are far more original ideas, especially coming out of Japan

So, just tell me which Japanese titles you think are innovative? Because from what I’ve seen of recent imports, it’s just more of the same.

The most original concept on the Xbox, Blinx, appears (according to reviews) to have somewhat fallen on its face.

What reviews are you reading? I ask because many reviews I’ve seen online have treated it pretty favorably.

Finally, if you are going to accuse me of some sort of fanboyism

Nope, not fanboyism. If you read what I wrote a little more carefully, you will see that I was pointing out a fallacy in your position.

[DKW]

Monster104 - I will not be swayed by what “the majority” thinks. I don’t rent games for the majority.

I could care less about your criteria for a “good” game…but it’s doubtful. (Hey, I actually used that phrase right!)

No one can tell me what to like. Or what’s desirable. Or what to rent.

Variety is always good, and the more variety, the better. Megahyped games alone will never sell a system. I’m not budging a tenth of a micron on either stance.

And frankly, I think it’s a damn shame that the only arbiter of “quality” these days seems to be how many gazillions of features you can cram in a game, or how eye-popping the graphics are, or some other brute-force stat made by ultra-hardcore gamers for ultra-hardcore gamers.

As someone who remembers an era where console gaming was widely considered to be family entertainment, I’d like to think that we’re not steamrolling toward an era where that type of player is the only type that has any reason to own a console.

Oh yeah…

ice1000 - You still here, bud? Sorry about the huge debate…this always happens when people start comparing systems. I’m not like most players, which is why I always find myself in the center of huge controversies (no kidding; check out some of the GameFAQs or Madman’s Cafe threads). Again, eyes and ears, the kind of games you want…you know the drill.

[cainxinth]

ice1000, to help with your decision here’s a list of some of the better games that you can only play on one system.

PS2

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Kingdom Hearts
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4
Tekken 4
PS2
Grand Theft Auto 3
Gungrave
Final Fantasy X
Rez
Devil May Cry
Jak and Daxter
NBA Street
Onimusha 2
Twisted Metal Black
Virtua Fighter 4

Future Releases

Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
Devil May Cry 2
Zone of Enders 2

XBOX

Halo
Rallisport Challenge
Morrowind
Dead or Alive 3
Jet Set Radio Future
Amped
Sega GT 2002
Project Gotham Racing
NBA Inside Drive 2003
Blinx
Gun Valkyrie
Oddworld
Outlaw Golf

Future Releases

Panzer Dragoon Orta
Dragon’s Lair 3D
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
Dino Crisis 3
Fable
N.U.D.E.@ Natural Ultimate Digital Experiment
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
Perfect Dark 0

[Monster104]

Don’t forget Ninja Gaiden under future releases?

DKW…you did that whole rant for naught. I thought the winky smiley would indicate that I wasn’t being serious, or condemning your choice of games. I was merely stating my opinion about those games.

[Seraphim]

I was once facing this same decision months ago, and ultimately I sided with ps2 not just because it had better games at the time (gta, ffx, mgs2 vs. just halo), but for the simple fact I find the entire concept of the Xbox redundant–I already have a computer. Typing on it right now, in fact. Despite not having top of the line hardware it plays all the latest games smoothly, including Civ3 PTW, Warcraft III, Soldier of Fortune 2, and a host of others. If you’re going to play a FPS why on earth would anyone give the finesse of a mouse and keyboard for that godawful elephantine controller? If I’m going to play pc-type games, I’d just as soon play them on a pc.

[cainxinth]

*Originally posted by Seraphim *
**I was once facing this same decision months ago, and ultimately I sided with ps2 not just because it had better games at the time (gta, ffx, mgs2 vs. just halo), but for the simple fact I find the entire concept of the Xbox redundant–I already have a computer. Typing on it right now, in fact. Despite not having top of the line hardware it plays all the latest games smoothly, including Civ3 PTW, Warcraft III, Soldier of Fortune 2, and a host of others. If you’re going to play a FPS why on earth would anyone give the finesse of a mouse and keyboard for that godawful elephantine controller? If I’m going to play pc-type games, I’d just as soon play them on a pc. **

Earth to Seraphim, the XBOX may be made from PC components, but you can’t play a single game I listed on your PC. The redundancy argument doesn’t hold water. I’ll never understand why anyone would think that proprietary chips are what make a console a console. Who gives a flying fark what’s inside the box, so long as it does what it’s supposed to, play games. And, I play keyboard and mouse shooters on my PC and I play XBOX games, if you think it’s dulled my skills, I’ll take you in UT2003 anytime pal.