Ok, I have to give a speech on Tuesday on a persuasive speech which I was assigned to. I’m pretty much supposed to tell the class how and why Xbox is better than PS2 (and someone else will be doing the opposite). So basically I was hoping some of the teeming millions would like to share some of their thoughts.
wow. unless you can lie like a rug that’s been tap-danced on by an elephant, you’re screwed.
X-BOX better than PS-2? hah!
Start off pointing out the discrepancies in the comparison… gamewise, PS2 has had a full year extra to pump out games (not to mention the backward compatibility with PSX), which is why PS2 has the lead in that regard. But from that, point out that the X-Box has been creating higher-quality games at a rather faster rate - in my opinion - than the PS2. It wasn’t until Gran Turismo 3 came out some eight months or so after PS2’s release that there was a major, non-PSX game available.
From there, mention the hardware. The processor issue is iffy - some look at the raw numbers, others mention the PS2’s RISC chip (I’m sure your opponent will bring that up) - so focus on the other things. Possibilities for higher resolutions for those who have HDTV. Built-in hard drive (could potentially save hundreds of dollars for those who buy lots of games). Built-in broadband access for when online multiplayer is available. Better sound capabilities for those who have surround sound.
After that, I would mention the ease of programming… when the PS2 was coming out, it was notorious among programmers for being difficult to program for. The X-Box uses very basic programming… heck, if you know C++, you can program your own games for it at home.
But the big thing is constantly reminding the audience that the X-Box has been released later, and naturally will have A: better hardware, and B: fewer games. This is just normal with any new consol… just mention the game lineup that X-Box has slated at some point.
(Not to anti-'Boxers: It’s a persuasive speech. A lot of these things that I call “advantages” can also be seen as “disadvantages”… but that’s not the OP’s job to point them out. I once knew a guy who, in a speech class, had to justify the actions of the Nazi’s… and he won.)
you’re in luck, I actually wrote this one for a post on a gaming message board. feel free to take any part or the whole thing.
I finally bought my new console; despite the many recommendations I received from all manner of fanboys I choose the xbox, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. Now before you get your panties in a twist, allow me to explain. There are several reasons why I choose the xbox over its very worthy competitors and several more why I’m so pleased with it. Without a doubt the most important aspect of a game console is its game lineup. Even with every jawdropping hardware effect in the book the xbox would be out of contention if it didn’t have a solid offering of games. Right off the bat I’ll say that in my opinion PS2 has the best games- Metal Gear Solid 2, GT3, FFX, Tekken 4, Virtua Fighter 4, and Rez. Unfortunately, I was so turned off by the prospect of paying $300 for a console that is already beginning to look and feel like yesterdays graphics. Jaggies, low resolution textures, and low polygon counts make even the most meticulously crafted games look bad.
Now as for the xbox’s exclusive games: I can only speak for the games I own, DOA3, Halo, and Jet Set Radio Future. DOA3 is without a doubt the most stunning video game ive ever seen in my life (the previous game to hold that title was max payne). I could go into detail about the never before imagined level of realism, the lush, and highly interactive levels in this game, or the extraordinarily detailed and phenomenally animated characters, but im sure you’ve read about it somewhere by now. Instead I’ll mention the gameplay- which is definitely fun (especially with four players in tag mode) but lacks the depth and artistry of Tekken. I like DOA3 a lot, but Tekken still holds the crown in my book. Halo, is the best looking, best playing, and most original shooter in years. There are times when you get to drive around in an unbelievably cool and fun to drive jeep with a swiveling laser machine gun, running over and blasting little aliens to smithereens – seriously who out there isn’t interested in doing that? It’s the best aspects of a good car game and a good shooter simultaneously. At times Halo suffers from repetitiveness, but those moments are broken up by some of the most incredible and original scenes ever to be included in a video game. We’re talking about, all the odds are stacked against you and simply holding down the trigger button isn’t going to get you out of this one; die a few times and think about it. Jet Set Radio Future is an addictive, fast paced, joy ride. You are a young street hooligan armed with spray paint and a pair of magnetic rollerblades. You trick and grind light poles, power lines, billboards, and just about any other solid surface in a futuristic Japan tagging your graffiti, fighting the cops, and challenging rival gangs. The levels are huge, with incredible design elements, and the game’s difficulty really ramps up at the end.
The graphics on the Xbox are noticeably better than on the PS2- that means far less jaggies, smoother animations, and phenomenal framerates. Many people like to say, “specs don’t matter.” Well if you mean game libraries and gameplay are worlds more important than graphical capabilities your right, if you mean great looking, smooth playing games aren’t an advantage then your wrong. Bottom line PS2 looks like outdated technology next to the xbox and two years from now when games like Doom 3 with even more advanced effects and higher complexity geometry come out the gap in quality will only widen.
Lastly, I’ll mention features of which the xbox has plenty- and whether you care to believe me or not they are not simple gimmicks. My entire gaming life ive been turning off the music in games, turning up the sound effects, and using my stereo for the background music. This weekend, I ripped 10 cds to my xbox (I still haven’t put a dent in my hard drive space). Now when I play Amped Snowboarding I can tear up the slopes to my tunes, and I can change the track without a pause during the game simply by pressing a button on the controller. As an avid music appreciator (over 5000 mp3s and still going strong) I think this is one of the best things that’s ever happened to console gaming. Also thanks to the hard drive, load times are terrifically quick, especially in comparison to PS2. I’m lucky enough to have a great audio/visual setup to take advantage of the xbox; HDTV and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Next, some have criticized the very large xbox controller, I agree it is big, but after a marathon gaming session I can say that I am used to it and like it more and more every day. It comfortably fits my hand and all the buttons are accessible (the white and black buttons are a reach though). MS stole the dreamcast controller (which I loved), and added in Sony’s dual analog sticks and built in rumbling- the combination made for a top-notch controller.