PS3 or 360?

[wraith1701]

With the coming release of The Force Unleashed, I'm planning on finally breaking down and buying a Game console.  I'd like some input from folks who have used the systems.

Which system is better-  The PS3 or the 360 (that's an X-Box, right?)?

[Geekyfanboy]

Hey Wraith.. there is a thread about PS3 vs. Wii here http://www.treksinscifi.com/forum/index.php?topic=3736.0

There is also talk of 360

[wraith1701]

Hey Wraith.. there is a thread about PS3 vs. Wii here http://www.treksinscifi.com/forum/index.php?topic=3736.0

There is also talk of 360

Cool; thanks.

[Meds]

360, nice elite version.

[Bryancd]

I'm in the same boat Wraith and as i don't have a Blu-Ray player and don't give a toss about 95% of the games out there I'm going PS3. I barley will have enought time to play "The Force Unleashed" from time to time and at least I can start my Blu-Ray DVD collection.

[X]

While the BluRay is nice, I'm suggesting the 360. I love the system. It is the center of my home entertainment system. We do video calls with the grand parents and often rent HD movies or buy HD tvshows via the 360.

Comming this fall those people with the 360 and Netflix will be able to view their steaming movie selection for FREE. I know many people here have Netflix and I think that is a winning combination with the 360

[X]

Microsoft partners with Netflix on Xbox Live
Subscribers will have access to 10,000 movies and TV shows

Rumors have been swirling for months that Microsoft and Netflix were inching toward a partnership.
   
By Kristin Kalning
Games editor
MSNBC
updated 6:07 p.m. ET, Mon., July. 14, 2008

   

LOS ANGELES — It's official. Starting this fall, Xbox 360 owners can stream movies directly from Netflix.

The announcement, which came about midway through Microsoft's press briefing at E3, an annual video and computer games trade show, confirmed a long-rumored partnership between the two companies.

After the scheduled fall software upgrade to the Xbox 360, Xbox Live Gold members who also belong to Netflix can choose and watch movies on demand. This is in addition to the DVDs that you get in the mail, the old fashioned way.

It's a good marriage, one that makes sense for both parties. With the deal, the terms of which have not been disclosed, Netflix gains access to 12 million Xbox Live members. And Microsoft gets a shot at millions of Netflix subscribers who might be swayed to buy an Xbox 360.

"Netflix helps Xbox because there are 8 million of Netflix subscribers, and three-quarters of them are the right age demographic to buy a console," says Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan. "This gives them one more reason."

There are a few catches, though. Microsoft touted the streaming service as free, but that's not exactly true. First, you'll need to be a Gold-level member of Xbox Live, which costs $50 a year. And you'll need to be a Netflix member, obviously. Even then, only membership above the base Netflix plan of $4.99 will get you access to the streaming service.

What's more, you won't get a crack at every piece of entertainment in Netflix's 100,000-piece library. Subscribers to this streaming/Xbox Live service may only choose from a smaller subset of 10,000 movies and TV shows.

Still, from a strategic standpoint, the deal helps reinforce Microsoft's message that the Xbox 360 is a mainstream machine, says company corporate vice-president Shane Kim.

"The Netflix partnership is very consistent with our overall strategy that the Xbox 360 is not just about gaming, it's also about music and it's also about video," he says. "We're trying to make it clear that Xbox 360 has fun and entertainment for everyone."

That point was clear during the briefing. Almost everyone trotted out for the briefing took care to mention that many of the games in the Xbox 360 library are rated E for everyone or T for teen. And with the software upgrade in the fall, users will see a much friendlier interface when they power up their Xbox 360.

Confirming another pervasive rumor, the software upgrade will let users create avatars (which look a heck of a lot like Miis on the Nintendo Wii) and invite their friends to a "Live Party." The Netflix partnership means that users can also invite their friends to watch movies with them too — something that has a few attendees here pretty excited.

"I like the idea of being able to be in a game, talking with friends and someone will say something like 'I've never seen Office Space.' And thinking that I could go, stop the game and make that person watch 'Office Space' with me," says Edie Sellers, contributor to podcast site GameHounds.

But can the Netflix deal, the family-friendly offerings and a recent price cut — which brings the Xbox 360 within spitting distance of the $250 Nintendo Wii — convince the average consumer to buy Microsoft's console?

Doubtful, says Pachter, who believes the Wii audience and the Xbox 360 audiences are completely different.

"Nobody bought a Wii instead of a 360," he says. "Most people who buy a Wii will never buy another console because they're not interested in games."

For those that are interested in games, Microsoft had a few more announcements Monday. "Fable 2," the long-promised role-playing game from Lionhead Studios, will (finally) ship this fall. And "Gears of War 2?" Yep, still coming.

But the big reveal, the one that made all the fanboys in the audience giddy with glee? "Final Fantasy XIII," the next installation of the huge Square Enix franchise, will launch on the Xbox 360 the same day as the PlayStation 3. That's a huge blow for Sony, which counted the role-playing game series as its ace in the hole — the game that would lure any fence-sitters to finally buy a PlayStation 3.

If today's briefing proves anything, it's that Microsoft is trying to play both sides with its Xbox 360 strategy. The company hopes, with dual-karaoke game "Lips" and kid-friendly "Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise" to change the perception of their console. But at the same time, they need to dance with the guys who brung 'em: the hardcore players.

"It is a challenge to create a product and a brand that appeals to a wide spectrum of consumers. It's the same challenge that Nintendo will have trying to go the other way," says Kim.
© 2008 MSNBC Interactive

[alanp]

They are both nice.  Both have advangages and disadvantages.

Personally, I'm not that much of a gamer but every now and then like to play with the digital enviornment.  So either would do for me.  The Bluray makes the PS3 an attractive choice since I don't yet have a player.  And I have PS1 and PS2 games I would still want to play.

If your into playing with others over the internet or want a media center, the 360 might be the better choice.

[Chief]

Get both. HEH

Currently I only own the 360 but I will get the PS3 soon.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Everyone knows my opinion:

Neither. 

360 has hardware problems.  PS3 has too few games. 

:)

King

[X]

Everyone knows my opinion:

Neither. 

360 has hardware problems.  PS3 has too few games. 

:)

King

I've had my 360 for 2 years now and I have had zero hardware problems and we can put about 20 hours of gaming on it each week.

In fact, My Ipod that I got after my 360 has recently died and they are suposed to have few problems.

[Meds]

Everyone knows my opinion:

Neither. 

360 has hardware problems.  PS3 has too few games. 

:)

King

New 360's as far as i know do not have any problems. The first editions did but not the new ones. As for PS3's the new versions do not play PS1 or PS2 games which is typoical sony if you ask me. 1st gen PS3's do play the old games. Of course i may be wrong but this is what i've been told.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

idk.  I keep hearing from a couple friends that theirs still won't work.  Not even the new gens.  And they ain't computer idiots either. 

King

[Meds]

As i say as far as i heard,. I spent money and bought the elite, never had any problems.

[billybob476]

I've had mine since Christmas and (fingers crossed) no problems yet. However as I understand it if you get the red rings of death, microsoft swaps it for you pretty quickly.