xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Dave - it comes down to what you want out of the system. If its gaming, the xbox seems to have a larger library of games along with what appears to me to be more games on the horizon. The xbox live network is setup alot better from what I hear and read but then again you are paying for it. Compared to the free PSNetwork. Keep in mind, PS3 came on the scene later and got a slower start but is now doing very well. There just seems to be a lot more that can be done with the PS3 vs 360. 1. Can you swap out the hd on the 360? 2. Can you hook up an external hd and watch divx & avi videos? 3. If you got a PSP, you have remote play and a rear view screen in some driving games! 4. built in wifi & hdmi 5. Bluray

I have yet to get a PS3 which I am working on, just means alot more "yes, dear" for the next little while and forgoing a night out with the boys to some sort of establishment. I really have to read up more on the PS3 as some of it I gather from wikipedia and from water cooler conversations.

Another thing to keep in mind is that no matter what after a couple years there's going to be something else that Sony, MS, and Nintendo will create for what we are going through right now, to start all over again.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

I would go with the backgamon gameboard

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Assuming you want to use for games and not as a Windows Media Extender (360) or BD player (PS3), check and see what your friends have if you are going to play online. If they all have PS3s then get a PS3. If they all have 360s then get a 360. It would suck to have the same game on a different onsole so you can't play online with your friends.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

The PS3 is probably a better bang for your buck in terms of functionality (BluRay player and console alone would be more than the $400 price).

Also, all 3 console makers have expressed an interest in making this console generation last longer than normal. As soon as the 360 was announced, MS just completely dropped support for the original XBox. The GameCube was seen as a failure for Nintendo so it received a lot less support going into the Wii's release, but still saw a couple games come out (like the newest Zelda) late in it's life. The PlayStation 2 is still getting AAA-quality titles released on it.

So if you're concerned about the 360's sales being low and the possibility of it dying, I'd say that you shouldn't be concerned. First off, the explosion of downloadable games for all 3 consoles is going to extend their lifespans. Second, each console has at least 2-3 years worth of games available for it, which means buying lots of games for little money right now (and even less money in the future). Third, MS has finally started to turn a profit on the 360 (believe it or not, they went 7 years before this happened...every year they had a major loss) which means they're going to continue to support it regardless of sales.

The main thing holding MS back is their sales in Japan and Europe. Europeans are more attracted to the Wii/DS/PSP because of the pick-up-and-play mentality along with the ability to play for shorter periods of time. Japan hasn't bought into the 360 because MS has a lot of Western games on it (shooters and D&D rules-derived RPGs) but a few big-name games (mainly from Square Enix or previous SqEnix developers) have moved a lot of consoles in the last couple months.

So at this point, I think any console would be a safe bet. Even if we don't see it going on, all 3 are working on something amazing to unveil at some point to extend their hold and life in the market. MS and Sony seem to be focusing on streaming HD video and games while Nintendo is focusing on gameplay interaction, but they are all paying close attention to everything going on to see what they can do.

If anything, I could see Nintendo releasing their next console sooner than either MS or Sony. A Wii with better visuals and an internal HDD with a next-gen control scheme would sell very well if it were released in 1.5-2 years, while MS and Sony would just irritate gamers if they tried anything like that any time soon.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

No.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Gave my wife a demo of Lego Indy and Carcasonne (we're board gamers) on the 360 tonight. She's ambivalent on the whole thing: as long as she can play Lego games, she'll be happy. The caveat is, she likes the Wii Fit and would buy that for a Wii. The mini games on the Xbox, like Catan and Carcassone, leave her cool; she's happy playing the regular boardgames. And puzzle games she gets enough of on her PDA.

(as for the PS3, I'm not interested. I'm lukewarm towards the Sony brand, I've never liked the PS controllers, and I'm not interested in a Blu Ray player just yet)

As I've told her, if I were single, I'd have an iPhone and a 360 . But I'm thinking of us, not me. Further, I don't have much time for games nor do I have any friends who game online. I haven't touched my most recent game, BioShock, in over a month.

Though I'd prefer the 360, I will probably get the Wii for the two of us. And try to find a Fit for Christmas.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Well, I would say, that at the moment, there are "better" games for PS3 on the horizon vs Xbox 360, but then again there are huge games like "Alan Wake" (Xbox 360 exclusive) coming to Xbox 360 at some point (no news when, probably next year).

IMO, it´s a bit "old news" to say that "Xbox 360" has "better games", since that just isn´t the case anymore (IMO you can see this by looking at my "exclusive"-list, where many big games are available on both consoles, etc). Both have great "exclusives" for sure (many people prefer MGS4 over Halo3, OR vice versa - so hard to say...).

Only "fact" is, that with every console, you "win some" and "lose some". You can´t get every great game with only one console in the house. But of course, most people only get one and I fully understand that.

"Xbox live network" vs "PS3 network" is again more like a matter of opinion. Both work quite nicely.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

(Related to my earlier post...)

Here are some major titles that are "coming"...

PS3 / exclusive:

*God of War III
*Killzone 2
*LittleBigPlanet
*MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
*Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm
*Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty (sequel to "Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction" - will be released at a lower price point)
*Resistance 2
*SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation
*Tekken 6 ("Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection AKA "Tekken 5.2" now available only online)
*Gran Turismo 5 ("Prologue" was just a taste)

+
*Alone in the Dark (2008) (already available for Xbox 360 - PS3 version with some additional features)
*BioShock (already available for Xbox 360 - PS3 version with some additional features)


Xbox 360 / exclusive:

*Alan Wake
*Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
*Fable II
*Gears of War 2
*Halo Wars
*Left 4 Dead
*Too Human
*Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise

BOTH:
*Aliens: Colonial Marines
*Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
*Call of Duty: World at War
*Dead Space
*Fallout 3
*Far Cry 2
*Final Fantasy XIII
*The Godfather II
*Guitar Hero World Tour
*Lego Batman: The Video Game
*Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
*Prince of Persia (2008)
*Resident Evil 5
*Rock Band 2
*Saints Row 2
*Silent Hill: Homecoming
*Sonic Unleashed
*Tomb Raider: Underworld

_____


I guess it´s a tight race after all (when it comes to upcoming titles)..

Both have these big-ass first/3rd-person shooters (PS3 has "Killzone 2" and "Resistance 2", Xbox 360 has "Gears of War 2" - I guess "Halo Wars" is a "strategy game" this time around), platformers (PS3 has cheaper "Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty" and Xbox 360 has "Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts") and a few more kiddie-friendly titles (PS3 has "LittleBigPlanet" and Xbox 360 has "Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise"). PS3 takes the lead in racing ("MotorStorm: Pacific Rift" and "Gran Turismo 5"), but Xbox 360 has one of the most eagerly awaited game after MGS4 ("Alan Wake") and on the similar genre (psychological fear/horror/action), Xbox 360 has also "Left 4 Dead", which is a must for the "survival horror"-fans.

Both have of course titles like "Call of Duty: World at War", "Dead Space", "Fallout 3", "Resident Evil 5" and "Tomb Raider: Underworld".

Pretty good selection!

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

The following is pretty much moot since the sale is over, but..."slightly cheaper" by how much, and from where? Also FWIW--the version advertised in the CC weekly ad in question is the GOTY version (the one w/ the code for the free map download, which is the version I picked up at BB for the PM price.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Dave, you should just forget the console and use the money to buy all the Carcassonne sequels and add-ons.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

..and I would recommed the upcoming 60gb-model (Xbox 360).

Based on Wikipedia:

"On 1 August 2008, the 20 GB Premium Xbox 360 was discontinued and was replaced by a 60 GB HDD model. The 60 GB Premium version retails for US$349.99."

Link:
Xbox.com | Xbox News - Xbox 360 Console Now Offers Triple the Storage

"Microsoft today dropped the price of its 20GB Xbox 360 console in the U.S. and Canada to just $299 (U.S.) (ERP) while supplies last, a savings of $50."

So I guess with the discontinued 20gb model vs the upcoming 60gb-model, there´s now $50 difference. With that $50, you get 40gb more space... Perhaps worth it?

At least my PS3 is 60gb and it´s not that "much" after all. These demos alone can be quite big... (and with many of the recent games, there are additional content available via net, e.g. new multiplayer maps and such).

EDIT: Uups. I thought this was a new post (wrong "page"). Sorry. I probably replied to this already...

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

We've got The River (love it) and Kings and Robbers (so so). There are a few others that look that we haven't gotten yet. We really like playing Ticket to Ride; that's an easy, fast, and fun game that works well for two.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

To my surprise, I've decided to not get the Wii, but the 360 instead. I need to make the purchase still. So I've got on last question, if you'll bear with me.

It seems the 360 and PS3 are even in overall performace: there's no serious difference between games on the one versus the other. Is this really the case? Is there some sense that one system is going to emerge as a substantially more potent gaming system.

I'm biased against the PS3, but if it's really the future, then I should actually take a look at it.

Oh: does it seem the hardware failure problems of the 360 have been fixed with the new 60GB model?

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

The 360 has gone through a couple internal changes so the RRoD isn't really an issue anymore. I think MS also extended their warranty because of the issue, and extended it even further if you bought the system during the first 2 years. So don't worry about that.

In regards to the games, I would say take a look at MGS4 if you can and then look at something like Halo 3. (Many people would suggest looking at something available on both, but they usually scale one version back to make the two nearly identical.) MGS4 takes up the entire BD-ROM, which means more cinemas, music, gameplay, whatever. It is physically impossible to do on an X-Box 360. The graphics are more impressive than what you can get from a 360 (the PS3 can do 1080p, I think the 360 only goes up to 1080i if you get the Elite version but I could be wrong on this). Beyond that, the PS3 hardware is much more complex (the 360 is more like a PC with set components) which means that many games don't take full advantage of its power just yet. Considering MGS4 looks amazing, that's pretty impressive (though MGS4 is, by far, the best looking and most advanced game on the console right now). MS knows that their system has already reached it's technical capacity, so it's relying on the quality of the games to sell more than the look. Sure, upcoming games do look better than the first batch of 360 titles (Gears 2 should be a notable improvement over the original), but how the games improve between it's launch lineup and it's 5-year lineup won't be as impressive of a leap as the PS3s.

A lot of games that are on both consoles seem to play better on the 360. I'm guessing this is because the 360 has just been around longer (and developers know the hardware better), but as time goes on the differences between the systems will put the PS3 ahead. Technologically, it is a lot more advanced, has equal-to-and-greater-than functionality (streaming video, SD/Flash card access, WiFi included, Blu-Ray, downloadable games, etc.), and will probably last longer in the marketplace (simply because of the big Japanese support and how Sony likes to extend the lifespan of their systems).

Also, the 360 doesn't always come with a HDD, so games are created for it with that in mind. This was one reason why GTA4 was delayed several months (that, and some issues with the PS3 being a tougher console to develop for; it was originally a PS3 exclusive but MS was able to woo Take 2).

Now, besides that, the 360 is still a very powerful piece of hardware. It does a lot of the same things (stream video, play online, etc.) and some of them it does better (XBL is pretty much number 1 for online service). Because MS spent less money on it's hardware and released it earlier (and didn't have the benefit of being one of the producers of CELL/Blu-Ray) the system is less powerful. It's much more powerful than a Wii (which is essentially condensed GameCube hardware with the Wii Remote) but it's less powerful than the PS3 and it will start to show.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Some good points, Morgan.


Yes, e.g. "MGS4" uses 50gb Blu-ray disc, while Xbox 360 has the max. capacity of "dual layer DVD" (roughly 8.54 GB).

Now I don´t claim, that all PS3-games (I guess very few are using 50gb at the moment) are using 50gb disc or something, but *in the future* this might make a difference. At least some difference. With PS3, the potential is there, but it´s another matter how this "potential" is being used... So far only some games (mainly huge ones like MGS4) have used the "full potential" (I assume, at least) of PS3, I guess...
( many "I guess" and "I assume" here, but I don´t really know what PS3 games are using "50gb" disc and what are using "25gb"-disc... And even with "25gb"-disc, are they really using all the discs capacity? )

I´m sure, that most games available on both (PS3/Xbox 360) consoles are almost identical, so e.g. "Call Of Duty" in PS3 doesn´t suddenly use "50gb" disc, etc. Both look "great". And like Morgan also said, there are reports, that with some games, Xbox 360-version has a slight edge (in some cases) graphically/frame rate. Really noticeable difference for the "average gamer"? Not sure about that, but there are some subtle (perhaps some more than "subtle"..) differences.
(edit: Some "comparisons" can be found e.g. here: http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=134315 - I haven´t read them all, though)

Of course, "50gb" alone doesn´t mean *that* much. With "normal" games (no huge amount of cut-scenes, etc), I guess Xbox 360 has more than enough "power/space" to create beautiful graphics and great gameplay. So again, not that black-and-white issues for sure...

( Like I said earlier, I actually started to play "Halo 3" (I was little late in the Xbox 360-game..) right after "MGS4", and I have to say, that the difference *at first* was almost like night-and-day. I first thought, that "is this THE biggest game in Xbox 360 - shooting some funny creatures that makes funny noises.." ( ), but then I got deeper and deeper to the game/story/mood/gameplay and kinda "found" this great game that "Halo 3" eventually was. So with every game, you kinda need a bit time to "adjust" etc. I also have to admit, that this was my first "Halo"-game (with MGS, I was a "veteran"). So I was a newbie with that "universe" in Halo... I still feel, that the graphics, story and gameplay are second to none with "MGS4").

I guess Xbox 360 is more like a pure "game console" (although it streams video, has DVD-player, photos/MP3s, hard drive, etc) vs PS3, which is clearly more like a "media center" (with Blu-ray/DVD-player and all that). I mean Xbox 360 is so noisy (when reading the disc - not so noisy when it´s not reading), that I don´t know how some people watch DVD-movies with it..

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Wow! Lots of information. Ok. Need to process all that Also very interesting: the reviews I found at Gamespot consistently placed the 360 a hair above the PS3 in graphics; albeit for games made for both systems.

Morgan, did you graduate from U of R? That you were going there stuck in my brain, since I went there for grad school and now live/work in the area.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

As Morgan points out, the PS3 hardware is more technologically advanced than the 360. That said, the clear-cut winner (at least so far) in this generation of hardware is the Wii, so go figure...

Also, based on this news item, for anyone interested in getting a PS3 with the feature-set of the current MGS4 bundle, the time to buy is now. It looks like the next two models will NOT have backwards compatibility.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Let me quote Morgan
After five years with a GameCube, the Wii leaves me disappointed. It seems mired with graphics less interesting than the GC, the same "bippy-boopy" non-voiced characters of the N64 and GC games, and a motion system that -- to me and my wife -- is often awkward. I want to love it, but five minutes with Wii Sports and I'm looking for place to take a nap. So I'm outside the norm, but I want to tear it up in Burnout, smashing and crashing with an incredible sense of speed; not toodle around in Mario's jalopy in a crayola 10-and-under bumper car ride.

Maybe if I owned a Wii, I'd come to appreciate it more. But it's a moot point, since I can't buy one anywhere.

And now I see rumors of an soon-to-come Xbox price drop ($299 for the 60GB in Sept).

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Yes, I did graduate from U of R. I got my B.S. in Optics (one of 16 in this year's class) this past May and was able to get a job right out of school. What year did you graduate in?

Back on topic, the Nintendo games might not look spectacular but they really are fun. Super Mario Galaxy has more originality in a given level than just about any game on the X-Box 360 and the PS3. A lot of that has to do with sheer design genius and not so much the uniqueness of the Wii control scheme. The graphics aren't ultra-amazing but they're still very sharp and look surprisingly good, considering the hardware. The Wii's core audience is Nintendo gamers and new gamers. If you don't fit into either category, then you'll want a 360 or PS3.

Also, Sony just announced today a 160 GB version of the PS3 in Europe. Essentially, they're doing what MS did: improve an existing version (PS3 40 GB gets a bigger HDD, 360 Pro gets a bigger HDD), then introduce a new one at the old price point (160 GB PS3 is $499, 60 GB 360 is $349). This is going into effect in November and you can switch out the PS3 HDD with another one anyway, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend waiting for this to come to America.

EDIT: Two interesting stories:

$399 360 Elite confirmed?
160GB PS3 Uncharted bundle due in November

So you might want to put either purchase off for at least a couple weeks. The PS3 bundle is a 160 GB PS3 with Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and a voucher for PAIN (PSN downloadable game).

Also, a nugget from the first article regarding the PS3 vs. 360 storage formats: "At QuakeCon last month, id Software's John Carmack announced the forthcoming action game Rage would have inferior graphics on the 360 due to the limited size of its DVD format."

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Dave, I didn't say the Wii is a next-gen machine. I have one and trust me, I am the first to admit it is far from it! In fact, I can't even tell you the last time I played it.

What I was saying is that the hardware sales leader (so far) in THIS generation of hardware is the Wii. And surprisingly, I don't see that changing in the short term.

Good, bad or indifferent, Nintendo has struck a nerve with its "casual gaming" approach. People who have not played video games in years are buying the Wii and it continues to be the most "in demand" console on the market today. The competition has taken notice, too. At E3, Microsoft spent a good chunk of their keynote address touting all of the wonderful, new "casual gaming" features being implemented into the 360 (including their own version of a "Mii" avatar system!)

I have a PS3 that I enjoy a great deal, too. It gets almost daily use, but it also is my Blu-ray player so the lion's share of use goes for that. As far as games go, I only have a handful (they're all the usual PS3 "A" titles.) They look and sound fantastic and they play great! As always YMMV, but for what I was looking for in a next-gen system, the PS3 made the most sense for me.

You have decided on a 360 and that is an excellent choice, too!

My comment was not directed to you. Rather, it was a 'shout out' to the posters who have been debating whether to take the PS3 plunge now or wait for the new model. I was saying that if you want the features of the current model, don't wait because they are not going to be available in the foreseeable future. Sony announced another new (stripped down) PS3 model today (a 160GB version) minus the extra features of the current MGS4 80GB model (and the discontinued 60GB system that still goes for serious coin on eBay.)

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Goddamn! You´re right!

GC 2008: PSP-3000, 160GB PS3, PS3 keypad unveiled - News at GameSpot

"Reeves quickly wheeled to the subject of a new 160GB PS3, which will touch down in Europe on October 31. Priced at €449, the new console SKU will come with 70 euros' worth of "additional downloadable" content that will vary from country to country. Reeves offered no information about its release in other territories."

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Wise words again, Morgan. Wii can look very good indeed ("Super Mario Galaxy" being an prime example), but it can never match the "realism" and "HD look" of PS3 and Xbox 360.. I guess in graphics wise, Wii is generally pretty close to PS2 (perhaps like a "updated PS2", though).

And yes, most of the "old school" Nintendo-fans probably got Wii (for those Mario, Zelda and Metroid-games alone - and Pokémon! ). That´s just how these things go.. I had PS1 and PS2, so PS3 was a "non-brainer" for me - with or without the BD-player.. I guess people with original "Xbox" also got "Xbox 360"...

I have one friend with PS3 and PSP + also Wii and DS (he´s a huge Nintendo-fan) and he said to me, that no game console from "MS" will enter to his house.. So you´ve many" reasons", I guess...


More good points. Wii seems to be the "hardware sales leader" now. It provides that "family fun", which is the thing, that many famillies are looking for. And many "casual gamers" like those "Wii Sports/Play"-type of games (also "Mario Kart Wii"). They have easier learning curve and "laid-back" attitude. Not all people want to count how many "kills" they´ve or stuff like that...

But - How long Wii can "survive" against the games like (HD based) MGS4 etc? How many "Wii Sports/Play" games can they release, before their concept starts to get "old"? Not sure...


Interesting. Like I said earlier, most games available on both (PS3/Xbox 360) formats have been more-or-less identical (some graphic/frame rate-differences are possible, though), but perhaps in the future, some PS3-versions will use more capacity and due that extra capacity, have exclusive content and "better" graphics. Hard to say for sure now (the game studios have just began to "learn" how to use that potential with PS3..).

Sony has stated, that like with PS2, PS3 has also (roughly) "10 year"-plan (which Blu-ray-disc will easily provide - the capacity is there). I´m not sure, that can you say the same thing with Xbox 360 (perhaps new, improved version will arrive sooner than people think?). At least I would say, that it´s more likely to see a new "Xbox" in the coming years than the new "PS"... IMO.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

2002, Ph.D. at The Institute of Optics. Duncan Moore was my thesis advisor.

I don't get to campus much, but I keep telling myself I should keep contact with the department better. Optics is a small world, and you'll run into your classmates professionally over the years.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

The unfortunate thing is that it's irrelevant. The Wii (nor Wii Fit) can't be bought. At the grand opening of our new Circuit City last week, they had four. I almost got one. But I though, aha!, the shortage is over, the Wii is available now. The next day they were all gone and CC has been out of stock since. Best Buy hasn't had a Wii on a Sunday in months.




I used to be a big-N gamer. I loved the N64. My roommate and I had an ongoing battle for top 1080 scores. Rogue Squadron was superb. Turok II was amazing. Jet Force Gemini is still tops in aesthetics, design, and gameplay. And Beetle Adventure Racing -- what a fun racing game!

But the GameCube just wasn't the same for me. In part, tastes and interest ebb and flow.

As for the Wii... Mario Galaxy is cool. It's almost a system seller for me. But I finished only a third of Mario Sunshine, so I wonder how much I'd do in Galaxy. The Fit is neato, but unavailable so I can't assume we'd get that. And after that, I'm not sure. My wife's sister's family has one, and they love it; the daughters have a great time with the games. But I'm no longer a 14 year old girl..er...boy.

The PS3 looks like the "future" bet. Next Gen, blu-ray, user-upgradable HD, low failure rate. But it's $550+ for two player system. Single in an apartment, sure. Married in a house, not so sure.

I'm curious about the rumored $299 60GB 360 on Sept 7. With such strong rumors, I won't buy immediately (I planned to buy a system tomorrow). If the Wii remains unavailable, that may be the best compromise purchase.



On a related note: does the PS3 have online games to purchase? An appeal of the Xbox are the original online games for demo and purchase.

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

I kinda envy you. I mean "back then", I was so caught up with PS1, that there wasn´t any "other consoles" for me.. Then again, I didn´t have much money back then (and yes, I downloaded many of those PS1 games from then net, sad to say..). Different times..

With Wii, I´m really glad, that I can now (legally!) download some of those retro-games (via "Virtual Console"), e.g. "Super Mario 64". At least I can now try those games. Bad side is, that Wii doesn´t have any proper hard drive, only some "flash memory". Sure, enough to store several of those little vintage games, but there are now those "WiiWare"-games etc available (which are taking more space).

There are now rumors about the external hard drive to Wii (that might come at some point), but nothing official. I guess they just have to release some kind of hard drive more sooner than later...


Perhaps you could first buy your "main console", and then Wii later on? Getting two consoles "at once" might be a bit overkill...


Yes. They´ve some new, "online exclusives" (most are in 1080p), like "Calling All Cars!", "flOw", "LocoRoco Cocoreccho!" (PSP version also available, I guess), "Super Rub 'a' Dub", "Super Stardust HD", "Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection"... - and some old "PS1"-games ("PSOne Classics"). They´ve also some "PSP"-games (well, you need also "PSP", so...). Of course the usual PS3 (and PSP) demos are available. There are also some "downloadable content" with certain games (e.g. "Warhawk", "CoD4", etc - mainly new online maps, though).

Full list:
List of PlayStation Network games - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(see also: PlayStation Store - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia )

Most of those (newer) games are a bit "smaller" (and some more "kiddie-friendly"), but still offer some good fun (some support also online-play). Since they´re in 1080p, most of them look *good* (PS1 games of course are still using standard resolution - but they can be "upscaled".. ).

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

As Jari pointed out, there are lots of them, including one of the absolute best 2-D platformers ever... Castlevania: Symphony of the Night! Hands down, this is one of the best classic gaming experiences ever, and a real steal at only $10!

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

How could that coming list leave out God of War 3 for PS3?

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

My Costco seems to get Wiis in most often. Now that my son is 3 I'm seriously considering picking one up. (If I want to wave my arms around now I can play Eye Toy Kinetic. )

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

Actually it was listed in the "full list" (post #168), but yes, it was missing from the "coming"-list (post #188). Now added.

For some weird reason, I´ve actually missed "God of War" and "God of War II" in PS2, but I have "God of War: Chains of Olympus" in PSP...

Re: xBox or PS3? Plus...what to buy?.....etc!

DaveF, really? In optics? Wow, the world IS small, isn't it. There were only 16 grads this year, which is bigger than the last couple ones.

Oh, and in regards to downloadable content. The 360 has a mix of new games and old ones (mostly 80s arcade games, games for the original XBox, and cheapy little games), the PS3 gets an eclectic mix (PSOne games, original games, and cheapy games), while the Wii has the best theme for it's selection (games previously available on Nintendo consoles, plus new games via WiiWare).

And if anyone's paying attention, supposedly a demo for The Force Unleashed came out today for X-Box Live and PSN.