Help for a console newb

[omega 616]

I may be a bit biased, as I have a PS3, but the only time I've ever regretted not choosing a 360 was when Bayonetta came out, and that regret was easily counteracted by the brilliance that is Valkyria Chronicles and InFamous.

Bayonetta is on the PS3 aswell, so enjoy.

True, but from what I heard the slowdown is pretty bad. I don't like to be in the situation where I know I have the inferior version of a game. Still, I really enjoyed DMC IV so I might check it out, I hear it's a similar sort of game.

I played a demo and it seemed fine.

 

[Squarez]

The PS3 has better technology behind it and it's more reliable than an X-box 360. It's also more expensive, and it remains to be seen if blue ray will catch on.

I believe that Blu-Ray will catch on, I mean, it still only accounts for 15% of home video sales (vs DVD's 85%) but Blu-Ray prices are falling and their sales are up a massive 115% from this time last year, so my prediction is that in time they'll replace DVD, not as dramatically as DVD replaced VHS but eventually.

 

[Daedalus1942]

OK, here goes:

I come from a country where the majority of gamers are PC. So I wasn't really exposed to console gaming up until 4 years ago, when I moved to the UK, then the US, and saw how console-oriented the game market is. On top of it, for the past year I've been living with a guy who owns a 360 and I warmed to it.

In August, I'm moving and I'll be living on my own. I'm thinking of getting a console. Now, since I've been a PC gamer all my life, I turn to you more knowledgeable guys for a few answers:

1) Is it a good moment to buy a console, or should I rather wait? I've found articles claiming that we're overdue for a next generation, that it's gonna happen any minute now, and others stating that with the current-gen's video quality, the companies will rather concentrate on peripherals for at least another 2-3 years.

2) Which one to get? I crossed the Wii right out, doesn't seem to have any titles for me. I play RPGs almost exclusively. Sometimes I enjoy a strategy game, very rarely a third-person shooter. I understand PS3 games look and sound better, but X360 has more exclusives. The 360 is cheaper, but the price difference isn't too dramatic...

So yup, I'd be obliged if any of you guys could help me with that.

Okay... if you're into RPG's, i would go with the 360 as there are an immense ammount of JRPG's and WRPG's for the 360. In terms of free online, PS3 is a no brainer and there are some decent RPG's on PS3 also (Folklore and Demon's Souls to name a few), but ultimately, it's up to you. They're both great consoles and I own them both, but I'd go with 360 for RPG's.

 

[Sronpop]

You can't go wrong with either, both are amazing, usually what I would suggest to someone buying a console is to buy whatever your friends have so you can play online with them. Both have awesome exclusives, but if I was in your position I really don't think I would be able to pass up mass effect 1 and 2 on the 360, they are just so good.

If you are interested in the nitty gritty of the specs and stuff, check out the video comparison series, Console Wars, on technobuffalo.com. They break everything down really well.

If you still can't decide wait until after E3, both will be trying to impress and if one shows a presentation that completely wows you, go with that one. Price drops/new models etc might be announced aswell, like a 360 slim, so wait untill then maybe.

 

[AnAngryMoose]

I'd say, pick up an Xbox360 and induldge in Mass Effect 1 & 2.

This especially if you like RPGs. Although, this is a Third Person Shooter RPG you do have a squad to command.

 

[Treeinthewoods]

Get a 360 and Borderlands. All my friends got that game when it came out and I am not having much fun either playing alone or playing as a level 3 with a team of level 50 characters.

I am saving for a PS3 for Christmas, I think having both is the only way to be truly happy.

 

[squid5580]

Well ask yourself this are you more online or offline focused? Online (and don't mind paying) go with the 360. Offline go with the PS3. Unless you don't want to talk while playing online. Then go with the PS3.

 

[PopeJewish]

Id go with PC myself. Dont listen to the people saying PC is dying, its actually the other way around. The consoles are vastly underperforming (except for Wii) compared to previous generations where as PC is flourishing.

This is simply not true. The original xbox sold 24 million units, the xbox 360 has sold well over 40 million. The gamecube has sold 22 million units, the wii has over 70 million. The only exception to this is the Playstation series with the ps2 having sold nearly 140 million units and the ps3 clocking in around 35 with the major caveat that the ps2 is still supported while the other previous gen systems are not. (these sales figures come from wikipedia)

Whatever your friends are using is the best option.

this I agree with

Well its hard to get accurate figures but a lot of the 360s are from people having to buy a second. Something that the previous generation had very little of. Ok the 360s sold 40 million in 5 years (1 generation) thats not close to the amount of sales of the NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1 etc..etc.. and dont blame the competition of the PS3 because every generation except for the last has had a very strong competitor in the market. Theres plenty of articles around the web that explain it better than me. Just because its the most popular method of gaming it mean its growing.

again that' simply not true. Just look at the sales figures. The current gen is xbxo 360 (40 million) ps3 (35 million) and wii (70 million) so a total of 140 million units sold. Sure there's redundancy but that's a) hard to calculate in and b) irrelevant for our current point

In the 8 bit era the NES sold 61 million units according to Wiki, the Wii has already beaten it. But for that gen as a whole it's been clobbered by this gen's sales (74 million units).

In the 16 bit era we had the SNES (49 million) Genesis (40 million) and the TG16 (10 million) for a total of 99 million units.

The 32 bit era was the PSOne (102.5) N64 (32) and Saturn (9.5) for 144 so it was beaten out there but barely, and it's easily conceivable to see that number being surpassed this year as several million consoles are still being sold worldwide per month even after the economic slowdown hit the game industry

So really last gen, with the ps2, dreamcast, xbox, and gamecube, was the only one that could be said to have solidly outsold this gen. Add to that the fact that game sales figures have been on the steady rise generation over generation, and that the game industry itself is valued higher and higher, and any argument that the console industry is even stagnating (in economic terms, creative stagnation is a whole other can of worms) is simply false

Without going to the effort of pointing out problems in the figures (I dont have anything to back it up) considering how more socially acceptable gaming is meant to be shouldnt these consoles be destroying previous generations, not being the same if not similar.

Doesnt look like the home console market is growing at all.

PS. 8bit era had Sega Master System and Atari 7800. The 7800 bombed though..

Like I said there are a few articles about the web which have much more detail than I have at the moment on me.

Console sales themselves are more or less on par with the previous gen, sure (but that's far from "vastly under performing") but software sales are definitely up and the game industry as a whole is worth more money than it was during the 6th gen. If there are articles on the web that have more detail and would add some weight to your argument then by all means post them, I'm curious

 

[Low Key]

The question is, what do you want out of your console? Both systems offer pretty much the same games only under different names, but MS is mainly concerned about the gameplay, whereas Sony wants to give you an all around multimedia experience. The price has finally come down enough on the PS3 to justify a purchase, but if you aren't going to use it to play movies or as an mp3 player, you might as well get a 360.

I own a 360, only use it to play game and I'm perfectly content with it. My friend owns a PS3, hardly plays games, but uses it to play music and movies and he's content with that.

 

[Kouen]

Here is my thoughts

BEFORE Buying or setting your mind on one... Wait for E3 any new consoles due to come out should be announced then.

OK now on the thought that you will buy before E3 or No next gen machine is announced at E3.

X360 Has the biggest catalog of games, solid if bogged with juveniles online community but some models really do suffer from failures, the latest Chipset with the 40nm CPU and GPU is said to have cured this, also avoid the "Arcade" bundle I hear with its inbuilt HDMI it causes some issues with a few games.

PS3 Less Titles and was my 2nd Favorite even though I Do not own one, Yet Ive warmed up to it, Free Online multiplayer, More Silent machine also is a blue ray player too! Seems to sometimes get shafted by Dev's and be given an inferior treatment even though technically it is superior to the X360 (Ghostbusters and Alone in the Dark I Believe are prime examples). I Will say that It lost some appeal to me with Sony pulling some features from it like the Lesser Used "Other OS" and PS2 Support (Which wasn't great anyways).

Id Lean towards PS3 if your going to Pick between the 2.

Now Here is an outside thought while maybe you wait for E3 to go by and see what may be coming up by Xmas... Why not Pick up a PS2 Slim? Isn't that expensive and there are very good titles on it would make a nice place holder till you pick one, games are probably just a few bucks each and wouldn't surprise me if you could pick up a 2nd hand ps2 and a bundle of gear, not long ago for $80 I Picked up a Slim PS2, 2 Memory cards (8mb official and 32mb Max Memory), 22 Games, 1 Wireless Controller, Advanced Hi Performance Scart Cable and its standard Composite cable.

This could hold ya Nice till You know what the Console Market is doing! Many have recommended me some PS2 games here: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.193333-Recommend-some-PS2-Titles?page=1

Currently I'm enjoying Gran Turismo 4, TimeSplitters Future Perfect, Bauldur's Gate Dark Alliance and Primal. I Have many more on the way from eBay xD

 

[Asehujiko]

With E3 right around the block, it's a bad time to buy a console, there's a chance that the other one will get the new addition you want.
For RPG and strategy, the PC is indisputably your best choice. There are barely any console only RPG/RTS titles and the PC has almost all indie exclusives and 20 years of backlog so save your money and stick with that.