Console wars part 2 – the consoles
360!
In part one of our Christmas present rundown of the three big consoles, we looked at the hardware. Controllers, specifically. Well, this time we move on to the main bit, the computational powerhouses locked up in shiny and matte cases. We’ll also introduce the portables as a means of testing the cheaper option. So let’s dive in, shall we?
Before I start remind yourself of the scores last time, with 3 points to the 360, 2 to the ps3 and 1 for the Wii. Lets see if anyone can take the lead this time…
Given the mighty Microsoft box of 360 X’s won last time, we’ll start there. The 360 rushed to the market with all the graphical and number crunching prowess claims as the PS3, sort of. Instead of showing actual numbers and claiming to cure cancer, Microsoft just released Halo and Gears of War to annoy the potential PS3 market. As such, with their beefy system and lower price mark, they managed to take a hold of the market which only this year Sony are recovering from.
The machine itself is fine. A decent PC spec that obviously runs most games in full swing. In fact, the graphics in multi-platform games usually favour the 360 over the PS3 because of it’s standardised development kit and Windows based platform.
Where it all falls apart is, once you pay your initial price up front, you need to buy a separate wireless connectivity device, a subscription to xbox live and a whole slew of extra stuff just to bring it up to the spec of the PS3. So, when all was said and done, both consoles cost the same – just the 360 gave you the “option” to cost more.
The machine also uses DVD to let you play games, and recently allowed users to install games on the machine itself. Why? Well, because the machine is loud as hell. Too loud for a machine of its size, frankly. Compared to the cool breeze of the Wii or PS3, the 360 churns out noise even Harley riders would be ashamed of. This comes from the ludicrously noisy disk drive as well as the stupidly cheap fans on the power brick (who’s size mounts up to being nearly as big as the console itself). A ridiculously cheap device in terms of manufacturing too, saw a huge proportion of users suffering the “red ring of death”, where your console simply dies. Something that Microsoft has had to face since launch, and has only recently died down with newer versions of the console with smaller sized chipsets.
A good console overall, able to keep up with any PC or PS3, but too loud and isn’t “ready” when you buy it, which given the current price point of the machine’s highest entry, adding the extra’s you need to be properly set to go brings it to be more expensive then the PS3. It’s kind of like as a kid getting the coolest toy ever, but finding you need a pile of AA batteries to make it run – and the batteries didn’t come in the box.
So big and hot, it can make some nice sausages
Next up, the PS3. The power speaks for itself. A new, IBM developed processor system powers this beast. It’s so powerful, in fact, that the US military runs over 2000 of these to do computational number crunching work, and that’s not the only place that has a load of these hooked together to run super computers!
In the box, for almost the same price as a 360, you get the console which features a slot-loading drive (no problems akin to the PS2 or 360 with sliding trays) that sucks in blu-ray disks as well as DVD’s to upscale to high definition, wifi built-in as well as no visible power brick. Add to that the fact that this device is silent. Even in heavy-duty games like Killzone or Uncharted, this machine chews through them without batting an eyelid.
Add to this the fact that playing games online is completely free of charge, it really puts Microsoft to shame. A much better machine on paper, cheaper then the 360 with all the bells and whistle, plus more. Keep in mind that the 360 does not play blu-ray disks. Sure, digital distribution is there, but we’re in Ireland – 3MB is the standard here, which is pathetic when it comes to streaming or downloading films.
The PS3 also has a browser to do the stuff the 360 recently added (twitter, facebook, etc.), which also plays flash. Which means going to YouTube or other sites (that may or may not have tv shows and movies) is easy, and can be done from a sofa on a big tv!
On a value-for-money basis the PS3 is an unbeatable deal. Even when it was more expensive then the 360 by a long shot (€600 at launch), it did everything the 360 did but with more, built in. Not relying on additional extra overpriced muck. On top of this, expanding the machine is easier as it takes standard 2.5″ SATA hard drives. Not first-party interfaces like the 360… which means it insanely cheap to upgrade your storage.
No, not wee.
Next, the Wii. A console that came into the market under-cutting the big boys by some margin. The problem? No one cared to utter the words that it’s a complete pile of crap compared to the other two. Realistically, the PSP can match the Wii in most pound-for-pound fights. Literally, the Wii is a gamecube shoved into a box that accepts a fancy input, for more money then a gamecube. It’s no wonder Nintendo made so much money when the mark-up on a 5 year old device was massive.
However, it does over a ridiculously terrible online system. A console aimed and marketed at adults left behind by Sony & Microsoft as well as young kids should never have a 12-digit code system for finding friends online.
The machine uses a slot-loading DVD drive to play games. But don’t dare put a DVD movie in there. Oh no, you’ll be met with a strange surprise – they don’t work. That’s right, Nintendo didn’t even bother letting the console play movies. Though it will play gamecube games. Funny, that.
A great little device if you like certain games
Portable devices are always popular, especially now with the DSi and DS LL on the market. The DSi is the same as the DS, but with a camera, basically. And the LL is just a large-format DS.
The DS is a great little device, holding two screens in it’s fold-out format. One is a touch pad that interfaces with a stylus pen-type piece of expensive plastic while the top is a standard screen. Controlling the device can be a bit of a pain because the device is so small your hands are forced to bend in unimaginable ways. Do this while trying to hot swap your hand from the d-pad to the stylus makes for an uncomfortable gaming experience.
However, it is cheap and nice. Sometimes difficult to game on the go, as games like Zelda really make you use the machine (like asking you to shout at it via the mic) but in a controlled environment it can be fun. That said, it really is just a Mario & Zelda device. Not many other games shine on it.
The PSP is Sony’s response, featuring a beautiful screen and for us old school PSPers, new types of discs. The PSP Go is all digital, though, offering games through PSN store via credit card.
The interface will be familiar to PS3 owners
Games vary from puzzlers to sprawling games like GTA. Inside is a robust processor… basically, it’s a PS2 in a smaller form. Much smaller. Sometimes the controls can cripple you as it is quite small, and not the most ergonomic of devices. Still, nice to look at. Especially now with the comic book reader, MP3 player, video player and so on in there.
It packs quite a punch and has epic games on there, from GTA to Gran Turismo all the way to smaller PSN-exclusive titles like Gravity Crash and Pixel Junk.
Doom resurrection is the best example of graphical power on the iPhone/iPod
Finally, in portables it’s hard not to mention the iPhone.
As an interface and powerhouse it’s great. Better then the DS for power, and the screen is better then the PSP. However, it’s better suited as a host for puzzle style games rather then big titles. However, some big titles are there, like Doom, FIFA10 and even MGS4(ish).
Most decent games are only 79c, which means it’s easy to buy a game that might be bad, unlike the PSP and DS whose games market at about €40. However, it will never replace the PSP – but could easily replace the DS, as long as you can live with not having Mario or Zelda while on the bus!
So, the scores.
In the “normal” market:
3 points to the PS3
2 to the 360
1 to the Wii.
In the portable market:
3 to the PSP
2 to the iPhone/iPod
1 to the DS.
This leaves the tally for the normal consoles at:
PS3: 5
360: 5
Wii: 2
The final test will come in the next week or so. We’ll be looking at the games themselves, particularly exclusives!
I agree with you on just about everything except the PSP scoring 1st on portable. What was the basis for this score? As I would have bet that DS would come first on the portable market considering its sales footprint and the number of games on the system, its a rare event to get a PSP game hitting the top of the charts but its common place for a DS game, I also think that the DS is more than just Mario and Zelda, there have been plenty decent RPGs on the system, the obvious slew of brain training games. The recent KH 358/2 days showed that the DS can handle 3D graphics well enough. I'm a huge fan on PSP but I just do not play it as much as the DS.
I probably could have explained that more. But the reason you play your DS more is because it has more worthy portable gaming experiences on it, not because the hardware is better. Ultimately, if Mario and Zelda were on the PSP, your argument would be different.
I only looked at hardware, round 3 will focus on the software end of things!
Ah yes sorry I had forgot it was focusing on hardware and not overall experience, in that case I retract my statement and agree that PSP is a higher quality, more powerful piece of hardware, the screen is amazing and I get less hand cramps from the PSP than the DS. I think the DS was overpriced in comparison to the PSP but somehow Nintendo manage to flog old hardware for new prices, they know how to do business!
dont think the iphone is that good. doom is 'on rails' and is a bit of a stinker to be honest
if we are going by hardware, you could say the Iphone deserves to be top, its faster, higher resolution, more ram.
for me its lack of conventional controls and perhaps the screen is just a little bit too small.
Plus the iPhone adds a lot of extra constraints software-wise, so games can't exactly “shine” on the platform
yo buddy… i just wanted to say that my browser is exploding when I click on the text… are you using some JavaScript or something?
What browser are you using Grafik? I’ll look into it. The site is cross-browser tested…