Console Wars

February 25, 2009

Console Wars

Is the PS3 superior?
by Bobby Shen

Let’s be honest.  The PS3 is the best console out right now.  Isn’t
it?  Let the hate mail begin.  It is the best machine because it has
more features and value for the money.  There is no debate.  Is there?
Before I continue, let me say that I own a 360.  I love it.
Technically I own two in fact due to the hated Red Ring of Death.

Over the holidays I saw the red ring on three separate occasions.  They
were demo models to be fair.  The floor consoles in the electronics
department.  Three stores, three consoles all with the same flashing red
death.  None of that mattered though.  The 360 sold well.
Microsoft made sure to push the arcade model and the ad campaign met with
success.  And to their credit, Microsoft has made good on the warranty to
cover faulty hardware.

What is really the better buy for value though?  Let’s break this down
further.

A few weeks ago each company released a specification list that read like a
school yard debate between fanboy loyalists.  Yes, the 360 is cheaper, but
you’ve got to add many components to it before it equals what Sony gives you
right out of the box.  A hard drive for one.  How about a WiFi
connection or the ability to recharge the controller?  You want online
service?  Well PSN is free my friends.  Mircrosoft charges for Xbox
Live.  Downloads are faster over PSN.  The PS3 is quiet like a finely
tuned machine of precision.  When the 360 is reading a disc it sounds like
a jet engine.  Like surfing the net for reviews or checking out Youtube?
The PS3 has a browser, so go ahead.  Ever hear of Blu-ray?  Well you
get that too.  And yes, there is a difference between Blu-ray and DVD.

Now I know what you are thinking.  I must be getting a little something
from Sony on the side.  Why else would I endorse their console so
blatantly?  The truth of the matter is that I love m 360.  The second
one, the Elite system.  I love it.  Jet engines and all.  Allow
me a moment to shower love toward Microsoft.  The 360 does indeed have a
robust library of exclusive games.  Gears, Gears 2, Mass Effect, Halo 3,
Dead Rising, Bioshock (a timed exclusive), Eternal Sonata (also timed), Lost
Odyssey, Blue Dragon and there are more.  Most were great games.  And
it is all about the games in the end.  The achievement system is also
superior to Sony’s trophy awards.

But I just spent the weekend playing through a little game called Metal Gear
Solid 4.  Maybe you’ve heard of it.  Want some more PS3 exclusives?
How about Valkyria Chronicles, Heavenly Sward, Folklore, Gran Turismo & Little
Big Planet?  They are all excellent.

Here is the difference and the cause for my concern.  There aren’t many
exclusive-must- have games in the pipeline for Microsoft’s system at the moment.
In fact, there are already rumors out there about a new Xbox.  How can that
be?  I personally feel like the current generation is just getting warmed
up.  Now that I’ve got the HDTV and I dropped all that cash on not one or
two but technically three (dust off the Wii) consoles, I feel like we are just
really getting started here.  Final Fantasy hasn’t even arrived yet for
crying out loud.

The PS3 heavy hitters are on the way.  Here comes Killzone 2.  By all
accounts, it looks like it will be a monster.  Maybe it will even be a full
blown competitor to Gears.  And look out Microsoft, but God of War is
looming.  What about Heavy Rain?  Another PS3 exclusive by the folks
who made Omikron and Indigo Prophecy.  Developers are finally getting
around to using all the technical fire power that the PS3 is capable of because
these games look absolutely stunning.

Let’s not forget about Team ICO.  They are working on a PS3 exclusive as
well.  For those who don’t know, they created Shadow of the Colossus and
ICO.  If you haven’t yet tried those games then you are doing yourself a
great disservice.  Say what you will about ICO.  Love it or hate it.
In my opinion it was a phenomenal game.  Colossus however was an innovator.
It’s never been done quite like that before.  Case closed.  It is a
special experience and an emotional one at that.

Alan Wake is coming to the 360 from the group that made Max Payne.  That is
one to look for.  However the bottom line is simple.  There are rumors
a new Xbox is on the horizon.  The exclusive titles that were so prevalent
at systems launch have dwindled considerably.  While the PS3 is in it for
the long haul as Sony talks up the 10 year life span.  The 65 nanometre
cell in the current system will finally be replaced by a more cost effective 45
nanometre chip.  Hopefully that will help bring about the price drop to
make the PS3 more affordable to those of you who have been waiting patiently.
The PS3 is just getting started and I’m  glad to be along for the ride.