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What console should I buy?
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oofRome
Senior Member
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29. July 2006 @ 17:43 |
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I thought I would like to maybe write a little FAQ for people asking themselves this question.
Well, the first thing you may want to consider is what you want out of these next gen consoles.
High Definition gameplay (and/or movie playback)
Gaming Library and Backwards Compatibility
Connectability to handhelds
Online Gaming
Cutting edge gaming
Price and Affordability
Fun
These are all perfectly acceptable reasons for buying a your next piece of gaming, so let me break down for you where the Wii may stand in light of these priorities (as this is the Wii forum), as well as some suggestions for other consoles or machines.
High Definition Gameplay (and/or Movie playback)
If you are one of the early adopters for the High Definition era, and absolutely demand High Definition resolution, than the Wii may not be the right choice for you. Wii outputs Standard resolution (480i) and enhanced definition (480p) in 4:3 or 16:9 ratio. It will not be able to play HD-DVD or Blu-ray disks. The brunt of the High Definition war will go to the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. Both support HDTV gaming at 720p, while the ps3 is claimed to be able to put 1080p imaging at a reasonable framerate. The Playstation 3 has a Blu-ray drive, so PS3 owners will be able to enjoy Blu-ray movies without purchasing an additional High Def player. The Xbox 360 reads standard DVD disks, but Microsoft has announced that a reasonably and competitively priced HD-DVD add-on will be made available around the holiday shopping season.
Gaming Library and Backwards Compatibility.
The Wii is directly compatible with almost all the hardware for the Gamecube. The Wii accepts both 12cm Wii disks, or the 8cm GCN disks, as well as having four GCN controller ports and memory card slots. The only thing officially confirmed that will not be supported is the GBA player that attached to the bottom of the gamecube.
Furthermore, the Wii and Nintendo's "Virtual Console" service will offer classic game titles from the NES to the n64, as well as early sega console games and turbografx games.
These two combined may potentially yield the Wii to have the largest gaming library out of any legit console.
The playstation 3 is also backwards compatible with ps2 and ps1 games. In fact, ps2 hardware is being packaged in the ps3, so in essence you're getting both consoles.
The xbox 360 is also backwards compatible, with Microsoft working to make all titles eventually work on the 360. The Xbox Live Marketplace also offers classic arcade games to be downloaded and played.
Connectability to Handhelds.
While I don't consider this to be the top priority for most consumers, anyone with a handheld should be offered the choice to get the full experience with their handhelds.
That being said, the Wii will have DS connectability. In fact, with WiiConnect24, a new online service from Nintendo, the Wii may be able to download exclusive DS content, and then be transfered to a DS
The playstation 3 is also offering connectability to Sony's PSP handheld.
Online Gaming
Finally, Nintendo has accepted the fact that online gaming is important to video gamers. The Wii and select wii games will go online.
Sony has announced a centralized online service as well, poised to rival online service "Xbox Live" offered by Microsoft. Xbox Live is the powerhouse of online gaming (for consoles), if only for the fact that it has gone virtually unchallenged. However, it works, and works well, so Xbox 360 remains the online guru.
Cutting Edge Gaming
Not the Wii. There's no way around this, the Wii is not cutting edge.
In fact, if this really is a top priority, than I suggest staying out of the console market period. PC gaming is where you should be headed, if you aren't already there. And despite beautiful hardware offered by the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, PC's will always be the performance leader.
Price and Affordability.
In stark contrast to PC gaming, Consoles are much more affordable. The Nintendo Wii is officially confirmed to cost less than $250 US, but I see the launch price closer to 200, if not less. It will be the lowest priced next gen console.
the PS3 will carry two price tags, for two different packages. The price has been confirmed by sony to be a 500 dollar version, and a souped up 600 version. Significant differences from the 500 to 600 kits are HDMI ports and a larger hard drive.
The Xbox 360 currently has a premium 360 package priced at $399, and a core package priced at $299.
Fun
This is a category that what I write really doesn't matter. Most video gamers will have fun, no matter what console he or she is playing. Games are what we are here for, and I can assure you that every console will have their fair share of quality best-sellers. With it's controller, the Wii will provide an enthuastic gaming experience for everyone.
With classic franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Metroid in full swing, the Wii is shaping up to have an excellent first year. Halo and Gears of War look to propell the 360 into an even more popular console, and the ever present Playstation brand will continue to churn out amazing games, be it sequels or fresh new titles.
If price isn't that much of a limiting factor, than perhaps purchasing two consoles would make it worth your while.
a Wii360 combo could be had at the same price as a premium ps3, with both the Wii's exclusive gameplay and the 360 online presence, as well as the gaming library for both of those consoles. The same goes for the Wii+ps3. The best of Sony with the best of Nintendo is a tough combo to compete against.
Or perhaps a ps360. The High Definition era will be in your living room, and who could look back on anything else when you have a video game rig like that.
With that in mind, I would also like to point out one more thing:
Competition benefits the consumer. A successful Microsoft is good for the industry. A successful Nintendo is good for the industry. A successful Sony is good for the industry. The failure (or sheer dominance) of these companies shouldn't be rooted for by any gamer, no matter how large of a fanboy you consider yourself to be. All of these companies contribute to the video game market, and each are continually carving out names for themselves as to what they can offer us, the consumers, that no other console or company can. Sony, with it's quality electronics. Nintendo, a name synonymous with video games, and Microsoft, whose software continues to connect the world around us. These are the reasons we are gamers, and these are the reasons we are blessed with another console war to feed our desire to have fun.
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Senior Member
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29. July 2006 @ 17:52 |
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That's a good fair and balanced post.Great job.
I will end up with all 3 of them.
*My pops got us 360 already
*I will get a ps3 becuase I love the exclusives and raw horse power I feel it's the only real next gen console.
* I will get the wii for it's innovation and great exclusives but most of all it's great price point.I really think people under estimate just how good nintendo is at the industry they practically pioneered
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mark5hs
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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1. August 2006 @ 05:12 |
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Ill get a Wii and eventualy get a PS3. Im willing to bet that 360 premium with an HDDVD player will cost more than a PS3. PS3 is a pretty good deal for its hardware, but a huge chunk of consumers in the console market are kids and if a kid wants a console his parents have to approve and most parents dont know anything about computers and will think its overprice.
X2 3800, A8n deluxe motherboard, 7800GT, Xion 2 case
2GB Patriot DDR 400, Audigy 2 ZS gamer, 400GB SATA RAID 0
games Im looking forward to: bioshock, SSBB, enemy territory quake wars, halo 3
currently playing: command and conquer 3, supreme commander, counter strike, shivering isles
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brandonb
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2. August 2006 @ 22:42 |
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i think i'm going to sell my xbox 360 to gamestop or someone to help me pay for the wii and ps3, cuz my 360 freezes on me atleast twice a day, its jacked up, it started doing it almost immediately, just a couple weeks, and by then i hadn't filled out my papers for a free extended warranty and by the time the 360 got real bad my three months were up. it sucks i love my 360 i just wish it didn't freeze all the time.
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2. August 2006 @ 23:01 |
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Although perhaps this isn't the right thread for this xbox 360 has had lots of problems and I mean lot's of problems.I have one and it's alarming the heat that this thing produces.I have seen so many people with problems both on the 360 forums and on MANY sites as well.Although I think every console has problems I have seen some very alarming things about 360.
That's one thing oofrome might consider adding to his list....reliability.Most believe the 360 came out way to fast and wasn't quality controlled very well.Nintendo and sony on the other hand have lots of experience and make electronic hardware for there sole bussiness while microsoft has no hardware experience except xbox1.
I know the money ms has, but it's a clunker plain and simple.I'm not sure why they couldn't do better with all that money.DO NOT LEAVE IT ON FOR MORE THEN 3 HOURS OR YOU WILL RISK DAMAGE FROM THE HEAT.It's a notorious overheater and that would be exactly why it would be freezing on you.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 2. August 2006 @ 23:05
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LexZ
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3. August 2006 @ 08:36 |
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if u got the money get a ps3 otherwise i would get an x360 cause it has everything u are looking 4. wii will be AMAZING i will definantly buy 1 but be prepared to play mario over and over and OVER but i like nintendo and they care more about the gamers than the other companies
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3. August 2006 @ 11:15 |
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XXYYQQOO!!! Yeah WELCOME TO JAMROCK
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oofRome
Senior Member
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3. August 2006 @ 15:01 |
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If I had "reliability" as a factor, than honestly it would only be a service to Nintendo, (and possibly Sega if they were still in the console business). If you think the ps1 and ps2 didn't have their fair share of problems, than a wikipedia visit might be in order.
Plus I think I might be a little more bias in that category than the others. With good reason, but still, I could be bias.
Nintendo has been the only console maker that has the least amount of problems in my personal experience;
but "reliability" is really up in the air with the Wii and PS3. The ps3 especially, since it has a lot of proprietary hardware being packaged with it. (Blu-ray, the cell, etc).
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3. August 2006 @ 20:48 |
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nice post. i myself am going ps3, although the wii is uber cool. only things that draw me to 360 isn't enough to buy as my next gen console choice (halo 3, oblivion, and xbox live features. . .).
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Senior Member
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4. August 2006 @ 02:00 |
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You do have a point I have heard alot about ps2 problems but never had any with any of my sony consoles personally.I think your right nintendo seems to be the only one who never had much problems through out history.It's amazing they could have the more reliable console of the 3 do to the money factor but it's true.
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Senior Member
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4. August 2006 @ 06:52 |
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and if you think about it there consoles have never been very complicated so that help with the high quality. Wii will be the most technical machine they've released but still it's not anywhere near as complex as ps3. So quality wise expect them to once again have the edge.
XXYYQQOO!!! Yeah WELCOME TO JAMROCK
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LexZ
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4. August 2006 @ 10:01 |
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i dunno for me i am big into sony but i really thought do i want to spend $600 on a game system for 2 game ff, and mgs
my creation!
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Senior Member
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4. August 2006 @ 10:03 |
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Come on lexz it's much more than that
XXYYQQOO!!! Yeah WELCOME TO JAMROCK
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LexZ
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4. August 2006 @ 10:47 |
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i will buy a wii and i got an x360 i think it is better to have 2 cheaper consoules than 1 REALLY xpensive consoule and nintendo has CLASSIC titles that i was playing when i was 3
my creation!
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Senior Member
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4. August 2006 @ 12:28 |
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well as you can see in my sig i hav all three current gen. This time I'm getting one really expensive and one really cheap. PS3 and wii for me
XXYYQQOO!!! Yeah WELCOME TO JAMROCK
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brandonb
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5. August 2006 @ 15:50 |
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ilove nintendo to death, its alwasy been the most reliable system. and zelda the series is by far my favorite. but my problem with nintendo is that for the gamecube i could only play games like resident evil 4, zelda, and metroid. i love sony for their game selection, they usually put out the 3rd person sword ninja fighting type sh*t games. games like onimusha, even though xbox had one onimusha game. dumb not to continue like sony did. anyway. xbox, had to have it because of halo and 360 just because it came out first and thru my 1080i resolution the games look amazing. i just wish that all the games came out on pc, then i'd venture into the world of videogaming with computers,which i've stayed away from my whole life because i've never had a bad a$$ pc and i don't want to use the monitor i want to use my tv so i can hook up my real surround sound. instead of these two whimpy speakers and poopy sub. any suggestions with going pc? like what i would need to do in terms of cables and connections? what pc would be a good choice at a decent price? and do they by chance make all the system games for pc i've never really looked i just assumed they didn't. i appreciate any suggestions. peace
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oofRome
Senior Member
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5. August 2006 @ 16:25 |
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Most current sound and video cards make it so you can hook up your surround sound system and/or TV to your PC.
For the biggest bang for your buck, I suggest "building your own" computer. (i.e order all the parts and get a case and then have someone put it togther for you. Dont buy a ready-to-go PC)
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6. August 2006 @ 19:21 |
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Quote:
Nintendo has been the only console maker that has the least amount of problems in my personal experience
Same here. I think my GameCube froze only once in the life time of the console I have as opposed to the 9 times I can recall my Ps2 freezing and/or breaking down completely. I was seriously thinking about getting a 360 untill I was playing my friends 360 and it kept freezing about every other match in Dead of Alive 4. Hopefully the Ps3 will work out ok on launch and Nintendo will keep on being great.
The answer to life, the universe, and everything is...42
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6. August 2006 @ 19:22
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6. August 2006 @ 20:23 |
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I dount N will lax on their proven track record of quality this cycle. They have it locked with stability. Sony i can only hope. Though i've personaly never had a prob with my ps2. But i've had to fix about 6 of them (friends friends of friends all paid :) )
XXYYQQOO!!! Yeah WELCOME TO JAMROCK
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6. August 2006 @ 20:24
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rabbity
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6. August 2006 @ 22:27 |
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me personally i love xbox live, market place and arcade, i love the games on xbox 360 and the ones that are coming out in the future, i wil probably buy a ps3 and wii, but i would never sell my xbox 360 for them, as i have had an xbox 360 all this time, during a period when there are not many great games why would i trade it in for the ps3 which could also have problems, could not have great luanch titles and especially just when gears of war is releasing. (if none of that made sence its b/c i have been up all night, playing halo 2)
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7. August 2006 @ 13:12 |
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LOL well what does that say about 360. Shouldn't you have been up playing a 360 game?
I'm just pickin on you i can't always surpress the sony fanboy inside
XXYYQQOO!!! Yeah WELCOME TO JAMROCK
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7. August 2006 @ 13:40 |
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ewe!!!!burn!!!!!
ahaha lol I agree with xyqo.
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josh99
Senior Member
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9. August 2006 @ 09:54 |
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you know what will be cool if sony makes like a trade half price or something like trade ur ps2 with 10games and get ps3 for half price
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9. August 2006 @ 10:34 |
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you wont get a deal like that from sony but look for it from retailers like EB
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9. August 2006 @ 10:52 |
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ya i doubt sony will do something like that. EB games, Gamestop, etc. might do a special trade in deal.
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