While it is true that, in the past, there have been rivalries which have caused companies to go to great, great lengths to win the console wars, such as poking obvious fun at competing consoles, or using a whole slew of propaganda and ads to shift the focus to themselves, I do not believe that there has ever been another time in the gaming world where the rivalry was so great as it is now. Why? Because, unlike the past days of Genesis and SNES, which are so fondly remembered for their heated battles for supremacy, the success of these consoles have drastic effects on our society as a whole, and also on the companies that produce them.
Now, while it is true that the Nintendo Wii is basically mopping the floor with every other console in existance, with almost twice as many units sold as either the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3, it is widely known that Wii really isn't a "game console", or at least not a hardcore one. It promotes family-style gameplay, with a very casual experience. While the PS3 and 360 offer similar experiences via their respective Move and Kinect peripherals, they are generally focused on the hardcore gaming community, with adult-oriented games and content, and less in the way of a kid-friendly aesthetic.
So this brings us the question: which console is actually better? Now, in a way, this is a stupid question to ask, because as with almost everything in life, it is a matter of opinion. The Playstation 2 is regarded as one of the, if not the best consoles of all time, yet I prefer a N64, or a Gamecube, or even a Dreamcast to it. That's because my personal preference is more geared towards those types of consoles. Is it true then, that there isn't really a best console? That it is just that- opinion? Not necessarily, because while it is true that there will always be features and games that each console has which an individual might prefer, the fact remains that overall, one of the consoles must have broader appeal, and I believe that makes it a superior console.
Now before I delve into a heated comparison between the 360 and the PS3, let me state that I am unbiased in this regard, and that allows me to judge both of these consoles fairly. I am a previous owner of both a Playstation 3, Playstation 3 Slim, and also of an original Xbox 360 Pro unit, and later, an Elite. So, I've seen the argument from both sides of the table, and I will do my best, to remain unbiased on the topic. With that out of the way, let's stack up these two consoles and see who really excels.
I will begin by analyzing the Xbox 360, and I will create a brief chart of its pros and cons as well...
Xbox 360: Pros and Cons
+ Has the best online service available, with the most features, most members, and least lag.
+ Can play music on the console on top of any game at any time.
+ Allows you to chat with friends playing other games, using the "Party" system.
+ Tends to get the better ports of multi-platform games, due to being easier to program for.
+ Has voice chat support for almost every (if not every) multiplayer game available.
+ Has Zune integration, allowing you to stream media from Zune devices.
+ Has the best arcade overall, with the most games available, and generally the most highly rated ones.
+ Has almost every single full 360 title available for download direct-to-drive.
- You have to pay around $60 a year for Xbox Live.
- The controller still runs on regular AA batteries, which get eaten up quickly.
- The build quality (even on newer models) is not all that great, it's made of cheap plastic.
- The console (still) has a fairly high rate of failure.
- The console uses a disc tray inside of a disc-feeding mechanism, which can scratch your discs easily.
- There aren't enough exclusives, as many games are on PC or also on PS3.
Console Overview: So, as you can see, the 360 has its fair share of positive and negative attributes. I made no mention of games, because games on both systems are completely preferential, however- that does not mean the 360 has no good qualities. It has highly integrated chat functions, it allows you to play music over any game (whereas PS3 only supports a few), and its very easy to get in and go with the ultimate online experience. That being said, it's also a console which doesn't have the best build quality, still uses an archaic disc tray system, and requires the user to pay for its online service. Overall, if online gaming is your thing, this is the best it gets, especially if you're willing to pay. However, with that being said, there are a lot of negative qualities that come along for the ride.
Playstation 3: Pros and Cons
+ Has a fully functional Blu Ray player built in.
+ Can be used as a media hub to store pictures, movies, music, etc. extremely easily.
+ Has a totally free online service.
+ Has many more truly exclusive games available than Xbox 360.
+ Has the most overall features, like a web browser, and the ability to customize the theme and layout.
+ Has PSP integration, and, while it doesn't do all that much, is a nice feature regardless.
+ Has a solid build and design, and rarely if ever fails. It's made of high quality materials.
+ The controller is rechargeable, and requires no batteries or juice packs.
- Music cannot be played over many games.
- Not all games support voice chat, and there is no party chat function like on Xbox 360.
- The network tends to be slower, and- especially when accessing the user interface in-game- can be laggy.
- Playstation Network doesn't have all that many games available, and not many full games to download either.
- Is constantly losing features, like USB ports, backwards compatibility with PS 1 and 2, and Linux.
Console Overview: When it comes to online play, the PS3 just isn't as evolved the Xbox 360, as it has no integrated voice chat, the network is slower, there are less people, the PSN arcade offers fewer games, and music can't be played over many titles. That being said, the PS3 sports a more "quality over quantity" take on things, by presenting its users with a truly solid hardware design that will last users for year to come, as well as free online services, the most media options, and best of all- the most exclusive game titles.
So, there you have it, both consoles analyzed and picked through. Now, while I'm sure I've missed a few positive and negative attributes for both systems, I'd say that, overall, this comparison gives you a pretty good idea of what the strengths and weaknesses of both consoles are. On one hand, we have the Xbox 360 with its vast array of online options and features, but its comparatively lacking support of exclusive games and content. On the other hand, we have the Playstation 3, which boasts a whole bunch of media options and exclusive titles, but really flounders in the online space. So, the question is, which console is better?
Contrary to what the beginning of this thread stated, the truth is: there isn't a better console. When it all comes down to it, the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 are both game systems that have a lot of things going for them, but also a lot of problems. In reality, it's not really about which system is better, but which system isn't as bad, and has the most features that appeal to you, and so on. If you happen to be an online junkie who doesn't mind paying a little extra, go for the Xbox 360, as it will surely meet your needs. Conversely, if you're looking for a console which will provide the longest lasting enjoyment over multiple forms of media, whether it be games, blur ray, or any number of things, the Playstation 3 is probably the best.
In my own opinion? I like them both equally, in keeping with the result of my comparisons. However, if I absolutely had to choose a console, I'd probably go with the Playstation 3, because while I honestly have more fun playing the Xbox 360, and like many of its titles better than those of the Playstation 3, the PS3 is just a more reliable, well-rounded machine that will provide the most years of service to me, and that counts for something.
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