If you're in the market for a next-gen gaming system and can't quite decide
between Sony's Playstation 3
or Microsoft's
Xbox 360, then this review is specifically for you.
First, the good stuff. The Xbox 360 is immensely popular and has the largest
library of triple-A games and exclusives. After all, you'll only find games like
Gears of War, Halo and Grand Theft Auto on this system [retraction: GTA4 is not
360-exclusive, sorry]. The online community is beyond robust; Microsoft's Xbox
Live service has completely revolutionized online gaming. Not only that but you
can stream many TV shows and movies from Netflix
right onto your television through the "New Xbox Live Experience" (NXE
for short). Lastly, the hardware is no slouch either as several cross-platform
titles actually have a slight edge in performance on the 360 over their PS3
counterparts (more on that later).
Okay, now the stuff the PS3 does better (and I'm allowed to say this as I've
owned both consoles since launch). Remember the NXE I mentioned earlier? Perks
aside, the interface is simply horrible. The NXE is a mess of redundant menus
and even suffers from noticeable processor lag. The PS3 Media Bar, on the other
hand, is clean, neat, and professional-looking, and has a slight advantage in
functionality too (and it doesn't force you to create ridiculous avatars). The
PS3 is also technically superior to the 360 in terms of processing power and
video performance (but some games have an edge on the 360 due to early
developmental difficulties on the PS3), and it exclusively uses a blu-ray drive
for both games and movies alike, all at an extremely competitive price. The
software library for the PS3 is nearly as immense as the 360's, with the vast
majority of titles available for either system, and includes a fair share of
triple-A exclusives of its own (LittleBigPlanet, Metal Gear Solid 4, Heavenly
Sword). Finally, the PS3 is one of the most stable consoles I've ever owned
(even over the PS2); I can literally count on one hand the number of times the
console has frozen up on me in the last two years.
Lastly, the stuff both consoles fail at (and do I even need to mention the
absurd failure rate of the Xbox 360?). The PS3 will initally annoy you with a
near-constant slew of software updates. The 360 is stuck with a standard DVD
drive and obsolete HD-DVD add-on. The newer PS3's have all but eliminated
backward-compatibility with PS2 games. The 360 simply looks and feels like a
toy. The PS3....uhm....well the PS3's sleek, glossy finish is susceptible to
fingerprints (I'm out of bad stuff for the PS3). Fighting game fans: the 360's
d-pad is quite possibly the worst d-pad ever conceived, which is ironic
considering the fantastic design of the rest of the controller. And yes, your
360 WILL die on you at some point. It is no exaggeration whatsoever that I don't
know a single person who isn't on at least their second system.
While I do genuinely enjoy my Xbox 360 over time I have become more and more
fond of my PS3 due in part to those few crucial differences I mentioned.
Bottom-line: if you're a hardcore gamer who needs a consistent online fix, go
with the 360. If you're not as competetive and are simply looking for a
legitimate entertainment/media hub, pick up a PS3.
Xbox 360 official description
Xbox 360 sets a new pace for digital entertainment. More than just a
cutting-edge game system, Xbox 360 also integrates high-definition video,
DVD movie playback, digital music, photos, and online connectivity into one
sleek, small tower.
Under the Hood
Xbox
360 Console, shown with wireless controller, is a
sleek, customizable gaming and entertainment system
Xbox
360 is much smaller than its predecessor--it measures approximately 3.3
by 12.2 by 10.2 inches and weighs 7.7 lbs. It's powered by custom IBM
PowerPC-based CPU with three symmetrical cores each running at 3.2 GHz. It
also carries a custom ATI graphics processor 10 MB of embedded DRAM. This is
powerful enough to draw 500 million triangles per second. In other words, it
makes for great looking games in standard TV definition, and even better
thanks to built-in support for HDTV 1080i televisions. It also supports the
widescreen 16:9 format.
The unit has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive, which plays both the game
media and progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. For game-save
and media storage this console package includes a 120GB hard drive. Along
with storing files, the hard drive will make the Xbox 360
backward-compatible with part of the existing Xbox game library.
Control your Gameplay
Xbox 360 uses a refined button layout for its controllers. Back and Start
buttons sit at the center of the controller and between them is a new Xbox
Guide button, which instantly takes the user to the Xbox 360 user interface.
From there, they can check for friends online, access personal digital
content like photos and songs, and more. The black and white buttons of the
first Xbox controllers have been replaced with new shoulder buttons placed
above the left and right triggers. Xbox 360 can accommodate up to four
wireless controllers and has three USB 2.0 slots to use for wired
controllers or for streaming your digital media from digital cameras, MP3
players, and any Windows XP-based PC. Microsoft has also created a
video-conferencing camera, sold separately, that will work with the system.
The Media Experience
All Xbox 360 titles can be played in either standard or high-definition
resolution in 16:9 widescreen, with anti-aliasing for smoother graphics.
Game designers will be able to take advantage of the system's multi-channel
surround sound. The Xbox 360's digital media allows users to supplement any
game's music from tracks in their own personal library.
Go Live
A built-in Ethernet port allows users to connect their system to a
broadband connection for access to the new Xbox Live Silver. The included
service lets anyone create a Gamertag and gamer card to express your online
identity, chat live with voice chat, and connect to the Xbox Live
Marketplace to buy expansions, maps, and other digital items for your games.
The subscription service Xbox Live Gold adds to that online competition,
game stats, and video chat/messaging. The separately sold wireless adapter
supports the common 802.11a, -b, and -g standards.
What's in the Box?
Xbox 360 Elite console (black)
120GB hard drive
Wireless Controller (black)
Xbox Live Headset (black)
HDMI port
Composite A/V Cable
Xbox Live Silver membership
One-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold
Product Description
Xbox 360 Elite is the premier console package with a massive hard drive, a
high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a high-definition cable, and a
premium black finish for the console.
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