[Completly OT] Xbox or PS2?

[Lord Vangarel]

After much persuasion I've managed to convince my better half that a games machine will benefit the family (i.e. me) and was wondering which one?

As far as I can tell the Xbox is technically better but the PS2 has a load more games for it. I live in Britain if that influences the decision and don't have a recent console.

Thanks

 

[Zappo]

As far as I can tell the Xbox is technically better but the PS2 has a load more games for it.

Yeah, that's about everything there is to say. There are some other points, like Xbox's DVD player being slightly easier to use or the PS2 being smaller and easier to carry around, but they are all minor in comparison. These considerations can be extended into the future; PS2 outsells Xbox five to one or so everywhere save USA (where it still outsells by a lot, just not five to one) and developers like to make games for the widest market. So you can be sure that the PS2 will keep having many more games forever. OTOH, you can expect that some very "heavy" games (eg, Morrowind) will be impossible to make on the PS2 because it isn't powerful enough. Then again, heavier hardware requirements don't a better game make (and take a look at both consoles' graphics; they aren't much different in fact).

Something that may or may not be true in your case is that there is a wide used games market for the PS2. At least where I live, it is easy to purchase a game, play it through, and then sell it for half what you paid it. Or, conversely, you can buy an used game for half its retail price. At my local videogame store there are always dozens of used games for sale.

A more important thing is that it seems that some Xboxes have some hardware flaws. Morrowind crashes frequently, but it only does so on some Xboxes (not necessarily the older ones). Two Towers too. When it was only Morrowind, I could think that it was the programmers' fault; after all, Bethesda is notorious for bugs. But now that Two Towers is out and has the same bug... hmmm. Conversely, I've never seen a game crash on the PS2.

Finally, don't be fooled into thinking that having a HD is a big Xbox advantage. It is effectively locked: it doesn't allow producers to release patches. It may allow them to release addons, but only if the game was designed with that in mind (and AFAIK, it has only been done with DOA3 for now).

Overall, I suggest buying a PS2. The one and only advantage of Xbox is the superior hardware; all other big points are scored by PS2.

 

[Tsyr]

Re: Re: [Completly OT] Xbox or PS2?

snip

A few points.

Regarding the graphics being about the same. That's actualy wrong. The problem is, and the reason why so many people think that, is that most games out for the 'box right now are ports from older systems... some as old as the Dreamcast... and have, as a result, identical graphics. Further, the X-Box can handle HD games, which the PS2 cannot. The X-Box CAN handle graphics that far outstrip the PS2. It's just that this has only been done rarely.

Regarding used games... this is sort of a red herring... it's as easy to find used games for the 'box as it is for any other system, at least around here.

Next, the X-Box library of games is growing rather rapidly, including some X-Box exclusive ones.

Don't forget X-Box Live, which is a very good deal, if you have a broadband 'net connection.

Note, too, that the PS2 is not without it's hardware flaws... the DVD player, for example, is flawed in a good number of PS2s. Not all, but enough. As well, the PS2 does have crashes from time to time as a result. I've had GTA3 crash on me, for example. (Well... lock up.)

 

[Zappo]

Re: Re: Re: [Completly OT] Xbox or PS2?

Regarding the graphics being about the same. That's actualy wrong. The problem is, and the reason why so many people think that, is that most games out for the 'box right now are ports from older systems... some as old as the Dreamcast... and have, as a result, identical graphics. Further, the X-Box can handle HD games, which the PS2 cannot. The X-Box CAN handle graphics that far outstrip the PS2. It's just that this has only been done rarely.

Ok. Let me correct my statement: I haven't seen any Xbox game which had substantially better graphics than a good PS2 game. In any case, we haven't seen the top graphic for either of the systems yet - Xbox for the reasons you mentioned, and PS2 because it's hard to program and the developers haven't yet mastered it (just as it happened with PS1, I expect latest games to be substantially better than the early ones).

Regarding used games... this is sort of a red herring... it's as easy to find used games for the 'box as it is for any other system, at least around here.

Yes, that's why I suggested that it may or may not be a factor. Where I live, the used market for PS2 is huge while there is no used market for Xbox. Again, Xbox is much more present in the USA than in any other country, and since LV lives in the UK, he'd better check how the used market works in his country before making a decision.

Next, the X-Box library of games is growing rather rapidly, including some X-Box exclusive ones.

A rapid growth is just to be expected, as are exclusive titles. But the PS2 library is growing faster, and it has exclusive titles as well. Really, it's just a matter of proportions.

Don't forget X-Box Live, which is a very good deal, if you have a broadband 'net connection.

I can't comment on this. I haven't been able to get solid facts about either broadband system. I do know that it is possible to connect a PS2 to the internet with a simple and cheap ethernet USB cable if you have a PC; no need to purchase additional thingies. Tony Hawk 2 allowed that, long before the online kit was available. In any case, online capabilty for a console is a very new and unexplored concept, and every house is taking a different approach. There is no way right now to know which will be better.

Note, too, that the PS2 is not without it's hardware flaws... the DVD player, for example, is flawed in a good number of PS2s. Not all, but enough. As well, the PS2 does have crashes from time to time as a result. I've had GTA3 crash on me, for example. (Well... lock up.)

I've never heard of such problems (and my brother used to play GTA3 for hours). I guess you can't ever be sure of anything.

 

[Tsyr]

I can't comment on this. I haven't been able to get solid facts about either broadband system. I do know that it is possible to connect a PS2 to the internet with a simple and cheap ethernet USB cable if you have a PC; no need to purchase additional thingies. Tony Hawk 2 allowed that, long before the online kit was available. In any case, online capabilty for a console is a very new and unexplored concept, and every house is taking a different approach. There is no way right now to know which will be better.

You can do this with the 'box too. Live is something else entierly, of which there is no equivilant at this time for PS2 or 'cube (At least in America, perhaps there is in Japan).

Well, it's not exactly "something else entierly"... it just sorta makes it alot easier and more user-friendly. It's kinda like the old T.E.N. network for computer games. It makes it easier to find games and players, basicly. And the subscription fee is very modest, unlike those old services.

 

[boxstop7]

Here's how I see it...

Do you have an original Playstation (I know you said "recent console, but I'm unsure how you're defining "recent")? If so, do you have some classic PSone games you'd love to keep playing? If you've answered "yes", then the PS2 is definitely for you due to its backward compatibility. But, on all other points, I'm firmly in the Xbox camp. And here's why:

- superior graphics: yes, it's true that the Xbox has fewer games right now. but it has one significant graphical advantage over the PS2. Full-scene anti-aliasing (FSAA), once considered the grail of console gaming. FSAA will give you a much smoother, much nicer picture and the PS2 is flat-out not capable of it (FSAA eliminates the jagged edges in image display, just in case you didn't know ) for some reason, no one has yet deveolped a game that fully abuses the Xbox graphics chip. but it'll come. and when it does, it will be good.

- superior output: the Xbox is capable of HD output and digital 5.1 sound. if you've got a good A/V receiver, it'll all be worth it.

- hardware is NOT the same: I hate to argue Zappo (and I know I'll ultimately regret it...), but the hardware comparison really isn't even close. you may want to check out this link for a quick comparison. it doesn't cover everything, but it's a start. the Xbox has a core processor over 400 MHz faster, a clock speed double that of the PS2, a GeForce2-based graphics processor and an internal hard drive. all things the PS2 will ultimately make you pay for in the form of add-ons.

- breakaway controllers: may seem trivial, but I love this feature. (mind you, the controllers themselves take a little while to get used to) if you've got a lot of clumsy idiots running around, then can trip over your controller cables without sending the console crashing to the ground b/c the controller cables have a sweet breakaway feature to prevent this from happening.

- internal hard drive: no more friggin' memory cards. the internal 8 GB hard drive takes care of that problem. yes, the PS2 will eventually have a hard drive, but it'll most likely be external and you'll have to go buy it (prolly in the $40-$80 range)

Ultimately, the choice is yours. But IMHO, the Xbox has FAR more potential for growth than the PS2, because of the features I've mentioned above and more. Oh yeah, and the Xbox Live! thing is just seriously cool. Of course, Xbox is a microsoft product, and some people have serious moral objections to purchasing from Bill Gates. But I really think the Xbox is a flat-out better machine and we'll see its full potential slowly unlocked in the near future.

~Box

 

[shadowlight]

Well, I bought an XBox a few months ago and I couldn't be happier with it. I'd rented PS2s and XBoxs several times so I've played them both...

As far as pure hardware goes, XBox is WAY more powerful than the PS2 (I mean it DID come out like a year and a half later, and you know how fast the computer industry moves). However, PS2 and XBox games look roughly equivalent since companies haven't pushed the XBox anywhere near its limits yet (this will definitely be changing throughout 2003).

Also I really like the hard drive on the XBox. You don't have to buy separate memory cards to save your games like you have to do on the PS2 (but you can get one if you want to take your saved game to your friend's `box)

None of the other consoles have anything like XBox Live. It's easy to get on and you only have to sign up once (where as with PS2 you'll have to sign up for something different with each title and you have to buy your network adapter separately), and it has a lot of cool features like the voice communicator and the player matching service.

Also, Mechassault will have new downloadable content (starting in January... new `mechs, new arenas, new multiplayer game types, etc.) from XBox Live to your hard drive. This is something that you won't see on a PS2.

Personally I've been playing a LOT of Halo for XBox. A friend in my D&D gaming group picked up an XBox and networking the machines directly together was easy and a TOTAL blast! (In fact, our networked Halo games took over our D&D sessions for about a month 4 players on two TVs... oh yeah!!!) I'm not a big FPS fan, but this is by far the funnest game I've ever played! (If you end up getting a PS2 then definitely rent an XBox to play this game!)

Hope that helps

 

[Chun-tzu]

I haven't bought any (but my sister has a PS2), and never really planned on getting a game console, since I have a lot of PC games. Up until this point, if I were to get one, it would have been the PS2, for the commonly stated reasons (best game library, particularly RPGs).

But as of a couple weeks ago, I decided to get an X-Box. Why? STEEL BATTALION. A gaming experience that you can't get anywhere else. You pilot a giant robot using the lord of all controllers, which has 2 joysticks, 40 buttons, 3 foot pedals. For someone who grew up on Voltron and Robotech cartoons like me, it's irresistible.

Bottom line: It depends on what games you want to play. Check out the game libraries available for each system, paying particular attention to the exclusive games.

 

[shadowlight]

Oh yeah! I forgot about the breakaway controllers! I LOVE this feature... I've got 2 kids and this has already saved my XBox more times than I care to count. With my old N64, if you tripped over a controller cord, the console ended up on the floor...

 

[Zappo]

- hardware is NOT the same: I hate to argue Zappo (and I know I'll ultimately regret it...)

Huh? Hey, I've never said that the hardware is the same. All the opposite (read my first post again). What I did say is that I haven't seen any Xbox game with substantially better graphic than a good PS2 game. There are a number of reasons for that, besides hardware power, from marketing tactics to programmer experience. I'll grab the occasion to say that hardware is not the only, and not the main, reason for choosing a console over another. What the hell, it's not even the only reason for which a console's graphics look better. You can't think about consoles the way you think about PCs.

BTW, there are IR controllers for the PS2 too. I would have bought one, but I didn't like the design (too big, though not as big as Xbox's controllers). Right now, I'm preserving the console by placing it on the floor.

edit: a note about FSAA.
FSAA uses a lot of computing power. Additionally, a TV screen is naturally less definite than a monitor, so FSAA on a console makes less of an impact than it does on a PC (of course, we're not talking about a HDTV here). For this reasons, I think that developers choose to add more polygons to their models instead of using FSAA, unless the game has many high-contrast scenes where FSAA makes a large impact.