PS3/XBox 360/Wii--help a newbie decide

[johnsemlak]

Which console(s) will have a NWN II version?

I hear you about hte advice of sticking to a PC. As one might guess I've been mostly a PC gamer over the years.

Right now, the computer I have can't handle the newer graphics intensive games. I'm thinking of buying something more powerful obviously, but I keep pushing back on that purchace. THen suddently it occured to me that if all I need from a better computer is better games, maybe looking at a console is an idea. Plus, the 'buzz' that consoles seem to have right now makes it very tempting to see what the fuss is about.

Eventually I will of course upgrade my computer and get something that can handle the latest RTS games, NWN II, or whatever.

Another issue is that lately I've been suffering sort of a 'computer gaming bloc'--I havne't been able to get into games. I bought Guild Wars last year and gave it a shot and simply gave up out of boredom, and that's happened to me several times lately. I'm hoping a console might bring some more fun back into it, particuarly with the shooters.

 

[trancejeremy]

I don't think any console will have NWN2. According to Wikipeida though (FWIW), it was in the works for the 360, but cancelled.

 

[LightPhoenix]

Honestly, based one what you've described as games you like, I wouldn't get a console at all without having at least the chance to play each of them, and get a feel for the types of games on them. It sounds to me that the types of games you are interested in are the types that are (mostly) only on the computer. Even if you buy a console, I don't recommend buying it for solely one game. Make sure there are a number of games you will enjoy first.

Also, I know this is my personal bias, but please, please, play a Final Fantasy game before deciding it's right for you. FF (and console RPGs in general) is nothing like NWN2 or Oblivion, not even close. There's a lot of hype from the console crowd, but that doesn't mean you'll like it.

 

[Alzrius]

But compared to the PS3/360, Wii games look pretty bad.

If by bad, you mean spectacular, then you'd be correct.

Simply put, there are no bad-looking Wii games, compared to anything. And again, don't be taken in by the hype that graphics are everything - gameplay is everything (even the best-looking game is still a bad game if it isn't fun to play), and so far the Wii seems to have that hands down over the other two (and you know that means the PS3 and 360).

 

[Jdvn1]

The Wii is also better (and I think more fun) for casual players, unless you want to be figuring out dozens of buttons on your controller.

I'll continue on this strain, mentioning that the Wii is designed (and is) better for new-to-console-gaming players.

 

[trancejeremy]

Hrrrrrrmph. You must not have seen the Far Cry, or the screens from some of the other FPSes. They look Xbox quality at best.

And Wii Sports could have been done on a Playstation 2 (In fact, it looks suspiciously like the Hot Shots line of sports games).

Bad? No. But bad compared to the 360/PS3 (or any PC game withing the last few years)

If you want to delude yourself, fine, but I don't think you should try to convince others (especially when they are going to spend money) in something that is simply not true, and provably not true.

 

[Steel_Wind]

It's about price/performance, availability of units and availability of games.

Given those are the issues, there is only one possible choice, the 360. You won't be able to get a PS3 until deep into the second quarter of 2007. The early rollout models are all spoken for and all gone.

The 360 caters to adult players and enthusiasts of western RPGs. Mass Effect (and maybe Dragon Age. I, for one, am not ruling this out as a 360 release) will be exclusively for the 360.

It's out. It's available. It looks awesome, plays great, and there are a ton of games out for it. Xbox Live is a bona fide hit and well done. It's a lot cheaper than a PS3 too.

If you don't have a large volume of PS2 games you are trying to preserve some ability to play, there really is no reason at all to be getting a PS3.

 

[Alzrius]

If you want to delude yourself, fine, but I don't think you should try to convince others (especially when they are going to spend money) in something that is simply not true, and provably not true.

The only thing delusional is trying to convince people that anything that doesn't look like a PS3/360 has "bad" graphics. And you'll absolutely never convince anyone with that point of view.

 

[trancejeremy]

The only thing delusional is trying to convince people that anything that doesn't look like a PS3/360 has "bad" graphics. And you'll absolutely never convince anyone with that point of view.

The original poster has a new HDTV, and wants something to utilize it. And like it or not, the graphics of the Wii are comparable to those of the original Xbox and GC, not the PS3/360. Bad overall? Not necessarily, but yes, bad compared to those two.

Here's an example. One game from the Wii, one game from the original Xbox

Both look pretty good. But both look Xbox qualty.

 

[Alzrius]

The original poster has a new HDTV, and wants something to utilize it. And like it or not, the graphics of the Wii are comparable to those of the original Xbox and GC, not the PS3/360.

No, not really. The GameCube already had better graphics than the PS2 or Xbox, so anyone can naturally understand that the more-powerful Wii will have far better graphics still.

By the way, taking screenshots from Far Cry proves nothing, as the developers have already been drawing fire for having "debateable" visuals. Now, post a screenshot of Zelda: Twilight Princess running in 480p, to any Xbox game, and that'll pretty well crush the ridiculous notion that Wii games look no different than current-gen games. Nice try though.

The original poster also said he's a casual gamer, which means (as I've said before) that there's more to consider than just graphics - there's actual gameplay. So even without the graphics issue (re: Wii titles still look better than current-gen titles), the more-important issue of gameplay still leaves Wii as the winner.

A quick way to compare is to play a current-gen RPG like FFXII, which is relatively complex to play, and imagine that on a machine with even more power and buttons. Hardcore games isn't what the OP asked about.