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

[Welverin]

The game I most want to play is Elder Scrolls Oblivian on the xbox--will there soemthign with a comparable experience for the Wii.

I just saw in the latest EGM that it's also coming to the PS3.

As for your general question the only way in my view to decide is look at the games for each system figure out which one has the most exclusive games you want and buy that system.

The 360 and PS3 will have a lot of overlap, I'm starting to get the impression that there will be fewer exclusives thisgeneration than there have been previously.

You say you're interested in crpgs and ES4 Oblivion in particular, keep in mind that console rpgs are significantly different from pc rpgs. I really dislike the japanese style of rpg (e.g. final fnatasy, dragon warrior), and like North American/European style rpgs (ultima, baldur's gate, elder scrolls).

 

[trancejeremy]

Well, most of the North America/European style RPGs you mentioned are dead. No more Ultimas or Baldur's Gate. And Elder Scrolls games have migrated to the consoles, as has Bioware (with Mass Effect, anyway and an unnamed project for the DS. Dragon Age is still for the PC).

Most PC RPgs these days are Diablo clones (Titan Quest, Hellsgate, Divine Divinity) or pseudo FPSes (Dark Messiah of Might & Magic, Gothic).

Although we'll never see it in the US, the original Wizardry games are apparently being released on the PSP in Japan.

 

[Vigilance]

I personally wish MORE RPGs were Diablo clones lol.

Although I guess the Dark Alliance and Champions of Norrath games for PS2 sort of qualify, nothing has yet captured the frenetic combat and endless replayability of the first Diablo.

Maybe Im asking for too much. Diablo is a classic after all (I even noticed the other day that it's the #1 rated computer game of all time by Gamespot at 9.6).

 

[Arnwyn]

And Elder Scrolls games have migrated to the consoles, as has Bioware (with Mass Effect, anyway

Really? Those are all PC games also.

 

[trancejeremy]

Really? Those are all PC games also.

Well, Oblivion was designed for the console first, not PC - the general dumbing down of it compared to past efforts and the GUI aimed at a controller, not keyboard and mouse.. And AFAIK, Mass Effect isn't for the PC (though I imagine like pretty much all Xbox Bioware games, it will come out eventually).

 

[trancejeremy]

Anyway, I shouldn't mention this here, as it potentially hurts the chances of me getting one, but it looks like Amazon.com will be selling a core Xbox 360 for $100 as part of their Thanksgiving sale next week.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/holiday/cv/homepage/

It's not certain, there's a vote and the product has to win, but the 360 is winning @ 86% or something like that, which makes it pretty likely. And it's a core 360 - you need to spend $50 for a memory card or $100 for a hard drive to save games. And it's only for people in the US, so it doesn' do Mr. Semlak much good (Unless there's a Russian Amazon.com...)

 

[Aus_Snow]

(. . .) And it's only for people in the US, so it doesn' do Mr. Semlak much good (Unless there's a Russian Amazon.com...)

Feh. There isn't even an Australian Amazon store, much as my muttering of expletives might indicate that I wish it othewise.

 

[Arnwyn]

And AFAIK, Mass Effect isn't for the PC

Yeah, you're absolutely right, here. The first announcement had it for PC as well, but I looked it up again and the most recent press releases stress that it's an Xbox 360 exclusive. Very cool.

 

[Dragonblade]

Wow, a lot of Playstation fans here. Personally, I think the PS2 is highly overrated. The original Xbox is a much better system. Of all of my friends who have both (including me), NONE of them play their PS2s anymore. And when games come out for both systems, they always bought the Xbox version.

About the only advantage that the PS2 has is you get some more Japanese games that don't come out for Xbox. For me not really an issue, since every Final Fantasy game after FF7 is crap, and most Japanese RPGs are overrated as well. They have become little more than interactive movies. American RPGs are generally far superior. KOTOR 1, 2 and Jade Empire are far superior to anything ever released on the PS2.

Now if you intend to get a PS3 in the future, then (and only then) would I consider the PS2 a good investment simply because of the backwards compatibility. However, the money you spend on Sony's overpriced monster could be spent buying BOTH a 360 and a Wii. Now, I won't completely bag on Sony. The PS3 will be technically superior to the other two systems and will likely have the broadest Japanese support. If that is important to you than go with the PS3. However, IMO, any game worth playing besides the occasional Japanese exclusive will come out for 360. And the PS3's performance advantage over the 360 is marginal at best. If you spend the money you would spend on the PS3 on both a Wii and a 360, I think you are covered.

Also good luck getting a PS3 before March of 2007 unless you are willing to pay over $2000 on ebay. And if you have that kind of money, you might as well get all three systems.

 

[Nifft]

What platform looks like it will be the best going forward?
In other words, for a casual gamer who has no particular limit on game gear budget, what will probably keep "fun value" high over the next 3-5 years?

Looks like the PS3 will be the best Dec 26 acquisition, am I right?

Thanks, -- N