Xbox versus PS2 for the discerning adult

[wedgeski]

If you like online games, then the PC is still your best bet. I wouldn't buy a console for anything online.

12 months ago I would have agreed with you, but not any more. There's something to be said for a service that is [a] broadband only, and subscription-based, putting the pressure on the provider to make it worth the money.

 

[Falkus]

Xbox versus PS2 for the discerning adult

To heck with both. PC is the only way to go, in my not so humble opinion. You just can't beat the ease and versatality of keyboard and mouse for most games.

 

[Arnwyn]

subscription-based, putting the pressure on the provider to make it worth the money.

And there's the rub. The "friends list" on Xbox Live doesn't even remotely provide the value that they're asking with the subscription price (especially if you have even a half-decent PC, which pretty much covers that already). I haven't seen anything that makes Xbox Live worth the subscription price.

Subscription vs. free on PC? No contest.

 

[Raloc]

If you get a modded Xbox, it's worth it. Otherwise, RPGs on PS2 are better. The media functions on the Xbox make it way more worth it. I use mine with Linksboks for surfing. The KotOR (especially KotOR2) games are probably the best CRPGs I've played in a long time. If you've a nice computer though, I'd just get them for that. You can run at higher res and put on more effects.

 

[Phoenix8008]

Asking a question of my own here since it concerns the overall question of the thread. I know that PS2 plays DVD's, but does the X-box do this also?

Liking this thread since I myself have been looking at these two systems trying to decide if I wanted one over the other. As an additional concern for me, I have some old PS1 games still that I would be able to play on the PS2 but they would obviously be wasted on the X-box.

 

[John Crichton]

Asking a question of my own here since it concerns the overall question of the thread. I know that PS2 plays DVD's, but does the X-box do this also?

Yes, it does but you have to buy a remote for it to make that function active. I think it's like $25-30. The PS2 plays them right out of the box. And just thought I'd mention that my PS2 has recently started to slow down and skip every so often plus all my PS2 Dual Shocks are becoming non-responsive and clunky, so I picked up a new one; one of the those mini-PS2s. The thing is SO small. It's relevent to this question - a universal remote can control the DVD player because it has a built-in IR sensor on the front.

Liking this thread since I myself have been looking at these two systems trying to decide if I wanted one over the other. As an additional concern for me, I have some old PS1 games still that I would be able to play on the PS2 but they would obviously be wasted on the X-box.

Xbox is very cool. But the bigger selection of games is on the PS2. Both are going to get a markdown this summer so get one now and wait 6 months to get the other.

 

[reanjr]

Games that are on both platforms are almost always just a little better on XBox, so you really gotta check out the exclusive games. Some of the most popular of the exclusive games follow (note, some have not yet been released, but are expected to be very popular)

XBox:
Conker
Fable
Half-Life 2
Halo series
Mech Assault series
Ninja Gaiden
Panzer Dragoon Orta
Project Gotham Racing
Splinter Cell 2: Pandora Tomorrow


PS2:
Devil May Cry series
Final Fantasy series
Gran Turismo series
Grand Theft Auto series
ICO
Resident Evil series (some also on Game Cube)
SOCOM series

A lot of the big name exclusive games are PS2, but XBox seems to have some of the more offbeat and unique exclusive games (Blinx for instance).

 

[wedgeski]

And there's the rub. The "friends list" on Xbox Live doesn't even remotely provide the value that they're asking with the subscription price (especially if you have even a half-decent PC, which pretty much covers that already). I haven't seen anything that makes Xbox Live worth the subscription price.

Subscription vs. free on PC? No contest.

I'll tell you what does it for me: the guarantee that everyone in the game is on broadband. That, and the slick (for the most part) matchmaking.

Maybe if you're a hard-core, guild-building, clan-luvvin', on-line super fiend, then go with PC.

 

[John Crichton]

Grand Theft Auto series.

Xbox gets the GTA stuff as well, but not at first.

I'm waiting for GTA: SA to come out on Xbox this summer. Mmmm. Graphics.

It also bears mentioning that some of the cross-platform titles like SSX & NBA street look better on Xbox but their design was for a PS2 controller. I own all 3 systems and for many of the sports games or games that require crazy combo button pushing that the PS2's controls make the game more enjoyable over the superior graphics.

 

[Enforcer]

I had this dilemma almost a year ago and chose the Xbox. My reasons were as follows:

1) For cross-platform games, the Xbox generally has better graphics. This is especially true in rare cases like GTA 3 and Vice City where the Xbox release is deliberately improved to take advantage of the Xbox's better specs.

2) The Xbox had more exclusive games that I wanted to play (Knights of the Old Republic, Ninja Gaiden, Halo to name a few)--who cares if the PS2 has more games if all the ones I want to play are available on XBox?