PSWii60 - my review
being as though I now own all three next gen consoles I thought I would give a bit of feedback to how they compare and contrast.
I have the PS3 connected via HDMI, the 360 by VGA and the Wii through component.
i have tried to keep to the areas which most get talked about - These are my feelings
looks
360 = looks good, but kind of reminds me of Sky+ with a makeover.
PS3 = looks stylish, reminds me of Bose DVD/Home cinema system but with an added dust magnet feature - i mean it doesn't just show up the dust because it's black it actually seems to attract it, and in abundance!
Wii = nice and small and looks kinda cool, although becasue of it's size people will probably mistaken it for a freeview box rather than a console if they havent seen it before.
overall: I feel the best looking console is the Wii as less is definately more in this case. The PS3 comes in a close second though and whilst I do like the look of the 360 I genuinley feel it's not on par with the other two. I know looks are all down to personal preference though so no doubt many will disagree.
build quality
360 = feels fairly well built but does seem a little bit lighter than you expect it to be before picking it up, but that is down to the power brick (it literally is the same size and weight as a house brick!!!) being extenral. The less said about the internal build quality the better - I just hope mine lasts me the distance
PS3 = feels very well built and is actually a LOT heavier than you expect it to be. Overall the build quality is where Sony's expertise in producing consumer electronics shows.
Wii = again it feels very well built and again has a weighty feel which instills confidence in a quality peice of hardware. Again an extenal power supply but much smaller and lighter than the 360's.
Overall: I really can't chose between the PS3 and the Wii to be honest. Whilst the 360 feels fine it just doesn't have that extra feel of weight and build quality that the other two give you.
features
360 = plays Xbox games nicely and they look crisper than on the original and also plays DVD's too, with some upscaling I might add. Seems to be lacking a web browser though which is unusual as you seem to be able to surf the net on everything but the fridge these days! Has photo and video storing and viewing options too although it's limited on HDD space.
PS3 = Plays both PS2 and PS1 games (im not sure about how crisp they look though as I havent tried any) as well as DVD and Blu-Ray. Plus you can install Linux on the system without effecting any of the current functionality. Seems to have quite a nice web broswer to boot. Again has photo and video storing functionality as well as an RSS channel and location free player. Whats more if you own a PSP then you can stream music and video to it as an added bonus.
Wii = Plays Gamecube games fairly decently although my only gripe is that you need to buy both a gamecube controller and mem card to do this. Doesn't play DVD's but does have a web browser and some other funky functionality like the news and weather channels.
Overall: I think for sheer extra features the PS3 wins hands down, but then again thats what you are paying such a premium for. The 360 isn't too far behind as you can stream music and video from a PC, although I havent tried this myself yet... maybe someone can give me a heads up on how to get going to save me going down the old trial and error route?
graphics
360 = the graphics on the 360 are very nice indeed, with nice crisp textures and good lighting it's everything you would expect from a next gen console.
PS3 = the PS3 also has very nice graphics although everything seems to be a little bit softer, in just the same way the PS2 had softer graphics compared to the Xbox.
Wii = the graphics on the Wii are a bit of a let down to be honest. It's most definitely not next gen, but then graphics are not what the Wii is all about so I will let them off on this occasion.
Overall: The 360 is the clear winner for me graphically as the textures and lighting are noticably better than the PS3. Ok, the PS3 supports 1080p but there will be a limited number of people with 1080p capable TV's and a limited number of 1080p games released so it doesnt really matter a great deal.
noise level
360 = what can I say other than OMG! from the moment you turn it on you realise it's noisier than the other two but then when the DVD drive kicks in it steps the whole noise level up a notch from mildly irritating to outright annoying - this in my opinion is as big an issue for MS to address as the reliability issues.
PS3 = Whilst the PS3 is whisper quiet when you turn it on, it does actually increase in volume when it's been running a game for a while but it still doesn't get any louder than a PS2 used to be.
Wii = again a whipser quiet machine but then any noise from the console would probably be drowned out from the laughter of happy people having fun
Overall: PS3 and Wii are neck and neck noise wise with the 360 coming in at least three laps behind! I need to start collecting cardboard egg cartons now and hopefully if I line the walls with them they will absorb the noise of the 360!
controller
360 = I found the 360 controller easier to pick up than expected and can see how on some games having the d-pad and left analogue sticks swapped over from PS style can really work. It has a nice weight to it and feels like a sturdy built controller which is responsive and easy to use.
PS3 = I remember the first time I played a Playstation, I thought the controller couldnt be improved upon but over the years it has, albeit in very small touches. To me it's the ideal controller for both comfort and fit - the only way I would alter it would be to crack it open and pop some fishing weights in to give it a bit more substance.
Wii = the Wii's controller is what makes this console as without it all you would have is a remodelled upgrade to the gamecube, but, man does it make it in a big way. It's inginuity like this which makes Nintendo such a huge market share winner with this console and has brought two words to be quoted together which were previously reserved for nerdy lan party's "social gaming" - it's fun and it's all down to the control system. To be honest though I would rather stick to the PS3 or 360 when playing regular games which don't require Wiimote waving, but the potential for the future has to be good.
Overall: It's a very difficult one to chose as the best to be honest, as whilst I prefer the PS3 over the 360 for comfort it lacks a little in weight and there are certain games where the reversal of d-pad and stick actually makes more sense. The Wii is great for getting animated with but, lacks some appeal when playing standard couch potato games and the range seems to be a little short so you may need to move that sofa nearer to the telly. I haven't bothered to mention rumble as it's a feature I have always found annoying and mostly turned off anyway! I guess that chosing between the 360 and PS3 controllers is down to opersonal choice and many will probably find the 360 controller more comfortable but I guess that over 10 years gaming on a PS style pad has moulded my hands to fit it perfectly.
online play
360 = xbox live is a joy to behold and is where Microsoft are clear winners. It's easy to use and sets the standard for others to follow.
PS3 = whilst the netplay has improved a great deal from the PS2's tentative ventures into this arena, it still has a long way to go to get any where near xbox live.
Wii = doesn't seem to be any online play on the Wii let's hope that it's something Nintendo look into fixing as I would love to play my mates at Wii sports without them having to trek all the way over to mine.
Overall: Microsoft's experience of online infrastructures and software development shine through with xbox live. Whilst Sony's netplay is free of charge I would happily cough up my hard earned cash to have it as good as Microsofts.
online store facility
360 = very nice store and easy to navigate. loads of content too with game demos galore and HD film trailers to boot. I love the way you can stack up downloads in a queue and then still browse and play games whilst they complete.
PS3 = again a nice and easy to navigate online store with demos and film trailers but more time will add more content so maybe one day it will be on par with the 360's marketplace. Having to wait for something to download is very annoying though!
Wii = nice little store offering some old classics - nothing to get excited about though imo.
Overall: Microsofts marketplace again outshines the competition with more features and functionality. Sony comes in a close second with the playstation Store but theres definitely room for improvement. The Wii's online store has limited appeal other than downloading a few retro classics but it's still nice to have it there anyway.
In conclusion.
If you're a graphics whore who loves online gaming then the 360 is definitely the way to go but, if you're the type of person who only dabbles occasionally in online gaming and you want a console which is packed with extra features and dont mind paying the extra then the PS3 is your baby.
The Wii is for everyone and I think that every single person who doesn't own one should get out to the shops, credit card in hand as you really dont know what you're missing - unless that is you dont have any friends, as this really is a console for playing with mates and beer
being as though I now own all three next gen consoles I thought I would give a bit of feedback to how they compare and contrast.
I have the PS3 connected via HDMI, the 360 by VGA and the Wii through component.
i have tried to keep to the areas which most get talked about - These are my feelings
looks
360 = looks good, but kind of reminds me of Sky+ with a makeover.
PS3 = looks stylish, reminds me of Bose DVD/Home cinema system but with an added dust magnet feature - i mean it doesn't just show up the dust because it's black it actually seems to attract it, and in abundance!
Wii = nice and small and looks kinda cool, although becasue of it's size people will probably mistaken it for a freeview box rather than a console if they havent seen it before.
overall: I feel the best looking console is the Wii as less is definately more in this case. The PS3 comes in a close second though and whilst I do like the look of the 360 I genuinley feel it's not on par with the other two. I know looks are all down to personal preference though so no doubt many will disagree.
build quality
360 = feels fairly well built but does seem a little bit lighter than you expect it to be before picking it up, but that is down to the power brick (it literally is the same size and weight as a house brick!!!) being extenral. The less said about the internal build quality the better - I just hope mine lasts me the distance
PS3 = feels very well built and is actually a LOT heavier than you expect it to be. Overall the build quality is where Sony's expertise in producing consumer electronics shows.
Wii = again it feels very well built and again has a weighty feel which instills confidence in a quality peice of hardware. Again an extenal power supply but much smaller and lighter than the 360's.
Overall: I really can't chose between the PS3 and the Wii to be honest. Whilst the 360 feels fine it just doesn't have that extra feel of weight and build quality that the other two give you.
features
360 = plays Xbox games nicely and they look crisper than on the original and also plays DVD's too, with some upscaling I might add. Seems to be lacking a web browser though which is unusual as you seem to be able to surf the net on everything but the fridge these days! Has photo and video storing and viewing options too although it's limited on HDD space.
PS3 = Plays both PS2 and PS1 games (im not sure about how crisp they look though as I havent tried any) as well as DVD and Blu-Ray. Plus you can install Linux on the system without effecting any of the current functionality. Seems to have quite a nice web broswer to boot. Again has photo and video storing functionality as well as an RSS channel and location free player. Whats more if you own a PSP then you can stream music and video to it as an added bonus.
Wii = Plays Gamecube games fairly decently although my only gripe is that you need to buy both a gamecube controller and mem card to do this. Doesn't play DVD's but does have a web browser and some other funky functionality like the news and weather channels.
Overall: I think for sheer extra features the PS3 wins hands down, but then again thats what you are paying such a premium for. The 360 isn't too far behind as you can stream music and video from a PC, although I havent tried this myself yet... maybe someone can give me a heads up on how to get going to save me going down the old trial and error route?
graphics
360 = the graphics on the 360 are very nice indeed, with nice crisp textures and good lighting it's everything you would expect from a next gen console.
PS3 = the PS3 also has very nice graphics although everything seems to be a little bit softer, in just the same way the PS2 had softer graphics compared to the Xbox.
Wii = the graphics on the Wii are a bit of a let down to be honest. It's most definitely not next gen, but then graphics are not what the Wii is all about so I will let them off on this occasion.
Overall: The 360 is the clear winner for me graphically as the textures and lighting are noticably better than the PS3. Ok, the PS3 supports 1080p but there will be a limited number of people with 1080p capable TV's and a limited number of 1080p games released so it doesnt really matter a great deal.
noise level
360 = what can I say other than OMG! from the moment you turn it on you realise it's noisier than the other two but then when the DVD drive kicks in it steps the whole noise level up a notch from mildly irritating to outright annoying - this in my opinion is as big an issue for MS to address as the reliability issues.
PS3 = Whilst the PS3 is whisper quiet when you turn it on, it does actually increase in volume when it's been running a game for a while but it still doesn't get any louder than a PS2 used to be.
Wii = again a whipser quiet machine but then any noise from the console would probably be drowned out from the laughter of happy people having fun
Overall: PS3 and Wii are neck and neck noise wise with the 360 coming in at least three laps behind! I need to start collecting cardboard egg cartons now and hopefully if I line the walls with them they will absorb the noise of the 360!
controller
360 = I found the 360 controller easier to pick up than expected and can see how on some games having the d-pad and left analogue sticks swapped over from PS style can really work. It has a nice weight to it and feels like a sturdy built controller which is responsive and easy to use.
PS3 = I remember the first time I played a Playstation, I thought the controller couldnt be improved upon but over the years it has, albeit in very small touches. To me it's the ideal controller for both comfort and fit - the only way I would alter it would be to crack it open and pop some fishing weights in to give it a bit more substance.
Wii = the Wii's controller is what makes this console as without it all you would have is a remodelled upgrade to the gamecube, but, man does it make it in a big way. It's inginuity like this which makes Nintendo such a huge market share winner with this console and has brought two words to be quoted together which were previously reserved for nerdy lan party's "social gaming" - it's fun and it's all down to the control system. To be honest though I would rather stick to the PS3 or 360 when playing regular games which don't require Wiimote waving, but the potential for the future has to be good.
Overall: It's a very difficult one to chose as the best to be honest, as whilst I prefer the PS3 over the 360 for comfort it lacks a little in weight and there are certain games where the reversal of d-pad and stick actually makes more sense. The Wii is great for getting animated with but, lacks some appeal when playing standard couch potato games and the range seems to be a little short so you may need to move that sofa nearer to the telly. I haven't bothered to mention rumble as it's a feature I have always found annoying and mostly turned off anyway! I guess that chosing between the 360 and PS3 controllers is down to opersonal choice and many will probably find the 360 controller more comfortable but I guess that over 10 years gaming on a PS style pad has moulded my hands to fit it perfectly.
online play
360 = xbox live is a joy to behold and is where Microsoft are clear winners. It's easy to use and sets the standard for others to follow.
PS3 = whilst the netplay has improved a great deal from the PS2's tentative ventures into this arena, it still has a long way to go to get any where near xbox live.
Wii = doesn't seem to be any online play on the Wii
let's hope that it's something Nintendo look into fixing as I would love to play my mates at Wii sports without them having to trek all the way over to mine.Overall: Microsoft's experience of online infrastructures and software development shine through with xbox live. Whilst Sony's netplay is free of charge I would happily cough up my hard earned cash to have it as good as Microsofts.
online store facility
360 = very nice store and easy to navigate. loads of content too with game demos galore and HD film trailers to boot. I love the way you can stack up downloads in a queue and then still browse and play games whilst they complete.
PS3 = again a nice and easy to navigate online store with demos and film trailers but more time will add more content so maybe one day it will be on par with the 360's marketplace. Having to wait for something to download is very annoying though!
Wii = nice little store offering some old classics - nothing to get excited about though imo.
Overall: Microsofts marketplace again outshines the competition with more features and functionality. Sony comes in a close second with the playstation Store but theres definitely room for improvement. The Wii's online store has limited appeal other than downloading a few retro classics but it's still nice to have it there anyway.
In conclusion.
If you're a graphics whore who loves online gaming then the 360 is definitely the way to go but, if you're the type of person who only dabbles occasionally in online gaming and you want a console which is packed with extra features and dont mind paying the extra then the PS3 is your baby.
The Wii is for everyone and I think that every single person who doesn't own one should get out to the shops, credit card in hand as you really dont know what you're missing - unless that is you dont have any friends, as this really is a console for playing with mates and beer
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they're just damn good fun - I have a holiday in centre parks booked later this year, we are going with friends and the Wii wil definately be coming along as that's the kind of console it is... I must admit that when I'm on my own however I rarely turn it on!