RE: Computer Owner contemplating console for the 1st time ever.

the-void

the-void

the-void

Permabanned
Joined
3 Dec 2006
Posts
1,396
Currently a computer owner. Have owned a Spectrum, Amstrad, ST, Amiga and then a PC. Have never owned my own console. Have played on SNES, Megadrive, N64, PS1, Xbox.

2nd baby due in May. So what little time I have left for gaming is going to be reduced even further. Therefore I am contemplating buying a console round September/October. I realise this is a little far off but if one becomes available at the right price before hand I will certainly pick one up. The only trouble is, which one. (I am in no doubt this question would be better asked in 5 months time)

I enjoyed playing Oblivion (until the point when it becomes boring). Really enjoyed flatout2, vice city and san andreas. Don't really play any FPS. I like adventure games such as Dreamfall: The longest Journey. Currently enjoying Jade Empire. I really enjoy fighting and driving games, so I imagine a console would actually serve my needs better than a PC for gaming.

I don't play online gaming on the PC, possibly due to the type of games I have been playing. However I wouldn't mind playing a few online games on the console as long as they are not populated with 12 year olds who play from the moment they got home from school until they have to go back there and just want to pwn me and talk in l33t all the time.

I am interested in the Wii, possible because all the family could join in the games. (My oldest will be 2 and half when I am considering buying). And the games are reasonably priced. The only downfall is that I would have to suffer a downgrade in graphics quality by moving from the PC to Wii. However, Zelda looks really good and I forget that I will be sat a lot further back and it will be on a lot larger screen.

The two consoles that can at least compete with PC graphics are the XBOX360 and the PS3.

I honestly cannot see any reason to buy a PS3, especially as it turns out the Euro launch of the PS3 is going to lack the emotion engine chip that enables the US/Japan PS3's to emulate PS2 games in hardware. So it would be a hit and miss affair what PS2 games are compatible. This is such a shame, as with the great catalogue the PS2 has it would be a snip to pick up some quality PS2 games. Personally I think PS2 games look better than the orignal XBOX games (from my limited experience). If it would have this chip instead of software emulation, I would probably have gone for the PS3.

Next up is the XBOX360. I keep hearing about all the faults the XBOX360's seem to suffer with. Seems there is a lot to be desired about the production quality of the XBOX360. Are the newer XBOX360's fairing any better. The only other problem with XBOX360 and PS3 is the price of the games. They are so much more expensive than the PC versions. How come?

So I imagine the breakdown at present is

40% the Wii
35% the Xbox360
25% the PS3

If I am to buy any of these can anyone give me some pointer what to look out for (any issues or warnings). Thanks guys (and gals).
 
the-void said:
I am interested in the Wii, possible because all the family could join in the games. (My oldest will be 2 and half when I am considering buying). And the games are reasonably priced. The only downfall is that I would have to suffer a downgrade in graphics quality by moving from the PC to Wii. However, Zelda looks really good and I forget that I will be sat a lot further back and it will be on a lot larger screen.
Click to expand...

Graphics on the wii are still pretty good, with room for improvement as the console progresses. Providing you can find enough games that interest you, and you family, this console can be a lot of fun. Watching my niece play wii boxing was funny a while back (as she kepted edging towards the tv ;)), and trying to beat one of my friends on the same game was hilarious. Several weeks on and I'm still enjoying it, waiting for a greater choice of games to be available, but still fun. I think one of the big deciding factors with the wii is whether you envisage playing more with your family or not rather than whether or not the graphics are on par with a high end pc. The graphics don't really come into it when playing with family and friends is concerned (at least on party type games :)).

Personally, I'd choose a wii before a 360 or ps2. However, you did mention you liked driving games. While the wii has potential, the 360 does have pgr3 and the ps3 I guess will have the gran turismo series etc. Given the 360s problems (and any forthcoming improvements) I'd maybe wait a few months until it goes through another revision or so, and the same with the ps3.

Good choice on having an Amstrad by the way :)
 
You said you are enjoying Jade Empire, I think the guys who did that are working on Mass Effect which is a 360 exclusive due out in a couple of months. I think the 360 has seen revisions in hardware like new dvd drives etc.

Driving games the 360 has a lot and the big one, Forza 2 is also due out in a couple of months but there is already PGR3, test drive as well.
 
I'd say the Xbox 360 although the games are more exspensive than the Wii's i reckon you'd enjoy it more. I quite frankly didn't until recently only had my playstation 2 and was waiting for new revisions of the 360 but i just though it's always going to drop in price and so forth and any console can have problems although my ps2 still works fine from release.

I decided to purchase a 360 and im loving it, yes something may happen and have to get it replaced but it's not hard to do and the games are really fun to play. I'm still going to get a ps3 just when the prices drop as although i've got the money to get it now and don't really mind shelling out for it, i just can't justify the cost considering what you get for it and what little amount of titles they will have out on the launch.

Now i got both the original Playstation and Playstation2 on launch and i'd love a Playstation 3 but until more games come out i just don't see the point and if i can't play Playstation 2 game's on it then nothing will keep me using it bar maybe a game or two. Where as the Xbox 360 i just got is keeping me insanely occupied on return from work.

I've tryed the Wii and it's fun but i found it wore of quickly and was more of a novelty and fun game with a few friends than anything which could keep me occupied every other day.

In the end it's down to you, but taking what i have said to mind i'd say the 360 would suit you more and with the prices on the console dropping a fair bit as of lately it's even better and there's always a chance a console will break. I managed to pick up my normal premium package for £200 so im pretty happy.
 
in 5 months time game prices for the xbox will be relatively low imo you know the classic range / auction sites u can pick up some of the older games for a tenner etc etc.

being in the same boat i went for the xbox 360 and love the hour or so i get on it in the evening
 
Some good ideas. Think I will go down the 2nd hand route nearer to Christmas.

The 360 does sound like a good piece of kit. So will be getting one of those.
The Wii sounds like a bit of fun, so will probably be able to pick one up cheap 2nd hand nearer to christmas.
The PS3 is too expensive as I could buy both of the consoles above for the price of one PS3.

Its such a shame that Sony have forced a blu-ray device on console owners. If the PS3 was the same price as the 360 I would have gone with that. But because the blu-ray bumps up the price so much and I am not being forced to buy a technology I am never going to use.
 
the-void said:
Some good ideas. Think I will go down the 2nd hand route nearer to Christmas.

The 360 does sound like a good piece of kit. So will be getting one of those.
The Wii sounds like a bit of fun, so will probably be able to pick one up cheap 2nd hand nearer to christmas.
The PS3 is too expensive as I could buy both of the consoles above for the price of one PS3.

Its such a shame that Sony have forced a blu-ray device on console owners. If the PS3 was the same price as the 360 I would have gone with that. But because the blu-ray bumps up the price so much and I am not being forced to buy a technology I am never going to use.
Click to expand...

Why wait ;)

If you liked Jade Empire I'd get one in anticipation of Mass Effect, as vaultingSlinky said, it's by the same designers.
I personally wouldn't go the 2nd hand route unless you think where / who your buying it from is very reliable. 1 years warranty from point of purchase gives you peace of mind.

I did a similar thing to you just before the 360 was launched. I was a PC gamer and just didn't want to be 'on my own' in a different room once I'd had a family. I sold my PC to my parents and sold my Eve online character (got £350 but that's a different story!) and got a laptop and 360. I've never been happier. A fer months after getting used to a 32" TV and a comfy sofa I really couldn't go back. My wife has even got back into gaming (she's a bit of a closet geek too) and we enjoyed Kameo, Lego StarWars and we're getting into Marvel. She's obsessed with Oblivion too.

Sure there may be price drops (not so sure though as Sony coming in at £425 doesn't really force MS to do it) and there's talk of a revised 360 but all in all a 360 is a 360 is a 360. They'll all play the same games.

The reason I'd buy one now is there are some great games, really great games already and for some bargain prices.

Driving, PGR3, Test Drive Unlimited, Burnout: Revenge to name 3 truly excellent games all of which can be had for c. £20.

Adventure, you say you like Oblivion, Tomb Raider, Kameo, Dead Rising are all excellent and round the corner we have Two Worlds, Elveon, Mass Effect, Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey (all exclusive and out this year) and some great Survival Horror games if they tickle you fancy.
 
Last edited:
the-void said:
Some good ideas. Think I will go down the 2nd hand route nearer to Christmas.

The 360 does sound like a good piece of kit. So will be getting one of those.
The Wii sounds like a bit of fun, so will probably be able to pick one up cheap 2nd hand nearer to christmas.
The PS3 is too expensive as I could buy both of the consoles above for the price of one PS3.

Its such a shame that Sony have forced a blu-ray device on console owners. If the PS3 was the same price as the 360 I would have gone with that. But because the blu-ray bumps up the price so much and I am not being forced to buy a technology I am never going to use.
Click to expand...


Bluray is the future, A 360, hddvd addon and wireless adapter is basically the cost of a nice all in one unit ps3.
 
just wait 5 months tbh

the main reason you seem to dislike the ps3 is that it might not play some ps2 games

hopefully in 5 months time the emulation will be sorted out to upscale the games etc as planned.

id go for the wii if you where going to buy now though
 
the-void said:
...I honestly cannot see any reason to buy a PS3, especially as it turns out the Euro launch of the PS3 is going to lack the emotion engine chip that enables the US/Japan PS3's to emulate PS2 games in hardware. So it would be a hit and miss affair what PS2 games are compatible. This is such a shame, as with the great catalogue the PS2 has it would be a snip to pick up some quality PS2 games. Personally I think PS2 games look better than the orignal XBOX games (from my limited experience). If it would have this chip instead of software emulation, I would probably have gone for the PS3...
Click to expand...
Just a heads up - the 360 is not compatible with 100% of Xbox games. There's a good list on the official Xbox site but tbh only 1 game I wanted was incompatible (Mercenaries).

Like you, I was a PC aficionado until I made the switch to a 360 console at Xmas. I had the same reservations about hardware issues and game prices. After the initial shock of extra costs (wireless adapter and paying for Xbox Live) I'm really glad I switched and I've barely gone back to my PC except for a quick spin of Supreme Commander (I'll play it through properly one day, when I finally get bored with the 360). I've not had any lock-ups and there's a good back catalogue of games that you can catch up on, at cheap 2nd hand prices, before you even need to look at the current releases.

I thoroughly recommend making the change. If you don't like it then you can always flog your purchase off on the 'bay for near enough what you paid... :D
 
Preferring fighting and driving games actually leaves you in a bit of a quandry really. Fighting games are much better on the PS2, but the Xbox/360 is king for driving games (sorry, never been a GT fan, much preferred Forza), because of the analoguey goodness.

Given that the European PS3's will have naff backwards compatability, I'd ignore those completely imo, and go for the PS2. Cheaper, larger, better selection of games, and the aformentioned fighting games (Street Fighter Alpha, Soul Calibur, Tekken, Dead or Alive).

After that, I guess it's a toss-up between a 360 for your driving/online/graphics urges, and a Wii for the family/Zelda/fun side.
 
I made the 'big leap' a few weeks ago. Never owned a console before, and looked sneeringly down on their owners... Sorry guys. :p

Now I have a 360, and while it is an incredibly noisy machine (making any of my old hairdryer equipped PC's seem whisper quiet in comparison) it is slowly growing on me. It's a serious change in gaming culture for me I must admit, but PC gaming was getting a touch stale for my tastes.

I have re-auctioned all of my original games though (except Lego Star Wars 2 :D ) and I'm now being a touch more considered in what I buy. The cost of the games being a real issue to me.

Also to get a 360 'up to spec' is flaming expensive. Premium console, play and charge kit, wireless network adapter, spare controller and VGA cable (now redundant) set me back more than 400 notes. Factor in the games and it quickly becomes an expensive past time. Oh, and a decent wide screen HD LCD TV will blast a scary hole in your wallet too ;)
 
Last edited:
Get a PS2. THey are sooo cheap now with a massive catalogue of grade A titles. OR wait for the 360 to have a hardware revision and get one of them.

PS3 is very expensive (but I must have one)!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom