spec me a console :)

[uv]

Howdy!

First post in here, as I'm an avid PC gamer..

Having just bought my first house (keys on Thursday!), I've already bought a 40" TV and the related paraphernalia, ready for some console gaming on the couch..

but after spending all my money on boring new house stuff, I can only afford one console

I really don't want this to turn into a fanboy thread, I after serious recommendations as to whether the 360 or PS3 would suit my needs the best. My current needs are - will play music and videos (either streamed from a PC, from a NAS, or stored internally on a hardrive - bluray is a plus, but I don't actually own any blurays yet), full 1080p, and a relatively easy online setup. A catalogue of decent multiplayer games is more important to me than single player games, as I've still got ~40 games on Steam that I haven't played yet.

Budget is <=£300, which is enough for the 250GB Slim PS3, but the savings when buying a 360 would be nice
Also, I'd like two pads from the get-go, and I already own a wireless 360 pad for my PC - would it just work if I bought a 360?

Please, help me decide which of the two consoles to buy!

Cheers

 

[uv]

My friends own both

To what extent would a PS3 be a better home cinema device, do you just mean due to having a BluRay player?

 

[uv]

Oh. Just get a Wii mate.

lol

Coming from a fairly well specced PC, I'm a bit of a graphics whore. Whilst I can enjoy decent games with rubbish graphics (soldat, urban terror, defcon, sam&max), I'd take the option of better graphics when they're available

Also, I'd rather not pwn my brand new TV by accidentally throwing a controller at it

 

[uv]

You could put the change towards gubbins (second pad, remote control etc)

second pad, sure - but I'm thinking of saving for a logitech harmony then I don't have to have thirty remotes

It's strange how much more the 250GB is, considering £40 would buy a 400GB drive anyhow.

Do either console support MKV video containers? Many of my self-ripped films are MKV/x264 - I might have to transcode them all to AVI :/

 

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There is an awesome little program called PS3MediaServer (catchy name ) which will transcode stuff on the fly from your PC. Wired connection needed for HD stuff I imagine, but it's great!

Ah, that is good - sounds similar to StreamToMe which I use to transcode on the fly to my iPhone

I suspect there's a similar app on the 360?

WiFi adaptor would be an additional expense for the XBOX, unless you're going wired?

Wired, of course. Wireless is for newbs

 

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Xbox Live subscription ~£35/year

I just don't understand this - being a PC gamer, I expect free, well implemented online access as standard (apart from Activision/EA games ). Is there much more to the 360 online experience that makes it worth the premium over a PS3?

 

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So what did you decide on dude?! We're all itching to know

Sorry for the late reply, my new house doesn't have Internet yet

i've decided on pay day to get a ps3... After weighing it up, the following points made me decide:

bluray
exclusives: god of war, pixel junkie, unchartered, littlebigplannet
design; matches my new tv
decent media center
better D-pad (for retro and fightinggames)
new slim model - quiet, and no rrod
free online play

I'll miss the decent l2 and r2 triggers on the 360 pad, but in my experience the dualshock D-pad is miles better than the 360 experience

thanks for all the help chaps!