The Official "Console War" and Video Game Thread

[GeologyMule]

This has happened to me, but I still love mine

[He-Lurker]

I think it depends. Personally, I have a Wii, Xbox 360, and a PS3, and I like them all for different reasons.

I mostly use my Wii to browse the web, or play multi player games when friends come over. The Wii is definitely the most fun for multi-player party games.

The 360 is cool because it has some great exclusive titles, such as Dead Rising, Gears or War, and Bioshock. I would say the 360 is worth it for those 3 games alone. However, the 360 still uses DVDs, and unless they start using multi-disk games, I don't see it lasting in the long run. A dual layer dvd is about 8.5gb while a dual layer Blu Ray disc is 50gb, so it's only a matter of time before a dvd isn't enough to hold a game.

I never had a PS1 or a PS2, so that was one of the main factors to get my PS3. Plus, with the $100 price drop and Blu Ray support, it made sense to me. I have a 42" HDTV and surround sound, so Blu Ray was a natural step. Yes, the price is still pretty high, but when you compare it to the 360, it's actually a better deal. For the PS3 for $499 you get a console with next gen DVD support and wireless support and a 60gb HD. If you want the same options with the Xbox 360, you'd have to buy the console for $349, the wireless adapter for $99, and the HD DVD add-on for $179, which ends up being $627, plus, that's only for a 20gb HD. True, the selection of PS3 games is pretty lacking at the moment, but it will only get better. Plus, the PS3 is 100% backwards compatible, the Xbox 360 only supports the most popular Xbox games (but they do update every few months).

Hope that helps!

[evil-orko]

ok really put off the x box 360 think i may have to go for a ps3 does it play the old games ?

This has happened to me, but I still love mine

[He-Lurker]

ok really put off the x box 360 think i may have to go for a ps3 does it play the old games ?

Yes, the PS3 is 100% backwards compatible with all PS1 and PS2 games

[evil-orko]

think it will be playstation 3 then

[MEK_A_NOSE]

Yes, the PS3 is 100% backwards compatible with all PS1 and PS2 games

However be careful with the newer 80gig model comming out it loses some backwards cap. It doesnt play ps1

[Count Marzo]

My personal opinion of course:

360 > ps3

Wii if you have people to play it with all the time. If I have no one to play it with, it collects dust.

[mbaker]

I was thinking of getting a PS3, but the price point was too steep right now. They do have some games that interest me even if they are on the other systems. So instead i got the Wii. Mostly for the virtual console, and because it had a better price. I did think of getting a 360, but all they have that's of interest to me is 'Perfect Dark Zero', and the 'Ninja Turtles' arcade game on XBox Live. (It woud be nice if they had that available for the Playstation Store) A friend of mine said that the 360 crashes alot, and thinks that the PS3 is better, though. So i'll have to wait, and see what happens later on down the road.

[GeologyMule]

think it will be playstation 3 then

I'd do some more research and look at exclusive games for the system, warranties, online capabilities and multimedia etc. before you make your mind up. You are going to drop a lot of cash on this thing and by the time you start piling on accessories it adds up. Xbox now has a 120 gig hard drive which I'd would get because the 20 gig just isn't enough room for extras. I love xbox live, it's the greatest. If you have friends over all the time and love multiplayer, the Wii is the best. However forking over $70 US for an extra controller is not fun.

[He-Lurker]

However be careful with the newer 80gig model comming out it loses some backwards cap. It doesnt play ps1

Because they're dropping the Emotion Engine, all PS1 games will cease to work? I'm glad I got my 60gig when I did. This is madness! (this is sparta....)

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Wait.... I knew backwards compatibility was going to be more limited with the upcoming 80 gig PS3, but they are dropping backwards compatibility with PS1 entirely?? Will they at least suppliment this with software updates later on?

Egads.... while I shouldn't spend the money, now I am debating on getting a 60 gig model while they are still available if this is true and PS1 support will be dropped completely.

[ehenyo]

However be careful with the newer 80gig model comming out it loses some backwards cap. It doesnt play ps1

You sure about that? I couldn't find an article. I just read that it has less compatibility than the current PS3s with the emulation chip. BUT, over time, with software updates, compatibility will improve.

[markatisu]

You sure about that? I couldn't find an article. I just read that it has less compatibility than the current PS3s with the emulation chip. BUT, over time, with software updates, compatibility will improve.

Yeah compatability will improve but will most likely not be 100%, Sony stated when they released the UK PS3 without the emotion engine that they will not have 100% compatibility. All "popular" titles will be supported for whatever that is worth.

And the 80gb is a rip off and a half, you pay $100 more to get Motostorm and 20gb extra, you could spent $65-85 online and get a new hard drive that can easily install in the 60gb PS3 (without voiding your warrenty I might add) and almost 3-5x the space.

Wait a year and Motostorm will be $29, they have a demo for free on the PSN so if you are not a diehard Motostorm fan the demo is $0 and for me it has been enough.

The only console I dont own is the 360 and I will not buy one until I know for a fact the board and insides have changed for the better, you can throw all the price drops you want or add-ins but the fact still remains that your system stands at good odds to die and the extended warranty does nothing for me as I dont want to deal with the headache of something that should have been fixed LONG ago.

I love my 360. I suggest you read through the console and video game war thread and ignore all the nintendoholics (easy now, I own a Wii also). I'm one of the few 360 supporters here, but I absolutely love mine. The multimedia on it, the HD, the games. I'm a member of a group on facebook called "I'd Rather Buy another 360, two Nintendo Wii's and a Snickers Bar, than PS3"

Well and you need to realize what is a nintendoholic comment and what is not, a lot of times the PS3 and 360 get knocked in this thread is due to the way the console wars started. If you go back to the summer of 2006 and even up till September the Wii was left for dead and anybody you talked to was talking up the 360 and the PS3 as if they were the greatest things to come along in gaming. Fast forward about a year and the 360 is riddled with problems like the RROD but has a very good lineup coming out, the PS3 has been underwhelming in its game selection but as has potential on the horizon as soon as lazy game developers stop blaming it for being "too hard". That atmosphere is what a lot of the comments in this thread are directed towards, not "nintendo fanboys" who are gloating (though there are a few).

But the fact still remains the Wii is just dominating, only behind the DS in monthly sales, the big issue with it is that no developers planned on it being a success and so they scramble and release shovelware in the process. However, imho its fall lineup rivals that of the 360 to "true gamers" with Metroid Prime 3, Fire Emblem, Mario Galaxy, Smash Bros Brawl, and Battalion Wars 2.

IF you can afford it you have to own the Wii and at least the PS3 or 360, the Wii is here to stay so ignoring it will just leave you without the innovative and deep games that Nintendo has always produced.

When choosing between the 360 and the PS3 it pretty much falls to where your interest are and how long you want to wait, do you like online gaming and new IP's that are out now...then choose the 360 but keep in mind the RROD issue (which is an issue and anyone who says its not is lying).

If you had a PS2 the logical upgrade is to the PS3 but you want a 60gb Emotion Engine enabled one to truly have backwards compatability, also if you are confident in Sony regrouping and releasing killer games in 08 and 09 and if you like the Blu-Ray studios and you have High Definition its a plus as well.

[PJMania]

Yeah compatability will improve but will most likely not be 100%, Sony stated when they released the UK PS3 without the emotion engine that they will not have 100% compatibility. All "popular" titles will be supported for whatever that is worth.

100% will never occur, even with the EE its not 100%, but the US 80gig will more than likely have better backwards compatibility than the UK PS3 because face it. Sony cares more about the American market. I'm not saying thats a good business practice, but hey, its the truth.

[markatisu]

100% will never occur, even with the EE its not 100%, but the US 80gig will more than likely have better backwards compatibility than the UK PS3 because face it. Sony cares more about the American market. I'm not saying thats a good business practice, but hey, its the truth.

Well and then it depends on what you consider compatible, Guitar Hero 1 and 2 for instance run on the PS3 but some of the controls do not work even after the firmware upgrade got the game somewhat playable with the USB->PS3 adapter. But I do know based on what others have reported that the PS1/PSX compatability is limited on the non emotion engine units, it is still there but the number of games that work on the EE chipped version vs the Software Emulation one is noticable.

But the 80gb one is a waste of money, unless the 60gb is sold out and not avail (which it looks like is happening thanks to the price drop) there is only one other reason to pick up the 80gb and thats if you like Motostorm. I do not like how Sony has forced people to buy the 80gb though, its not a better deal...now if there was a 120gb PS3 for $599 that might be worth considering.

the difference between 60gb and 80gb is nothing, start downloading game demos and hd trailers and the space just vanishes, so you are much better off getting a cheap 120-350gb drive online and swapping it in with the guides online.

[D-Day V1]

Wait.... I knew backwards compatibility was going to be more limited with the upcoming 80 gig PS3, but they are dropping backwards compatibility with PS1 entirely?? Will they at least suppliment this with software updates later on?

Egads.... while I shouldn't spend the money, now I am debating on getting a 60 gig model while they are still available if this is true and PS1 support will be dropped completely.

Do that, but I did hear that with the 80 gb model, the backwards compatibility will be real similar to that of the 360.

[He-Lurker]

the difference between 60gb and 80gb is nothing, start downloading game demos and hd trailers and the space just vanishes, so you are much better off getting a cheap 120-350gb drive online and swapping it in with the guides online.

That's exactly my thoughts. Since backwards compatibility is very important to me (don't own a PS1 or PS2) I wanted to make sure to get the Emotion Engine.

Also, the cool thing about putting a new hard drive in the PS3 is that it doesn't void the warranty! No seals or broken in any way. Just pop off the side, unscrew 1 screw, and bingo. I'm not going to bother getting a new HD until I find my current one is filling up, but it's great to know I have that option, and I don't have to buy 1st party hardware to replace the HD (like Xbox 360). I can just go on newegg.com and grab any one I want, just making sure the specs are compatible

[ehenyo]

Regarding USB -> PS3 adapter, if you get the Radio Shack one and use the stock guitar, everything but the whammy bar works on GH2.

Also, I would rather spend a bit more money now and get a PS3 (which I did), than spend less now on a 360, but a lot more later (and a potentially dead unit). Besides, if I want to do M$ gaming, I can run games on my PC!

[PJMania]

Besides, if I want to do M$ gaming, I can run games on my PC!

And with games finally starting to come to the Mac, theres starting to be no need for me to use anything M$ related for games

[shigsy2003]

Howdy

Super Mario Galaxy plot details revealed.

Break out the party poppers, Mario fans, because the Fire Flower and Super Star items from the classic days of 2D Mario are set to return in Super Mario Galaxy.

This will be the first time Mario will shoot fireballs since his console quests went 3D, and hopefully we'll see him donning his fly red and white Fireball Mario suit, too.

Details on the mysterious plot have also finally emerged; Princess Peach, Mario and the gang were gathering to celebrate the passing of a comet, which happens once every hundred years, when Bowser gatecrashes the party and kicks off.

Princess Peach is kidnapped, typically, and despite his best efforts to save the day, Mario ends up unconscious and wakes to find himself on a mysterious meteor in space, which is where he meets Rosetta, the princess-looking lass who asks him for help.

And so begins his huge adventure which, according to the latest issue of Nintendo Power magazine, will take him through 40 galaxies (levels) set in six main zones. Concerns over the games size are now officially abolished.

Super Mario Galaxy, it emerged earlier today, will be out in the UK on November 16.

Also if you head over to the offical Smash Bros website you will find a nice new video which looks to be the opening to the new Adventure Mode.

Oh and for us Europeans:

When is Super Mario Galaxy coming out over here? The big day is November 16, says a leaked Nintendo release schedule.

The list, which we have on good authority is totally genuine, dates all the games on both Wii and DS due to launch before the end of the year.

Nintendo usually unveils a list such as this to coincide with big industry events, and this looks like the NOE (German) list prepared for the Games Convention in Leipzig, which kicks off tomorrow.

Other dates of to note are NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (Nov. 23), Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (both Nov. 30), and Zack and Wiki (Dec. 7). Don't forget the mighty Metroid Prime: Corruption will also be with us on October 26.

There's no Wii Fit in there, but we're weren't expecting that until February next year anyway.

Have a look below for the full list, courtesy of NeoGAF.

Wii Dates

Avatar: Der Herr der Elemente 2 - November 2007 - 49.99 Euro

Asterix bei den Olympischen Spielen - November 2007 - 49.99 Euro

Barbie Island Princess - 22.11.2007 - 49.99 Euro

Carnival Games - 17.09.2007 - 29.99 EUR

Canis Canem Edit (Bully) - Oktober 2007 - 49.99 Euro

Cars Mater-National 15.11.2007 - 49.99 Euro

Crash of the Titans - Dezember 2007 - 49.99 Euro

Dewy's Adventure - 16.10.2007 - 49.99 Euro

Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 - 8.11.2007 - 59.99 Euro

Endless Ocean - 9.11.2007 - 39.99 Euro

Ghost Squad - November 2007 - 59.99 Euro

Guitar Hero 3 Bundle - 08.11.2007 - 99.99 Euro

Godzilla: Unleashed - 22.11.2007 - 49.99 Euro

Harvest Moon: Magical Melody - 19.10.2007 - 39.99 Euro

Indoor Sports (Konami) - Dezember 2007 - 29.99 Euro

LEGO Star Wars II: Die Klassische Saga - 08.11.2007 - 49.99 Euro

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - 30.11.2007 - 59.99 Euro

Metroid Prime 3 Corruption - 26.10.2007 - 49.99 Euro

MySims - 20.09.2007 - 49.99 Euro

NBA Live 08 - 11.10.2007 - 59.99 Euro

Need for Speed ProStreet - November 2007 - 49.99 Euro

Nights: Journey of Dreams - 23.11.2007 - 59.99 Euro

Pimp My Ride - 22.11.2007 - 39.99 Euro

Puppy Luv (Activision) - 22.11.2007 - 29.99 Euro

Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles - 30.11.2007 - 49.99 Euro

RTL Winter Sports 2008 - November 2007 - 49.99 Euro

Simpsons: Das Spiel - 02.11.2007 - 39.99 Euro

Super Mario Galaxy - 16.11.2007 - 49.99 Euro

Table Tennis - Oktober 2007 - 39.99 Euro

Thrillville Off the Rail - Oktober 2007 - 59.99 Euro

Tony Hawk Proving Ground - November 2007 - 59.99 Euro

Tomb Raider Anniversary - 7.12.2007 - 59.99 Euro

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 - November 2007 - 59.99 Euro

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure - 7.12.2007 - 49.99 Euro

DS Dates

Boktai - Dezember 2007 - 39.99 Euro

Donkey Kong Jungle Climber - 12.10.2007 - 39.99 Euro

Freshly: Picked Tingles Rosy Rupeel - 14.09.2007 - 39.99 Euro

Heroes of Mana - 14.09.2007 - 39.99 Euro

Mario Party DS - 23.11.2007 - 39.99 Euro

Naruto Ninja Council - 5.10.2007 - 39.99 Euro

Practise English! Face Everyday (More English Training) - 26.10.2007 - 29.99 Euro

Sonic Rush Adventure - 14.09.2007 - 39.99 Euro

The Legend of Zelda - Phantom Hourglass - 19.10.2007 - 39.99 Euro

Yes this is in German but I think everyone should be able to make out the games.

16th November for Galaxy and 19th October for Phantom Hourglass...can't wait.

(News and info taken from NGamers official website)

Chris M

[markatisu]

The UK is getting many more games than I had figured they would, seems like only Smash Bros will be 2008 but since the US is getting it in December it makes sense

Still Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3 in the UK before christmas should make the Wii owners there very happy.

Did anybody else notice ROB in the Smash video?? That was great

[CowboyGuy]

How exciting! I saw a similar list at a nearby GameStop. I ended up pre-ordering a couple games. I think I said which ones I am really looking forward too.

Anyway it looks like MANY good games are coming out in the next three months. Should keep me busy busy. I just hope the Wii console shortage ends soon. They need to make more available.

[VaderLives]

So Hollywood Video FINALLY had a copy of Transformers for Wii available, and I rented it last night.

I've gotta say...it pretty much sucks, IMO.

The "camera control" is absolutely horrendous. It's impossible to see pretty much anything because the camera is always right up on top of you and it won't move practically at all. Yes, I've tried changing the camera sensitivity settings and basically if it's on High the camera whips around uncontrollably with every slight movement of my hand, whereas if it's on Medium it doesn't move AT ALL, particularly horizontally. And I don't want to even think about what Low would be like.

The physics of the robots' Alt modes, well, the ones that turn into cars anyway, is atrocious. Much like Enter the Matrix, though admitedly not to such a severe degree, almost every bump sends your car flying. And you don't so much steer, at least, not in the common sense, as it is the slightest movement of the joystick left or right sends your car careening off at a 90 degree angle in that direction. Ugh.

The controls are a mix of intiutiveness and sheer stupidity. For the most part they're set up pretty well, but there's a MAJOR exception that sends them plummetting off into idiocracy. That thing being: using gestures with the wiimore/nunchuck. First off, THERE'S ALREADY A BUTTON TO PICK UP AND THROW THINGS, THEY DIDN'T NEED TO MAKE MOVING THE WIIMOTE/NUNCHUCK UP AND DOWN DO THE SAME THING! And whatever "genius" decided to make gesturing the wiimote/nunchuck left and right to do your melee attack, while the right button of the D pad ISN'T BEING USED FOR ANYTHING, severely needs to be punched in the face. And the sensitivity of those motions is WAY to high - and there's no way to adjust that - so essentially you have to hold your hands perfectly still otherwise your robot will do stuff you don't want it to do, which is not comfortable at all.

And good lord, that is without a doubt the absolute WORST target lock I've ever seen in a video game. I know target locks never work the way they're supposed to, but honestly, if you have to manually keep the cursor pointed toward the target for the lock to be maintained anyway, then what the hell is the point of having a lock-on in the first place?

And you know, for being these incredibly powerful robots who the human weapons couldn't even scratch until the end of the movie, you certainly do die awfully quick. And the fact that it's damn near impossible to tell when you're getting hit unless you specifically ignore everything else that's going on and just watch your energy gauge (because the wiimote just about constantly vibrates) doesn't make things any better.

Maybe I'm just not far enough into it, but I really don't get what so many people see in this game. It's really not fun. At all. The ONLY cool part is that they got Peter Cullen's voice for O Prime. When I'm done on the boards here I'm going to go look and see if I can find some cheat codes to try and make the game more enjoyable, but I can pretty much guarantee that this is a title I WON'T be picking up. I'd GLADLY take Spidey 3 over this - in fact, I already have, seeing as I bought Spidey 3 the day after I had to return it to Hollywood Video - and that's really saying something.


Order of the Phoenix is the next game for Wii that I want to rent. I severely hope it ends up better than this.

[markatisu]

The "camera control" is absolutely horrendous. It's impossible to see pretty much anything because the camera is always right up on top of you and it won't move practically at all. Yes, I've tried changing the camera sensitivity settings and basically if it's on High the camera whips around uncontrollably with every slight movement of my hand, whereas if it's on Medium it doesn't move AT ALL, particularly horizontally. And I don't want to even think about what Low would be like.

Trust me that is just initial reaction, play the game for about 2hrs and start on Low to get a feel for how it reacts and then in no time you will move up to the highest setting and be able to control it without fail. It is no different then playing SSX Blur, Mortal Kombat Armageddon or most other Wii games.

But I stress this is not a game where the controls will be obvious or work well in 30min-1hr it does take a while to get used to it, but I assure it works almost 100% as is evident by the fact that GR81 and I as well as some others can relatively fly through the game with no control issues...it just takes some adjustment.

However I would gladly by 4 copies of TF the Game over that piece of crap Spiderman 3 game, but to each his own as I do agree with a lot of your comments on the downside of the TF game (though keep in mind that its not a Wii issue as all the versions share the same mediocrity).

[GeologyMule]

Order of the Phoenix is the next game for Wii that I want to rent. I severely hope it ends up better than this.

I downloaded the demo on the 360...it's REALLY bad. Check out some reviews on it. I'd give ya a dollar not to rent to it

I've heard a lot of people complain about the controls/camera/target lock on TF, but I had no problem with it. Granted I was using a 360 controller, but this is something I have been curious about since the Wii remote was introduced. The wii remote is ideal for many games, but for a game like TF, I don't think it fits well. (I will say I did not play TF on the Wii, I'm speculating. Remember I do own a Wii so I know how it works, however I have not stayed at a Holiday Inn within three weeks)