Xbox 360 v. PS3

[Mommy Poppins]

My son wants a new gaming system for Christmas. He is asking for a PS3. When I asked why that one instead of the Xbox 360, he said because he had a PS2 and that way he already knows how to play it. Makes sense, I guess but I'm sure learning how to play the Xbox would not be very difficult for a 13 year old!

I don't believe his PS2 games can be played on the PS3 so we would be buying new games no matter which system he gets. Any thoughts on which is a better, more fun game system??? Leaning towards getting him the PS3 because that is the one he asked for, but just want some opinions.

 

[princessmom29]

We have both, and tend to buy games for the PS3 whenever they are availible on that format. Some games are only sold for one or the other, not both. The online gaming experience is better on xbox, but we are not big online gamers so it doesn't really matter to us. We find the graphics to be better and gameplay smoother on the PS3. As a woman with small hands, I prefer the PS3 controller to the xbox. Iti s more streamlined. My DD8 has a better time with it as well.

ETA: I forgot to mention that if you are interested in the motion capture technology, the xbox kinect seems to be a better bet than playstation eye. We are gonig to do the kinect for christmas this year. I prefer it to the eye becuase with the eye you still need the sensor in your hand, plus there seem to be better games for the kinect. Essentially, ech system is good for different things, enough so that we own both. You will need to find out more about what your son wants to be able to do and make a decision from there.

 

[LilyWDW]

My son wants a new gaming system for Christmas. He is asking for a PS3. When I asked why that one instead of the Xbox 360, he said because he had a PS2 and that way he already knows how to play it. Makes sense, I guess but I'm sure learning how to play the Xbox would not be very difficult for a 13 year old!

I don't believe his PS2 games can be played on the PS3 so we would be buying new games no matter which system he gets. Any thoughts on which is a better, more fun game system??? Leaning towards getting him the PS3 because that is the one he asked for, but just want some opinions.

Here is my suggestion when trying to decide what next gen console to purchase. Go online to amazon or gamespot (note: gamespot may have some more mature content on it). Go through the games that have been released or are to be released. Note which games you would want (and note if they are console specific or cross console). Decide what console has the games you want the most. Go from there...

Now, I would get the Xbox (and I actually DO have one) for one simple reason... kinect. Sony seems to have really dropped the ball with the Eye for PS3. One, because they have released it SO late in the systems life, but also because it is a step backwards in the fact it requires the sensor. IF I had to choose a system to purchase THIS holiday season it would be a Xbox 360 bundle with Kinect.

 

[thomas998]

We have both, even have some games in both formats... the xbox 360 is rarely used unless. The PS3 also seems to be the more stable of the two systems. numerous times when we were using the Xbox 360 for lego indiana jones, the game system would freeze and require a reboot.... when we got the PS3 version it never froze... you will also hear alot about red rings of death on the Xbox... from all I've read the Xbox is just a much more finicky system that wasn't designed properly.

If we could go back in time I think we would have never bought the Xbox and just gone with the PS3 from the start... would have saved us a lot of money for a system that is usually just collecting dust.

This isn't to say the PS3 is perfect, it does have one problem... the wireless controllers don't have any batteries you can change when they run out of charge you have to plug them into your ps3 to recharge them and that will only work when the PS3 is turned on ... so you will probably have to buy a stand alone charger for the PS3 so you can keep the controllers charged.

 

[Eeyore98]

The Xbox 360s are subject to a number of technical problems that lead to complete failure of the unit, for somewhere between 20% to 50% of all units sold. I don't know how Microsoft gets away with selling such a junky product.

 

[to be tink]

My 13 year old first purchased the Xbox and loved it. He likes to play onlivne and the fees got to be too much. So he purchased the ps3 which doesn't have any fees for online play. He is just as happy with the ps3. I do have to mention we love the Xbox kinect!

 

[kamik86]

I also have one of each. I can't tell you the last time I played the xbox. I can't even tell you the last time my husband that plays much more played the xbox. The PS3 was on last night.

XBOX is better for online, but it costs money to play online (not a lot but still its free on the PS3). The PS3 has less technical issues. I also just like the interface and such better. This may be because I got used to it from before, but since your son also played a PS2 he would probably also prefer that. Same with the controllers I'm used to the PS3 one and like it better.

Oh and for movement games... I actually really like the Play station move. Yes you still have a controller like you do with the Wii but it also has a camera too. However I will admit I have never played with a Kinect.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The Xbox 360s are subject to a number of technical problems that lead to complete failure of the unit, for somewhere between 20% to 50% of all units sold. I don't know how Microsoft gets away with selling such a junky product.

Can you post a reliable source for this somewhat questionable number?

 

[aaarcher86]

I have both. I personally prefer the Xbox although I will say that we only purchased the PS3 earlier this year. The games we purchased this year were additions to games we already had on the Xbox 360 so we stuck to the same system.

I don't know what it is, but I just enjoy the controller of the Xbox more.

I really don't think you can go wrong with either option. If he wants the PS3 I'd get him the PS3. You may be able to find a PS3 online somewhere that is backwards compatible (plays PS2 games) but it will probably be more expensive since I don't think they make them anymore. There will be games that are always unavailable to one system or the other no matter which one you get.

I will say though in regards to a previous comment that I have had my Xbox since October 2006. It's only given me an issue once (red ringed) and Microsoft paid to ship it to them, fixed it and shipped it back. It's been fine every since (roughly 2 years). I personally don't buy the large number of breaking Xbox consoles posted. There was a batch of Xbox consoles that went out that were constantly breaking but that was years ago.

 

[Nayan]

While it's true that the Xbox 360 *did* have the RROD issue (just Google red ring of death), that's not the case really anymore. The older systems, the white ones, tended to fall prey to the RROD issue than the newer black slim boxes. I've had my slim for over a year and it works perfectly. Either system is good, it just depends on what games you like to play and what's available for each.

 

[thomas998]

I have both. I personally prefer the Xbox although I will say that we only purchased the PS3 earlier this year. The games we purchased this year were additions to games we already had on the Xbox 360 so we stuck to the same system.

I don't know what it is, but I just enjoy the controller of the Xbox more.

I really don't think you can go wrong with either option. If he wants the PS3 I'd get him the PS3. You may be able to find a PS3 online somewhere that is backwards compatible (plays PS2 games) but it will probably be more expensive since I don't think they make them anymore. There will be games that are always unavailable to one system or the other no matter which one you get.

I will say though in regards to a previous comment that I have had my Xbox since October 2006. It's only given me an issue once (red ringed) and Microsoft paid to ship it to them, fixed it and shipped it back. It's been fine every since (roughly 2 years). I personally don't buy the large number of breaking Xbox consoles posted. There was a batch of Xbox consoles that went out that were constantly breaking but that was years ago.

Yes you can get a backward compatible PS3 but you have to buy an older model and those will always be used so the reliability would be an issue.

 

[aaarcher86]

Yes you can get a backward compatible PS3 but you have to buy an older model and those will always be used so the reliability would be an issue.

Right. I think Gamestop sells some that are refurbished that I believe comes with some kind of warranty.

 

[PatMcDuck]

The Xbox 360s are subject to a number of technical problems that lead to complete failure of the unit, for somewhere between 20% to 50% of all units sold. I don't know how Microsoft gets away with selling such a junky product.

This was what I was going to say, my son has replaced his Xbox MANY times, in and out of warranty. The famous "red ring of death" STILL seems to be occurring with newer units. I am SO mad, because at D23 I played with that new DL game, and I WANT it! It is only on Xbox with Kinnect though. And we are done with Xbox.

 

[LilyWDW]

This was what I was going to say, my son has replaced his Xbox MANY times, in and out of warranty. The famous "red ring of death" STILL seems to be occurring with newer units. I am SO mad, because at D23 I played with that new DL game, and I WANT it! It is only on Xbox with Kinnect though. And we are done with Xbox.

Never had an issue here. None of my friends have had an issue. Not saying you have not had bad luck because it is obvious you have, but that doesn't mean that the system is totally bad. I don't want people to think "Oh, they all do that." when they don't.

Now I will admit, I do everything I can to make sure the system stays cool. The problems were from overheating (I think) so I do what I can to keep that from happening. I make sure to have a fan on it and a lot of air flow. Then again, I do that with all my electronics because overheating can cause all sorts of issues.

 

[princessmom29]

The Xbox 360s are subject to a number of technical problems that lead to complete failure of the unit, for somewhere between 20% to 50% of all units sold. I don't know how Microsoft gets away with selling such a junky product.

Can you post a reliable source for this somewhat questionable number?

this is the number on the FIRST release of Xbox 360. The failure rate on the newer ones is MUCH lower. We bought ours on release day and went through 3 RROD in as many years. The first two were replaced free of charge, but we had to pay to fix the 3rd. It quit agian this year, and we bought a slim. We are happy with it, it performs MUCH better, and as yet no problems.

 

[princessmom29]

Never had an issue here. None of my friends have had an issue. Not saying you have not had bad luck because it is obvious you have, but that doesn't mean that the system is totally bad. I don't want people to think "Oh, they all do that." when they don't.

Now I will admit, I do everything I can to make sure the system stays cool. The problems were from overheating (I think) so I do what I can to keep that from happening. I make sure to have a fan on it and a lot of air flow. Then again, I do that with all my electronics because overheating can cause all sorts of issues.

you are right. We discovered after the second one went south on us that you simply CANNOT put them in an entertainment center or other closed in space. Ours sits ON TOP of the tv stand well away form anything else.

 

[thomas998]

Never had an issue here. None of my friends have had an issue. Not saying you have not had bad luck because it is obvious you have, but that doesn't mean that the system is totally bad. I don't want people to think "Oh, they all do that." when they don't.

Now I will admit, I do everything I can to make sure the system stays cool. The problems were from overheating (I think) so I do what I can to keep that from happening. I make sure to have a fan on it and a lot of air flow. Then again, I do that with all my electronics because overheating can cause all sorts of issues.

The big problem here is that you are having to do things beyond simply plugging in the unit and turning it on... I do the same things after reading up on the cooling issues... the reality is that if the console was designed properly to start with none of these things would be happening... I've seen the photos where they show where the heat sink is that causes the overheating and you can tell that it was not designed properly for wear and tear it was placed where it was so they could cram it into the plastic box... I have to wonder if someone designed the plastic console first and then simply tried to arrange the hardware inside the box hoping it would actually last (clearly it didn't).

 

[newdeal]

Red ring of death is no longer an issue with the newer models. It was a heat problem and the new models run much cooler. That said I would buy the ps3 simply because that was what he asked for. I own two 360s and its a good system (although i dont really play games on them). I use them as extenders for windows media center. If I. Wasnt forced to usethe 360 for that feature I would have the ps3 as online is free and it plays blurays. As for games some are xbox exclusive and some are ps3 exclusive but if he asked for the ps3 that doesnt much matter.

 

[merekc]

We have both. I am not the gamer in the family so here are my 2 cents as I see it.

PS3 seems like it has a much better picture. It plays blu-rays which the xbox doesn't. Online network is free. This system is which the one I like best for the non-gaming features.

Xbox 360. I do like the XBox Kinect (motion) better than the PSMove. I believe Halo games are only available for XBox. Online network play costs $.

My kids wanted (and still prefer) the Xbox. Mainly because this is what all their friends have. If you think your son will be playing online with friends, have him start asking his friends what they have. This may be the deciding factor.

ETA: We had an original XBox with the RROD multiple times (multiple units). The failure rate was as huge as someone mentioned. We've had this new XBox for a year with no problems.

 

[newdeal]

We have both. I am not the gamer in the family so here are my 2 cents as I see it.

PS3 seems like it has a much better picture. It plays blu-rays which the xbox doesn't. Online network is free. This system is which the one I like best for the non-gaming features.

Xbox 360. I do like the XBox Kinect (motion) better than the PSMove. I believe Halo games are only available for XBox. Online network play costs $.

My kids wanted (and still prefer) the Xbox. Mainly because this is what all their friends have. If you think your son will be playing online with friends, have him start asking his friends what they have. This may be the deciding factor.

ETA: We had an original XBox with the RROD multiple times (multiple units). The failure rate was as huge as someone mentioned. We've had this new XBox for a year with no problems.

The ps3 doesnt have a better picture, they both output 1080p if you have them setup to do so. I have an xbox projecting onto a 10 foot screen and the picture is great. Its all about if you have it set up to do 1080p or not. That said the ps3 does have more 1080p content due to its bluray ability