Xbox 360 v. PS3

[M&M's]

There are "fanboys" for each console. It seems this thread doesn't really have any yet, which is pleasantly surprising.

I did see it noted a couple times, but it *could* be a selling point. The PS3 does play bluray discs, while the xbox 360 does not. If you have a bluray player already, this isn't a big deal. However, if you don't, the PS3 will fill in admirably as a bluray player, freeing up space.

 

[Order66]

We have 2 PS3's in our house. Like yours, mine started with playstation, went up to the PS2 and naturally wanted the PS3. I think it was the familiarity of the system that led to that choice. Then dad didn't get enough play-time so he bought a second one.

The one thing I do know is the online gaming is free with PSN. Xbox live charges a fee. My kids play 90% of the time online, so free is a benefit IMHO. Even though it pains my sons to know they usually have to wait a month longer than xbox live users to download new game add ons. I still prefer free.

They also watch youtube, netflix and blu-rays on the PS3. I believe the xbox can stream too, but doesn't function as a blu-ray player.

regards

 

[Eeyore98]

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

There are multiple sources, which is why the range is so big - I just posted a range that covered all of their results. Here's one from the low end and one from the high.

SquareTrade - an extended warranty provider - found failure rates of 23.7% for Xbox 360, 10% for PS3, 2.7% for Wii. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6216691.html These figures by definition wouldn't include any failures where the owners had not opted to buy an extended warranty.

And a video-game magazine's survey of its subscribers found that 54.2% of their Xbox 360 owners reported unit failure, as compared to 10.6% of PS3s and 6.8% of Wiis. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6215590/xbox-360-failure-rate-542?tag=other-user-related-content;1

Honestly, just Google "red ring of death" - it's a known, widespread problem.

 

[Eeyore98]

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.

Well, if they have fixed the issue in more recent updates, then great; I hadn't heard about that. But seriously, 3 unit failures in 3 years - you can't deny that was a junky product. Especially for something as expensive as a video game console!

 

[aaarcher86]

There are multiple sources, which is why the range is so big - I just posted a range that covered all of their results. Here's one from the low end and one from the high.

SquareTrade - an extended warranty provider - found failure rates of 23.7% for Xbox 360, 10% for PS3, 2.7% for Wii. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6216691.html These figures by definition wouldn't include any failures where the owners had not opted to buy an extended warranty.

And a video-game magazine's survey of its subscribers found that 54.2% of their Xbox 360 owners reported unit failure, as compared to 10.6% of PS3s and 6.8% of Wiis. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6215590/xbox-360-failure-rate-542?tag=other-user-related-content;1

Honestly, just Google "red ring of death" - it's a known, widespread problem.

I think everyone agrees that the first groups of Xbox's were crap and had terrible failure rates. Those articles are 2 years old though. The newer models don't have the same failure rates as the first year or so models.

 

[Planogirl]

We lost a few XBoxes but they are played to death around here. We much prefer the games that are available and we have so much fun that replacing them is well worth it to me. Besides supposedly they are way better now. We'll see....

We also have an old Playstation 2 that is still cranking along. It's still fun too.

 

[TwingleMum]

You should find out what all his/her friends have. I tried to talk my kids into the PS because I figured I was getting a blueray player for "free". But they were insistant that all their friends have XBoxes and no one had a PS. So why get a system none of their friends play?

 

[Scurvy]

You should find out what all his/her friends have. I tried to talk my kids into the PS because I figured I was getting a blueray player for "free". But they were insistant that all their friends have XBoxes and no one had a PS. So why get a system none of their friends play?

I agree. I have both and our XBox gets used much more than the PS3 does. If a game is available for both, we always get the 360 version. We use the PS3 for PS3 exclusive games and for watching Blu-rays, and for playing PS2 games (because we have a first generation PS3 which is backward compatible) and it's great for those things but overall we just prefer the 360. I don't like the fact that you can't replace the batteries in the PS3 controllers, and we've had two controllers wear out and refuse to hold a charge after a couple of years. I like Kinect better than Move (and we do have -and use - both). So my personal recommendation would be the 360, because that's the one I like best. We haven't had any problems with either 360 (and the older one is a first generation we bought when they first came out). Only one of our friends (out of many who have 360s) has had a problem and Microsoft replaced his console for him. Even though you have to buy a membership to play online I think it's well worth it; their online interface is much better.

But none of that matters, because it's a very personal choice. If your child only prefers the PS3 because he's already used to the controller, I would encourage him to also look at the 360. He should try one in store, look at the list of exclusive games for each console, talk to his friends about which console they have, and be sure the controller thing is the most important factor to him. If he prefers it because his friends have it, or he wants the PS3 exclusive games, or he wants to use it as a Blu-ray player, then I'd definitely go with the PS3.

 

[4forMe]

We have had the PS3 for two years which DH and the kids love, but my DS13 wants the XBox 360 as that is what most of his friends have.

I agree with the previous posters that suggested finding out what system his friends use. At 13, he will most likely want to be playing online with his friends.

 

[bb7877]

I would go with the PS3. Much better graphics (imo) and better games. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Rynosaur]

i have all the consoles since launch and i currently own about 60 games for the xbox 360, 2 for the wii and 0 for the ps3. i did own one game, but i traded it away a long time ago.

ive even dealt with the red ring of death for the xbox and replacing them was easy. i was only out 1 week each time. i know people who have had the yellow light of death, (ps3) that had a decent time replacing it under warranty. i dont know anyone who has had a nintendo wii problem, but similar to myself, the people i know with nintendo wiis have them in a box or just on the shelf.

i only use my ps3 to watch blu rays. i did have a ps2 so i thought the ps3 would be a natural transition. i dont like the online community and i play online on every game that has it available.

i use my xbox nearly everyday and i would pay even more per year to use the online. i find it a much better experience. a lot of the games that are released on both systems look very, very similar when hooked up comparably.

But again, it really just comes down to preference. start with games and see and go from there. if he likes certain games and those are only available on one system, then that is what you have to lean towards. Then see if he wants to play online with friends and if so, then your decision leans towards that system. and if paying a fee per year is a problem, you have to just have to have him save up about $4 a month or instead of a game as a present he can choose a year of gaming.

since you are on the budget board, i am sure you wont pay retail for many things. So dont let the retail prices that people give you deter you too much from your decision.

ie i have only paid $30-$35 for xbox live for about 6 years when retail is/has been $50-$60.

 

[SandrA9810]

Most people who stick with xbox do for the social online gaming.

Overall, just search red ring of death percentage and you'll get a ton of hits.
http://consumerist.com/2009/08/xbox-360-failure-rate-is-542-percent-game-informer-finds.html

If you don't want the ongoing costs of online gaming, then go with the ps3. Xbox live is $60 a year, although many people here have said they can find it on sale.

You must have live in order to access anything online. That's download content, netflix streaming, or online playing. PS3 is free. Although sony does offer playstation plus for $50 a year. It allows free games and discounts for download content. Although any free games you download will expire when the plus expires, but you keep any games you purchase with a discount.

My bf just sold his old original fat ps3 for a slim one. While there's no backwards compatibility, ps2's already cheap enough. Like you said, he already has that console.

Stability has been proven with the PS3, and while there's fewer issues with the new xbox, there's still enough to create a problem. Although jump on the bandwagon soon, there's talks of new systems coming out in the next couple of years.

 

[Scurvy]

You must have live in order to access anything online. That's download content, netflix streaming, or online playing. PS3 is free.

While you do need Live access in order to do the things listed above, you only need Silver level access (or whatever they're calling it now) in order to buy downloadable content or to download software updates. Everyone gets that access free with their console, so that's no different than buying DLC on the PS3. You do need Gold level access (which is what you have to buy the membership for) to stream Netflix, to play games online or to get any of the bonus DLC that they give free to Gold level members.

 

[Planogirl]

I pay $11.95 a month for some type of limited access. We get updates and downloads on games we play so I think that it's worth it.