Every few years, it’s like the clash of the titans. It usually starts at the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (also known as E3), where the big video game companies announce their latest projects. E3 is the place where the first announcements of the next generation of video game consoles happens. In 2005, the two big contenders were Sony, which announced it’s Playstation 3 console, and Microsoft, with its Xbox 360. Years later, where do these two consoles stand?
There are really three primary factors that set these two systems apart: their price, their performance, and their library of games. Let’s review each, and see which console comes out on top.
Performance
On paper, the Playstation 3 (PS3) boasts more powerful system specs than the Xbox 360, so it might be easy to pass off the PS3 as the clear winner. This isn’t exactly the case, however, because for the most part very few games fully take advantage of the PS3’s powerful core. In truth, games for both systems perform at more or less the same level. In some games, the advantage goes to the PS3, and for others, the Xbox 360 wins. Keep in mind, however, that as game design and development makes advances, the true power of the PS3 might start to shine.
When it comes to performance, one nice bonus feature offered by the PS3 is that it comes with a Blu-Ray player stock. Blu-Ray has become the choice for high definition home movies, so in some ways you are purchasing both a game system and a high-end Blu-Ray player. While the Xbox 360 offers an expansion that allows it to play HD-DVDs, this simply can’t match up to the PS3.
Price
The Xbox 360 hit the market a full year before the PS3, and has always been a lower price than its competitor. While Sony is able to avoid criticisms for its high cost because the PS3 doubles as a Blu-Ray player, the Xbox is the clear winner for people who aren’t interested in high definition movies. It generally comes in at least $100 below the Playstation 3’s price, if not more.
Games
One of the big sticking places for console buyers is exclusive title. Both Microsoft and Sony look to popular game developers to try and secure exclusive rights to a game on only their console. While complete exclusivity isn’t as prominent as it once was, many of the big A-List titles are still exclusives. Other games become “timed exclusives,” meaning that they release for one system several months before they release for the other. For the most part, both systems offer great games, and it’s a matter of personal taste which exclusive properties a gamer is most interested in.
Online Service
One final area of concern is the two companies online services. The big difference here is that one must pay for Xbox’s Xbox Live service, while PS3’s PSN is free. Overall the two systems are still pretty close – the determining factors will be the buyer’s interest in exclusive games and their interest in a Blu-Ray player.
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