Xbox360 or PS3? Plus HDTV questions.

[schild]

How many 360 games do you have again, Schild?

After my second 360 broke, I traded in 30.

I have about 15 (if you don't count 2 copies of each burger king game ^_^). And they never get played. My 360 is used more as an HD-DVD player.

And my 360 is modded.
And I don't have a live account.
And it's not plugged into the net.
Also, the controllers aren't charged.

[apocrypha]

PS3 ordered    Also 3 games for free with Nectar points (a UK "loyalty" reward scheme that I've been collecting points on for about 5 years).

Telly will wait - the conventional wisdom seems to suggest that price reductions in named brand HDTVs will happen in early December, so PS3 on the old CRT telly for a couple of weeks.

Thanks again for the various advice everyone.

[schild]

What games did you pick up?

[apocrypha]

The console came with Little Big Planet and Tom Clancy's End War and I got Fallout 3, Lego Batman (for playing with my girlfriend) and Dead Space, plus a 2nd controller. The nectar options were a bit limited so I'll probably be picking up MGS4 and Disgaea 3 at a later date.

[schild]

It might be worth holding off on Deadspace until you get an HDTV. Disgaea 3 should be cheap, might as well just buy it outright.

[apocrypha]

Well thinking about it I might just grab one of the monitors from upstairs and play on that until we get a new TV.

Also Disgaea 3 doesn't seem to be available in the UK yet! Early 2009 release for PAL regions apparently 

[schild]

Oh right. The PS3 is region free. Just import it.

[apocrypha]

Cool, might do just that, found it for 57 canadian dollars including postage. Ka-ching!

Any other must-haves you'd recommend for the PS3?

[Rasix]

Cool, might do just that, found it for 57 canadian dollars including postage. Ka-ching!

Any other must-haves you'd recommend for the PS3?

Well, like you planned, do pick up MGS4.  Also, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.  Great game, even if the gun battles are a little bothersome until you get the hang of them.

[schild]

Yea, I recommended Disgaea 3 because it's one of those titles that he might as well play on while he's on a shitty monitor or TV, unless he has a huge monitor with HDMI. Also, don't forget to buy an HDMI cable

[apocrypha]

Drake's Fortune (cheap! Awesome) and an HDMI cable ordered (I had forgotten, thanks for reminding me!). I love postage free internet shopping 

[Ard]

Yea, I recommended Disgaea 3 because it's one of those titles that he might as well play on while he's on a shitty monitor or TV, unless he has a huge monitor with HDMI. Also, don't forget to buy an HDMI cable

There's a cavaet to this, not all SD tv's like Nippon Ichi games (even the ps2 ones).  I had issues with UI elements spilling over the edges of the screen on my old CRT.  And text on Disgaea 3 was well nigh unreadable due to resolution issues with my tv.

Now, that said, it was very specifically my tv that was the main problem, and it's since been replaced, but be wary of the text in Disgaea 3 being tiny or blurry on an SD tv.

[BitWarrior]

Any other must-haves you'd recommend for the PS3?

http://www.metacritic.com/games/ps3/scores/

[Venkman]

On TVs, since you're looking at the 40-42 range, and only unless you already got there, definitely want 1080p for it. Particularly since you went the PS3 route. Better resolution is better resolution whether you're maximizing it today or next month.

[apocrypha]

http://www.metacritic.com/games/ps3/scores/

Yeah been there done that, but I trust the opinions of people like schild, Yegolev, Rasixetc on this board considerably more than the opinions of any game website and magazine reviewers. I mean, just look at the recent attempt by Eidos to skew the Metacritic scores of the new Tomb Raider game.

On TVs, since you're looking at the 40-42 range, and only unless you already got there, definitely want 1080p for it. Particularly since you went the PS3 route. Better resolution is better resolution whether you're maximizing it today or next month.

Oh absolutely. My last TV cost me £600 about 8 years ago, I consider this to be a 5-10 year purchase so I'm hoping to future-proof myself as much as possible :)  The one I have my eye on at the moment is the Sony KDL-40W4500 and a couple of the Samsung 40" models, all 1080p. The Sony is more expensive but from what I've been reading the Samsungs potentially suffer from mild HDMI input lag.

Price watching for a couple of weeks now :)

[Rasix]

Heh, on that metacritic list only a few things I would mention now.  Ratchet and Clank really isn't my type of game but I think Yego had a lot of fun with that title.  Also, skate.  Which I wouldn't purchase unless you get it for way cheap due to skate 2 coming out in January.

I don't play a lot of rhythm games, console shooters (Bioshock was OK, but you can get that on PC), or sports titles, so I'm pretty useless there (come to think of it, I don't buy a lot of non-exclusives).  Seem to be a lot of them on that list.

[apocrypha]

Yeah that sums up my feelings for most of that list quite accurately. I would normally avoid shooters on a console like the plague but the simple fact of my inability to sit at a PC any more means I'll be revisiting that position :)

Same with the rhythm games, although I'm sorely tempted by Guitar Hero... got a friend who has a PS3 who's got GH and she says she'll bring it round one evening and we can have a play, so that may well get added to the list.

The only other one tempting me is WipEout HD, which despite my usual disdain for racing games looks very cool and is also very cheap!

[Sairon]

I think Ratchet & Clank was pretty awesome, even if I expected a bit more. If you like the previous Ratchet & Clank games it's very much in the same vein without any major differences which I can recall at least.

[Phire]

On TVs, since you're looking at the 40-42 range, and only unless you already got there, definitely want 1080p for it. Particularly since you went the PS3 route. Better resolution is better resolution whether you're maximizing it today or next month.

Just to make a point here that the majority of Ps3 games do NOT use 1080p. The Ps3 does not upscale so for the majority of the games (Including 1st party) a 720p TV would be fine. If you plan on using the Blu-Ray player definitely go with 1080p. Also like I was saying earlier if you want to future proof your purchase go the 1080p route.

Ps3 exclusive games I recommend Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank, Folklore, and MGS4.

Rent Heavenly Sword and Resistance 1 + 2 as they are mediocre to good at best.

[BitWarrior]

I don't play a lot of rhythm games...Seem to be a lot of them on that list.

Like any list, Metacritic is an excellent source for an overall "these are good titles which will not poop in your cereal" summary. Certain games types will not appeal to everyone.

[fuser]

Oh absolutely. My last TV cost me £600 about 8 years ago, I consider this to be a 5-10 year purchase so I'm hoping to future-proof myself as much as possible :)  The one I have my eye on at the moment is the Sony KDL-40W4500 and a couple of the Samsung 40" models, all 1080p. The Sony is more expensive but from what I've been reading the Samsungs potentially suffer from mild HDMI input lag.

I'm running an 80gb (BC) PS3 and a Samsung 40A550. I read a lot on the input lag from AVS, and knowing about it and looking for it, I still don't notice it playing day to day.

Oh one other thing. I have my ps3 flat and its not whisper quiet :(

[Rasix]

Oh one other thing. I have my ps3 flat and its not whisper quiet :(

Mine's flat, seems pretty quiet.

I don't play a lot of rhythm games...Seem to be a lot of them on that list.

Like any list, Metacritic is an excellent source for an overall "these are good titles which will not poop in your cereal" summary. Certain games types will not appeal to everyone.

Yep, didn't see anything "wrong" on the list.  I'm just a shitty source of information for a few popular genres.  I've never used Metacritic, just GameRankings.com.   Completely unrelated, but it's amazing how well Oblivion did review wise. 

[rattran]

I've got my ps3 flat, it's whisper quiet. I've now heard one of the same model at a friends house, nearly as loud as an xbox360. So ymmv.

And my Samsung 40" is an older model 1080p (LNS-4095d), but there's no noticeable input lag from hdmi for me.

[edit]
Thanks for this thread, it reminded me to check for new firmware for my tv. I now have 1080p/24 ability, and a new 'no overscan' mode which is even crisper and nicer. Hooray!

[apocrypha]

Cheers for the info on the Samsungs, good to know.

Console noise isn't an issue really, there's usually a laptop plugged in in the living room and that's not quiet at all, we just don't notice it any more. Plus we have an alley between our living room wall and the neighbours house so turning the volume up to drown out noisy hardware isn't a problem :)

[murdoc]

I have 3 Samsung LCDs and I've never noticed any input lag from hdmi.

[apocrypha]

PS3 arrived today \o/  And HDTV being despatched tomorrow   \O/   \o/   \O/

Went for the Sony in the end cos I got a decent deal with a 5 year warranty and I just thought fuck it, I want something great that's gonna last me 10 years.

Can I just say that even after only 1 afternoon of playing around that I am very, very impressed with the PS3 already. Managed to make it recognise my NAS and it streams media off it fine, 20 mins twiddling with LBP left both me & my gf in fits of giggles and it all looks great even on the CRT. When the HDTV arrives I may just expire in delight.

Thanks all for the advice etc!

[schild]

Did you get one of the new 120hz Bravia jobbers?

[apocrypha]

KDL-40W4500 which has 100Hz motionflow thingy. Although from the reviews and tech details I read that only really makes a diff for sports, and I don't watch any sports, but hey wtf eh 

[Yegolev]

WTF indeed.  I might let you see my LBP level when you get the new TV.  It's Super Secret and 5% Done right now.

I want to mention that Blade Runner on BluRay is like wild awesome in a shopping bag.

[Velorath]

For anyone who wants a least a partially BC capable PS3 right now, Sears.com has some of the 80GB MGS4 bundles in stock (still $500 though).

[fuser]

Mine's flat, seems pretty quiet.

It's not 360 loud, but its noticeable.

I've got my ps3 flat, it's whisper quiet. I've now heard one of the same model at a friends house, nearly as loud as an xbox360. So ymmv.

Yep I'm going to ring Sony about it because it is loud even say streaming video. It's annoying to hear it over volume at times :(

[Cyrrex]

Wow, many thanks for all the replies folks, very grateful.

I've spent some time since posting looking at the exclusives for each platform and the PS3 edges out the 360 for me. Pretty much the only 360 title I'd miss would be Mass Effect but I think LBP, MGS and Disgaea 3 outweigh that considerably. Most of the games I'd go for at first aren't exclusive to either platform anyway.

Combine that with the BluRay drive and I'm 99% certain that PS3 is the route I'll go. Backwards compatibility isn't a huge issue for me either way. I've got like, 5 Xbox games that I never really wowed on and don't know enough about PS1/2 titles to make me yearn for any of them. The only thing making me hesitate slightly is the rumour of possible large price reductions on the PS3 in the spring, but I can't wait that long, I'm going batshitfuckingmental right fucking now for some entertainment!

So, I think I'll spend most of today reading about HDTVs. Our current TV is a 32" and the space where a TV has to go won't fit anything bigger than about 46" (at a guess, I'll have to check exact dimensions of anything before buying). A quick look at some review sites is leading me gently towards the Samsung & Sony 40"-42" LCD kind of range and from what y'all have said here that would suit us nicely. Our living room is pretty small and viewing angle isn't an issue - the room just ain't big enough to sit anywhere except right infront of something that size 

Ahh I'm all excited now, my gf and I decided between us lastnight that yes, we could spend this money, so now it's just a question of researching the specifics.

Thanks everyone, super helpful bunch you all are 

If I had to buy just one, I'd go with the PS3 as well.  Blu Ray and wireless kind of seal it. 

Are you guys seeing significant price cuts on your side of the pond on HDTVs?  Reason I ask is because we are seeing some deeeep cuts over here, so it pays to shop around.  Also, do some intelligent research based on your likely habits.  If you plan to watch a bunch of non HD television (aka SD signals) on that sucker, then that is a major strike against LCD televisions, because I've never seen one that doesn't look like complete (total and utter) ass when it tries to upconvert SD signals.  Not trying to kick off a raging debate, but do your homework.  And whatever you do, buy 1080p.  It no longer makes sense to buy 720p for your main television, especially with a PS3.

[apocrypha]

Telly just arrived  Now all I have to do is wait for my girlfriend and at least one neighbour to get home to lift the damn thing out of the box.

Cyrrex: Not seen any price cuts yet. I was gonna wait and see if it happened but I just got too impatient. And yeah, I did make a point of checking that the one I bought looked good with normal SD signals and yes, it's 1080p. I'm so excited! It's like being a 9 year old at Christmas again 

[Cyrrex]

I'm jealous.  I mean, I  my Panasonic plasma, but that bitch ain't 1080p.  And it's only 42 inches. 

[MrHat]

Dell coupons ftw.  Just picked a PS3 up too.  Couldn't come at a better time.  Fucking 360 is a piece of shit.