What console should I buy?

[Arnold]

I'm thinking about getting a console and I'm torn between PS2 and X-Box.  I'm looking for fighting/action/sports games with replayability.  The PC works best for adventure/RPG type games, IMO.

Which system would suit me best?

[Rodent]

I use my Xbox for sportsgame almost exclusivly ( And Steel Battalion... but that's another story ). And the best fighting game out there right now ( Soul Calibur II ) flows alot smoother on the Xbox... Ofcourse you would have to put up with Spawn as the extra character, and deep down you know you want Link.

Still, there's more fighting and action titles out for the PS2...

It's a tough choice but I'd go with the Xbox. And remember to pick up ESPN Football and Hockey.

[Morfiend]

Get X-Box.

I have all three and the X-box gets the most play by far. Also, Most titles that are PS2 exclusives end up on X-box a few months later any how, so your not missing much.

You also get X-box live.


Make sure you buy it at Best Buy, and spend $20 for the extra "Like New" warranty thing. That way, when X-Box NeXt comes out, you can take the xbox back, says its running slower than when you bought it, and basically trade it in, and all the money you spent on the xbox will be credited to a new X-Box NeXt. I wish I had done this.

[Alluvian]

Xbox is SUCH a better deal right now.  PS2 is overpriced SHIT in terms of hardware.  They have more games, but the exclusives on the xbox are getting better and better and the PS2 has been showing its age for years.  It isn't even part of this generation really.  It was competitive (and in many ways hardware inferior) with the dreamcast, not the new machines.

Gamecube I cannot reccomend as an only console unless you really MUST HAVE their flagship products.  It makes a great second machine, and for that it is priced well.

Like action and sports?  Shortlist would be
Ninja Gaiden
ESPN Football 2k4
Crimson Skies
Links 2004
Project Gotham Racing 2
Topspin
(can't comment on other sports games)

Those first two I think you are contractually obligated to come home with.  Unless you don't like sports, no xbox owner should be without those two.  Splinter cell rocks, but it is pc as well.

[Paelos]

I have a cube, I never play it, mostly because a lot of the games are geared towards multiplayer fun and I live alone. So, if I was to go through the ordeal again, I would say the X-Box for the fact that you can do multiplayer without having people over to drink all your beer.

[Groove]

I have both a PS2 and an XBox and play my XBox far more often now that the games selection is decent. Another reason to not go with the PS2 is if load times bother you like they do me. But I'm probably just an impatient S.O.B.

I'm still waiting for the modern gaming system with flash memory games and harddrives.

Hello? Is this thing on?

- Groove

[Alluvian]

I'm still waiting for the modern gaming system with flash memory games and harddrives.

Would a 1-10 gig flashdrive be affordable for every game?  That is pretty much the size of these games now.  And a big reason the PS2 has fallen behind, it can't store enough data on the disks.  I went up to 10 because you are talking about next gen that I assume will run things on par with, and beyond, FarCry (5 discs).  HL2 will also CONSUME hd space.  You just know it.  Not sure about Doom3.  They could get away with a lot of reuse since all I have seen are totally boring interior shots of doom3.  How many pipe / steel grating textures do you need?

[HaemishM]

X-Box, because you mention sports games. Not having to use memory cards for sports games is a big deal for me. I love the X-Box hard drive and lament the lack of a hard drive in the next X-Box hardware (X-Box 2?). The ESPN sports games rock, NFL 2k4 is a must. I prefer the controller on the Box to the PS2's controller and unless you like Japanese style RPG's, the X-Box has most of the same kinds of games you'll find on the PS2. I suggest:

Splinter Cell
ESPN NFL 2k4 and NHL 2k4
Top Spin (tennis)
MechAssault
Project Gotham Racing (1 or 2)

[WayAbvPar]

Crimson Skies
Links 2004

Those two alone nearly justify the Xbox (not to mention that big Bill just lowered the price again last week- $150 now). Links is by far the best golf game I have ever played, and Crimson Skies is addictive as hell in the 'just one more mission before I go to bed...holy FUCK, the sun just came up" kind of way.

[Glamdring]

Xbox NeXt?

BTW, if you want to get an Xbox, wait until the middle of the month.  You can get the new special edition green box w/ Halo bundled at EB for $169.99.

[Kenrick]

I'm pretty much strictly a pc gamer, but the only console I have fun on is gamecube.  Call me a 6 year old.  :)

I love games like mario party and warioware and shit like that for some odd reason.  It's odd because my pc gaming tendencies are so different.

[Morfiend]

Xbox NeXt?

That what they where calling the X-Box 2 a little while ago. Im not sure if the name stuck, that was just the last thing I remembered reading about it.

[Mr_PeaCH]

I'm pretty much strictly a pc gamer, but the only console I have fun on is gamecube.  Call me a 6 year old.  :)

I love games like mario party and warioware and shit like that for some odd reason.  It's odd because my pc gaming tendencies are so different.

Yep, the Gamecube is the anti-PC and yet very entertaining for me as well.  Somebody mentioned the multiplayer aspects and thats certainly what I'm seeing.  It's a great way for me and my kids to play games together, lots of action for everyone and no edu-tainment in sight.

[squirrel]

Not sure if it factors in but the Xbox also has the advantage afaik when it comes to HT setups. Get the high def pack and hook that sucker up to your HDTV and your receiver and enjoy big screen gaming goodness.

PoP, PGR2 and Splinter Cell:PT are REALLY sweet at 720p...

[Alluvian]

And mech assault 2 has glimmers of gaming nirvana hope.

[Morfiend]

And mech assault 2 has glimmers of gaming nirvana hope.

Humm... I got Mech Assault free with my Xbox Live set up thing. I played it for like 20 minutes and put it in my Videogame/DVD rack in the section for probably wont ever play again. Maybe I should dust it off.

[naum]

Not sure if it factors in but the Xbox also has the advantage afaik when it comes to HT setups. Get the high def pack and hook that sucker up to your HDTV and your receiver and enjoy big screen gaming goodness.

PoP, PGR2 and Splinter Cell:PT are REALLY sweet at 720p...

How many games support HDTV?

Man, I need to head out to Fryes this weekend and nab me an Xbox...

[HaemishM]

More games support HDTV than you might think. Though I don't have a list of them for you or anything.

[Groove]

Ask and ye shall receive.

- Groove

[squirrel]

Huh, i thought they were at 720p - most are 480p. Going to have to get some of the games that support 720 and see what they look like - even at 480p it's very nice.

[Glamdring]

I'm slowly gathering pieces for an XBOX mod job.  I want the system more for the emulation ability than the actual XBOX titles.

Are any of you at least moderately into modifying these things?  I'm going to buy the hard drive at some point this week but am trying to decide between 5400/7200 rpm and 8meg/2meg.  I figure I could just mount an additional fan to take care of any extra heat that a 7200 might produce but I'd really rather not have a rocket ship for a living room gaming system.

[Xilren's Twin]

Late to the thread, but definately Xbox.  Not only for the games, but the built in live capability (only need to buy the headset and subscription compared to the ps2 network adapter), but also for the custom music you can load out, no memory cards to buy and built in 4 ports for controllers.

Here's a mildly interesting interview with Peter Moore the head of Microsoft's Xbox unit on future developments and battling Sony.

Xilren
PS Although I am enjoying the hell out of Champions of Norrath on my PS2 right now.  It basically a diablo2 clone (lots of waves of mobs, skill trees, lots loot drops, socket items) set in everquest universe so my 8 year old and I are battling our way through it.  Good rental.

[Alluvian]

Humm... I got Mech Assault free with my Xbox Live set up thing. I played it for like 20 minutes and put it in my Videogame/DVD rack in the section for probably wont ever play again. Maybe I should dust it off.

Not really.  Mech assault 2 is a completely re-invisioned game of combined arms.  Mech assault 1 was a pretty repetitive mech arcade game.  The sequel brings in tanks, transport aircraft, enterable buildings which only humans can go in, power armor that can jack into enemy mechs...  Fun stuff like that.  Not your standard sequel, but a whole new game with just one portion leftover from the original, but fully built on and fleshed out.

I like the first one, but it is little more than a first person shooter in mech clothing with super shiny graphics.

I don't suggest anyone bother buying the first one anymore.  Wait for the sequel.

[Glamdring]

Ok, I just bought an XBOX.  I love Tiger Woods 2004 and am wondering if the only reason Links is recommended over it is because of Live capability or is there something else?

[Alluvian]

It has something to do with it being a superior game in every way.

AND far better live capability.  Rent the thing.

[Mr_PeaCH]

Hey Glamdring, I was waiting for anyone else to chime in who might be more definative, but you raised a red flag for me when you mentioned you were thinking about modding an Xbox and then mentioned the "Live" online gaming aspect of it.

I could be mistaken but I thought I read (maybe from someone here?) that MS is pretty saavy about knowing if you're on their Live servers with a modded box and banz0ring your ass.

Something to consider if you hadn't already.

[HaemishM]

You can actually get Mods that have a switch. You flip the switch off and you have a Live-capable box. You flip the switch on, you have a modded box for whatever purpose you mod it for.

[schild]

You can actually get Mods that have a switch. You flip the switch off and you have a Live-capable box. You flip the switch on, you have a modded box for whatever purpose you mod it for.

Haemish speaks truth. I have this and if I ever used XBox Live it would rock.

[Alluvian]

Eventually you will forget to switch it if you play live at all and get banzored anyway, heh.  People have remembered seconds after connecting and gotten banned.  Then you buy a new xbox or forget about live.  They don't ban your live account, and in fact keep charging you for it, but instead they ban your Xbox serial number.  The annoying part is they don't always do it right away.  I have heard stories of sometimes taking a month or two after the infraction before the ban went active.  They probably update infrequently in large batches.  Or those people could have been lying.  Either is possible.

I love the xbox.  I love the hard drive.  The fact that people are using the HD against MS and pirating games on it pisses me off.  I always think of it as one of the reasons the Xbox 2 won't have a hard drive.  Fuckers.

[schild]

The way my system is set up, I can't even access live without turning on the switch.

[Alluvian]

The way my system is set up, I can't even access live without turning on the switch.

Good setup.  Idiot proof.  The kind of stuff I need.  I just don't see much reason to mod the xbox beyond pirating.  It is a pretty fucking lousy media machine/tiny hard drive for the price.  But I suppose if it can do multiple duties then the price can't be compared across the board like that.

[schild]

180gb hard drive. As an Emulator it is the absolute shit. I think I have about 6,000 games on there right now. maybe more between the 10 or so systems. and as a media box it is awesome at well. Cost me an arm and a leg though (comparatively to say a ps2, regular xbox, or gamecube.

[Alluvian]

180gb hard drive. As an Emulator it is the absolute shit. I think I have about 6,000 games on there right now. maybe more between the 10 or so systems. and as a media box it is awesome at well. Cost me an arm and a leg though (comparatively to say a ps2, regular xbox, or gamecube.

I stand corrected.  That is much bigger than I thought on that HD.  Okay, now I want a modchip.

[HaemishM]

/meh, I'm too broke to mod it, and too lazy to do the work it would require to make use of my X-Box in such a way.

[Glamdring]

Just to set the record straight here, you can actually get back on live if you get banned.  You just get a new eeprom (fairly cheap) and you're good to go.  But obviously your best bet is to just not get banned.

I'm not looking forward to rom hunting anymore.  The last time I looked for roms it wasn't near as easy as when I had my HD full of them a few years ago when you could find them by simply typing something like www.rom.com.  Apparently the gaming companies have cracked down and those days are over.  Did you have a lot of trouble gathering the ones you have?  I'm just looking forward to being able to switch between something like Crimson Skies and Atari 2600's Adventure.

BTW, what chip are you using?