whats better: a ps2 or xbox?

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: ZimZum
Console comparison chart

Theres alot wrong on that chart.
It forgets to mention that the Xbox CPU is a cut down P3, and that the GameCube`s CPU is a RISC type, which means direct mhz comparisons are useless.
The actual memory bandwidth for the GC is 10gb/s not 3.2gb/s
The polygon performance listed for the XBOX and PS2 are just raw un textured polygons. The GCs listed polygon performance is fully list and textured. If that was taken into account, the XBox would be about 20m, and the PS2 around 5-10m.
The GC supports 8 simultaneus textures at once.
The GC supports 8:1 compression not 6:1
The GCs memory cards range from 1/4 a mb to 64mb.
And i think that some of the res`s for all 3 consoles are wrong.

PS2 has a larger library but since most titles these days are multiplatform its not that big an advantage. At this point the PS2 has begun to show its age.

Good point there. The PS2, while still doing good, is ageing quite badly compared to the Xbox and GC.

Gamecube probably has the best exclusive titles, but the 3rd party support is dwindling and the system isnt very flexible (cant play DVDs, no hard drive, no online mp options in the forseable future).

3rd party support dwindling? Hardly, theres been at least 5 new 3rd party developers recently joining the BigN.
The GC doesnt do DVDs cos its ment to be a games consoles, not a multiplatform entertainment system. It doesnt need a HD either, cos they add to the cost, and typically GC saves aint that big. It will have online options by the end of the year according to several reports ive seen.

 

[aircooled]

Im really only big on PC gaming and have never owned a console so im really stumped as what to take.

This is the key statement.

Just build/buy a PC that supports the games you like. Or buy a console that has the same games available.

 

[ZimZum]

Originally posted by: BoomAM

Gamecube probably has the best exclusive titles, but the 3rd party support is dwindling and the system isnt very flexible (cant play DVDs, no hard drive, no online mp options in the forseable future).

3rd party support dwindling? Hardly, theres been at least 5 new 3rd party developers recently joining the BigN.
The GC doesnt do DVDs cos its ment to be a games consoles, not a multiplatform entertainment system. It doesnt need a HD either, cos they add to the cost, and typically GC saves aint that big. It will have online options by the end of the year according to several reports ive seen.

Sega has dropped Nintendo. Codemasters, THQ and others have voiced their disappointment with the performance of GC titles. You have to admit that of the 3 consoles, the Gamecube is last as far as 3rd party titles.

In addition to being able to save your games without having to purchase and deal with memory cards (mine always either get lost or broken). The big advantage of a hard drive to me is the ability to copy your games to it. No more load time waits, you can switch games without moving a muscle and protect game discs from wear and tear.

Dont hold your breath for online play for the GC (for which you will need to purchase an adapter no doubt). Its been delayed countless times. In all likely hood due to costs. Nintendo cant afford to lose the kind of money that Sony and MS has on online gaming.

Dont get me wrong the GC is a fine platform. Id certainly recommend a GC before a PS2. But its features dont compare favorably to the XBOX.

 

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: ZimZum
Sega has dropped Nintendo.

Sega are still developing several games for GC at the moment, And several future games. Hardly dropped is it?

Codemasters, THQ and others have voiced their disappointment with the performance of GC titles.

Codemasters, who cares anyway, i cant stand those collin mcray games. THQ, they are still making games for GC also, there are about 2-3 more WWE titles still to be released.

You have to admit that of the 3 consoles, the Gamecube is last as far as 3rd party titles.

True. But who needs loads and loads of crappy, below par 3rd party titles like the XBox and PS2 has. Its better to just have a few, quality ones, to complement the amazing selection of 1st and 2nd party games.

In addition to being able to save your games without having to purchase and deal with memory cards (mine always either get lost or broken). The big advantage of a hard drive to me is the ability to copy your games to it. No more load time waits, you can switch games without moving a muscle and protect game discs from wear and tear.

You will still have loading times, but not as long. I have read several complaints about DoA on XBox, about it taking 2-3 seconds to load a character model and profil from the HD, when selecting character. This was only fixed when someone removed the 8gb 5400rpm drive and replaced it with a 20gb 7200rpm drive.

Dont hold your breath for online play for the GC (for which you will need to purchase an adapter no doubt).

Why? Its still online play, no matter what form its in. Becides, theres a strong rumor that GameSpy will do the online thing for Nintendo, and only charge for the line costs, or a very very cheap monthly.

Its been delayed countless times. In all likely hood due to costs.

It hasnt been delayed countless times due to costs, its been dleayed due to lack of online game support.

Nintendo cant afford to lose the kind of money that Sony and MS has on online gaming.

Nintendo have money to burn. Their GameBoys alone outsell every other console in the world added together.

Dont get me wrong the GC is a fine platform. Id certainly recommend a GC before a PS2. But its features dont compare favorably to the XBOX.

Its "features" are fine for gamers. The Xbox is designed as a multiplatform entertainment system, which it is good at. The GameCube is ment as a gamers machine. No extras that arnt needed, just something that`ll play games. And its dam good at it as well.

 

[ZimZum]

Sega are still developing several games for GC at the moment, And several future games. Hardly dropped is it?

Sega
Acclaim

Nintendo on Online Gaming

Yes Nintendo turns a profit but do you seriously believe that they have the kind of money to throw around that
Sony and MS has?! The profit on MS Office software by itself in one month is twice what Nintendo profits all year.

XBOX online has over half a million users. Each one of which is costing MS money. They are losing money
hand over fist on XB live. As is Sony.

 

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: ZimZum
XBOX online has over half a million users.

And 490,000 of them are from the US.

Each one of which is costing MS money. They are losing money
hand over fist on XB live. As is Sony.

They are both losing money cos they are trying to drop the prices of their console enough to compete with the GC`s price, but because they are, they are losing money. They are selling at a loss.

The Sega link is a good one, but the fact remains there are several Sega games still to come out on GC.
The Acclaim link says that they are limiting and not dropping GC support.
The Nintendo link says that Shigeru Miyamoto isnt keen on online play, but that doesnt reflect the direction of Nintendo as a company.

 

[ZimZum]

Originally posted by: BoomAM

Originally posted by: ZimZum
XBOX online has over half a million users.

And 490,000 of them are from the US.

Each one of which is costing MS money. They are losing money
hand over fist on XB live. As is Sony.

They are both losing money cos they are trying to drop the prices of their console enough to compete with the GC`s price, but because they are, they are losing money. They are selling at a loss.

The Sega link is a good one, but the fact remains there are several Sega games still to come out on GC.
The Acclaim link says that they are limiting and not dropping GC support.
The Nintendo link says that Shigeru Miyamoto isnt keen on online play, but that doesnt reflect the direction of Nintendo as a company.

I wasnt referring to the money they lose selling consoles. Because they were losing money on those even when they were selling for $300. I was talking about the prohibitive costs of setting up online gaming and reiterating the point that Nintendo's reluctance to jump into the fray is partly based on that cost. XBox live will cost MS 2 Billion Dollars. Nintendo cant afford to flush that kind of money down the toilet.

Acclaim is limiting GC games to "games already in progress and older brands" "We don't foresee launching any new brands on GameCube". Either way you look at it its definitely not good news.

I actually like Nintendo they completely own the handheld gaming segment, have great 1st and 2nd party games and they figured out how to actually turn a profit on the console. Something that Sony and MS cant seem to manage.

 

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: ZimZum
I was talking about the prohibitive costs of setting up online gaming and reiterating the point that Nintendo's reluctance to jump into the fray is partly based on that cost. XBox live will cost MS 2 Billion Dollars. Nintendo cant afford to flush that kind of money down the toilet.

The actual reason why Nintendo isnt diving head first into online gaming, is because its done it before, and knows when somethings going to be popular or not. Nintendo were the first company to have a console with online capibilites. It was on the SNES, but just in Japan. So while you lot and all the misinformed press critisise Nintedo for not "embracing" the future of games, it isnt because Nintendo are stubbern, or that they have a lack of money, its becuase they know all about online gaming, more so than Microsh1t and Phony...sorry, i mean Microsoft and Sony. lol.
Nintendo have been there, done that, and go the t-shirt as far as online gaming goes. It knows what its doing.

 

[ZimZum]

Sega was actally doing it before Nintendo. They even had an online service in the U.S. for the Genesis. But its a different
ballgame nowadays.