dynamic elf

X-box plays dvd's too, and better, actually. They're both good systems. Xbox has much better hardware and some really cool games are finally coming out. Playstation has a lot of good games already, though.

All that being said, we have 2 gamecubes in my apartment, and none of the others.

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Xbox plays DVDs better? That's an incentive. Sadly, despite reading Penny Arcade (http://www.penny-arcade.com), I know nothing about such things. Plus, I mean, Oddworld III... and we have a PSOne already for DDR...

For reference, Speakeasy (http://www.speakeasy.net) is giving away game consoles with the DSL package we want to get, so I'm fishing for advice.

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Ha, Penny Arcade used to push my pals' band, The Minibosses (http://www.minibosses.com) all the time (because they play Nintendo music with rock instruments).

I've only heard (the bad) things about the ps2 as a dvd player, and haven't seen it in action. I can't remember what ways the x-box is supposed to be better (in playing dvd's), but they do both play them, and to the best of my knowledge neither is as decent as anything better than a budget standalone dvd player.

I think that the x-box package is a great deal these days, since it comes with 2 games. Plus, a lot of games will be out for both PS2 and x-box anyway. But, for free, really, you can't lose!

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But, for free, really, you can't lose!

This is true! Except that they were *also* giving away free wireless hubs, and that seemed more instantly useful.

Oh well! Perhaps a game console another day.

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So... you don't want to drill holes and run ethernet cable all over your new house?

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Of course we do! We just want wireless TOO.

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hakamadare.livejournal.com

the ps2 works great as a dvd player, especially if you buy a remote (either Sony's expensive one or a cheaper third-party). the digital output is quite nice, if your stereo can support it. the on-screen interface is a bit cryptic, though.

i would pick the PS2 over the Xbox, despite the Xbox's slight technical superiority, for several reasons:

1) controllers. the Sony Dual Shock controller is my favorite gaming interface of all time, while the stock controller that shipped with the Xbox is the only controller ever that made me think "wow, maybe the Dreamcast's controller wasn't quite so bad". i mean, it hurt my hands worse than the old square Atari joysticks, and all the buttons seemed to have been perversely misplaced. in fairness, there is an alternate controller available that's supposed to be much better, but that's an additional expense, and it's still not a Dual Shock. on the other hand, your hands may be different sizes than mine, and thus your experiences may vary. go to a store and sample both, for more than a few minutes.

2) games. i realize that this point is also a matter of personal preference, but there aren't any Xbox-only games i want to play badly enough to buy them, whereas i've never had a problem finding PS2 games i want to play. what's more, there's the backwards-compatibility issue; i can play old Playstation games on my PS2. time to rediscover lost and now-affordable classics! (on the other hand, i wouldn't mind having a Gamecube for Metroid Prime and Super Mario Sunshine right about now.)

ah well. i guess i've made my position pretty clear. :)

-steve

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tablesaw

2) games. i realize that this point is also a matter of personal preference, but there aren't any Xbox-only games i want to play badly enough to buy them . . .

That says it all for me as well. PSX/2 has a good catalogue of games and some nice exclusive stuff. GC is growing with the multi-platform games and several very good Nintendo exclusives. Xbox seems to have Halo and lots and lots of Micro$oft money.

If you need the DVD player, I agree that the PS2 + remote is a good deal. Otherwise, I say coordinate with the gamers around you so that you don't end up with a whole bunch of people with the same systems and games. Trading is fun!

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ditto. the xbox as a home entertainment hardware (see my posting below), the gamecube for games. mmmm, eternal darkness. The first game since Alone In The Dark (1!) that made me jump under the ceiling and kept me glancing over my shoulder at 1pm...

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Eternal Darkness is a great game! I was surprised at how excited it got me.

I got Metroid Prime yesterday, though, and from the 90 or so minutes that I played, I'm getting really close to saying it's the best game I have ever played.

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Metroid Prime is definitely on my mental "gotta buy" list. But then, games come out 3 months to 6 months later in europe than in the US. And Nintendo has this (#*$&#$ region code so I can't really import from the US... gotta wait for stuff to come out in the UK and then get from there.

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fengshui.livejournal.com

I haven't seen any comparative reviews the DVD capabilities of the X-Box. There were some pretty scathing reviews (mostly from people who didn't know what they were talking about, unfortunately) of the PS2's DVD qualities when it came out, and it had a really annoying audio sync problem, but the audio sync problem was fixed with the updated DVD drivers and the picture quality improved a little bit too. Since then, I haven't seen any reliable reviews of the PS2's DVD playback. I'd be suprised if the X-Box's DVD playback was superior to the PS2 when you have the sony remote and updated drivers. (The drivers come with the remote, which is a must-buy for $20.) The PS2 also has a region-free hack available that's entirely software based which works really well. I'd definitely go with the PS2. It's just a better console than the X-Box. And then the games, the games!

PS: Anyone know when the will GC hit $100? I'd buy one at that price, especially with Zelda and Metroid coming out soon.

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take a look at the "new and improved" cel-shaded Link in zelda screenshots beforehand. I'm _very_ sceptical of the new zelda after seeing the screenshots. Link as a comic character... I dunno. I liked him better as a sprite. (I skipped both the snes and n64, so I have no idea what the zelda games were like there. I was just shocked so be(a)ware...)

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If you know someone who can solder, get an xbox and have them apply the modchip for you. You get a region code free dvd player, mp3 player, you can stream movie media from your PC to the xbox and have it display the movies on your tv. If you're bored you can install linux on it and fiddle around with that.
Oh, and you'd get to install uhm decentralized backups of games too.

And you get to screw M$ up the butt while you're at it :) (they're subsidising xboxes immensely to gain market share, so get back at them for all the misery they cause you...)

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ectropy.livejournal.com

I have it on good authority that Xboxes are designed poorly (cheaply) -- they run too hot and burn out their processors after 1 to 2 years from the excess heat. Buyer beware and all that...

Other than that, I know nothing about either one.

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fishfoo.livejournal.com

PS2! That way I can loan you all the schnazzy games I've gotten for my schnazzy new PS2...

Honestly, I don't know enough about console gaming to make a judgement either way. I also have a standalone DVD player (don't you?) so that's not really an issue -- for me, it comes down to the games available. PS2 had games which looked pretty dern keen, thankyouverymuch, and Xbox just didn't have anything which excited me. Plus, it's Microsoft.

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don't you?

Strangely, we barely have a working VCR...

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fishfoo.livejournal.com

(Implication being you don't have a working standalone DVD player.)

For what it's worth, our friends Bill and Jessie use their PS2 as their DVD player, and it seems to work just fine for them. They have to use one of their PS2 controllers as a remote (or indeed to just hit "Play"), but other than that it seems to work just fine.

Presumably if you have audiophile tendencies, or care deeply about easy access to the DVD featureset (jumping madly around menus, etc.) then perhaps the Xbox is a better choice for that whole DVD-player thing. Then again, if you have audiophile tendencies you should really be looking into one of the multi-hundred dollar standalone units (with matching digital receiver, surround speakers, and digital widescreen TV, natch).

Me? I usually just hit "Play" and leave it at that. DVDs rock my world, but I don't get too excited about it. If I didn't already have a standalone DVD player, my PS2 would serve me just fine as one. Just my two cents.

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trysha.livejournal.com

DDR.

I say again.

DDR.

Is there really a choice :)

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justinjs.livejournal.com

The wireless hub, of course.

I'm incredibly spoiled by being set up for wireless, and if I had the whole house instead of just my one floor it'd be even more significant. It doesn't seem like as big a deal until you get used to it, but then you realize how much utility it can provide and it's very difficult to go back.

Being able to have net anywhere I want, immediately, with no hassle and no wires... it really does matter.

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number42.livejournal.com

I have a PS2, an XBox, and a GameCube (and no girlfriend - go figure...) and use the XBox as my primary DVD player.

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dot_fennel

We watched DVDs on a mediocre early DVD player and a 13-inch TV, and it looked better than anything I'd ever seen at home before. Maaaaaybe there is some technical difference between DVD playback on the Xbox and the PS2, but I have a feeling that to care you'd have to be a zealot about things that I've never heard you or David get worked up over.

(That's assuming the audio sync thing is fixed. It isn't a problem on my PS2, but I've seen discs that were synchronized wrong and it was really hard to watch.)

As far as software goes, PS2 has had all but one of the console games that have made me say "I *need* to play that", but I like rhythm games even when they don't involve exercise. You may differ.

Oh, and Penny Arcade weren't kidding about the unwieldiness of the basic Xbox controller. Some other poster said there was a decent alternate, though.

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I got my gamecube first, and was used to lightweight controllers. When I got the xbox, my first impression was "WTF? am I supposed to bludgeon someone with these?" But after actually handling one in a game for 5 minutes, I didn't really feel much of a difference any more. But then, I have large hands, so people with small hands _may_ have trouble reaching all the controlls...

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alanj

PS2 has a wider variety of games, and better games. The slightly inferior graphics power isn't of great concern to me.

Admittedly, I wouldn't buy an Xbox even if it were superior, because I have no desire to assist Microsoft's attempt to extend their monopoly into home entertainment, but I've really seen nothing for Xbox to make me wish I had one. And that's from someone who owns a GameCube for the sake of playing about three games over the entire time I've owned it.

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chaggalagirl.livejournal.com

not this this will help the new household, but all i've been wanting is a super nintendo. everything else has too many buttons for me. :P

(/uselessness)

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justinjs.livejournal.com

Too many buttons?

The only game console I have is an original NES. Gold box Zelda all the way.

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chaggalagirl.livejournal.com

whoo!

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