PS3 vs. 360: Now A Fair Fight, Software Will Determine Winner
For the first time ever this generation, the PlayStation is the exact same price as a comparable Xbox 360 model and because Sony has been charging hard throughout 2009, the two competitors have established an even ground and now...it's a fair fight. No excuses from here on out; ultimately, the console with the better software will prevail.
I know what many will say: "oh, the console with the best software always wins." Yeah, well, we're in a new age now that features systems that act as full entertainment machines; there's Blu-Ray (or lack thereof) to consider, the competing online services, the reliability, and of course, the price. All of that matters, and while we still believe the PS3 Slim has the edge in terms of what the consumer gets for his three hundred bucks, the general consensus is a little more split, which only proves that "even keel" theory further. From here on out, it's really going to hinge on exclusive software; awesome games that can only be played on one particular console. The true "system sellers" are what may end up determining the overall winner, as the price complaints have mostly disappeared and consumers can now weigh each console without thinking too much about the inherent cost.
The PS3 is certainly more reliable, the Network is free, the Store has really taken shape, and Home is intriguing, but many will say the 360 still has more games available, still has "livelier" Live servers (forgive the pun), and everyone knows about the Netflix option. Of course, the PSN also has downloadable movies and TV but for whatever reason, the average consumer doesn't know that. The point is, with the consoles so close in terms of all factors outside of software, the logical tiebreaker will undoubtedly go to the software. Which system delivers what you want to play? It'll really be that simple. Things can change over the next year or so, but with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, God of War III, Gran Turismo 5, Heavy Rain, Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time, MAG, and The Last Guardian primed to make a lot of waves on the PS3, it seems Sony has the definite edge. But then again, people do have different tastes.
We've been waiting for the time when the games would dictate the battle, and it has finally come. And if you don't know where that duel pic is from, you shouldn't even be drawing breath.
9/3/2009 9:45:27 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (156 posts)
mackid1993
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:17:41 PM
Titch1794
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 3:19:28 AM
kevinater321
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 7:49:15 AM
zee
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 10:03:33 AM
However, PS3 is finally at a point where it compete in terms of price. The only thing that was keeping PS3 from achieving it's full market potential was the price. $299 for such a powerful machine is extremely reasonable. Heck, I paid $420 (tax included) for my 80GIG PS3 and I never thought that it was over priced! Some people paid like $599 and most of them till date say that it was worth it.
I am not a sales caring person guy but a few days ago a brand new site XBOX LIFESTYLE put up an article which read "PS3 SLIM DETHRONED BY AN XBOX GAME" and well, I said back then that it won't last 24 hours and wow, I was right. That game was then "dethroned" by WiiFit with BalanceBoard and now PS3 Slim has taken back the #1. Remember all this happened before September 1st (my birthday).
Xbox Elite is currently at #33 WITH a downwards trend :) Clearly, the only thing keeping a lot of people purchasing a PS3 was the price and though AMAZON is no way to predict the whole market, it is one way of seeing where things are heading.
kevinater321
Sunday, September 06, 2009 @ 5:15:37 PM
Russell Burrows
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:37:26 PM
So the Xbox Arcade was 399?
Total fail since it was 199 for the Arcade.
But now that the prices for PS3 Slim and 360 Elite are both 299 its a more fair fight.
Wheres that Xbox Live is better rap?
Not so since Microsoft thinks so highly of the Live service that they are giving it away to try and compete with PSN.
PS3 bullet points are that just from saveing 20 dollars per month on electrical costs this means the PS3 Slim pays for itself in about a year VERSUS the 35 to 40 dollar per month electrical bill from running the 360 Elite.
Toss in the RROD aka E74 problem and the question becomes why buy a 360 to waste my money on makeing the Electric company rich or time waiting for it to be fixed? only to break again?
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:45:08 PM
NiteKrawler
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:30:04 AM
Orvisman
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 9:28:01 AM
somethingrandom
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 @ 1:52:05 AM
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:19:47 PM
Reply
tes37
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:50:43 PM
Advent Child
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:40:45 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:45:58 PM
fluffer nutter
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:32:52 AM
dlte
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 1:29:00 AM
CH1N00K
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 8:41:00 AM
This one is along the lines of the guys who did Robin Hood: Men in tights, just so you know what kind of humour you're getting.
Last edited by CH1N00K on 9/4/2009 8:43:19 AM
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 2:48:24 PM
Frenchy17
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 3:24:52 PM
SonyPuppy
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 5:26:38 PM
Highlander
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:05:19 PM
tes37
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:17:08 PM
bxshotboi
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:28:35 PM
Reply
NiteKrawler
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:33:37 AM
Fane1024
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 2:40:48 AM
NiteKrawler
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 7:44:28 AM
Highlander
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:06:54 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:47:21 PM
johnld
Saturday, September 05, 2009 @ 1:50:58 AM
LegendaryWolfeh
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:34:00 PM
Reply
Fatcat3788
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:37:26 PM
LegendaryWolfeh
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:45:23 PM
LegendaryWolfeh
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:48:37 PM
Fatcat3788
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:36:11 PM
Reply
On topic: It is going to be interesting to see what happens now that the PS3 is an affordable piece of entertainment (in the eyes of the public anyways) I just hope that the boost in consumers of Playstation brands brings back the developers who once catered to them.
Highlander
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:07:54 PM
iGraves1
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:36:40 PM
Reply
Last edited by iGraves1 on 9/3/2009 10:41:56 PM
LegendaryWolfeh
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:46:09 PM
iGraves1
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 1:06:04 AM
kevinater321
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 8:02:39 AM
Highlander
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:03:58 PM
Reply
LegendaryWolfeh
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:38:11 PM
Wage SLAVES
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 8:32:54 PM
BTNwarrior
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:11:40 PM
Reply
so overall netflix needs to hurry up and support the ps3
b3mike
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 1:25:22 AM
Orvisman
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 9:38:08 AM
Could this be the pay one monthly fee for unlimited downloads Koller was talking about?
If so, that would kick Netflix's ass.
I know it was mentioned in connection with the Bravia line of TVs, but I can so see Sony rolling this out to the PS3 too.
SILVERAMMO
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:27:08 PM
Reply
556pineapple
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:27:35 PM
Reply
godsman
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:35:52 PM
Reply
Think about it, the PS3 right now is barely making profit at $299. The Xbox, made from much cheaper components, must be making a profit.
It's a pure battle of software for Sony. To buy Uncharted 2, most likely you are a current PS3 owner, its not a system seller. This holiday depends on GT5 and FFXIII to sell, sequels that are new to the next gen system. GT5 got US & UK covered, and FXIII has Japan.
kevinater321
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 8:22:22 AM
johnld
Saturday, September 05, 2009 @ 1:58:22 AM
orangpelupa
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:38:01 PM
Reply
SnipeySnake
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:45:34 PM
Reply
LimitedVertigo
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:51:49 PM
SnipeySnake
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:01:30 AM
Scarecrow
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:16:38 AM
wtf are they smoking? IGN has been garbage since 2007
That's the very same year I stop visiting that garbage of a site.
Bunch of "journalists" who think they're holier than thou with a fancy site
Garbage site is garbage
Note: Most of their articles have not real substance beyond their superficial nature.
iGraves1
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 1:11:25 AM
Jawknee
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 8:56:29 AM
Jawknee
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 11:12:18 AM
pillz81
Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 11:27:21 AM
LimitedVertigo
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:48:38 PM
Reply
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 2:51:13 PM
SnipeySnake
Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 11:59:21 PM
Reply
SnipeySnake
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:02:31 AM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:07:32 AM
Reply
Deleted User [Administrator]
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:12:49 AM
LimitedVertigo
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:34:15 AM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:41:33 AM
LimitedVertigo
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:49:34 AM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 1:11:32 AM
Corak
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 3:45:06 AM
kevyd09
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 5:07:45 AM
Deleted User
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 5:20:20 AM
www
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 7:14:42 AM
Hawkeye
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 10:19:14 AM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 10:21:09 AM
Mornelithe
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 11:27:03 PM
Streets_74
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:09:19 AM
Reply
Last edited by Streets_74 on 9/4/2009 12:12:57 AM
Streets_74
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:24:32 AM
LimitedVertigo
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:35:45 AM
Fane1024
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 7:05:36 PM
NiteKrawler
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:28:13 AM
Reply
fluffer nutter
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:38:05 AM
Charger7302
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 1:40:29 AM
Reply
The ps3 has had some great releases so far(resistance,LBP,KZ2,etc) but none of those games have pulled in the masses that we the pro-Sony had hoped. We can argue the fact that these games were released in a time where the ps3 was "expensive", but all those games should have been more then enough to make a ps3 purchase "acceptable". I am sure many will keep their eyes on the "big AAA" multiplats coming to see what platform sold more copies but in the end I think we pro-Sony will end up being disapointed. For example MW2 is considered by many to be the biggest release this year and if this article where to be used to say whoever sells more copies wins, well I for one will be praying for a miracle. The ps3 will without a doubt sell many more copies of MW2 now that it got a price cut, but it will not sell as many copies as the 360.(man, I probably sounded like a xbot after saying that)
In a one sentence summary( for any1 who doesn't get wat I mean) is that this article will be seen as a challenge by many others and ultimately end in us ps3 owners wanting to take back everything that was said in this article.
djrilla11241980
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 1:56:56 AM
Reply
___________
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 1:57:52 AM
Reply
i thought they were called video game consoles because that was their main purpose.
most bluray players are under 300 bucks here.
and sonys ones are around 400 and they have better upscalers than what the ps3 has.
im not saying the ps3 is a bad media hub, but theres better ones for a cheaper price to.
dell studio laptops start at 400 bucks and their nice and small to use on the go. or youve got a psp.
point being the ps3 is a waste of money used anything besides a video game console thats what its meant to be used as.
this ps3 was made for playing games, and thats just what it will do, one of these days this ps3 will play games all over you!
Scarecrow
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 2:14:09 AM
ps2 already proved this
It was the DVD console and though it wasn't the best DVD player that was a big point which indeed helped the ps2 claim its rightful place. Not the MAIN point, but a good add-on nonetheless
It's just history repeating itself with blu-ray. With the price drop and multitude of games + blu-ray, it's a matter of time.
Last edited by Scarecrow on 9/4/2009 2:14:52 AM
daus26
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 8:38:32 AM
Anyways, I disagree. I'm happy Sony did what they did with the ps3. I was surprise enough to find out that it had an internet browser, media server, and wi-fi built in. As for blu-ray, its the fastest and most convinient out there. By fast, it actually starts up right away.
The ps3 is so great, standalone blu-ray players were playing catch-up in terms of price and features like BD live or 7.1 surround sound. All the ps3 had to do was get a firmware update. For most standalone BD players, you have to buy the one that supports those new features cause first gens BD players can't have those features.
Then with the other things it can do, such as photos, videos, free online gaming/network, its very much worth its money. I even use the ps3 to get album pics for the songs in my ipod (yes it can do that too).
Back then, maybe the "software only matters" would apply very well. But with the current generation, there are many more factors than just software. These guys would have to worry about online network and other technology like Blu-ray, which have its advantages over dvds.
For example:
Forza 3- 400 cars, 100? tracks = 2 dvds
GT5- 1000 cars, 80+ tracks = 1 BD
Jawknee
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 9:33:07 AM
Fane1024
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 7:09:18 PM
BigBoss4ever
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 2:07:24 AM
Reply
Titch1794
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 3:21:12 AM
daus26
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 3:31:30 AM
Jawknee
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 9:59:10 AM
daus26
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 3:20:56 AM
Reply
That said, advertisement is really the anchor point for the ps3, even more than software I think.
More than anything, I think the 360 seems so great because of their exposure...not their reliability, not its old school dvd tech., not its design, and certainly not because of Halo...or is it? hmmmm
LimitedVertigo
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 3:39:58 AM
daus26
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 8:09:15 AM
However, my point still stands. With how it is now - PSN catching up to XBL (plus psn is free for heaven sakes), price at a standpoint, and many, many exclusives to come, all Sony have to do from now on is the marketing.
With that list of exclusive coming up, Sony need not to worry much about software. They just gotta get the word out.
SkantDragon
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 4:06:10 AM
Reply
I think what you really mean is that it's now pretty much impossible for even the most rabid 360 fanboy to claim you get more hardware for your money with the same priced 360.
In reality, you were already getting more hardware capability per dollar out of the PS3 _before_ the slim and the price cut. But it took some analysis to realize that.
I don't think it's an even fight now at all. It's difficult to point out objective advantages for the 360. But it's rather easy to point out objective advantages for the PS3 slim.
I think the slim is going to do serious damage to the 360 market share.
Douchebaguette
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 5:21:35 AM
Reply
Diggity Dan
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 8:15:23 AM
Reply
CH1N00K
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 9:02:04 AM
Diggity Dan
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 9:11:25 AM
Jawknee
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 10:10:29 AM
NiteKrawler
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 11:40:09 AM
CH1N00K
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 9:00:55 AM
Reply
Him: "Dude, did you see the commercial for Halo: ODST? It looks kinda cool, I may have to pick it up."
Me: "I haven't seen you play you're XBox in Months, Does it even still work?"
Akward silence, add sound of crickets chirping (honestly, or Cicadas or something..but something was chirping for a few seconds)
Him: " (Big Sigh)No it's broke..again...That's why I bought a PS3."
We resume playing COD: WAW Coop zombies again...
Him: "When's Uncharted 2 coming?"
(For the record, this is 360 numero 6 that he's gone through since launch...he's not even going to bother send this one back, he's converted to PS3 for good I think)
Last edited by CH1N00K on 9/4/2009 9:04:20 AM
Diggity Dan
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 9:27:25 AM
I told him that he likes his Xbox so much, that he bought 5 of them! (Not sarcasm, he's truly on his 5th console, yet he still tries to tell me I need to get one).
Highlander
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 10:02:49 AM
But seriously, that's a massive bandwidth hog. It's no wonder people complain like crazy about games lagging on the Xbox, they're too busy bloody chatting to realize that their much vaunted chat function is killing their games.
Nynja
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:05:44 PM
I hate to say it, but the 360 does have 2 features that I can only hope that Sony brings to the PS3; Independent voice chat (aka: cross-game chat) and true music playback. What's nice about 360 (I think I just puked a little), is how you start playing a song and do just about ANYTHING without it stopping. Whereas the PS3, if you try accessing photos, games, or system settings it will kill the playback.
bearbobby
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 11:20:58 AM
Reply
"Rodents of Unusual Size..? I don't think they exist."
"RAWWWR!!!"
lol, classic movie. Lots of heart and comedy. I quote lines from that film often and you can always tell from the glint in their eyes who gets it.
"And you: friendless, brainless, helpless, hopeless! Do you want me to send you back to where you were? Unemployed... in Greenland!"
Diggity Dan
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:04:02 PM
bearbobby
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 3:12:14 PM
Diggity Dan
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 3:48:19 PM
Diggity Dan
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:01:10 PM
robinhood2010
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:07:55 PM
Reply
robinhood2010
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:10:12 PM
Diggity Dan
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 9:07:43 PM
coverton341
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 12:56:02 PM
Reply
Wow...sorry about that. I like both systems. They are both good. End of rant...
CH1N00K
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 2:11:10 PM
Now getting it to stop completely isn't going to happen. When the PS3 was just starting out, it seemed sometimes like the whole world was against it and the xbox flame hate towards it was pretty harsh. Now that it looks like Sony is gaining momentum, you know there are going to be some bitter Sony fans looking for a little payback.
I kept an open mind about the 360 when it first came out as I also had an original xbox. I even almost bought one. Then when I saw so many people I knew returning them because of RROD...I decided against getting it. Then I bought the PS3 instead...I don't regret it for a second.
I do admit, when I saw some of the Halo ODST ads, I thought man I used to love the first 2 halos, It would be cool to play the series again...( Many nights in my early twenties were spent with 15 of my closest friends Linking 4 Xboxes to play some Halo deathmatch on 4 different TV's) but I can't justify spending all that money on a handful of exclusives, when I still have some PS3 games I haven't unwrapped yet.
I don't have enough time to play the games I have, let alone bother with another system. When I was younger, I used to own them all...now I reserve my choice to the best value for the money and stick with one system...Sony got my money on that one.
Last edited by CH1N00K on 9/4/2009 2:14:13 PM
Fane1024
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 7:17:55 PM
BeezleDrop
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 8:40:21 PM
Reply
Dancemachine55
Friday, September 04, 2009 @ 11:39:20 PM
Reply
Highlander
Saturday, September 05, 2009 @ 12:53:46 AM
bridgera
Saturday, September 05, 2009 @ 2:50:16 PM
Sure, they aren't EXACTLY Halo, but Sony could always make one very similar. In my opinion, Tribes 2 was superior to Halo. I also prefer Warhawk's multiplayer to Halo 3's multiplayer, but again, that has no Co-Op campaign.
Haven't picked up Killzone 2 yet, simply because it doesn't have a Co-op campaign.
johnld
Saturday, September 05, 2009 @ 1:44:28 AM
Reply
bridgera
Saturday, September 05, 2009 @ 2:45:00 PM
Reply
what with the PS3 having the advantages of Blu Ray, free online play, built in wireless adapter, and controllers that you don't have to buy batteries for. Also never in it's history did it have a 40%+ failure rate that still makes a lot of people weary to buy one.
Seems like the PS3 has a huge edge over the 360. It just doesn't seem fair.
royalstream
Monday, September 07, 2009 @ 10:59:48 AM
Reply
Reliability does it for me, I'm with the PS3.
And I'm a strong MSFT fan as far as everthing else is concerned but as far as gaming I'm with Sony, sorry.
Also... Blu-ray wasn't that important for me a few months ago but now I stand corrected, Blu-ray IS a big deal if you have a FullHD TV.

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kevinater321
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Thursday, September 03, 2009 @ 10:07:19 PM