PS2 or Xbox?

[krafty]

I've got both...

The Xbox has much better graphics, the 8GB internal hard drive is VERY nice (no buying memory cards), and Xbox Live is a sweet setup - at a cost. Fewer games and hit-and-miss quality are the downside. The big Xbox controller sucks, but the new Controller-S is a big improvement. If there's a multi-platform game, I'll get it for the Xbox because it looks nicer.

The PS2 has a wider variety of games, the controller is sweet, and you can play it online as well with the network adapter. You don't have to pay for online gaming, beyond buying the adapter itself and paying for your ISP. Load times on the PS2 are significantly longer than on the Xbox, and you have to pay $25 in order to save your games.

Keep in mind the PS2 is a year farther into it's life cycle.

My game inventory-
Xbox: Splinter Cell, HALO, Panzer Dragoon Orta, SSX Tricky, RalliSport Challenge and MechAssault.
PS2: Rez, SOCOM, Grand Theft Auto Vice City, Gran Turismo 3, Max Payne and Simpsons Road Rage.

[Mossman]

I have an Xbox but I don't play it. I think Xbox is better, but PS2 gets more "MUST HAVE" titles. Besides Halo, all of the must have games are on ps2. Gran Turismo, GTA, etc.

Xbox live is a BLAST though, and all in all i think Xbox is a better system. I don't mind the big Xbox controllers at all, and after playing on it for a while I cannot play PS2. I just can't find the buttons and always screw up, it really bugs me

XBOX OWNS!

[Trench]

Halo is a GREAT game... Hehe...

[gibby]

I own pretty much all the systems out there. I must agree, the XBox is one of my favs. In terms of hardware/performance, you definitely get more out of the Xbox. Network capability is built in as well as mass. storage. With the PS2, you have to buy the extra stuff to get the functionality of the Xbox.

The one thing I like about the PS2 are the RPGs. Not to mention the downwardly compatibility of playing PS1 games. But unless you already own a PS1, this is just a minor feature of the PS2.

Both Xbox and PS2 try to have exclusive titles. However, more and more developers will make the same game for all the platforms. The Xbox usually being the better experience because of the more powerful hardware. The PS2 is usually the lowest common denominator when it comes to the big three: xbox, gamecube, and ps2.

The best thing you should do is make a list of games you and your wife would want to play. How much time would be spent playing each system. Get the one that will maximize your playing time because a system that hardly gets played is a bad investment in your entertainment. Also, who will play it more?

Like paintball, your gaming experience is all about preference. A lot of people say Xbox because it's the more powerful system...but I still find some games on the older systems much more enjoyable to play than some of the games on the next gen systems. It's very similar to why I liked my Dreamcast better than my PS2 at the time.

Anyway, I've said far too much...whatever system you get...ENJOY!!! And remember, buy games and don't copy em! Cause developers need to eat too...LOL!!

[FooTemps]

Bah, why don't we settle this and you get BOTH? lol

I own both and I play both equally. I play gran turismo 3 on my ps2 so much. I still don't have xenosaga yet but I'm getting it. I'm also getting Guilty Gear X (another great fighting game). There are so many good titles for the PS2. I can't say the same about the Xbox. But where they come up with good games, they're usually super kickass... like halo... The graphics are really nice too so it's basically a trade off. You can get the older system with more great games for it or you can get the newer system with some good hits and great graphics.

[gibby]

Having to buy two consoles, not to mention the games can be quite expensive! For the gamer with a budget, they have to be more careful with what they choose. I would say that there are plenty of quality games out for the Xbox as well, and with this coming year, it can only get better. Luckily for me, E3 is just around the corner..wooohoo!! Unfortunately for me, I gotta work so we can get our demo out for the show...DOH!!

I was going to say in my previous post, if you can score a Dreamcast for $50, it's a great bargain! Not to mention most of the games sell for $5-$10 off the shelf! Plenty of good games to be played still on that puppy! Skies of Arcadia is one of the better RPGs on that system.

Because I was a hardcore PC FPS fan, I really hated the idea of Halo on the Xbox. But after I got over it, I must admit, it was a fun game. But nothing you could really play competatively at online, imo. For me, online competative play for FPS games require accuracy. Playing with the control pad limits that. Mouse and keyboard is the way to go, imo. But as a single player, co-op game, it was a blast!

I also picked up a Gamecube a few months back. I figured, why not...but luckily for me, they do have a few good titles out for it. Metroid Prime and Zelda: WW is worth the price of the system. Unfortunately, it looks like the days of the cube is coming to an end. More and more developers just aren't developing for it because the system doesn't sell.

[ShooterJM]

Yeah I think nintendo is going the way of sega.

Still need to pick up some more legacy systems though. Dreamcast being one of them.

[bunkermaster10]

System

Get the PS2 or save for something new for your paintball marker.

[vf-xx]

Maybe it's just me, but something else to touch on are the controllers. Find out which one you and your wife like better. Personally I hate both the XBox's controllers. I just don't like the feel of the buttons and they don't fit my hands well. The PS2 controllers fit my hands perfectly tho.

And on the note about having to fix a PS2, I've only had 1 problem from mine, and that was dust on the laser eye. I've had my PS2 since the day after launch (had it mailed to me) and that's the only problem I've ever had. It should be noted that I live in a very dusty area (lubbock) and it survived three years here under those conditions.

Another point not mentioned is that the PS2 plays DVD's out of the box. The Xbox requires that you buy the remote control, $30. Granted this doesn't matter if you already have a DVD player.

The Xbox has 4 controller ports and does put out more 4 player games, but if it's just you and your wife then its not a bounus.

Personally I agree that some of the XBox stuff just looks pretty, but that's not enough for me. Looking at games today the gap in graphics doesn't seem to be that large so for me it's really not that big of a deal.

Also the PS2 isn't weighted down with the souls of programmers and is much lighter than the Xbox. (Can't you tell that I like my PS2?

[Archangel Kid]

I've always loved my ps controller and hated every other ... it felt sooo natural.. but i got xbox and controller S and its perfect size for my hands i wub it

[TigerMan]

Originally posted by gibby
I also picked up a Gamecube a few months back. I figured, why not...but luckily for me, they do have a few good titles out for it. Metroid Prime and Zelda: WW is worth the price of the system. Unfortunately, it looks like the days of the cube is coming to an end. More and more developers just aren't developing for it because the system doesn't sell.

I love my Gamecube, especially those 2 games you listed. It's sad for me to see it on its downward leg, just look at some of the deals out right now for them to try and get sales (2 games for free with purchase of a 'Cube, quality games too like WW and Metroid). I'm happy though because I've gotten what I wanted out of the system, Zelda titles.

[wes]

Originally posted by yeahthatsme
plus the xbox has an internal memory drive(40mb i believe) and you can store music!

LOL, more like 8 or 10 GIGS, depedning on the model


ps

GC ALL THE WAY!
LoZ:TWW= fun stuff

[gibby]

Originally posted by vf-xx
Also the PS2 isn't weighted down with the souls of programmers and is much lighter than the Xbox. (Can't you tell that I like my PS2?

LOL VF!! Actually, the PS2 might be light compared to the Xbox...but it does contain the souls of every programmer that develops games! The PS2 is just so limiting in terms of development...lack of memory makes it very difficult to program for. The Xbox is just so much more easier to develop for because it's fairly generous on the memory and cpu side. Our programmers constantly try to compress our data(textures, animation, 3d models) just so we can fit it on the PS2. On the good side however, it does allow us to fit more into memory on the more powerful systems.

Frame rates seem to be better on the Xbox than on the PS2. I think that's what adds to the overall look and feel. It just plays so much smoother.

LOL!! As you can tell, I might be a little biased against the PS2...because I have a reason! That thing keeps us working night and day until our freaking game fits on the PS2!! Hehe! Not only that...but the PS2 took away the momentum from my beloved Dreamcast. I still believe the Dreamcast had a lot going for it but they hype of the PS2 kept consumers from buying it. It's a shame cause the Dreamcast had a lot of quality games and I feel the PS2 didn't deliver until a year later after it was released. However, the PS2 already did its damaged and took away a year of profits from Sega...but that's just my opinion.

[vf-xx]

Well gibby can't say as how I know if you're right one way or the other. I'm not a programmer and doubt i'll ever be one.

I've just heard that programs (especially Microsuck related) have been getting sloppier and sloppier. Now i'm not saying that your code is sloppy (cause how would I know) but by seeing what's come out on the PS2 nice games can obviously be made. All that says to me is that they're better quality IMO.

[alkafluence]

Originally posted by yeahthatsme
plus the xbox has an internal memory drive(40mb i believe) and you can store music and play live(SOOOO MUCH FUN) and actually talk with the communicator! omg its soooo great!

Actually, it's anywhere between 8-10 gig depending on when you bought your box.

Not to mention the newer ones will now accept basically all writable media, whereas the older ones had DVD-ROM / CDRW only drives.

And as of right now, you can buy an Xbox that comes with 3 games and the new Harry Potter DVD at Camelot Music.