I’m sure most folks that know me and my historical loyalties in the console wars (it still amazes me that there is such a thing) will probably think I’ve gone off the deep end, dashing liberal amounts of mercury on my scrambled eggs and wearing rabbit skin elbow warmers during mid-afternoon showers. But it’s true, ladies and germs. The PS3 is a formidable piece of hardware.
I’d go on record as saying that my console of choice (*Chris Walken tap dancing optional here*) is still handily the Xbox 360. I’m a sucker for the online integration, and (when it’s working), I think it’s generally a more congenial console experience. (Messenger integration and cross-platform invites/voice chat are just superb parts of the Xbox). I also firmly believe that there is plenty of juice left in the 360 architecture, and although there’s been many articles touting The Power of the Cell, there are also several competing articles BY ACTUAL DEVELOPERS that talk about the real world performance and the way the symmetry of the processing within the Xbox yields much truer results. (Well constructed article here, if you’re interested). So why do I say that the PS3 rocks? I’m glad you asked…
When the PS3 dropped, it was missing some key features that I have grown quite comfortable with on the 360. My particular pet peeves were background downloading, networked music support, custom soundtracks, and a proper marketplace. Here we are less than 9 months later, and we’re the proud owner of three of these four features. The rate at which Sony updates their monolithic box ‘o gaming greatness is nothing short of astounding. We see firmware updates on the PS3 at least monthly, and they almost always are substantial. (ADDING DNLA support really threw me…bravo, guys!) This sort of expandability is certainly comforting to note, and speaks well of the architecture of both next-gen consoles.
Another place where we’re seeing some great showings is the original programming on the Playstation Network. Awesomely quirky titles like Calling All Cars, flOw, and the upcoming Echochrome are examples of actual INNOVATION in the gaming space, and they are bite-sized, direct-to-download titles. (Just in case I’m starting to get too positive here, I thoroughly rebuke Sony for not requiring demos of these titles. I’m sure it frustrates folks that are attempting to pass certification for Xbox Live Arcade, but having a demo as a requirement is refreshing and professional and a phenomenal part of the Arcade).
Finally, I also have to bow my head in reverence of the unbridled hardware support for third-party devices. Webcams, Bluetooth headsets, and USB drives are all viable hardware solutions whether they come from Sony or from third-party vendors. I’m sure this makes things complex from a support standpoint, and there may be some examples of hardware that isn’t up to snuff for certain features, but this is a welcome decision, and one that justifies the admittedly high cost of the Playstation 3.
So, if I’m such a 360 nut, why do I care about all these things (other than the vicarious experiences at DLB’s house?) Simply put, competition breeds better product. I think that the 360 IS a great piece of hardware, with some killer games and some fantastic design choices. And I think they know it. Sony has been focusing their financial resources on catching up in every area possible, whether it be a random bullet point (media streaming) or a full-blown service (movie and TV show rentals). And it is VITAL for Microsoft to keep their eye on the ball and continue to innovate in the space they’ve made for themselves.
Two firmware updates a year?
MORE “classic” retro titles?
ONE choice for a webcam or headset?
It’s not going to cut it anymore, guys. A cursory review of E3 this year shows Microsoft to have (as stated in their somewhat pompous and thoroughly honest statistical slides) a solid holiday season coming up. To be fair, this might be their last free holiday before they have to show up for practice…
Loading ...