With the release of the new "Xbox 360 S" by Microsoft during the recent E3 conference, the pressure was put back on Sony and the PlayStation 3. The newly designed console included several upgrades over the original including a sleeker look, slightly smaller exterior, WiFi, quieter operation, support for Kinect, and a huge 250GB hard drive. Even with all this, the price of the console remained constant at $299, also the price of the PlayStation 3. So with the same price, which console packs more bang for your buck?
It'll always come down to purely opinion with each console and its owners, and yes it's nice to be able to own both. But look, not everyone is able to do that. For those who don't have the money laying around to pay for two gaming consoles, it becomes simply a comparison of which console is the better buy. My choice? The PlayStation 3, even with the recent upgrade of the Xbox 360. In fact, this "upgrade" made me realize how truly incapable Microsoft's original console was as an overall package compared to the PlayStation 3.
*Note: I am NOT comparing the gaming capabilities of the consoles. In my opinion, they are even here. Each has its ups and downs, I am merely comparing the features included in each console along with the gaming component. Other people can waste their time arguing that fact, because realistically if I cared THAT much about graphics I would only game on PC.
So let's get back on topic. You've just recieved about $300 as a gift during the holidays, and are looking to purchase your first of the two consoles. Obviously, if you haven't purchased one until this late in the generation you aren't just going to be a pure gamer. You like variety, movies, games, music, socializing. And that's what I personally feel that the PlayStation 3 brings to the table more effectively than the Xbox 360. It's been said before, and I'm going to say it again. Blu-ray on the PS3 makes it a much better value than the other consoles. Not only is it Blu-ray capable, but it now it is also a 3D Blu-ray player. Go ahead and defend the 360 with your life, but until you can afford the $299 for the 250GB console plus at least $200 for a 3D Blu-ray player then there's not much to say. Unless of course, $299 + $200 = $299? Remember, I'm not comparing games I'm comparing the system as an overall package.
I will give the Xbox 360 a 1-up on it's large hard drive, and that's likely where Microsoft put too much into it. The massive hard drive is great and all, but what's the point of all that space when it's never even going to be used? Yes, there are some people out there who will download an insane amount of content to their system, but again I would buy the PlayStation 3 if I were going to do that. Sony's place as a movie publisher really allows the PlayStation Store to flourish with an endless amount of great movies, fully downloadable in 1080p. Plus if you think you need more storage, 500GB 2.5" hard drives compatible with the PlayStation 3 are available for around $50-$60 instead of paying $100 more for the 250GB model.
Wifi is finally included with the 360. It's about time, don't you think? Especially considering even my camera has wifi at this point. It's a great and welcome addition to the new console when I go to purchase it, but it still makes me think...it took five years for them to incorporate something the PlayStation 3 has had since launch.
Nevertheless, I'm going to be buying the newer Xbox 360 as a replacement for my uhm, broken one that can't be fixed for free. (Warranty seal = broken) Why? Because I love gaming as a whole. Do I think my money could go to better use? Yes. But the truth is, I can't play all the games I love on the PlayStation 3, and I can't play all the games I love on the Xbox 360. If you HAVE to choose, I recommend the PlayStation 3 everytime because of everything else it is capable of. But if it's within your means, don't make that choice. Heck, buying both used would probably get them both for the price of one new.
