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What is it about Achievements?

Jason Trent says Rewards systems are powerful things, and can help guide players in their purchases. Depending on which system you've invested the most amount of time on (the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3), you might find yourself drawn to one or the other on multi-platform games. I, for one, find that I purchase all of my multi-platform titles for the Xbox 360. Because I've spent a lot of time earning Achievements, I'd prefer to continue to increase my gamer score on that particular rewards system. Others feel connected to the trophy system, in which case they're going to be bound to purchase their multi-platform titles for the PlayStation 3. Without a doubt, this is something consumers consider when purchasing a game. What is it about these little beauties that make us tick? Why do so many of us spend so much time earning them, and what is it about them that makes us seek them out?

First and foremost, they make us feel good. They satisfy a compulsion to be rewarded for our actions. Most of us mull through life looking to get a pat on the head when we do well at something. It might be school, it might be work, it might be a relationship, but whatever it is, we need to feel like there's a reason for doing what we do; a reason that can often be found in the praise we receive. Getting an "Achievement Unlocked" message upon reaching the end of a level is just the carrot on a stick I need to keep me going sometimes.

Beyond the obvious point that achievements and trophies make us feel swell, they also represent your gaming resume; a scrapbook of sorts. Much like looking at photos of your last vacation, viewing a list of achievements or trophies you've earned can serve to remind you of some great times. They're a way to say, "I've been there. I've seen some stuff. I've done great things." Because we have something to show ourselves and others, they're validation that the time we've spent gaming wasn't a waste. Much the opposite in fact. Achievements and trophies allow us to bolster our sense of self-worth.

Besides being a system of rewards, achievements and trophies also supplement leader boards by providing a new way to compete with friends. I remember the first time I got into a friendly competition with someone (a co-worker) through achievements. I noticed that he was playing a lot of Call of Duty: World at War on Veteran difficulty. He'd already beaten a few levels, so I had to intervene. I caught up with him, then came to work the next day to gloat. From there, we'd each rush home after work each day to try to outdo the other, and for a change, work became fun. We'd share strategies, experiences, and frustrations (grenade spamming anyone?); things that really took my experience with the game to the next level. Eventually he got stuck on Vendetta (the fourth level), and I on Blowtorch & Corkscrew (the 12th level), but even if I wasn't able to finish the game, I still won the competition.

Achievements and trophies may seem simple on the surface, but there's more to them than meets the eye. I leave you with these questions: What are some of your favorite achievements or trophies and why? Do you prefer the acheivements system or trophies system and why?

Sony’s Fallen Giant

Erik Kubik shares this sad moment about his PS3. My ps3 died this last Monday, right in the middle of some Red Faction Guerrilla multiplayer. The 60 GB system that loved me for the past 2 ½ years croaked. My console and I had been through thick and thin.

On that horrifying night, 30 minutes into the game my ps3 suddenly shut down, which I thought was slightly unusual. I powered the system back up, it ran for 5 minutes, beeped, and then shut down while briefly flashing a yellow light and then started flashing a red light before I powered it off completely. From my initial research on the Internet, I would say the power supply or one of the fans went bad. How can this happen? I kept my ps3 in a well ventilated area and I never used the system for more than three hours at a time.

Overall, two and a half years is a good run for a system. My regular Xbox broke after a year and a half. I sold my Dreamcast and Gamecube after a year; and they never broke down on me.

I noticed about three months ago the fans on the system were working really hard. I thought to myself at the time that I should back up my saved games. Why didn’t I do that…?

Now, I come home from work and instead of relaxing with the ps3, I attempt to watch TV or play the Wii or DS; it’s just not the same. I find myself getting bored and thinking about the ps3. Now it sits in the corner, an ominous black coffin at the edge of a slow and painful death, having gasped its last breath earlier. I have a feeling the broken console is mocking me and my despair.

I purchased my ps3 in August of 2007 so the warranty is long expired. I do have a few options though. I could pay Sony $189 dollars to fix it and receive a three-month warranty. Sony would have my black coffin for a week to two weeks. I would receive either a refurbished console or my original one. None of my data from the hard drives would be saved. I could pay a third-party repair service around $100 and they promise to save all my data and have it back to me in three days. They offer a 30-day guarantee. Based on recommendations and their feedback they appear to be legitimate and stand behind their work. Or I could save some out-of-pocket money and sell it on eBay for parts; broken 60 gb ps3’s seem to fetch $130-$150.

My biggest concern is losing the data. I have 40+ hours dumped into some of the games. Games like Fallout 3 and its DLC, Resident Evil 5, infamous and Uncharted 2. The only saving grace in losing this data is that I could clean out my game collection and trade the titles I no longer play on Goozex.

My final option is to try and pinpoint the issue and fix it myself. If it’s the fan or the power supply, those can be purchased online for $30-$50. There are plenty of videos that demonstrate the fixes. However, I run the risk of completely breaking it and wasting my time.


If I decide to get rid of it, I think it’s time I went to my local GS, use some saved up trade-in credit, and pick up a 120 gb slim.

I have a feeling my ps3 was giving me some sort of sign. Like it was telling me that I play too many video games and that I need to cut back a bit. Or maybe it was that I should have acted on the warning signs from four months ago when it started dying.

My last option is to jump on the 360 bandwagon.

360 vs PS3 vs Wii: Who Won 2009?

Troy Benedict says In 2009, the game console with the most number of review scores of 90% or above was the PlayStation 3, according to MetaCritic.com.

Not only did the PS3 have the largest number of highly-reviewed titles, 9 to be exact, the list also contained 3 system exclusives: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, God of War Collection, and Killzone 2.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was also the highest reviewed game of the year with an average of over 96%.

The 360 finished off the year in second place with 7 highly-reviewed titles. It's highest-rated game was Modern Warfare 2. Only 2 Xbox 360 exclusives made the list: Forza Motorsport 3 and the downloadable add-on Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and the Damned.

The Wii finished in third place with only one game held in the highest regards. That title was also a Wii exclusive: Metroid Prime Trilogy. [As a side note: somebody out there might ask, "What about New Super Mario Bros. Wii?" Based on average review scores of this publication, it averaged out at 87%. Not quite the shining beacon that Mario titles usually are.]

The multiplatform games that made both the PlayStation 3 and 360 list of best-reviewed games of 2009 were: Modern Warfare 2, Street Fighter IV, Batman: Arkham Aslyum, Assassin's Creed II, and FIFA Soccer 10.

Braid, released this year on PlayStation Network, was also among the PlayStation 3's highest-reviewed titles.

Compared to 2008's best-reviewed games, the Xbox 360 only had 5 titles. Only one was a system-exclusive (in retrospect): Gears of War 2. Braid for Xbox Live was also among those titles, which at the time could have been considered an Xbox exclusive, as a PS3 version hadn't been announced then.

The PlayStation 3 also had 5 titles in 2008, two of which were system exclusives: LittleBigPlanet and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

The Wii followed with 3 games. Super Smash Bros. Brawl was the only true console-exclusive, however the WiiWare title World of Goo (also available at the time on PC) was also well-received.

What do we have to look forward to in 2010? I think there are many great things in store for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. There are many promising multiplatform titles coming out within the first quarter for both systems, like Bayonetta, Final Fantasy XIII, BioShock 2, Dark Void, Battlefield Bad Company 2, and Dante's Inferno. Q1 2010 also has some hotly anticipated system exclusives: Heavy Rain (PS3), Mass Effect 2 (360), MAG (PS3), Splinter Cell: Conviction (360), and God of War 3 (PS3).

I am a bit concerned about what the Wii will deliver in 2010. However, there are a few first-quarter titles worth mentioning: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars (which should appeal to core gamers), No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, and Red Steel 2.

With all of these great titles coming out within the next three months, hopefully the rest of the year will be just as interesting and entertaining!

The Disposable Console Era

Chris Nitz Says Atari 2600, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Turbo Graphix 16, all of these are great gaming systems. Back in their heydays all there was to concern one's self with was what system to get. The Nintendo vs. Sega wars ran deep on many school yards.

When did consoles turn into something so disposable? At what point did consoles start becoming such a big decision on when and what to buy? PS3 40 Gig, 60 Gig, 20 Gig, huh? Xbox 360 Arcade, Pro, Elite what? Nintendo DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL? Gamers should be up in arms over this.

Nintendo is really the culprit. They started the release-a-console, change-it-a-year-later, re-release it syndrome. Nintendo started this with the GameBoy, which was a thick, white brick and a battery hog. Yet, it was a huge success. A few years later, the GameBoy got a makeover with the GameBoy Pocket. This version was smaller, used less batteries, and really did fit in your pocket. This morphed into the GameBoy Color. The GameBoy Color was the same size as the GameBoy Pocket, but this new version sported a four-color screen.

The GameBoy redesign did not fix any issues. Sure, it was nice to have a smaller GameBoy, but there was nothing that it really fixed. Yet gamers flocked to this new design. It did not stop there though. Soon gamers saw more color options added. Special editions like the Pokemon themed GameBoy Pocket were released. Stores like EB/Gamestop had deals to get you to trade in your perfectly working systems to get a discount on the "New" system.

The Nintendo DS (DS) is the latest of Nintendo portables to go through revision after revision. When the DS was first released, it was rather large. It can also be argued that it was not the most attractive. The DS got its first revision in the DS Lite. This really got the DS off the ground. The DS Lite sold millions. It is still a leader in sales today. Not content with this, Nintendo released the Dsi, which was slightly bigger than the DS Lite. The DSi added a camera, but at the expense of removing the GameBoy Advance game slot. Yup, add a camera, but take away the backwards compatibility. This hurt those who bought Guitar Hero on the DS as there was no way to plug in the peripheral.

Still not happy, Nintendo recently announced the DSi XL. Really Nintendo!?!? It is bigger than the Dsi due to a larger screen. The DSi is not even a year old, and already they are releasing something new. Why not just release the bigger version right away? The people this hurts are those early adopters.

Sony has also joined in on this redesign fun. The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is their best selling system. When it was released, it was rather large. The PS2 came out with no hard drive nor network capabilities. Hard drive and ethernet accessories were later added so that users could get online and play Socom with their friends. Games like Final Fantasy XI and EverQuest Adventures also took advantage of both of these new accessories.

Then Sony released the PS2 slim. Again, this model really didn’t fix anything. It was a simple cosmetic change. However, the redesign made the hard drive and ethernet adapter obsolete. The PS2 Slim included an ethernet port, but no internal hard drive. This means those people who wanted to buy a PS2 Slim and continue to play EverQuest were SOL. Why do this?

The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is the newest of Sony's systems to get this treatment. The PS3 Slim was recently released. This system is 33% smaller than the original PS3. Yet again, it does not fix any issues except that it uses less power. Outside of that, there are no issues it really resolved. The one item PS3 fans have been asking for is to get PS2 compatibility. The PS3 Slim was not an answer to that hope.

Microsoft is not excluded from all this. The Xbox 360 has gone through several revisions and special editions. The 360 did not have an HDMI port when it was first released. This port was added on after the 360 received its first revision. In the era of HD gaming, the omission of the HDMI port is inexcusable.

There is one revision that does make sense though. The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) got a top loading redesign. The top loading NES took queues from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The days of blowing in your NES cartridges and finagling them to play had come to an end. This was a smart redesign choice as it resolved an issue. The issue that it fixed was fighting with your NES games to get them to play. It is just a shame that this revision came along so late in the consoles life.

Where does all of this end? If gamers are not cautious and start putting an end to this, the options on new consoles will get ridiculous. The Xbox 720 could come in two different processors, three graphic card options, and all that would become obsolete a year later when the Xbox 720 Lite comes out.

You don't need to buy the light or slim versions of consoles. But at this rate, consoles will start having options that will be obsolete after its first revision. The first PS3 Slim revision could lead to more memory on the console. This would make games load faster, or even do away with load times. More graphic memory could be added, thus causing this revision to have better graphics.

Innovation is a good thing. Innovation that screws the early adopters, well that is just screwing the consumer. While most of the changes listed here can be argued as good changes, they come with a bit of caution to the early adopters. Buy the new console at your own risk, the next iteration could contain something that renders the current generation useless.

Editor’s Note: This article was focused on gaming systems, but Apple could easily fall into this debate with the iPod’s and iPhones. The bottom line is, buy what you want with the knowledge that next year there will be something better. If you’re not happy with the features a current model has, then just wait for the next generation. If you can’t wait and you need to have the newest model as soon as it comes out, then it’s a simple matter of buyer-beware.

As for when the Xbox 720 comes out, sure, I’ll want it. And I’m sure I’ll want it right away. But before I rush out and buy it I’m going to play all the games for the 360. By the time I’m done with that, maybe a better 720 will be out.

Sony’s PS3 Slim Drives Sales

Erik Kubik Says The release of the PS3 slim has spurred a lot of talk. Now it’s time for The Goozex Report to throw in its two cents.

Kotaku has already done several articles on the PS3 slim. On September 7, Kotaku reported that in the first three days the PS3 slim was on sale in Japan, the newly redesigned console sold 150,252 units.

On September 10, Kotaku published another article stating that with the release of the PS3 slim, Sony had seen a 300% rise in sales. That is a huge sales jump for any console. The last time Sony experienced this sort of boost in sales was in the summer of 2008, when Metal Gear Solid 4 came out. Vgchartz.com said that with the release of that game, PS3 sales had jumped 180%. Killzone 2 was supposed to boost PS3 sales, but sadly it did not generate the numbers the company had hoped for.

The price cut and the release of the PS3 slim means one thing to this PS3 owner. People who have been holding out on buying a Playstation 3 are doing it now. Are they buying the PS3 slim for the price cut? Is it for the ability to play Blu-rays? Sure--it could be those but I suspect most people are buying it for the games: and they could not be doing it at a better time.


The 2009 fall lineup for PS3 exclusives is looking good with games such as: Uncharted 2, Demon's Souls, MAG, and Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time. Even the multi-console games have got me pumped--Tekken 6, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, and Borderlands.

Who knows how long the PS3 Slim sales will continue to skyrocket? If I was to set a timeframe, I would say this trend will continue well into the holiday season. I have a feeling a lot of kids are going to be asking their parents for a PS3 to go with their Nintendo Wii or Xbox 360 for Christmas.

360 vs PS3 - Which Offers the Better Games?

Troy Benedict Says Welcome to part 3 of the pound-per-pound comparison of the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. In the first part of the series, I compared each system's online experience. In the second part, the home theater aspects of each machine were discussed. For this article, I will compare both console's game library, and determine which system offers the best games. What constitutes a good game or a bad game is very subjective, so for this comparison I went to Metacritic's web site and took a snapshot on September 4, 2009 of the entire list of review scores for each system's available games. The results were broken down into three categories:

1. Multiplatform Titles - games that have been released for both consoles.
2. Exclusive Titles - games that are available only on one console. They are exclusive, whether it a current timed-exclusive or an indefinite exclusivity. These can include disc-based releases or downloadable games (PlayStation Network or Xbox Live Arcade titles, for example).
3. Total Games Library - this is a combination of exclusive and multiplatform games released for both consoles.

Within each category, you will see two tables of information:

1. The first table breaks down the totals and averages for that category based on the titles' review score ranges. For example, you can see the average review score for games that scored between an 80 and 89 rating, the number of games that were rated within that 80-90 point range, and the percentage of titles that averaged between an 80-89 score compared to the other score ranges of that particular category (multiplatform, exclusive, or total library).


2. The second table breaks down the review scores, for each category, based on the year that game was released, and the average review score.

Each category will also have the overall averages for each system, as well as the list of top-rated games per console. For the multiplatform and exclusive releases I have included each console's lowest-rated game -- just for fun!

Multiplatform Titles:
Multiplatform games are available on both the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3.

Of the 263 games available on both systems, the Xbox 360 average score is .7 points higher than the PlayStation 3's.

Average Review Score (Out of 100) For Multiplatform Titles

• Xbox 360: 71.1
• PlayStation 3: 70.4

Highest-Rated Multiplatform Games:

Xbox 360:

• Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) - Average Score:98

PlayStation3:

• Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) - Average Score:98

Best Xbox 360 Multiplatform Games (Average Score 90 or greater):

• Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) Average Score: 98
• BioShock (2008) Average Score: 96
• Orange Box, The (2007) Average Score: 96
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) Average Score: 94
• Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, The (2007) Average Score: 94
• Street Fighter IV (2009) Average Score: 93
• Fallout 3 (2008) Average Score: 93
• Rock Band (2007) Average Score: 92
• Rock Band 2 (2008) Average Score: 92
• Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) Average Score: 92

Best PlayStation 3 Multiplatform Games (Average Score 90 or greater):

• Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) Average Score: 98
• BioShock (2008) Average Score: 94
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) Average Score: 94
• Street Fighter IV (2009) Average Score: 94
• Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, The (2007) Average Score: 93
• Rock Band (2007) Average Score: 92
• Rock Band 2 (2008) Average Score: 91
• Fallout 3 (2008) Average Score: 90
• Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) Average Score: 90
• Guitar Hero 5 (2009) Average Score: 90

Lowest-Rated Multiplatform Games

Xbox 360:

• Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust (2009) - Average Score: 25

PlayStation3:

• Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust (2009) - Average Score: 18

There has been a long-standing debate about whether or not the Xbox 360 offers a better version releases.

The stats do not lie. The averages of all multiplatform releases do favor the Xbox 360. However, the differences are so insignificant with less than a 1 point difference.

Both systems have the same highest and lowest scoring games, GTA4 and Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust, respectively.

The review scores were very similar. 90% of the games varied by a 4-point, or less, difference in review scores.Of the 263 compared multiplatform games:

• 45 games received the same average review score.
• 89 games received a 1-point difference average review scores.
• 48 games received a 2-point difference average review scores.
• 31 games received a 3-point difference average review scores.
• 23 games received a 4-point difference average review scores.
• 27 games received a 5-point or greater difference in the average review scores.
• F.E.A.R. was the game with the biggest discrepancy, a 13-point difference. The game was released in 2006 for the Xbox 360 and received an average score of 85. It was released on the PlayStation 3 in 2007 and received an average score of 72.
• 133 games were reviewed higher on the Xbox 360 by an average of 2.7 points.
• 85 games were reviewed higher on the PlayStation 3 by an average of 2.1 points.

Xbox 360 enthusiasts may be pleased to know that their system edges out the competition with a VERY slight edge, and they have more higher-reviewed games, but here is an interesting fact. The 360 had the better multiplatform games in 2006, 2007, and 2008, but the PlayStation 3 is offering is dominating this year's multiplatform releases.Verdict
The numbers don't lie. Even if it's a slight advantage, the Xbox 360 offers the better multiplatform experience over the PlayStation 3. However, if the trend continues in the table above, the PlayStation 3 may very well offer the better experience for 2009's releases.

Exclusive Titles

Average Review Score (Out of 100) For System Exclusive Title:

• Xbox 360: 66.4 (433 games)
• PlayStation 3: 72.0 (127 games)

Highest-Rated Exclusive Game(s)
Xbox 360:

• Gears of War (2006) - Average Score: 94
• Halo 3 (2007) - Average Score: 94

PlayStation3:

• LittleBigPlanet (2008) - Average Score:95

Best Xbox 360 Exclusive Games (Average Score 90 or greater):

• Gears of War (2006) Average Score: 94
• Halo 3 (2007) Average Score: 94
• Braid (2008) Average Score: 93
• Gears of War 2 (2008) Average Score: 93
• Guitar Hero II (2007) Average Score: 92
• Mass Effect (2007) Average Score: 91
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (2006) Average Score: 90
• Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned (2009) Average Score: 90
• Portal: Still Alive (2008) Average Score: 90
• Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 (2008) Average Score: 90
• Forza Motorsport 2 (2007) Average Score: 90

Best PlayStation 3 Exclusive Games (Average Score of 90 or greater):

• LittleBigPlanet (2008) Average Score: 95
• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) Average Score: 94
• Killzone 2 (2009) Average Score: 91
• MLB 09: The Show (2009) Average Score: 90

Lowest-Rated Exclusive Game(s)
Xbox 360:

• Yaris (2007) - Average Score: 17

PlayStation 3:

• Vampire Rain: Altered Species (2008) - Average Score: 30
  Note: Vampire Rain is also available on Xbox 360, but this version features content not included in the 360 release, hence making it an exclusive title.

It might be shocking to see such a stark difference between the exclusive 360 releases and those on the PlayStation 3. The PlayStation is leading the march with a 72 point average versus the Xbox's 66.4. That quite a significant lead!

There is a reason for the 360's lower averages: the Xbox Live Arcade releases. The Xbox 360 offers a significantly larger number exclusive titles, more than 3 times what can only be purchased for a PlayStation, but a majority of those releases are less-than-stellar Xbox Live Arcade games. As you can see from the details above, Xbox 360's lowest-rated exclusive was, in fact, the free Xbox Live Arcade title Yaris.

Year to year, the Xbox 360 has offered more exclusives, almost 4 times as many in 2007, than the PlayStation 3. The Xbox 360 also has a significantly larger number of top-rated exclusive games, with 11 titles compared to PlayStation 3's 4 games.

Verdict
To be truly honest, the real answer to who wins the exclusive games category can't be made by dissecting review scores. The idea behind exclusivity is to offer something that the other guy doesn't have, in order to generate interest in your product over the competition's. Exclusives all come down to preference, and each system offers experiences that can't be made on the other system.

Based on numbers alone, the PlayStation 3 has a much higher average review score for it's exclusive titles. That being said, the PS3 also offers less than one-third of the exclusive games found on the 360.

Is it better to have a larger number of games to choose from -- with a guaranteed Xbox 360 Arcade release (or two, or three) each week? Or do you go with less variety and a slightly higher quality?

In situations like these, it makes me glad to own both systems.

Total Games Library (All Releases)

Average Review Score (Out of 100) For All Releases:

• Xbox 360: 68.2 (696 games)
• PlayStation 3: 70.9 (390 games)

Best of the Xbox 360 (Average Score 90 or greater):

• Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) Average Score: 98
• BioShock (2007) Average Score: 96
• Orange Box, The (2007) Average Score: 96
• Gears of War (2006) Average Score: 94
• Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, The (2006) Average Score: 94
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) Average Score: 94
• Halo 3 (2007) Average Score: 94
• Braid (2008) Average Score: 93
• Street Fighter IV (2009) Average Score: 93
• Fallout 3 (2008) Average Score: 93
• Gears of War 2 (2008) Average Score: 93
• Guitar Hero II (2007) Average Score: 92
• Rock Band (2007) Average Score: 92
• Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) Average Score: 92
• Rock Band 2 (2008) Average Score: 92
• Mass Effect (2007) Average Score: 91
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (2006) Average Score: 90
• Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned (2009) Average Score: 90
• Portal: Still Alive (2008) Average Score: 90
• Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 (2008) Average Score: 90
• Forza Motorsport 2 (2007) Average Score: 90

Best of the PlayStation 3 (Average Score 90 or greater):

• Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) Average Score: 98
• LittleBigPlanet (2008) Average Score: 95
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) Average Score: 94
• BioShock (2008) Average Score: 94
• Street Fighter IV (2009) Average Score: 94
• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) Average Score: 94
• Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, The (2007) Average Score: 93
• Rock Band (2007) Average Score: 92
• Rock Band 2 (2008) Average Score: 91
• Killzone 2 (2009) Average Score: 91
• Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) Average Score: 90
• Fallout 3 (2008) Average Score: 90
• MLB 09: The Show (2009) Average Score: 90
• Guitar Hero 5 (2009) Average Score: 90

Verdict
The Total Games Library is a combination of both the exclusives and multiplatform games.

Numbers don't lie, but they don't always tell the whole truth, either. The numbers say that the PlayStation 3 offers the better overall experience. The trend in multiplatform games in 2009 seems to favor the PlayStation 3 as of early September. Does the fact that the 360 has 21 games with an average score of 90 or greater, compared to PS3's 14, make any difference? Or that the 360 offers the larger number of exclusives games by more than 300 titles? Or that the 360 had a year's head-start?

I'm going to leave it up to you, dear reader, to decide the final answer on this one. I, like the lawyer, present to you, the judge and jury, the facts.

Next up, the final comparison: each system's unique hardware offerings.

360 vs PS3 - Which Offers a Better Home Theater Experience?

Troy Benedict Says Welcome to part two of my comparison of the Xbox 360 Elite and the PlayStation 3. This article will focus on which system offers the optimal home theater experience.

I will briefly go over the structure of this series. During the comparison I will first look at the simple facts of each category and pass a judgment based only on the facts. I will then take a deeper look at each system's strengths and weaknesses in each category. For example, I will offer a counter-point in some instances or discuss any hidden fees or required accessories that aren't mentioned in the simple facts.

Most people might immediately think that the PlayStation 3 is the better deal, simply for Blu-ray. But is it really? Simple Facts:

• The PS3 and Xbox 360 can play CD and DVD format discs.
• Both can be easily set up to stream video over a home network, from a Windows-based PC running Windows Media Player 11.
• Both can output resolutions of up to 1080p.
• Both systems have standard and high-definition television and movie content that can be "rented" from their respective online video service. Each video services has some exclusive content only viewable on that console.
• Only the PS3 has the option to buy and own select digital movies from its online video service.
• Only the PS3 can play high definition Blu-ray discs.
• The Xbox 360 can play HD-DVD formatted discs by using the official HD-DVD drive, however the HD-DVD format is no longer supported.
• On average, Blu-ray titles are significantly more expensive than the DVD version.
• Both systems have one HDMI port.
• Only the PS3 has an optical digital output port.
• Both systems come packaged with standard definition cables. HDMI or component cables require additional purchases.
• The Xbox 360 has Netflix integration, but requires a Gold membership and a Netflix account to use.

Judgment: Blu-ray is a really good selling point for the PlayStation 3. However, you're not going to experience the benefits of Blu-ray unless you have an HD television and either an HDMI or component cable.

On standard definition television, using the included composite cables, both systems are equal.

However, on high definition televisions, the PlayStation 3 is the better deal, hands down.

Deeper Look: Both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 are capable of high resolution graphics and video, but neither system comes packed with the required cables. The non-Arcade versions of the Xbox 360 used to come packaged with a set of component cables, but this is no longer the case with the new Xbox 360 Elite packages. I find it a little more forgiving for the Xbox 360 not to come packaged with any HD cable, simply because it doesn't have a high-definition disc drive. The PlayStation 3, however, because of it's Blu-ray functionality should, in my opinion, come packaged with at least a set of component cables. Essentially, some additional costs are required for high-definition, regardless of which system you own.

It is a fact that only the PlayStation 3 can play high-definition Blu-ray discs out-of-the-box. But is it also a fact that both the 360 and PS3 systems can play DVDs, and both can upscale DVDs to 1080p (but the end product isn’t as crisp and clear as true high-def, as should be expected). DVD is still the most popular and accessible video disc format, despite what popular online retailer's top-ten lists may say. Most popular movies will see a Blu-ray release, but not all content released on video will make it to Blu-ray. Standalone Blu-ray movie releases are typically $10 more than the DVD equivalent, and are $20-30, if not significantly more, for boxed sets.

The Xbox and PlayStation offer premium video content in both standard and high definition versions. Both systems have exclusive movies and television series that can only be watched on the respective system. Typically, rentals run no more than $6. The PlayStation store allows users to purchase and own select movies for around $15. Some titles are available for cheaper. The Xbox 360 does not offer a download-to-own services for movies.

The Xbox gold members with Netflix accounts can watch any available Netflix Instant Watch movies or television series. An annual subscription for a gold membership is $50 and the cheapest Netflix membership runs about $10 per month.

The Netflix Instant Watch began as an option for Netflix members to watch a movie instantly from their computer’s web browser, and has grown to integrate itself with other hardware systems, namely the Xbox 360.

The Netflix integration was included with last year's major update to the Xbox 360 dashboard, nicknamed The NXE (New Xbox Experience). Since then, the available video catalog has grown tremendously and the functionality of Netflix on the Xbox has improved greatly.

Entire seasons of television shows and a larger selection of movies are available to watch in HD through the Instant Watch. Improvements to the streaming service, included with this year's most recent update, load movies much faster than they ever have, and even those who have slower broadband connections, now claim to be able to watch HD content without issue.

While the selection of quality titles and variety of available HD-content via Netflix Instant Watch is impressive, only a very small percentage of popular titles are actually available in this format. As I write this article, only 4 titles of Netflix's Top 100 list are available to watch through Instant Watch. 4%, no matter how you spin it, is a VERY low percentage.

I truly and honestly think that that digital distribution is going to be the way of the future, but it’s going to take time. One only needs to look to music distribution services like iTunes, Zune, and Amazon to see how viable this option is. Xbox and PlayStation both have a tremendous library of games available only for download, and both have an ever increasing catalog of video on-demand content from their respective video stores, both in standard and high-definition. With digital content, one doesn't need to have a Blu-ray or HD-DVD drive to watch high-definition content, but we're not quite to that point where everybody is on board with this idea. Disc-based formats, especially for games and movies, is still a very popular and preferred option.

Netflix for the Xbox can be a huge rival to the blu-ray HD exclusiveness of the PS3, but it's going to take some time. The availability of HD content is slim, and only a very small percentage of the current popular titles, are available through the Instant Watch.

Chances are, if you have a PlayStation 3, you probably also have a Netflix subscription to take advantage of their available Blu-ray library. Netflix offers Blu-ray discs as part of its rental service, and more than 85 of the Top 100 movies are available in Blu-ray.

Even though Blu-ray is more expensive, the costs are becoming more reasonable, and it's obvious that the format is gaining popularity. No matter which system you go with for your home theater experience, you are going to have to spend some money.

If you're looking for the best high-definition home theater experience, you're going to need a high-defintion television. The best and easiest HD experience comes with the PlayStation 3.

While Netflix's Instant Watch might make for a pleasant experience for some movies and television series, until it offers more popular titles, in high-definition, the PlayStation 3 and Blu-ray will have the upper hand.

These are reasons why the PlayStation 3 is the best option for your home theater experience.

Next up on the pound-for-pound comparison of the Xbox 360 and PS3 is: which one has the better game library?

It’s Time to Buy a PS3: Should You Buy the Original or the Slim?

Cole Burton Says For those of you who have not yet bought a PS3, there has never been a better time. Today, in my first post for The Goozex Report, I will compare the PS3 Slim to the original. Please keep in mind that I do not own a Slim, so most of my info comes from reliable Internet sources, such as Amazon. However, I am a long-time PS3 owner and player. Therefore, many of my facts on the original come straight from me.

To begin with, I will compare the greatest differences of the Slim and the original. First off, the Slim is 33% smaller and 36% lighter than the original PS3. On the other hand, the Slim has a somewhat cheap look about it that the original didn’t and the heat sensing buttons have been replaced with the old push buttons. Every other console has those, but the PS3 seemed so cool for having that function. Another pro for the Slim is that it’s more energy efficient, meaning, it will bring your power bill down a little. I have also heard that it has a stronger audio option or something among those lines, but , I cannot confirm this. One last con for the Slim is the missing power switch on the back of the Slim, however, most people put their PS3s on standby so that they can turn on the system by touching the restart button or the PS button on their controller. Lucky for us, all features from the newest models of PS3 originals have been kept, but there is still no backwards compatibility for PS2 games though.

Next, I would I would like to talk about the HDD, for now, the Slim has a 120GB HDD. I do not know what kind of HDD the Slim uses, but I am going to assume that it is a 2.5 SATA HDD like the original. I upgraded my PS3’s HDD to a 320GB, 2.5 SATA HDD with a 3-year warranty on eBay, I suggest doing this as the stuff you download will most likely stack up over time.

It’s Time To Buy a Slim
Here are several great reasons to buy a Slim; it’s all about the games. Some great exclusives are here and more are coming, including:

• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots


• Uncharted: Drakes Fortune


• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves


• M.A.G.


• God of War 3


• Killzone 2


• Infamous


• Resistance 2


• Resistance: Fall of Man


• MLB: The Show (A new one every year)


• Ratchet and Clank: Future Tools of Destruction


• Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time


• Valkyria Chronicles

That is all for my first post with The Goozex Report. I hope you guys enjoyed it! You can follow me on Twitter (@solidsnake222) to know when I make new posts, and don’t worry, I will do more than just PS3 stuff. Next week, I plan on discussing future releases, and which deserve your money and which don’t.

360 vs PS3 - Which Offers a Better Online Experience?

Troy Benedict Says Welcome to the first of a multi-part, pound-for-pound, comparison between Microsoft's Xbox 360 Elite and Sony's PlayStation 3. Now that both systems are available for the same retail price it's an even playing field, right?

Microsoft and Sony both claim that their system is the best deal for that price. They both offer a unique online gaming experience, both can be used to watch movies, both have an exclusive games library, and both have unique hardware benefits. But which one is really better?

During this series I will first look at the simple facts of each category and pass a judgment based only on the facts. I will then take a deeper look at each system's strengths and weaknesses in each category. For example, I will offer a counter-point in some instances or discuss any hidden fees or required accessories that aren't mentioned in the simple facts.

The points I make are all objective, but the final judgment is subjective. Now that the rules have been explained, let's move on.

PlayStation 3 users have boasted that their free-to-play online gaming infrastructure is superior to Xbox 360's. Is it really?

Let's begin the pound-per-pound comparison of the Xbox 360 Elite and the PlayStation 3 with a look at each system's online gaming experience!

SIMPLE FACTS - ONLINE EXPERIENCE:

• It is absolutely 100% free to play games using a PlayStation 3. A Gold Membership, which retails for $50, is required to play online using an Xbox 360.


• Every Xbox 360 Elite comes packaged with a headset for online chat. The PlayStation 3 does not come with a headset for voice communication.


• The PlayStation 3 can be connected to the wireless network without any additional costs. A $100 wireless adapter is required to connect an Xbox 360 to a wireless network.

Judgment: The PlayStation 3 is absolutely free to sign up and play online. Voice chat, while recommended for team-based games, is not required to play online. The wireless network option is purely a matter of preference, but the $100 price tag for the wifi adapter is a major knock against the Xbox 360.

Based on the simple facts, the PlayStation 3 the best way to get online and play with friends.

DEEPER LOOK - ONLINE EXPERIENCE: The PlayStation 3 is a truly free-to-play system. If you have a valid email address, you can set up an account and hop into a game without it costing you a single cent. There are no strings attached, nor any hidden fees required to play a game online.

The Xbox 360, on the other hand, offers two types of membership: Silver and Gold. The Silver membership is free, but the experience is limited. For example, Silver members cannot play online games against other members--except during certain promotional periods. Silver members also have to wait about a week to download exclusive demos and video content, which is first made available to Gold members. Silver members can purchase and download Xbox Live Arcade games and other premium content the same day it's released on Xbox Live Marketplace. A Gold membership requires the purchase of monthly or annual subscriptions. A 13-month subscription retails for $50. However, most frugal shoppers can get a membership for as low as $30. Some retailers will include console bundles that include a gold membership for no additional cost.

The PlayStation 3 might offer a free-to-play online service, but the Xbox 360 offers a much more feature-rich community-based experience. This, of course, is my personal opinion, but I will provide some facts to back up my opinion.The Xbox 360 offers the following online features that the PlayStation 3 (as of firmware 3.0) does not:

• Cross-game invites - This means that you can send a request to a friend to join your game, even when they're playing a completely different game.


• Group Chat - On Xbox 360, you and any other gold members can form a party and chat, even if the members of the group are watching different video content or playing different games.


• Voice Messages - While this option seems almost expected, the PlayStation 3 does not offer the and ability to send a member a voice message. The Xbox 360 does.


• While both online experiences offer a friends list, the details of what your friends are playing, and how your gaming skills compares to theirs, is much more detailed on the Xbox 360.


• Achievements and achievement points have been included in every single Xbox 360 game, and are used as something of a digital bragging rights amongst gamers. The Xbox 360 ties the achievement information into each gamer's profile with a Gamerscore--a sum of collected achievement points.


• Xbox 360 also has better online integration with leaderboards. Even if you're not competing directly with one of your friends in an online game, you can still try to best their scores on a leaderboard.

PlayStation's answer to the community aspect for the PS3 is PlayStation Home. A free community-based service where each user has an custom avatar, a "HomeSpace" to customize with default items, and a world of social environments to explore, like the bowling alley, the mall (where you can purchase items for your HomeSpace or avatar). There are also custom game-themed areas to explore, based around popular titles like Resident Evil 5 and Uncharted.

PlayStation Home has been criticized by gaming media as well as vocal gaming enthusiasts that it didn't and still hasn't delivered to its original potential. For example, friends can get together to play a game of virtual bowling, or play on some of the in-game arcade games, but they still have to wait in line for other virtual players to finish playing their virtual games. Originally, players were told they could decorate their HomeSpaces with trophies achieved by playing certain games, or invite your friends over and watch a movie or other piece of video content on your HomeSpace's television. None of those features have been executed or effectively implemented yet. A major patch, version 1.3, is expected to be released this month and will address a lot of issues including universal game launching from within Home.

The Xbox 360 also has a more effective system with which to file complaints against other users. In fact, Microsoft's Stephen Toulouse, the Director of Policy and Enforcement for Xbox Live, has been spotlighted by gaming media several times, discussing how he and his team review every complaint filed against a user. He also has said that because of the way that Xbox and Xbox Live was developed, it is possible to determine when people are playing with modified Xbox 360 hardware, cheating the achievement system, and illegally obtaining premium content for free. These people can be suspended on several different levels, or have their gamertag and/or console banned from the online service.

Because the PlayStation 3 is a more open service to almost anybody with a valid email address, policing the system is a lot more difficult. Sony has also not been very vocal about discussing the security with their system.

It is a fact that every Xbox 360 Elite comes packaged with a headset. The PlayStation 3 does not come with a headset.

Any Bluetooth headset should pair up with the PlayStation 3, however, the often-recommended Official PlayStation 3 Bluetooth headset retails for $50. Frugal shoppers can find it for cheaper. Any USB headset with a microphone should also work, but the length of the cord will limit the player's distance from the system.

Voice communication is purely a preference, but when its required, Xbox 360 owners should be prepared without any additional cost, and because the headset plugs into the controller, there should never been an unexpected loss of communication -- unless the controller runs out of battery power, too.

Finally, let's discuss the issue of wireless connection options on both systems. Xbox 360 requires the additional purchase of a $100 wireless adapter, while the PlayStation 3 has it built in. This is a huge plus in the PlayStation 3's corner - but it's also a matter of preference, which, to me lessens the advantage.

Personally, I have both the PS3 and 360 plugged into the Internet via Ethernet cables. I have digital cable, and the Internet router is split off from the connection that goes to my cable box. I've never had the cable box or the router more than a few feet from my television and entertainment center. All of the gamers I know personally have their 360s or PS3s connected via Ethernet cables. I can see the PS3's advantage in a home where there are multiple systems spread across several different rooms in the house, and not just connected to the "main television." Like I said, wireless is a personal preference. To me it's not that big of a deal, but perhaps to others, it's a very big issue.

Judgment - Deeper Look
Just because a system is free doesn't always mean that it's better.

Based on the deeper look, I have to say that the Xbox 360 offers a better online experience. It is very obvious that a lot of thought and planning went into developing every part of the experience, both off and online. Sure, you're going to have to pay for an annual subscription, and might have to purchase a wireless adapter depending the layout of your home, but the integration of online gaming, community, and security is so much better on Xbox 360.

Even though free is good, sometimes things are just worth paying for.

The next article in this series looks at which console offers a better movie-watching experience?

PlayStation 3 Slim: Will Less Be More for Sony?

Troy Benedict Says A new, slimmer PlayStation 3 was officially announced this week. On August 18, 2009, during the Sony press conference at this year’s Gamescom, a trade fair for interactive games and entertainment held in Germany, the new PlayStation 3 Slim was unveiled. The new system is scheduled to be released on September 1, 2009 to North American retailers with the price tag of $299. The PlayStation 3 Slim features a 120GB hard drive, is 33% smaller, 36% lighter, and consumes 34% less power than current models. Additionally, a 250GB version of the Slim model was also filed with the FCC, but no official statement was made regarding it.

A thinner version of the PlayStation 3 has been rumored for quite some time, thanks in part to the release of some digital photographs claiming to show the packaging of a smaller PlayStation 3. Prior to Sony’s official announcement on Tuesday, listings for a PlayStation 3 Slim began surfacing on some online retail sites, which created a buzz throughout the online gaming community that an announcement was eminent.

It’s no secret that sales for the PlayStation 3 have been underwhelming since its release in November 2007. The biggest problem was the outrageous price tag. Early production costs for the original PlayStation 3 models exceeded $800, with the first two systems released to the North American market at $499 (20GB) and $599 (60GB)! Sony was losing at least $300 on every PlayStation 3 system that was sold!

Earlier this month during a meeting with investors, Sony’s CEO Nobuyuki Oneda stated that the PlayStation 3 was now 70% cheaper to build. This announcement of cheaper productions costs also created rumors that a more-competitive price drop for the system was forthcoming.
The PlayStation 3 Slim may very well be the catalyst that helps spur better sales of Sony’s struggling system. In a market where smaller and thinner is better (just see Apple Computers and their line of products), the PlayStation 3 Slim couldn’t have come at a better time. Not only will it be more competitively priced, it’s also “greener.” It will take up one-third less vertical space in the cabinets of your entertainment center, is one-third lighter, and consumes one-third less power than previous models. The new design also appears to be 100% less finger-print prone than its older brethren (but don’t quote me on that)!

It’s obvious that when something is made smaller, a few things need to be discarded. So, what is missing from the PlayStation 3 Slim that was included with the more-recent full-sized models? Surprisingly, the answer is “not a whole lot!”

Most noticeably missing from the Slim is the ability to install a third-party operating system, such as Linux, on the machine. This feature never really garnered a lot of mainstream attention, but I have to admit that I’m a bit baffled why this software-related feature was removed. Perhaps allowing for an alternate Operating System is due, in part, to a possible incompatibility with the redesigned cooling system and updated Cell processor?

Still included are the two USB ports on the front of the system, as well as the standard power, network, and audio/video ports in the back.

Unfortunately, high-definition cables will not be included. This is not a surprise, though. No PlayStation 3 system has ever been sold with HD cables in the box. Then again, the new packaging of the Xbox 360 Elite apparently will no longer include HD component cables, either.

As a personal aside, I think it’s much more forgivable for Microsoft NOT to include HD cables with the Xbox 360, than Sony with the PlayStation 3, specifically because of the inclusion of Blu-ray player on all PlayStation 3 models.

Tech geeks can breathe a sigh of relieve as the PlayStation 3 Slim hard drive can still be upgraded, as long as you have a little bit of computer know-how.

But even with the new slimmer model and a more competitive price tag, will this be enough to help boost sales for the PlayStation 3?

Last week, the video game sales figures for July 2009 were released by NPD Group, which showed an industry-wide decline for the fifth month in a row. The NPD Group also stated that hardware sales have slowed considerably for nearly all platforms, with the Xbox 360 being the only system showing a unit sales increase year-to-date.

If the competitor’s systems aren’t selling as many copies at price points of $199 (for Microsoft’s budget-priced Xbox 360 Arcade) and $250 (for Nintendo’s Wii), is $299 for a PlayStation 3 Slim still going to be a bit expensive?

If Nintendo’s model of releasing redesigned hardware, to spur interest and sales, especially with its line of DS systems, says anything then, yes, Sony may very well see a surge spike in sales that they so desperately need. It is one thing to release the same system with a bigger hard drive, but it’s another thing to release a completely redesigned system with a bigger hard drive. I’ve already seen a lot of interest with some gaming enthusiasts (including press) who have stated that they are considering purchasing the PlayStation 3 Slim, even though they already own a PlayStation 3.

What are my thoughts? Will I purchase one? The answer to that is: no. While I admire the redesign, and I wish Sony all the best with this new system, my current PlayStation 3 works fine. I am, however, hoping to reap the rewards in the next several years of the benefits that boosted sales figures might bring with the Slim. More PlayStation 3 sales equal more people owning PlayStation 3 systems, and more people using the system, make the PlayStation 3 attractive to developers and publishers. Perhaps we’ll see better, more exclusive games over the next couple years.

What are your thoughts about the PlayStation 3 Slim? If you don’t already own one, will this new hardware release help encourage you to buy it? If you already own a PlayStation 3, are you considering buying a Slim, as well?

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Graphics or Multiplayer: What Gives a Console the Edge?

MrWeymes Says: Almost every day I hear that the graphics for Playstation 3 exclusives are better than Xbox 360 exclusives. While this is debatable, there is some truth to it. Exclusive Playstation 3 games usually have very impressive visuals, and can handle a lot simultaneously. It's obvious from games like Metal Gear Solid 4, and Resistance 2, that the Playstation 3 has the technical edge over the Xbox 360; however slight it may be.

The Xbox 360 is no slouch when it comes to graphics either, but its real selling point is Xbox Live. The Playstation Network (PSN) has a long way to go before it's up to par with Xbox Live. Although PSN is free, Xbox Live still has more subscribers, which says a lot: people are willing to pay for quality. Until PSN has cross game voice chat, among other things, Xbox Live will continue to lead when it comes to multiplayer games.

Technical prowess doesn't always sell game consoles. SEGA learned this with the Dreamcast, as did Nintendo with the Gamecube, and Microsoft with the Xbox. The Playstation 2 was the weakest of the three last-gen consoles, yet it sold the best, and in most peoples opinion had the best library of games. The Playstation 2 continues to sell well, and the Nintendo Wii is pretty much a joke in the graphics department compared to the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, so it's become quite apparent that better graphics aren't a huge selling point for gaming consoles.

Blu Ray
Another strike against the Playstation 3 is the general publics refusal to purchase high definition television sets. Blu Ray is an excellent format to watch movies on, and completely trounces DVD if you have HD, but without an HDTV, it's not really worth having a Blu Ray player. Most people would see little difference between a DVD and a Blu Ray on a standard definition TV. This is probably the reason that the inclusion of a Blu Ray drive didn't do for the Playstation 3 what the inclusion of a DVD drive did for the Playstation 2. The transition from VHS to DVD was a lot easier for most people with a modest income. You weren't required to buy a brand new television set to get the most out of DVDs. This is the downside to Blu Ray. Blu Ray is one of the main selling points of the Playstation 3, and as it stands, DVD is good enough for most people when it comes to film.

If Blu Ray movies become more popular, then this would no doubt benefit the Playstation 3 as well. People may use it as an excuse to buy a Playstation 3, because what is the point of buying a stand alone Blu Ray player for a little less when they could have a gaming console, and Blu Ray Player?

Developers have already shown that Blu Ray is useful when it comes to video games. Metal Gear Solid 4 took up a little over 30GB of a 50GB Blu Ray disk. A DVD has 9GB of storage available, so Metal Gear Solid 4 probably would have released on 2-3 disks if it were on DVD. To people that have a large interest in the progression of video games, Blu Ray seems like it should sell PS3s with relative ease, but to the average gamer, Blu Ray doesn't offer enough over DVD to warrant the purchase of an HDTV, and a Playstation 3.

Multiplayer
The Playstation 2 had a modest online community that primarily consisted of SOCOM fans. Apart from that, the Playstation 2 was well known as a single player gaming machine. The SEGA Dreamcast may have pioneered online gaming with consoles, but Microsoft grew it substantially with Xbox Live. While online multiplayer may not be for everyone, it is certainly very popular among the majority of gamers. It's almost impossible to recommend PSN over Xbox Live, and this is a major selling point for the Xbox 360. Cross game invites, and cross game voice chat, are two features that Xbox Live holds over PSN. Most people want to socialize while they play their favorite games—and love to play with their closest friends—and as of right now, Xbox Live is the best place to do it.

Exclusivity
One of the many things that made the Playstation 2 so popular last generation was the amount of exclusive games. Games like Devil May Cry 1, 2 and 3, as well as Final Fantasy 10 and 12 were exclusive to the Playstation 2. This just isn't the case any more. Almost all of the exclusives for the Playstation 3 are developed by first or second party developers. The third party loyalty that the Playstation 2 had is a thing of the past. Most third party games that come out now are released on both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. This doesn't help the Playstation 3 to differentiate itself from the Xbox 360, which makes consumers question why they should buy the more expensive Playstation 3. If they're not interested in Blu Ray, then the only real selling point is the first or second party exclusives.

Better Graphics and Reliability
The Playstation 3 is an excellent machine. As game developers continue to get used to developing games for it, the quality of games will increase. Depending on how much longer this generation lasts, gamers may really see the Playstation 3 pull ahead of the Xbox 360 in terms of technical prowess and graphics. Games like the much anticipated Killzone 2 look amazing, and judging from early reviews, and previews, it plays almost as good as it looks. Reliability is another factor that may help the Playstation 3 in the future. With warranties expiring on the Xbox 360s, gamers might see the Playstation 3 as the safer choice, despite the superior online service of the Xbox 360. Granted, new units of the Xbox 360 are supposedly more reliable, but that has yet to be proven.

To sum up, the Playstation 3 has better graphics, and the Xbox 360 has a better online service. If you're a single player type of gamer, then the slight edge in graphics and the reliability factor make the Playstation 3 look more appealing; but if you're hardcore about your multiplayer gaming, then the Xbox 360 is probably your best bet.

It's a shame there isn't a hybrid of sorts. Until then, you have a choice to make, or just buy both.

Sony May Never Have a Halo Killer

MrWeymes Says: It seems like every time an exclusive first person shooter is announced for the Playstation 3, it is instantly dubbed as a "Halo killer" by anticipatory Sony supporters. The original Resistance: Fall of Man comes to mind. While it may have sold well, and established a respectable fan base, it in no way "killed" the Halo franchise. Haze is another game that was hyped up beyond belief, and was also given the title of "Halo killer." That game was met with average reviews, and didn't seem to slay the mighty Halo series, either. Along comes Resistance 2. It looks promising. The graphics have received a considerable upgrade. The scale in the campaign is much larger, and the multiplayer supports up to 60 players, and is very addictive and fun. If anything could kill Halo, it would be this game, right? Nope. Halo lives. Halo hasn't even received any wounds, let alone died. Finally, we have the upcoming Killzone 2. It looks excellent. The graphics seem to push the Playstation 3 further than ever before, the campaign looks exciting, and the multiplayer looks very enjoyable. On top of all of this, the early reviews have been positive. Is this game finally going to slaughter Halo and leave it's children without a daddy? Not a chance, and here is an explanation of why.

On November 15, 2001, the original Halo: Combat Evolved was released for the original Xbox. The game was met with excellent scores, and established a large online community. Without a game like Halo, the original Xbox may have not done as well as it did. Halo: Combat Evolved has sold more than five million copies worldwide. Because the Halo series already had an established fan base by the time the sequel came out, it sold even better than it's predecessor. Halo 2 has sold over eight million copies worldwide. The already established fan base continued to support the Halo series when Halo 3 was released for the Xbox 360. Halo 3 has sold a little over eight million copies as well.

The point of the little history lesson above is to show that calling any first person shooter a "Halo killer" is silly. It's actually becoming quite ridiculous. The Halo series has a very large fan base. These fans have established a large online community, and love to play games of Halo 3 with their friends. Regardless of how much better you think a certain game is, they will be happy playing a game of Halo 3. There could be a huge news story on a respected gaming web site about how Killzone 2, for example, is superior to Halo 3 in every possible way. The graphics could be better, the sound could be better, the controls could be better, the campaign could be better, and the multiplayer could be better in the eyes of professionals, but at the end of the day, Halo fans enjoy playing Halo games. Video games, like films, are a matter of taste. Just because you like something does not mean that other people like it. People may not like the gun selection in Resistance 2 compared to the gun selection in Halo 3. You may think they are insane, but that is their personal opinion, and they are entitled to it.

If Halo 3 received very low scores because it was broken technically, then yes, a game like Resistance 2 would be a "Halo killer" because it's not technically broken. Aside from games that are plagued with terrible controls, and other technical issues, no games are really better than other games in the same genre. Everyone has an opinion on what is a good game, and what is a bad game. There were probably many times that you bought a game that got a high score from some web site, and you got it home, and didn't know what the fuss was about. Another example is a friend telling you how awesome a certain game is, and when you play it, you just don't feel the same. Everyone has a different perspective on what is good, or bad. People have been getting upset about people having different opinions forever, and it's quite silly. For example, Dead Space is a survival horror as is Silent Hill: Homecoming. Critics seemed to enjoy Dead Space more than Silent Hill: Homecoming. Does this mean that Dead Space is a "Silent Hill killer?" No, it doesn't. It means that in most critics’ opinion, Dead Space is a better game. Perhaps some people enjoy Silent Hill: Homecoming more because of the setting, and the storyline. Regardless, it's all a matter of opinion. An old school example is the classic Sonic vs Mario debate. Neither "kills" the other. Some people enjoy one, and not the other, or perhaps both.

In conclusion, Sony will probably never have a "Halo killer." When it comes to media, no one is ever wrong for enjoying a game. No one is ever wrong when they say that one game is better than another, because it's their personal opinion. Regardless of how many people enjoy the upcoming Killzone 2, it will never kill a series with an established fan base. The only "Halo killer" would be a prohibition of the playing of Halo games in general, and that may not even kill the beast. There would be an underground resistance of sorts. It's obvious that this is not an anti-Sony article. All of the games on the Playstation 3 mentioned above are excellent games. Are any of them "Halo killers?" Well, that's a matter of personal opinion.

Nostalgia Makes Gamers Crazy

Andrew Weymes (aka MrWeymes) Says: Nostalgia is a formidable beast in the video game industry. Current video games look better, play better, and have more narrative than video games on previous consoles.

However, most older gamers in their late 20s, or 30s are very quick to tell you that Final Fantasy 3 is the best RPG of all time, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is the best action adventure game of all time, and that Super Mario Bros. 3 is the best platformer of all time. Slightly younger gamers in their late teens or early 20s, who started playing video games on the Playstation 1 and Nintendo 64, are likely to tell you that Final Fantasy 7 is the best RPG of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time holds the action adventure crown, and that Super Mario 64 is still the best platformer they ever played.

People who proclaim things such as this need to take their nostalgia glasses off, enjoy games on the current consoles, and remind themselves that they have been playing video games for either 10, or 20 years, and that of course they are a little jaded when it comes to video games.

After years of playing video games, it becomes apparent to a gamer that in a JRPG, the lead character is probably going to be a young male, he's going to have a love interest who will also be in your party, she's going to be cute, and he's going to have to save the world from a villain. In an action adventure game, there is a good chance that you’ll need a new item before you can get to an area that is out of reach, and in a platformer it's fairly obvious that you will need to jump at some point.

These are the formulas that most games in their individual genres follow. New gamers probably don't notice these formulas for a while, but video game veterans are always quick to point them out. Being formulaic shouldn't lower your opinion of a video game.

Is the game nice to look at? Is the story interesting? Are the characters interesting? Is the game fun? Does the game have good controls? These are some of the questions that veteran gamers need to ask themselves. In your heart, no game is ever going to replace the first few amazing games you played, but that doesn't mean that those games are as good as you remember.

For example, there is probably a young gamer somewhere in the world playing his or her first JRPG, Blue Dragon. That gamer is probably going to remember that game for the rest of his or her life as an amazing gaming experience that got him or her more interested in the video game universe. Does this mean that Blue Dragon is better than a highly rated JRPG that will eventually come out on the Playstation 5? No, it just means that people remember things a lot better than they actually were. Blue Dragon may have been uninspired and average to many JRPG fans, but for relatively new gamers, it's likely that the turn based combat system was addictive, and the story was enthralling.

Here are five games that are touted as the best in their genre by legions of fans. Beside them will be current games that are just as good, or better if you were to take your nostalgia glasses off.

Nostalgia	Current
Final Fantasy 7 (Playstation 1)	Lost Odyssey (Xbox 360)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)	The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Nintedo Wii)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (Nintendo)	Little Big Planet (Playstation 3)
Silent Hill (Playstation 1)	Silent Hill: Homecoming (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)
Golden Eye 007 (Nintendo 64)	Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)

Current video games are technically better than older video games in every way. People refuse to acknowledge this because of their memories of these past games, but the reality is that if you were to get an unbiased opinion on which is better between an old game like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and a more recent game like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, more likely than not, the more recent game would win.

Nostalgia is a dangerous beast. It's the reason why people still play the SEGA Dreamcast.

The Future of Video Games?

Andrew Weymes (aka MrWeymes) Says: Nintendo obviously went in another direction, deviating from what gamers expect from a next generation console. I'm sure most gamers assumed that every 5 or 6 years, we would get an upgrade of our current console with a slightly reworked controller, better graphics, and more features such as online capabilities, and Blu Ray. Sony, and Microsoft knew what was expected of them, and delivered. I don't think that many people thought that the Nintendo "Revolution"(as was the Wii's code name) wouldn't have a standard controller, but in fact make use of motion controls, and that it would have a small emphasis on graphics.

Technically, both the Xbox 360, and the Playstation 3 are superior machines. Both support HD resolutions up to 1080p, both have a more robust online community, both are able to rip music off of CDs, both are able to play DVDs, and the Playstation 3 is able to play Blu Rays. From a core gamer’s perspective, the PS3 and 360 should be head to head, fighting for the top position, while the Nintendo Wii sits in third place. This obviously isn't the case, though. There are many places around the world where it is still very difficult to find a Nintendo Wii, and with titles like Wii Music, and Wii Fit high on casual gamers lists, this Christmas will no doubt be another huge success for Nintendo.

Of course, most core gamers could care less about Wii Music, or Wii Fit and will be stuffing their stockings with the likes of Gears of War 2, Left 4 Dead, Resistance 2, Little Big Planet, and Call of Duty: World at War; but the reality is that Wii Music will probably sell more than all of these games individually. This current console war should be worrisome to core gamers. With the success of the Nintendo Wii, and the high sales of games such as Guitar Hero, and Rock Band, it is clear that there is an enormous casual market in the video game industry. This current surge of casual gamers has prompted Microsoft and Sony to advertise their casual titles much more than they used to, such as the above mention Guitar Hero, and Rock Band. It is clear that Sony is also trying to appeal to the casual crowd with the recent game Little Big Planet, but it is still unclear as to how that will work out until the holiday season is over.

The Nintendo Wii has changed the video game industry forever. It has proven that the game with the better graphics won't always sell more, and that the console with the most high quality games won't always be number one. The Nintendo Wii has the most games that have received a low score, as well as the least amount of exclusives that appeal to the core gamer, yet the Nintendo Wii is still outselling both the Xbox 360, and the Playstation 3 easily each month.

Sony and Microsoft may have done what was expected of them this generation by releasing an obviously superior console to their predecessors, but what about their next consoles? Will Sony and Microsoft be confident in releasing another console geared towards the core gamer that will be over $500 at launch? It's entirely possible that Sony, and Microsoft will try to make their consoles appeal more towards the casual crowd. Core gamers often forget that Sony and Microsoft are companies. Companies want to make money. If the video game industry has shifted towards casual gamers, then more games will be developed for the casual crowd. It's the game developers that want you to experience games like Shadow of the Colossus, for example. Game developers want you to interpret their games as art, however the Corporate Heads of companies such as Microsoft and Sony couldn't care less about how amazing a video game experience is.

If a game like Wii Fit sells more than a game like Shadow of the Colossus, then it is going to be promoted a lot more. Developers are going to be encouraged to make games to appeal to the largest crowd. Don't be surprised if the next consoles are geared more towards the casual crowd. This may be the worst possible news for the core gamer, but it also may be a harsh reality.