Wii, PS3, XBox360 - Which is best long term?

Troll · January-13th-2009, 11:59 AM

I've been thinking of getting a Wii. I have not played a video game in over 15 years and am not certain how much activity it would get once the newness wears off. My hope is to get the WiiFit to help me gain some of my weight back.

Unfortunately these systems are hard/impossible to find at the moment. This got me to look into the competitor products - especially the XBox. I'm at a bit of a loss as to which system is best as I hear rumors that the WiiRemote will soon become standard gear on the competitor boxes.

If you were in the market for a new system which do you recommend and why?

Scott Dolan · January-13th-2009, 04:14 PM

Depends.

Do you want to sit on your fucking ass all day and watch pretty graphics flash by, or do you want to get your sorry fucking ass up and moving around and working up a sweat while playing a video game?

If it's the former, go with the PS3 if you're also willing to spend a small fortune on the system as well as $60-$80 per game.

If it's the latter, go with the Wii and get a few good sports titles. Tiger Woods Golf '09 will work your ass out in a very serious fashion.

Troll · January-14th-2009, 07:02 AM

Thanks.

The technology changes so fast that I always decide to wait until the next generation. I'm definitely leaning towards the Wii as it is more interactive and I don't own a high def TV. I just don't want to buy into something that seems like it may become obsolete quickly.

Chris D · January-14th-2009, 10:23 AM

The Wii is plenty of fun. If you aren't a serious gamer, it should fit your needs.

We got Wii Fit, with the balance board, to go with it, and it's just amazing technology.

Scott Dolan · January-14th-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troll

. I just don't want to buy into something that seems like it may become obsolete quickly.

I have no idea what the hell this means. The Wii is the best selling console on the market and still almost impossible to find even two years after it first hit the shelves. And even if Sony and MS adopt the motion sensor technology they won't do so until their next generation consoles, and those are MANY years away.

Chris, I still consider myself a pretty serious gamer (though I've gravitated almost exclusively to sport titles these days) and the Wii suits me just fine.

Sergio Zamora · January-14th-2009, 12:29 PM

It really depends on the kind of games you want to play. Th wii is outselling the other two consoles because it's much cheaper and because it's targeting market areas the other two (and every other previous console maker) have mostly ignored.

I think Scott's characterization is mostly correct. Afaik, they just aren't making the kind of complex, graphic-intensive, narrative-driven immersive games on the wii that are the bread and butter of the other two. On the other hand, the other two haven't been trying to make the kind of games with more creative and 'physical' user interaction that the wii is known for. I know quite a few people who have both an xbox or ps3 and a wii.

That said, I don't actually own a wii and have only seen it when I go to Best Buy. I personally much prefer the xbox over the ps3 for a lot of reasons (and I was a big big ps2 fan, so it's not brand loyalty).

And yes, the xbox are more for hardcore gamers than the wii, but I think if you real OG hardcore gamers they'll tell you their machine of choice is a pimped up specialized PC.

Troll · January-14th-2009, 12:37 PM

Here is one example of the technology becoming obsolete.

In general processors have a two year life span. New hard drives are all SATA drives - needed to handle the faster transmission rates. Two years is a long time in computer technology even with a product that's hard to find.

I believe that Xbox is working on their next gen Xbox720 which I thought had some of the same features as the Wii. That's why I'm concerned about the longer term.

Scott Dolan · January-14th-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omar

Th wii is outselling the other two consoles because it's much cheaper and because it's targeting market areas the other two (and every other previous console maker) have mostly ignored.

can't argue with that at all. But, I would add that it also has the appeal of physical exercise while playing video games, AND is accessible across all generations. Toss all of that in with the novel controllers and it's easy to see why it has become so successful.

Quote:

Afaik, they just aren't making the kind of complex, graphic-intensive, narrative-driven immersive games on the wii that are the bread and butter of the other two.

But that's one of the points that many people miss. It was never supposed to compete with those systems graphically. It's like racing a Pinto against a Porsche. But, it does have games of the nature that you're speaking of here, they just don't make a lot of them. The FPS games on the Wii tend to be pretty strong, and not too bad graphically. Medal Of Honor just came out with a new one that is spectacular. Metroid Prime is another good one in the HALO mold. Resident Evil 4 on the Wii specifically has been highly praised. So, they do make those types of games, but it's not their core audience so you won't get as many on the Wii.

The new Godfather is supposed to be coming out this Spring. The first one for the Wii was pretty decent. Not GTA4, but close enough if that's the type of game you're looking for.

Quote:

I know quite a few people who have both an xbox or ps3 and a wii.

That would certainly be ideal, if you had the jack to support a habit like that.

groover · January-14th-2009, 03:07 PM

A friend lent me his Wii for as weekend a while back. I really wore my arm out pitching in the baseball game, but I was kicking some ass over the computer player!

Scott Dolan · January-14th-2009, 03:17 PM

Wii related injuries are the wave of the future! I played two full 18 hole courses on Tiger Woods one night and woke up the next morning with mild pain in places that had obviously been long dormant.

Chris D · January-14th-2009, 03:26 PM

The Wii Fit is amazing in the ways it targets certain areas. Of course, it won't replace real exercise, but the balance games do a good job focusing on the core. It's also uncanny how the skiing and snowboarding sections mimic the real thing. Quite a pleasant surprise.

After we opened it on Christmas and played for a couple of days, we went off to the in-laws for New Year's. Once we got back, my wife signed on, and the Wii Fit asked her where Chris had been.

Scott Dolan · January-14th-2009, 03:35 PM

Hahahahaha....

That's cool.

The Fit seems to be almost as hard to find a the console these days. I wouldn't mind checking it out one of these days.

Monte Smith · January-14th-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

Wii related injuries are the wave of the future! I played two full 18 hole courses on Tiger Woods one night and woke up the next morning with mild pain in places that had obviously been long dormant.

Did you consult a neurologist?

Scott Dolan · January-14th-2009, 06:07 PM

Goddamn (Ollie)