My Christmas experience with the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii
How was your Christmas? Did you receive one of the home consoles? If so, which one? Christmas 2008 saw me playing all three games consoles, the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii, with family and friends and the experiences have given me some new insights into the state of the console market.
Firstly, the continuing high price of the PS3 is adversely affecting sales. I know that’s a quite obvious sentiment but this Christmas gave me proof of this. Two of my cousins were bought an Xbox 360 for Christmas, and they were immensely happy with their gifts. But when asked (by me) why they chose an Xbox 360 over a PS3, the only answer was price.
In fact, LittleBigPlanet, Home, free online gaming, and Blu-ray were all cited as reasons why a Playstation 3 would have been a wiser choice but the asking price for those features was just too high. I know Sony is still losing money on each console it sells but a price cut is desperately needed.
Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 have a big problem in their accessibility to new or inexperienced gamers. There’s a certain level of experience required to know what to do with the technology, with the wireless controllers, and the controls needed to play each game. This leads to an age being spent on the setting up of either console, so much so that the experience can be diluted somewhat by the delay.
This is a problem that the Wii doesn’t have. Once turned on, everything is continually explained to you, whether you want it to be or not. While this can annoy experienced gamers or long-term Wii owners, new players appreciate it no end.
I also saw the strengths and weaknesses of the Nintendo console on display in full Technicolor glory. My 8-year-old niece took just 30 seconds to get the hang of any of the games on Wii Sports despite never having played a games console before in her life. But the Wii was abandoned after about half an hour of play. If that doesn’t sum the Wii up perfectly then I don’t know what does.
This Christmas confirmed my thoughts on all the current consoles. They’re all brilliant in their own way: Wii for parties, Xbox 360 for single player gaming brilliance, and PS3 for being a multimedia hub. Whatever console you received for Christmas, make sure you play to its strengths rather than its weaknesses and 2009 is sure to be a great year.
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7 Responses to “My Christmas experience with the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii”
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December 27th, 2008
you hear that Dave? no one calling you a fanboy… no one piling on useless information… wow… suddenly… life without kevin and harry and CAD feels empty…
can we please arrange to play GTA 4 now?? please??
youre welcome to join us too dave and mike…
December 27th, 2008
The time of the year when Wii’s are brought out of the closet to test how well they handle dust in their CPU’S.
“Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 have a big problem in their accessibility to new or inexperienced gamers”.
Very true. My parents Don’t know how to turn on the DVD player so the PS3 is nigh impossible IF there was a casual game to appeal to them. SO instead my mom won a DS in her school raffle and even they can use it. I guess Sony expect that if you have used a previous console you ought to know how to use the PS3 which was true in my case but could be daunting for new users.
December 27th, 2008
DWH on another note, if you see me online send me a message to play GTA and i’ll pop in GTA.
December 27th, 2008
That is the first time I have ever heard the 360 praised for it’s “single player gaming brilliance”, usually it is only simplifying generalized comments about how the 360 is a multiplayer console and the PS3 is a single player console. Congratulations Dave.
If you believe in stereotypes, I suppose the categories mentioned would work… especially the Wii as a party console… but I guess it depends on the knowledge of the gamer and who they are.
When it comes to the Wii, I think it could be considered just as good at single player games considering the virtual console and other games out for it (especially as I am playing and enjoying the simple experience of Shining in the Darkness right now on PC emulation).
When it comes to the 360 I would say multiplayer works just as well as single player, though I am not a multiplayer; and just as well as PS3 at multimedia when considering upconverted DVD’s, 1080p HD downloads, and the possibility of DVD18 in it’s future.
PS3 certainly has some good single player experiences out there as well as multiplayer, and is currently the only option for Blu-ray, but not as a multimedia hub in general, as Blu-ray is not that popular yet.
Ah well… I guess I just don’t like simplifications like these in general, but if I had to:
The Wii is a kid, family, casual, non-gamer, party, old person, and old school gamer friendly console. Gameplay and interactivity is considered more important than graphics.
The 360 is a gamer’s console with something for everyone (except Blu-ray), for gamers who enjoy having a record of their entire gaming experience, and usually getting more gametime from their purchase via Achievements. It is also a competitive gamer’s console for single players and multiplayers alike, with a pay option for serious online multiplayers.
The PS3 is a gamer’s console with something for everyone (except standardized Trophies/ ranking- yet to be in 2009, and online options for all games), for gamers who enjoy the Playstation brand’s exclusive titles (though no longer produced with backwards compatibility), and look forward to the console’s future long term lifetime and potential possibilities.
December 28th, 2008
Damn i wanted to buy myself the 80GB PLAYSTATION 3 Bundle with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots from Amazon for $500. I had $700 but the price was way too high at least for me it was so i got another Xbox 360 instead this time the Xbox 360 Arcade i was hoping for a second PS3 instead but… The Wii is not worth buying a PS2 or even Xbox 1 or a PSP are way better deals. The only let down for Xbox i have now is the new update is pure crap way too crazy i like simple menu like PSP PS3 PSX.
January 2nd, 2009
Can Parrack write ANY article without calling for a PS3 price cut? We know how you feel Dave, but you aren’t gonna change the world nor get Sony to stomach MORE losses per console sold. Sure, we’d all like to see a $200 PS3, but it aint happenin’. I’d venture a bet that even Christmas 2009 PS3 will still be most expensive console.
January 6th, 2009
Thank you Dave Parrack for still mentioning the PS3 price cut that it desperately needs. DavidB forgot to mention that when Sony does cut it’s price this year to $299 it will still be the most expensive base console by Christmas 2009. Keep up the good work Mr. Parrack.