It’s hard to miss the knock-down drag out fight within the latest generation of video game consoles. Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony are the frontrunners of the console war with their respective XBox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii.
Gaming Standards Set: XBox, PlayStation and GameCube
The console war seems especially drawn out because the latest generation of gaming consoles has been out for so long. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s it seemed like almost every year a new must-have console was released.
Then the bar was set with Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo’s flagship consoles: Sony released its epic PlayStation 2 in 2000, Microsoft launched its foray into the gaming world with its XBox console in 2001 only to be met with Nintendo’s GameCube that same year. These consoles were all part of the sixth generation of gaming consoles.
Seventh Generation Gaming Consoles: 360, PS3, Wii
Microsoft officially launched the seventh generation console war with its XBox sequel, the XBox 360, in 2005. Nintendo followed suit with its revolutionary Wii console in 2006 along with Sony’s PlayStation 3 console in the same year. As we enter the battle’s 4th year, each console is still locked in a contest of features, price and games with one another.
Although the Wii definitively trounces the PS3 and XBox 360 in sales, their financial success is largely due to the Wii’s appeal to non-gamers. With far less advanced graphics and less complicated games, the Wii is somewhat ignored by more serious gamers who are locked in their own internal battle over the true best console: PS3 or XBox 360?
XBox 360 VS PS3: Price, Memory
Bottom Line: The PlayStation 3 costs about twice as much as the XBox 360. Both consoles come with several different hard drive space amounts (each with plenty for the average to serious gamer). The PS3, originally released in 20, 40, 60, and 80 gigabyte models, is currently available in the US in the 80 gigabyte version, which costs $399 total, and in the 160 gigabyte model, which costs $499.
The XBox 360 originally came either without a hard drive (known as the Core system) or in a 20 gigabyte model. Currently the console is available in an updated version of the Core (known as XBox 360 Arcade) for $199, in a 60 gigabyte mode known as the XBox 360 Pro for $299, and in the XBox 360 Elite model—120 gigabyte memory for $399, the same price as the 80 gigabyte PS3.
XBox’s Hardware vs PlayStation’s Hardware: Red Ring of Death vs Blu-Ray
PlayStation 3 comes out on top as having the better hardware between the two. By now, most in the gamer community are well aware of XBox 360’s infamous “Red Ring of Death”, the ominous console harbinger, which signals that the XBox must be sent away for repairs and will be out of commission for at least a month. The “Red Ring of Death” occurs on a reported 16% of all XBox consoles, according to an article on ShackNews about the XBox 360. According to the article, Microsoft contends that the failure rate is only at 3%.
While the hardware repairs are paid for through Microsoft’s warranty plan, it is still a hefty checkmark in the minus column for the 360.
Not only does the PlayStation 3 have no major hardware issues, but Sony, forecasting the popularity of an all-in-one media center, included a Blu-Ray player in all PlayStation 3 consoles. Since all-in-one media centers are the wave of the future and the 360 has such a high failure rate, the PlayStation 3 wins the hardware contest.
In conclusion, the XBox 360 is cheaper but with worse hardware. Check out XBox 360 Games vs PlayStation 3 Games for the next step in deciding which console to purchase.
Stephanie Cox - Stephanie earned a B.S. in General Science with minors in physics and professional writing from Portland State University. As a teenager, ...
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