Mr Buckshot
September 20th, 2007, 01:50 AM
For a long time one of the reasons why I stick with my 360 and haven't bought a PS3 yet is the high price of the console and its games (unless you buy pre-played versions, you still pay at least 50 bucks).
So recently, I did an analysis of the value of the PS3 and the 360 when combined with the necessary additions that always drive the cost up.
Note: This is not a comparison to see which console is better – it is a comparison to see how much each console actually costs when coupled with those must-have add-ons.
X360 good values
- Comes with HD cables in the box, and the Elite has an HDMI cable too, whereas the PS3 only has standard cables, forcing you to pay another $60
- Older games like PDZ have dropped to $30 now. If you haven't got a next-gen console yet and want cheap next-gen games, go for the 360.
- Many stores often bundle games with the system without additional charges. That’s very rare with the PS3. Even if you don’t like the bundled games, you can still sell them or trade them.
- If hard drive space is not a concern, you still pay less (20 GB version) than you would for a PS3
- Still a powerful system, costs less than an equally powerful PC although the PC has the massive advantage of being upgradeable
- Has infrared port so universal remotes can work with it, if you prefer using a remote to control movies.
X360 bad values
- Absolutely zero compatibility with old Xbox accessories. Those 64MB and 512MB mem cards are way overpriced and you can’t reuse those 8 MB xbox 1 cards. You also can’t reuse gamepads for legacy games.
- Can copy data from external media like flash drives and SD cards (for cards, USB adapter required), but cannot save data back to those devices. Big mistake.
- No built-in Wi-fi. The 20 GB PS3 model lacks wi-fi too but that’s been discontinued long ago.
- XBL has a good structure but requires payment for simply fragging your friends online. I can understand charging for Arcade games, movie downloads, and more, but I don’t wish to pay if all I want to do is hop into a Slayer match on Halo 3.
- High failure rate = a few bucks spent to send it to MS if it breaks.
- X360 accessories like the controller and headset cost as much, if not more than, a brand new game. And $200 for a 120 GB HDD = fail.
- $180 more if you want next-gen DVD compatibility (HD DVD add-on)
PS3 good values
- Like the 360, it is powerful and cheaper than an equivalent PC.
- Bigger hard drive that can be easily upgraded without voiding the warranty. Just get any 5400rpm 2.5” hard drive. You can get 160 GB for under $150. Or if you have an old laptop that you don’t use anymore…you know what to do.
- Built-in wi-fi. 20 gig model lacks it but is discontinued and less popular anyway.
- You can re-use your legacy PS2 gamepads with a USB adapter (costs no more than $15). They work with PS3 titles too but you lose the Sixaxis functions, not like that many games use it anyway. Considering how cheap used PS2 gamepads are, this is a steal. Guitar Hero and Guncon controllers still don’t work even with the adapter, but Nyko is developing an adapter to fix that.
- You can save data to USB flash drives, SD cards, etc, and even PS2 mem cards (with a $15 adapter). And you even get built-in slots on the 60 gig and 80 gig models.
- Playstation Network does not require a fee unless it’s an MMO, in which case the developer, not Sony, charges the fee. GRAW 2 and Resistance prove that online play can still be super smooth even on a free service. This is probably the main reason why I want the PS3.
- The Sixaxis gamepad can be charged right away with any old Mini-USB-to-USB cable. The 360 needs you to buy a separate kit or keep switching AA batteries. And the PS3 even includes a fairly long USB cable in the box.
- Standard USB headsets can be used with the PS3. The 360 requires you to buy a $25 headset, and you can’t even re-use the Xbox 1 headset.
- BUILT IN BLU RAY, STILL CHEAPER THAN STANDALONE PLAYER
PS3 bad values
- If you’re the gamer who doesn’t need much HDD space or accessories, it’s $500 for the 60 gig PS3 vs. $350 for the 20 gig X360.
- No infrared means you must buy a Bluetooth remote to control movies. I’m sure there’ll be a USB adapter for infrared soon enough though. Or you can just use the gamepad but that’s not comfortable.
- Games are still expensive, but hey, they’re on Blu-ray discs.
- Standard PS3 accessories are as expensive as the X360’s, but the compatibility with legacy peripherals does solve a few problems
- No HD cable included in the box. Gotta buy it separately.
- No long warranty. May have far fewer failures, but when it does break, it may well be after the warranty expires.
Sum it up (not including games)
If you get a 20 gig X360, you’d likely buy a year’s Live subscription, an extra gamepad, an HD DVD player, a headset, and a play-and-charge kit.
That’s $350 + $50 + $50 + $180 + $25 + $20 = $680. If you want to upgrade to 120 GB, you pay an extra $180.
If you get the Elite, you spend $100 more but save $45 on the headset and charge kit (included with Elite), which means you spent $735.
If you get a 60 gig PS3, you’d likely buy an extra gamepad (or re-use a PS2 one), a Bluetooth remote, and an HDMI cable. Upgrading to at least 100 GB costs at least $60 for a brand new drive or $40 for a used drive.
That’s $500 + $60 + $20 + $60 = $640. If you re-use a PS2 gamepad, that’s $580 ($595 if you don’t already have an adapter).
Therefore, the X360 is more expensive than the PS3.
So recently, I did an analysis of the value of the PS3 and the 360 when combined with the necessary additions that always drive the cost up.
Note: This is not a comparison to see which console is better – it is a comparison to see how much each console actually costs when coupled with those must-have add-ons.
X360 good values
- Comes with HD cables in the box, and the Elite has an HDMI cable too, whereas the PS3 only has standard cables, forcing you to pay another $60
- Older games like PDZ have dropped to $30 now. If you haven't got a next-gen console yet and want cheap next-gen games, go for the 360.
- Many stores often bundle games with the system without additional charges. That’s very rare with the PS3. Even if you don’t like the bundled games, you can still sell them or trade them.
- If hard drive space is not a concern, you still pay less (20 GB version) than you would for a PS3
- Still a powerful system, costs less than an equally powerful PC although the PC has the massive advantage of being upgradeable
- Has infrared port so universal remotes can work with it, if you prefer using a remote to control movies.
X360 bad values
- Absolutely zero compatibility with old Xbox accessories. Those 64MB and 512MB mem cards are way overpriced and you can’t reuse those 8 MB xbox 1 cards. You also can’t reuse gamepads for legacy games.
- Can copy data from external media like flash drives and SD cards (for cards, USB adapter required), but cannot save data back to those devices. Big mistake.
- No built-in Wi-fi. The 20 GB PS3 model lacks wi-fi too but that’s been discontinued long ago.
- XBL has a good structure but requires payment for simply fragging your friends online. I can understand charging for Arcade games, movie downloads, and more, but I don’t wish to pay if all I want to do is hop into a Slayer match on Halo 3.
- High failure rate = a few bucks spent to send it to MS if it breaks.
- X360 accessories like the controller and headset cost as much, if not more than, a brand new game. And $200 for a 120 GB HDD = fail.
- $180 more if you want next-gen DVD compatibility (HD DVD add-on)
PS3 good values
- Like the 360, it is powerful and cheaper than an equivalent PC.
- Bigger hard drive that can be easily upgraded without voiding the warranty. Just get any 5400rpm 2.5” hard drive. You can get 160 GB for under $150. Or if you have an old laptop that you don’t use anymore…you know what to do.
- Built-in wi-fi. 20 gig model lacks it but is discontinued and less popular anyway.
- You can re-use your legacy PS2 gamepads with a USB adapter (costs no more than $15). They work with PS3 titles too but you lose the Sixaxis functions, not like that many games use it anyway. Considering how cheap used PS2 gamepads are, this is a steal. Guitar Hero and Guncon controllers still don’t work even with the adapter, but Nyko is developing an adapter to fix that.
- You can save data to USB flash drives, SD cards, etc, and even PS2 mem cards (with a $15 adapter). And you even get built-in slots on the 60 gig and 80 gig models.
- Playstation Network does not require a fee unless it’s an MMO, in which case the developer, not Sony, charges the fee. GRAW 2 and Resistance prove that online play can still be super smooth even on a free service. This is probably the main reason why I want the PS3.
- The Sixaxis gamepad can be charged right away with any old Mini-USB-to-USB cable. The 360 needs you to buy a separate kit or keep switching AA batteries. And the PS3 even includes a fairly long USB cable in the box.
- Standard USB headsets can be used with the PS3. The 360 requires you to buy a $25 headset, and you can’t even re-use the Xbox 1 headset.
- BUILT IN BLU RAY, STILL CHEAPER THAN STANDALONE PLAYER
PS3 bad values
- If you’re the gamer who doesn’t need much HDD space or accessories, it’s $500 for the 60 gig PS3 vs. $350 for the 20 gig X360.
- No infrared means you must buy a Bluetooth remote to control movies. I’m sure there’ll be a USB adapter for infrared soon enough though. Or you can just use the gamepad but that’s not comfortable.
- Games are still expensive, but hey, they’re on Blu-ray discs.
- Standard PS3 accessories are as expensive as the X360’s, but the compatibility with legacy peripherals does solve a few problems
- No HD cable included in the box. Gotta buy it separately.
- No long warranty. May have far fewer failures, but when it does break, it may well be after the warranty expires.
Sum it up (not including games)
If you get a 20 gig X360, you’d likely buy a year’s Live subscription, an extra gamepad, an HD DVD player, a headset, and a play-and-charge kit.
That’s $350 + $50 + $50 + $180 + $25 + $20 = $680. If you want to upgrade to 120 GB, you pay an extra $180.
If you get the Elite, you spend $100 more but save $45 on the headset and charge kit (included with Elite), which means you spent $735.
If you get a 60 gig PS3, you’d likely buy an extra gamepad (or re-use a PS2 one), a Bluetooth remote, and an HDMI cable. Upgrading to at least 100 GB costs at least $60 for a brand new drive or $40 for a used drive.
That’s $500 + $60 + $20 + $60 = $640. If you re-use a PS2 gamepad, that’s $580 ($595 if you don’t already have an adapter).
Therefore, the X360 is more expensive than the PS3.