Oh, I just know I'm going to regret this...

[camwyn]

Okay. Lately I've been seeing a lot of stuff about video games that look like they'd be absolutely fascinating. Portal, for one, and the upcoming Ghostbusters first-person shooter, for another. The thing is that while my computer is pretty kickin', I'm aware that it'd probably need some upgrades to make it happy with the graphics demands placed on it by various video games both past and present. It's fine with running Sims 2 and Civilization IV, which are really my only major games at this point... I don't especially feel like messing with its guts. It's got personality at the moment and I don't want to disrupt that.

Oh hush.

Anyway, this sort of points in the direction of getting a video game console instead and just hooking it up to my TV. I'm led to understand that this would also solve my problem with the DVD player I used to have no longer being active. This is fine by me, except that I know doodly about consoles, their merits, or their flaws. I have never owned one. I never planned to own one, so I never read about them. I've played some games on other people's in the past, but I scarcely remember which games were on which. I'm told that Portal exists for the Xbox 360 and the PS3. I've read that the Ghostbusters video game will be made for both of those platforms (also for the PC, but like I said, I don't really wanna fool with my existing system if I can avoid it). I realize it's foolish to make a purchase like that for just one or two games, but I'll also be using the thing as a DVD player, so that means it's not nearly as much in the way of overkill for limited function.

Those of you who're friends of mine and more familiar with the consoles out there, what can you recommend for me? Bear in mind that early first-person shooters made me motion sick, but graphics lately have been getting better. I'm fond of strategy games like Civilization and Dune 2000, and I don't own a high definition TV.

Comments

[dancing-moon.livejournal.com]

The PS3 is more expensive and the Blue-Ray player in it is only better than a regular DVD-player if you have a HD TV. So, I think that unless there's a bunch of PS3 games you want, the Xbox fits better for your needs.

List of Xbox 360 games (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Xbox_360_games)

List of PS3 games (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PlayStation_3_games)

[mephron]

If you get a 360 you can play Stranglehold.

If you get Stranglehold you can play a sequel to Hard Boiled.

[sleightofhand]

Portal is AMAZING. Yes. Play it. Enjoy it.

From the sounds of things though, I think your computer as-is should be able to handle it fine. You can always check the requirements online, of course.

[e-mily.livejournal.com]

Portal's pretty cool. I ahven't played it, but all of my D&D guys rave about it and make jokes.

Your computer might actually be just fine. Check requirements vs. what you have, etc.

But I'd say get xBox if you're going to still go with a console. Not as expensive, and a lot more "fill your basic needs."

I don't like FPS either, except for Halo. They make me WAY motionsick. But Halo is nice and smooth.

Even Portal is too much for me. Too much random changing. But you'll like it. I don't like the gameplay, but everything else is AWESOME.

[viridian.livejournal.com]

Do nooooot get a PS3. It's ridiculously overpriced and most games are available for the XBox 360, which Ben and I bought last year and enjoy. Ben's a more serious gamer than I am, but we also use it to stream media through our home network and play on our TV. It took a bit of know-how to do that, though, but you're a techie, you could manage it. The 360 has decent downloadable games, too - Ben and a bunch of my friends play ridiculous amounts of Settlers of Catan that they've downloaded.

[blackswanevent.livejournal.com]

OH VIDEO GAMES.

My two cents are these. It sounds like most of the games you want to play? would do best on an X-Box 360 console.

Pluses to X-Box 360
-DVDplayerisness-
-X-Box Online-
-HALO-
-BIOSHOCK(...which I really want to play and think you might enjoy immensely because it's about genetics and steampunk and living under the sea, so if you get it I'll live vicariously through you.)
-Portal.
-Many other awesome games including "Condemned" and a couple of really cool others.

while the Ps3 can play blue-ray discs, like someone stated that's only good if you have a High Def player.

But if you do, get the Ps3. Here is a handy FAQ on the subject:
ramen. I don't have a high-def TV. what's so important about a high-def television anyway?

High Def is the format that most televisions will be translating to in November of O9 (or thereabouts). People lacking high-def TVs will have to buy a very expensive converterbox (can we say price gouging? Sure! I knew that we could!)

High Def with Blu ray is...beautiful. It's like a fucking religious experience if you're a media nut like I am. Everything is CLEAR and when the bullet comes at you it seems like it's coming AT YOU.

It runs at a higher rate then normal TV signals. 10 api or something like that. It's been in experimental development for years and is an exciting and beautiful thing.

I am not a media nut. I am only a mild Media nut.

Then you can do without the Ps3 becase you're probably not willing to spend 30 bucks on a blu-ray disc right?

Exactly
Fan-Tastic!

Consoles...

Right! Yeah, okay. X-Box will fit your needs, allow you to be online and chat, and carries most of the games you're interested in. You can pick them up cheap used, but it does cost money to be in X-Box Online...

...which I won't be doing
So it's not that important. *cough*

Right. Any other recommendations?
THE WII.

Why?
BECAUSE THE WII IS GOD AND DON'T LISTEN TO ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU OTHERWISE.

...*slightly frightened here*
User friendly, connects to the internet (you can do the internet through your TV! MILLIWAYS ON A SEVERAL INCHES LARGER SCREEN!

...and I want it because....
I....want more people to give nintendo money so they continue to produce resident evil series? *cough*

In any case. X-Box 360 your best bet if you're looking for something good that handles FPS well. If you want to step into the future boldly and you have your clean-underwear ready for your portable-tardis trip? The Ps3.

But you will need a High Def Tv.

[midnightlurker.livejournal.com]

I'm a Playstation loyalist, but the PS3 is kinda stretching that to the limit. I probably will get one sometime this year though, for Ghostbusters and Soul Calibur 3. (Darth Vader and Yoda versus medieval Earthlings without lightsabers. ?!)

The Ghostbusters game will have a PS2 version, with the same plot but much simpler and cartoonier graphics. (Not Real Ghostbusters cartoon, sadly.)

[pat-trick.livejournal.com]

I have never touched a PS3, so I can't comment on it.

My housemate has gone through 4 XBOX360s. Yes, four. There is a thing with the XBOX360 where the LED behind the power button will one day start blinking red. This is known as a "red ring of death", and is usually a case of the motherboard in the console dying. Google the term and you'll find it's a widespread issue.

That said, he was able to replace every single one of them with no issue, as they were still covered by Microsoft's warranty.

If you do get an XBOX360, be sure to get one WITH a hard drive. This is important; some of the consoles don't come with them, and then you can't really save your games, etc. Also, you probably don't need to get the Elite Edition, which is the black colored XBOX360; don't get talked into one of these.

What are the specs of your current computer? If it can play Sims 2, it may be able to run Portal just fine, though not super-shiny. I have a friend with a giveaway code for Half Life 2, which is in and of itself quite nifty, so if you want to cut your computer's teeth on that, let me know. They are a comparable test.

[sundre.livejournal.com]

I don't have a lot of console experience beyond nintendo, but playstation has katamari. Katamari = awesome. I want it to be developed for more systems because I don't really want a playstation, but that alone tempts me beyond reason.

Also, I got portal for my brother for christmas (PC version), and he's actually reduced his world of warcraft involvement to play it. Take that as you will.

I'd suggest taking a console for a bit of a test drive, if not the game itself. Maybe if you have well-equipped friends nearby? OR sometimes they can be rented. If you're prone to motion sickness it's a good idea to make sure you can use the thing first.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_geekie_/]

People look at me weird when I say that first person shooters make me sick. I'm so glad I'm not the only one out there. o.o

That being said, I have an X-Box and a PS2, but no new consoles. So sadly I have nothing to contribute on that front.

[lots42.livejournal.com]

If I had to choose a PS3 or XBox for the rest of my life, I'd choose PS3 all the way. Heard way too many XBox horror stories (I read video game magazines like a junkie)

[ymfaery]

I have a PS2, but haven't played it in ages mainly because I don't want to give my nieces (12 and 8) ideas. Although they're running around $129 new. No idea how much the other consoles cost, so you might want to do some comparison shopping.

[arabel.livejournal.com]

My personal feeling would be to go with the Xbox 360, which is saying something - I was so vehemently anti-Microsoft for so long. But it's just unfortunate that there are very, very few good games for the PS3 (yet... in comparison to the Xbox'a more solid line-up), and it's way more expensive. If you're not a hardcore gamer, I don't know that it would be worth the extra investment.

As someone up there said, though, make sure you hang onto your receipt, because Xboxes are absolutely notorious for falling over dead eventually.

The Xbox Live arcade also has a nice range of older random games, and new indie games - Puzzle Quest, and Fable are two that spring to mind which I'd recommend.

The only reason I'm going to get a PS3 will be to play Metal Gear Solid 4 when it comes out, as I can't live without it (Metal Gear Solid being, in my opinion, the best computer game series of all time - and it's Playstation exclusive).

There's my 2c...