(I have a secret hope that all the fanboys on all sides will kill each other and the rest of us that just like to play games and don't care about PS3 vs. 360 vs. Wii vs. Your Mother will be left with a less ignorance filled online experience and actual thoughtful comments.)

So... Ya, your PS3 is an expensive glossy black bucket of chicken!, Your XBox 360 is repackaged horse meat, Your Wii is tiny and not pleasurable!

SimianJones

They fear what happened to the Dreamcast. But all the companies are in a good enough position to prevent that from happening.

A lot of people passed over the DC precisely because of the PS2 hype -- something that Greenburg is picking on.

kftgr

You forgot the real reason that 360 is like the SNES and PS3 is like the Genesis:

Color Scheme

"Would you rather buy a car whose breaks don't work but has a really cool real time map on your dashboard, or would you rather have breaks and no map?"
@cowondinosaur:
So your choice is broken car with no GPS
or
Working car (has no breaks) with GPS?

" April NPD figures will show that that the PS3 is still outselling the Xbox 360, despite the Xbox 360's recent price drop."
@CartBlanche: Where do you get that wonderful future information? Michael Pachter? The guy who was wrong about PS3 outselling 360 in March?

kftgr

Mr.SithNinja

I play games to be entertained by a story in a way that movies, TV, and books cannot. If I want to make user-created-content, I draw a fanart. I *might* give special consideration for Spore, and that one's console-neutral.

Frankly, PS3 games simply don't interest me. Metal Gear Solid? I learned more about it in Smash Bros. than in any other game. Final Fantasy? Never played any of 'em. Most exposure I had was my husband playing FF7 on PC, and I thought the characters all looked rediculous with their Popeye Arm Syndrome. And I admit those may be the only reasons I just don't care enough to buy a new system for them. I can't be the only one out there. And that is why MGS or FF are not going to be some sort of Magic Bullet or Anti-Halo. I'm warning the Sony fanboys now: Unless someone is already familiar with the series, they're not going to give a rodent's hiney about them.

Games like Mario and Halo are the exception, not the rule. It is rare that a game becomes so immersed in pop culture that the recognition goes beyond "gamers".

In the end, this fall I'd rather be playing Fable 2. And my guess is the Sony side of the fence also sees more merit in that which is familiar. Enjoy your games, but don't discount the fact that Microsoft had to fight an uphill battle to get where they are today. The fact that they are currently ahead is impressive, since they were fighting a "brand war", not a console war, from the beginning.

Policroma

Gray665

--Core--

"Let's not get CRAZY. Microsoft has had it's fair share of fuck ups.

With that said; I'm willing to overlook the fuck ups because I feel the library of games for the 360 is worth it. Of course other's disagree but that's their issue.

It's all about the games..."

I'm in agreement with you. From a hardware standpoint, no, the RRoD is not acceptable. I raised hell with Microsoft when I had my first RRoD, back when the system first came out and people were generally unaware that it was a problem. And perhaps I was lucky, but I was always able to get a customer service rep on the phone that was able to take care of the situation and send me a replacement Xbox 360 in a timely matter.

Now, the turnaround seems to be pretty fast, but that isn't to say that these problems are generally acceptable. I do, however, really enjoy the library of game I have on the Xbox 360. And next to maybe the Super Nintendo, this is the best game system I have ever owned. Though the original Playstation was pretty sweet too, hmm. Anyway. I'm in the same boat. I stick with it because of the games, because ultimately, I've enjoyed the great exclusives that have come to Xbox 360 so far -- Gears, Halo, Bioshock, Mass Effect, Ace Combat, etc. And the multiplat games like GTA IV, COD 4, Guitar Hero, etc. I love those too.

And so far, I've really enjoyed the features provided by Xbox Live. Sure, you pay for it, but I can't but feel it's a fantastic value, considering all of the features, demos, videos, movies, tv shows, arcade games, chat and video networking features, etc.

DugDawg

mcool93

kaz and the other sony idiots is why i look at my 60gb launch unit and say, "they were right, they sold 5 million of these to people (and me) even with no games available".

damn sony's truthfulness.

kneehighspy

bobtheduck

He's got a point, though.

It always seems like the best time to get a PS3 is 6-9 months in the future. From day one, every time I've considered getting a PS3, I've told myself "nah, but 6-9 months from now is looking pretty good!"

Maybe a slightly westernized MGS will change that...

GorbyGipper

Placentasaurus

"If they had put a HD-DVD drive in their box from the start, Blu-Ray would probably be dead now and the PS3 would be in real trouble."

I'd be pretty pissed if I was forced to buy an HD player back when taking sides wasn't a very wise idea. Best to wait and see what happend. That Microsoft wasn't forcing me to buy an unproven product was one of the 360's attractions.

That's also what made the 360 so much cheaper.

Kovitlac

The problem with threads like these is people all assume that everyone with a point that is pro-one console or the other is a raving fanboy. It's impossible to have a discussion. It IS possible to like the PS3 and have problems with delays and lies. It IS possible to criticize 360's hardware flaws and still like the system.

lionkitten

DigitalHero

"whatever creams your twinkie"

Jest

Footix

Ouch. your acronyms. they sting.

gozirah

I'm sure Greenberg really believes what he is saying, and from a position of his bias it is true. There's always more to a story or an opinion than anyone has time to consider unfortunately.

One reason I'm glad MS entered the market was simply to keep Sony honest and on it's toes.

There are of course reasons why RROD occurs and Sony has not released home or ingame XMB.

Things occur and their actual weight of importance is relative to the person and their bias.

I for one only have a handful of gamer friends, the rest of my friends don't game at all. Therefore I'm in the same boat as the person who says PSN offers 90 percent of XBL for free. 90 percent FOR ME. BUT seeing my friend on XBL and the community features he uses makes me realize that that would be a deal breaker for people like him (he just got a PS3 though) especially since he has become used to it. Sure Sony will have an answer to it, and I'm glad that MS's success with it is a good motivation for them to do so.

Remember you are more likely to think about and criticize things that don't represent your viewpoint and you are more likely to accept without question things that back it up....it's called bias and everyone has this blindspot.

Oh for the person that failed to see LBP technically amazing feats, not sure if this was addressed, but a bunch of objects with complex physical properties being constructed manipulated/edited (not just added and subtracted) real time over the network with other players.. well i believe a much simpler version of this (minus perhaps the replay/time function) is why Halo 3 won an award for technical achievement (forge)... This is what believe is going on from the videos..
it's sad when someone genuinely doesn't appreciate the amazing work that some devs do even if the end result isn't your thing.

Ehardergardens

Nice try Aaron, please try again. Maybe in 2009, I'll find out whether you're right. Till then, learn how to add numbers.

zleilndka

Attempting to tell others what they *think* and turning debate into personal insults is what is assinine.

robinandtami

There not THEIR.

ManjiKengo

Grimmjow Jeagerjaques

Then their marketing team deserves a big effin' bonus.

EndersGame

Jest

What cultural thing in Europe? It's called formidable marketing of the Sony brand there.

It's a different matter in Japan, but even that didn't get past the price tag and changing market. I'd go as far as saying that neither console is relevant there. The GC had its presence in Japan back then, but clearly you had to have a PS2 to enjoy most software.

To be perfectly honest, looking back at the original Xbox makes me feel a bit bad that it didn't do that well overall. Unlike its successor, the thing was really cutting edge for its time feature wise. HDD, DD in game audio, and the first to output HD game resolutions (few titles though), XBL and built in network adaptor.

SG79

Detha

Let's not get CRAZY. Microsoft has had it's fair share of fuck ups.

With that said; I'm willing to overlook the fuck ups because I feel the library of games for the 360 is worth it. Of course other's disagree but that's their issue.

It's all about the games...

EndersGame

The truth is...screw promises. The average consumer has zero memory when it comes to "broken promises".

They want to play games. Put some mind-blowing, market-penetrating games on their console...and the PS3 will sell.

Also...pay for exclusives. Pay through the fuckin nose for exclusives. If Take Two wanted every first born from every Sony employee for GTA IV exclusivity...Sony should have paid it.

If Sony had even a six month window for exclusivity...it would have meant more console sales for them.

A simultaneous launch with the 360 didn't HURT them, but it could have REALLY hurt Microsoft if Sony had coughed up the cash and bought exclusivity.

EndersGame

mind in rewind

Taking Greenberg's words literally? Killzone 2 and MGS4 are the only 2005 showcases that haven't been released. Others saw the light of day within the first year (R&C, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword etc). Home was announced in spring of 07, just about a year ago as was LBP. Doesn't sound like "neverending" to me, but delays can be annoying.

Dealing with PROD issue and "other crap" as long as you're treated right? That sounds like an oxymoron. I don't rant about PROD issues despite experiencing them 3 times in less than 2 years after the first one gave up. I still hang on to the console for its games, particularly exclusives like NGII. As far as delays, Too Human and the 06 release of Halo 3 comes to mind.

Both sides have had their share of screwups this generation while Nintendo has the last laugh with a different market. A full year head start with good software SHOULD and has given them a lead. Now they're working on keeping that lead, and they're nervous obviously because Hirai is putting SCEI back on track.

SG79

THIS. Right here...

There is NO reason why the 360 does so poorly there while it does as well as it does in North America. It's a silly cultural thing and has nothing to do with the strength of the console's library of games.

EndersGame

seatowneric

jsf49

Right here, Jackass...

[gizmodo.com]

ibelli

I don't think anyone owns rechargeable batteries, and those chargers do last longer. I use them once every two weeks with an average of 3 hours per day.

So as far as I'm concerned, it's a must.

SG79

You made a great point that I was thinking about for a long time. For as many people here who skoff at Xbox 360's 5 million lead, you have to realize that this lead didn't come easily.

As you stated, Sony was the king of the last console war. Sony had to screw up pretty badly for people to even consider buying an Xbox 360 with Sony's PS3 on the horizon.

Especially considering how popular the PS2 was and continues to be across the world.

However, Sony did manage to scew the pooch, so to say, by delaying the PS3's release due to numerous Blu-Ray and Cell processor implementation problems. And a string of gaffes and delays eventually led to Sony losing many of its former exclusive 3rd party developers.

It was by no means Microsoft's market for the taking. Microsoft had to work hard to create a console, exclusive games, relationships with 3rd party developers and an online experience that would be worthy of competing with Sony.

Microsoft did just that and now has a 5 million lead over the former king. That is nothing to skoff at.

Sure PS3 has been enjoying good sales and will continue to do so long as Sony pushes the PS3 as the best Blu-Ray option and as a cost-effective bundle with its TVs.

Now Sony just needs to start delivering on its promises and give gamers what they expected to receive from the beginning. It's weird, but Sony now finally seems to be getting the big picture.

Oh, you mean gamers really want rumble in games? People really want to be able to coordinate with their friends through online chat, even when playing different games? People really want Home and the exclusives we promised after 4 years? The answer is Yesssss! Sony.

In the meantime, we will put up with RROD issues and other crap as long as Microsoft treats us right and delivers on its promises. We will do it because ultimately, we want a game system to play games -- good games that we waited for and received as promised -- in a timely manner, without neverending delays . . .

DugDawg

Really, even an intelligent comment about this topic will sound like fanboyism...

fenderfuel08

Also, MS seems to have played all their biggest cards now and sony is just starting to roll theirs out.
MS needs to create new IPs besides Halo, Gears and Viva pinata because I'm really not that excited for the 360's future lineup.

Also, Sony's 1080p broken promise is true but really neither the 360 or the PS3 can push that resolution smoothly. Both systems just aren't powerful enough for that yet, and granted sony shouldn't have made those misleading statements or released the fake, pre-rendered killzone/FFXIII videos but at least they are doing something about it.

Microsoft, resdesign your broken hardware!

fenderfuel08

1. Fix RROD.
2. Fix DRM.
3. Make XBL free.
4. Destroy Sony's mind-control satellites positioned over Europe and Japan.

Don't whine like a little bitch.

Xiedo

Gam3r

RedFive

The good games are taking longer to come out than they did for the 360. There were all those promises about the graphics (which are improving leaps and bounds, finally) and the Home integration. We're over a year and a half into the Ps3's life cycle, and still no HOME, only a few 1080p capable games, and their graphical showpiece, Killzone 2, on the not 'too' distant horizon. I'm glad Sony fessed up to their mistakes, and are finally moving in the right direction, but darn, it's taking long enough!

target_render

All the ones I've seen have had the 175W power supply that indicates that it is a Falcon in the box.

Rectangle

MS lack of marketing savvy with the Japanese market is why the 360 and xbox failed so grandly there. Not racism, as Japanese racism tends towards being pro American / japanese and anti-everyone else.

kingmanic

kingmanic

That would never happen. Grand Theft Auto has a history on Sony consoles, and while they might not stay exclusive to them, they will never abandon them. The 360 may be getting exclusive content, but you will never see a GTA game that does not end up on some Sony console.

SageofAnacostia

Haha, okay kid. Seems like you're trying to act tough and important over the internet a bit too much here. Maybe it's nap time.

I say a new character with big breasts because that's exactly what sigma did? See what i did there?

So i'm poor because i enjoy not paying for something that is free everywhere else? Interesting.

Seems like you're a little upset that 360 is only 5 million consoles ahead of ps3 with a year+ head start :( It's ok, you can take your anger out on me, i don't mind your childish insults much.

Mpalm.

Let's have this discussion in a year's time and see where the 360 is worldwide. That 5 million gap will be MUCH smaller, if not surpassed.

sascha23

As to your opinion of what I think, I'll apply a subjective value of zero to that, thank you very much.

robinandtami

However...it gets powered on far less than my 360.

Have my standards lowered? Nope. It still irritates the hell out of me, by the most recent replacement is quiet and seems to be running quite well.

What it has done is that it has GUARANTEED that I won't ever buy a Microsoft console within the first year it has been launched. They fucked themselves on that.

the 360...badly manufactured with low quality software? Indubitably.

Which goes to show you how strong their library is if people are willing to get over the RROD issue.

The PS3 might not break from playing games but it certainly has other issues...

As an aside, you mentioned the PS3 falling off your t.v. stand. My 360 fell off a counter and dropped four feet to the floor below. Bounced not once, but twice...and it still works.

Which still sends a profound sense of awe through me.

EndersGame

darkstar5555

@dunetiger : It's true. X360 owners are happy customers for the most part. PS3 owners are too. I guess people should buy products with features they like rather than wait for a box of promises.

@ManjiKengo: I have no idea what you're on about. Kotaku punches you back.

gozirah

Still, why does the article not state *anything* about working temperatures? If they don't decrease...well hey, even these boxes will go to Xbox heaven due to melting solder joints and overheating chips.

Candlejack

Kovitlac

"Um, who's Aaron Greenberg?"

Ooh, that would make him so aaaangry. Do it, Sony. Do it!

boopadoo

Wow. Isn't that a testimony to how much you have lowered your standards in a way that you accept badly manufactured and low quality hardware?

I don't mean to promote any piece of hardware here but damn, the PS3 just doesn't break from playing games. It is more likely to break from falling off your TV stand if you ask me.

Really, the area of bullet proof consoles is far from over, which Nintendo and Sony continue to confirm. I just don't think the consumer should be treated like this, because it can encourage other hardware companies to lower their quality control and testing procedures as well.

Candlejack

Uhh, no. The current Falcon 360s have a 65nm CPU and an 80nm GPU. Both are shrunk from the launch CMOS technology of 90nm. These started appearing in stores around August last year.

Here are pictures of the smaller processors:
[www.anandtech.com]

I'm sure that MS is also in the process of shrinking their chips down to 45nm. It will be a while before you see 45nm chips out of either MS or Sony, however. Trust me.

Rectangle

I'm not saying MS didn't screw up. It's just that it's a non-point now. I'm on console number five. I'm not saying it's ideal but now, when I have a problem, I call. They send a coffin. I mail it off and I get it back in five to seven days (not business days). I've had that level of service on the last three replacements.

I miss the good old days of consoles being "bullet proof". My PS1 died because we literally played it to death and it died in the summer that Gran Turismo, Tomb Raider 2, Resident Evil 2 and Monster Rancher came out...

I still have my original PS2 plus a second one on reserve...

But with all of that said...yes, it's a pain. Yes, it WAS an issue but now, people still ranting about it...it's tired.

EndersGame

Anyone who thinks this is over are probably just posters at Kotaku / Joystiq / gamespot / game trailers / etc who think the blog commenters and forum posters actually represent the majority.

bobtheduck

---------------------------------------

I'll say this before this gets lost in the crap comments that NO ONE WILL READ.

This guy is right. I say though "who gives a shit about sonsole sales? Whoopty fucking doo. You've still got the better games." However he is being a complete dick just adding to the fandouchebagboy fires.

Now, thing here you people need to realize is that most of the people that come in here blasting this guy and the xbox360 think Bill Gates raped their dogs and killed their parents.

Get off corporate penises people.

You've all seem to forgotten why you play games.

I haven't.

Seriously, why do you play games in the first place if all you give a fuck about is sucking a corporate dick?

-----------------------------------

The ONLY fucking reason I'm still angry with Sony is the design choices and lack of fulfilled promises and their extreme lack of exclusive games that make the system worth it. I'm getting a ps3 for Blu-ray and maybe a game here and their, but mainly blu-ray. 700-800 dollars for a bluray live player my ass.
-----------------------------------
Don't bother replying to my comments. I won't be back to read them considering that the majority of the comments here want to make me punch Kotaku.

ManjiKengo

Which they did quite successfully in the first 9-12 months of the PS3s lifetime and are still doing periodically in Europe. Yea, our new store still sucks big time. I said it. Home? Long forgotten. In-game voicechat/custom soundtracks/...? Sometime in the future.

I could go on and on but you get the hint. Every company makes mistakes more often than we want. Thing is, Sony so far has always rewarded me with something awesome for taking all the shit they pull with us. Be it MGS4 alone, that would be worth it.

Candlejack

Don't mean to sound harsh with that, but it pisses me off when people talk the RROD error nice as if it wasn't taking place anymore. The only reason you're not seeing as much coverage on it is the extended warranty that has quieted people down.

Candlejack

dunetiger : one of the naerds

2007 called and they want their awesome RROD joke back...

EndersGame

"All MS cares about is the release of products. If the product sucks they don't care since there will always be another new product soon."

You might...you just MIGHT be confusing Microsoft with Nintendo. At a point where a console has a large install base; more games come out. The more games coming out, the greater the liklihood that a greater percentage of them will be garbage.

With that said, go to your local game boutique or even Walmart. Look at the 360 titles, the PS3 titles and the Wii titles. Your attempt at making the 360 library into the "ghetto of gaming" is way, way out of whack.

"Sony is willing to delay products until they are right, expecting that they only one have once chance to wow the gamer."

Like Lair?

"The MS execs have always acted like sore losers even when they are winning. If you are truly the lead you don't need to respond like this. He's acting scared as opposed to confident and in charge. He knows that he is in for big trouble this year."

Or maybe it's a response to what Sony has been slinging? Or maybe he's under a great deal of pressure and snapped? Or maybe he didn't get a hand job from his wife this morning and he's grumpy? Or maybe an alien lifeform, infamous throughout the galaxy for being snarky and short-tempered took over his brain?

He SHOULD be scared. He works at a very competitive corporation as an executive. Those executives are held accountable for VERY aggressive performance numbers. It doesn't matter how successful they are at Microsoft because there will always be more "stretch-targets" to meet, if not surpass. If they don't meet those targets...executives are easy to replace.

This year IS going to be a competitive year but just because Sony looks like they're getting their train back on it's rails doesn't mean they're going to immediately surpass everything Microsoft has done.

Let's say Sony has a impossibly, miraculously fantastic year and they outsell the 360 by 500,000 units EVERY month starting in May. That's still TEN months it will take for the PS3 to catch up. Ten months is a LONG time and it's quite safe to say that there is NO FUCKIN WAY that the PS3 is going to outsell the 360 by 500,000 units without a price cut to end all price cuts...and even then...there's no way.

Will Sony catch up? Probably...eventually...but by then Microsoft will be more than just the "computer software and hardware company that got into consoles".

They will be just like Sony was back in the days of the PS1 and PS2.

Microsoft doesn't need to win. They don't even need to tie. They just need to do well and they've already done that.

So...stop thinking that Aaron Greenberg is attacking YOU...and realize that your beloved PS3 is fine and will be fine over the coming years.

EndersGame

Corporate smack is always annoying.

crashlanding

Although, I've noticed that with you, you always seem to hold your perspective as the only one with merit.

Jest

Dirk Dorkelson

Unless YOU can show me where you didn't claim that.

Jest

Greenberg's rant was certainly unprofessional, but if I had to try to compete with a company that made so many false promises, I'd probably want to lose my shit once in a while, too. At least when Microsoft and Nintendo announce that something is going to happen, it usually sorta happens. Although, that said, Live Anywhere isn't yet what it was made out to be.

Dirk Dorkelson

Ninja Gaiden II Upsilon on ps3 right after Ace Combat 6 around 2009. Big breasts he? Guess you don't have girlfriend either.

There is nothing wrong with naming
Halo 3 and Bioshock in one sentence.

I mean tell me what games have you developed lately?

cartoonsmart

So was I. I eventually had to get the batter pack because they last longer.

SG79

How is the "controller charger" a must? I've been using the wireless controller since I bought the 360 in January '06. I've also used the same 4 batteries over those 2+ years. Charge one pair and use the other. When the one runs out, switch. I owned the charger and the batteries before even buying the console so it didn't cost me another penny.

Sloopydrew

cartoonsmart

You can stand by your claim that PSN offers 90% of what XBL does all you want to, but it still won't be accurate.

Access to the dash/xmb in-game so that you can perform many simple communication tasks without having to leave your game? Maybe one day.

Standardized multiplayer features for every game that utilizes multiplayer allowing for a uniformed online experience? i.e. every game supports voice chat, every game shows the gamertag of the person speaking, every game allows the ability to mute single players? We can only hope.

"Trueskill" matchmaking that attempts to match players based upon their skill level in each game? No.

The ability to see exactly what each of your friends is doing, and to join them in a game with just one button click? Not last time I checked.

The ability to create a personal bio to tell other gamers about yourself? Nope.

The ability to access the friend's list of your friends? Yah..no.

A way to avoid being matched with players that you have had a bad experience with in the past? Would be nice huh?

A formal complaint system to alert administrators to cheaters, modders, excessively foul people, etc. (accessible in-game) that is monitored by actual human beings? ( I know because I have had a gamertag banned due to a formal complaint.) Nothing even close.

You could argue that these are minor features that you personally are not interested in, but you can not make an effective arguement that "PSN has 90% of what XBL does."

robinandtami

gencid

excel_excel

Oh and 50 million worth of GTA is not the same as ??? million worth of PS3, that's just silly. That's your reasoning not mine. Maybe you should sit at the kiddy table?

cartoonsmart

Brian, you're starting to sound like the kid who excitedly runs up to the bully at recess and whispers in his ear, "Hey, you know what THAT kid said about you? Are you gonna beat him up now? Are you, are you?!"

ManekiNeko

pharcotix

This has nothing to do with the post, but sure. You don't get a HDD or WiFi with Arcade and still need to buy a controller charger, and a Live membership. Skip the HDD and WiFi but the other two are a must.

Sony's Euro pricing is still unfair, but that doesn't make 360 packages a lot more attractive or value packed.

SG79

Highlar

Sony is willing to delay products until they are right, expecting that they only one have once chance to wow the gamer.

The MS execs have always acted like sore losers even when they are winning. If you are truly the lead you don't need to respond like this. He's acting scared as opposed to confident and in charge. He knows that he is in for big trouble this year.

Techguy1138

GamingNinja

A 220 euro Arcade 360 and GTA

or a 470 euro PS3 and game

if I have 500 euro I can spend a whooping 280 euro on games I want for the 360 but if I bought the PS3 I'd barely have enough left to get any other games.
This is reality, forget the ups and downs of the consoles, even if the PS3 had the same amount of great games as the 360, theres no way you'd be able to get one close to 400 euro

excel_excel

robinandtami

you can make custom gamerpics (I assume that's what you mean by "gamertile"), but only people on your friend's list can see it (that way little Johnny can't look up your card and see your impressive genetalia pic). You end up with 2 pics -- a publicface and your friendface

busboy33

Both Nintendo and Sony were knocked off from the top spot, one in 95 and another in 2006. Both companies were market leaders with their first and 2nd consoles too.

The similarity of their fall is that it was their own doing. Cart format and retailer/publisher relations for Nintendo, while Sony messed up with elitist pricing and lack of compelling software.

A full year of having a less than stellar library and a more expensive console should've given MS a bigger gap than mere 5 million worldwide. MS had a full year start after all, so that speaks for their own failings.

You want an example of a fantastic job? Nintendo took the crown from Sony after a decade with a different strategy. Went past MS's first year start too. That's a fantastic job.

MS still has a great chance of widening the gap between them and Sony, but clearly things haven't gone as well as they like. Hence Greenberg's tantrum.

SG79

[downloads.teamxbox.com]

Basically, you just browse to your desired photo and hit X to make it your dashboard wallpaper.

I have a custom gamertile on my system that I created using the XBox camera. Only my friends can see it, though.

As for the user created in game content, I think that Forza 2 and Halo 3 are great examples of how this is being done with relative ease on the 360. The web interface that is used to download new Halo 3 games, modified maps, and videos is just about perfect. The Forza 2 auction house is another innovative way to share in game content.

But basically, it is up to the game developer to create this stuff. I think that MS is currently at the forefront of easily accessible user created content. But other developers have to catch up, even on the 360.

And no, transferring one mod at a time to my PS3 for use in UT3, all the while hoping that one of the mods won't crash the game, is not easily accessible. :( I sure do wish they would fix that mod import system.

Rectangle

Well that's 1 down.

How do I add a photo as wallpaper?

Sloopydrew

Jetsetneo

Android8675

It's there...

EndersGame

I'm not saying Sony hasn't broken promises -- they have. But so has MS. So please, Mr. Greenberg, get out of that glass house before you start throwing stones.

Sloopydrew

Your entire point became invalidated once you started referencing "Burst Processing" as something more that just a marketing point.

Cowondinosaur and JustThisGuy seems to be on the right track

rupinderpaul

I actually played a Japanese, turn-based strategy game that involved Nazis and zombies on my 360 last week. A niche title like that, being found on a platform tells you that despite all the braying by Sony fans about Microsoft's failures; the platform is a success and has a large user-base.

The fact that Sony somehow fucked it all up with the launch of the PS3 and is STILL behind Microsoft speaks more about Sony's failings than it does about Microsoft's failings.

Sony came into this generation as the reigning king. They got knocked the fuck off the throne. The might very well claw their way back onto the throne but not without a black eye and a few less teeth.

Which is a good thing as it seems like Sony has finally pulled it's head out of it's ass and will start going about leveraging their console and gaming experience in a positive way rather than what they have been doing up until now with their, "Yeah...we're awesome and you KNOW you want to buy our console."

And for the Metal Gear junkies...MGS 4 is NOT the salvation that you're hungering for. The MGS series doesn't have the market penetration that other titles have regarding brand power.

I'm not saying MGS is a bad series, or a bad game or anything like that...but it's not a mainstream title like GTA or Halo (although I have no fuckin idea how THAT series got so mainstream).

MGS will be a great game and make people feel good about their PS3 purchase. It's not a system seller though...not in the way that some people are hoping.

EndersGame

DoubleV

jsf49

jsf49

patfacecatface

Diddypat6

Seriously. This is an argument that people will make occasionally. Presumably it arises from some vague sense of resentment of Sony from its gallavanting about in the PS2 era.

Sony is no more the evil empire than Microsoft! Ask anyone who uses Linux!

PearceShea

Until they come out with the improved PC versions a few months later. :( (all with free multiplayer, like it should be)

As for NGII, that will be out on PS3 as Ninja Gaiden II Upsilon and will include a new character with huge breasts.

Don't list Halo 3 with a great title like Bioshock either please.

Mpalm.

But that's a dig and it's stupid.

In fact, this guy is stupid. All this vitriol and these arguments do a great deal to point out that Sony has been prompt on keeping its promises (it's shocking, I know, that a video game company could make claims and have ideas that turn out to be out of reach) but they also point out my only real problem with Microsoft: it's willingness to shovel something out the door when it makes the most fiscal and pr sense (in the short term). MS has generally a really high quality product, when it comes to gaming. I love my 360. Granted, I am on my sixth or seventh (I forget and I acknowledge that the number is way higher than the average- I got two boxes that were more or less doa).

This kind of pr mudslinging is stupid for the very criticism I make above. Much like if I were to go outside on this rainy day and pick up some mud (well, leave the city and pick up some mud) and toss it at a passerby (which sounds like alot of fun, now that I mention it) - we both wind up getting muddy in the process.

I mean, when I was in the shower this morning I was thinking about whether I want to play some Odin's Sphere or try and finish Lost Odyssey or try to get those last couple unlockables in Uncharted. I don't care about the console war (because I have both and that gives me a good sense of how awesome both are). But this stuff makes me pissed off everytime I look at my xbox.

PearceShea

Thank you for offering an answer! The on-line co-design aspect is nice, and yes, I'm certainly simplifying it, but can you direct me anyware that has more specific information? I appreciate (honestly) your answer, but I'm still vague as to what you actually do. I mean no disrespect by saying this, but I keep hearing how involved and vast the game is, but nobody has been able to tell me in what way, or point to an example. The only video I've seen (of the gameplay, not the mapmaker) either has puppets climbing an obsticle, jumping on an obsticle, riding a makeshift platform on wheels that looked like a boat, or grinning at each other. If you called Halo "shooting aliens" . . . that isn't too far off a description. What makes it (allegedly) great is the way that mechanic is implemented (well designed/balanced multiplayer, smooth co-op, solid engine, challenging battles, etc.). I keep hearing LBP is revolutionary but I can't find any specifics as to what makes it so unique . . . to use the simplified examples, what makes it Mario World with the "fighting oponents" aspect traded for "designing levels".

What are the on-line aspects, aside from (a) trading levels, (b) downloading new widgets to use in map-making, and (c) co-design of maps? If you play co-op, how as a game mechanic do you "help" each other -- is there some sort of "boost the other puppet to reach a ledge" like a Disney-fied Army of Two? What ARE the puzzle mechanics? Getting around obsticles? Do you have abilities beyond jump/climb? Is there a "throw rocks at each other" aspect like a free-form SSMB? Do you import objects to solve puzzles, and if so how does the game stop you from just building a bridge?

If the big hook is JUST the map-making, then that's neat but it isn't going to move consoles. From the way Sony keeps pushing this title, I gotta believe there's something more unique than that.

busboy33

Oh no! He said all the stuff that is actually bad about the PS3! BOOOOOO! HISSSSS!

C'mon, I own a PS3, but the faults he describes aren't made up - these are all true!

patfacecatface

kingmanic

I love my 360, but i know it isn´t perfect (though the achievements are great) and i know i´ll be getting a PS3, because i love the Playstation Brand and it´s getting better, also the bluray have won, so it´s time to get a player...

Daisuash

Hand_O_Death

Now get ready for an all new era of MS snowing the consumers over. Hoorah, ...wait?

Hand_O_Death

a) didn't say I won't/didn't buy a PS3 because of the chat issue . . . I said it was a glaring weakness in PSN. And it is -- RROD has nothing to do with that. You don't want to talk to your friends and other players ... that's your call. Enjoy GT5P racing silently against other people. Make sure you have all your friend's phone numbers so you can set up games. It's not a dealbreaker, but it IS a serious problem. I was pointing out that the SDF attack on criticizing PSN lacking in-game chat was clear, blatant spin designed to make a weakness in the PS3 offering appear nonexistent . . . kind of like your post misimplies what I said, then trumpets RROD for no reason related to the specific comment.

b) Full disclosure -- reason I don't own a PS3 (probably won't) is specifically because of how Sony treated me when my launch PS2 stopped reading disks . . . like the millions of other launch units using the (I think) Thompson drive. Sony denied the problem, told me I must have misused the unit, refused to repair it gratis because it was 1 month past warranty, then told me since fixing it would take 4-6 weeks and cost $150, "it would probably just be easier to go buy another one."

Sony Playstation hasn't gotten a dime from me since.

my launch 360 has gone RROD twice. Both times MS shipped and repaired it for free, no questions asked. Just sent it in for a 3rd time due to the drive failing. Even though it's years outside the warranty, they offered to refurb the entire unit for $25 (3-day shipping included), plus a new 1-year warranty and some other "sorry for the inconvienence" gifts.

I'm not happy that my 360 breaks. I wasn't happy when my PS2 broke (and my PS1, and my Dreamcast, etc.). Given that I usually get launch units (historically unreliable regardless of platform) and play the holy crap out of them while chain-smoking, I know it tends to occur. But MS has treated me right in terms of fixing it . . . Sony didn't. For the 5 weeks total my 360 has been in the shop over about 2 1/2 years, I've got to enjoy the team-and-community building benefits of cross-title-in-game-voice-chat for the rest of the time.

I know, it's coming soon to PS3, and when it does it'll totally kick XBL's ass! Sony promised their service will be better that nymphomaniac supermodel twins, so it has to be true.

The hardware design failures of the 360 are a weakness with the 360 camp (although if you think PS3's don't break you might want to check some message boards). The shortcomings of PSN is a weakness with the PS3 camp. Difference is, most MDF personnel acknowledge the problem. SDF members can't.

Mabye they need more sunshine?

busboy33

Next your remark on Left 4 Dead:
According to your reasoning Left 4 Dead (L4D) is exclusive because it sucks. You should tell that to Valve who bought the developer of L4D because of L4D. You do know the Valve corp. right?

Also Bioshock, Crackdown, Forza 2, Gears of War, Halo 3, Dead Rising, Ace Combat 6 et cetera proably weren't good enough to ga multi platform then?

Futhermore APB is still very much alive unless officially announced otherwise
.

On Dead Island, you do know Google right?

Your pc remark...ugh
Games for Windows... duh, you forgot Alan Wake in your pc section.

That's why it's good that we have a PS3. So that people like can play Little big planet.

Not quite smart enough to wrap that silly mind of yours arond the controls of a Wii, and not quite mature enough to roll with the big guys on Live.

Oh and just to piss you off.
50 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF GTA IV EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOADABLE EPISODES...

XBOX 360... just more games for bucks!

cartoonsmart

"the competition that's gonna smack him to oblivion"

Heh. Did you mistake Kotaku for the Fox Sports boards? You are fucking funny ;)

I don't know why people take this stuff so personally. This gen, I see no real possibility of a clear 'winner' among the three consoles. In a few years maybe we will be able to define what level of success each has seemingly achieved. Until then.......it's great fun reading this stuff.

homernoy

I still stand by the claim that PSN offers 90% of what Live does - while it's not everything Live is, it's still free.

Keeping on topic, Greenberg's tantrum just reeks of corporate desperation. They're losing their lead (seriously, how does one go from a 13 million head-start down to a 5 million difference over the course of a single year?!), experienced, to the tune of one billion dollars, an epidemic worse and more widespread than the PS2 DRE fiasco, and now suddenly, they're trying to copy Nintendo's waggle control?

What the hell, Microsoft?

In Microsoft's defense, however, I will also stand by the claim that they did get everything *right* last generation. Great hardware, great software, and the best online service available of all the consoles. I still have my old Xbox. But I got rid of my 360.

Murmaider

Oh and dont forget blowing into the carts and the NES itself to get the games to load! But again, once you did that they still worked, unlike with the rrod. . .

Lachoy

The bit about LBP, You are TOTALY simplifying something so much more complex than "walking from left to right" That truely is like saying Halo 3 is "Just shooting aliens", or that the original Mario games were "just moving from the left to the right". There is so much more to it. A few examples are the online aspect of interaction, The ability to create a level with your friends at the same time, and the puzzle aspects of the levels, to such a degree that a well-built level that someone took their time on could potentially take hours to complete. And then there are tons of other little things that make it stick out, and thus make it "Special".

Orin

When Sony comes out with unsupported claims, fails to ship products, produces a machine that comes nowhere near the performance level promised, shows videos and claims they are in game, etc... where are all the outraged voices? When they get called on it by MS, it's a shitstorm.

And of course he is going to be pro-Microsoft. He is a Public Relations guy working for MS for god's sake.

wheezo

Great list though, and it's why I have a 360. Particularly NGII which I'm hyped up for as much as MGS4, and I know I'll be playing it longer.

SG79

weasl

- Ninja Gaiden II;
- Dead Island ;
- Fable 2;
- Gears of War 2;

I left Dead Island in by default because I have no idea what that is. Expect Fable 2 and Gears of War 2 to release on PC as well.

jsf49

If you can hold up in-game chat (in any form) as a reason not to buy a PS3, forgive me if I venture that a ridiculously high chance of catastrophic hardware failure every time you switch on a 360 is a reason not to buy one.

Given the two, I know what I'd put up with.

stussygalore

But hey, This guy can do all he wants to berate developers and Sony and whatever, with no sense of consequence or collateral damage done to said developers. It just makes him look like a big fat baby. I hate to say it, but by the end of 2008, Sony will more than likely have closed that "AMAZING 5 million" lead, and if not passed it, probably will be within 2 million. It's ridiculous for an executive "business man" to be acting like a forum troll. I just hope Sony continues to compose themselves like real men, and don't even heed, or respond to this. But for some reason, I can just picture Jack Tretton right now, writing up his rebuttal. *sigh*

Orin

Now, if Mr. Reeves could kindly weigh in on this one, we'd be set!

budash2

ch777p

Holding up XBL as the 360's trump card is a tad foolhardy, as Sony are in a position do something about it - and no doubt will. For free.

Aaron 'General Custer' Greenberg - What a wanker.

stussygalore

Oh, stop it.

When the fanboys argue over in-game chat options, it's assumed you realize that the 360 fans are discussing the issue that you can't chat cross-games. Yes, some games allow you to talk to the other players in-game on the PS3, but that's not the issue . . . playing GT5P and wanting to talk to your friend who is playing Resistance to ask if they want to set up some RainbowSixVegas2 gameplay is. You know that's the point he was making, and your focusing on the shorthand grammatical inaccuacy of referring to it as "no in-game chat" is a blatant dodge, amplified by you mentioning that you CAN chat generally at the XMB . . . demonstrating that you know what he was getting at, implying that the general community communication ability is present, while carefully sidestepping the obvious problem that I have to quit my damn game to benefit from that ability.

Suck it up. The lack of cross-title-in-game-voicechat (happy now?) is a weakness for PSN, a big weakness. Quit trying to intentionally aviod the issue to make PSN appear better than it is.

While I'm SDF enraging . . .

Can somebody explain what I'm missing that makes LBP such a woodie-popper for people? Sure the little puppet people are cute, but what do you do? You walk across the map, right? This is a must have game? I know that it features user-created maps, which is great and fun -- been occasionally enjoying them in H3 for a while now (not occasionally enjoying the maps, occasionally playing H3). But I don't get a map to walk across it -- I get it to offer new ways to enjoy the underlying game. All I hear from the LBP worship is "user-generated content" and how it will change the world, but I haven't heard anybody saying "man, I've never enjoyed moving from the left of the screen to the right so much before!!" Given that there's user-generated content in H3 and in Unreal3 . . . what's so unbelievably amazing about LBP? I'm being smarmy, but I mean it as a serious question. All the "profesional" journalists seem to be enamored as well, but I haven't seen anybody discuss the "game" -- just the UGC.

busboy33

Like a lot of people here have said: "Only a 5 million gap?" And to think that he's proudly stating that. I would be curious to see how many of those numbers are for people who have had to buy a 2nd 360 as a backup when they have