I Can Do Everything You Can Do…

In light of my co-geekcentricity-writer Jason (the grand @LORDNOAR on Twitter) recently tweeting of his despair concerning the new $2 hike in XboxLive fees, I felt the need to weigh in on the console issue.  So Mr. Noar, this one’s for you.

Sometimes I fall behind on trends.  I like to weigh my options, do my research, and then go for a purchase, in most cases.  This comes from a horrible curse of having too many hobbies and skills I want to invest in and not enough money to throw at them.  I have to make the hard choices: Airsoft gun or Paintball marker, Space Marines or Imperial Guard, Snowboard or Longboard, iPhone 4 or iPad, and the crème de la crème decision, Xbox 360 or PS3.  Sometimes life is so hard…

So, like any good nerd, I googled the systems and started my research for the wish list as our 6th wedding anniversary was coming up and I was hoping for a new console.  Now, mind you, I had both original Xbox and PS consoles (I’ve rocked NES, SNES, Sega, and Wii).  I’ve spent a lot of time on both and in many ways was already inclined to go the Xbox route as I have a number of friends with them and I was abused by product placement with Xbox on a daily basis.

I did my research and a select few PS3’ers convinced me to go the route of Sony.  So, reluctantly, with some trepidation as to possibly making a mistake, I requested a PS3 from my bride for anniversary celebrations.  And I got it.  Thanks, honey bunny!

So, here are my thoughts on the entire Xbox vs. PS3 issue.  In general, the Xbox is a fanboy console and the PS3 is a nerd console, and here’s why:  With Xbox you have to have everything Xbox… Xbox rechargeable docks for controllers, Xbox headsets, Xbox underwear, Xbox live fees that are now $2 more.  In general, the game releases for Xbox tend to be more FPS heavy and often there are more exclusive Xbox only games.

As for the PS3, Sony did a solid job of being more user friendly.  Any Bluetooth headset will work with the console, the controllers don’t use batteries and recharge simply by plugging into the console itself, there are no online gaming community fees, and while it was a later, more advanced console, it has better graphics capabilities than Xbox.  In general the games for Sony’s system tend to be more RPG/Action based while most are cross-platform. You will miss out on some releases but as game developers continue to move forward there are less instances of this happening.

Ultimately, neither of these consoles can shake a controller at the visual and tactile immersion experienced by the Wii and for all time the greatest party game will be Raving Rabid Rabbits.  And if you haven’t experienced the madness in that game, do yourself a favor and buy it… how many other games in the world can you play with your butt?  And to me perhaps the best and most appealing part of the Wii experience is the classic console games available for download.  Contra, Double Dragon, Ninja Gaiden, Secrets of Mana, Bonk’s Adventure, Sonic, more Mario than you can shake a toadstool at, Castlevania, and more are readily accessible for you to revisit the days when gaming actually took tricks and there were no continues.

All the various consoles offer unique gaming experiences.  If you’re a true hardcore gamer, chances are you have at least a PS3 and an Xbox.  Then there are the wannabe gamers who don’t have enough time but like party games and COD, like me, and the PS3 and Wii combination has been the way to go.  So if you are stuck in that place of indecision and are trying to make one of the big choices in life consider the following: if you like thick-hipped controllers and headshots, get an Xbox.  If you like free functional online gaming and using your iPhone Bluetooth while weeding through the newest Final Fantasy incarnation, go PS3.  And if you like to play games with your butt and rock out the classics, get a Wii.  Or I guess you could go outside and play ultimate Frisbee in the park and drink in some fall sunshine… but that might threaten your Geek cred…

So… what console and game are you proudly rocking in your spare time and why do you like it?   Also, if you aren’t following the writers here on twitter, you may well be missing the next best thing to meat on a stick.  So follow us on twitter, and if you’re a PS3′er, friend me.  [nyc] Pryme7 is my gamer tag.