| The current generation of game consoles is a | | | | the significantly more powerful hardware available |
| market contested by three systems. Microsoft's | | | | to them and will actually play better than on the |
| Xbox 360, which was released in November 2005, | | | | original system. Others, however, do not lend |
| Nintendo's Wii, due for release in November 2006, | | | | themselves well to this feature, and run poorly, or |
| and the Sony PS3, also set to release in North | | | | in some cases, not at all, and thus, will not be |
| America and Japan in November 06. This is a | | | | supported by Microsoft on the 360. |
| short guide for consumers interested in a | | | | The PS3 will also be Internet-capable via 1 Gb |
| comparison of the PS3 vs Xbox 360. | | | | ethernet, and will offer many of the same |
| The two systems are remarkably similar in | | | | features as Xbox Live Gold, using the tentatively |
| several ways. They both ship in two different | | | | named PlayStation Network Platform (PNP) |
| lines, a Basic and a Premium version, and in both | | | | service for multiplayer and matchmaking. Unlike |
| cases, the main difference between the two lines | | | | Xbox Live Gold, however, Sony has announced |
| for each is the size of the hard drive. In the case | | | | that their service will not attract a subscription |
| of Xbox, the Core version does not have one, | | | | fee, but will instead be free to all users. It has a |
| while the Premium system comes with a | | | | highly advanced Cell processor, which features |
| removable 20 GB hard drive. In the case of the | | | | eight independent Synergistic Processing Elements |
| PS3, the Basic edition has a 20 GB hard drive, and | | | | (SPE) for parallel computing. One of these is |
| the Premium comes with a 60 GB drive. Given | | | | reserved for the OS, and another is redundant, |
| the similarities of the two lines for each system, | | | | making the console fault tolerant, should one of |
| from here on we shall just compare the premium | | | | the units fail. The other six can be dynamically |
| version of both systems. | | | | configured by each game to allow developers to |
| Microsoft's second console, the Xbox 360, is | | | | optimise the console for the requirements of |
| Internet-capable by standard 100 Mb ethernet | | | | every individual game. |
| port, has a relatively advanced on board | | | | The next-generation Blu-Ray Disk format is |
| Operating System (OS), features a triple-cored | | | | standard for all PS3 units, which also allows |
| CPU for parallel processing, allowing a different | | | | standard DVD and CD playback, as with the Xbox |
| processor to focus exclusively on different | | | | 360. The PS3 will support all standard HDTV |
| aspects of each game, has a powerful on-board | | | | resolutions, and the Premium version has HDMI |
| graphics accelerator with an ATI GPU, has 5.1 | | | | output support. The PS3 has Wireless Bluetooth |
| surround sound support, DVD playback | | | | controllers, USB, Flash card and memory stick |
| functionality, interfaces with an online | | | | support, and 7.1 surround sound. |
| matchmaking and multiplayer service, namely, | | | | Finally, Sony has said that nearly every PS1 and |
| Xbox Live, and with a software update, will | | | | PS2 game will be natively compatible with the |
| support the HDTV progressive video resolution of | | | | PS3, and has indicated that some Sega Genesis |
| 1920x1080 (AKA, 1080p). | | | | (AKA Sega Megadrive outside the US) games will |
| The system also has 3 USB 2.0 ports, which allow | | | | also work out of the box. It will gradually make |
| users to plug in additional peripherals, such as the | | | | these games available for download directly to the |
| Xbox Live Vision Camera, and wireless network | | | | on-board hard drive, for a fee payable via their |
| adaptor. There is support for both wired and | | | | PNP service. |
| wireless controllers. Microsoft has also announced | | | | When comparing the PS3 vs Xbox 360, it can be |
| it will release an external Xbox HD-DVD drive for | | | | hard to make a choice. The PS3 is undoubtedly a |
| users who desire next-generation disk format | | | | more powerful machine, however, it costs much |
| support. | | | | more than its competitor. It includes a host of |
| The Xbox 360 ships with emulation software that | | | | features very similar to those offered by |
| allows users to play some original Xbox games on | | | | Microsoft, some of which are definitely |
| the new console. The results vary significantly, | | | | implemented better. It is fair to expect generally |
| however, and a compatibility profile must first be | | | | superior performance from a PS3, so any choice |
| released on a game-by-game basis via Xbox Live, | | | | boils down to the investment consumers are |
| before users can use old games. In some cases, | | | | willing to make or have already made, in the case |
| the older games are able to take advantage of | | | | of older games for that experience. |