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