Deciphering the PlayStation 3 and Wii (gamespy)

- gamespy -

I'm sure that by now you've heard, read, or even participated in some heated debates about which of the next-gen game systems is right for you. There's really no avoiding it. Launch fever is upon us and many of gaming's most rabid fans are taking sides and making their views known, whether you like it not. In this din of Blu-ray, Wii Remote, and HD-DVD, there is a voice of reason. There is room for a balanced and fair look at which console is best-suited for your gaming needs and to decipher what all those crazy numbers like 1080p and 480i really mean.

PlayStation 3 Specs

First up is the one and only PlayStation 3. This sleek, black behemoth is the apple of Sony's eye. With its powerful Cell processor and its Blu-ray high definition DVD player, it screams "next-gen." Here's a look at its specs:

CPU: Cell Broadband Engine
GPU: RSX
Main Memory: 256MB XDR Main RAM
Embedded VRAM: 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
Hard Drive Disk: 60GB or 20GB (depending on version purchased)
Media: Blu-ray drive (reads DVDs and CDs as well)
Connections: USB 2.0 (x4)
Supported Video Modes: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
Video Outputs: Composite, S-video, Component, HDMI
Audio Outputs: Digital Optical Output and HDMI audio output for Dolby Digital 5 and DTS, RCA Stereo outputs
Extras: MemoryStick/SD/Compact Flash (60GB version only); built-in Wi-Fi (60GB version only), SIXAXIS Controller
Price: $499 for the 20GB model, $599 for the 60GB model

The PS3 is powerful, but what do you need to take advantage of it all?

What it all Means

Bigger is better - You can never have too much hard drive space, and in this era of installable games and downloadable content, a 60GB HD definitely has its appeals. With 40 more GB than the Xbox 360 drive, you'll be able to pack in a lot more music, videos, save games, and other goodies.

Raw Power - The PS3 is a number-crunching monster. Sony has managed to create a console of incredible processing power; it says that the peak performance for the PS3 is 208 billion floating point calculations per second. This basically equates to prettier games with more advanced physics and AI. 1080p output means that the PS3 is able to put out the sharpest, cleanest picture currently possible. This means that games can be incredibly detailed and can make a difference between seeing just a blob or an alien off in the distance in a first-person shooter. A nice perk is that despite all the horsepower under the hood, the PS3 is whisper-quiet.

Backwards Compatibility - With the PS3 you'll be able to play PS2 and PS1 games. This will appeal to people like the new gamer and the tech enthusiast who may have missed some key title for the older systems, but may be of limited value to a veteran gamer who has already played them all.

Free Online Service - One of the biggest draws of the Xbox 360 is Xbox Live. This service provides downloadable demos, videos, movie trailers, multiplayer matchmaking, and Xbox Live Arcade for classic arcade game downloads. Sony is offering the PlayStation Network to counter Xbox Live. The big difference is that Sony's service will be free. It's still too soon to tell if the service will best Xbox Live, but early reports are promising. Check out Sterling's article for more info.

Blu-ray Playback - While the console war rages in the game industry, a format war is raging in the home theater industry. This battle is for high definition DVD playback. On one side is HD-DVD, a format that Microsoft is adopting for its Xbox 360 in the form of an add-on. On Sony's side is Blu-ray. The two formats are currently incompatible.

Pitfalls

Price - Power comes at a price. And if you want the full-feature PS3, you'll need to shell out $600. This is a lot of cash for a system, but if you think about what you're getting, it actually is a pretty good deal. A Samsung BD-P1000 High Definition Blu-ray player runs for about $800. With the PS3 you're getting a next-gen gaming system, a Blu-ray player, built-in Wi-Fi, web surfing abilities, and a free online gaming service. It's a deal even if you're just buying the console to use as a Blu-ray player. Still, it is a lot of money despite the value of the package.

Launch Titles - Currently there isn't much that makes the PS3 a must-buy as far as games go. Instead, the "killer app" is the system's potential. As with the launch of any other system, we're looking at the first baby steps developers have made with this console. If you compare Perfect Dark Zero on the Xbox 360 to Gears of War, you'll see just how much of a difference one year can make. I fully believe that in the tail-end of 2007 we'll see PS3 games that'll make these launch titles look like dog poo smeared on a sidewalk. The only problem is, it's 2006 now and what we've got so far isn't all that hot. Thankfully, it's not all bleak: Resistance is fantastic and well worth your time.

Resistance is easily one of the best games currently available on the PS3.

Wonky Backwards Compatibility - There are some issues with about 200 or so titles right now. That may sound like a lot, but don't forget that the PS1 and PS2 software libraries are massive. Also, Sony says that a fix is on the way. How long will it take to show up? That's anyone's guess.

Getting the Most Out of the PS3

To fully appreciate what the PlayStation 3 has to offer, you'll want to at least have an HDTV. While currently the number of homes with HDTVs isn't very high, more and more people are making the switch every year, and according to Leichtman Research Group, HDTV sets are in over one in every six households in the US. That's pretty good as far as market penetration goes, but chances are, very few of those HDTV owners will have televisions that can display a 1080p image. The cheapest 1080p-capable TV I found online was a Westinghouse LCD monitor going for $1,399. That's not prohibitively expensive, but it's not cheap either. Still, it takes a keen eye to tell the difference between 1080p and 720p or 1080i, especially on a smaller television.

If you already own an HDTV, you'll have to buy a set of component cables or an HDMI cable to get an HD signal going from your PS3 to your television. The composite cables (those red, white, and yellow RCA plugs) that come with the PS3 will only give you a standard definition image (480i). Also, if you want to hook up your PS3 to a surround sound system, you'll need either an optical cable or have a receiver with HDMI input for both video and digital audio.

The key here is knowing how many of the PS3's features you'll actually be able to use. Spending $600 to play a so-so lineup of launch titles on a 20-inch standard definition television with stereo sound isn't going to net you an optimal game experience. Sure, there will be people who will want a PS3 no matter what and will play the console on whatever television they have, but to really get the most out of a PS3 you'll need an HDTV, and to really get the full experience, an HDTV set with surround sound would be ideal.

The PlayStation 3 Day One Launch Lineup

Need for Speed Carbon
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom
Call of Duty 3
Madden NFL 07
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
Genji: Days of the Blade
Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire
NBA 07
NBA 2K7
NHL 2K7
Resistance: Fall of Man
Ridge Racer 7
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Tony Hawk's Project 8


Nintendo Wii Specs

Nintendo is taking a completely different approach with the Wii. It's not even considering competing with the PS3 and Xbox 360 in terms of sheer graphical horsepower. Instead, the company that gave us Mario is trying to change the way we play games and make games more appealing to the average Joe. This is obvious from the advertising campaign that Nintendo is using for the Wii. Wii commercials show families playing together and are aimed at getting new people to try out gaming.

CPU: 729 MHz IBM PowerPC "Broadway" Processor
GPU: 243 MHz ATI "Hollywood"
Main Memory: 24MB "main" 1T-SRAM
Other Memory: 64MB other 1T-SRAM, 3MB texture Memory on GPU
Hard Drive Disk: None
Media: 12cm Wii discs and 8cm GameCube discs
Connections: USB 2.0 (x2)
Supported Video Modes: 480i, 480p
Video Outputs: Composite, S-video, Component
Extras: Two GameCube memory card slots, 4 GameCube controller inputs, built-in Wi-Fi
Price: $249

What it all Means

Fun First - Nintendo didn't even bother trying to get into a muscle contest with Sony or Microsoft this round and it shows in the specs. The Wii isn't a powerhouse console. It doesn't have HD output or even digital audio output for Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 surround sound. The Wii is basically a souped-up GameCube. This doesn't mean games on it will look bad, but it definitely won't be beating out the PS3 or Xbox 360 for any "best graphics of the year" awards.

Newbie Friendly - The concept is simple: Anyone can play. When the bigwigs at Nintendo began designing the Wii, they wanted to make it a system that anyone could pick up and play, and it looks like they've hit the mark. Wii Sports, which is included in the box with the Wii, is something that anyone can understand and is about the least intimidating game I can think of. Not only that, but the Wii Remote is the most non-threatening controller since the original NES pads. By doing away with the complicated, dual analog stick, double-trigger, 12-plus button monstrosity, Nintendo has removed one of the most intimidating aspects of gaming. Also, the Wii is designed with your TV in mind. If you don't have an HDTV, no worries, because the Wii doesn't output an HD signal. If you do have an HDTV, you'll at least get the added bonus of a widescreen progressive scan mode (480p). Surround sound is optional as well. If you happen to have a surround setup, the Wii supports Dolby Pro-Logic II.

Backwards Compatibility - Sure, the PlayStation 3 can play PS2 and PS1 games, but the Wii's Virtual Console feature means you can potentially play every Nintendo game from every Nintendo console since the NES. Not only that, but games from other old consoles such as the TurboGrafx-16 will also be available for it. You'll have to pay for them, and download them, and to do that you'll need an Internet connection, ideally a broadband one. The Wii can also play GameCube games right out of the box. Just stick the GameCube disc into the slot and you're good to go. You can even plug in your old GameCube controllers and Memory cards. Owning the Wii could potentially be like owning every Nintendo system in one petite, stylish white box.

Launch Titles - There are more launch titles ready for the Wii on day one, but more importantly, there is one very clear killer app: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. I don't really have much more to say than that. It's Zelda, it's good, and it's definitely a system-seller. Check out our review if you doubt me.

Pitfalls

Power - As more and more people make the move to HDTV and see the visuals that the Xbox 360 and PS3 have to offer, they may start to think that the Wii is a wee bit underpowered. Nintendo is banking that the people who say gameplay is more important than graphics will stay true to their word. It's a gamble and it'll be hard to keep your eyes from wandering to other consoles when graphical powerhouses like Metal Gear Solid 4 for the PS3 and Mass Effect for the Xbox 360 are released. Also, the Wii tops out at 480p. This means that it just cannot compete in terms of sharpness with consoles that can output an HD display. That means Wii releases won't have the same level of detail as games like Resistance or Gears of War.

Games Only - Currently, the Wii only plays games. You can't play a DVD movie with it. Next year Nintendo plans to release a version of the Wii that does include DVD playback, but even then, it's only DVD. Eventually someone will win the Blu-ray/HD-DVD format war, and the DVD could go the way of Beta and cassette tapes. Then again, it's possible that neither HD format will win and DVD will stick around for a long time. I should point out that the Wii can surf the web and do a few other extras, but games are still its primary focus.

Getting the Most Out of the Wii

Make sure you've got enough room in front of your TV before you start swinging around your Wii Remote.

Have Room to Wii. That's right, it's time to get off the couch and swing that golf club or toss that bowling ball -- it's time to get physical. Just make sure you have a room big enough to move around without breaking anything. It's a simple requirement, but hey, sometimes people forget that you need space to move around when you're going for par on a virtual golf course. Having friends is also helpful. Gathering around the TV for some Wii Sports is good clean fun that anyone can get into. Really, other than that, you're good to go. You don't need an HDTV, and you don't really need surround sound. If you have both it'll enhance the experience, but you won't really feel like you're missing that much without those pricey components. Just plug in and cut loose.

The Wii Day One Launch Lineup

Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy
Monster 4x4: World Circuit
Call of Duty 3
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
GT Pro Series
Madden NFL 07
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Rampage: Total Destruction
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Happy Feet
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature From the Krusty Krab

Next-Gen is Here

So, which console is the right one for you? It's easy to figure out. Look at the list of games, look at what you like, and go with the console with the content that most appeals to you. Personally, I'm going for the Wii because there are no launch titles for the PS3 I'm interested in. Also, I'm not ready to replace my DVD collection with Blu-ray discs. No matter which way you go, it'll be clear that the next generation of gaming consoles is here. The PS3 will eventually push the graphical envelope to amazing levels and the Wii can potentially take videogame interactivity to entirely new levels. Also, don't forget that the Xbox 360 is still out there, and with games like Gears of War here now and Mass Effect coming in the future, it's definitely a console worth considering if you haven't snatched one up already. Just remember that fun is what this industry is all about, so go forth, play games, and be merry.