A crumbling tower: Sony lays siege to the 360's weak spots

It wouldn't be accurate to say that the sky is falling for Microsoft's one and only gaming console, the 360, but it may be time to look at what the company is doing right... and where it's going wrong. The Sony PlayStation 3 is beginning to chip away at the 360's lead in both software and hardware sales in the US, and that system only seems to be picking up steam. In contrast, the 360 doesn't seem to have much real momentum these days.

While it's hard to find ways for Microsoft to get its mojo back, we can easily identify a few problem areas that are becoming clear as the 360 ages. These are the weaknesses in Microsoft's strategy that have to be addressed before the system can hope to get its groove back. Let's take a look.

[Xheratuul]

the 360 is experiencing the BTK murder

[morganfell]

Yes and that video kicked serious rump.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Xheratuul]

it is already on the torture process

[morganfell]

That thermoptic camo on the Helghan Sniper is wicked...until that drone rolls in and just shreds that guy. That was vicious.

[n4gzz]

Killzone2 has serious power to convert 360 fanboys to buy ps3. Its shooter and Looks much better than COD4. It might plays better too by the way it looks.

[Bangladesh]

It will be a sad day for gamers worldwide, if the best game machine of this generation gets beat because of a movie format and brand recognition. We can all look forward to over-priced, underperforming, game consoles with an in-house physical media player built in, and overhyped turds for games.

[morganfell]

No it's a sad day when calculated attacks and wild spending have kept many gamers stuck in last generation with an outmoded and limiting storage format. It is a sad day when a company has managed to bury the truth about the least dependable console ever made. Ever, as in ever.

It's a sad day when a company preaches community in gaming and then charges for real access to that community and we all know real access is multiplayer.

The pinto as a car was safer and more reliable than the 360 as a console. Think about driving down the road and seeing all of the people that had a Microsoft car along side the road with the hood up. There is no way you would have purchased one. The fact they have been able to snow gamers is a sad day. It is a sad day when MS got in the gate under the wire with their BS warranty that doesn't cover a lot of issues - one step ahead of the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Protection Agency ordering a nationwide recall.

It is a sad day when gamers are fooled by a Final Fantasy announcement at E3 that amounts to nothing yet it was blown out of all proportion.

It's Microsoft, "We're about flashy things and announcements rather than substance." It is a sad day when gamers are fooled by a company that only plans for next week and not next year.

It is a really sad day when a company puts out a console and people sink thousands of dollars into said console and then the same greedy company drops the console with no phase out time at all leaving owners dead in the water. That's sad.

It's a sad day when a company pushes a format, gets gamers to buy into it - and it was gamers buying those HD DVD add-ons and then the company is unwilling to do what is necessary to secure that gamer's investment and make sure that format won. MS got an F in the effort department of the format wars.

About 70% of the time MS screws customers by their actions. The other 30% of the time they screw customers by failing to act.

People complaining about Bluray = sore losers. No one can look at MGS4 and honestly say Bluray doesn't make for better games. Well, they can say it but they are liars and in disagreement with the vast majority of the industry. They can look at Resistance 2 and see the same benefits. R2, a game with room on the disk for not just 1, but 2 full blown campaigns. Of course they could just use DVD9 and then charge you for a downloadable later.

Let's look at that car analogy again. Would you buy a car from a company that made a model then at the end of 4 years just dropped that car like a rock? And then that company has the audacity to look at you with a straight face and ask you to buy the new one when that next model was leaving countless drivers stranded along the road? No. The fact that a company, MS, has managed to full a fair number of people is a sad day indeed.

Brand recognition, the kind that means quality, dependability, and longevity is something Microsoft doesn't know a damn thing about.

And anyone that calls that noisy RROD, DRM robbing hunk of junk 'Best' is playing fast and loose with Daniel Webster.

[Bangladesh]

Explain yourself.
Sony has already shoved an in-house blu-ray movie player up gamers as*es, starting at $600 a pop. 90% of multi-plats for ps3 under perform compared to the competition. And explain why hyped AAA ps3 exclusives like Motorstorm, Heavenly Sword, Uncharted, Haze, and Lair didn't make the grade.

Do you people honestly want gaming to go in this direction? I certainly don't. I've been playing a console that might not have a built in hd movie player, or the name recognition that the Playstation name does, but what it does have is the best games and gaming experience of this generation. I find it disturbing that the market leader of last generation chose to put getting their in-house movie format into the mainstream, using gamers as their vehicle, over creating the best console game experience on earth. Is this honestly how you folks believe the former market leader should treat our favorite hobby?

edit-morganfell, you should either stop gaming, or go dangle off a bridge with a rope around your neck. You aren't thinking of the future of gaming, you are hiding in Sony's rectum where you feel warm. You are pulling opinions, selective critism, and speculation out of your a*s like it's your dinner.

[Bangladesh]

I stopped reading after-
"why are you stealing comments bango? i read this same words from peeps about dvd players in teh ps2 and look wat that turned out tobe"

LMAO

The f*ck you did. Dvd was already an established movie format before the ps2 even launched. Now blu-ray, is an in-house Sony engineered movie format that debuted in the ps3, and was forcibly shoved up gamers a*ses at $600 a pop at launch.

[Bangladesh]

I don't waste my time arguing with people that don't know what they are talking about. Have fun with your third rate gaming experience, and first rate movie experience.

[SkateKatie]

Bangladesh is right. Sony fanboys are trying to destroy the one console that has actually made gaming it's most important and strongest feature. A last generation loser is behaving more like the market leader this gen, than last gens market leader. You kids need to pull off Sony's teate.

[Freckler]

I agree with Bangladesh and SkateKate.

Also, did anyone else notice how Morganfell talks up Sony's hardware reliability, but conviently chooses not to mention that PS2 was the most unreliable console last-gen. That's selective critism Morgan, and Bang called you on it.

[Nate Frog]

I can tell you that MGS4 would have been a better game with 18GB of gameplay instead of 18GB of cutsceens. And Resistance is a generic shooter, no two ways about it. My ps3 collects dust, but my 360 gets brutalized by my gaming habit.

Also, your avatar is disgusting. Fits you perfectly.

edit- I noticed that too Freckler.

[Montrealien]

jonondaspot does not like to be disagreed with, you will be muted in his world if you don't agree with him. He takes the easy way out.

I got one thing to say about this whole DvD/Blu-ray thing....If you compare DvDs with Blu-ray when it comes to becoming a standard for movies, I honestly think you are on crack. DvD took 10 years to officially take down VHS as a home video standard. Blu-Ray is a HD standard now and still has a long long way to go before it is a video standard. And by that time it will have a whole other fight in its hands with Digital Distribution.

When it comes to our beloved consoles and the market of selling games and Sony and MS picking at each others weak points, I want more of it. I want Sony to figure out how to hurt MS so it will push MS to want to be better and in turn push them to attack Sony to hurt them making them want to be better. That is the only way we can guarantee quality products and services from both sides. IF one console is ruling them all, it turns to sh*t, look at the Atari 2600 and the Wii.

In the end I'm just happy our amazing video games industry can survive with so much competition, we have come a long way. Game on!

[Nemo88]

@ Bangladesh

Sorry man, but for me, and an increasingy growing number of people-including the US the 360's homeland, the PS3 just represents value.

The Blu-ray is not an unwanted edition, it adds MORE VALUE. I want my system to do more than games. So does Microsoft. They just wanted to make as much money as possible and get a year lead and were stubborn so they didnt include it and chose the failed format.

THEY JUST ANNOUNCED A PARTNERSHIP WITH NETFLIX. Dont give me that "theyre just focussed on the games".They want the movie/media centre thing BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT THE MOVIE THING with theri consoles==CONVERGENCE. People dont want to have fifty thousand diffent boxes, just one that handles everything.
These are HIGH DEFINITION Gaming Sytems. You are supposed to use HIGH DEFINITION TV's. So what else makes complete sense... HIGH DEFINITION MOVIES.

Blu-Ray was not shoved up anyone's arse. The Industry has created a need for High Definition TV's, which has led to demand for high definition movies. You didnt have to buy a PS3.

Blu-ray on PS3 is not a con, its a PLUS.
Even if PS3 wasnt any stronger as a console and lets say for argument's sake they are equal (and we can see they are pretty much equal based on multiplats,even those that were better on 360 in the beginning were not that much better):

-for like $50 more you get the same as a 360 (Minus the noise and potential hardware failures/searching for SKUS that have Falcon/whatever chipset)
-plus a Blu-ray worth at least $300.
-AND you dont have to pay $50 a year for online gaming.
-AND you get USB rechargeable controllers.
-AND you can exchange the HD to whatever you want, stick 500GB in and store tons of content.
-AND you get a wireless card built in
-AND you can use any bluetooth perepherals e.g. your own bluetooth headset.
-AND you now get 20GB more standard with the console.

People argue "oh, but I dont want those extras and you're forced to by Sony". True, but you'd be a fool not to take up Sony's deal. And it seems more and more are getting it, with articles left right and centre telling MS to watch their back, reflected in sales figures.

The Sony brand which has gained the recognition it has (which has suffered) from delivering fun games spanning 15 years. It takes time and effort to get the recognition Sony has.

The benefits of space are not some sony fabricate myth. More and more are saying they need more space on 360, and im sure Epic would come out too but they have been paid big not by MS it is safe to assume. It is not just sony exclusive devs anymore but multi like ID, like ROCKSTAR. These are facts.

Digital distribution en masse is not a threat to Sony, theyre embracing it. Theyre offereing the best of both worlds. WHO is the first to offer full-scale high definition games via download?? NOT MS, despite their 'digital distribution is the future'.

[Sir_Ken_Kutaragi]

...People are realizing the PS3 is a much more better Console to buy;)
People could save so much money if they use there Minds!!! ;-D
If they want xBox 360 games, just get 99% of them for your P.C???
And buy a PS3 with a Blu-ray player inside ready for their HD:TV's they will be buying!!!;)
It's WIN WIN WIN if you buy a...
.____....____....____
|.......|...|................ .|
|____|...|____....____|
|...................|........ .|
|............____|...____| ;-P

No wonder the xBox 360 is Crumbling!!! ;-D
(just like the Original xBox!!! ;-D Where is it now???) ;-D
+It can't even beat the 'Wii'[TOY]!!! at it's lower price!!! SAD!!! ;-D
(i lost a Bubble for saying that yesterday!!!) ;-D

@morganfell ;) Good one;)

[morganfell]

Ho ho ho nate do not get me started or else I can talk about how every single game on the 360 would have been better had they had more physical storage room. Whether it is PGR 4 - and that was Bizarre's mention concerning lack of room, or GTA. There is always fault that can be found, always room for improvement in any design. Should I discuss how the 360 would have been better with a proper design that didn't cause the unit to die...a lot? How about HDMI built in at launch? Or a next gen player that would have changed the format war? How about a larger HDD from eh start? Or wireless? How about KB/M support for gaming?

And Skatie Microsoft is getting what is coming to them. It isn't someone attacking the 360 by trumping up charges, it is the fact it is outmoded. It made it to the street first. That was the center of the MS plan. If you noticed it was their number one goal. Second was the gaming experience. You may make it to the street first but unless Gaming Experience was first from the conception stage then you won't rule the street. And the MS plan was predicated upon victory through timing...not quality.

Sorry you don't like that idea but it was Microsoft's plan, not mine. Get the gamers hooked by being first. My idea is get the gamers through what you offer but that is just me...and Sony.

If people were out trying to destroy the 360 by attacking it's positive points then that would be...well... a tactic MS uses to attack Sony and one your own fellow 360 fans use such an technique attacking Bluray. But that isn't the case here. Legitimate issues that are shortcomings are the problem and they are matters that don't have to be invented. Also Microsoft's short term vision that is long on promise and short on execution is to blame.

Freckler, that guy called no one out. In fact Jon called him out...repeatedly. He asked for people to explain why they disagreed then admitted he didn't read the explanation for which he asked. That is just idiotic. I think the appropriate line here would be, "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"

The fairly simple explanation for his actions are that people are buying the PS3 at a higher price point (misperception)and he doesn't understand why. He also insisted Sony shoved the PS3 on people and forced them to buy it. And he was called out on that and he offered not one, not one single article on Sony forcing people to buy a PS3. His issue is that people buy the PS3 and he can't understand why.

I do laugh at him for quoting a higher price point and he was, yes once again, called out on the fact that if you want a full experience then the 360 is a higher priced machine. His angst is the result of other buyers having a better perspective of actual cost. Want an equivalent of his outlook? PS3 fans are the ones that invest in a portfolio while he is running down to a local check cashing facility.

Personally I am glad such people can't see the obvious. That is one less moron I have to game with on PSN.

For the billionth time on this board it is amazing that many 360 supporters are trying to wave their hands and pretend that Live and a wireless adapter and a the only larger HDD MS offers do not cost money. They do and they drive the price of the 360 well beyond the PS3. If every 360 had a drive - and many have none - just beyond the paltry 13 GB drive in them (because that is the most you can use) then the HDD wouldn't be a huge issue. An issue but not huge. But the fact MS doesn't allow devs to use it does matter. Add to tha the fact 1 movie download and some demos leaves the user with no space. Of course the argument is that 13 GB beats nothing. Isn't that right Arcade owners?

Just like Sony's vision, the pricing on the PS3 takes into account the long term. Just like Microsoft's vision, the price of the 360 is about the short term - "Aw don't worry, you can pay for that part later." Yeah that sounds like a deal but is in fact the oldest and least reputable piece of marketing in any industry. I have coined a new phrase for it - Scamary. Buy now pay later and I mean pay a lot more than the buy now.

[Pain]

tree.

@bang i disagree with you so ill explain why,
Your a delusioned fool that is blind to truth. and that is your precious Xbox is just a small trick pony that bought its way in to the industry and fooled brain dead kids like you with delusioned lies of grander.

If u cant understand that i sure hope you dont breed. but hey brain dead monkey always out number the sane.

and @ Morgan ouch! go easy on the Xbots guys they might go postal and kill them selves.....

oh wait thats a good thing. more Air for Me!!!

@gandolf the G&y below ...WAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAA WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!... .....

[Bangladesh]

You guys say that Ps3 is the premier game machine of this generation right?

You guys are brainwashed, and I'm about to prove it. Nevermind the features and functions PSN is missing. And nevermind the extra hardware that folks without broadband and hdtv's are forced to pay for. Let's look at what's important, games.

360
http://www.metacritic.com/g...

Ps3 & Wii
http://www.metacritic.com/g...
http://www.metacritic.com/g...

Not only does the 360 have more quality games than Ps3 & Wii, but the 360 has more games with a meta score of 7 or higher than there are total games in the Ps3's entire library.

See, you guys are brainwashed "Sony Droids", and you are trying to destroy the one console that has brung the most important aspect of gaming, the games. I think that all of should quit gaming immediately, or should have your as*ses beat for being the cancer that is killing off the console that should be in every gamers collection. Would any of you like to get together and talk about this subject in person, namely Morganfell or Sir Ken Kutaragi?

[zapass]

STFU douche, you FAIL

PS3 is gonna crush the 360 and there's nothing your bots ass can do.
you followed, you conformed and now you're OWNED

BWAAAAAAAAAA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

[Bangladesh]

Nice job braintrust. Now let ask you which is more important. The actual number of quality games, or the quality v/s shovelware percentage. The only thing you did there was make yourself look like a anal prick grasping for straws, just like the author of the article you posted.

And Zapass, how about we get together and see if you still have the stones to talk to me like that. And be sure to bring your multiple accounts with you.

[zapass]

dude, you take yourself so seriously, it's makes it even more fun!
HA!

[cmrbe]

What kind of BS is that?. MS the best gaming platform holder?. Are you serious?. What the f*ck has MS brought to gaming this gen?. DVD drive? 33% failure rate?. Still charging for Live?.Gears 3rd party IP. Mass effect 3rd party IP. Bioshock Multi plat form. NG2 almost the same as NG1. What has MS offered gamers that is so much better this gen?. Nothing.

Sony. Cell, Blu ray player,HDMI 1.3 port, Rock solid reliability, a Hosts of new IP's which includes Resistance, HS, Uncharted, MS sofar. Free and improving online with Home to be implemented. Sony has done alot more for gaming this gen.

And yet you have the nerve to attack Sony for thinking about gamers. Get it into your tick skull. Blu is needed this gen. Just like CD was needed for PS1 and DVD was needed for PS2. Even a 10 year old can understand this. Next gen = more complex games means more space required. How hard is this to understand?.

Sony could have easily released a PS 2.5 with a DVD9 and launched it together with the x360 which would have killed the x360 right there on the spot but they didn't. They didn't want to release a PS 2.5 that will not benefit gamers in the long run. They wanted to release the PS3 even at their own expense and loosing a year head start to MS.

You must have your head sofar up MS ass for you to not really see how things really are. Get a grip clown.

[theKiller]

why so serious Bangladesh????

the killer is back!!

from ur first post it shows that u r a bot, and an original type too!!!
u cant hide the fact that u dont own a ps3 and that u r a ps3 hater!!!
when ps2 was dominating the gaming industry was at its best!! and when MS dominate something that industry becomes the worst!!

MS had their biggest chance in life in 2007, and still ps3 outsold it!!
2007 was the peak that MS ever had!! from now on it will only get worst!! even if they offer the new 360 60GB for 300 USD!!!

[games4fun]

they posted really blatant anti-ps3 articles for them to make this article is really telling.

aside from that thier second most used article is flamebait articles to garner hits just dont give them the hits.

[gamesR4fun]

"It's time for Microsoft to find its own voice and give itself a unique feel in the market. Its old tricks and the "first to launch" advantage isn't enough anymore."

but ya their prob just a trying to get hits.

[FantasyStar]

Need I say more?

[avacadosnorkel]

from everything I noticed in the past seemed to favor Microsoft. I almost thought they had something to do with the PC at one point.

[Chandresh Patel]

But it appears with the Ps3s new momentum,they're starting to talk more logically and realistically about the Console War.

[MikeGdaGod]

i don't know about any of the their other articles, but this one seemed very fair. they were very critical of MS but they stated facts and didn't go over board or out of bounds on anything. of course the x......people won't like it but you can't please everybody all the time. i'd like to see MS step their game up.

[mikeslemonade]

The 360 has no soul. Microsoft goes around paying for the biggest games from the previous generation. It doesn't work that way in the gaming industry. You can't just throw around money. The is no specific formula for success. The top game franchises for each generation are different. GTA this generation was not as big as a deal as GTA on the PS2/XBOX. Little Big Planet is going to be that game and Microsoft doesn't have it.

[permutated]

Stop posting these worthless articles. We all know your bias.

[Mao]

But darn it I was just about to trade-in my Wii for a 360 like THIS WEEK for RPGs. I still will, but why does the media have to start declaring the sky is falling now when I want to buy it. Maybe I'm bad luck. Bought a PS3 at launch and look what happened to Sony. Supported Dreamcast and now when I want a 360, BOOM! The foundation crumbles! lol.

[vhero]

this is probably the most real and sane articles on here recently it makes sense and points out the truth that 360 gamers ain't got the rattle to point out its not fanboyish it points out FACTS and real points.

[power of Green]

LOL he is just now figuring out that site is a tabloid quality website(arstechnica) looking for hits.

Has anybody noticed the repeated attempts to post anti 360 news?, good lord the failed section is filled with stories PS3 fans are digging up. I don't think the July's NPD results are causing this behavior anymore, I think it is this month and SEP numbers that have them acting like this.

They're just saying whay PS3 fans wan't to hear, it is funny how fans and media only mention GOW2 for 360 but will name off every PS3 game that looks good.

[dan-boy]

them 20k more a month in the us will surely help sony catch up the 5mil they are behind sometime in the next millenium.....

what i also find strange is how everybody was waiting for the new 80gig ps3 explaining the low sales. but choose to ignore that the new 60gig 360 was coming aswell? why is that? perhaps a collective amnesia has gripped the fanboys.

sales figures mean nothing, just rubbish for fanboys to squabble over.

pog: why would sony fanboys be worried about aug and sept? your as bad as them.

[Nemo88]

Doesnt need hits from gamers. They have a huge following and are generally aimed at tech heads.
They are also far from biased... they rated ps3 6/10, then recently re-reviewed in light of amendments, which is a good thing.

360 fans might thik they have an agenda cause they recently put that article regards sales. They dont and will happily rip into ps3 games that dont make the cut.
These recent articles are just a reflection of the times and facts ie. 360 is getting caned, and the momentum ps3 is getting so theyre writing about it. Plain and simple.

[Bubble Buddy]

In my opinion, Microsoft needs to step their game up. They started out strong but gradually losing fuel. Price cuts and Gears 2 might help somewhat but Sony is much more stronger than 1-2 years ago.

[360rxorz]

This article is biased and has no credible facts. The PS3 is slowly dying away because nobody wants an overpriced bluray player that maybe can play some bad games at 2 fps. Bluray is a dead format anyways. I walked into my local Best Buy and saw shelves full of HD DVD and Bluray was having a clearence sale. HAHA, so much for it winning the format war.

The 360 is the best selling console (and the best console) and will continue to grow its lead while the PS3 falls. I think we will see more and more devs abandon the PS3 because they realize how much it holds them back. And more and more consumers will realize how useless the PS3 is and buy the 360.

[PirateThom]

If the PS3 is "slowly dying", why did it outsell the 360 last year and why is it outselling the 360 this year?

Oh dear. 360 is dead by your logic.

It's not even the best selling console (Wii is) and being "best" is a matter of opinion.

[zo6_lover27]

Please tell me your not serious, please tell me your doing this just so you can laugh at the people who reply to you. Because if you're not, you're the biggest idiot ever.

@ pirate thom

I honestly don't think he's being serious, if someone can actually be THAT ignorant, somethings very wrong

EDIT

Pirate thom

Look at some of his previous comments, now do you honestly think he's being serious?

[Solid_Snake666]

its sad that the wii is outselling the xbox in Europe and the Xbox is cheaper PRICE!!!!

[PirateThom]

I think he is actually that ignorant... at least, that's my story and I'm very much sticking to it.

[PoSTedUP]

please dont even reply to this meat head, thank you : )

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

i finally bought resistance, omg this game is crazy, yall GOTTA get this game man especially if your gunna get resistance2 its totally off the hook!

im getting warhawk next probably tomorrow.

P.S. and although i replied in his box i have no intention in communicating with him : ) *goes back to playing resistance*

[IzKyD1331]

its a well written look at the faults in the 360 and the challenges it must battle in the future, its not 360 bashing, its pointing out the problems its currently facing....stop being a fanboy, and be open to criticism

[nieto]

too late!

now go and make me a pizza on your XOven 360rxorz

[morganfell]

This individual has just scored himself a spot on the awards podium with the most retarded comments ever lodged by screwhead xbots in the history of gaming. The fact is there is no arguing with allegiance so blind it takes irrefutable facts and figures and just tosses them out the door.

There are 3 Best Buys within 20 minutes of my house. The closest has no HD DVDs left in stock. The others, maybe a few but I always check the DVD section and do not recall seeing any. I wonder what Best Buy he was visiting. He is following the age old pattern of "When desperation strikes, throw truth to the wind and lie with gusto". At this moment there is no better description for him than that of liar.

Quite honestly I am responding to Pirate Thom and zo6 as the remarks by that unit do not warrant a direct response.

He should also be aware that there are some individuals in the accounting department of Nintendo that will set him straight as regards which is the best selling console. Note that I mention this fact strictly for entertainment purposes as my opinion of the Wii as a core gaming device is actually fairy low.

He is also in the throes of fanboy denial about the fact that the PS3 outsold the 360 worldwide in 2007. My figures are based on the official figures released by Sony and Microsoft rather than the wild and blind idiocy engendered and nurtured through long nights in a closet with a red hot, non-functioning 360. 2008 has only shown acceleration of the PS3 momentum and the taking of the last 360 stronghold, North America.

And while we are discussing 'best console' the words dependability and future proof have to be included. He also will deny industry findings that Bluray adoption is outpacing that of DVD. He will deny that more devs are turning to the PS3, not away. Rest assured that the real loser at the end of the day is him and anyone stupid enough to accord anything he utters a shred of truth.

Argument with bucketheads of this nature is fruitless as their blindness has no treatment available through the mediums of science or sheer common sense. I ignore people based on the fruitlessness of their comments. If ever there was a poster demanding to be ignored, this creature is one.

As regards the article, what can be said. It is accurate and that is why certain people are squirming. Once you get past Gears of War 2, what is there? I can buy any game I choose and I am not interested in it. I have somewhere in the area of $1500 in games reserved right now. No Gears 2. If I want to play that I have the first one thank you.

Innovation and longevity are purely Sony's. Lets enjoy the ride.

[juuken]

"This article is biased and has no credible facts."

...Oh yes it does. How is it not credible when it just described what's going on now in a nutshell? The PS3 is destroying the 360 in the United States. Microsoft can barely hold on in Japan and they'd be lucky if their other rpg's move the Japanese even further. They just got owned in Europe and the only territory they're holding is the U.K.

"The PS3 is slowly dying away because nobody wants an overpriced bluray player that maybe can play some bad games at 2 fps."

You're full of sh*t chump.

People are not just buying PS3's for bluray. They're buying it for games as well. You can no longer say that the PS3 is just a cheap bluray player when it has games. You can no longer say the 360 has the most games because most of them are SH*TTY.

How is it that I only want a few rpg's and NG2 this Christmas? Nothing else in the 360 lineup impresses me. Most of the games that are coming out are also on the PS3.

Your argument is baseless.

"Bluray is a dead format anyways."

What the f*ck? Then how did it KICK THE HELL OUT OF HD-DVD?!

Oh man...you are out of your damn mind.

"I walked into my local Best Buy and saw shelves full of HD DVD and Bluray was having a clearence sale."

Yeah...sure.

And I'm a female pope.

"HAHA, so much for it winning the format war."

They did win the format war you f*cktard. Lolllllz, get a brain...duuuur! How come Square is releasing Advent Children Complete on bluray? If they're planning on doing that, then they must have realized Sony won the format war!

"The 360 is the best selling console (and the best console) and will continue to grow its lead while the PS3 falls."

It *was* the best, until Sony stopped screwing around and started delivering on their promises. Now, the 360 has some true competition stemming from the PS3.

The 360 *will not* grow in their lead because they are slowly losing territories jackass.

"I think we will see more and more devs abandon the PS3 because they realize how much it holds them back."

I think you are a moron and you need to do research. Do I even have to pull out that good ol' article from the developers working on Rage? Do I even have to point out what they said about the 360 version of Rage? That it will look better on the PS3 because it has more space and it has a LOT of potential in terms of graphical power?

I don't know about you but if Sony pushes games that are EVEN better than Uncharted and MGS4...then I believe that they just dropped nuclear warheads on the 360.

"And more and more consumers will realize how useless the PS3 is and buy the 360."

Then how come 360 sales have slowed down?

Dear sir, I believe that you have just been owned.

[JD_Shadow]

You know, unlike YOU, we're on planet EARTH!!

You're welcome to return to it at SOME po--...wait, forget I said that.

[SpecialSauce]

how is the PS3 dying? have u forgoten that for the past 6 months the PS3 has beatin 360 in sales not just in japan, not just in Europe, but in the US and in NA? and dont you relize that the PS3 has sold better than the 360 in its first two years? and that big install base the 360 got ONLY because it was out earlyer is quickly diminshing. in just two years the PS3 has eaten away at over half of the 360 install base. and since PS3 sales are better than ever that means that in less than two years the PS3 install base will surpass the 360's EVEN THO the 360 had such a huge head start. and 360 has got Gears 2 and Fable this holiday season. WOOOOW. we got Socom, LBP, RFOM 2, KILLZONE 2, MOTORSTORM 2, and more. i will enjoy all these titles while ur crying in ur room not only becuase you only got two games to look forward to but because u can't even play them because ur still waiting for ur 360 to come back from the repair center.

[Nemo88]

This guy is obviously joking. The situation in reality is the exact opposite to pretty much everything he just said. Either that or seriously delusional of the foaming at the mouth kind.

I take it the Zune is outselling the ipod too??

[AIi_The_Brit]

lmfao your such a lying piece of crap

Blu-Ray won get over it

hey do you remember wall-mart selling the HD-DVD add on for what? about $5

ROFL!

[Hannah Montana]

this article speaks the truth about the games for each platfrom -

"Microsoft has spent so much time trying to match Sony's past glory in terms of game selection that it finds itself somewhat at a loss now that Sony has managed to keep some games as exclusives, at the same time it's developing all news ones"

& Live isnt all that it's cracked out to be - "Yes, Xbox Live is better. But how much better? There are large numbers of gamers out there who simply will not pay money for online play and are more than happy with Sony's offerings. So what if you can't send a voice message across games? Sony's newly-launched in-game XMB adds a ton of functionality, and the Trophies it brings seem to be gaining popularity"

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

Last year about this time, there was all doom and gloom for Sony not to mention their temporary price cut on the superior 60GB PS3 model. This year it is MS doom and gloom... oh, how fast the tide moves. Who knows, by Christmas time with GoW2 and the $200 Arcade bundle the tide might turn again... just to turn again in Sonys favor in an endless cycle.

The way I see it, both platform has plenty to offer and right now it seems both console manufacturers have interresting things on the table. I think it is a stalemate for Sony and MS until the next generation and only Nintendo is the winner here (unfortunately).

[robbo918]

GoW belongs to the franchise that had it first...GOD OF WAR. Gears of War is GeoW at best, but not GoW. Ok done with that rant lol.

[LJWooly]

I always called God of War "GoW", and Gears of War "Gears". GeoW sounds silly. "Gears" sounds much better, and only one letter longer than "GeoW".

[enjoi187]

It will groove with a nice litte price drop...and of course..gears...fable 2....halo wars....it will happen...but ps3 is getting the edge on blu-ray and also LBP and resistance 2...

I would take Fable 2 over any game coming out..or tie it with the new Star wars...im going to be so EVIL in both games...MUHAHHAHA MUAHAHHA

[PirateThom]

I tried to be evil in the first Fable, but I always have my conscience kicking in and have to stop... I know, I'm lame.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Fable 2 over Fallout 3?

[Liquid Dust]

Whether you like it or not, and whether arstechnica talked trash about sony or not in earlier articles, they make some pretty valid points about the current state of both companies, and really brings up the point that microsoft simply needs to step it up, sonys downfalls in 07 made it easy for microsoft, but sony is on a major rebond, but of course this will be good for all gamers, sony and microsoft, competition brings out the best of both companies and makes for better games

this fall is just going to be kicka$$

[avacadosnorkel]

Each system is different. They don't even have the same graphic chips and stuff. The in game colors they display, the way the game runs, the disc sizes, it's all different. I had a 360 and still have a PS3...and the games Sony make for the PS3 look different than the 3rd party PS3 games and 360 games for that matter. A lot of these 3rd parties can make good games but trying to make sure the game can be the same on both systems doesn't impress me. For almost all the games the past couple years they were made for the 360 and maybe trying to shoehorn a PS3 version in there may have hindered the 360 version too. To really make better games I think a game would need to be made for one system either way, period.

[LastDance]

microsoft actualy have to WORK now......buying everything out just isnt going to cut it. They cant cheat their way to the top.

[QuackPot]

Between developers - software developers.

had the xbox never existed then likely GeoW, ME as well as many Microsoft IPs like Halo, would have been ported to the Playstations.

Hardware competition forced sony to lower its consoles price faster than normal, include HDD and improve its net service. This type of competition has nothing to do with the great games we have out there at the moment.

[fufotrufo]

& Live isnt all that it's cracked out to be - "Yes, Xbox Live is better. But how much better? There are large numbers of gamers out there who simply will not pay money for online play and are more than happy with Sony's offerings. So what if you can't send a voice message across games? Sony's newly-launched in-game XMB adds a ton of functionality, and the Trophies it brings seem to be gaining popularity"

What a cheap cheap argument

[DJ]

You just described your own argument.

[juuken]

And yet you couldn't refute it.

AREN'T YOU SPECIAL NOW.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

You mixed up the phrased "made out to be" and "cracked up to be".

Just...fyi. You know.

Also, I agree. The PSN is pretty much the same as Live now...with some games having virtually no LAG. Of course, it's up to the developer...each game has its own servers.

[Serjikal_Strike]

People are finally starting to see Sony is slowly but surely gonna be the true Next gen system!....

[n4gzz]

360 has games, good online service (can't justify for paying 50 a year) and Microsoft has good customer service if not the best but their
Hardware problem is the biggest issue, i think. I have only 3 games on 360 which i don't even play 'coz i want to use my 360 for gears 2. Many of my friends have PS3 and they can surely afford 360 but they just don't buy 360 'coz of hardware problem. You guys must be wondering about MS replacement Plan for 3 years but These people are married and have family. They already have enough things to spend their time on. When they wants to play game, they don't want to look at console and stay on phone with MS about their brand new console which just broke.

[omodis420]

I sense I biased moderator.

[enjoi187]

i acctually thought Sony was trying to catch up to Microsoft honestly...i mean come on in game chat for the 360 since it came out..and Sony just got that....the online stores...well Microsoft has been dominating that for a long time....but Sony is getting there...mabey passing Microsoft a little since they put up full games which is freaking amazing

just speaking the truth

[Harry190]

ArsTechnica just hired new staff?

[Captain Tuttle]

Or their revenue is down and they need hits.

[ForROME]

"Find a home in the world "
We tend to focus on US sales, because we live in the US. But gaming is an international business, and Microsoft has seen almost all of its success in the US. Both Nintendo and Sony do very good business in Japan and Europe, while Microsoft has always struggled in those markets. Heck, in Japan, the big story is the sales of Sony's PSP.

I couldnt stress this more, I say this all the time, the US is what keeps Xbox a float only we would be dumb enough to keep buying a system that breaks, I was one of them. I learned and moved on to a system that doesnt. Globaly is the battle and I just cant see MS ever winning that one, i see them competing, but not winning, they just dont have the global trust or reliability

[littletad]

I was dumb enough to buy my faulty ps2, and proud enough to send it in 3 times. It's funny how you speak of trust and reliability as if it's always been set in stone for Sony. "AllIwantforxmasisapsp&qu ot; anyone? And where do you come off that Microsoft hasn't had any or much success in Europe? Last I check, it was doing fine.

It's people like you who I disagree with who have a narrow minded view of "all is well" in Sony land because of the past, while obscuring a "faulty system" that has garnered nearly every Exclusive that made Sony famous and having more success with it's own original IP's. So yes the great games are finally heading to the ps3 that no one else has, but the way I see it, the 360 has had it's own gemstones for quite a while too. If Nintendo proved anything it's that this global battle can change, especially for a company that doesn't give up.

[Oner]

A repost of mine about the PS2 being unreliable....
|
|
Funny how you you fail to mention the %'s is still within an acceptable industry standard. The only reason why it "seemed" like a lot is because

2-3% of 125 Million is 2.5-3.75 Million ~ PS2

33% of 20 Million is 6.6 Million ~ 360

Now that 33% is also a false number as even MS admitted ALL 360's ARE PRONE TO FAILURE AND ARE DEFECTIVE. Then later they said with the revised MB (twice since then) they would not RROD but they continue to do so! Which means AGAIN that ALL 360's ARE PRONE TO FAILURE AND ARE DEFECTIVE...

http://www.fastsilicon.com/...

http://digg.com/gaming_news...

[Codeman420]

yea that whole thing maybe true about the 360, but in my honest opinion both systems have their problems and both companies are working really hard to fix them. Sony has some really awesome games coming out in 08-09 and the 360 has games coming in 08 that look awesome like fable 2 (we know theres going to be fable 3 just not in 2008 sry bout that) and GoW2. Sony is a company that really focuses on new first party IPs, while the 360 (now) is going for the third party exclusive. Both online services are good i have no problems with either of them, Home will be good and the new Xbox live experience should be good as well.

Like i said both companies have their problems and both of them are working very hard to fix them.

P.S/Edit: please explain how you disagree with what i said. Im not going to blow up on you i just would like to know your opinion on the subject. you know a nice FRIENDLY conversation.

[Cajun Chicken]

Are the third party exclusives going to exist on 360 much longer?

Seriously; are they, now that publishers/developers can get twice the audience and money?

[Codeman420]

well it depends on the publisher really honestly SE is the smart one here. releaseing FF13 on 360 in us and europe but not japan cause the install base is greater in the us and europe. and with MS who knows they could buy thrid party exlusives, will they continue who knows and it depends on how developers will utilize each system. I mean if the ps3 third party exclusives would stay excluzie the PS3 would get a bigger install base, i can speak for the publisher but i think thats the on thing they are forgetting. They say that the reason they are going multiplatform is because the PS3s install base is too low. well if you keep it exclusive, and maybe take a hit from production cost, you will increase the install base hopefully making up what you spent. i mean look at MHS4 and how great that game sold the PS3 if publishers kept their game ps3 exclusive think of how many more PS3 could be sold, increasing the install base and therefor making money, but then they may get really really money hungry like we all know they are and still go multiplatform. in that case go wat 6 month exclusive to get the install base up the put out another version on the other console.

but hey im just a gamer what do i know.

[Cajun Chicken]

Thing is, added with that, it seems as if Sony have the upper hand because of the quite good reputation of their first party devs and a big back catelogue to experiment with.
Last time I looked, MS don't really own that many inhouse devs except from Rare and Lionhead, most of the others are just under strict contracts.

Not being a fanboy here, I just think the above is the biggest factor relating to MS, because Sony is always going to have exclusive games no matter what and at that games that can't even be ported because they're built specifically for the system by inhouse devs.

Unless MS go shopping, harsh times are ahead.

EDIT: Yes. Massive profit for SE in this case; the best of both worlds.

[The Lazy One]

Just because M$ doesn't own the studios, it still publishes a LOT of games. It also owns publishing rights to a lot of games by third party developers.

You don't have to own a developer to get an exclusive. There's also a lot of great developers that are just asking to get their own studios funded by M$ (Itagaki and fatatsugi)

[The Karate Kid]

Home
Little Big Planet
Motor Storm 2
Resistance 2
Killzone 2

Plus, future firmware updates & Third party titles...............

And Blu-Ray is only getting stronger?

Wow o Wow........................... .........!

[littletad]

But I can't for the life of me continue to be excited for Home and future firmware updates. Nothing really is "problem-free" this generation.

[enjoi187]

codeman...fable 2 my friend fable 2...i agree though

[Kratos_1986]

360 <-- only good for over heating

ahahahahah

[Zerodin]

Kratos_1986 <- only good for fvcking his sister!

[Kratos Spartan]

who is this imposter? There can be only one....

[ICUP]

Zerodin <------only good for prison b!tch.

[juuken]

Zerodin, please shut the hell up.
Zerodin<--- good for Microsoft, since they love shoving their wee-wee's up his ass.

[TheDeadMetalhead]

Don't forget the 3-way he had with Zerodin's twin cousins ;)

[Serjikal_Strike]

And thats just to finish off 2008 and Start off 2009 with a bang!

[TheCerebralBore]

an awesome TV worthy of playing it on but for now i got my 360 with a Sydney funnel web that works day and night to stop it from rrod on me. On a serious note my 360 is one of the best consoles i have ever had but its all so one of the worst in terms of reliability (On my 3rd, but I'm going to by another one so that will make it 4)

[Serjikal_Strike]

Dont forget ...also being loud

[Cajun Chicken]

Talk about being loud before I got mine I thought the rumors were over blown.
People are amazed how quiet my PS3 is compared to the 360.
I fear for its very life whilst playing Earth Defence Force 2017...

[00]

Maybe it will make MS drop the price faster and more then just 50$.

[Zerodin]

I didn't know they took articles written by the Sonydefenseforce.

[silverchode]

they take articles from xboxkings(both are sh!tty websites) :)

[33Pct_FailRate]

It's called facts and you must learn to live with them. The 360 is losing worldwide AND even in the US, it's the same each month and you have to grow up and accept it now.

You can't live all your life with your mom.

[Creep]

man f**k all of u dumbs**ts arguing about what console is better ur not getting non of the profit anyways. Ask me how i feel right now about this console war s**t my f***ing ps3 just died on me and it hasn't even been two years since i bought it, which is the 60gb model when it first came out. Now i have to call those a**holes and see how much more i have to pay for that piece of s**t, i'm 2 steps away from giving up on gaming and the industry if they keep this defected s**t where gonna have a gaming recesion as for MS with my luck if I buy an xbox it will probably brakedown on me in like two days or so... so f**k all u fanboys on either side.

[morganfell]

What is worse than people arguing is someone crying about people arguing. Don't like it? ALT-CTRL-DEL pal. And the only thing worse than that is someone complaining that has no talent for cursing.

[Serjikal_Strike]

I would of stopped after the second one crapped on you...even if it is one of your best consoles!

[DJ]

Microsoft has spent the last three years turning PS3 exclusives into multiplatform games, and in turn failing to invest money in new studios (their internal studios keep disappearing) or create compelling new IPs.

Add in the fact that they're ignoring RROD, failing to improve Live past its initial upgrade in 2005, and stealing concepts (or even entire games) from both Sony and Nintendo, I'm not sure why Microsoft is so shocked by the current state of things.

[The Lazy One]

They aren't ignoring RROD. They release a completely new hardware version of the console every year since launch. They are improving live twice this year. First, this spring, they increased the background code reliability. This fall they're upgrading the face of the service.

And everybody steals concepts from everybody.

ignorance of the truth does not make ignorance truth.

[Aclay]

I have to seriously agree with this article...it was so good, I even bookmarked it.

What I find really funny is that Microsoft actually thinks that they will outsell the PS3 this generation just by winning the U.S. Just like the article pointed out, gaming is International and in my opinion, Microsoft has put too much dependancy on the United States market and it's like whenever the 360 isn't selling in the U.S., it's hardly selling at all because the U.S. is where the 360 always sells the most.

When it comes to system seller games, I believe the PS3 has more. Gears 2 for the most part most likely wont be a system seller because people that like Gears have a 360. Any future Halo games wont move much hardware either because Halo 3 moved 360's and the majority of Halo fans already have a 360. On the other hand, there's SOCOM fans that are waiting to buy a PS3 when SOCOM Confrontation is released, there's God of War fans that are waiting until God of War 3 comes out before buying a PS3, and even though Final Fantasy XIII is coming to the 360, more people have played Final Fantasy games on a Playstation console, and more than likely the majority of them are waiting to buy a PS3 before FFXIII comes out... to me the PS3 just has more potential momentuem.

However, I do think that the PS3 is going to be in for a little rocky ride in Japan later on this year because Infinite Undiscovery is a 360 Exclusive and Japan will go crazy for it, plus The Last Remnant is coming out on the 360 first and Japan will go crazy for that too... but those PS3 bundles in March 09 with Final Fantasy Advent Children with the FFXIII demo will seal the Xbox 360's fate in Japan and PS3 sales will skyrocket past Wii sales for a few weeks in Japan because there's no JRPG bigger than Final Fantasy, none.

If Microsoft wants to compete with the PS3 in the long run, they need to work on it's first party publishing.

[kspraydad]

PS3 is seriously losing traction ... delayed and lost exclusives and the loss of Monster Hunter to the Wii will be huge. I luvs my PS3 but they needed to protect their home turf better imo.

[juuken]

I bookmarked it as well. This site was the last site I'd expect to see a pro-Sony article, lol.

But it looks like they're waking up to reality.

Instead of fighting with Sony fans, 360 fanboys should band together and demand better treatment from Microsoft.

I agree with you kspraydad but only to a certain degree. Remember, the fight is not over in Japan. The PS3 does have some rpg's coming out, and I think also that Sony should in fact push Little Big Planet in Japan.

That would be awesome.

[omodis420]

@ 20

"God of War fans that are waiting until God of War 3 comes out before buying a PS3"

This is very very true. When I bought my PS3 I was really up in the air on which system I was going to buy. My decision came down to 3 things in favor of PS3; Built-in charger, Blue Ray, and the fact that if I didn't buy a PS3 I would not be able to play God of War 3.
Also a friend of mine at work that only likes God of War and Splinter Cell. (This is literally the only two games she will play) She is going to buy a PS3 this tax season just for God of War 3.

[CaitSith]

SONY's all about looking forward to the future in terms of games. I don't think they're worried about Xbox 360 in Japan because they still have Final Fantasy XIII and Versus XIII exclusive in Japan for PS3, which I think will sky-rocket hardware sales in that region..

[IVYvsTAKI]

Well said.

[Serjikal_Strike]

Damn dude....chill! Hey i'll let you come over and play my ps3! sike! just get it fixed and stop your bit**ing!

[JD_Shadow]

How did I know the MS fanboys were going to come out in full force to try to get this story pulled from the N4G front page:

"Other: (57 minutes ago)
the feedback section is faster
Reported by: Lord Anubis

Lame: (1 hour ago)
give it up already
Reported by: ozsman

Other: (1 hour ago)
Lord Anubis, I'm reporting these morons to Dusty.
Reported by: Bombibomb

Lame: (1 hour ago)
What bunch of fanboy nonsense
Reported by: fufotrufo

Other: (1 hour ago)
Bombibomb post this link on the feedback section. It will be taken care of.
Reported by: Lord Anubis

Lame: (1 hour ago)
SDF in action
Reported by: sak500

Bad Editing: (1 hour ago)
use image that fits the window.
Reported by: BIoodmask

Spam: (1 hour ago)
SDF IN action
Reported by: sak500

Other: (1 hour ago)
If you idiots don't like this article then leave but your stupid reports should get you banned. This is THEIR take on the situation and this website is very credible and reliable. Don't like it? Go away you god damned cry babies.
Reported by: Bombibomb

Lame: (1 hour ago)
and I'm a SONY whore.
Reported by: kspraydad

Lame: (1 hour ago)
How many of these stories have been published already?
Reported by: Elven6 "

(Note that, yes, somehow you ARE allowed to report a story more than once).

Why try to counterpoint anything a pro-PS3 article says when you can just bait the N4G mods to pull a story so NO one will be able to SEE the points that were made?

(And to Bombibomb, they don't READ any of the comments you post in the reports section or who exactly made the reports, just how many there are, so that kind of won't work and will actually HURT the story's status on this site more if you work THAT way).

Way to abuse the system, guys! Too bad we're catching on.

EDIT@Cajun Chicken & Juuken: EXACTLY!! And thus we now get what I've been saying for the longest time: It's a double standard with the MS fanboys. Even from a site whose pro-X360, anti-Sony stories have gotten approved and then allowed to linger on the front page over and over again (thus telling us they thing the site is reliable), the ONE story that is pro-Sony and telling the faults of the 360, and they suddenly think the site is just made by a bunch of Sony fanboys and anyone who says that it's a good article is a part of the "Sony defense force" (as if it was all some kind of conspiracy). And they go report the article from something that WAS creditable.

NOTES TO 360 FANBOYS WHO DO THAT: (1) There is no pro-Sony conspiracy going on here when someone (or in this case, so many people) agree with the points of a pro-Sony article (2) If they were creditable when they posted the stuff YOU DO like, they might just be creditable when they write stuff that infringes on your viewpoint. (3) You're suppressing opinions and information and trying to disguise them as something else, which isn't right (4) Since WHEN has a pro-Sony viewpoint been against the rules? & (5) Instead of trying to report the story as fanboy drivel, and instead of dismissing any pro-Sony point as a "Sony defense force" thing, why don't you try to instead counterpoint what was actually SAID! It may be worth it.

[Cajun Chicken]

That Arstechnica once hated on the PS3, recently gave it a second review due to updated firmware and said it improved massively?

[juuken]

...*falls out of chair laughing*

This site did hate the PS3 at one point. I remember it alright. Now that it wrote a well written article about Microsoft's mounting problems, the 360 fanboys want to attack it.

Oh man, this is golden.

[DJ]

In fact their first review of the system was pretty much spot on, and I'm glad they did a second review a year later since firmware updates had turned it into a brand new system. The other consoles deserve multiple reviews as well.

[TheDeadMetalhead]

I tried to post an artile "Is the 360 dying?" it really was a good article, no flames at all. Anyway, look at this.

Report History
Spam: (4 hours ago)
Reported by: Bombibomb

Lame: (4 hours ago)
Can't be deemed an article.
Reported by: cheese

Lame: (4 hours ago)
Reported by: Rourker

Lame: (4 hours ago)
Garbage article (if you can even call it an article) and a garbage site.
Reported by: boodybandit

Lame: (4 hours ago)
Reported by: ElementX

Other: (4 hours ago)
http://i129.photobucket.com...
Reported by: BIoodmask

Lame: (4 hours ago)
flaimbait
Reported by: Relcom

Spam: (4 hours ago)
Reported by: HeavyweightInTheGame

Lame: (5 hours ago)
I don't mind opinion pieces, but this article is very poorly written.
Reported by: paulhunter

Lame: (5 hours ago)
short bad edits
Reported by: ferdus-hutki-shira

Fake: (5 hours ago)
Reported by: ferdus-hutki-shira

Spam: (5 hours ago)
Reported by: power of Green

Spam: (5 hours ago)
Reported by: ferdus-hutki-shira

Lame: (5 hours ago)
That is an awful article and a god awful looking site.
Reported by: Somnus

Spam: (5 hours ago)
Reported by: CViper

Bad Editing: (5 hours ago)
This article is about 2 lines of nothing but fanboy drivel.
Reported by: CViper

It's obvious that they didn't bother to read the article. Needless to say, it wrongly failed. :(

[The Lazy One]

people should just stop reporting articles like this altogether. It goes both ways, and don't pretend like it doesn't.

disagreeing is not a reason to report. That goes for everybody.

[JD_Shadow]

Oh wow....I gained an ignore, and I'm pretty sure it was from this reveal. Hope it wasn't a legit person who thought I was insulting THEM instead of the people who report for this reason (yeah, I know it goes both ways and I'm not completely knowledgeable about this site's past in bias, but I've seen the comments to this one thus far, and I know how the 360 fanboys love to defend their precious articles). Don't want anyone who I thought had common sense to their name be ignoring my posts.

If it was just another X360 fanboy who couldn't handle this, then, well, I don't know what to tell them.

EDIT@TLO: I know it wasn't you because you commented later on my GC point (which, by the way, I heard they would have a booth there, but I was talking about having a keynote there). I was REALLY hoping DJ didn't because I agree with him (hell, this site wasn't on my radar screen before). But he commented later on, too.

Like I said, if it was a PS3 owner or a common sensed 360 owner that can take the bad with the good, then I will be surprised. If it's someone like PoG (assuming he hasn't already) then my feelings won't be hurt in the least. I mean, how many ignores does he have now, a thousand?

EDIT#2: Yeah, me too...but then again, 3/4ths of the site has him on ignore, anyway (as he has the same fraction on his ignore list, I guess), so the feeling's mutual.

[The Lazy One]

I didn't even give anyone in this comment a disagree.

edit: I'm pretty sure he already did.

[littletad]

That's just the truth, end of story. Copying and pasting the report section of a negative 360 article doesn't prove anything because no one has done the opposite for a negative Sony article. There's an overwhelming amount of Sony supporters on this site, trouncing the 360 fanboys. The sad fact, is there's only a handful of open-minded gamers who either own all systems or respect competition. And FYI I didn't hit ignore button.

[juuken]

And 360 fanboys are saints in shiny white clothes and wings.

PS3 owners only try to do what anyone would do when they're attacked by bullies-defend themselves.

[TheDeadMetalhead]

I don't take sides. I just don't care for bulls#!t Reports on good articles.

[whothedog]

All I have to say is Sony FTW! Seems like they are making some smart decisions.

PSN - whothedog

[PS3Freak]

Very well written article

[The Karate Kid]

I love my PS3 =)

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Karate kid! What does the scouter say about the PS3's power level???!!!

IT'S OVER NINE-THOUSAND!!!

[juuken]

*Hums Eye of the Tiger*

This article holds a lot of truth and it's very well written.

[midgetsanx]

"You must Fight to keep them alive...ITS THEEE EYE OF THE TIGER..Its the King Of the Fight, Rising up the challenge of a rival..."

[juuken]

You just reminded me of Tekken 6.

DAMN THAT GAME IS AWESOME LOOKING.

[TheDeadMetalhead]

Not a huge Tekken fan. The only time I ever play it is against my friend's older sister.

She's good! I've only beaten her at that game twice! >_<

[midgetsanx]

I can't play Tekkan at all. Button Mashing is what I do in that game. =.=

[juuken]

Lol, that sounded like me ten years ago when I was playing against my brother/AI. I did beat one of the Tekken games but only after I kept getting mauled by Heihachi. o-o

[project76dodo]

hell yea taking over

PlayBeyond

hey anybody play Call of Duty 4 online USA?

hit me up im online smoking blunts

Project76dodo <==== PSN

[kingme71]

I thought this really hit the nail on the head:

"Microsoft has to start getting the word out that it has fixed the reliability problems; pretending like this issue never happened is not the solution."

It baffles me that MS is not trying to clear the air on the HW issues. They really just swept it under the rug and anytime someone asks the question, the MS talking head just spins the question or talks around it. If they just come out and say, "Yeah, we had issues, but the newer chips are most definitely showing much better failure rates. Here's our numbers"

I can only conclude two reasons: MS is out of touch and doesn't think it is affecting their sales anymore or they have yet to solve the problem.

[PirateThom]

Of course they haven't solved the problem, but it's expected now, if they had fixed it, they'd be the first to let people know. Plus, when a RRoD happens, it's no longer a big deal since it gets replaced.

[The Lazy One]

They have improved hardware reliability. Like 4 times.

RROD is not a single problem. It is any AND ALL general hardware problems. They've done a lot to fix most of the problems that cause it, and there's going to be a lot more done with the new board for repaired consoles.

Just because M$ doesn't have a press release every week explicitly saying they're fixing it doesn't mean they're not fixing it. They're obviously fixing it. It's the single biggest thing hurting their sales. To not fix it would be almost as stupid as thinking they're not working on it.

edit: prove me wrong if you disagree.

[ApocalypseShadow]

they can't handle the truth.so they try to disagree or remove the truth.

nothing wrong with this article just like there is nothing wrong with us telling them the truth since ps3 release.

the article is right.microsoft tried to outdo ps2 with their system and services,but sony had a NEW strategy that microsoft wasn't ready for.and sony has too many inhouse exclusives that microsoft can't compete with.also:

sony was right about everything next gen:

1080p support for next gen tvs,hdmi for next gen tvs,bluray,hard drive as standard,hard drive for game installs,hard drive for bigger game downloads,bigger HD movies to download,the cell processor doing everything from games to movies to science(ha,ha-jack of all trades and master of none huh?we laugh),free online gaming if you want it,rechargeable batteries,remote play with psp,it just keeps going.

sony had a better strategy for next gen.microsoft's strategy was last gen just like the system.and it's only going to get worse from here.patching and upgrading still doesn't make it a wii or ps3.it has good games and is fun,but they will not sell 100 million units or beat sony or nintendo.

so 360 fans have started excusing microsoft and have come up with "look how many games we bought.""look how many downloaded the too human demo.""look at microsoft stealing marketshare.""look at how many play halo online."

but we're all looking and.......NOT CARING.not one bit.microsoft will have no choice but to change and get SOME sales or get out of the way.because they have already lost.

apocalypse........

[littletad]

Weren't you at 5 bubbles or more before? Oh well, I can see why it's shortened. Fascist fanboyism.

[SSCOOLCHEA]

those mfkers can't read so dont tell them shil....I dont mind them not having a ps3. I cant deal with stupidity and dont want them on psn .

[whothedog]

opps

[rjgbyrne]

I have 26 Xbox 360 games, 20 Originals and had to buy a new xbox because of the RROD... only to realise that I had lost my Xbox live games to boot. When I rang the support line (20 times so far with at least 50 minutes time wasted) the live support game me no resolve. They told me to buy a wireless router(Dunno why as my current ethernet one works fine) and to bu additional battery packs which I bought 2 months ago as they are faulty. I am tempted to go to consumer affairs here as MS and done me out of pocket but I am starting to think it would be better to just stop buying MS products until they get their stuff sorted. My live membership costs me 120 Aussie Dollars a year and I bearly use it as its crap here. I think I will just shelve the xbox and buy a PS3 until MS get it right. Its not ideal but they are crapping on the loyal fanbase and Sony is taking the Gauntlet from the very quickly at the minute. A shame really that the support is so bad for a paid service. As much as I hate to say it... Bring back Bill, He was the best! he will sort this all out too.

[silverchode]

we dont like your kind around here.
jk

[morganfell]

I know the feeling rj. I am on my 4th 360 and I have quite a few Live purchase the RM tool didn't repair. All MS has been able to do is say yes we know you bought it, oh well.

[JD_Shadow]

The recent news about MS skipping the Games Convention when Sony is ready to blast out 12 potentially huge announcements. Knowing that Sony has all the momentum in the WORLD with seemly no way at this point to stop it and then skip something in which Sony is ready to tell you that they hit the jackpot somewhere is NOT the smartest move in the world to do.

[SmokingMonkey]

either Halo4 or Halo3 Add ons
SONY is running away with it, and as soon as LBP hits i think the Wii's mo will slow down. Oh and
VIVA LA RESISTANCE

[Cajun Chicken]

Its like MS are giving a metaphorical middle finger to Europe.

[DJ]

I understand not showing up at TGS, but the biggest cames convention in Europe? Europe is the biggest game market for crying out loud. Show something. Anything.

[Doctor Strange]

Yeah I expected to show up for the Games Convention too this week and I think they should of showed for a conference since nobody was really impressed at E3 this year for all systems.

[The Lazy One]

They just aren't doing a presser. They're having a booth.

They're probably going to focus on playable demos of games they have coming this year instead of announcements.

[PeptoBismol]

both are fun systems

[littletad]

Neutrality? Blasphemy! This is N4G!!

[Serjikal_Strike]

can save microsoft!

[nieto]

can you believe that? the X360 it's a HD system that use DVD!!!
OMG. LOL. ;-D

[Ozzyb]

I think this article was VERY well-written. I could not spot any bit of fanboyism whatsoever.. It was almost entirely based off of facts and that is what I like. I love my PS3 but, I don't want to read an article (not off of a game news site anyway) about how much you love your PS3!!!111! If it is a substantial article, filled with facts, then let it ride. I would read a 360 article as well, if it was written as accurately, just to be informed on both sides of the argument (which is still a pointless argument lol). We know the PS3 is a little more expensive and also that the 360 RRODs, we don't have to mention it every chance we get.

[rjgbyrne]

I reckon if the Hard drive was made smaller and the support for live better and the annual cost of live made free they would be poised to become a more trusted company. Until then I reckon they will slowly fall behind Sony on all counts. Blu-ray is not up to much other than movies, storage is not a problem that couldn't be easily fixed. Lets face it, they have to to this to become a trusted company again. As for the RROD, I think they should completely irradicate it once and for all. Easier said than done but if you paid a company to manufactor your console and it kept crashing due to the way it was compiled, get a refund. If the Architecture is wrong then its MS fault but I doubht thats the prob. Would be happy for the magic 3 to happen though and enough on the crappy support staff who don't even speak proper English MS. Use a computer with voice recognition if its that much cheaper and kill the idiots. Am sure sont could learn from this too though.

[celticlonewolf]

First of 360 sales arnt bad but they aint been good its just the same old same old all year. The 2 reasons behind this I think are:
1) The 360 price point has not really changed since its launch. Its coming up to 3 years on the market with only a 50 dollar cut I mean one of there skus is 50 dollars more than the ps3 which has a blue ray player in it. Solution drop the price on ALL there skus by atleast 50 I mean if they cant do that by now then what the heck lol.
2) How many months have gone by without a 360 exclusive killer app?? Look at sony and on how well they have spread there games throughout the year. Solution MS next year needs to spread its exclusive throughout the year better.
Couple of other points are: take a look at sony and how well there offical (I know some stores have run there own bundles) bundle consoles sell I mean sony have done sone great deals in eu as well as NA with gta bundle, metal gear bundle and Grand T bundle. MS have realest few offical bundles in japan but none as far as I know in EU and NA. Solution christmas time run some fable or gears bundles something like that some top new games not old games(like last christmas).
Im not saying any of this will make ms outsell the ps3 world wide or in NA but it sure will go a long way in helping them.

[RAM MAGNUMS]

Just wanted your dumb xbutt a$$ to know that you
just snapped out of it & now you are making some
dumba$$ excuses to get back in your xbox360 dream
where money didnt mean nothing.
hey friend
It happened to me & I can afford my lifestyle but
with all your problems & the real problems of
the xbox360, then how did it eat at my pockets?!
Because of the technolgy gap.
xperience points
Im 29 & I've always prided myself on owning all the systems
of the current gen. I'm American & as such I grew up knowing
Asia had the best computer tech. They invent! America imitates
or owes the idea to someone else. America has always been last
to know first to show. Get it? It means that if you believe in it? Its
probly a scam to get rich off of you. Someway somehow its gonna
cost you for small improovements while japans invents the next tech
for Americans to use.
yet you try to offer solutions because you invested in a moneygrubbing
video game machine but you are not a employee. You are just a customer.
let bluray do the talking
hmmm...? Not neccesary? I like high definition. Don't strip my games down.
How is DVD equal to bluray hd dvd? Its not. Then how is it the same price?
somehow one side of that is a bargain & one is a ripp off. Rip-offs? Reminds
me of avatars.
Customer support
that's when its confirmed that you were a tool. Where's was your solution then?
there isn't a tech support line to be switched to! Just some guys pulling on your
puppets strings & asking if " would you kindly" remove your hardrive then turn it on
& off & read off your serial number while they giggle & tell you that it might be your
scratched disc & while they check to see if your out of warranty & tell you that you
should keep your console anywhere within 10ft of your tv or anyother electronics &
to keep it well ventilated while the put you on hold & laugh thier a$$ off because
they know if your bricked xbox had a mini cack then you would suck it off to get your
green light because time is money & you won't cancel your account. So heres your xbox
coffin!
Microsoft ? Don't bank on it
if you still have one by now use it as great store credit before its too late.
If you still need to finish gears 2? Use the free trials or borrow your cousins for
a while but I doubt he gonna let you touch it because he your paranoid cousin &
blame you for the rrod.
RROD is not your fault! Don't donate for guilt!

[konvict]

you get for what you pay for.

[richie007bond]

2.8 -
This individual has just scored himself a spot on the awards podium with the most retarded comments ever lodged by screwhead xbots in the history of gaming. The fact is there is no arguing with allegiance so blind it takes irrefutable facts and figures and just tosses them out the door.

There are 3 Best Buys within 20 minutes of my house. The closest has no HD DVDs left in stock. The others, maybe a few but I always check the DVD section and do not recall seeing any. I wonder what Best Buy he was visiting. He is following the age old pattern of "When desperation strikes, throw truth to the wind and lie with gusto". At this moment there is no better description for him than that of liar.

Quite honestly I am responding to Pirate Thom and zo6 as the remarks by that unit do not warrant a direct response.

He should also be aware that there are some individuals in the accounting department of Nintendo that will set him straight as regards which is the best selling console. Note that I mention this fact strictly for entertainment purposes as my opinion of the Wii as a core gaming device is actually fairy low.

He is also in the throes of fanboy denial about the fact that the PS3 outsold the 360 worldwide in 2007. My figures are based on the official figures released by Sony and Microsoft rather than the wild and blind idiocy engendered and nurtured through long nights in a closet with a red hot, non-functioning 360. 2008 has only shown acceleration of the PS3 momentum and the taking of the last 360 stronghold, North America.

And while we are discussing 'best console' the words dependability and future proof have to be included. He also will deny industry findings that Bluray adoption is outpacing that of DVD. He will deny that more devs are turning to the PS3, not away. Rest assured that the real loser at the end of the day is him and anyone stupid enough to accord anything he utters a shred of truth.

Argument with bucketheads of this nature is fruitless as their blindness has no treatment available through the mediums of science or sheer common sense. I ignore people based on the fruitlessness of their comments. If ever there was a poster demanding to be ignored, this creature is one.

As regards the article, what can be said. It is accurate and that is why certain people are squirming. Once you get past Gears of War 2, what is there? I can buy any game I choose and I am not interested in it. I have somewhere in the area of $1500 in games reserved right now. No Gears 2. If I want to play that I have the first one thank you.

Innovation and longevity are purely Sony's. Lets enjoy the ride.

You really need to get a life SAD SAD SAD!!!!!.I own both consoles and each has fantastic games and services,thats whats its all about GAMING.To read the bile that you spewed out you would think you worked for Sony,(typical FANBOY mentality )

[budbundystyles]

You sure showed him by cut and pasting his entire post! Wait to go Detective.

[karlostomy]

By all accounts, a siege in medieval times took a loooooong time!
Some might even suggest that sieges were prone to significant delays....

soooo....

If the PS3 is laying siege will we be subject to more delays?
hmmm.. yep!

*Delaystation3....Laying and delaying...*

(it's the new sony slogan)

Touche.

[HDDVD_ftw]

Blah blah blah. Your console has no game anymore.

[juuken]

...And Microsoft has never delayed something once in their miserable lives as a corporation.

Why so blind karl, why so blind?

[budbundystyles]

Awesome moot point, totally awesome.

[psycho360]

All these fandroids talk about old gen dvd9 blah blah and not consider that the gpu in ps3 sucks with just 256mb and cell taking the other 256 mb. No wonder the graphics on 99% multiplats suck on ps3. IF you want next gen then have a gpu with 1gb dedicated and with dx10.1 support. Cell+BD does not a good game make however a good bdplayer it will make.

[HDDVD_ftw]

Blah blah blah. Your console is dying.

[snoopgg]

You my boy are doing the same thing, batching about the ps3's cell. The ps3's graphics look the same or better on all the mulitiplatform games these days. Yur still stuck in 2007 with those remarks!!!!! Gears of war 2 is all the people ever talk about in terms of good graphics for the 360, this game is not that good looking. Hell just popped the first one back in my 360 yesterday. I wanna know why nobody ever brings up the fact that that graphics engine is so choppy in some parts of the game. Hell, Uncharted looks worlds better then that game. The unreal engine really isn't that good on the 360, I've was also playing some Frontlines and it was also choppy. So your so called 360 does nothing better visually then the ps3 these days and still don't play blurays!!!!!

[juuken]

Wah, wah, wah.
Crybaby.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Yeah 24k at a time, and thats with MGS4 pushing it....:)

[HDDVD_ftw]

Do you believe there are only the US in the world (NPD is US only) ? 360 is crushed each month worldwide by 200k+ Jason, it's slowly dying worldwide... ;)

Even in the US, it's only because it's summer time that the difference is only 20k.

[VMAN_01]

This was surprisingly a good read. It brought up some valid points.

[LeShin]

While I agree with this article somewhat, Sony better be careful as well. Tales of Vesperia should have rang warning bells at Sony HQ. Looking at Sony's upcoming lineup, there doesn't seem to be many, if any, Eastern centric games. I don't see Killzone 2, Resistance 2, and MAG selling in huge numbers in Japan. It may have some rpg's coming out but the only one I know that's been announced to be coming in the near future is White Knight but that doesn't have a release date. XBox 360 on the other hand has Star Ocean, Infinite Discovery and Last Remnant (timed exclusive) coming out soon. They may announce loads of RPG's at TGS but RPG'S take time to make so even though they'll be announced, God knows when they'll be actually out.

As for the XBOX 360's hardware, a few weeks ago I was contemplating getting one as I need to play some RPG's now and I asked N4G's 360 community about whether the issues had been fixed. Most said it had, however my friend purchased a 360 Elite on the 5th of August an it died last week Friday while playing Ninja Gaiden 2! What the hell? This is ridiculous! Hardware failure isn't something people should accept because if my brand new car/washing machine/PC/(insert appliance) broke down after a couple of weeks, I'd be bloody pissed as well! It's a shame as I do need an RPG fix but I refuse to part with money to buy a faulty machine no matter if it gets replace or not. My Super Nintendo, and Megadrive lasted for years until I sold them. People have told me that the PS2 had a load of problems as well, mine did........after 4 years and it was just the DVD drive acting up not reading discs sometimes and it didn't stop permanently as the 360 does as I'm still using it now.

Microsoft, reassure me that you WILL fix the problem and you may gain a customer as long as there are no rpg's to play on the PS3.

[The Wood]

there's more than 1 hardware problem with the 360 and only 1 is included in the extended warranty. The acid test will be when that same extended warranty has expired. Expect a ton of rrod+other articles here.

[The Wood]

its hard to argue with the facts that arstechnica have thrown up

[HDDVD_ftw]

Yeah. And I just don't see how MS can come back and win now. Either way they loose :

- if they don't rush the 720, they loose because the momentum is on Sony side and MS simply has too few games and studios to compete

- if they rush the 720, they loose half their 360 fan base for abandoning them AGAIN, and they loose too...

That's why their strategy was shortsighted : turning exclusives into multiplatform games with money doesn't win you a console war... Buying studios and making new games is needed.

With all their failures (Zune, Yahoo, Google rivalry, Xbox 1, RROD, 360, Vista...), Microsoft really looks headed south as a corporation now... They look like the 'Failure Corp' now. Their best days are definitely in the past.

Yan can only survive so long by copying everything and inventing nothing...

[Glad to be a gamer]

N4g has always been rife with Sony propoganda and fanboys but since that announcement they have been working really hard scouring the internet for articles such as this to turn the fastly growing trend of Sony losing exc and therefore appeal.

Now as a gamer i can say that br may have its advantages when making games that must be on one disc but if you look at the installs that are necessary to play games on the Ps3 i think it kinda defeats the point.

With Ms now bringing into play the ability to load whole discs onto your 360 and the progression of downloadable digital media i think we will see games such as forza 3 that need to be playable on one disc utilise this work around. There is also compression that is already very efficent and will get better over time.

Some people on this site probably don't know this but The Ps3 uses and old Mpeg4 video codec to compress video and sound and it doesn't do a good job cp to the codecs used by pc/360 and they actually offer currently around twice the compression and superior quality. Ps3 games are also uncompressed in form as this increases the acess speed to the data which is somthing that br struggles with due to the slow read speeds.

NOW NOT TAKING ANY OF THE ABOVE INTO ACCOUNT AND JUST LOOKING AT THE GAMES....

I can't wait to play
Fable 2,white knights story,
gears2,killzone2(still not sure due to the first but looks promising)
Banjo and kazzoie NAB, LBP
Infamous, Too human
Ninja gaiden 2, gow3
Mgs4, Splinter cell conviction.
Home, (avatars,100vs1 and other avatar related games)

Viva pinata,infinte undiscovery, Fall out 3(with exc 360/pc content),last remnant, ff13 etc etc

Now this year i was looking at which consoles i should own for this year and right now the 360 would be my first choice followed by the Ps3 and then the wii lagging behind.

But the fact remains no matter how you guys paint it in favour of the Ps3 there are games that educated gamers will want to play on both this year.

Don't care about rrod,dvd media,br,cell,xenon etc etc i care about playing great games.

Before some of you shoot down some of the 360 exc why don't you have a look on metacritic to see how some of the previous games in those series or from the same devs did.

Lbp for me is the only game that i really want to play this year for the Ps3. Res looks better then the previous but Gears 2 for me is doing so much more with the physics,gameplay additions(destructable enviroments yeah!) Mp no's are less than res but anyone that has played gears with a good team of friends no the satisfaction of working in a small group for victory. Everyone in a small group is important.

Well enjoy the flame war ive got a day off so im gonna play a bit of braid, eternal sonata and super smash brothers brawl. aaaahh gaming Bliss...

[Glad to be a gamer]

Tales of Vesparia is tearing up over there. Even if i was to take away the entire 360 back catalogue and upcoming games in other genres. The 360 would be imo worth the £180 it costs for the Rpgs that are coming out this year and next.

Who does not want extra fallout3 content?

Who out of those that bothered to answer are kidding themselves with their answer as the console of choice does not have access to the said content?

Hmmmmm....Well enjoy the year regardless of your bias theres enough games on both formats for everyone to be a happy gamer this year.

[HDDVD_ftw]

Soon there won't be 2 formats anymore, since the Xbox 360 is dying.

Don't worry for the RPG, you'll get more on PS3 too eventually (after the 360 death, in 2009)

[GiantEnemyCrab]

HDDVD - Please STFU about this 360 is dying garbage. Did you see the last quarter results for the Gaming Division? They were FAR from dying. Take your nonsense somewhere else because the 360 is here to stay.

[fire23]

For anyone who is calling this BS tell me how it is not true. First year Microsoft sold just over 10 mil, 2nd year they sold just over 7 mil, so far this year they have only sold about 3 mil maybe. That is a decline. Saying that they have been cutting the prices too.

[HDDVD_ftw]

You're right, but denial is strong, so it will probably be long before every console fanboy acknowledge that.

[badkolo]

wow you people are the biggest asshats, i could care less about any article giving their opinion, the same would go for any ps3 article like this one.

its really easy to paint a bad picture for ps3,wii or the 360. all could have a doom future if you paint it right and all could succeed if the picture is painted or written correctly.

what you sony knob gobblers dont realize, all of you cause there is tons on this site is that it doesnt matter what extras the ps3 has, if all of the sudden the games stopped coming or where flops one after another then it could have 6 hdmi ports and 3 blueray players included and it would still flop. Now obviously this is not the case.

MS did what they did for whatever reeasons they did, some good some bad. Sony did what they did, some good some bad, and NIN gave us a gamecube with a innovative controller and kids games that are easy to play but the hardware contains none of what ps3 and 360 have.

Please stop with the rrod, the new systems do not have these issues so cut it out. or should we start with the 2.4 download issues that plagues some ps3's(which happens to both consoles) or how theres still no cross invites or any other issues the ps3 has, i surely don't like doing so and hearing you guys moan about these flaws gets annoying.

I understand that there is nothing more you would like then for the 360 to die out fast, and maybe in 3 years it will but not this year, not while the new dash is coming, not while netflix is starting and not while gears of war 2 and fable and other hits are coming this year, so NO this year to net its safe, same for ps3, this year it will rock hard. Which brings us into next year, the end of the 360's 4th year and then maybe the ps3 will truly start leading form there.

Lucky for many of us we have both systems and if one fails the other is there.

[user9422077]

But the sky is falling for the 360

[juukens other acount]

yum

[AIi_The_Brit]

your just upset because juuken is a girl

and it kills you you wont ever get to touch another girl besides your sister

does your mum know you try to touch your sister?

[buckethead_X]

Someone's jealous of Juuken's PS3, pwnage, or ability to spell to word "account". XD

[Ozzyb]

@Glad to be a gamer..
I have no problems with what you said other than the install time thing. Do people really care if they have to wait a few minutes to install a game for hours upon hours of play? Are people REALLY that impatient? If they are, (not meaning you specifically, you just brought it up) that is freakin' sad. It's not like it says "Installing time: 12 hours, see ya tomorrow".. it's a few minutes. Also, I don't think that short install time defeats the purpose of Blu-Ray by any means. I'd rather have one disc that can hold a crap-ton, install for a few minutes and never have to worry about it again. That's just me though.

I don't really think any one platform should get bonus content over another on a multi-platform game. That, for me, would not make me choose one version over another because it's usually trivial things like that extra "Challenge Level" in Bionic Commando. Granted, even if I had a 360, I would probably only buy exclusive games for it. Reason being, not to bash (though they deserve it for treating loyal customers like crap) but I would be nervous as all hell that it would burn out on me any time I wanna play anything. I don't want to be thinking about that every time I fire up a game.

Quick story.. my cousin was visiting and he brought over his 360. We played Fifa for about 30 minutes and the screen started moving choppy and lagging (local multi-player, not online) and he jumps up and powers it off. I was like "What the hell was that?" he tells me that it was getting too hot and we had to stop playing. It was well ventilated and not on anything that cause it to overheat. That, to me, is unforgivable.

[sonyfanonly]

this is only the beginning for the ps3 the 360 has been out for what 2 to 3 years and has only cracked the market a little but look at the ps3 its still around a 100 more than the 360 and the ps3 is the highest demanded product the ps3 will just keep getting better and better games once the dev. start to learn more about the ps3 the games will come out like hot cakes

[jerethdagryphon]

flashback to 2005
m$ released xbox people saw the bought ip halo and flocked to it
during its 4 year life is sold 20 million or so
i was released midway through ps2s life cycle when ps2 was to widly esablished

now we come up up to 3 years for ps3 and 4 for 360 360 got the jump on sony this time
by releaseing a flawed console
dont care if you diaagree engeenrs and rate of failure say it has some serious problems (had)

if mid 2009 early 2010 ms do what im expecting and release a rushed 720 or x3 or whatever they decide to call it

regardless of how 'powerful' it is they will be looked upon as sega was with the ps1/saturn conflict followed by rushing out the dreamcast

they will lose credibility and most of there esablished base
esecially if there release title is just another halo or gears

the industry has changed new ips are needed not just rehashes of old ones
and no console can afford any significant hardware failure anything more then 5% should be considered unaceptable

is ms does release a new console ps3 will have atained an entrenchment by then thats unshakable as was the ps2 (360 was designed to combat ps2 and early ps3 it wasnt meant for a long duratin war)

and they will lose money on development and suffer poor sales which will force them to consider falling out of console development and doing what sega did by reverting to software only

[AIi_The_Brit]

the second i saw this i need it would be a fanboy avalanche hahaha

you xbots need to get over it

PSN is equal to live

Blu-Ray won meaning we won the platform war

PS3 is regularly outselling the 360 now and trust me on this, this is just the beggining, PS3 WILL outsell the 360 with ease just give it time

PS3 Exlusives DESTROY 360 exlusives this year and its going to be the same next year, live with it xbots because its how its going to be from now on

PSN games are fun inovative and unique

XBLA titles are boring lame and a nice full libary of 4/10s

Notice how much microsoft are trying to copy sony these days

they come out with avatars which is to go against home and is a copy of mii's

instead of coming up with there own, they have to steal our exlusives hahahah how pathetic is that?

PS3 is the far better in every aspect

free online

superior hardware

the only console with the winning platform Blu-Ray the official successor of DVD

an AMAZING line up of exlusives for 08 and 09 fowards

the best media player outthere, mine is full of music pictures and HD videos, i have a strong collection of Blu-Ray Movies, and a HUGE libary of PS3 games not to mention PSN games fitted on my 320GB HDD

Face it, 360 is last gen

PS3 is true next gen

PS3 had a rocky start, and at first the 360 was superior and fanboys let it go to there heads and thought it would never change

it has

PS3 is now the console to own

[KrimsonKody]

If they market the 360 as an in-door heater. It will be perfect for those cold, game-less winter nights =p

[AIi_The_Brit]

haha yeah

i hear hideo kojima has a 360

his heater broke XD (then 5 minutes later the 360 did too)

[Ko_Uraki]

NPD data July 2007

* Nintendo Wii: 425K
* Nintendo DS: 405K
* Sony PlayStation 2: 222K
* Sony PSP: 214K
* Microsoft Xbox 360: 170K
* Sony PlayStation 3: 159K
* Nintendo GBA: 87K

The XBOX 360 sales are better in 2008.
It's clear that PS3 is expanding its user base, the point is if this will change something.
Does this mean more third party exclusives for PS3? No, it's too late for this generation.
Software sales for the 360 are still strong, and the PS3 will not catch the 360 this year. In Japan the PS3 sales remain poor, and in Europe the 360 continues to have a more than decent installed base.

So I can't see why at MS they should be desperate, especially with Gears of War 2 and Fable 2 coming soon.

[Wii60Fan]

Isn't going ANYWHERE. They are in it for the long haul- with VERY deep pockets. Look at whats happening in Japan now and that is just for ONE game! I dont trust any of these blogs that post biased anti any company articles just to get HITS. I stopped reading arstechnica due to their anti 360 bias

[JD_Shadow]

The main problem behind the Japan thing is exactly what you said, though: It's only one game, and they have seen sudden spikes from certain games over there before. It's never been the long term successes that they do need over there before they can even BEGIN to compete with the PS3 and Wii over there. You're not seeing the 360 continue on that "shocking" trend this week as compared to last week.

And..Ars Technica has an anti-360 bias?

[red5ive]

wow, is this really necessary?!

[jerethdagryphon]

rigbayne

you mean you were told to purchase batarypacks and a router was any of that relevent to oyur problem

[DFresh]

This what happens when you don't plan for the long run.
Microsoft is just trying to live off of the fame Sony created w/ GTA, DMC, Final Fantasy, etc.
Blu-ray is gonna be the main format next year.
Meaning no more DVDs only Blu-ray.
360 will still use DVDs for games I'm sure but for movies they are screwed.
Games library is just getting bigger and better w/ Sony every year.
Online is dramatically improving everyday.
Sony is going all out.
Sony has Leipzig all to themselves and right there they will take the whole European Video game market.
Sony has the RPGs to keep the Japanese gamers happy and has the hits to keep the U.S on lock down.
By next year after Gears of War 2 dies down 360 will be officially dead or in the process of fully discontinuing.

[redsnake]

the console war is an global thing people only talk about npd numbers and stuff but that is just north america. North America should be the 360 home since sony and nintendo are really beating them thorughly and constantly in europe and Japan. And now So far this year Sony is overall outselling the 360 in North America this is not good for Microsoft my poor 360 gonna continue picking up dust. and btw my ps3 actualy has a disk read error and my 360 has only broke . but im juz unlucky like that

[33Pct_FailRate]

I agree. 360 is getting crushed worldwide like a bug by the PS3 every month, and that's what matters. NPD doesn't matter that much, but it's aggravating that even in its own country, people don't buy 360 that much...

[Wotbot]

would not be with out the 360 this gen. So far for me the 360 is the console of choice and I have a PS3.

If I had to choose one console this gen, then it's the 360. I am sick of the slow loading of the ps3, slow updating and the installing of games. But it is an alright blu-ray player.

[33Pct_FailRate]

360 is a last gen console, it has nothing of a next gen console. No wifi, no HD player, no hard drive on arcade, nothing except RROD and a 33% failure rate

Next gen is PS3 or nothing for me.

[asyouburn]

nothing on the ps3 loads as slow as a 360 on a truck to Mesquite. . .

[trovon]

Microsoft and Sony have both made mistakes in the past, but Sony has the brand name behind them that people recognize for video gaming. It seems as though Microsoft's plan should be to just chip away at the competition enough to make consumers think twice about purchasing a PS3. This article makes no sense because Sony isn't going to just knock out the 360 for good. Microsoft has way too much money at thier disposal. I don't understand why people would want Sony to win a console battle because then, Sony WILL slow down on the innovation. Then, at the end of the article, the author says that he doesn't know any solutions, just problems...typical. The only reason that Sony is giving consumers more for thier money is because they have too. The competition from the two other consoles is stiff, and we as gamers benefit from this console war.

[DaTruth]

To shut the mouth of every Xbox fanboy who said PS3 was dead. It's the only reason and had they not acted like total jack a$$e$, nobody would care which console was winning. I mean it started before the PS3 was even on the market.

[33Pct_FailRate]

Yet another failure for Micro$oft in a long long list :

Zune, Yahoo bid, Xbox 1, HD DVD, RROD, 360 death, Vista, Windows Millenium...

The Failure Corporation.

[project76dodo]

GEARS OF WAR 3 PS3 2010

[NanoGeekTech]

Great website...

I have been saying the same thing....for a minute..its logical and make sense..

Question: "How should Microsoft fix these issues? That's a huge question, and it can be argued for days. Whatever your preferred answer, these problems are real, getting worse, and starting to show up in the sales numbers"

Answer: Xbox 720 fall 2009

[jerethdagryphon]

i think that your find i said about the same thing

mid next year we will hear a 720 anouncment

[jmcorp]

this site is so lousy and are obviously looking for hits, throw in a few logical points here and there, then over-flow the rest of the article with bias, and flame baite...to spur on the fanboy wars...how pathetic.

"Xbox 360 has no soul"

HAHAHA
I beg to differ.

laughable stuff.

[FFXI101]

First of all, myself go through 4 of them(one of them is elite) I thought the elite would be save and I won't have to worry about the RROD or ready to enjoy my time to play video game only to find out that my system just died on me and I'll have to wait for few weeks to get it back. But it did, not with RROD but with different problem(HD port isn't working).

Second, people keep saying that 360 has more game. sure but that was years ago. Now PS3 has same amount of games coming out and with even better exclusive games(not just time exclusive, but on PS3 only) and what does 360 have? all you guys keep saying is Halo, or Gears. Can't you bring up something new?

Third, you can say all you want about how Xbox live is better, I just don't see it. I had 360s so I know how live works, to me PSN isn't better or worse than live. It's pretty much the same but it is "FREE"( and I don't have to pay moeny or buy 800points just to get a new gamer tag), and now we got more features than on the 360 live.

I mean how many things we can do with our PS3 that you can't with your 360?(Web browser, watch blue-ray movies, free to play online with PSN, upload your video to youtube, "PURCHASE" the movie and tv shows, Able to upgrade hard drive with cheap price and bigger HD, HOME..etc.) The fact is that PS3 is a better system than 360 on every aspect.

Last but not least, PS3 is build to last, not to break.(If you want to argue about the PS2, go live in the past) It'll be here 5, 6 years later and still going strong. Where would 360 be??

P.S. Whoever keep saying that Sony fans are brainwashed, please listen to yourself first before you make that comment. Cause you sound like retarded.

[Stickguy259]

I'm looking forward to:

Fable 2

GoW 2

Left 4 Dead

The GTA DLC

Castle Crashers

Fallout 3

Halo Wars

Banjo & Kazooie

Viva Pinata

Mercenaries 3

To name the ones I can think of. I'm perfectly happy with my Xbox 360, and I don't care how well it sells. As long as I still get great games, I'm happy :)

[Dyingduck]

"As long as I still get great games, I'm happy :)"

Prepare to be disappointed.

[Stickguy259]

Those games will last me till the end of the year, and into next year. I can also look forward to non exclusives.

Far Cry 2 and Resident Evil 5 ring a bell. I don't understand why I should prepare to be dissappointed... what do PS3 fans have to look forwards to? I'm not being a jerk, I actually want to know. Little Big Planet looks awesome, and Resistance 2 does as well. I haven't been keeping up on the PS3's news, so I honestly don't know.

[Dyingduck]

"I haven't been keeping up on the PS3's news, so I honestly don't know."

That's why.

[Stickguy259]

Why should I prepare to be dissapointed? I just don't see it.

And I found out about Killzone and God of War 3... I can't think of anything else...

[mgbass13]

Nice job sticking up for 360 without coming off like an idiot fanboy. Some people in here could learn from you. I'm personally a Sony guy, but I respect your position.

[rockleex]

Just land a knockout punch to the 360 in Japan and Sony will be secure this generation.

Each time the 360 gets a short boost in Japan, it will be seen more as an option. The last thing Sony needs is for Japanese to see 360 as an option.

Sony is really being too laid back in Japan. The only reason Sony will win this generation is because 100 million gamers don't see 360 as an option. They're waiting solely for the PS3's price to drop.

But if 360 keeps gaining ground this generation, then Sony won't have time to lay back next generation. Every move will be decisive next generation.

Sony better stop playing around and just land that knockout punch to the 360.

[IVYvsTAKI]

...but I gotta go with what I know.

Between my roommates and myself we've got the 360, Wii, and PS2 and PSP. No PS3 yet, but that's because I'm waiting for the right time to buy one where I won't be pissed I didn't wait. That time is coming next month: the price drops and there's a whole slew of games, now including MGS4, that I really wanna play. The DualShock3 controller is available, so now is the time for me to finally get my PS3. My roomies have gone through 3 or 4 360s, which I find preposterous. I'll be damned if I buy something that breaks on me that many times. Don't get me wrong, I play the 360, I loved Gears, can't wait for Gears2... but I really can't see myself shelling out money for that console. Our Wii collects dust now, I was playing the hell outta Mario Kart and Dr. Mario Online, but I've slowed down on those these days. I still play my PS2, in fact I play that and the PSP more than any of the other consoles I have at my disposal. And I'll tell you what- I've never had ANY problems at all with my PSs. I can leave the PS2 on for over a day straight (I have a couple time over the years), and it still works like it's supposed to. It's amazing! So based solely on the hardware, I can't wait to see what the PS3 has to offer. If the PS2 is any indication, I'll be playing my PS3 for many years to come, without having to replace it every couple months because it broke.

This may not have addressed the article up for discussion, but I feel it's relevant. I've been a fan of Sony's systems since the old PS, and now they're about to get more of my money. And I don't mind it one bit.

PS ftw...

[JokerSGS]

Honestly besides Gears of War 2 what does the 360 have? Fable is a joke and Too Human hasn't gotten the greatest feedback.

[Fatmanp]

This article fails when it says the mainstream can put up with a difunctional online system and R2 and KZ2 have better GFX, multiplayer and scale than Gears 2. Home will make you jump through hoops and have no impact on the poor standard of social netowrking via games.

[sanamsingh49]

Multiplayer-

Resistance 2: 8 player co-op campaign online and massive 60 player
competitive matches.

Killzone 2: 32 players online, full clan support, and tons of classes.

Gears of War 2: 5 on 5 matches. That's it for a so called "AAA" title.

Graphics-

There is no point in comparing the jaw-dropping Killzone 2 to Gears of War 1.5

[GiantEnemyCrab]

@25.1: You seem to know nothing about Gears 2 if all you say is 5 vs 5. Gears 2 will have clan support and will with modes like Horde it will be more than 5 vs 5. Not to mention it has a more compelling and PROVEN online MP than both Resistance and Killzone.

More players doesn't mean a better game.

[jerethdagryphon]

that was funny

ill show you

x360 460 games about half scored 60and below and most the 90% are MULTIPLATFORM so they can be discounted

360 has 8 main games everything else is either multiplatform or drivel

halo3
forrza2
dead rising
ace 6
gears
random jrpgsx3

i really cant think of anything else to give 360

ps3
drakes aka uncharted
mgs4
ractod
resistance

and my brains so fried of listening to that drivel i cant think of more for ps3
maybe ill sit down with a nice blueray film and watch it

heh shelves of hddvd.... toshiba stoped production in march moron...

[joeynox]

fanboys need to take a back seat.Yes MS has made mistakes with the 360 but so has sony with the ps3.MS rushed the 360 out to beat the ps3 and Sony included bluray in the ps3 not to make it a next gen drive but to get its format out in the open and the best way for the mto win the format war was to include it in the ps3 which led to production delays and the price of the "game console" to be $600 at launch. MS and the xbox isnt dying anytime soon and with sales like its been having I dont see it crapping out .How can people say that its dying when the 360 sales are within 30k a month of the ps3's. Also the 360 is being sold as a game console when the ps3 is being sold as a bluray /game console and in the beginning alot of sales were bluray driven. I own both systems and the systems are not going to make this gen its the games and as of today both systems are doing a good job of that but the 360 with its lead has done a better job.

The only time the ps3 actually gave the 360 a beatdown was the month of mgs4 and that was expected. As for future lineups they are both the same but each console has 5 or 6 exclusives. Each exclusives matches up well with each other . Saying the 360 has nothing but gears in the future is a joke because what can you say the ps3 has? LBP? R2? KZ2?

Its kinda pathetic how people actually get vicious on n4g about the 360 and how people have to scour the net trying to come up with blogs and sites of negative MS or 360 stuff.

[DaTruth]

So wait, blu-ray in the console is a bad thing... So I guess 1080p is a bad thing too. HDMI was put in just to push their format and I guess wi-fi was put in to push their format. Sounds to me like they were trying to make the most advanced console... Mission accomplished (not the George Bush way). I didn't know CD and DVD were sony's formats when they went to the cutting edge on their other consoles.

LOL at you saying XBOX won't crap out anytime soon.(The Irony!!!)

[GuardianLegend]

Where you can almost trip over an PS3 exclusive (OOps! excuse me, was 'that' exclusive too)?

"In Best Buy, I've seen tons & mountains of HDDVD's in abundance, and Blu-Ray is in bargain bin." = Best Buy is trying to get rid of their worthless dvds WHILE they still can, at the same time, trying to promote their 'newly assigned format' to customers at a decent price.

You are such a wet snatch :~C

[trancefreak]

This was a great article i couldn't of typed it up better myself.

[mirroredderorrim]

I will catch some slack for this. But if anyone has been following Microsofts business tactics and actually own stock, and understand how things run, you'd have no problem agreeing with the fact that Microsoft tried to bring the same tactics that won them the domination of the OS market, into the game industry. It does not work that way.

When you tread into a new area, if you like to survive, you will make sure your surroundings are to your advantage. My point is, they didn't bring a new head into this. They brought the same old buyout everyone, copy everything-mentality, that is starting to grow stale.

Why do you think a company like Google has stocks worth over 400 a share, while Microsoft is only worth around 25-27 a share.

It's because people believe in Google more than Microsoft. I should look into that more, though. I don't even know if Google has split their stocks or anything. But it should be a good read, just to find out.
Microsoft is merely trying to play catchup with everything they got their hands into.
Search, Gaming, Mediaplayers, OS. Linux/OSX are chipping away at Mirosofts market share, with everyday that Vista is out.

There are even more computer hardware companies releasing Linux on their platforms, everyday.
I'd go as far as to say if Windows 7 does not do the job, Microsoft will lose that OS domination and go the way that AOL did.

Bill Gates leaving should tell you something as well. Take it how ever you want. He seems like a man who is satisfied with his wealth, and I think Philanthropy is the best thing he has done, did since he founded M.S.

[KrimsonKody]

That's funny XD
But your right, PS3 exclusives are starting to become a bit overwhelming. Everytime I turn around, there's another great-looking game coming out only on PS3.

@Stickboy
'What is there to look forward to on the PS3? 2 words: (SIGH, then swills wine)...

Play. Beyond.

The. Future.

Pointblank.

Period.

GOTCHA! see, now if your an xbot and still reading, just get a damn PS3 already! Geez,..

[redsymphony]

I can just hear all the sony haters on here lol take the left hook like a man the uppercut is coming just now lol

[mgbass13]

360 is not dead...probably should be, but definitely is not. Why? Because Microsoft capitalized on the younger market segment this gen. All the kiddies that grew up on Halo are MS customers for life. They are building a fanbase little by little.

As for everyone who says "I have both, my PS3 is collecting dust" - this is probably due to the fact that you had a 360 for quite some time before PS3 dropped. You had plenty of time to bond with it before Sony got off to their slow start. Everyone only has so much time to play, so it is no surprise you default to your 360, as it is more familiar to you. I only wish these same people could've experienced first hand how far the PS3 has come since 06-07. It's sleek, quiet, feature packed, and PSN has been absolutley trouble-free for me, and I'm on every night. If you're still talking about how PSN is garbage you're just spewing hype from 2 years ago that is no longer true.

Oh yeah, and 33% failure rate is bullsh!t. I know close to 20 people with 360s and more than 2/3 have gotten ringed. Inexcusable. I still play 360 at alot of my friends' houses, and it's got some bada$$ stuff on it, but to keep prolonging all the anti-Sony hype is doing a great disservice to a great system and one of the godfathers of gaming. Without Playstation, Xbox wouldn't even exist. You can hate Sony all you want, but this much is true, they blew the doors open for everybody.

[SpartanZero]

What are you kidding this is old news, Ps3 is still in 3rd place. Come on ps3 still trying to catch up.

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

XBox has some good games coming out, exclusive mind you: Left 4 Dead, Fables, Braid, Champions Online and Gears. Don't write them off as quickly as the media did the Playstation 3. I remember the EGM magazine that had tomatoes thrown at the PS3, but don't pour marinara on the Xbox. The Playstation shouldn't count its chickens yet. We are still waiting on Life with Playstation and HOME.

This isn't a race...it's a marathon. Both consoles will do fine, and we will have XBox 720s and PS4s to look forward to. But I'm happy to see some competition between these companies.

[smurfie4]

The gap is starting to close with the ps3 outselling the 360 worldwide consistently. Its only a matter of when, not will.

[FFXI101]

MAG, inFamous, Agency, Afrika, GOW3, KillZone2, and these just some of the best games that's coming out next year.

[TheColbertinator]

Wow.A load of crap happened here.Too many Wall-o-texts