Slashdot Mirror
PS3 and Wii — Head To Head
1up has a piece looking at the Wii vs. the PS3, running down the particulars on graphical power, online capabilities, launch titles, and control scheme. For the most part, they're siding with the PS3: "Traditionally, Nintendo's never been much for online gaming (the GameCube had two online games&ever), but Wii appears poised to finally bring Mario and Co. into the multiplayer arena. Wii will use a modified version of the DS' Wi-Fi Connection software to facilitate online matchmaking. (Most likely, you'll only be able to play against players who give you 'friend codes' first, just like with the DS.) Like the PS3, the Wii will offer online gaming free of charge."
Here's the kicker:
Um, ok.
* On my part, anyway
** The amperstand after "games" is really there. It's not an HTML glitch.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
I don't have a single friend code in my DS and still can play online against other people. You don't see their codes, but you don't need them to play online. They're only useful if you want to play against specific people.
Maybe the author should do some research instead of pulling "facts" out of thin air.
I like how the writer assumes that friend codes will be involved, and completely missed the whole concept of them. You can play anyone in most games without a friend code, but you'd have to settle for random matchmaking. Animal Crossing is the only game I can think of off the top of my head that required a friend code.
And I especially like how he says Nintendo is entering the world of multiplayer gaming. First, they've had the WiFi Connection running for more than a year. Second, just because they haven't participated much in online multiplayer gaming, he ignores all of their other great multiplayer and party games. The way I see it, online games are second fiddle to offline multiplayer. I'd rather be together with my friends, but if that can't happen, we resort to using the internet to play together.
It's like sex, except I'm having it!
Nope. All it really says is: "We (the author(s)) are REALLY, REALLY, REALLY excited about the PS3. Here's some boilerplate stuff about the Wii. See how the PS3 is cool?"
I'm glad they're excited, but they should probably be more upfront about it rather than pretending to have journalistic objectivity. A better solution might be to pit a couple different authors (with two different opinions) against each other. It would make for a more interesting read, at least.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
Imagine the outcry there'll be when parents discover little billy has been called a 'flaming cocktard' by some high-school kid.
This is exactly why I will not buy any of these new consoles. I can get called a "flaming cocktard" for free on Slashdot.
Avoid Missing Ball for High Score
That's strange, I remember playing Mario Kart in multiplayer mode, with friends, in the same living room. Oh, and I had Super-Smash-Brothers Melee too, multiplayer, same living room.
Heck, Nintendo has been making multiplayer games decades ago with Mario Bros.
Funny... that's not what I heard...After 3 days without programming, life becomes meaningless
- The Tao of Programming
Apples: Tart, high acidity, the skin is relatively non-edible, the #1 fruit for breakfast juice.
;)
Oranges: Tart, high acidity, the skin is relatively non-edible, the #1 fruit for breakfast juice.
WINNER: Apples - Great in pie!
OOPS... did I forget to proofread?
You have to keep in mind that, as one other Slashdotter just said, 1up is comparing apples and oranges.
...And what's this about "extra functionality?" The PS3 plays PS2 and PS1 games?
The PS3 takes the cake with graphics because that was their goal. The best graphics hardware was not Nintendo's goal.
The Wii takes the cake with controls because that's what Nintendo's goal was... Sony instead chose to remain somewhat conservative by continuing to use its tried-and-true PSX controller layout.
So of course each one is going to win in each of its given categories, because it's the opposite of what the other company wanted to do with their respective console.
NEWS FLASH: The Wii is capable of playing games from NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, TurboGrafix, Genesis, and probably more...
And the PS3 can play Blu-Ray movies? Woop-dee freakin' doo. I don't know about everybody else, but I'm going to buy a gaming console to play games. If I want to watch movies, I'll buy a movie player.
/* No Comment */
I think your title hits something that the article didn't really mention: The difference between technical superiority and an actual fun system. Very very rarely is the system with the highest "stats" the winner in any console race.
I present to you:
* Nintendo DS vs. PSP - PSP processor is faster, the screen is a higher resolution, it has more function, yet bombed compared to the DS.
* Original Xbox/GC vs. PS2 - Both the original Xbox and gamecube had better graphical power than the PS2 and yet the PS2 sold a ton more units and games.
* N64 vs. PS - Granted what made the PS the winner in this case was using an optical drive for media, but the power of the N64 was higher than the PS1.
* Nintendo Gameboy vs. Sega Gamegear - I remember having a Gamegear. It was in color and had better graphics than the gameboy of the time. Yet it still died and the gameboy lived on.
It really is the games. For what I've been seeing on the PS3, everything looks done. Either I could get it on the PC/360 or it looks remarkably similar to a dozen other games I've played in the past. It's difficult to find something really exciting about the system, but the Wii seems to have that excitement. It may not look as good, but as Gabe on penny-arcade spoke about Zelda: "You'll never even think about the graphics while you're playing it".
That's what I'm hoping Nintendo can pull off with the Wii.
Yeah. I had my suspicions when I read the summary on Slashdot, where it said that the DS only allowed you to play online with people who's friend codes you had. I guess I was just hallucinating when I was playing Mario Kart and Metroid with completely random strangers. Anything that incorrect is bound to be backed up by further nonsense.