It took 6 years but I finally gave in and purchased a xbox 360, and all it took was a xbox live app on my Windows Phone 7. I recently dumped android for WP7 and finally realize what the “new” Microsoft is all about; it’s all about eco-system and integration and they just get it. A little off topic but that is essentially what makes the xbox so great, because it definitely isn’t the hardware.

User Interface Immersion

My system of preference has always been theps3, it’s a no bs system. Its advertised as a multimedia power house and it is just that. It plays games and it does it well, it’s also the best blu-ray player out there. But there is something it fails at. The eco-system I mentioned before is not there, it does everything well just not all at the same time. Games feel separate from messaging your friends or even listening to music or watching Netflix. While each feature is great, using them feels like a completely different experience.

Windows Phone 7 Live Application

As soon as you turn on the 360 you’re in a world. A world where every application whether it be 1st or 3rd party blends into the grand scheme of things, My favorite being the facebook and twitter app; I can easily access those sites on my phone or computer but the eye candy of the xbox version is just welcoming, that’s due to the fact that opening those application doesn’t pull you out of the xbox experience, everything is molded into the xbox experience not the other way around.

xbox in-game ui

It doesn’t end there, consistency is key and this also applies in-game. While in game pressing the xbox button opens a miniature menu giving you quick access to useful features. Whereas the ps3 opens the entire XMB (Cross Media Bar) , ultimately stealing RAM and creating a slow clunky menu even for the simplest of tasks

Cross Media Bar

Controller

There are two key aspects of a “gaming” console, I just covered a portion of the visual now the physical.

The controller is usually a controversial topic since it’s tangible and you can physically compare them. Everyone has their own preferences and some think theirs is the best. Here’s my brief opinion on the matter.

360

The 360′s controller feels like a one trick pony, games that require heavy use of triggers and not much else play very well; any other genre it’s a hit or miss. For example playing call of duty or halo feels very natural, but switching to something like Ninja Gaiden feels clunky and frustrating. This is due to the design of the analogues and triggers which don’t translate well into every genre.

Ps3

I can’t praise the dualshock 3 enough, it’s design feels similar to the dual shock 2 but it’s definitely different. What makes it so great are it’s ergonomics, the size and location of the analogous and the distance between them makes the controller a multitasking beast. There is no withdrawal while switching from games, no restrictive triggers and no replacing batteries! I know, the last one was a cheap shot but I prefer the DS3 simply because I like to play all types of games and the 360′s controller just doesn’t feel natural for that purpose, it’s good at what it does and that’s really about it.

It’s All About The Games

These two devices are advertised as “Gaming” Consoles and at the end that’s how they should be judged. The UI is important to navigate, the controller is essential to play but the games are what defines the consoles.

Ps3/360 games

At launch the gaming library for both consoles were lacking but this late into the cycle there is a clear winner. I love the 360 for it’s take on gaming, it’s a simple idea “sit down, insert disk, play”. The 360 uses DVDs which has constraints on space but much greater reading speeds, games load faster hence you have instant satisfaction after inserting a disk. There is also communication while gaming, my friends are a click away and it’s more of a “social” experience, something gaming should be! Yet to me there is something missing, like most players I enjoy shooters on the 360 and that is where It gets a little tricky. While it launched strong the 360 like it’s controller has become a one trick pony, Microsoft is no longer launching genre defining games, it is sequel after sequel, you stick to 360 because it offers a library worth playing but this library hasn’t changed all that much. Halo is still halo, Gears is still Gears, hell Fable is still Fable.

Ps3 on the other hand is still a console worth keeping, there is great potential for it’s future and Sony constantly pushes the Gaming! While the Ui is lacking, its not the reason I use the console because it becomes secondary nature while playing games. PS3 is the clear winner because it has games, lots of them. It has exclusive top rated games for every genre, and they aren’t afraid to change either. There is always something to look forward to, whether it is Uncharted, Kill Zone, inFamous, God of War, Ratchet and Clank, Resistance…etc; Sony continues to push the envelope with its first party developers. While just counting games is important it is also important to have a consistent experience while playing the games, and that is where the ps3 shines even more. The Dual Shock 3 feels comfortable playing every genre of gaming,  when I switch from Battlefield 3 to Assassins Creed, it’s still the same experience because there is no restrictive feeling. This is just a small glimpse the ps3s capabilities, and it’s definitely not over yet.

Diving In Conclusion

I’ve said harsh words about both consoles, both have key strengths and weaknesses. Whether you choose the 360 or PS3, you will definitely have fun, but for some one is better than the other. If you want a completely social experience and you prefer specific 360s titles than that is your clear choice. On the other hand if you want a console where you can play all types of genres, and enjoy its multimedia capabilities the Ps3 is for you.