Local Retailers Biased Against PlayStation?
by John Landis on November 17, 2008 at 1:13 am
Having not ever been an owner of a PS3 or PSP, I wasn’t aware of the bias that retailers are showing towards the “black” console. One of the guys that I work with is a huge PlayStation fan. Not a fanboy, mind you, but a normal person who happens to like the PS3 over the 360.
I’ve heard him talk about it before, but I’ve always passed it off as simple bad customer service or people just being overly hyped about a 360 game over the PlayStation ones, but after “Emergence Day 2″, I was shocked and appalled at the level of anti-PS3 sentiment he had to deal with.
It all started with him telling me that every time he went to his local game store, a small “mom and pop” type store where he has shopped for quite a while, they constantly bugged him to show up to the midnight release of Gears of War 2. On every visit, it seemed, he had to remind the shop owner that he did not have a 360 and had no intention of buying one.
I chalked this up to the store owner, a gamer himself, just being hyped about the release of the game. Gears of War 2 is a huge title, after all. After delving into it some more over several days of conversation, I soon learned that it was much more heinous than just a simple overzealous game store proprietor.
My friend went out to purchase Resistance 2 at a huge retail chain (which shall remain unnamed), and because the games are locked behind a glass case, he had to ask a sales associate for assistance. He asked the clerk if he could purchase a game, and the clerk dutifully took out his keys and opened the 360 section and grabbed up a copy of Gears 2. Quite confused, my friend asked the guy what he was doing to which the clerk replied “You want Gears, right? That’s what everyone else is getting.”
My friend said no, he doesn’t want Gears and that he didn’t even own a 360 — he was a PS3 gamer. The clerk looked at him like he was crazy, unsure of what to do next. He then told the clerk what games he wanted (I believe it was Resistance 2 and the PSP version of EndWar), and the clerk just looked even more aghast. He did get the games he was after, but the treatment he received was disturbing to say the least.
Talking further with my friend, he said that this sort of thing happens all the time. He told me that he’s never able to talk to sales people familiar with the PS3 as everyone working in all the local stores are 360 gamers and don’t know anything about the PS3. It has even gone so far that he stopped shopping at the local store he frequented because they never got Sony games in on time, unlike their instantly up-to-date 360 library. Now he only buys used movies there, and refuses to purchase games from the small local game shop.
If it was just that small local game store, I’d just chalk it up to that particular owner’s own gaming preferences affecting his business, but my friend says he has to deal with it all the time at pretty much all the gaming and retail stores that sell games that he goes to. Hell, this is Lancaster, PA, we’re talking about, so maybe there is some sort of Amish influence against the more technologically advanced system in favor of the more tolerable systems. I don’t know.
The entire thing was quite a learning experience and has enlightened me to exactly why some PS3 fanboys are so rabid in their devotion to their system of choice. They have to be to put up with all the negative stereotypes surrounding the system and its owners, as well as the horrible treatment people trying to purchase the system receive from retailers.
It’s a time for change, not just here where I am in America, but all over the world. It’s time to end the hate. The White systems of the Wii and the 360 need to accept their once powerful but now downtrodden Black brother in the console world. We need to reach out to each other in peace and unity and proclaim to the game developers “Yes we can!”
We CAN have games come out on multiple systems without arguing over two lousy frames per second. We CAN rationally discuss our differing opinions on games without degenerating into crying, rabid fanboys. We CAN live in a world with Gears of War 2 and Resistance 2 together on the same shelf without getting into fist fights over which is better.
Yes. We. Can.
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76 Comments » |
on November 17, 2008 1:36 am
haha that’s funny you mention the black console thing. Cuz, I forgot what game it was, but there is coming out this week that’s multi plat and we’re getting the ps3 version last me (a SONY supporter, not fanboy)and my friend, another SONY fan said “Oh I see how it is the BLACK console gets it last huh?”
haha
But yeah I get alot of flack myself for preferring ps3 over 360, and it sucks cuz I don’t bad mouth 360 or anything like that.
on November 17, 2008 2:02 am
I don’t know about other places but where I am, the GameStop I go to don’t like or respect the PS3. At all.
on November 17, 2008 2:17 am
@AMC that seems to be the running theme at all sorts of Gamestops throughout the country.
on November 17, 2008 2:18 am
In my psychologically professional opinion that costs $10,000 an hour, I think these retailers are only able to advise people based on what they know and that just happens to be the 360. I personally look funny at anyone who buys games on any console instead of the PC.
on November 17, 2008 2:27 am
lmao@ the “yes we can” thing.
And about the whole thing with the PS3 ignorance needing to be squashed: AMEN!!
on November 17, 2008 2:37 am
Cookigaki does not work in retail, but Cookigaki would recommend Xbox 360 to people over PS3. PS3 is nice and makes great indoor sunglasses if two are put together with duct tape, but 360 has more ninja and suckle chest.
on November 17, 2008 2:49 am
@ Tomonoatmeal Cokigaki… The 360 can also be put in use specially after it gets the famous RROD.. you can put it in use as a paper wight… what the benefit of owning a console that goes to death every time I stay playing for a long time when a new game like gaers 2 gets released…
on November 17, 2008 2:54 am
Cookigaki thinks you crazy. Cookigaki gets RROD and gets brand new 360 every year from Microsoft. Cookigaki would much rather play good games on new system each year than still have working launch system and nothing to do with it but watch overpriced movies. That is all Cookigaki’s PS3 does these days.
on November 17, 2008 3:36 am
i work in retail, i own both systems, but i have preferences depending on how they are being used, and i ask my customers that… entertainment purposes, or strictly gaming?? come on, lets be honest now… the 360 so far, has better quality games on it than the PS3..even multi plat games are usually better on the 360..granted, that gap is narrowing as we go forward..but note, i said usually..blu ray is a big bonus, but is still having a hard time gaining traction to the mass market.. we are NOT the mass market! lol to the person who threw out the RROD, let me tell you that i have 2 360’s and 1 PS3… i own Res. 2, MGS4, MLB 08, and LittleBigPlanet… every other game i buy is on the 360.. with that in mind, i have had to take my PS3 back to Best buy TWICE… once because the hard drive failed, second time because the fans were louder than my 360.. i took my elite in once because i actually dropped it..in my store i have a nice mix of pc, xbox, and ps3 gamers.. we arent biased at all… i try to figure out the main purpose of the unit.. some people only get the ps3 for blu ray.. wii is great for families with young kids..thats how i make my recommendations…it only helps that i own 2 of the 3 systems that i can show customers the benefits, not sell them something i love..thats not a good business practice
on November 17, 2008 3:40 am
Do you see any kickbacks on those sales?
on November 17, 2008 4:05 am
My experience here in Europe is that most consumers have a blind hatred towards the 360 merely because it is MicroSoft’s console and are blindly going for the PS3 as a result.
Which has nothing to do with any reliability or what games are where, but just becaue they dislike MicroSoft from when they had constant problems with Windows 95 and so forth.
It would be a breath of fresh air to see both sides get equal praise and complaint.
In stores I have never encountered any clerks that were obviouly biased, most just let me make my purchase and let the customer be right.
on November 17, 2008 4:12 am
I found it dissapointing how little videogame stores advertise PS3 releases.
I live in England and not far from my work is a Gamestation and a Game store. During the build up to and on the release day of Littlebigplanet there was ZERO advertising in the windows or in store; sure the game was in the new game section, but there was no advertising whatsoever.
The same happened for the release of MGS4, however, as soon as Fable 2 and Gears 2 were getting close to release there were posters and cardboard cutouts all over the place all the way up to and after the release.
It’s sad to see how much of a bias there is.
on November 17, 2008 4:22 am
Where the fuck do you live man?? fucking boonie land? Oh wait that’s right, u are in America the worlds ignorance capital!! Whatta fucking joke this article is! Anyone who gets flak for liking the PS3 over 3fixme, should smack the person they are getting it from. I swear to GOD, only in America will someone give you shit for liking a better product. I swear, if the PS3 was an American product and the 3fixme from anywhere else, the 3fixme would not even be selling. It makes me sick that people get fooled, and screw themselves, and let themselves be cheated by an inferior product, they just lie there and take it. Why do u think in europe we think it’s a peice of shit (which it is) with a fucking 33% failure rate, if this was a european product it would have never even been able to hit the market. Only in the UK do they like it, that’s only because of their inferiority complex and hidden fantasy of being like America. Be it as it may, it sounds to me like the retailers where this article was written are sadly and hopelessly ignorant, i pray I never have to shop there!!
on November 17, 2008 4:23 am
RRoD is not a prob with an Elite. And about the ‘black’ console thing. Both my ps3 and xbox elite are black.
Its not even a problem with the console. If Sony would spend more time creating or looking for new IP they wouldn’t be in the mess they are in today. Look at the PS2 and PS1, they pretty much dominated video games when they were out.
Gamers flock to the system with the most awesomeness in games.
on November 17, 2008 4:25 am
Shoot I’m looking for a job right now, give me a job at a Bestbuy,Circuit City,Toys R Us etc etc etc… I will help the customer choose a good console for them and not be biased or at least try not to be. I am a PS3 supporter but I can easily point out each systems positives and negatives, then let the customer make their choice.
In the End I think the PS3 has the advantage but I would leave that up to the customer once I gave them all the information. Ohh and anyone who says the PS3 has no good games that is a matter of opinion and I personally think the PS3 has a better library of games since they have a more diverse genre based library, but that is just my opinion.
on November 17, 2008 4:31 am
Ohh and I forgot to mention. Recently I clicked on a link from N4G.com and it linked to a Sony Retail incentive program, where I guess if you worked in a Retail Electronic Store and promoted Sony products you could get points or somehow redeem something for Sony Products. I don’t know if many know about these kinds of programs but if Sony has a program like this I wouldn’t doubt Microsoft does too. Maybe Microsoft offers better rewards to those loyal retail workers. Just thought I would mention it.
on November 17, 2008 4:43 am
Hey –> Dathcha: In Europe it is not a blind hatred toward the 360. A hatred maybe, but blind?? Certainly not!! In Europe you will find most gamers are far more intelligent and knowlegable than their American counterparts. Our hatred for the 360 is partly microsoft, yes. You see we hate monopolisation, we dont want everything from any one source, the way microsft work we can’t stand!! but this is not even the main reason we hate the 360 so much. The REAL reason is cuz it is fucking crap!! They are trying to set some kind of ‘fake’ standard for gaming, always lying about their products, always making shite games and proclaiming them as the greatest ever!! WTF do they know about gaming, what history do they have?? The answer: NONE!! They lied about their console, they lied about their games!! The reason why GTAIV was so shite was because of the xbox, that was plain for ALL to see. And most importantly, we hate the xbox cuz it dont do shit. And it’s reliability has got the be the WORST ever!! The fucking mega drive, sega saturn PS1 and 2 were FAR better on reliability. Man I’ve still got a 1st generation PS2, it’s over 10 fucking years old and still works. Can u say that about a 360? Also where is the new technology?? HD-DVD?? fuck off, they had a bloody DVD drive. NO wifi – no new processor, no NOTHING!! Yr bloody controllers have AA batteries in them, you cannot recharge at will.The 360 has nothing new, it’s just a bloody upgrage on the PS2. U wanna go on and on about LIVE?? Microsoft ALREADY have an online service, sure it’s good but I should not have to fucking pay for it!! U guys dont even have a browser, you cannot watch DIVX, you cannot copy music to yr HD! What’s the point? Yeah sure it has more games, but does it have more quality games?? The answer is NO!! Look at multiplatform games, take GTAIV for example, on what console does it play and look better on? Everyone knows: the PS3, I mean for god sakes the Houser brothers even came out and said it. If you want to look at pure exclusives for each console, there is absolutely no doubt which has the better games. Even just GOWIII is enough to blow ANYTHING out of the water!! The PS3 represents the future, the 360 represents failure and no innovation. THAT’s why we Europeans prefer the PS3, its not a question about being biased or being so called ‘fanboys’, it’s a question of quality for us, ALWAYS has been always will be!!
on November 17, 2008 5:40 am
when i bought my ps3 about two years ago i was kinda torn between the 360 and the ps3 i had talked to my local gamestop and the sales person there really sold me on the ps3 and it was one o fthe best choices for gaming i have every made. you really have to look at no matter what microsoft fanboys and cronnies say look at developers are starting to use the ps3 as the lead platform for games everybody has seen the best of the 360 but not even close to the ps3. dont get discuraged because those of us the own the ps3 no the truth and that is all there is. 360 fans a getting pissed because sony is starting starting to produce and getting games produced that is looking better than the 360 will never be able to come close on
on November 17, 2008 5:44 am
@ wolf
nah MS does have retail program but since there money hungry still they make u pay for shipping while Sony pays for the shipping
@ AMC
u need to fcking shut up man MS HAS to HAS to buy off PS3 exclusives cause they cant make anything INNOVATIVE or GOOD and A LOT of places are Biased mutha fckers.
on November 17, 2008 6:08 am
Thats a really good article but thinking of looking at the 360 could we be looking past something which is staring us in the face all this time. This might sound very conterversal but thinking 360 = White and PS3 = Black could a element of racism over simple colour contribute with Microsoft being american and having bullying tactics used by the windows over macs and linux based systems :/
on November 17, 2008 6:51 am
john is the biggest idiot i have ever seen on any site ever,
we 360 owners cannot copy music to our hard drives?
i have been using divx to watch heroes, lost etc on my 360 from my pc for years now !!
i think we invented that feature back in xbox 1
as well as your online features
wireless controller
hard drive
downloadable games
i prefer gta 4 on 360, better controls, graphics , loading etc (no install)
INNOVATION ??
the ps3 is a more expensive copy and paste from the 360
with wirless – which all the fanboy scum shout about – ill stick to ethernet
ANYWAY back to the article, no in the U.K – Ireland specifically, Sony are the kings, in GAME, XTRA VISION, BLOCKBUSTER, WOOLIES, HMV, ZAVVI, GAMESTOP – all are sony fanboys, this is in 3 different towns ive tested.
makes me sick, they even hate the wii!
on November 17, 2008 6:57 am
@ punch yo face: I can say the same thing about my 360 just sitting there with no games to play. The only games I actually own for it is Gears of War, Ultimate MK3 and Gears of War 2.
All multiplatform games and of course the consoles exclusives that I like I have for my PS3. There is nothing I see on the 360 that I am interested in. All my games I play on my playstation. I currently have 20 games for my PS3, 12 exclusives and 8 multiplatforms.
It’s all up to preferences and I don’t get this whole blu ray is failing thin people are talking about. Where? Where is it failing? You think so because you follow these kind of news. The average consumer is a different story. I know quite a few “average” consumers who are buying an HDTV and a bluray player this holiday season because they are now jumping on the HD bandwagon.
on November 17, 2008 7:01 am
So it’s the opposite in Europe so that’s better? I think you missed the point here. People need to stop worrying so much about this crap and retailers need to work to have a balanced and informed sales staff. I personally have had no problems of the kind that my friend has had being that I own a 360, but I have had sales people try to push PS3 stuff on me, but not nearly as often as this seems to affect my co-worker.
Also, some of it is probably Sony’s own fault. I don’t think, and I could be wrong here, but I’m pretty sure that retailers do not buy the big advertising things that they have around their stores at big releases. Someone who has a retail store or something can correct me on this, but I know from my time in retail that we didn’t pay for our banners for advertising, they came with the products. Half the time we did not use them as they were too big, which could be the issue also. What I’m saying here is that Sony may need to spend more damn money trying to sell their system and games. Frankly, I don’t think that Microsoft’s ability to throw money into advertisements is a horrible thing. I mean, would you go get your car fixed at a mechanic that can’t afford to buy good tools? Would you take financial advice from a homeless person? It’s sad and blasphemous, but it costs money to make games these days, and if Sony is so strapped for cash that they can’t afford a full sized Solid Snake cutout to send to Gamestop to help push their product, what does that say about their ability to finance a game? For that matter, what does that say about the future of their company if they’re not willing to spend the money to put up a fight against their competitors.
Also, I personally feel that the PS3 fanboys are a much more bitter group that the 360 fanboys. Perhaps that’s just perception, but just looking back at the articles on this site alone it seems like there is always at least twice as many people willing to come out and defend the PS3 or bash the 360 as there are opposing them. I do believe I stated this perception in the article, saying that it’s understandable given this kind of treatment, but I think it’s a totally different thing to be ignorant of the other side of the console battles than it is to actively attack them.
Really, this whole thing is just to say that we need to all learn to get along. I have perfectly friendly conversations about our consoles of choice at work and I don’t understand why people need to be such dickheads about it. That’s the point I was trying to make. That, and just to make fun of the whole thing because it’s fucking silly.
Oh, and Microsoft RULES!!!
I’ll take that kickback in small, unmarked bills please Major Nelson.
on November 17, 2008 7:51 am
Hey,
Im a Playstation fan just because I like their first party stuff better than anything else, and I too get the same treatment at big and small game shops.
I realized this was happening long ago, but it became clear to me with MGS4 when I asked to pre-order it and was asked for which system, and I was the told it was going to 360. Also all the pre-order gifts from my local Gamestump for PS3 are never there and I always have to remind the clerk that I was entitled to them.
The 360 people get far better treatment with pre-orders and so forth. Even when they trade in games they have a nice long chat about how good Halo was an so forth as opposed to the usual destain you get from having the black console.
on November 17, 2008 9:20 am
@John Landis -
I understand what you say about PS3 fans being bitter. They always come out and just slam on the 360 because it is not a Sony product. Why all of the hate? We really don’t need it.
on November 17, 2008 9:44 am
StephenPioneer: Has to be the BIGGEST idiot! Obviously you did not understand shit!! U CANNOT watch DIVX on the xbox you MORON!! U have to stream via a PC! That’s NOT watching it on the box, it’s called streaming. I can do tht with a PC and a TV via a cable. What a dumbass you are! U did not invent streaming, how retarted are you? And of course u would stick with ethernet you think backwards NOT foward! Of course u would enjoy GTAIV on the xbox u dont HAVE a PS3. And it does NOT look or play better on the xbox, are u blind? And as far as controls? Forget it!! GTA is a PlayStation game, it was made for it. Adapted for the xbox. U wanna talk about wireless controllers, u have got to use AA batteries (even MORE money wasted), we can charge directly! Where are yr wireless headsets? And YES it is an innovative machine. Cell processor, DIVX playback, Wifi, BluRay, Bluetooth, smart cards, USB, PlayTV, Browser with FLASH, can install an OS!! Need I go on? U dont even have ONE of the things I mentioned! And as for yr hard drive?? Idiot, they dont come as standard, on the PS3 EVERY single PS3 has a HDD! Where is yr FULL HD?? Nowhere to be seen, u wankers had to ATTACH an external HD-DVD drive to watch HD. And yr original consoles did not even have full HD, you had to get another attachment. PS3: EVERY CONSOLE ready for full 1080p. And oh yeah, i forgot to mention………… you have to pay to go online! Do you like getting screwed from behind? I would say YES! And I would not say the UK is biased to the PS3 at all, they just know that SONY is better. No need to listen to yr BS I LIVE here in the UK. And I dont slam the 360 just cuz it’s not sony, only an ignorant would say that. I slam the 360 for being a SUB-standard peice of hardware not fit for the market. Slam that like you would slam anything that’s not fit for use. 33% plus failure rate, the xbox is being sued as we speak. I buy the BEST that’s all, quality trumps ALL!! dont settle for less.
on November 17, 2008 10:23 am
I hate both companies.
Sony + Microsoft = Nothing but big money hungry corporations. Both of them, and just as equally.
Microsofts product may be less “technological” (which when games are concerned it is only slighty).
But their marketing campaign is spot on: Release earlier, buy out exclusives, offer better incentives.
The reason PS3 fanboys are especially bitter because their last console was the ruling king and now the whole fandango has flipped on its head for them and it seems they can’t take it.
So their bragging rights have gone out the window and they desperately try to clinch onto this accustomed form of communication by constantly whining about the faults of other consoles, and claiming their exclusives are WWAAAAAAAAYYYYYY better than the 360’s. Which is bulltripe because people have their own preference in games.
PS3 fans paid more for their consoles and games are getting f**ked over.
360 fans paid less and aren’t.
Its obvious why they feel the need to complain.
on November 17, 2008 10:42 am
@John
1)360 does play DivX, you can play it straight off a USB key or off a DVD-R/RW disk.
2)Why would I want to use my console as a poor internet browser? My Macbook/laptop is faster, supports all web formats and 100 times easier to navigate.
3)The 360 supports up to 1080p, which last time I checked was FULL HD, plus its has a HDMI Port.
If you are going to complain about things added in later on a console, does HOME or TROPHIES ring any bells?
Idiot.
on November 17, 2008 10:42 am
I never had this so called experience. It doesn’t seem to happen down here.
Then again it seems that more people are 360 gamers where I live than PS3. When there is a multi-platform release, stores are always sold out of 360 software, yet they have loads of PS3 left.
Before anyone says it I’m not a fanboy of either console. I have both.
on November 17, 2008 10:44 am
Cry me a river drama queen.
on November 17, 2008 11:58 am
I will throw in my first hand on this. I am very happy that Sony is gaining ground now, but as a retailer, I can say that it took way too long. At my store we fell into the same routine of always having the 360 releases and only special ordering most PS3 titles for people. The reason? We were losing our butts on PS3. We generally could not sell a $60 title until it dropped to $30, which means after our cost of $54, we were losing that $24. You extend that out and you see that we would have to sell 10 copies at full price just to break even on all 11. On the other hand, 360 games sell really well. What would you do? Continue to lose money or minimize your losses by cutting back on a product that was bleeding you dry?
Sony demand is picking up, but from the launch of the PS3 to current, the PS3 games account for 1.33% of total sales, where the 360 games account for 18.68%. To give you some more glaring examples, we did not sell a single PS3 controller for just over a year. We never sold a single copy of NCAA Football 08. How do I know? It is still on the shelf about 15ft from me. This is not a brand bias, this is business. If it were the 360 that were underperforming, then it would be the PS3 stuff that we would be embracing. We would have to be Sony fanboys to continue stocking something that was losing us as much money as it has. Don’t hate on the small businesses for being down on PS3. We have a very good reason for it.
on November 17, 2008 12:10 pm
It literally depends on the city in which you live, on or around, I shit you not. All 360 gamers where I used to live, why, lower income. Where I live now, it’s all PS3, much more affluent. You may not believe me but drive around to different cities and check it out for yourselves.
on November 17, 2008 12:45 pm
Are you kidding me? Who would ever think that retailers would be show preferential treatment to a product that brings in more people to their store, sells more games, sells more accessories, which ultimately brings in, you guessed it more revenue.
I tell you what, let’s go and ask the thousands and thousands of laid off Circuit City employees what they think of poor ole’ Sony getting picked on by a bunch of mean retail salesmen. Come to think of it, maybe Circuit City is the Pro Sony retailers which is why….better not go there, because from the sound of it Sony nation is a bunch of pussies.
Just out of curiousity did you have to hold your buddies hand when you went with him? and b) did you happen to go and buy Resistance 2 on Nov 7 at 12:01 a.m.? Sounds like you two would be better off in Connecticut.
If Sony wants more people to be familiar with their system maybe they should…I don’t know make a system that more people actually want.
Can someone please escort Mr. and Mr. Landis here intot he real world. I have a feeling they are both going to be fucking shocked.
on November 17, 2008 1:38 pm
The PS2 didn’t have a great launch either but as time went on it gained momentum…and I think the same thing is going to happen with the PS3….2008 was a decent year for the PS3..and I think 2009 and beyond (shameless plug) will just get better and I think games like LBP and Resistance 2 showcased what the PS3 can do and I think Killzone 2 will be the benchmark and start of what to expect going forward.
on November 17, 2008 2:04 pm
Tomonoatmeal Cookigaki stop being retarded. getting an international whore each year from M$ and claim it to be new? wake up dude, u really think M$ give you a “new” 360 everytime you get RROD? in your dreams that might happen. in reality its just some recon/refurbish system. honestly i dont know what kinda mentality you have since most 360 devotees have weird thinking. but i have never agree with sending in what i have and get back something thats not mine. you can go on having such mentality its not for me to care either. but i do know something. most sickness can be cured by medicine, but not stupidity.
on November 17, 2008 2:16 pm
hrhrhr….xbox-fanboys are so funny…
on November 17, 2008 2:23 pm
@Sean
1) PS3 does the same but more. can 360 watch online video streaming like youtube/crunchyroll/nicovideo? no… but PS3 does that. yeah PC does that as well but if given a choice, I choose to watch it on a bigger screen than a smaller LCD monitor.
2) No one will specifically use the browser to surf on PS3 but its good to be there when you just wanna have a quick check on certain stuffs while you are on your PS3 and not have to move to your PC to do such simple stuff. Its about convenience to have one. So dont cry over it because 360 doesnt have it and start mention nonsense comments.
3) Sure the later 360 has HDMI port and support up to 1080p. but dont ever try to compare HDMI1.2 against HDMI1.3. talking about 1080p, almost all Full HD screen supports 1.3 with deep color. So does 360 provide that as well? Ans is no. Again I know you will try to think of something to defend against this but dont waste yout time telling ppl you dont need it and stuffs like that, you dont doesnt mean others are the same. And its always good to have more than less. With all these stuffs its just means that the system is indeed build with future proof in mine. Mind you PS3 was also one of the first and if not its actually indeed the first blu-ray machine with 1.3 HDMI output.
on November 17, 2008 2:24 pm
Here, in Russia, it is not a secret that Microsoft mades free presentations for retail workers and ask them to “push” XBox 360. I was freqently told by them that they get some money bonus if they sell a defined number of XBoxes weekly. Some of retail workers esp younger ones naively believe MS reps, but older ones having already had a bitter expirience with customers who brought RRoDed consoles back with scandals preffer to offer PS3s.
Frankly speaking people are pretty calm about console wars here and choose a console according to their tastes.
on November 17, 2008 2:36 pm
@Geoffrey
can understand your point in the business’s point of view. however its really sad to say that this probably only happen in where you are (i mean country wise). if like this article says people of the country actually have brand bias, things will always get difficult. you know bad things always tend to spread faster than they do over good things. so if most ppl in the country are bias and never really judge things in a fair way. things will never work out correctly. i can tell you case its quite different in where i live. at times i can see ps3 games actually sell more (base on multiplat games) but its a case by case issue. sometimes 360 does better and sometimes ps3 does better. thats because over here we hardly being bias against something like what this article says. we give credit to where they deserves hence both platforms are just selling as good as they are over where i am.
on November 17, 2008 3:04 pm
It’s funny, I have NEVER been pushed the 360 from any retailer. not Best Buy, Circuit City and especially not Gamestop. matter of fact, most of the guys at my Gamestop are PS3 owners or they own both systems. in Wal-Mart all the systems are represented equally in their displays. rhino (part of gamestop now) is not aghast when I ask about a PS3 game. maybe it is some PA thing, after all PA has the largest amount White supremest organizations in the US and feel some bizarre loyalty to an “amerikun cumpany” over Sony. Now, if you want to see a electronics retailer representative get all strange as them about Linux.
on November 17, 2008 3:05 pm
“ask them about Linux.”
man, I need to proof read.
on November 17, 2008 3:37 pm
And even that depends on where you live, as we had the opposite experience, moving from the Lakewood area of Denver to Centennial, nearly doubling the average household income.
on November 17, 2008 3:44 pm
Heh, several comments between when I started my reply and hit send. I was referring to neighborhood in relation to brand sales. We sold more Sony in the less affluent area and more Microsoft in the more affluent. I actually attribute that more to when we were in each location. We moved to the more well off area in June of 06, when the 360 had already launched and the Wii and PS3 were still on the way.
on November 17, 2008 4:12 pm
Seriously? When will people understand that it’s not even so much about the system as it is momentum. We all remember the days of Sony Playstation vs. N64…and we knew good and well, which one had the games and momentum. Years later, Playstation 2 vs. Xbox. Playstation 2, once again had the momentum. Nowadays, PS3 vs. Wii vs. Xbox 360. What’s the difference? Microsoft took a chance and jumped out the gate first, giving them momentum. All in all, the 360 is what’s hot right now. And as long as they market properly and gain more support from third-parties, this will continue. Now we all know that the time is coming when the developers will utilize the PS3 coding and blow the doors wide open, but until then…I’m content with my 360
on November 17, 2008 4:16 pm
Oh and by the by, I worked for that company in question several years ago…and sad to say. They are robots, receiving downloaded information from corporate. And the select few that display free will and can actually think out the box…got terminated. Oh well…
on November 17, 2008 5:19 pm
Nice post, rly enjoyed reading it. I am tired of this too. One time, at the game store, I went to buy the PS3 version of GRID. They didn’t hav the game in, only for the 360. So he says “You should of gotten a 360.” Man I flipped out on him. Another time at the same store, this lady, maybe a mom i dunno… Asked to buy a PS3, the clerk up right told her “No, you should get a 360.” With no reason at all, totally pissed me off.
Anyways, thanks for the post… maybe 360 fanboys will see this and change for the better.
xD
on November 17, 2008 5:20 pm
go Lancaster PA!!! i live here and own a ps3 but i don’t really see any of what your taking about with the amish and the salesmen and whatnot but AMEN ABOUT THE STORES!
on November 17, 2008 5:44 pm
“Racist” comparisons in these para-article were FU_GLY STUPID
on November 17, 2008 6:01 pm
I own both a PS3 and 360 and I can say with all honesty that I have never encountered discrimination as a PS3 gamer. I mean I do all my shopping at EB games and have had no problems with games coming in on time usually. Delays are rare when they happen but they do happen with all systems at some point. I think that people probably encourage customers to buy the 360 over PS3 because it’s an easier sell; cheaper up front, more games, general history of better versions of multiplatform titles. The average Joe probably dosent know about the chronic red light problem and how badly it hits gamers (me twice), the cost of batteries, XBOX live memberships and the importance of a hard drive over a memory card. I DO believe Gears of War is more accessible than something like Metal Gear, and I do think XBOX has a better name among kids and young people because it’s a brand that started during their generation. It’s not a matter of discrimination but more how each company has positioned themselves with consumers. Wii for the kids and newbies, 360 for the teens and 20s and up, and PS3 for the richer, older and more sophisticated gaming crowd. Does this make PS3 more mature? In some regards yes, so take solace in that. I think its design, look, first party titles and hardware are all indicative of a more refined gamer. Go on that and ignore the haters if you generally find them. In the end who cares anyways, it’s just a toy.
on November 17, 2008 6:48 pm
If gamestores do not advertise killzone 2 when it’s release time is near, i think it would be suicide for them
they are there to sell games NO MATTER WHICH SYSTEM they should be glad theyre selling ps3 and xbox games that means more money, but if you tell consumers that ps3 isnt worth it or any thing in that form of relation then your losing business all in all
these employees need to keep they’re personal gaming experience out of the consumers and think about the business if some one came to me and asked what they should get i would tell them the expensive system because that makes me a good employee towards my job
both systems are good and leaving at the fact that everyone will not give up fanboy’ism it just shows we are the problem not the company’s,
i am no fanboy but i only own ps3 and soon wish to get a 360 aswell, but i do know if they pass advertisements on killzone 2, then all we be failed
on November 17, 2008 8:05 pm
First of all i completly agree with Doc Orange
Can someone explain to me why people choose the 360 over the ps3.
Price:
Elite and ps3 are the same price, you’ll end up paying more for 360 because of live. Arcade maybe half the price, but seriously cant compare in features with the ps3.
Games:
Using programs like streammygame.com, the ps3 can play high end pc games which a lot of 360 games are turned into. Can you play crysis on a 360? Plus reality check, the only good exclusives on a 360 are shooters. Ps3 has a wide variety which appeals to many audiences(Rachet and Clank to MGS4 and resistance) The 360 has more games, but how many games will you actually buy.
Graphics:
Both consoles look amazing, you can argue that one looks better, but each have advantages the other doesn’t. And multiplatform games, the differences in graphics can only be seen when put side by side.
Sound:
PS3 wins here hands down.
Entertainment:
Ps3 wins here. Argue that the 360 has in game music, but smart people would get their ipods, etc and listen, or not listen at all.
Online:(Big controversy)
All 360 fanboys still like to live 2 years back, when the ps3 had not that good online features. But ps3 caught up soon including features that the 360 had. I’d say in game xmb was the biggest. But everyone has to agree with me on this, ps3 online servers are much much better than live servers. Resistance 2 goes 60 players 0% lag(and thats not only because of good broadband connection, anyone who plays resistance will understand) . No 360 game will ever achieve that. I know so many people that go live is sooo much better cause no one plays on psn,(seriously when’s the last time you played on psn)?
Finally:
Is it because Americans are idiots that make decisions hastily? Is it because the 360 is made in america? What is it about the 360 that gets many americans to buy it?
Back to the article, i couldn’t agree anymore. You see a 5ftx5ft gears of war poster, and a corner nothing for resistance 2!?
on November 17, 2008 8:55 pm
Sony is having to deal with years of lying to consumers. The internet is a wealth of info on what Sony has claimed since the release of the PS2. Some of it is surely made up B.S. but much of it was said by them. It also feels like their priority was Blu ray and not games. They wrongly thought Blu Ray was as big a leap from DVD as DVD was from VHS…They were sorely mistaken. What i don’t understand is why they still are so slow on getting good games out. I just don’t know what they are waiting for. The price doesn’t help either.
on November 17, 2008 9:42 pm
@horngreen
AMEN!!! I am sorry, but I do own all 3 next gen systems, plus a PSP, a DS and my 3rd PS2. I am also from New Castle, PA. The claims I read on here, this person has never picked up a circuit city, best buy or wal-mart ad. Sorry, learn what Sony’s whole deal was. They rushed the system (I know, I have a f*^&%ing 20G, you $499 realease price, plus tax, plus buying a spot in a BB line on Nov 19th had that totaling near $700) only to get the competition out for HD-DVD. No? It took them two years to get BD up to the special features that HD-DVD had, but they could at least brag about pricing. The studios supported BD due to region coding, and to all those foreign who think Sony are saints, make sure you never move here, cause our companies buy up films with remake intentions, and then just leave them buried, Sony being one of the biggest culprits. Retailers, in an attempt to spurt stagnate sales put the final nail in the coffin of HD-DVD. Retailers also have every bit of interest in getting something to spurt stagnate sales, and have advertised the crap out the PS3. Look at the last 6 months of Best Buy ads, 3-4 PS3 pics, normally one on the front, one on the back, one in the games section and one in the BD section. (back is normally a bundle, and the front is normally advertising some of the interior contents, or low priced BDs). They also have bigger fish to fry this holiday season than the 360. If BD does not take off this holiday, look for studios to start dropping the format. Too costly to produce for both. I know, thousands of articles saying it’s selling way more than DVD did, but the movies aren’t, and that’s what the studios are watching. BD dies, and the PS3 may become the next dreamcast. Better hardware than the competitor, but no third party support.
on November 17, 2008 9:48 pm
So what, your just finding out that the PS3 is a dead issue? Look at being a PS3 lover as being in your own little special super terrific club that the rest of the world doesn’t give two shts about, unless your name is spiky or something ridiculous like that.
on November 17, 2008 10:19 pm
Also when I was talking about the whole “black” console thing, we were joking. But I work at a game shop myself and the other employees are 360 supporters while I’m the lone PS3 supporter :’(
So yeah guess you could say I’m going for the under dog.
on November 17, 2008 11:11 pm
AMEN brothers… and have a nice day.
on November 18, 2008 12:25 am
I dont think blu ray will die anytime soon. Sony wont allow it, they spent too much time and money convincing the public its the future of full HD entertainment.
And plus lets all keep in mind that the PS3 is the only conbsole this generation that hasnt been hacked thanks to that niftly optical disc they have.
Being a 360 fan myself i love my console but being a 360 owner is an expensive hobby buying the accesories is where MS profits the most.. does the HDD ring any bells?
And what sucks the most i have a full HD 1080p console but i have the 1st genration xbox 360 which we all know didnt come with the hdmi output now isnt that grand lol just stick to 1080i for now
But all and all still a good … wait GREAT console. I would love to own a PS3 but just dont see why i should at this moment
on November 18, 2008 12:28 am
@John.
You are an angry person, but your verbage does not speak euro to me. If I had to guess, I’d say somewhere in NY where it’s “cool” to be british right now. Too bad because you are one of the obvious fan boys. The point he’s trying to make is that Sony doesn’t pay for the instore advertising like Microsoft does and that they are shooting themselves in the foot by letting Microsoft rule the on hand advertising. When you go to a store to get a specific game, you are already informed and don’t need help making your decision, when you browse the store, you are going to notice Microsoft and Blizzard everywhere, because they pay for in store space. This makes it seem like a bias to the unaware, but it’s really showing how Sony has their priorities wrong again, trying to save money on advertising, when advertising is the driving force behind sales. See Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Halo 3: Recon for illustration.
There might be a problem with knowledge by the employees. I see that as very possible because the average retail employee does not make enough money to own more than one console, and if they are a “hardcore” gamer then the obvious choice is the 360 because you can get all the best games (which are multi-platform) at a lower price, plus the microsoft exclusives that their mutually poor friends will be playing.
Please John, don’t bother ranting in your unedited fashion just because you feel attacked for owning an expensive piece of equipment. It’s great that you shelled out the extra bucks for the console you wanted, but don’t be “blind” to the fact that you are in the minority in this generation, and if you really want to pick a winner, you should buy a wii.
on November 18, 2008 4:41 am
@coffee
1)You made two different sections about the same point, you fool. The browser is a pathetic afterthought. Unless its given full functionality for plugins and extensions, then it isn’t a real browser, its nothing but a under-developed beskpoke application aimed at being able to add more bullsh*t to paper for advertising.
I dont see how anyone could think that reducing the functionality of what something is meant to be, then adding it to a platform is it not suited towards, can possibly be added fuctionality.
Its adding two lesser parts together, to get something less than the idea that it began with.
It’s like changing 0.5 + 0.5
to
0.5 x 0.5
2)The reason Xbox didnt originally have HDMI is because at the time of development HDMI was not a standardised technology, and if you are old enough to remember all the way back to 2005 there wasn’t alot of televisions or monitors that supported HDMI making it a risky technology to invest in. It was also the same for 1080p (which was available in a dashboard update long before HDMI was encorporated into the newer console batches).
Plus just check out any comparisions of 360 screenshots and PS3 screenshots (without television adjustment), it’s funny which consoles contrast and colour are more asthetically pleasing (xbox 360). So where does your magnificent HDMI 1.3a “deep Colour” come into play there? No point having that “extra” technology if ends up laying dormant in the machine.
3)PS3 + Blu-ray. BOTH SONY products. Do you honestly think that Sony wouldnt have used the new PS3 as a marketing tool for their new technology: Blu-Ray?
Why do you think blu-ray was even this successful?
P.S. The PS3 IS Blu-ray future proof (Only for as far as firmware goes).
It is NOT HDMI future proof.
What happens when HDMI 1.4 requires a hardware update? Then your pathetic claim to “future proof” means absolutely Jack sh*t.
4)”Again I know you will try to think of something to defend against this but dont waste yout time telling ppl you dont need it and stuffs like that, you dont doesnt mean others are the same. And its always good to have more than less. With all these stuffs its just means that the system is indeed build with future proof in mine”
Honestly, that shows how mature you are and by saying that you only enouraged my response. If your that afraid of someone proving you wrong (I don’t claim I have seeing as most of this is opinion) then feel free to remove yourself from whichever browser/under-developed beskpoke application you are viewing this website from.
on November 18, 2008 6:11 am
Haven’t experienced any of this at the local gamestop, but it sounds like the 360 is so popular that it’s what most people are asking for and familiar with. Doesn’t really sound like fanboyism by the retailers.
on November 18, 2008 9:03 am
@Sean
U dumb shite!! U cannot watch DIVX on the xbox!! What a fucking liar, I tried it the other day and guess what……… didnt fucking work!! U are such a moron, it is not even DIVX certified!! And I’m not asking u to use the browser (which is quicker than IE7) that was a reply to another moron! And not all yr consoles are HD ready the original ones u STILL have to have an add on. Only the elite are full HD ready! Understand what i am saying before u talk more shit! And I wasn’t talking about ‘things being added later’ that will continue forever. And as for ‘adding’ HOME u dimwit is something NEW, i havent seen tht on yr box and neither have U!! HOME is something original, never fucking seen before on a console, it’s like a game almost. And as for trophies?? Who gives a fuck!! It’s not something that will make the console better its a fucking add-on a gimmick for want of a better word. So stop talking shit mate, if yr jealous go buy a PS3!
on November 18, 2008 9:24 am
@Wesley
HDMI = 1080p
Component = 1080p
Did you ever tryed it?
Or you just dont have TV Full HD compatible?
on November 18, 2008 6:17 pm
About the RROD, the XBOX360 is getting better hardware, new motherboards are coming out and so on.
The problem is that it is like to go play a “treasure hunt”, because you don’t know what CPU/GPU pair you are getting until you are at home and you can check the SKU, the PSU sticker and so on.
With the PS3? You just go into a shop and buy any non-bundled 80GB console and you can be sure that you have the cpu/gpu of the smallest size and with the lowest power consumption/heat generation.
True, so far the best games are on the 360 but my first xbox360 already died and I had an elite for a while that died too… So I’m planning to have it replaced, sell everything and buy a PS3 with the same games.
Painful but probably safer in the long run.
on November 18, 2008 8:39 pm
Freddy, I actually did just about that. I had a release day 360 that died on me and I had it replaced. after that the new 360 would go a little wonky on me every once in a while. So I ended up getting a PS3 (wanted a blu-ray player for my theater room anyway) and sold all my 360 games and replaced them with PS3 versions. now I only get exclusives for the 360, everything else I get for the PS3. the only thing that I am actually looking forward to with the 360 is the netflix addition with the NXE. I will actually use the thing more that once or twice a month now.
on November 18, 2008 9:15 pm
As a matter of fact, John, I just finished watching a DIVX movie on my 360 about 30 seconds ago. I usually stream it through my PC, but today I had my external hard drive hooked directly up to the 360. Both ways work fine as long as you’re connected to XBL. For some reason I cannot play them at work because I’m not connected while there and it tells me I need an update to play those movies. I’ve looked around and can find no download or patch that allows movies to be played while not connected, so I’m assuming it’s some sort of anti-piracy bullshit they’ve implemented.
Not taking sides here, just trying to get the facts straight on that one.
on November 19, 2008 4:17 am
@John Landis – yeah mate u cant watch them unless u are connected. That’s what Im saying, on the PS3 I slap in ANY divx connected or not and i am ready to go, u CANNOT do that on the 360! The reason you cannot find a patch is cuz there isn’t one. The 360 is not divx certified! And with the browser I could go to stage6 and download films directly from the website, no need for netflix.
on November 19, 2008 7:11 am
@john
So you admitt you were wrong about it not being to play Divx?
(it does work through a usb pen drive or dvd-r/rw aswell, been doing it for years to watch movies)
Being online won’t be a big deal for most people because you can still have a silver membership to get on most xbox live services, and if you don’t go online at all with a 360 then there’s no point having one, and you should get a PS3.
Also ALL Versions of the 360 have HDMI as of a considerable amount of time ago, NOT just the Elite.
@John Landis
Thats typical Microsoft (just look at “Windows Genuine Advantage”)
Honestly, and by this I mean no offence to our stars and stripes friends, but it seems to be the American way to put a restriction on things like this. I’m actually suprised they haven’t put a sensor on the Message system with the NXE update (which I’m quite enjoying right now)
on November 28, 2008 8:39 pm
Points 4 both
PS3 *** | 360***
—————————————————-
Actually Hi-Def * | Only Upscaled
PSN: Free online play* | XBL: $50/year
3rd Generation | 2nd Generation
Motion and traditional*| Traditional Only
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$| $$$$$$$$$$*
Little 3rd Party | Lots of 3rd Party*
* = point
EQUALLY MATCHED
on November 29, 2008 4:28 pm
@MGN
1)You can’t count.
2)Both consoles produce full HD output for games and movies.
on December 1, 2008 8:27 am
but one only does 1080p for games and movies you can put a blue ray movie in a 360 you dumb ass
on December 2, 2008 4:18 am
@biggie2316
Do you for some reason think that Blu-ray discs are the only source for High Def movies?
The Xbox marketplace has HD movies available, plus the new Netflix service that came with the NXE update provides streaming HD movies (Not in UK/Europe though…GRRR)
And even if you did buy the now redundant HD-DVD Drive, it still supports Full HD movies.
So please refrain from calling me a “dumb ass” while the shoe is clearly on the other foot my dear friend.
on December 2, 2008 4:58 am
Sean, you are right what Biggie2316 said is abrasive and uncalled for. and it is true that XBL now sells and streams hi-def movies, but, to be honest, physical media trumps a hi-def download that you cannot move off your hard drive ALL DAY LONG. hi-def media purchases through XBL AND PSN are a scam. they offer no value. you can only watch them on your console, you cannot resell the movie or lend it to anybody. It only benefits the content creator and is consumer UNFRIENDLY. As for the HD-dvd drive, using a dead format as a defense for the PS3 having a Blu-ray drive is really kind of foolish and smacks of sour grapes. You should focus of the 360’s strong points, the quality of XBL, the ability to use the 360 as a Netflix media device, the well thought out controller and it’s the plethora of games.
Every console has it’s strong points. there is no need to get all mad and knock a console that you do not have. but, I am really not one to talk, I own both the 360 and the PS3.
P.S.
When I say “every console” the Wii is not included
in that statement. I think that the Wii is more aligned to the Leapfrog or Vtec gaming systems than the 360 and PS3.
on December 2, 2008 10:00 am
ok i will say i am sorry for the language but i am tired of people 360 fan boys trying to justify and make themselves feel better about their purchase of the 360 my whole point was this full hd is not 1080i it is 1080p there for “HD format movies” is not full HD and it really sucks because the 360 is holding back the PS3 has far games and you are starting to hear that developers are preferring to make games on the PS3 first then down grade for the 360.. blue-ray has more storage space and developers are again having to cheat us gamers short because the 360does not support blue-ray there for it DOES NOT SUPPORT FULL HD
on December 2, 2008 6:41 pm
interlaced (that’s what your “i” stands for in 1080i 360 fanboys) is horible. it was developed for crappy PC monitors that couldn’t redraw the screen fast enough. see, it’s bad because it causes headaches and eye strain. so, if your best is interlaced, it’s like the developer is trying to torture you.
on February 7, 2009 5:00 pm
After reading the article, I have heard a lot of stories of employees of Gamestop completely bashing on the PS3. I would just ignore the employees because they have the right to their own opinions. If you can’t tolerate their snide comments, go to stores like Target or BestBuy where the employees are less likely to be gamers themselves.
It is perfectly fine to play games on both systems without console bashing. Each console has their own good and bad games. Defending your favorite console really won’t matter when you think back on the energy wasted to spout endless arguments.
on February 9, 2009 4:22 pm
I’m thinking about getting a 360 only for the exclusives. That’s it.