If I ever managed to convince Mrs Hairsy that a games console was a much better idea than a set of curtains, does anyone have any recommendations ?

 

I'm not hugely into games although I'd love a realistic driving game. I'd want to be able to use a steering wheel - I know they come with 'feedback' but are they actually any good ? Do they give you a feel for the speed you're doing ?

 

I'm fairly bad at games so wouldn't want something that involves hundreds of hours to master because the games are so complex.

 

I'd welcome all suggestions.

 

Cheers

 

Dave

Yay, we can have a PS2 vs. X-Box argument now :)

 

From what I've read & heard (Of the current generation consoles, I've only got a PS2. I've also got a DreamCast - very good for a last generation box, arguably graphics as good as the PS2 - and a PSX), the X-Box arguably has better sound, but the PS2 better graphics and DVD playback.

 

I haven't used a wheel on a console for years either, so I can't comment on that - I stick to the analogue controller on the PS2. Nice rumbles when you hit things - certainly no way like holding onto a real steering wheel though. I think some of the proper wheels are supposed to have quite harsh feedback - but it all depends how the developers have implemented it in the game.

 

As far as driving games go - well the most publicised ones on the X-Box seem to be rather mediocre. Project Gotham being one of the biggest - which is just a rewrite of MSR (Metropolis Street Racer) from the Dreamcast. To my eyes it didn't even look any better..

 

Anyway - for me and my money, it'd be a PS2 and GT3, along with GTA3: Vice City, for when you feel like going out and picking up hookers, then beating them to death to get your money back... ;) :D

 

Oh, on one last note - online play seems to be coming along better in the X-Box camp than in the PS2 camp, if that's your thing.

 

HTH

Go into one of your local games shops and speak to one of the geeks behind the counter,who will be only to glad to tell you the differences between the consoles.

Basically as what Aaron said,if want to play games on line get an X box,if you want one with a DVD get a PS2.

They both have loads of games to choose from,with maybe the PS2 having a better variety.

Cheers,

F.T.

I am getting a Xbox for Xmas, :D. There are not as many games as the PS2 but its increasing. With new games coming out, the XBox tends to have better graphics and sound from what I understand. I have been looking at Colin McRae Rally 3 and Fifa and a few other titles which are on both and from looking at the graphics you can see the Xbox is better and also has support for Hi Res TVs.

 

The DVD playback again from what I hear are both good. The Xbox needs an extra £20 add-on for it to work, but the Xbox is silent when playing. The PS2, you can hear the DVD spinning.

 

People talk about the controlers a lot. The Xbox although a little large feels good, but must prefer the PS2 one. Personally I cant see what all the fuss is over. I hate the PS2 controler.

 

PS2 has GT3, Xbox has SegaGT 2002, which comes with the Xbox when you buy it.

 

Xbox runs a type of windows OS, so you can copy files to its hard drive Via the 100Mb network card on the Xbox and listen to music on it, play MPEG's or downloaded films on full screen through you telly, which sound good to me :D. Imagine my ZX vid on full screen LOL ;)

 

 

Here are a few Xbox screen shots

 

Stuart

Rocky

Sega GT 2002

X-BOX lmao is probably a shit bet to be honest, hell Microsoft are already considering pulling it of the market.

 

PS2 is cool Hairy my man, but then i like my PC

PS2 is superb and there's nothing to go wrong and a great track record from Sony. Loads of great games of all styles where as the X-Box seems to only be Quake type stuff and a couple of driving games.

has -nobody- heard of the gamecube over there? Frightening. I guess you have to be alittle less mature to enjoy the games, although i think they're typically of higher quality. Unfortunately gamecube doesnt have a single good racing game, it does have mario, pikmin, and soon metroid (tuesday, already reserved!) i'm generally pretty happy with it, other than this waste of 5 bucks of a game i just rented.

ast

has -nobody- heard of the gamecube over there? Frightening. I guess you have to be alittle less mature to enjoy the games, although i think they're typically of higher quality. Unfortunately gamecube doesnt have a single good racing game, it does have mario, pikmin, and soon metroid (tuesday, already reserved!) i'm generally pretty happy with it, other than this waste of 5 bucks of a game i just rented.

ast

Thanks everyone for the comments.

 

Does anyone have any experience of the steering wheel feedback setups ? Do any of them feel anything close to realistix so that you can judge whether you're about to fall off the track because you're going too quickly ?

Steering wheels for consoles tend to be over-sensitive, which spoils the gameplay a bit - but it's still good fun!!

 

The PS2 isn't really that far behind the X-box when it comes to online gaming - somehow I managed to get invited to a big PS2 show at Earls Court recntly where they were demo-ing loads of online games. Of course Microsoft has the advantage through its PC background, but you get the feeling tht Sony are just trying to get it right first time rather than have to keep issuing recalls or software updates (as happened when the Xbox first came out)

 

Also, the noise when the PS2 is playing DVD's isn't the disc spinning, its the cooling fan.

Originally posted by Astron

Unfortunately gamecube doesnt have a single good racing game,

 

That's the only reason I didn't mention it :)

 

I know a couple of people with GC's who are very happy with them - one bought it the day it came out just to play Resident Evil.. (now there's a game I hated on the PSX if ever there was one).

 

On the XBox front - I hope the Sega racing games are better than all their efforts on the DreamCast.. Coz they were all a bit.. well pap, really.. IMHO..

Well, firstly I should give respect to Astron: The GameCube is the finest console available today.

 

However....

 

If you're after a realistic driving game, you'd be out of your mind to go any further than Gran Turismo 3 on the PS2. The game is worth the price of the console itself - no doubt! You can also drive 300ZXTT's if you like.

 

I had a go with a wheel (mad catz I think), and was surprised at how far the technology had moved on. Even so, I'm still constantly amazed by the feel and control you can manage with a PS2 dual-shock controller. On balance I'd have to say that you'd need to be pretty serious about setting it up to get the best out of a wheel. I'm not convinced it's worth it.

 

Cheers,

Russ.

Buy a console according to which games you want to play, that would be a PS2 with GT3 then :D

 

Mike