Xbox 360 vs. PS3 Graphics Comparison (for you gamers)

[Beefkake31]

http://www.gamespot.com/features/6191251/index.html

A solid year's gone by since we ran our last Xbox 360 vs. PlayStation 3 graphics comparison. The differences between the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 have diminished with every passing batch of games, but some variation still exists between the two machines. Our first graphics comparison between the two consoles showed that the Xbox 360 looked better on most of the games, oftentimes drastically so. The second graphics comparison showed that the PlayStation 3 looked nearly as good as the Xbox 360 in some games, and actually looked better in a few as well. Now with both consoles well into their respective life cycles, developers have had plenty of time to figure out the nuances required to code beautiful games. With our third batch of games, the two machines seem evenly matched. The two trade blows on various games, each with its own set of advantages.

[Beefkake31]

Conclusion

After going through another eight games, we've found a few trends that follow both of these consoles around. Outside of Rainbow Six Vegas 2, our findings didn't show any drastic differences in image quality between the two consoles--nothing compared to what we found when we compared first-generation games in our original comparison feature. The PlayStation 3 generally lags behind the Xbox 360 in high-quality textures and the depth/normal maps that go with them. However, in the same games, the PlayStation 3 sometimes comes ahead with better shadowing and antialiasing. Games on the PS3 do tend to be blurrier than their Xbox 360 counterparts, but the PlayStation 3 games can look just as good as the Xbox 360 games when developers put some effort into it, as is evident with both Grand Theft Auto IV and Burnout Paradise. Overall, the PlayStation 3 outputs visuals that are either on par with the Xbox 360 or only slightly behind.

I have both of these consoles including the Wii so I'm not really biased. But If it wasn't for a 400 dollar gift card I had at Best Buy I wouldn't have bought the PS3 2 months ago. They are still not doing it for me. the 360 has better graphics still and they both have the same games. And the games that are console exclusives, the 360 has even more of an advantage. Add the internet entertainment that the 360 provides and it's a no brainer. The Wii is ok still but I would like them to make some better games soon since I was enjoying it when they had Mario and Zelda out.

Edit: I am happy about my PS3 as a Blu Ray player though and it's actually a good one. So it's not all bad. And I can't wait for Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy, woo hoo!

[Psychotron]

I watch more movies with my PS3 than I do game. The blu-ray player is amazing. I demoed a few standalone players and they are all terribly slow to load anything.

[SaSqUaDgE]

xbox 360 for the win

[DSM4Life]

My PC blows them both away.

[xlxBigSexyxlx]

xbox 360 for the win

ditto

[Kratos]

I was playing wee bowling last night at a party and it was awesome.

[smokethedays]

My PC blows them both away.

me two, screw those stations, i love my PC
512 mb Video Card
S-VGA to the big flat screen, and

[xlxBigSexyxlx]

[thecivilizedanimal]

it's solved i'm getting the 360, i wanted to anyways,.,. but i was thinking about the ps3,


yaya gta iv here i come

[will_work]

xbox 360 for the win

true true!!

[SaSqUaDgE]

i have a great computer 2gb ram 500gb harddrvie 1gb nividia graphics card but i still choose 360 over it

[Sir Lifts-a-lot]

I have a 360 and I love the graphics. A friend has PS3 and I have only played it a few times and I don't really think it is worth the price tag.

For those of you who mentioned gt4 it is sickkkkkkkkkkk! I am home this weekend taking care of my girlfriend so I will be beating on it all day!

[DSM4Life]

I have a 360 and I love the graphics. A friend has PS3 and I have only played it a few times and I don't really think it is worth the price tag.

For those of you who mentioned gt4 it is sickkkkkkkkkkk! I am home this weekend taking care of my girlfriend so I will be beating on it all day!

I cant wait for GTA to come out for PC !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Carlos_E]

Conclusion

After going through another eight games, we've found a few trends that follow both of these consoles around. Outside of Rainbow Six Vegas 2, our findings didn't show any drastic differences in image quality between the two consoles--nothing compared to what we found when we compared first-generation games in our original comparison feature. The PlayStation 3 generally lags behind the Xbox 360 in high-quality textures and the depth/normal maps that go with them. However, in the same games, the PlayStation 3 sometimes comes ahead with better shadowing and antialiasing. Games on the PS3 do tend to be blurrier than their Xbox 360 counterparts, but the PlayStation 3 games can look just as good as the Xbox 360 games when developers put some effort into it, as is evident with both Grand Theft Auto IV and Burnout Paradise. Overall, the PlayStation 3 outputs visuals that are either on par with the Xbox 360 or only slightly behind.

I have both of these consoles including the Wii so I'm not really biased. But If it wasn't for a 400 dollar gift card I had at Best Buy I wouldn't have bought the PS3 2 months ago. They are still not doing it for me. the 360 has better graphics still and they both have the same games. And the games that are console exclusives, the 360 has even more of an advantage. Add the internet entertainment that the 360 provides and it's a no brainer. The Wii is ok still but I would like them to make some better games soon since I was enjoying it when they had Mario and Zelda out.

Edit: I am happy about my PS3 as a Blu Ray player though and it's actually a good one. So it's not all bad. And I can't wait for Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy, woo hoo!

You highlighted the wrong part. "but the PlayStation 3 games can look just as good as the Xbox 360 games when developers put some effort into it, "

It's not the game systems, it's the developers. Developers are lazy. If they're developing for both platforms they do it once and port the game to the other system. Why put in more effort on the PS3 side when they can make it look passable and sell a shit load on both systems.

You need to look at the gaming hardware and the PS3 is a superior system. If they developers choose to be lazy it's not the gaming system's fault.

I'll take a PS3 over an XBox any day. The XBox STILL can't play blu-ray discs.

[Carlos_E]

My PC blows them both away.

Very true.

[feanixco]

Originally Posted by DSM4Life View Post
My PC blows them both away.

Very true.

I just got a new iMAC not to long ago. I love it.

[scottythebody]

I wish I would have waited to get a ps3 instead of buying a 360 instead. I got the ring of death once and had to send it back and twice I've bought brand new games and had them freeze up the day I bought them and got a message that the disc is unreadable

[Flagg]

True, the PC at completely top of the range high end can blow XBOX 360 and PS3 away, have you seen Crysis running on a DX10? 360 and PS3 are about DX9 quality, and there is a huge difference.

HOWEVER, the consoles are cheap. You need to invest a LOT OF MONEY into making your PC a beast to compete with those.

[DSM4Life]

I just got a new iMAC not to long ago. I love it.

i personally don't like macs (zip it carlos)

I custom build my PCs.

[TheMudMan]

I use my ps3 to download movies to it, stream movies from my pc to it, watch bluray dvd's, stream music to it, and it plays games.......... all that for $475 (I have the 80GB version).

The main reason I bought it was for the bluray player because I bought a 57" 1080p TV a little over a year ago and I didn't want to pay $800 for a bluray player. If it wasn't for that reason I'm not sure which I would have bought.

Carlos it's been a long time since I have seen an updated pic of you......... You look great and have packed on a lot of muscle........ great job on the hard work.

[Beefkake31]

My PC blows them both away.

i have a great computer 2gb ram 500gb harddrvie 1gb nividia graphics card but i still choose 360 over it

I agree just something about the computer that doesn't get me into it like a 360 or PS3 would. And lets just say my computer is a gaming machine.

[Beefkake31]

You highlighted the wrong part. "but the PlayStation 3 games can look just as good as the Xbox 360 games when developers put some effort into it, "

It's not the game systems, it's the developers. Developers are lazy. If they're developing for both platforms they do it once and port the game to the other system. Why put in more effort on the PS3 side when they can make it look passable and sell a shit load on both systems.

You need to look at the gaming hardware and the PS3 is a superior system. If they developers choose to be lazy it's not the gaming system's fault.

I'll take a PS3 over an XBox any day. The XBox STILL can't play blu-ray discs.

Well the highlighted part now says "as good as the Xbox 360" not better. And yes the PS3 does have better hardware but I was reading somewhere that the graphics don't depend on the CPU, they depend on the GPU. I don't know the specs on the systems though, too lazy to look it up. But either way you're right it's not the gaming systems fault but that doesn't change anything, I'm not saying the PS3 is bad, just that the 360 is better for gaming.

[Carlos_E]

I use my ps3 to download movies to it, stream movies from my pc to it, watch bluray dvd's, stream music to it, and it plays games.......... all that for $475 (I have the 80GB version).

The main reason I bought it was for the bluray player because I bought a 57" 1080p TV a little over a year ago and I didn't want to pay $800 for a bluray player. If it wasn't for that reason I'm not sure which I would have bought.

I use mine for blu-ray as well. I watch way more movies than I play games.

Carlos it's been a long time since I have seen an updated pic of you......... You look great and have packed on a lot of muscle........ great job on the hard work.

Thank you for the compliment. I've gained 20 pounds so far since taking the avatar pict. End of June I'll take an updated picture.

[Carlos_E]

Well the highlighted part now says "as good as the Xbox 360" not better. And yes the PS3 does have better hardware but I was reading somewhere that the graphics don't depend on the CPU, they depend on the GPU. I don't know the specs on the systems though, too lazy to look it up. But either way you're right it's not the gaming systems fault but that doesn't change anything, I'm not saying the PS3 is bad, just that the 360 is better for gaming.

It's not better for gaming. You have to look at it this way. The XBox came out first. The games were developed for the XBox then ported to the PS3 without putting any effort into them. Of course side by side they'll look the same. Games developed specially for the PS3 look better than games for the XBox. The PS3 has better hardware.

[IronReload04]

Love to say I told you so sony fanboys......lol j/k's


Sony every generation makes wild claims and never delivers, and thats a fact.

[betatest]

It's not better for gaming. You have to look at it this way. The XBox came out first. The games were developed for the XBox then ported to the PS3 without putting any effort into them. Of course side by side they'll look the same. Games developed specially for the PS3 look better than games for the XBox. The PS3 has better hardware.

Meh. Hardware capability isn't a determining factor for product quality. One of the most enjoyable games I played last year was Zelda: Phantom Hourglass on DS. As a PS3 exclusive, Lair was quite the visual spectacle, but played like shit. Heavenly Sword offered a better experience, and certainly looked incredible, but God of War 2 on PS2 was a more visceral, polished product and more enjoyable imo.

There are so many elements that effect how well a product will turn out on any system. Blaming "lazy" developers for relatively lackluster PS3 ports is a stretch. Sony has a track record for designing consoles that are a bitch to work with. Things will no doubt improve as developers get more familiar with the process, but the consistent delays with PS3 releases at present aren't from lack of trying on the part of engineers who work their asses off during crunch periods.

Having a bit of a soft spot for Sony, I had hoped they would have done better during launch. I'm all for them stepping up and re-establishing their foothold since the competition will lead to better games in the market, but Microsoft hit quite the home run with a much more user friendly system, both for developers and consumers. It's no wonder that many companies still continue to make the 360 their primary SKU.