well, it can depend on the system hardware. for example, doom3 is being ported to xbox, and only to xbox because it is so powerful. id even had to use undocumented hacks for the nvidia hardware .

Well, that's an example of a game I'd rather play on a PC. FPS action is 7648937068960 times more fun on a PC than a console, IMHO, but I understand what you are saying. Another good example would be a dumbed down (graphically of course) version of Splinter Cell for NGC and PS2 owners. But with the beauty I've seen in other games, it's hard to imaging it being anything more than a poor port. X-Box does (or is it will?) have Ninja Gaiden. I may have to shell out some cash for that baby. <3 Ryu kthnx.

If shooters are better on PC or console, it's all personal tastes. As I said, it pretty much depends of the type of the shooter. Ghost Reckon is a great shooter, but it does not require jumping like a dumb bunny or shooting at everything that moves(or not). Do that and you are dead . That game fits greatly at Xbox. Quake and Unreal are another story...

Another good example of a shooter is James Bond - Nightfire. It's a great shooter for the Xbox, neat multiplayer. The PC port of it is the worse shooter ever. The models has no feeling. Hitting a piece of wood with a gun acts way more real than when you hit somebody.

The great thing with Consoles, is that it can be optimized to the max. Take again The Sims for PC and Xbox. Which one is visually superior? Xbox indeed. That's because there're plenty of different graphics cards around. They are really different, as for example, Nvidia's uses a different fog draw distance then ATI's. Have you ever played Jedi Outcast and many others with a graphic set option to "Nvidia Fog"? That's what I'm saying...

Another thing to consider is a simple effect present into DirectX called fade bitmap. If used in a for next loop, you can make cool effects with it, specially with menus. As you've guessed, not all graphics card supports that effect.

Want still another example? Texturing... By default, developers has to use textures not larger then 256x256, because older cards, as Voodoo does not support anything higher then that. PS2 is terrible at texturing by the way...

All the problems above are solved with a console, where you can do whatever you (as developer) want s with the console, without worrying about what peoples might have on their boxes. That's also why Macs are so attractive for many (I personally hate Mac's...)

I still am about to see what PS2 has to offer better then Xbox. By default it needs hard drive, needs network card, needs multi-tap... The only thing that holds PS2 do not become dust, are the "great" contracts Sony has with third parts...

The next generation of consoles are going to be great though. I doubt companies will once again make this sort of contracts with a single manufacture. Sega, Konami and Capcom, the only companies that I care about, have finally learned that making the same title to multi-platforms is a great source of money.... The reason why Xbox does not have Resident Evil, Castlevania and Megaman is because of Sony's lame contracts... We even have seem Capcom breaking contracts with Nintendo, since Resident Evil should be Nintendo exclusive, and it brake after a while, since that game was selling way to bad on Nintendo Game Cube.

PS2 survives because of fan boy series, as Final Fantasy, Metal Gear and now Castlevania. I cannot deny that Castlevania would be nice on the Xbox, I'd like to have it, but maybe we have to wait . I don't care about a single game from Square, but it should make Xbox more attractive. Again, Final Fantasy titles were PS2 exclusives and now we see it also on NGC.

At the end, there was only one game from PS2 that I wanted to the Xbox. Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness. I'm a Lara Croft fanboy (well, I was used to be). I got that game for PC and god, what disappointment.... Terrible controls, dated graphics, slow and often loading times. It was lame enough to even copy "stealth mode" from MGS (also, this is overused today, every game has that, as Hitman 2) After a long search on the net, I've found a game somewhat similar to tomb raider, with jumps and platforms in 3D. Buffy - The Vampire Slayer is awesome. Better then any Tomb Raider is or ever was. I can not deny I love Buffy and Angel series, so it was a plus, but that game is just that good . Good bye Lara Croft, better you retire while you still have some dignity.

I'd say, go Microsoft, monopolize the console marketing. If we had only one console, we could play all our favorite games in a single machine, plus better usage of the hardware and longevity to the console as well. Japan never have had one single console. To play all my favorite games, I had to buy a hole bunch of their consoles ratter then the games.

First off, developers hop from system to system continually as you have mentioned. Square originally started off with Nintendo as you probably know back in the day. But you know why they left Nintendo, a reputable gaming company? They decided to make their next generation system still cart based while Square was looking more so to having a CD based system. They don't change systems for "lame contracts" its because of money. They wanted more money, and they thought what they were doing was smart, and personally I agree. CDs are much cheaper than carts are and that decision by Sony ended up brining one of the most valued PSX games ever, to be created Final Fantasy VII (VI is still better ). Anyway, its not like Sony is holding them at gunpoint saying you HAVE to develop for us, developers decided to stay with Sony by there choice. And Squaresoft is developing for the NGC, but yet, that's not doing too well is it? Constantly battling Microsoft for 2nd place as far as consoles go (in sales). And while I do agree partially on the fan boy series, that's what makes a system memorable. If Nintendo didn't have Mario, what would it have? Mario made Nintendo, so when people think of PS2, they think of certain things. Personally, what I find appealing to it are the RPG's and the Fighters. Can you name an RPG or a fighter that came out for the XBox that wasn't already a PS2 (or for that matter) a PC game (this was just so you couldn't include Morrowind :P). No. XBox doesn't have those wonderful exclusives, so why should I waste my time with it when it only has titles that are released for other systems? What's the point? If developers wanted to release games for the XBox, they would, (a la Nintendo), but why make games for a system when its 2nd best? That means less money. And if you make a really kicking game (GTA) people WILL buy a PS2 just for it.

Anyway, saying that the PS2 is only alive because of a few fan boy series is ridiculous. Ever heard of GTA? Grand Tourismo? Jak & Dakster? Devil May Cry? (1 not 2) Ico? Gitaroo Man? Onimusha? Sure the PS2 is alive because it has exclusives, but that's how companies do better than other companies, by outdoing them. If the XBox came out with games people just HAD to have, people would be buying them left and right. The XBox doesn't have those titles that stand out from the rest. They have Halo, PC Ports and multi-system releases. That's it. Oh yeah, and a bunch of really bad 3rd Person adventure games. Sure I think the XBox has some great things going for it (wonderful Internet play, hard drive, albeit small, still pretty cool [I'd just mod the sucker anyway]) but if the console is SO much better, why is Sony still winning? Because of games made exclusively for the PS2. If developers decide "Hey let's make a game for the XBox only" (like Halo) people will being to notice. But when it just gets games (which are good btw) like Beyond Good & Evil, Soul Calibur 2, Splinter Cell, Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance which are released for ALL the systems, there is no reason to get an XBox over a PS2, when all the good games are for both systems anyway. The PS2 just has more good games. Check out the Game Rankings.com list for best games ever (I used Top 30). Know how many are XBox? 4. Know how many are XBox exclusive? 2. Know how many are Halo? 50%. XBox, in and of itself, is just a one trick pony, that people made much cooler, by modding the whatever out of it.

About the titles you've mentioned, once again, is all up to personal taste. GTA3 is way better on Xbox. That's a fact. Further draw distances, better texturing and custom tracks are few things to say about that game. Grand Tourismo, is an okey game. If you put side to side with Xbox's PGR2 (ever hear of it? Project Gothan Racing 2?) is no competition for GT... Xbox may not have exclusive games as PS2 has(The story is changing though.. Halo 2 and Ninja Gaiden are making peoples buy an Xbox now), but the ones found on Xbox are still more appealing for me than a lame Final Fantasy sequel where you play with guys, who looks like females:

Amped 2
Brute Force
Carve
Conker: Live & Uncut
Counter Strike
Crimson Skies - High Road to Revenge
Dead or Alive 3 - Classic
Dead or Alive Online
Doom III
Grabbed By The Ghoulies
Half Life 2
Halo 2
Halo: Combat Evolved
Jet Set Radio Future
Kameo: Elements of Power
Mech Assault
Midtown Madness 3
Moto GP 2
Moto GP: Ultimate Racing Technology
Otogi: Myth of Demons
Panzer Dragoon Orta
Perfect Dark: Zero
Project Gotham Racing
Project Gotham Racing - Classic
Project Gotham Racing 2
RalliSport Challenge
Rallisport Challenge - Classic
Rallisport Challenge 2
Sega GT Online
Shenmue 2
Splinter Cell 2: Pandora Tomorrow
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2
Steel Battalion
Steel Battalion Line of Contact
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Top Spin
True Fantasy Live Online

What games list or rankings says or what gamespot believes is just a guys opinion. That has no effect on me. Microsoft made many believe that Windows was good and 95% of peoples use it today. I'm not part of the mass, so I use/have what I believe/like. Those "better" games for PS2 are simply a "second part" of titles already released for PSX, so it's obvious that they would make presence on PS2 with Sony's extra cash. When I say lame contract, is that Sony invested a lot of money to make those game exclusives. So it's ok. Sony monopolizes the market with console today. God dammit they even broke Sega. That is also fine. But when Microsoft(R) tries to jump into the game, investing money at Bungee (halo creators) everybody flames them.

What happens with Xbox not having support from Japan is:

1 - Microsoft is a huge company. Hate by many, loved by few today.... That fame is bad to when the company is trying to sweap into the game.

2 - Japan (by that I mean developers) looks a little bit scared in losing the market that they monopolize since Nintendo 8 bits.

The bottom line is, it's ok to Sony monopolize the console market, brake big ones as Sega and invest huge amounts of money holding exclusive titles. But it's wrong for Microsoft(R) to do the same . Interesting. From today on, I will be a huge Microsoft supporter. I hope they will monopolize everything, seriously .

Well they just flat out bought Bungie (no more Marathon games ) Rare too. They also offered to straight up buy NIntendo at the beginning. But that's not the problem I have with Microsoft. They just don't have any memorable games (at least to me) that make me want a system (however, this has all changed due to Ninja Gaiden). A little fresh competition never hurt though. I'd prefer if Microsoft didn't have a monopoly on it because, Sony doesn't have a monopoly and neither does Nintendo (Sony did own the Dreamcast though, which is one of the greatest consoles ever [modchips? what are those :P]) and I'd personally like it to stay that way. Sure I have to spend more money on other consoles, but I think that competition helps companies try to come out with the next best thing first. This really isn't going anywhere, since its all opinionated to begin with ^_^. So, I'm just going to end it with an obvious flame, to try and bother some people for no reason.... Ready?


Get set.....


HALO SUCKS

^_~.

Ghehe. I kinda agree. Competition is good, but it has to be fair. I, as a freak console gamer (never truly enjoined computer gaming) have invested so much money with consoles to play a few games. That hurts :s. The problem is that noone competes fair enough. It's always money in the way, ya know, that what speaks louder . I wanted to have a Dreamcast myself, but it went out of the shelves way to fast... I could barely save money enough to get one .

The most important thing is, that the player is happy with the console. I'm extremely happy with my Xbox. I've got a hole lot new world of gaming that no other console or computer gave me. I simply cannot stop playing games as Counter-Strike, Halo, Midtown Madness 3, GTA3 and can't way until Halo 2 and Ninja Gaiden . If you feel the same with your PS2 that's great and I'm happy to see other players happy. At the end, the hole point of playing games, is to have fun right?.

Now, there's Halo. (you did not think I would let you go that easy did ya...ghehe). I can not agree with you or disagree. It's very personal. Some peoples love classical music to relax, others prefer doom metal to relax. That does not make one or the other right or wrong. Let's sit down and analyze Halo for a second. Not graphics, not sound, those are dated now. Let's analyze it's atmosphere:

"You are a genetic soldier, a sort of a hero. After your spaceship was invaded and evacuated, you've scape with few other from the crew in a ship and fell into a planet. All the ones that were with your in this "mini-spaceship" died. Still, many other "mini-ships" from your crew appears to be landing at the same planet. You go after then in a search for hope. You are alone, most of the time, into the game, looking for survivors from your invaded spaceship. You feel scared. You feel like the chances for surving are lost. Suddenly you find more peoples like you in need of help and you see that you are not the only one, that you are not alone and that there are many other survivors. Those lost and not so brilliant heroes join you all the time, jumping into trucks, talking to you, giving tips. The hope for a new start point is great....

Ok, now let's take the game considered by many as the "best" invention after sliced bred. Half-Life. The ambient, the climate, the hope and the loneliness are the same as Halo. Halo simply used the very same formula, with another plot. I LOVE Halo, but ask me if I like Half-Life? I hate it. It's the worse game I've ever played. The only reason I keep the CD, or ratter saying, the serial number, is to play Counter-Strike. I've not seem the CD for years.. probably I ate it when drunk or my dog did it...

Now, go and check how many agree with me that Half-Life sucks... Sucks so bad that I won't even bother trying Half-Life 2 out...

It always falls down to personal taste. We do, can analise both machines, as hardwares specifications as facts, but the rest is taste . The current Final Fantasy is the biggest piece of crappy for me after, well, the previous Final Fantasy . But that's not a fact, it's a personal belief

...
what else is on?

C3 CPU's are morbidly slow

I have a TV out plug on my old laptop, so I can play games on my TV. It would be so cool if newer games ran on it.....

Oh yeah this was about that PC console in the first place o_O. We should just be bashing the Phantom anyways, I mean honestly. :P. But the fact of the matter is, I need an XBox for Ninja Gaiden. In anticipation, I just played and beat the original Ninja Gaiden on my Dreamcast, because like I said, Dreamcasts rule! Now I just need to get the money...

Or you could get an emulator, buy the game, get a DVD drive, and play the game. Save your self a hundred or so dollars.

True, but emulators are rather slow, they have to emulate the hardware, it's like running Quake3 on software rendering.

If you have a kick ass computer. Maybe specs above the specs of the xbox ( maybe something better then a Celeron 733Mhz, 128megs of ram, GeForce 3 Graphics card?) you could run the games just fine. Maybe a little slow down here and there, but all in all, it'll work just fine.

Call me old fashioned but I think 98% of the games on PS2 suck. All they are is below average sequels, that just are not that fun. Nintendo on the otherhand will always make Games with lastivity and that are really fun and exciting to play. Now this is a fact, and i've seen it for 7 years. Most Playstation and Playstation 2 owners don't play most of their games after the first week. PS games have nothing to bring you into the game for a long period of time. Still even today the big draw is HOW great the graphics for their games are, but they lack everything else. Its sad, but most gamers now want a game that looks good and couldn't care less how fun it is. I would rather play games on a PC anyday, and I have dial up and can't play most games online and hate first person shooters. Also I haven't updated my computer in 3 years and I can play Doom 3 just fine on my computer, so if you pay 1500 every year for a new computer you really need some serious help. Also I put together this computer for under $600 dollars, which is another problem most PC gamers sorely lack, the judgement to not buy from a hugely overpriced computer company and to rather find someone else to build them a custom computer for signifitly less than say from Dell and especially Alienware.

RHLinuxGUY, I hope you don't think that there's a Xbox emulator around,do you? Well, there isn't. And there will be a long time until you see one that actually works and that is not a virus(Emu "Nightmare" for the Dreamcast, anyone?). Same goes to 3DO, Sega Saturn, PS2 and Dreamcast. There're projects, but no emulators for them actually works... Some (as Dreamcast's Chankast or Playstation 2's PCSX2) can run a few demos, but no commercial games.

There are some projects for the Xbox that are ratter interesting. It's not exactly an emulator, but a program that can convert a default.xbe (Xbox executable, found in all games and applications) to a .exe. Apparently, it works with Halo, for a few minutes before crashing. Cant remember the name of that project though. I've never tried it myself.

Besides, Xbox DVD's cannot be read from a PC-DVD rom. That's because Microsoft wisely created a different partition system for both their games and HD. However, if you have a modded Xbox, you can use the Xbox DVD-Rom and copy the files to you PC via network. The process is tedious and that's time. "Qwix" is a sweet application. It can convert an Xbox .iso to the files for the game (like default.xbe) or do the other way around: convert all files into an .iso image.

So, instead of saving yourself a few dollars, get an Xbox and actually play the amazing games and online play it has then believe there there's actually a working emulator out there for it . Or even better, hack you Xbox with a modchip and install emulators on it for Snes, PSone, Megadrive/Genesis, Nintendo 8bits, Nintendo 64, Gameboy and GBA, PCEngine/Turbographics, DosBox, Mame, MasterSystem, CPS1 & CPS2, NeoGeo, NeoGeo CD, Collecovision, Atari, Amiga, Intellevision and etc.

No console out there can beat a modded Xbox. When you see an Xbox running Linux or Garou: Mark of the Wolves (NeoGeo) or StarFox and Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) with _perfection_ you know there's something special about it. Oh yeah, and the native games too: Star Wars KOTOR, Ninja Gaiden, Halo, Morrowind, X-Men Legends, Fable... etc.

Hmmm, putting it that way, PS2 and Final Fantasy (ahem) really looks like crap... doesn't it?