Decision Bleg
Irradiated by LabRat
So, Stingray’s credit card accumulates points with use, which may be redeemed for various and sundry consumer goods, a factoid we had all but entirely forgotten until recently. The card now has a lot of points, which may be redeemed for various semi high ticket items basically for free. Currently getting our attention are the bundle packs for the two current-generation video game consoles we don’t have, which we don’t have because the X-Box 360 pretty much fills our console desires. Nonetheless, either would go nicely replacing their previous-generation counterparts on the entertainment center shelves if, as is the case, the cost is essentially free. (Plus games, but the budget for games remains more or less constant regardless of which system they’re being bought for. It would merely expand our options.) Over time we’ll probably take both deals since using points for either would leave lots left over with the backlog we have now, we’re just debating which to do first.
Pros for the Nintendo Wii: Unique gameplay. A few available titles one or the other of us would really like to play but which weren’t worth getting a Wii just to play. Lower cost in points that would allow us to pick up something else sooner. LabRat is an old-school Nintendo gamer and this is where most of their mainstay series get their updates.
Cons: Unique gameplay doesn’t mean gameplay that works well. The worst reputation for high-quality titles and developers of the three. No extra features, just a game console. Limited appealing games outside of the series mainstays. There’s a reason we don’t have one already, as all of Nintendo’s best creative efforts seem to be reflected in the DS these days.
Pros for the Playstation 3: Most badass graphics engine of current-generation consoles. Also functions as a Bu-Ray player. May offer an alternative/better media management interface over the X-Box 360 for managing our NAS box content. Best reputation next to X-Box 360 for attracting good games/developers, bigger library of titles that at least look potentially interesting.
Cons: No titles either of us is really lusting to play. Neither of us had exactly perceived a Blu-Ray shaped hole in our lives before. Gameplay > graphics for us both, so a dubious bonus if the game stable doesn’t live up. Media management interface may simply be a larger, alternative pain in the ass. Larger point cost.
Yes, yes, we know, our childless yuppie existence is clearly full of profound hardships and excruciating decisions. Other than that, any thoughts?
August 29th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Not a video gamer at all but we have a wii and it’s great. Also it streams netflix.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
We’ve got the WII and the PS3 both; and I’ve got to say the PS3 is the best piece of our home entertainment stack. We use it every single day; though admittedly more for movies and streaming (by a factor of 10 to 1) than for gaming.
In terms of gaming, it ends up being RockBand II most of the time; and I use the PC for my gaming.
The WII has pretty much been relegated to the kids.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Normally I’d jump on the Nintendo bandwagon, but I’d have to agree that the PS3 is the better choice nowadays.
Personally, I’m fine with a Wii (the Wii is the only console with SSBB, after all), but I mostly utilize it for the Virtual Console/WiiWare. If you’re not willing to drop about $300 on NES/SNES games like I was, then I doubt it’s a console that’s going to appeal to you more than a month after purchase.
The first-party games are great, and the occasional third-party game can be good (No More Heroes), but if you’re looking at a pure decent : shitty ratio, the Wii loses so bad it’s not even funny.
Also, the motion controls are cool for the first ten minutes that you own the console. Forever after, you’re wishing they were just “normal” controls.
August 29th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
You may not be feeling a Blu-Ray shaped hole in your life right now, but, given how ubiquitous VHS is these days, you will eventually.
On the merits of the game platform alone, as opposed to any peripheral benefits, the PS3 is the one of the two I’d care more about. I’ve got a 360, and I occasionally miss Playstation content. I’ve played some Wii games… but nothing really holds my fancy.
Do they even make Super Mario Brothers games anymore?
August 30th, 2010 at 6:35 am
I’ll go ahead and put on my video game retailer hat and say stick with the 360. Unless you really want to play PS3 exclusives, the 360 will do the streaming Netflix (XBox live isn’t free like Playstation network though), Bluray players are super cheap now, and XBox Kinect should give you your fill of gimicky body-motion controls. Given the choice between the two though, PS3, no question. Wii sucks so hard it’s not even fair (oh and Sony is coming out with their own gimicky motion tracking system too, yay).
August 30th, 2010 at 6:51 am
WII is an excellent family (with young children) console - not so much for “serious” games, though. The retro-Nintendo console games *are* a lot of fun; but probably not worth the expense of the whole system. My guess is that you’d be happier in the long run with a PS3.
August 30th, 2010 at 7:59 am
Unless you really like minigame compilations or SSBB and want to run modded versions of it, the PS3 hands down. Besides, the PS3 has Little Big Planet and will soon have LBP2. Especially since now both offer HDD backup. Although the dongle for the PS3 is rather expensive currently.
August 30th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Not a video game in the house, we spend our accumulated points on airline tickets to Hawaii, and every year is a “free” flight.
Not buying cable-TV also is worth a yearly flight to Maui, and covers a chunk of the lodging…
August 30th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Airline tickets are a less attractive option for people that despise air travel to the point of edging up to mandatory sedation…
August 30th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Further for the PS3: It’ll stream content from a PC running enough of Win7 to stand up a homegroup very well indeed. Also, it’ll run Folding@Home under a wrapper called Life with Playstation, and it is very nearly the ideal platform for it. Peripherally, it offers an HDMI connection for the sake of simplicity, although the Wii may very well also.
For Blu-Ray, if you’ve got enough TV to make it worth the trouble then movies filmed in enough quality to exploit it look spectacular. (The recent Star Trek, for instance.) Otherwise a DVD as upscaled by a PS3 probably doesn’t look much different.
My $0.02.
Jim
August 30th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
You can drive to Vegas. And if you have the same greenish card I do, those points can also be used for hotel rooms on the travel section.
August 31st, 2010 at 11:22 am
@Jim:
The Wii does not offer HDMI output. Composite or component only. Using component gets you 480p instead of 480i. If you really like your high resolution graphics, the Wii is not for you.
August 31st, 2010 at 11:31 am
Well, maybe, one or both of y’all could donate some gametes to the liquid nitrogen tank? I would like to see more like y’all in the world.
September 1st, 2010 at 12:27 am
Of the two, I’d go for the Wii. The PS3 doesn’t have any exclusives that justify a purchase. You can always get a less expensive blu-ray player, possibly with those same points. The Wii might have crappy third-party support, but the first party titles are top notch and the Virtual Console offerings are a lot of fun. Some friends and I recently played through Secret of Mana on the Wii (something we also did ages ago on the SNES) and it was a blast.