|  Xbox vs PS2 vs Gamecube
Read a brief overview for shoppers intending to buy either a Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Gamecube or Playstation 2.
The comparison of Xbox vs Playstation 2 vs Gamecube is ultimately a personal one. Many people say that the Xbox is just a graphically souped-up PC in a squarey box, and technically this is not completely wrong. Others say that Nintendo's Gamecube, like previous video game consoles from Nintendo, is still targeted mostly at pre-teens and does not have many games for more mature players. Fact is, there are games for more mature players, and Nintendo tries to get a piece of the more mature gamers market. This market has been historically captured with Sony's original Playstation and is now very much the main target in the battle of Xbox vs Playstation 2.
What really counts in the end is whether the system can provide fun and longevity. The PS2 has probably the most games and due to its backward compatability with the original Playstation, it automatically has the largest game library. The XBox however is also gearing up to be a system with a great plethora of games for all audiences. Difficult decision? Read on and form your own opinion on the great Xbox vs Gamecube vs PS2 debate!
Availability
August 2002 - All consoles are now readily available. Games are a different story - Playstation 2 has by far the most games, Xbox is catching up, and Gamecube has the smallest number of games.
Xbox vs Gamecube vs PS2 - System Specifications
Comparing system specifications Xbox vs Gamecube and Xbox vs PS2, the clear winner is once again the Xbox. Check out the Xbox system specifications. However, this is not the whole story. Some systems come with particular features built-in, while other consoles require you to buy additional items to achieve this functionality. For example, Playstation 2 consoles are able to play DVDs without any additional hardware required. Not so the Xbox - you need to buy the Xbox DVD movie playback kit to view DVDs.
Xbox vs Gamecube vs PS2 - Price Comparison
A last comparison of xbox vs gamecube vs PS2 price puts the Playstation 2 and the more powerful Xbox head-to-head, but the winner here is the Gamecube console, with a retail price of $149.99 compared to the $179.99 of both Xbox and Playstation 2 console.[Update Aug 2004: The Xbox now costs only $149.99!]
The Winner of the console wars is...
Dan Elektro from Gamepro.com wrote...
"Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo would all have you believe that they are the star this holiday shopping season, but when the numbers get crunched, there can be only one. That one this year is Sony, which, according to NPD sales figures, has sold 1.4 million PS2s this season despite the splashy launches of GameCube and Xbox. Since PlayStation 2 has a bigger brand awareness and more supplies on store shelves, its leadership position matches pretty much everyone's predictions. However, Microsoft isn't far behind, with approximately 934,000 Xbox consoles sold through by early December, and projections to hit 1.5 million by year's end. Despite having the lowest-priced console of the bunch, Nintendo is trailing in terms of units sold, with 615,000 GameCubes. Nintendo, too, will likely spike to between 1.1 million and 1.3 million units sold by the end of the year."
More games vs better games?
In terms of games, a comparison of xbox vs PS2 shows the advantage that Sony has for being in the game longer. The recent titles available for PS2, such as Devil May Cry are true second-generation Playstation 2 games and certainly don't look and play any worse than the new Xbox games. Nintendo has a smaller range of Gamecube games available, but the ones that are available are of high quality. Most of these games are conversions from existing Xbox or PS2 titles. Some games like the fantastic 10/10 scoring Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 are available for all 3 platforms, with only insignificant differences.
Longevity -
when will the consoles be superseded?Not any time soon. The earliest launch of Playstation 3, the grid computing super console, is expected in 2005. Same with Xbox 2 - Microsoft has a long developing period ahead, as their plan is to design and produce their very own graphics chip and CPU(!) for the Xbox 2. Gamecube 2? Not a word or even rumour out there yet. Update: New generation consoles have been announced for both Xbox and PlayStation! They are the Xbox 360 and the PS3.
The vs debate: Conclusion
Conclusion: Any console from the current leaders in video gaming is good value for money, and our personal, subjective opinion is that the Xbox is probably the most powerful and most exciting video game console currently for sale.
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