They should benchmark for at least two types of PCs: high end and low end. That would show people the range of PC performance, since I'm guessing not too many people will actually experience these games on PC at their highest settings. They should also provide cost data so readers understand the differences in playing the games on each platform (console: lower hardware but higher software cost vs. PC: much higher hardware cost but lower software cost).

Impressive.

Great article, GS. Do more of these for other games, too.

Very cool video piece, guys. Let's see more instruction videos for Halo 3 (and other games, too)!

Wow. I really don't like Pokemon. And yes, I have played one title all the way to the end. Still don't like it.

Quote: wildsnipe "An update after how many months? PS3 seems to be reacting more to user than MS. Sony released like 4 so far after almost 4 months. If that key pad costs more than a headset, why buy it when you can chat?" MS has released numerous dashboard updates, including several major ones like this that add new functionality. As for the headset vs. keyboard debate, you own a phone, right? So why bother posting on a message board? Sometimes IM is more convenient (especially if you don't know the other person too well).

Here's the full list of dashboard improvements as listed on Xbox.com: Beginning the week of May 7, users of Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360 can text chat using the virtual keyboard accessible on Xbox 360, or by connecting a USB keyboard to the console. This summer Microsoft will launch a QWERTY text-input device, a new accessory that will connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging. Other New Features Beyond Windows Live Messenger, the Spring Update for Xbox 360 includes hundreds of new features and enhancements including: * A richer Achievement notification pop-up will showcase the name of the unlocked Achievement and the gamerscore value without needing to leave the game to check the Achievements list. * Enhanced family settings features for Xbox Live communications enable different defaults for video chat and voice chat. * A new Xbox Live Marketplace blade lets Xbox Live members access the content they seek—whether it is game content or TV shows and movies (available in the United States)—from one place on Xbox Live. * Updates to Xbox Live Arcade allow owners to quickly see which Xbox Live Arcade games their friends are playing and join in the fun. Xbox Live members can also compare progress of leaderboard scores and Achievements directly with all friends on their friends list. Expanded "Tell a Friend" capabilities make it easier than ever to boast about Achievements and high scores. * Expanded "Tell a Friend" capabilities make it easier than ever to boast about Achievements and high scores. * A new option in Auto Downloads provides faster access to the entire collection of free, trial-version Xbox Live Arcade games. * New progressive download controls provide easy access to optimal viewing options by letting people fast-forward, rewind, pause and resume as their video is downloaded from Xbox Live Marketplace. * Extension of the background download functionality will allow owners to set their Xbox 360 console to turn off automatically after downloads are complete. The Spring Update is free beginning the week of May 7 and will be easily accessible to every Xbox 360 owner through Xbox Live or on Xbox.com. You may not even notice all the new features, but they are all designed to enhance your Xbox Live experience. Some of the other features in this upgrade include: * The name of game in tray is now displayed in the dashboard. * When the user is in the dashboard and an Xbox 360 game is in the console then the name of the game is displayed in the tray icon of the dashboard. If the user highlights the tray icon then achievements and gamer score are displayed for that game based on the signed in user. Xbox1 games show the name and image of the game. * Integrated support for the new Xbox 360 text input device. Note that this device includes a new wired headset. * Playback progress bar indicates download completion. * Switchable aspect ratio now available during video playback (Auto to Letterbox, Zoom, Stretch, Native). * Player and friends lists now quickly show session presence information for quick identification of users that are joinable. * Added H.264 video support: Up to 10 Mbps peak, Baseline, Main, and High profiles with 2 channel AAC LC. * Added MPEG-4 Part 2 video support: Up to 5 Mbps peak, Simple Profile with 2 channel AAC LC. * Show folder hierarchy for video content played from all devices. * Bookmarks are stored for each video that the user plays remembering the users last location in the file as well as the aspect ratio that the user choose for that file. * Video trick modes (fast forward, rewind, chapter skip) can now be used while downloading Video Marketplace content. * Skip forward and backward functionality has been improved to skip to the next or previous chapter. Each video is divided into 10 “chapters” allowing you to quickly skip around video content. * The information bar that is turned on via the On Screen Display (OSD) now shows you exactly where you are in the playback of the video file. In addition it will also show for Video Marketplace content how much of the file has been downloaded and where the “chapters” exist in the file. * Windows Media protected content (WM-DRM) can now be streamed from the PC to the console. If the WM-DRM license is missing or corrupted then a specific error message is displayed to the user. Bookmarking is also stored for protected content. * When a user selects an item for download from Marketplace then the system will determine if there is sufficient disk space for the item and, if not, will ask the user to delete content on the HDD. The system provides a sorted by size list of videos, game trailers, demos and arcade content to aid the user in the deletion process. The same list of items are also available from within memory so that users can quickly see which items are consuming the most disk space. * The console will block the user who attempts to download content onto a storage device that will never have the capacity to store the item without deducting any points associated with the content item. * The screensaver is disabled when playing photos from any source http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/2007/0408-im.htm?WText.camp=TS1-InstantMessaging&WText.campSrc=Home

I'll buy a PS3 when it hits $199...five years from now. *sigh*

Quote: SFMrAnderson "I'd say most people that buy the PS3 play online man. I don't know where you're getting at that just because you play on the PS3 you don't play online. We just don't pay for it. Well I do--I own a 360 too." Something like 60% of Xbox 360s are connected to Xbox Live and I assume maybe half of PS3s are also connected. What I meant is connected *wirelessly*. I would guess that less than half of people with broadband Internet access use a wireless router at home, hence my point about having the wireless Internet connectivity as an added cost that's unnecessary for most people. It's included in the PS3s price. "And if recent sales speak for the future--Blu Ray is taking over." I think that's debatable. Sony is including all the free movies that come with the PS3 as those "sales" figures, not off-the-shelf purchases. Regardless, I'm going to wait a few years before picking a format. It's just too early.

@ SFMrAnderson The key difference between Sony and MS on backward compatibility is that at no time did MS claim that they would support full bc, whereas Sony did and included the Emotion Engine chip in North American and Japanese consoles. Then Sony turned around and changed the design for the next release. The Europeans are getting the shaft by getting less of a console than their American and Japanese friends...and are paying more on top of it. That's why people are angry. Regarding the prices...yes, it would cost you more if the current 360 accessories were added to the system. But unless you're a movie buff, you won't buy the HD-DVD add on (it's not used for games). If you own a PS3 you still might not buy or rent Blu-ray movies (if you don't have an HDTV to play it on), so the argument is lost there. Considering that the PS3 controllers must be sent to the manufacturer to get the battery replaced (whereas on the 360 you can either put your own rechargeables in or buy the play and charge kit) so having the option to swap batteries on the 360 controller is a good thing despite the cost. And we also don't have to plug the controller into the console to sync it up each time we boot up the system. Why pay for a wireless adapter (PS3) if you don't need one? How many people buying the PS3 are even going online? It's a nice feature but you're paying for it. If you don't need it why pay? That's why many of us prefer the 360 pricing model. We can buy what we want when we want and not be forced into anything.