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Xbox Live vs. PlayStation Network: comparing accessibility, content, and the future of both services |
Listed in: PS3, Xbox 360 Tags: Microsoft, PlayStation Network, PS1, Sony, XMB
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It can be said that Microsoft and Sony have been in competition for the heart and soul of the gaming masses. In the gaming industry, it's the company with the must-have console that wins the day.
How do they make a must-have console, though? It's simple: by taking basic ideas and improving upon them. One of these basic ideas is the presentation of an otherwise needed feature in consoles today: the user interface.
While we could go on about other basic ideas that have been developed by both companies, such as internet connectivity, a sense of community, and games, it's the user interface that happens to be the backbone of the gaming experience today; without it, we'd still be in the Famicom era, booting things up by blowing at the cartridge.
Of course, the navigational aspects for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 are the same in certain respects. Both of them feature some form of interface navigation, whether it be via the blades system or the Xross Media Bar. Both of them take on different color schemes. Most importantly, both them have a conglomeration of all the basic ideas, which happens to show itself whenever one experiences Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network.
There's a wealth of form and function in both Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, but you have to wonder what's missing for both sides. With this article, let's take a look at both interfaces and their respective content marketplaces, taking note of what's there, what's missing, and what features and refinements each should offer to make the services better.
Comparison One: Accessing the Interface from Startup
One of the foremost ways to measure any service is by looking at the ease with which a person can access that service. All-purpose accessibility for a service is needed to make it successful, and it's here that we begin our inspection.
First off, take a look at the interfaces for the 360 and the PS3. As noted earlier, the basic functions are the same, as you have the blade system on the 360's side, and the XMB on the PS3's side.
What's different in both, as you'll notice, is the amount of information available on the screen. The PlayStation's interface looks cleaner, but doesn't give as much information because most of the interface uses icons as a big part of the usage. On the other hand, the Xbox 360 interface is a little bit more cluttered and difficult to navigate, but offers more information because everything is associated with words or phrases and less with icons. That said though, getting to the actual store seems to be a lot easier on the Xbox 360, as you only have to keep pushing your analog stick to the left.
Now we mentioned all-purpose accessibility earlier, so let's add a thought experiment here. Imagine you have trouble seeing, either from colorblindness or because you have general eyesight troubles. Take your favorite console with that in mind, and see what it does for you.
If you were colorblind, you'd have some trouble seeing certain aspects of the Xbox 360 interface since your background is usually done in various colors. On the PS3, colorblindness isn't a problem really, though people with trouble distinguishing light and dark areas might have trouble with that wave in the center of the screen.
If you have general trouble seeing things (such as astigmatism nearsightedness or farsightedness), both would be problematic. While you can adjust the screen settings on both consoles, there aren't any options to change individual aspects of your interface, such as font types or font sizes, to make it more accessible.
Comparison Two: Content
Now that we've actually gotten to the respective stores for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, we have to look at the content for each. This comparison, while seemingly more important than the accessibility comparison, is definitely going to be a lot shorter since we aren't listing anything.
What's the status report on both? Speaking in overall terms, the Xbox 360 in quantity, while the PS3 and Xbox 360 tie in quality.
How come? Objectively speaking, both have a large staple of movies and games available for download, but the advantage here comes in the form of freebies and assorted little things. The Xbox 360 has more far more demos than the PS3 because it's been out longer, and at the same time, there are themes and gamerpics that can be downloaded to further customize the interface for the system. The closest equivalent to downloadable themes for the PlayStation happens to be PSP themes, but those can be done through the PC PlayStation Store.
Of course, subjectively speaking, we have a mixed bag. Since we can't exactly list all of the movies available on each side, we'll call that a draw. Games-wise, what Xbox Live offers in quantity via Xbox Live Arcade, Sony can't respond to just yet. Sony counters this by having a better roster of your favorite PS1-era games, though Microsoft is catching up through the Xbox Originals line.
Staying Competitive: What does each service need?
Now that we've taken a look at both services in some detail, let's talk about what each service should do to stay competitive.One thing I'd personally like to see on both consoles would be an entirely new feature that takes its premise from the bookmarking feature of internet browsers combined with button mapping.
Basically, I'd like to see controller button combinations that you can use to switch automatically to specific areas on the respective interfaces.
For instance, pressing Right Trigger + X/A could take you automatically to the marketplace section of the XMB or Blade system, or pressing a different trigger-plus-button combo could send you to another area of your interface. It'd be fully customizable, so you could map which button combos would lead where.
Related to what we've been talking about previously on accessibility, it would also be nice if both consoles offered additional customization options for folks who want them or need them, as well as having further refinements to the intuitiveness of both interfaces. Additional accessibility options, such as the ability to change the font types and font sizes or the colors of the backgrounds, would also be much appreciated.
Finally, more content is good, but the emphasis on having quality titles come out instead on shovelware should be paramount. This is especially important for the Xbox Live service, which has more game titles out, thus opening itself up to more shovelware.
Of course, if both services could offer the same fun movies as well (I will love whoever comes out with "The Dark Knight" first), then everyone would be better for it.
One Last Comparison: Looking at the Future
There is one last comparison that needs to be made, and it is seen in the steps both companies are taking to make their services more popular, more accessible, and just plain better all around.
The big wild card we have at present is the Xbox Live Experience. It promises an revamped system of navigation that still offers old-school users the flexibility of using the blade system for their gaming needs. At the same time, they're incorporating additional content in the form of avatars, introducing streaming movies via Netflix, and even incorporating an optional game installation feature reminiscent of what's currently happening on the PS3.
The big problem with it? It's all speculative at this point. The pictures we have are mock-ups, the actual abilities are still being discussed, and even that leaked Xbox Live Experience business we reported on earlier hasn't revealed much yet. In other words, the announcement is a big step, but details would make it even better.
On the other hand, the PSN doesn't have any announcements of the sort, with the closest thing being the Life With PlayStation announcement they made recently. Even then, this update won't revamp the system to the extent that the Xbox Live Experience will. Sony should think about expanding the basic feature set via their firmware updates, and perhaps make a big announcement of their own in the future to compensate for the press Microsoft is getting with the Xbox Live Experience.
The bottom line here? Sony and Microsoft have solid services as they are. However, both companies should not rest on their laurels. There are ways to make each service better, simply by offering options, increasing features, and improving on quality output, and the one that offers the brighter future will be the one that wins the vote of the consumer.
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Comments
Yes, more content is good. And yes XBL has announcements. But did you forget what PS HOME is? (who knows when it comes out)
All you did was stat a bunch of obvious points. Like: XBL being better cus it has more content: Duh.
Looking at it from an unbiased view, XBL obviously wins. There is no doubt. I don't even have an Xbox.
No fanboy can sit there and say PSN is better, cus its not.
Comparing XBL and PSN is just dumb, because it's like comparing a Mercedes with a Honda Civic.
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That website listed about is a place you can go to on your PS3 browser and it has a lot of themes you can download. All you really have to do is click on the theme you want to download it and click the "Download" button thing. It's automatically stored in your "Themes" section of your PS3.
In that aspect, I love the PS3 because there's ultimately an infinite number of themes you can have while the 360 is very limited. =)
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"Sony should think about expanding the basic feature set via their firmware updates," their basic feature set is already larger photo,music,vid eo,webbrowser,
"and perhaps make a big announcement of their own in the future to compensate for the press Microsoft is getting with the Xbox Live Experience." theres this little thing called home........ maybe you've heard of it?
im all for progress , but seriously avatars and a new g.u.i how about microsoft releases a web browser. there is NO reason a 360 shouldnt have one , just like there was no reason my ps3 couldn't play music in game.
and btw you can download ps3 themes from the ps store FOR FREE unlike xbl
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can i backup my saves?
i heard somewhere game saves cant be transfered anymore and i dont wanna have to beat mgs4 bbe again (wit emblem biatch :P)
thx for the help
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But, there is Home coming as people above have already said ;
Themes CAN be downloaded (from a wide selection already) from the PSN for free.
There's no reason to expand the PS3 further media-wise, except more support for 3rd party movie codecs or the sort. (Matroska for example) because It already has it all basically...
I know I'm saying a lot of what has already been said but... I found the whole article a bit... how should I put it... Poor ? on the information side I guess...
Might want to review the whole post Victor! ;) *thumbs up*
Later, Bugga12
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Insert any kind of removal storage devices (USB, Memory Sticks, etc...) and go to the save part of the XMB, you should be able to copy them to the your storage device...
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"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." ~ W.S.
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and BTW this article sucked,alot of the obvious (eccept iMO i perfer psn over XBL anyday)... and wut about HOME you duech bags? out of all of the future aspects you think of only LIFE? (shakes head)..... and anyone (even 360 users) knows that 360 has no future since their cycle is only 5 yrs and the 360's harware sucks hairy nuts enuf to not give itself a future witch is wut M$ did.... they are only thinking for NOW and not for the future.
bottomline ps3/psn rules.
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Check back later when we explore the fanboys natural predator and rival, that was just recently introduced into it's habitat not more the a year ago...the ps3 fanboys...catch'ya lata
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Darth Sappy: He did get a few things wrong, but at the end of the day, Content is what matters. Icons, font sizes, backgrounds was not the reason you bought the PS3 (hopefully not).
There are more games on XBL, more demos, more movies etc, then the PSN. I love my PS3, and I don't even have a 360, but I wont lie and say that PSN is better.
I went on XBL, and played online at friends house, and yes it is better. It had a headstart, but it's better. It's pointless to compare.
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2. if you are flicking through text it tends to become unreadable due tot he fact that the blur tends to be a plain rectangle due to the text being the same size, were as with icons they have more distinguished features
3."The closest equivalent to downloadable themes for the PlayStation happens to be PSP themes", are you a *****in tard , dont you realise you should investigate before writing an article, im pretty sure theres a good lot of DL themes including the sleek PSN theme
4. WTF was the eyesight thing all about, what if i didnt have a left hand i wouldnt beable to scroll quickly to the XBL marketplace O_o
5. if the wave is so annoying, turn the brightness down, or heres a good idea TAKE A BLACK IMAGE, and set that as a wallpaper Duh
yh some good comparisons, you totally avoiding them
you started rambling on about eyesight O_o
also i used to hate the xmb, but now seeing the blades i thank god for it, and i prefer having to it the PSN STORE logo, i dont know why it just makes it more formal as in your jumping into a new service, yh i know it sounds sad
and finally the shortcut idea not that good of one, i would personally hate it, allow what i would love is if
Optimus Maximus came for the PS
that thing is wicked
also when did articles on QJ become a place for total opinions, use the forum, we dont want to hear your incorrect ramblings
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Btw, people are fanboys for one reason: They bought a product that was expensive. And somebody says "hey that thing you bought SUCKS''
your obviously gonna want to back yourself up, because technically the other guy is calling you STUPID for buying that product.
Fanboy's are everywhere. As long as there is conflict between 2 things, there will be people who love their product and will feel offended if someone calls it crap.
Back on topic: Future of XBL and PSN is easy to predict: If you want to stay in competition, your gonna add more games, demos, movies, and music.. etc. Adding near useless features ( like font change) isn't gonna sell your console.
There has to be a good difference between the two, especially if one costs more. What are consoles made for? Mostly Gaming... and thats what many people buy it for - not to customize their icons.
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(sarcasm)
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If you have some sort of eyesight problem, there are options to change the actual wallpaper, download PS3 themes from the PS Store AND/OR various websites around the net which have USER-CREATED themes, there are multiple fonts, and even multiple colors for the overall XMB.
Now then, saying that the 360's interface is easier to navigate is a lie. The first time I even picked up a PS3 controller and navigated the XMB, I could get places very easily and quickly. Took no effort at all. I went to a Wal-Mart and picked up a 360 controller and it's respective stand. Took me an entire minute to figure out where to go just to start a game up.
The 360's interface looks sexier than the XMB (well, at least the standard XMB without any themes applied, hehe) but yeah, not easier to navigate at all. The stores have mostly the same types of content.
And no shiznit that the 360 has more movies or downloads. It was released a full year before the Wii or PS3. And am I the only one who thinks that the XBL Arcade Games fail horribly compared to PSN's games? I mean, wow, I know tons of Xbox fanboys/users in real life who agree with me on this one. Even Microsoft themselves are phasing out some of the less popular games.
Just wow, and for ANYONE to say that PSN is better or XBL is better, is just really dumb. I PREFER PSN, but I won't say it's better. You know why? Because at this point, especially with 2.40 out, there's no goddamn reason to compare at all anymore. It's like comparing a Dodge Viper GTS to a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. There's just no point, as they're both fast and sexy. XD.
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Just so you know, I'm typing this through my PS3 web browser with my keyboard. I personally feel that that is an important feature that is a vertebre in the backbone of the playstation. I go to qj to read good articles, not crap ones.
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I kick ass in CoD4 but did u know I kick ass in CoD4 for FREEEEEEE!!!!!
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-LeRoy3rd
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http://www.google.com/patents?id+mx93AAAAEBAJ+dq+gaming+soundtrack
They filed for the patent when the Xbox was out and it was granted several months before the PS3 was released in 2006.
Sony have now added the feature because we (the fans) wanted it, although the only way they could get around the patent is to leave the decision for in-game music down to the developer.
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I know the new PSN Video Store offers rentals and purchases for SD content but I don't think XBL offers that, not even with the upcomming Netflix deal.
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Bull*****. Not only are there lots of free wallpapers and themes available directly from sony (I got an Uncharted and Ratchet and clank), but you can make your own and download your own. You can also make your own wallpaper quickly and easily (and free). In fact, they don't charge *ANYTHING* for your to use themes.
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Having M$ hosted servers instead of normal servers means nothing, and surely not some money per month, lol.
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deano out
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it says at the bottom of the screen the game name (ON THREE BLADES). which makes it easier to find than on the XMB.
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Come on... I know a fanboy of something has to take argument more somewhere with someone... come out, come out, where-ever you are!
(0.o)
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They should have many xbot and PS3 owner post all their pros for the online service through many specific similar question and list out the pros into 1 article as a comparison....
Because we can not trust the writer to be unbiased we must get bias opinions from both sides to cancel out the one only is great kind of crap writing as seen in the above crap article.
I've stated it before and I'll state it again...Please QJ have your staff do their homework before posting a load of crap and using over generalization for the most part and only throwing in one fact to support the xbot while pissing in the PS3's face....
It's sad to say i use to respect this place for the facts and the dept of knowledge you guys have to report.....but it seems like you're picking up any less than average half empty brain person to write your articles now days.....thus sending a negative image as this QJ=Qtrash
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Maybe you shouldn't write crap articles?
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numbers DOES NOT equal BETTER
and BTW if it did im prettttyyy surree the wii would win
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I'm sure they said it would at E3.
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In regards to this article; it's pretty obvious the author doesn't own a ps3. There was plenty of errors, but they've already been mentioned.
But what is this about going on about the visually or physically impaired? What a joke.
I was expecting some insightful comparison, but this article didn't even scratch the surface of the 2 interfaces.
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Genocide > RRoD
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just numbers were on his side ......... was he better than the rest?
answer+ no
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This wouldn't be so much of a crap article if it was the truth.
I hate you Victor, you've ruined qj.net. How's it feel?
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The bottom line is that both systems have their pros and cons, and thats likely the way it will stay.
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go here
http://www.n4g.com/
and if you sign up please call your account
"s*****" or something with that name in it.
It would be really cool. watch a lot of people will welcome you.
remeber to name your username "s*****" youll get a few suprises
h
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Seriously, Victor this article is not good at all. Quit showcasing it in the sidebar and everything. This is the worst article on qj.net. And you're the worst writer on qj.net. Leave.
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what a rape of online gaming. having to pay for access is retarded too. im gad you can play xbox online but who would want to play an xbox over a pc anyway? best online xbox games are multiconsole anyway. xbox is just for ppl that are too stupid/ broke to use a pc. unfortuneately the few exclusive titles make it worth playing. if it werent for a couple of those unique titles id say it should be thrown in the trash. they take the marketing ideas of nintendo and charge charge charge you for eveything they f**king can.
in the future you will just pop quarters into your console to play for 10min.
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nuff said
maybe if you actually owned a 360 you'd know why
XBLA- you can live this gen with just that
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