Sony and Microsoft - These two major gaming console giants have long been battling against each other for supremacy and their present arena is between the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360, upgraded versions of their original predecessors. Even before their release, a lot of marketing strategies is involved in hyping up the best of what these consoles have to offer. What it will boil down to, in the long run, is will the games for both consoles be better developed and have a better playing experience now that they have the best platforms (at this time) to execute with? Here is a point-by-point comparison of the two consoles’ current specifications.

Processor – PS3’s 3.2Ghz Cell vs. Xbox 360’s 3.2Ghz G5

The processor is the core hardware for both systems. It determines how much power the console has to process complex calculations in less time which is altogether very important considering you’re dealing with complicated 3D graphics for both systems. That said, theoretically, the PS3 can do more since it has 7 synergistic processing units, while Xbox 360 has 3 even though they’re both clocked at 3.2 Ghz. However, since the PS3 is more complicated to program games for, Xbox 360 will have more games in its initial line-up compared to PS3.

Also, relevant to processing speed is the floating point performance measurement of teraflops. The PS3 has 2.18 tfps and Xbox 360 has 1. Again, these values translate to world realism and the physics side of the game. Its effect will be seen on how real the background is in terms of natural movement, like with trees and rain and wind. It also functions with large yet independent movement of groups as seen in massive armies, and gives added realism to explosions and basic destruction.

It all really depends on how game developers will exploit the powers of these two consoles and how fast they can churn the games for the eagerly-awaiting gamers market.

Memory – PS3’s 256MB XDR @ 3.2GHz vs. Xbox 360’s 512MB GDDR3 @ 700MHz

What all this means is that the bigger memory you have, combined with a fast processor, the faster you can process and display complex graphics, which affects the overall framerate speed of your game. In this case, the PS3 has half of the installed memory of the Xbox 360 but can process data faster. It’s like trying to swallow a large chunk of data and your processor determines how fast you can chew it. Which will be faster – a small chunk chewed at 3.2Ghz or a big chunk chewed at 700 Mhz?

Graphics/GPU – PS3’s 500Mhz NVIDIA vs. Xbox 360’s 500Mhz ATI

The impressive graphics displays of both PS2 and the Xbox have already shown just how powerful these consoles are. Just how much can they outdo themselves in this department lies in the hands of two equally powerful yet totally different graphics processors. Sony, however, is packing for the future as it incorporates High-Definition output for the PS3 which means you’ll be able to enjoy better graphics display, not just for the games but for other uses as well, if you also have High Definition TV (HDTV).

Storage – PS3’s 60 Gb HDD vs. Xbox 360’s 20 Gb HDD

These two console giants are really packing it in with whopping 60 and 20 Gigabytes of removable/detachable storage for the PS3 and the Xbox 360, respectively! And if that’s not enough, there are memory cards for both, memory sticks for Sony and additional memory coming from USB ports – 6 for the PS3 and 3 for Xbox 360. This is more than what the average user will ever need.

Media Type – PS3’s BLUray Discs vs. Xbox 360’s DVD-9

Most game discs nowadays are stored on DVD-9’s much like those of the Xbox 360. What Sony has got going for them is that they’re also the manufacturer of BLUray which is a high-definition storage disk capable of holding 54 Gigagbytes of data. This type of storage can be a potential necessity in the future.

Controllers – PS3’s up to 7 vs. Xbox 360’s up to 4

The form and figure of the controllers are basically the same for the Xbox 360 except for minor modifications in the color scheme. The PS3’s controller looks somewhat like a stealth plane with a more streamlined figure compared to its predecessor. It all depends on you where you’ll feel more comfortable. It is astounding and surprising as well that Sony has included as much as 7 potential physical connections, using Bluetooth, for its PS3, while Microsoft has up to 4.

Sound – both sporting 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound

Online potential – Both consoles feature Ethernet and Wi-Fi capabilities. They come in handy when playing online, or for non-gaming activities like downloading music and videos. Microsoft has an edge because it already has an online network in place.

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Gears of War has been called the best reason to get an Xbox 360. Aside from the stunning visuals that demonstrate the Xbox’s capabilities, the game packs thrills, sharp gameplay, beautiful music, and sound effects that heighten the gaming experience. It feels as if you’re in an action movie, not just playing a game. No wonder Gears of War rates consistently high with critics and gamers alike.

The story doesn’t go very deep, and not much background information is provided. But you might not even notice this as the action will keep you occupied enough. There are five acts, each with a set of objectives leading up to one main objective. At least one squad mate and at most four will help along the way.

The game puts you in the center of the action as Marcus Fenix, an ex-soldier for the Coalition of Organized Governments, or COG. You’ve been locked up as a traitor, but at the beginning of the game, you are being busted out of prison by a fellow soldier named Dom. Once free, you have to get back to the rest of Delta Squad. In the middle of helping to fight the war against an enemy force called the Locust, you must also find the Alpha Squad. Not only have they mysteriously disappeared, but they’re supposed to have a device that will help fight the Locust.

The enemy will take on many forms throughout the game. They are basically humanoids with one aim—to blow your head off each chance they get. Most of the time, though, it will take more than one shot to end the game for you and “recharging” is quick. But this doesn’t mean you should be less cautious. The trick is to duck and take cover. Staying down and behind a wall, a column, a pile of cars—anything—is a big part of Gears of War. It’s easy to master the controls and use them to move seamlessly from cover to cover. Or take cover, pop up to open fire, then duck back down..

The game starts with two levels of difficulty—casual and hardcore. A third one, insane, will unlock when you beat the game. Towards the end, however, the action becomes even become more intense. Luckily, you can choose your difficulty level every time you play. And if you need to get out of some rough spots you can always switch between levels while playing.

You can also switch between single play to co-op, where a buddy can play as Dom—or to multi-player mode, where up to eight people can team up in groups of four. Playing in co-op or multi-player mode gives you the ability to “revive” your buddies if they get hit. The only downside is that if you’re playing online in co-op mode and your buddy drops out of the game, you’re forced back to the main menu. If playing in multi-player mode via LAN, you’re limited to two players locally.

Overall, Gears of War stands out from other games because of its cinematic visuals and scoring, seamless effects, and thoughtful pluses, including the scoring system and choice of weapons. A campaign can be completed in 10 to 12 hours, and replayed over and over as a different experience each time.

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