Xbox vs. 360: Do you really need HD?
by Blake Snow 
{ Dec 1st 2005 at 5:00PM }
While we've seen one game comparison earlier today, Gamespot has a
nice feature that further compares graphics between the 360 and its predecessor. From the
article: "After taking a look at nine Xbox 360 launch games and comparing them side by side against their Xbox
counterparts, it's clear that we can't automatically assume that the Xbox 360 version of a game will be significantly
better than the Xbox version, especially if you don't have an HDTV."
So for those who still haven't purchased a 360, you make the call. High definition graphics sure look nice though.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jay @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
amazing, the last 6 posts here have been specifically about the Xbox 360. Still, i suppose its better than 6 continuos PS3 posts!
Clint @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Looks like most people made the right decision to wait on the PS3. I guess this year the top console will still be the PS2 and next year will be the PS3. Too bad for Microsoft. They are the latest to fall to Sony.
shizzlez @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
what an ignorant comment...as you can see..not everybody is waiting for ps3...all the xbox 360 are sold out everywhere and ps3 might not even come out til 2007 ...try not to look like a sony fanboy too much...its disgusting...
Joseph @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
I really don't think that microsoft is going to pull through with this console. Going from screenshots only, at this point they have a bunch of titles that already exist on other consoles. Better graphics does NOT always make a better game. Judging from the amount of money they've lost from the last xbox, and how much they are looking to lose on this one... I'd think microsoft would be out of the console race once this finishes.
Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
My eyerolling is aimed directly at you Clint (aka ultimate SonyFanBoy). The games in this article are all games that were made for the PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube for the most part and had some graphical updates for the 360...some of the EA games were completely redone but EA didn't do them justice. They don't compare to games like PGR3, Kameo, DOA4, Gears of War, and other 360 games that don't have Xbox and PS2 ports.
Even then, the first paragraph of the article says that these comparison were made at 480p. Whose going to be running their 360 at 480p if they have a HDTV?
Lars D. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
The link in the first sentence is dead, just thought you should know. It goes just to "http://"
Clint @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Shizzles,
It's not doing them much good to be sold out if there aren't any to buy. The longer they aren't available the better Sony will beat them next year. Just watch.
Also..These screen shots prove that this is really not next generation. These prove that Xbox 1.5 is what was released in the USA in November. Anyone who tries to deny that this is clearly a Microsoft fanboy!
Rare Hare @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
ok, but i want to see what the 360 games look like in high definition as compared to standard definition.
i want to know if i NEED an HDTV to fully enjoy an xbox 360, or if i can hold out and go ahead and purchase the 360 first and the HDTV when it's more affordable.
joystiq, can you please do this?? even for just a couple games?
Unimpressed @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
I think the problem is that you can't make the graphics an increadible amount better unless you just plain have photorealistic graphics and spot on physics (not impressed by rag-doll) which is a long way off.
My prediction is nothing will be jaw dropping, make you wanna slap your momma, graphics from these "next gen" systems because by the time developers figure out how to tax these systems PC graphics (as usual) will far (maybe not far) surpass everything that the consoles can offer.
zelig2 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
That article is pure crap. Possibly the worst game pictures I've seen in ages. Everyone is always complaining that better graphics don't equal better gaming. Now in this article they talk about how how 360 doesn't look that good on an old 20" tv going through the RF connector. Big surprise. The thing for me on the 360 is how the finally got Live Arcade done right. I play the arcade games on there way more than I do any actual 360 titles. Add to that some gamerpoints and it makes replayability so much better as I compete against my friends online for the high score in Gauntlet.
Clint @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Scott...You don't understand. Hardly anyone has an HDTV. The vast majority of people will not have them for several years. Thus...the XBox 1.5 will not be that impressive to most people who buy one. It doesn't matter what excuse you use. The fact is these games are Xbox 1.5 games and they don't look much better than the PS2 game. They cost more as well. It's best just to buy the PS2 game and wait for PS3. At least it will have backwards compatibility. The xbox 1.5 requires a hard drive just to play the old games. How lame is that?
skeezer @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
The 360 has been out for a week and a half and already people are trying to claim it was a failure...these posts are just a waste of time reading since not one person offers anything useful in their comments. Of course the PS2 will win the numbers war this year... it did have an 11 and 1/2 month head start on the 360 to go along with the shortage problems
Todd @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
I've really thought about getting a 360 sometime next year. Looking at these pictures maybe I should spend that money on a HDTV. I know I'll feel let down by the purchase of a 360 if I have to play it on my 20" SDTV.
Jeff @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Umm... this isn't really an HD vs. Non-HD argument. This is an xbox vs. xbox 360 port article, and despite the 360 ones looking a bit nicer, it proves absolutely nothing... Obviously, especially for first-generation games, there's probably going to be very little difference between the 2 versions outside of the HD support. Sure, HD obviously looks better, but jumping to the conclusion that "people made the right decision to wait for PS3" is just logically flawed. This is akin to seeing the original Quake running at 60 FPS on a crappy pc at 640x480, and then running Quake on a better machine at 60 FPS at 1600x1200, and saying "Man, it looks sharper, but the game still looks like ass... Thank god I didn't upgrade my PC."
The real test won't be decided until some 2nd generation non-ports come out for the 360, or when a 360 game gets DOWN ported to the XBox, PS2, or GCN. And no, I don't have an Xbox 360 (actually, I've been selling any 360 that comes into my apartment on Ebay).
js5981 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
the fact of the matter is, this is a new system and it'll take some time to mature. I'm sorry fanboys, but I bought an xbox360 b/c after waiting hours in line for a ps2 and getting a chance to play my friend's original xbox that Microsoft's game library appealed to me more in a broader sense than PS2's and I really haven't looked back since. It's different strokes for different folks people, I'm tired of hearing all this "PS3 gonna rule or Xbox360 is the all mighty" crap. Just pick one and enjoy it, whichever it may be.
Art Guy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Holy crap. These guys really have no clue on how to take screen captures. What are they using? A digital camera?
The difference is staggering on a HDTV.
Buckshot @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Why would they do anything at 480p? 1080i all the way. Maybe it will make some of these slackers get an HD set, so they can enjoy what HD has to offer.
Chris McDowell @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Microsoft has more money than most countries so I would not count them out even if they failed this round. I have heard that the developer tools are much better on the xbox and that is going to give them a much bigger lead over ps3 with developers even if the ps3 is more powerful. Sony is being held up by their gaming division while the rest of the company falls behind while microsoft is losing on it's gaming division and being held up by the rest of the company. Microsoft can throw alot more money at this than sony can. If you all hate Microsoft so much stop supporting their os. Now that is a shitty piece of software. 360 and ps3 are going to be fairly similar I bet but no one really knows for now so why say one is going to win if they arent even all out yet. The 360 may not have too much of a graphical leap so far but it certainly has the power leap to give it a graphics leap once it has all been taken advantage of. Just compare the xbox to 360 specs and tell me it is nothing.
Clint @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Art Guy,
I think the point is not many people have an HDTV. The cost of the console is too high if one must buy an expensive tv just to get extra benefits. I can't believe anyone would buy an expensive tv to justify purchasing an over-heating, defective, rushed console.
Why should the screenshots be on an HDTV when under normal conditions it won't be played with that kind of tv since the vast majority of households have no such tv?
rich @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
nintendo pwns!
Ian Gibson @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
shit bitches, if you don't have a 360 then stfu, your opinion doesn't count on this issue. I didn't wait in line for 13 hours in the freezeing rain just to hear you claim the PS3 king. Once I booted up PGR3 on my HDTV, I knew the 360 is truly next-gen. Even hooked up to my standard TV, it still looks incredible. The price of HDTV's is dropping like crazy, I got my Sony 27" for only $400. EA games for the 360 are shit and don't count for anything; all they did was strip down the features and add a few more pixels just to make some bucks off of the launch frenzy. In conclusion:
1: the 360 is next-gen in every way
2: HDTV's are getting really cheap, and the 360 looks amazing on them as well as on standard composite
3: EA's 360 launch titles aren't even worth looking at
4: When the PS3 comes out, we'll have a console brawl worthy of the gods
MCSDhacker @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
"Whose going to be running their 360 at 480p if they have a HDTV?" exactly!
Where's the article that shows Madden 06 on ps2 in 480i vs 1080i on X360? I'm still waiting on that side by side comparison... All I'm asking for her is objecting reporting. Thats not too much to ask. And comparing a game on xbox in 480p vs xbox 360 in 480p and titling the article "do we really need HD" is just misleading. Its not only untrue (480p is NOT HD) but its propaganda...
It would be nice if there could be at least one 360 article without sony fanboys making ignorant comments.
I read an article on here the other day that "Revolution graphics not much better than GC" and the comment forum was full of "well graphics aren't that important anyway" responces. Yet now we are on the topic of 360 ports of mutiple console franchises and I see "comparing them [xbox 360] side by side against their Xbox counterparts, its clear that we cant automatically assume that the Xbox 360 version of a game will be significantly better than the Xbox version." So which is it fanboys? I guess its just the baseless attacks of fanboyism but when xbox 360 comes up all they have to say is the 'graphics aren't good enough' and we talking about ps2 and gamecube I hear 'graphics aren't important'?
I will donate $20 to this site if you would add a button underneath each comment line that says "Fanboy Flag" and if enough people click on it to report it as fanboy drivel the comment disappears. It would cut down on pointless flaming and TROLLS.
clint is a douchebag @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
i have a 360 and a hdtv and i have to say that the graphics are next gen. remember, these are launch games, within a year we're gonna see just what the 360 is capable of. Elder Scrolls, Gears of War, have you seen these games? yes, there are actual gameplay vids out there that'll prove you wrong. i'm not saying the ps3 wont be as good, i wouldnt know, i dont believe in hype.
Ryan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Much better comparison. Now there's some stuff I can get behind. Much better graphics, but again, where's the innovation?
Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Clint said:
"I think the point is not many people have an HDTV. The cost of the console is too high if one must buy an expensive tv just to get extra benefits. I can't believe anyone would buy an expensive tv to justify purchasing an over-heating, defective, rushed console.
Why should the screenshots be on an HDTV when under normal conditions it won't be played with that kind of tv since the vast majority of households have no such tv?"
The same argument could made for you beloved PS3 dingleberry.
joss @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
"I think the point is not many people have an HDTV. The cost of the console is too high if one must buy an expensive tv just to get extra benefits. I can't believe anyone would buy an expensive tv to justify purchasing an over-heating, defective, rushed console.
Why should the screenshots be on an HDTV when under normal conditions it won't be played with that kind of tv since the vast majority of households have no such tv?"
Clint you do realise through your fanboy haze that your entire argument could be useded just as effectively against the PS3!
Except that also have the optionto buy TWO hdtvs that display at 1080p each?
Just be quiet before you cram your other foot squarely in your mouth
xeper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Could these people please, for the love of God, get some DIRECT SCREEN CAPTURES!
I could stick a 320X240 low-detail pic right next to a 1600X1200 full-detail pic of Doom 3 and even the pickiest nerd wouldn't know the difference if I used the cameraphone they used to get these caps.
Art Guy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Clint - Those were two distinct thoughts, hence the paragraph break. I'll make it clearer:
1. Whoever took these screenshots at 480p has no clue what they are doing. The contrast is messed up, the images are blurry and filled with compression artifacts. They appear to be taken with a digital camera rather than a true direct digital source. Theses screenshots are not a good example of differences between the systems due to the poor image quality.
2. The difference between playing 360 games on a HDTV compared to a standard def tv is staggering. If you play games as much as I do a HDTV is a great investment.
pukgreenuniform @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Its not that the system is xbox 1.5, some of the games look like they are playing on a slightly upgraded xbox. Though you have to admit some games like kameo just couldnt run on xbox. I am also sick of people saying that they dont play like next gen games. What should they play like for god sakes what do the sony fan boys expect. Keep in mind i am a nintendo fan boy but i still dig what this system can do.
Bo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
It's obvious those with an HDTV setup and nice surround sound system will really enjoy the Xbox360 experience. Personally, I have had a lot of fun on all available games for the 360. The improved graphics and sound really enhance the gaming experience. Playing Quake 4 on my HDTV is so much more fun when you can sit back on a comfortable couch and frag the Strogg to hell. The wireless controller's response is unbelievable. Hell, even GUN is fun playing on a big HDTV.
I hear a lot of complaints how there is not a huge improvement in graphic on standard TV, and all I can think of is the Xbox 360 is 'next-gen'. If you have a crappy TV with low resolution, you're not ready for next-generation yet...and you will not be ready when the PS3 as well. Tough luck poor gamers, don't cry because you're poor.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Art Guy,
No the difference is deffinately NOT staggering on an hdtv. It's slightly better. What are you easily impressed by shinier rocks and better lighting? OOOOH AHHHH. This is xbox 1.5 without a doubt. You really think ps3 or even revo arent going to be better coming out a year later?! Its going to be another dreamcast just watch. Plus not to mention that the shot of King kong on 360.. looks almost as good as Resident Evil 4 running on Gamecube. Please
Ryan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
What about gameplay? Is it better on a 360?
cletus @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
The the PS3 is going to look just as shitty on regular TV as the 360. If the majority of households don't have HDTV yet, why the hell has Microsoft and Sony put such an emphasis on the hardware's capabilities to produce high-def graphics. I've played the 360 on both a high-def and standard-def television. Let me tell you, there is a WORLD of difference between the two. You can't even compare them. This is the reason why I'm dropping a couple grand over Christmas break.
(Just wait till the second generation of games comes out...it's gonna be 10 times better than what's already out--and what's already out is amazing.)
Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
pukgreenuniform said:
"Its not that the system is xbox 1.5, some of the games look like they are playing on a slightly upgraded xbox."
Exactly. These were all ports of Xbox/PS2 games to the 360. You can't look at games like PGR3, Kameo, Oblivion, and Gears of War and spout nonsense like "Xbox 1.5" unless your a helpless Sony Fanboy.
Ejflex @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
BO.. what an idiot you are...
You are a moron. Sorry poor gamers? I myself am 27 and have an hdtv, but most of the people who post here are in High School or college.. so you making fun of poor gamers makes you sound like an ignorant simpleton.
The difference when running a Xbox 360 game on a styandard tv to an HDTV is about the same as playing perfect dark with the hi-res off and then switching it to on. Yes it looks better.. but it certainly is not a HUGE graphical leap into the heavens. I'm sorry you are wrong. End of story. I dont check these posts often.. so if you respond.. jsut know I wont be here to read it.. so have fun.
Ejflex @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
I was speaking of Perfect Dark for the N64 with that Hi-Res comment.
servo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
LOL, the squirming Sony and Nin Fangirls are always good for a laugh.
It's like having sex and a condom. Sex without a condome is GREAT (HDTV). Sex with a condom isn't quite as nice, but it's still great (SDTV).
The Fangirls are just mad because the 360 owners are out having sex, while their still at home wanking it. lol
xeper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr:
Read both Art Guy and my comments. You're completely ignorant.
Smear vaseline all over a 13" TV and see if you can tell the difference between PS1 and PS2 games.
That's what these pictures are.
If you've ever seen the games [King Kong for ex.] side-by-side, Xbox on a 480p monitor to Xbox 360 on a 480p monitor there's no way in hell you could say that it's only a "1.5" improvement. That is, unless your PS2 is crammed so far up your butt that you can't see at all.
firerock @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
I just have to say this artical from GS isn't that great. How in the world they are telling us to compare 2 different products with different screen shot??? Sure, there are still places that you can tell that one is better than the other, but it is more of a judement by each person than a straight comparison. Secondly, X360 is build w/ HDTV in mind, not SDTV in mind. There are only so many details can be output through SDTV, of course they aren't crisp and the colors don't have the saturation of HDTV. 3rd, this comparison limits the output performance of X360. If the game is meant to be watched on HDTV, of course it has to degrade to SDTV when used on SDTV. It is like you are testing 2 different cars' speed but you are only limit the speed @ 20mph. Now, sure one car will get to 20mph faster, but only up to 20mph; no more no less. If you try to test both machines, you have to let them use they best output to compare the result, not to their lowest denominator.
It's the same with PS3. Do you guys think that all of the MGS demo are output on SDTV??? It would not have all of those fine details displayed on a SDTV.
X360 and PS3 are the future; therefore they are build with HDTV in mind. HDTV output requires more detailed texture to be stored in everything; therefore those details wouldn't matter much on SDTV. This article only make sense if you are a graphic whore and you only have SDTV; then X360 isn't that big of jump for you. But if you want more games that are only available at next gen (x360/ps3/revo), then you eventually have to upgrade whether you have HDTV or not. And likely, you will get an HDTV within 2 years. Is X360 worth the upgrade now, there are still many nuiances to be determined. Do you like online game play? Do you enjoy online community? Do you want to get the next gen now then later when PS3/Revo come out? Do you have HDTV to take advantage of the new HDTV standard? Do you want it to be a media extension in your room other than a PC...etc.
funkonaut @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Daaaaaamn. The 360 really is Xbox 1.5. That comparison shows that the 360 is really pathetic. Short of PGR3, there really is no compelling reason to get a 360.
I feel sorry for all of the people that bought a 360 on launch day. Well, as sorry as one can feel for fools. They got a loud space heater that plays games in 16:9 720p when it's not locking up and that's about it. What a sorry state of affairs, but it's not surprising coming from Microsoft.
It's amazing how they screw everything up. Uncanny even.
Joe @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Oh man Clint you have no clue do you.
At the end of the day the picture can only be as good as the screen that it is showing on. You can only improve graphics so much on a normal TV before thats the end of the game.
Wait for the PS3, that will look just as un-groundbreaking as the 360 on standard TV.
rog27 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
All this High Definition mumbo-jumbo is a load of shit....we've been doing it for years now on the pc.
What people really want to see is high-polygon models, robust textures, incredible lighting effects in addition to, and this is the kicker, BETTER ANIMATION AND PHYSICS.
All of the aforementioned stuff can be done on any resolution tv. Of course the step up to high-res allows for subtle details to be seen. But the real crux of what will make next-gen really next-gen is incredibly realistic looking models and environments(higher polygon count) and REALISTIC ANIMATION
Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Jeez...Joystiq needs to put IP tags next to the names so we can catch griefers like Clint/Grrrrrrr/funkonaut who like to post with multiple names.
leo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
All of you are fanboys.
The fact is, the graphical improvement in the current 360 games compared to their x-box counterpart is so little, it doesn't deserve to be called a next-gen title. Compared to ps1-ps2 leap, this is nothing. That is why some sony fanboys insist this is x-box 1.5 . And no, a better graphic at HD tv doesn't count, except if everyone
in the world already have HD tv. The fact is those people bought 360 because they want a next-gen console, not a next-gen console IFF you have HDTV.
However, remember that this is only first generation titles. As time goes, it can only get better. Remember ps2 first gen titles?
compare WE5 to WE9, MGS2 to MGS3, Dark cloud to FFX. so maybe, in 2-3 years we can see a real next-gen title come out for 360.
funkonaut @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
There is only one funkonaut. I'm too old be play immature fanboy games.
May the best games win! Don't be such a loyalist, Scott. Sheesh.
vrf @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
I didn't read through all the fanboy posting here, but I just want to say that the second screenie looks much better than the first. You're blind if you don't see that.
Joe @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
am i the only one who thinks that the xbox 360 shots look awesome?
oh well
Joey Geraci @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Right, so you are not a fanboy and all you really care about are the games. Right. That is why you are making ANY kind of determination based upon this asinine article.
Art Guy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
HDTV is multitudes better than standard tv. I can't believe it is something people are even trying to debate.
http://blogs.snapstream.com/wp-content/resolutionComparisonLarge.jpg
All of you who claim the jump from standard tv to HDTV is miniscule...do you have your computer monitor set to 640x480? I'm betting you have it set to something MUCH higher.
Gary Larson's publicist @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM
Wow... I have a 360 and eight games. All of them look stellar on my TV. Sorry fellas, but the games I am playing look nothing like those screenshots. It is hilarious to hear people judging the system based on those screens. It is obvious the point of the article is to try to convince the reader that there isn't a significant difference if you play it on a SDTV. Hmmm, I wonder why they chose screenshots that fit their pre-determined view when they went to write the article.
Guys (gals), HDTV is what the next-gen is all about. The PS3 is not going to look good on your 20" RCA you got back in 1997 either.
There is no doubt that the games I am playing right now on my beautiful TV are indeed next gen.