Original PS2 owner...then purchased the Gamecube and only in December purchased my Xbox. My PS2 and Gamecube have taken a back seat to my Xbox system.

The round buttons on the Xbox are the worst ever! Why the hell would you put rounded buttons on a controller when some games (especially racing) require you to hold down the buttons for long periods of time. All the roundness does is make your thumb hurt and you have to take a break for a few hours while your hand heals.

And using triggers for gas and brake? Are you kidding me? Especially since the triggers are way too sensitive to be useful for any game (they are worthless in NCAA unlike the shoulder buttons on Dual Shock).

The S controller is nice for some games, but racing is not one of them. BTW, GTA is NOT a racing game.

As for graphics, you must remember that the PS2 still has a lot of hardware growth (currently utilizing under 70% of the hardware capabilities) while the Xbox is tapped out. The gap will only decrease (have you seen Killzone or GT4 ).

Make your decision based on the games you like.

no, he's not kidding. most people at xblracing.com, who actually play racing games and race all the time, use the trigger buttons for gas/brakes. it is the consensus that that's the best system. you can feather the brakes as well as control the throttle w/ excellent control.

i use them for PGR2 and ToCA2. for motogp2, i stick w/ the A button for gas, but people say i'm nuts for doing so.

I think I've now seen everything when somebody thinks having an analog left and right trigger replicating an analog gas and brake pedal is not the ideal set-up for racing games.

I think his parents were crushed by an Xbox or something - it seems as though he has some sort of anti-xbox agenda lately.


I voted xbox, but this is one of those decisions you ought to make for yourself. Personally, I feel like it's PC > Xbox > PS2 > Gamecube - but they're all great and you can't really go wrong with any of them.

Yeah, joshd2012, you're not helping your case for the PS2. You're just looking like a fanboy.

That said, IMO, if you're looking for 1 system to put in your home I'd go with the PS2. I like the Xbox and GC. I want both of them, but I don't have the time for more than 1 system right now, and the PS2 has the games I want to play the most.

EDIT: Also, Samuel. Remember that you're on DVDtalk's video game forum. This place is dominated by mostly Xbox fans. I attribute this to the Xbox's better graphics and HD resolution capabilities, because many if not most of the players here play their games on high-end setups. If you visit a few other gaming forums, you may find different results. I'm not saying you will, you just might. Either way, have fun with whatever game you get.

You better watch what you type. They ban people for saying such things!

I am no fanboy, but anyone who uses the triggers for gas and brake are wusses. Any true racing fan knows that in real life (remember, they are trying to emulate that) you can't keep one foot on the gas and one on the brake (unless you are some kind of wuss using an automatic). You have to move your foot from the gas pedal to the left in order to get the brake. Your hand emulates the same movement. Being able to apply brake and gas at the same time is a newbie cop-out and will slow you down as your skill increases.

This is, of course, assuming that those of you who posted are not using automatics. I have played PGR2 for hours and GT3 for hours, and I can say, without a doubt, that the Dual Shock is clearly the superior controller for racing.

Edit: If you are using the triggers for gas and brake, which buttons are you using to shift?

what a convincing argument... you're right - I'm a wuss and clearly the dual shock is better.

Someone should immediately notify NASCAR officials about the number of their drivers using incorrect braking technique. All those left feet in charge of brake pedals... what wusses!


*******

Since "left-foot braking" brings up 2300 possible links at Google, I'll pick one out at random. http://www.virtualracersedge.com/left_foot_braking.htm

Of course, if one doesn't realize the technique exists, I can see how it's somewhat possible that one could argue that simply pushing up on a stick to accelerate and pulling down to slow is the best way to replicate high-performance driving.

GT3 has ugly textures.

joshd2012, as Mr. Snowmizer wrote, left foot braking is an advanced racing technique.

In any case, I like the analog control for gas/brake. It is very evident when you play a game that actually simulates this (Try Toca 2). If you don't like it, I can understand because my wife hates anything analog and can't get used to it at all. But I love to feather the gas, especially coming out of a corner so I don't slide all over the place.

I still think S controller is a much better built than Dualshock. Dualshock isn't bad, but I had cramps when I play a game longer than 30 minutes and it feels so flimpsy. Also, I have had 2 died on me already and I don't even play that much (one of them, the motor died, the other it keeps turning itself off the analog mode).

Anyway, GTA is not a racing game. But there are a long list of awesome racing titles for the Xbox. While it is no GT series for popularity or number of cars, I think they are more fun and worthwhile than the singular series offered by PS2.

I couldn't agree more, and I'm a long-time Nintendo fan.

The PS2 has the largest and most extensive library, the most highly rated exclusives, and most highly rated third party games are available (though the graphics are usually a notch below the other systems versions).

And, as you said, there's a ton of great games available for $20 or less.

It's a no brainer IMO for people that can only buy one systems (people that care more about top of the line graphics than number of good games available excluded).

I read that, and it still doesn't mention how you can downshift while braking. How do you down shift if your left foot is on the brake? Can someone explain this to me? (OT: Nascar is a bunch of wusses since they implemented restricter plate racing).

As for using analog controls, all you have to do is lightly depress the gas button (like you would lightly depress the gas pedal) and you can do the same. The buttons are analog too. Except on the Dual Shock, the buttons are more uniformly analog and on the S controler, they are more analog on the top end with hardly any differentation on the bottom end.

X-box. It has better graphics, a more powerful processor, and 5.1 Dolby Digital sound, which will sound awesome if you own a HT. Also, with games like Ninja Gaiden and Halo you can't go wrong. Granted, PS/2 does have more games, but the X-box on the whole is a better system.

Buy the system for the games you enjoy, not the system specs.

PS2 has more games, but IMO a vast majority of them aren't of real high quality. I'd say there are probably more compelling exclusives on PS2 if you like Japanese developed games. I own 10x as many Xbox games as I do PS2 games. I suppose it has alot to do with the fact that I prefer to buy multiplatform games on the Xbox since they look and sound better typically. I'm glad I don't have to pick just one between xbox and ps2 and I can have both in my house... but if I had to make the choice, I'd pick Xbox and just have envy for those who can play games like Ico and Amplitude.

I always considered myself a Playstation type person. Recently I went to a BBQ at a coworkers house and we played some Halo and Tiger Woods, and one other game I forget the name of (Mechwarrior I believe.) I fell in love with the system with Halo (i'm sure many do) but even when we got into Tiger Woods I just liked it, and everything about it.

Needless to say i'm on the hunt for a Xbox this weekend and my PS2 will be going on the backburner. I will enjoy having the option of having either platform to buy games on but on multiplatform games it will definately be on the Xbox. The graphics just seemed more solid, and I really like the harddrive.

Not only that, but with that harddrive I can get Xbox live and download new content, maps, roster updates etc.

If I had to buy them over again, I would have only went with the Xbox from the start.

Hope that helps some

Buy 6 pre-owned Dreamcasts.

joshd2012 obviously has no driving skills at all when it comes to racing... heal toe foot work is common knowledge. I wont insult the other readers, but he needs to do an internet search on this, read about the technique, before he continues to spout his omnipotent stance which is based on nothing. Of course we see this in a lot of ps2 fanboys...

I think he's just trying to further our education.

First, we've all learned the mind-blowing truth that the Xbox is a failure (in Japan).

Now, we know that world-class drivers use the same techniques with braking and acceleration that Grandma uses on her trip to the store to pick up some Polident.

I wonder what's next.

Don't forget that we learned that we're all wusses.

I never said it was. I do remember doing quite a bit of DRIVING in both games, though

I've played through the PS2 versions of GTA3 (100%) and Vice City (90%), and the XBox versions of Vice City (100%) and a test run around GTA3. The S controller on the XBox gives you a much better feel for how the vehicles handle, and the XBox control configuration allows for easier radio station switching and more accurate drive-by shooting. I got by just fine using the Dual Shock, but the S was noticeably better immediately.

And hey, I'm the who initially recommended the OP get a PS2, remember ? I don't knock the PS2, but reading through the thread seems to put me squarely in the majority when it comes to choosing and using the S for driving games. It just plain works better.

I am no fanboy, as you suggest. I am just one of the few people on this board who appreciate the PS2 more than the Xbox. This board is strongly biased towards the Xbox. Even the Mods are strongly biased towards the Xbox as can be seen in their lack of action with you calling me a fanboy. In any other thread no praising the Xbox, you would have been publically warned and the post would have been editted. Of course, since you are praising the Xbox, your post has been left in tact.

Instead of simply calling me a fanboy, why don't you try explaining how a person can work a break and a clutch at the same time with the same foot? We are talking about mass production cars here, since that is what these games mostly consist of. Just explain it and I will agree. Until then, I don't see it as a possiblility.

The Dual Shock is the best controller. For any game. This is why the same form has not changed since its release in 1995. I have used both, and it is clear that the PS2 controller is more responsive and realistic-feeling as compared to the S controller. The rounded buttons alone are enough make this controller come up short compared to the Dual Shock.

When I find a game on the Xbox (yes, I do play Xbox) where I can honestly say it would not feel better with a Dual Shock, I will gladdly admit it. Until then, I will not be swayed by mob mentality.

The problem with your words is that you proclaim your opinion as FACT.

Excuse me, but may I judge which controller is better for me? In effect, that's what the original poster wanted, an opinion of which system to get, and we can only give our opinions of which system we enjoy more.

People attack you when you claim superiority by professing that your opinion is the de facto standard and everyone who disagrees with you is wrong. Nothing can be further from the truth.