Ghost Recon: Buy for it Mac or XBox?

[dstranathan]

Ghost Recon ships soon for both the Mac (9 and X) and XBox.

My problem

I can't decide which version to buy. The XBox version will support the XBox Live Internet mutiplayer system, and it will also support the Voice Communicator headset/mic. XBox live will cost about 100 a year, and inlcude the Communicator. (Wow, Microsoft has a product called "Communicator" now, ain't that a trip?)
Talking with real voices as opposed to typing would be cool! The downside is that the XBox has no mouse or keyboard, and that's a problem for FPS games in general on console systems. Another plus to the XBox, however, is that I have a new 36" flat TV with component video I/O, which is nice for kickin' back in the living room with friends and playing, as opposed to sitting in my office playing by myself or online on the Mac.

My Mac specs:

TiBook 667 (ATI RADEON 7500 w/ 32 MB VRAM, AGP 4x), 1 GB RAM, cable modem, pro keyboard, and Logitech multi-button optical mouse. It doesnt sound like a great game machine, but it plays Wolf, Soldier of Fortune and Medal of Honor pretty good at 640x480 with 32 bit everything and medium quality settings.. I plan on buying a 17" or 19" Apple studio display once Apple releases its new line of LCDs. The TiBook is free, because I get one as a perk from my company (I'm in IT). I usually get a new model every year, so maybe I will have a new TiBook with a Radeon 9000 and 64 MB VRAM soon if Apple announces a new Ti like everyone thinks thay will. Combined with a new LCD, I may have a great game rig by the end of the month, assuming Apple ships news goodies! Not as nice as my new 36" TV, but wayyyy better than my current 15" Ti screen!

I bought the XBox this spring to play Halo on it. I finsihed Halo and haven't bought another game since. There arent any good FPSs out for XBox, but that will change-there are a ton-o-FPSs shipping in Oct, Nov, and Dec, and of course Halo 2 in the spring of 2003.

I feel guilty if I dont play on the Mac and instead play on a Microsoft product.

What will have better graphics? The dedicated XBox hardware (with the tweaked GeForce 2 inside), or a (hypothetical) new Ti 933 with a Radeon 9000?

Comments?

[Matsu]

Hello?

What the heck are you doing buying Xbox games? When you bought the console, M$ lost money, good job. But if you start buying games for it, they'll make the money back. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> You need to live in a city with a good China Town. Mod-chips and China Town are your friends. Games are way overpriced, there isn't any good reason why they should cost more than CD's or Movies. But especially because this is M$ and the potential for nasty intrusive DRM precendents is huge should they get a foot-hold in the living room. Sega out of the hardware business, and Nintendo? They'll keep Gameboy alive, but they won't be coming back for another generation of console hardware (not alone at least). That leaves Sony and M$, both with intentions of going after a broader 'entertainment/communications' category than just 'games'. Both of them are big/ugly entities who hate the consumer and would like you to not only over-pay for products, but not actually own them once you do pay, and to keep on paying rental fees/taxes to keep using the stuff you already paid for.

The best thing for everyone interested in games, films and music is that Sony and M$ both get the shaft.

[stunned]

Without attaching my personal feelings, I believe that tha playstation2 is currently the best game machine around, due to its sheer amount of game titles. U can get almost every genre u want.

Its really a pity that there aren't many Mac games available, as compared to the PC OR Playstation2.

And, pls no Xbox....... The machine sucks, and its title sucks...... <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />

[Steve]

I'd get the Xbox version. There is nothing like curling up on the couch with your controller in hand, surrounded by 5.1.

You just can't get the same effect with a computer, especially a laptop.

[ericj551]

Halo 2 coming in spring 2003?

That seems a tad bit soon, I think the estimate is late 2003 (hopefully November)...
<a href="http://halo.bungie.org/faq/mostasked.html#halo2" target="_blank">http://halo.bungie.org/faq/mostasked.html#halo2</a>

[torifile]

Could you hook your mac up to the t.v. and get a wireless keyboard/mouse to get the same effect? Personally, I'd get it for the xbox because I'm not into my computer for gaming. I've got a ti and it's hard to see in dark areas on the lcd. But you've always got the option of using your tv for the game.

[BrianMacOS]

[quote]Originally posted by stunned:
<strong>Without attaching my personal feelings, I believe that tha playstation2 is currently the best game machine around, due to its sheer amount of game titles. U can get almost every genre u want.

Its really a pity that there aren't many Mac games available, as compared to the PC OR Playstation2.

And, pls no Xbox....... The machine sucks, and its title sucks...... <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

Way to back up your point LOL... The Xbox to me is far better... and he didn't ask for your input on which system is better.

I would go with the Xbox version.

[Kecksy]

[quote]Originally posted by Matsu:
<strong>Hello?

What the heck are you doing buying Xbox games? When you bought the console, M$ lost money, good job. But if you start buying games for it, they'll make the money back. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> You need to live in a city with a good China Town. Mod-chips and China Town are your friends. Games are way overpriced, there isn't any good reason why they should cost more than CD's or Movies. But especially because this is M$ and the potential for nasty intrusive DRM precendents is huge should they get a foot-hold in the living room. Sega out of the hardware business, and Nintendo? They'll keep Gameboy alive, but they won't be coming back for another generation of console hardware (not alone at least). That leaves Sony and M$, both with intentions of going after a broader 'entertainment/communications' category than just 'games'. Both of them are big/ugly entities who hate the consumer and would like you to not only over-pay for products, but not actually own them once you do pay, and to keep on paying rental fees/taxes to keep using the stuff you already paid for.

The best thing for everyone interested in games, films and music is that Sony and M$ both get the shaft.</strong><hr></blockquote>

What? The Game Cube has been very successful for Nintendo. Nintendo can get away with fewer 3rd party developers than M$ or Sony, because with Nintendo, it's all about first party games. As long as Nintendo is making money selling its own games, they'll keep making Game Cubes.

There's no reason why Nintendo won't produce another consul in three years. The Game Cube isn't a failure like the N64. It's a great consul with great games.

[Kecksy]

I take it back. Nintendo IS getting out of the consul market. It's all *confirmed here: <a href="http://www.mosr.com" target="_blank">http://www.mosr.com</a> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

[Matsu]

We laugh now, but they just might get out of the business if they think they can do better spreading their considerable wealth of franchises and trademarks around to the other players. I think there'll be at least one key acquisition/merger before the next generation debuts.

However, I think they're beating out the X-box at the moment.

[Eugene]

A FPS available for your Mac and still thinking about the console version with a gamepad?

You, sir, are crazy.

[ 10-10-2002: Message edited by: Eugene ]</p>

[Kecksy]

One of the things the DreamCast had going for it was the keyboard and mouse. Great for FPSs like Quake. It was a great consul, but no one seemed to care. I guess everyone figured they'd wait for the PS2 and Dolphin. I guess Sega really didn't have any great exclusive titles for the DreamCast either.