A bit of budget gaming advice please.
A bit of budget gaming advice please.
Author
Discussion

budfox

Original Poster:

1,510 posts

151 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
Hi all

The boy has moved out and taken the PS4 so I've decided to buy a previous generation console for a bit of budget gaming. The choice is PS3 or Xbox360 (much as I love Nintendo, the Wii never did it for me and the Wii U is still pricey).

My budget of £100 will buy me the basic models of those two consoles, used in Game (£79 and £59 respectively). I'm not interested in online gaming.

The cheaper Xbox means I can have more games (there appear to be loads for £5-£10 used) but in both cases the console and three/four games can be done.

I'd want one of each of the following genres:

1 - Racing game. Nothing too serious, so something of an arcade nature.
2 - Adventure dragons/dungeons type of thing. I like the kind of games where you discover dungeons and gradually become more powerful. Loved Baldur's Gate on PS2(?)
3 - A platformer. This is where Nintendo always win for me. I like side-scrolling ones like Donkey Kong, not the 3d stuff which I find way too confusing.

Also, there do appear to be loads of COD/Halo type games for both systems, and whilst these really aren't my thing, a suggestion for one of this type of game instead of a platformer would be appreciated.

Finally, the game I've always adored is Pilotwings on SNES/N64 - I don't suppose there's anything like this for either console?

So there we go. £100 to spend, what would you recommend?

Cheers

rob0r

440 posts

192 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
I'm a 360 fan boi but I also have a PS3. I'd go 360 simply for Forza 4, I find the forza series far more approachable than Gran Turismo whilst still challenging. Also for a platformer try Fez, it's different but utterly amazing.

ZedLeg

12,278 posts

130 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
Mass Effect and Dragon age are made by the same people that made Baldur's Gate. Mass Effect is a space opera sci-fi affair and Dragon Age is a classic D&D style fantasy RPG. You'll be able to get the first Dragon Age for a couple of quid these days.

TommoAE86

2,865 posts

149 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
I love my Playstation's and find Xbox's really annoying to use, however for the games you want to play I'd be doing you a disservice forcing Gran Turismo 5 & 6 on you.

I vote for Xbox on the strength of Forza alone.

kowalski655

15,159 posts

165 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
Another vote for Forza 4(& Forza Horizon 1 or 2 if toy want a more arcady experience)
If looking for a budget XBox 360 though,DONT go for the 4Gb one ,nowhere near enough space

The Beaver King

6,095 posts

217 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
I've had an Xbox and the PS3; horses for courses really. I do agree with the comment above on Forza though, much better than Gran Turismo.

Don't buy a console from the shop, Ebay is your best shout. Plenty of cheap ones.

Games to get:

Forza (as mentioned)
Mass Effect 1/2/3 (as mentioned)
Skyrim (absolutely essential if you love RPGs and exploring)
Fight Night Champion (awesome boxing game)
COD Modern Warfare 2/3 and Black Ops (these three have the best single player campaigns)

Foliage

3,861 posts

144 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
The Beaver King said:
Don't buy a console from the shop, Ebay is your best shout. Plenty of cheap ones.
Ive seen 100s of the things (mainly ps3/xbox360 at car boots, for peanuts

Jayyylo

986 posts

169 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
When you get it (an Xbox), have a search into typical top 100 Xbox360 games lists then pop onto ebay for the bargains. There are so many great games you can pick up for very little if you know what you like.

I know you said you aren't interested in playing online but if you do eventually get an online account you will benefit from the 'games with gold' promotion which lets you download two games free each month. This helps me to play an expanding range of games without the effort of having to go buy them and if I don't like it I simply uninstall it. (Next month will be The Walking Dead and Metal Gear Solid 5).

And World of Tanks. The only reason I actually have an online account.

MarkRSi

5,782 posts

240 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
The Beaver King said:
Skyrim (absolutely essential if you love RPGs and exploring)
For a dungeon/dragon style RPG this is probably perfect yes

wildoliver

9,203 posts

238 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
PS3 is by far the better hardware.

But driving games? Forza every time so go with the XBOX.

Plus WOT. No ideas on your other games as I don't like games like that but there will be plenty available.

budfox

Original Poster:

1,510 posts

151 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
Thanks all. Very helpful.

budfox

Original Poster:

1,510 posts

151 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
Just to add a bit more.

I've decided to go Xbox because of all the Forza comments. I am a little confused by why 4Gb isn't enough memory though. Presumably none of these games will *have* to be updated to play and I assume that the rest is for game saves. Also, I like the idea of no hard drive.

One other thing, and this will sound stupid, but when I looked at Skyrim a lot of the gameplay appeared to take place outside. It's the exploring underground bit that I like so does Skyrim have that too?

Cheers again.

rob0r

440 posts

192 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
To put it one way, I had a 20gb drive and then upgraded to a 120gb drive. Forza especially transfers content onto the hard drive and then plays off a second disc, other games do this as well. If you also connect it online then you are likely to pickup updates or will be tempted to download some Arcade games. For example Battlefield 3 used to send over 10gb updates... Other games will have heavy updates too.

I'd go 20gb as a minimum, I'd never consider a 4gb. My preference would be 40gb+.

If you like underground exploring then definitely get Minecraft, if you've not had this before.

budfox

Original Poster:

1,510 posts

151 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
Thanks Rob. I've tried Minecraft a few times on the PC. I do like it but I think that to get the best from it you are looking at needing a second lifetime.

The Beaver King

6,095 posts

217 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
budfox said:
Just to add a bit more.

I've decided to go Xbox because of all the Forza comments. I am a little confused by why 4Gb isn't enough memory though. Presumably none of these games will *have* to be updated to play and I assume that the rest is for game saves. Also, I like the idea of no hard drive.

One other thing, and this will sound stupid, but when I looked at Skyrim a lot of the gameplay appeared to take place outside. It's the exploring underground bit that I like so does Skyrim have that too?

Cheers again.
You'll need the HDD space; although games run from the disc, a lot of them will need space for updates/DLC etc. Forza for example has the option to buy car packs (additional cars that are a paid extra); these will need to be saved onto the HDD.

Regarding Skyrim, there is stloads of underground sections. I once got lost in a cave for 3 hours hehe

Buy the legendary pack, it has all the DLC with it and hundreds of hours of gameplay

HewManHeMan

2,348 posts

144 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
Not to sound boastful, but I've got an Xbox One, a PS4 and a PC and the PS3 is still plugged into my main receiver. My 360 is gathering dust somewhere in the house (not even sure where!)

I'd go for the PS3.

In the interest of balance, I actually prefer the Xbox One to the Ps4 but that could be the setup (Xbox is in the front room whilst the PS4 is hidden in the games room)

MarkRSi

5,782 posts

240 months

Tuesday 29th September 2015
quotequote all
Regarding the 4GB Xbox would using an external hard drive be an option? If a 20/120 version isn't much more expensive it probably isn't worth the hassle unless you've got a spare external drive lying about.


budfox

Original Poster:

1,510 posts

151 months

Tuesday 29th September 2015
quotequote all
MarkRSi said:
Regarding the 4GB Xbox would using an external hard drive be an option? If a 20/120 version isn't much more expensive it probably isn't worth the hassle unless you've got a spare external drive lying about.
Hi. Yes it would be an option but I really like the idea of both cheap, and a machine without a physical drive.

budfox

Original Poster:

1,510 posts

151 months

Tuesday 29th September 2015
quotequote all
Bought my Xbox today. Just the 4Gb one which I'm sure will be fine.

Got Skyrim and Forza 4 and the total cost was under £80. Can't go wrong with that.

Thanks all.

Edit to add I bought Mass Effect 2 for a couple of quid as well.

Astonishing how cheap the hardware and software becomes. I never cease to be amazed that people will pay upwards of £50 for a new game when so many truly brilliant ones cost almost nothing. Just well though or the games wouldn't get developed.

Edited by budfox on Wednesday 30th September 07:56

FurballS2000

1,061 posts

187 months

Wednesday 30th September 2015
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I have an xbox 360 that I never use anymore, you could buy mine if you want!

Its a black 120GB elite, can't remember all the games I have for it but forza 4, COD MW3 and Gears 1-3 are among them. Will have a look at the games when I get back from work.

edit: Too late! didn't read the last post!

Edited by FurballS2000 on Wednesday 30th September 12:08