Xbox vs PlayStation: Why are the debates so heated?

[xboxtravis7992]

So something that I've been wondering about: Why is it anytime videogame newscones out, the comments turn into a debate between Xbox and PS owners? It always turns comment sections into this:

PS-Owner: "But this game will suck like all Xbox games. Better games on PlayStation."

Xbox-Owner: "No the PlayStation blows. Gran Turismo sucks."

PlayStation-Owner: "Kinect sucks, Halo sucks, and COD looks great on PS4"

Xbox-owner: "You suck"

Wii-Owner: "FPS consoles suck, Mario all the way"

And the debate continues for 1000 more posts...

So, why? I am an Xbox fan (probably obvious in that I've used it in my online usernames since I joined BZpower back in 2006) but I'd never attack a PlayStation owner just because they bought a different system. I can't imagine these debates are just brand loyalty either, they are really viscous and are likely a bad combination of flaming and trolling. Still though, why?

I figured I'd ask this here since Eurobricks is one of the few fan communities that is CIVIL in their discussions. Any thoughts on the matter?

Edited February 5, 2016 by xboxtravis7992

[K-Nut]

I've always been under the impression that Xbox has better console-exclusive games, but PlayStation is a little bit better quality. I'm a PS4 owner myself, but I've never looked down on Xbox owners. In fact, I kind of wish I had purchased an Xbox One since I don't want to wait for Rise of the Tomb Raider to be released on PS4.

A lot of it just has to come from the rivalry between companies. I honestly don't care about the feud between the systems, but some people just have an innate desire to troll whenever they can.

[Tariq j]

Exactly, everyone has their own console, and if you're happy with it then that's all that matters.

With internet forums you'll always find there are troopers trying to start arguments, I'd just ignore them and go with the console you like most.

[Umbra-Manis]

I'm still stuck with a Wii myself, but I've spent a lot of time playing marvel Ultimate Alliance on a PS3. I've played the old battlefront on an Xbox, and it's fun. Personally I think debates like this are ridiculous because gamers have to vent over how badly the companies treat them.

[GallardoLU]

All Hail the PC Master Race ;) but seriously I've never concerned myself with which is better because compared to Lego they are both vastly inferior (see my reasoning below)

Backward compatible : Lego Yes : PS4/XB1 nope

Storage space: Lego never enough : PS4/XB1 rarely enough

Play Features: Lego Limitless : PS4/XB1 game dependent

Life Span: Lego theoretically infinite : PS4/XB1 5-7 years

Number of Players: Lego As many as you can stand : PS4/XB1 4 basic, and up to 16*

[Richila]

I've always thought that it is because most people can only afford to have one system and people like to think that the choice they made is the correct one.

Until the most recent updates,XBox One and Playstation4, we have always purchased one of each, just spaced them out by a year at a time. This time only Playstation 4, and A New 3DS for each person. We always have Nintendo products-they are the only ones that I can play and I do the budget.

[xboxtravis7992]

Backward compatible : Lego Yes : PS4/XB1 nope

Storage space: Lego never enough : PS4/XB1 rarely enough

Play Features: Lego Limitless : PS4/XB1 game dependent

Life Span: Lego theoretically infinite : PS4/XB1 5-7 years

Number of Players: Lego As many as you can stand : PS4/XB1 4 basic, and up to 16*

All hail the Grand Lego System! Heck with the right pieces even "Freaking Galidor" is compatible with the newest Lego parts.

[dr_spock]

It is no different than Volkswagen vs Honda or Canon vs Nikon cameras or LEGO vs MegaBloks. Perhaps the more expensive the item is the more people need to feel they made the right purchasing decision. For others the brand could be their self-identity or god, it can do no wrong.

We have an Xbox but we prefer playing LEGO games on the Wii.

[ChiefPie]

I always had a ps2 and I upgraded from that to a xbox360 like 2 years ago and I never liked it. For me the controllers were the problem they just weren't comfortable. But as of Christmas I got the ps4 which is really nice especially the controllers. But I do like PC and I have a wii but personally I like playstation and PC and wii for lego games.

[xboxtravis7992]

It's funny because I don't like holding PS controller's. But I feel that is part of muscle memory, my hands know Xbox controllers because I have been playing on it since a kid. I never owned a PS as a kid. In change those who have played a lot of PS will not enjoy Xbox controllers for the same reason

[K-Nut]

It's funny because I don't like holding PS controller's. But I feel that is part of muscle memory, my hands know Xbox controllers because I have been playing on it since a kid. I never owned a PS as a kid. In change those who have played a lot of PS will not enjoy Xbox controllers for the same reason

That's why I prefer PlayStation. I went to play Halo 5 with a friend of mine who has an Xbox 1 and I had to put the game on easy so I could get the layout of the Xbox controller.

[Marvelfan120]

Like many I'm all about to each their own, just like I respect DC and it's fans and enjoy some DC offerings but my heart is with Marvel...

In the console wars however my allegiance has shifted. I was all about the 360 (the PS3 had a lot of problems) but when X-Box one/PS4 were getting ready to come out all I kept hearing was how microsoft was trying to stop people being able to sell used games, claiming it was about stopping piracy when the gains that would be made by forcing everyone to by new games would make what they'd save stopping piracy look like spare change. In the Mac vs PC world I stayed with PC for many reasons but a big one was that while Microsoft wanted to rule the world Apple complained about that while showing the same with their own policies.

If there's anything I can't stand it's hypocritical companies that try and hide the reasons behind their policies with obvious lies. they assume the public is that gullible and sadly, most of the time, they're right. The used game thing put me off the x-box one but I didn't make my final decision until awhile after the systems came out as I am not enough of a gamer to go out and try to get a release day version or early model. I talked to a lot of local game shop guys and did a bit of surfing on the net getting a variety of opinions (duh)... The big thing I kept hearing was that microsoft rushed to market before they were ready and the system was really buggy, to the point where some games hardly worked for weeks before microsoft could get updates out. (by the way, I'm not trying to start a debate regarding any of this, all I know is that is what I was hearing). It seemed to me that microsoft A: tried to put an end to used games to boost their bottom line and B: rushed a product to market before it was ready because they didn't want the PS4 to beat them by a year because they had to release in time for the holiday season (something microsoft does a lot)

I summation I want to clarify that I greatly respect the rights of individual gamers (and consumers in general) to make their choice of systems (and products of all kinds) and am not going to argue the merits of one over the other or put down consumers based on their decisions. We all look at the pros and cons of how we spend our money and, to be fair, their aren't many corporations that don't lie their tales off on a regular basis, I'm sure someone out there could point out a hundred lies sony (not to mention marvel lol) has put out their... Still i will admit to a level of smug satisfaction when I see articles about X-box one being outsold by PS4 at a rate of almost 2 to 1... Sue me :P

[CMP]

Like many I'm all about to each their own, just like I respect DC and it's fans and enjoy some DC offerings but my heart is with Marvel...

In the console wars however my allegiance has shifted. I was all about the 360 (the PS3 had a lot of problems) but when X-Box one/PS4 were getting ready to come out all I kept hearing was how microsoft was trying to stop people being able to sell used games, claiming it was about stopping piracy when the gains that would be made by forcing everyone to by new games would make what they'd save stopping piracy look like spare change. In the Mac vs PC world I stayed with PC for many reasons but a big one was that while Microsoft wanted to rule the world Apple complained about that while showing the same with their own policies.

If there's anything I can't stand it's hypocritical companies that try and hide the reasons behind their policies with obvious lies. they assume the public is that gullible and sadly, most of the time, they're right. The used game thing put me off the x-box one but I didn't make my final decision until awhile after the systems came out as I am not enough of a gamer to go out and try to get a release day version or early model. I talked to a lot of local game shop guys and did a bit of surfing on the net getting a variety of opinions (duh)... The big thing I kept hearing was that microsoft rushed to market before they were ready and the system was really buggy, to the point where some games hardly worked for weeks before microsoft could get updates out. (by the way, I'm not trying to start a debate regarding any of this, all I know is that is what I was hearing). It seemed to me that microsoft A: tried to put an end to used games to boost their bottom line and B: rushed a product to market before it was ready because they didn't want the PS4 to beat them by a year because they had to release in time for the holiday season (something microsoft does a lot)

Seems to me like you fell for a lot of rumors.

I think both consoles have their merits and neither one has been unfair towards their consumers.

[Im a brickmaster.]

One of my good friends plunked down his hard earned cash for an XB1 and he is happier then a clam with it. Now me personally, I am planing on getting a PS4 because I like the system better and there are more PS exclusives then Xbox exclusives that I want to play. I bought a used 360 because, well, I like halo 4...a lot. And it's a simple, relatively cheap way to play games. So my plan is to keep the 360 and get a PS4, thus I'll have a foot in both camps. So for me the 360 trumps the XB1 and PS4 trumps both slightly

[VBBN]

The most annoying argument I ever hear is that either the PS4 or One has better graphics than the other. While the PS4 is a slightly more capable system, the actual difference in hand is hardly noticeable. (And, when you only have one console, you get used to the graphics anyway, just like getting used to a larger television screen or phone screen.) I did at one point own both a PS4 and One, however ultimately I will always be an Xbox player because I have been a fan of Halo & Forza since the start, and most of the people I game with are on Xbox. And yeah, I am too used to the Xbox controller. I used to like the playstation controller (in the PS2 days) but after handling the Xbox controller I just can't go back.

Of course, I also have a Cyberpower Raven X6 300 (which I own due to my graphic designing), which can also handle any game, mod, etc that I throw at it at max settings, so I'm part PC Master Race and part console player. Eventually I plan to get a proper desktop rig, but that's not a top priority right now.

[Mandate]

All that matters are the games that can be played on it. The difference graphically between the PS4 and XBox One is relatively minor, and both fall short of the "Potato Masher" PC from what I've heard. But as it stands, unless you're looking at all 3 at the same time you're never going to know the difference. Just buy what console that has the games you're going to play or has the best exclusives.

[Clumsybumsy]

I don't know why, there are few difference between the Xbox and the Playstation. Besides that why should such things matter, you should go for the system which has the games you like. Which comes down to exclusives in this case.

[The Lego Nolan]

Also, one is good and the other is not.

[Marvelfan120]

Seems to me like you fell for a lot of rumors.

I think both consoles have their merits and neither one has been unfair towards their consumers.

While I will admit that some of what I said (the used game thing for one) may well have been rumor. The bit about defective games or games just not working comes from what I consider extremely reliable sources. I will say it is possible that the local store just had a problem because of a few bad batches of games or consoles... I suppose that is possible. In the end I think the most important thing is which system someone likes as they are, at least as of today, largely even in terms of quality and reliability.

[Space Police XVIII]

The sadness, angst and rage are all expressions of a massive inferiority complex.

Because PC gaming is better than everything else. In your hearts you know I'm right.

[appiah4]

Your favorite X sucks is a popular idea on the internet.

[Japanbuilder]

Because somewhere along the way folks forgot that gaming is about the games and only the games.

I actually have stopped going to sites like IGN because they seem to frame a lot of things in this "me vs. you" mentality.

It is childish and tiring. If you like games you get every and any system that delivers what you want. If you can't afford them all you get the one with the least compromises to your game preference.

The fanboyism I have noticed only advances materialism or over justifying how you choose to spend your money. Which in itself is a silly notion to me.