Well this should be an interesting debate

I've been thinking about getting a console lately and am having a hard time deciding to go with the PS2 or the XBOX.

The number one thing I want is to modify the console (using legal methods of course) to play backup copies. I have a LiteOn 811S that I will be using to make the backups.

The following are some important factors that pop to mind:
- Cost of the modifications needed (obviously less is better).
- Relative ease of the modifications needed.
- Being able to play online with my backup copies.
- I don't kow if it can be done, but it would be nice if I didn't have to void the warranty while performing the needed modification(s).
- Game selection and gfx quality.

That's just a few questions, I'm sure there are more points that could be brought to my attention.
All comments (even ones that I haven't asked about) are requested and more than welcome! Thanks.

About the same for both consoles. PS2 modification tends to be a little cheaper usually.

Both consoles require opening before modding. Most xbox modifications are done with relative ease (one screw or a couple of solder pins). I believe the PS2 modificaton required soldering about 20 wires.

There are about two modchip modifications on the xbox that have the possibility to "stealth"them , so you can still use XBOX LIve , but you will stil require a genuine game dvd otherwise your XBOX will be blacklisted and void of warranty. XBOX Live is a subscription.

The PS2 doesn't have a subscription fee, but for the rest i don't know.

Both can be done , check the sticky threads. Beware they can be very hard to implement.

PS2 has more games , XBOX less
Both are connected to your tv , so graphical quality isn't that much. (Though there are a couple of HDTV Xbox games).
XBOX uses a nVidia video , PS2 uses its own special graphic accellerator.
In general : they put more effort in PS2 design

well if you are concerned about the future....

Xbox2 will NOT run xbox games (from everything ive heard they are ditching the hard drive etc and going with ati as graphics controller so i beleive that is true)

Xbox is easier to /cough "mod". Its harder to clean the lense if it has problems.

Ps2 plays more games. Modding requires soldering, its pretty easy to clean/align the lense. PS3 will supposedly play ps2/ps1 games (unconfirmed but likely given the track record)

Question is given the future. Do you wanna build up a collection of games that will only play on the console. Or do you eventually wanna get a better/future console and still be able to play your current games.

With an xbox you can add a massive harddrvie, connect it to your network and play all your films, songs, files through it on your tv and it's sound system. This way it is a multimedia tool not just a games machine.

I think your information is a bit outdated. Currently, there are rumours that the Xbox 2 will be backwards compatible. Harder to clean the lens, easier to replace the drive (in comparison with the PS2 ofcourse). The growth of the Xbox is, relatively seen, much faster than the growth of the PS2. And perhaps the most important of all; the Xbox is of better quality than the PS2.

Thanks for the feedback so far!
But, I still have no idea which one to pick...

How about this then.
Let's say that online play with backup copies will be my number one proirity.
PS2 wins in this regard correct?


Keep other points coming, I'm sure I'm not the only one that has wondered which console to purchase!

i´m using ps2

+ playing all movie backups --> version v3-v8 only dvd-r and dvd- rom, v9-v10 also dvd + r

+ playing all ps1 backups
+ playing ps2 dvd and cdr backups

+ more games

+ chip is available for about 15 € @ www.mauzi.de

- i don´t know.

but this is the absolutly best

For me, and this point has also been mentioned before, the Xbox is the console to get simply because it has a hard disk. Mine now has an 80GB hard disk which is hooked up to my computer. I can stream anything to the Xbox: games, movies, music, you name it. I'm sure the PS2 can do the same but it's much harder to do so from what I've heard and seen.

If you're into online gaming for free, then I would go for the PS2. A modded Xbox is very nasty when it comes to online gaming. A ig advantage of the Xbox is that you can expand it with all sorts of hardware and homebrew software, like Quake. Perhaps an important sidenote; Here in holland there were a lot of complaints of malfunctioning PS2s just after the warranty was void.

i have an xbox, and here's what i know about the following:

the cost of modding an xbox is practically zero if you take one of the routes without a modchip. you can either flash the onboard bios (which is what i did, with a switch to go back to the normal bios if i wanted to play xbox live), or there are "softmods" which use exploits in order to run unsigned code.

for modchips, the cost of chips are pretty much the same for both consoles depending on the capabilities of the chip.

as Mr. B pointed out, xbox modchips are relatively easier to install than ps2 modchips, with less soldering required. there are solderless chips for both consoles, but they're not as desirable (and cost more).

the non-modchip methods of modding the xbox are fairly easy, with very little soldering if you flash the onboard bios, and no soldering if you use a softmod.

xbox online gaming is free (even without modding) if you use one of the free tunneling apps that trick your xbox into thinking it's playing a System Link game over a LAN (when in reality your LAN buddy is somewhere else geographically). using these tunneling programs, you can use backups to play online. the only restriction is that the game has to have System Link capability. playing the games this way is just like playing a normal System Link game, which might not be the same as playing on xbox live depending on the game. you can't play on xbox live with a backup.

using softmod methods, you never need to open up the xbox. any hardware mod for either console will end up voiding your warranty (at the very least, stickers will need to be pealed back and essentially mangled in order to open up the console).

the xbox definitely has better graphics quality than the ps2. i'll take a quote from this review of splinter cell for ps2:
as for game selection, the ps2 definitely has a larger library of games than the xbox. you'll have to decide which types of games you'd rather play.

as others have already mentioned, the xbox allows you to run homebrew software, as well as put in a larger hard drive, which can essentially turn it into a media center, which is what i use mine as.

Virtually all PS2 games have DNAS, so like the Xbox you cant play online without a genuine copy of the game. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

the xbox does not require opening to mod it only takes some quick save files to be installed and a special splinter cell game save and poof you are modded,as well its kinda funny that this way to mod runs on linux and xbox is a windows app!!