NXE vs. XMB

Did that post title confuse you? Now that I have a 360, I'm beginning to see everything Microsoft did right when I'm comparing it to Sony's PS3. No, I'm not suddenly a 360 fanboy or a PS3 hater, it just amazes me that what is supposed to be such a similar experience can be so different. ((For future reference, NXE = New XBox Experience and XMB = Cross-Media Bar.))

I like Sony's XMB, I've liked it since the first time I saw it on my PSP, which I had long before I got a PS3. Its fairly easy to navigate and use. Yet, to me, having been using the 360 a lot the last couple weeks, the NXE is even easier and more user-friendly. Its brighter, more attractive and you have to so less to see more.

The biggest difference in the console interfaces is the achievements/trophies and how they're presented and accessed. You can do just about anything (set up downloads, view achievements, message friends, etc.) for your 360 from your PC. Its not so easy to do with the PS3. In fact, I don't think you can do much of anything on the PC to set up your PS3 to download. If its possible, I sure haven't figured out how to do it. Microsoft makes it so easy.

Another issue Sony has is that it only recently implemented its trophy system (and that is even having problems as of late). Sure, before long its going to be mandatory for all games to include trophies, but its not being made mandatory for older games to patch trophies in. That makes it pretty pointless, in my opinion. Microsoft's whole system is built around the gamers and the achievements they may obtain. I love easily being able to see what achievements I have, how many I need, what games I've played.

While there may not be many differences at first glance, once you use both systems fairly extensively you start to see them. I actually think I'm leaning toward preferring the way Microsoft has things set up as opposed to Sony.