What is the Top Console now and for future?

I'm thinking of getting a new console. I haven't played video games in ages and have never been a tech-geek (I'm not implying it's a good/bad thing to be a tech-geek!) so wanted everyone's 2 cents on this topic!

I want a console which will last for the next 3-4 years. I think for me, it comes down to a choice between a 360 and a PS3 because I mainly like to play sports simulation games and racing games. I don't think the Wii is the kind of games system for me.

Do you guys think having Blu-Ray on PS3 should have any bearing on what I choose to buy? My buddy said blu-Ray is still years away and since I don't have a LCD/plasma TV, it isn't really a major factor. He said I should get a Wii because he thinks it is at the top of the market but he admitted I'm probably not a part of the Wii's targeted market; hence it would be a bad fit.

He said that I should go for a 360 because its:

A) cheaper
B) out longer so more games

What do you guys think?

Out of the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii, which console is at the top of the pack right now? And which one will be on top for the future?

Sit,

Taking everything into account, I'd say that 360 is the best, followed by PS3. I have owned both and think you can't go wrong with either. I didn't have any issues with my 360 other than the fact that it had a tendency to overheat from time to time.

However, I only own a PS3 now. Blu-ray or whatever isn't really a big deal unless you want to play Blu-ray movies on a regular basis. 360 controller is great. If you get a PS3 though, it is probably best you get a Dual Shock 3 controller since many people on here have said that the older Siaxixis controller is garbage.

360 has a ton of games, but PS3 is slowly catching up. However, PS3 is region-free (The X told me so), but the 360 isn't. It's really a tough choice. I think both are good, but in my opinion, the ranking is:

1. 360
2. PS3
3. Wii

I have had no overheating problems with my PS3 whatsoever.

I'm a 360 owner, but I have to recommend the PS3. The 360 is not reliable at all, and while it has more games now, the PS3's power, and exclusives will continue to improve before it pushes it over the top.

1. PS3
2. 360
3. Wii (not really next-gen)

I agree with Lamrock's statement about the PS3 being reliable. When I had the 360, I would always worry if the console would die because it overheated, especially if I played for a long time.

He said I should get a Wii because he thinks it is at the top of the market

It is, and it will stay there.

but he admitted I'm probably not a part of the Wii's targeted market; hence it would be a bad fit.

You're not a human being?

but he admitted I'm probably not a part of the Wii's targeted market; hence it would be a bad fit.

You're not a human being?

Read his whole post. He is into to racing games and sports simulation games, both genres that the Wii fails in.

I did. But that's irrelevant to the part I quoted.

he admitted I'm probably not a part of the Wii's targeted market

The Wii's targeted market. The sentence does not say "he admitted the Wii may not have games in my favorite genres" but instead discusses the market being targeted by Nintendo, which is everyone.

And it was a rib, not a salient argument.

They all specialize in something. 360 I believe have a few more games than PS3, the PS3 has a Blu-Ray player, and the Wii is highly specialized toward specific games, if you're into that.

Anyway, the answer is clear, 360, if you want the best now. PS3, if you want Sony exclusives and free internet.

The Wii shouldn't be in this discussion unless you want Nintendo's bonafide classics that defy "generation" labels with their epic testicles chock full of awesome. (Which are shaved and smooth.)

I voted for PS3 but....

You should get a 360. You are a uni student, so cost favours 360 over PS3. I've heard newere 360's are more reliable than older versions. Just make sure it comes with a warranty (I think they all might do) with it when you purchase it. When it comes to sporting titles, PS3 & 360 are much the same. Same features, similar graphics, etc. As you already know, the only reason I got a PS3 was to play region free games (i.e. College Hoops series that don't get released in PAL regions). Had Xbox 360 been region free, I never would've got rid of it. I think 360 controllers are better than PS3. Exclusives, truth is, there aren't many exclusives left, so for me at least, it's a moot argument.

One thing you might want to note is that the sporting titles have been a big disappointment to date. A lot of them have lost some of the fun factor that earlier generation consoles (& PC) had. It looks to be slowly improving, but yeah, ahh well. We live & we hope.

One other note, if you are going to get a 360 or PS3, get a HD LCD/plasma, it's the only way & they are getting cheaper now

As for the Wii, great console, but doesn't fit into your selection criteria, so I have excluded it for your case.

So far I've been pretty happy with my decision to go for a 360 all things considered, though I do lament that I can't import games such as March Madness (or NCAA Basketball as it's been rebranded) since the 360 isn't region free.

The Wii shouldn't be in this discussion unless you want Nintendo's bonafide classics that defy "generation" labels with their epic testicles chock full of awesome. (Which are shaved and smooth.)

Ocarina of Time?

I would say the top console is PS3. The only console that I have known and familiar with. I know it will be a long time before I get a next-gen console but for now I will stick with the PS2. I also like the Wii despite it has "child-like" games because it's cheap.

I played the Wii for the first time a couple of weeks ago at my mate's Bucks Night. It was fun, but not the console for me.

I never played on a PS3, but I have an XBox 360 since March of this year, and I am very happy with it. As The X said, I think they are much more reliable these days. Since I bought mine, I never had one single freeze or DVD drive error whatsoever.
And even if the Xbox is running very long, let's say 3-4 hours, I'm sometimes worried and touch the console on every side, but it doesn't seem to get hot at all.

The only disadvantages that I know of, is that it's not region free, and that you have to pay 60 bucks a year for playing online.

The Xbox Live membership perturbs me as well.

The PS3 will probably be around for 10 years like they want but for right now if I were you I'd just get a 360 and use the savings towards games.

Yeah buying the PS3 put a pretty big dent in $$$. I ended up trading in my PS2 and the 2 controllers and some games, and after getting the PS3 and GTA IV as my starting game, the total was like around $400 or something.

You might be able to pick up a console second hand from EB Games, that's what I did with my 360. I wouldn't trust eBay but EB Games will give you a guarantee on it and you'll probably be able to pick it up (whichever one you go for) in Like New condition.

360 is best. It has a lot of good games. PS3, i cant think of 2 games that i would want on that system that i cant already play on a cheaper, better looking 360. The 360 controller is better, as is online. I was dead set on getting a ps3 before next gen officially hit, but i decided to go for the 360. That was big since i had ps1 and ps2 and never touched the original xbox and thought of it as a 2nd rate system. But i love my 360. Plus with the new interface and the ability to install games for even faster loading times, and better to no pop in, how can you go wrong? PS3 has to install games just to load games as fast as the 360 can, since the blu-ray drive doesnt read as fast as a dvd rom drive. Just think how fast the 360 will load if you decide to install a game onto your hard drive. Anyway, id get a 360, and also a wii if you can find one.

blu-ray drive doesnt read as fast as a dvd rom drive

Uh...no.

never touched the original xbox and thought of it as a 2nd rate system

Hmmm...

360 is best. It has a lot of good games. PS3, i cant think of 2 games that i would want on that system that i cant already play on a cheaper, better looking 360.

for me, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune & MGS4, would rank as 2 good exclusives worth playing....for a lot, the new Gran Turismo & MGS4 are 2 titles that will sell systems....maybe the new God of War when it comes out too, not sure....

I think the whole 2 games on one system that would make you want the system goes both ways....for me personally, I can't think of 2 games on 360 that aren't on PS3 that would make me want to get a 360 again....I guess Halo is great multiplayer, but since I play 95+% of games single player due to time restraints, it doesn't factor into the equation....

as for me, there aren't 2 exclusive games on either system that would lead me to either console....the only console I can think of with exclusive games that could make me want to buy a console is the Wii....but hey, that's just me....personal preference....

new Gran Turismo

If the rumors are true, Sony is planning to milk that for all its content
e.g gamers paying for downloadable content just to "unlock" all the cars/options.

I won't be getting Gran Turismo as I'm not really into driving games....but if what you said is true, that sucks....but then again, a lot of games are going that way

It wouldn't be so bad if games didn't cost so much. Before I got a 360 I swore I'd never pay for any extras outside a full blown expansion pack but I've paid for some downloadable content since getting one.

the only reason I got a PS3 was to play region free games

Is it only region free for games? Because mine says that the region is incorrect when I try to watch a DVD from the U.S