Xbox360 or PS3? Help me waste money...

[HeatThreePeat]

Okay, here's the deal. I am hung up on whether or not I should buy a PS3 or a 360. I've heard good things about both, and they both meet what I want out of them. But I don't know which I should buy, and it is eating away at me. Suggestions please!!

[Andrew]

The Red Rings of Death will probably always hang over the Xbox 360 but I believe it still has a wider range of games and I'm happy with my 360. The only drawback is related to region codes and since you're in the States, you won't run into that.

[volsey]

Honestly either one you'll be happy with, as that is the case with most people. Both have good exclusives, Gears of War series, Halo, MGS, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance, Mass Effect, and nowadays games that come out for both consoles run about the same on both consoles (except god damn Fallout3). Don't get the Arcade if you get a 360 because it's useless, go for the Pro or Elite. Major thing for me was the Blue ray on PS3, i love blue ray, and has free online. 360 still has the bigger library, and better controller, but doesn't have built in wifi, or rechargeable controllers (out of the box).
In my opinion PS3 has the brighter future, Blueray being the biggest difference between the two in my opinion.

[The X]

If you want to waste your money, go with PS3 as it's a bit more expensive....otherwise, difference is negligible....if you want it just for gaming, go 360....if you want it for watching movies & stuff, go PS3....few other differences, but to me, that's it....

I went for PS3, but that's only because I'm in Australia & it means I can import games (when exchange rate was better that is) as console is region free....on 360, developers tend to region lock the college sports & other game....but as Andrew said, since you are in the States, this doesn't matter to you....

[JaoSming]

I got both and for anyone just about to buy a NG console I'd go with a 360. You can get the arcade then get this XBL startup bundle which has 3 months of Live, a headset and a harddrive for 99 bucks. So it would be the same price as the pro but you get 3 free months of live plus the free 1 month instead of just the free 1 month.

Of course, if you want blueray, then the PS3 is the way to go with that and yes the PS3 has a proposed 10 year life cycle that its only 2 years into but the game library doesnt compare IMHO to the 360's.

with the 360 RROD, my 360 was a launch one even though I got it in August of 06 (thanks vermont) I got RROD with it a couple months ago and I got it back 2.5 weeks from the date i sent it out. I of course bought an arcade because Im a spaz but RROD isnt that big of a deal anymore especially with the new processors and heatsinks in the newer 360s that you would be buying if you bought new.

[Cool2Fool]

I have both console and they cost exactly the same $400. I have no games on 360 because I had the ps3 a year longer and bought the elite 360 one for fable 2. ppl. just say theres more games on 360 but its not true cos ps3 has already caught up and who would wanna play old games when it's almost 2009.

[buzzy]

they cost exactly the same $400.

Are you kidding?

If you buy the combo Jao suggested you end up with around 280 bucks for the 360.

[JaoSming]

The old games are still fun and can be bought for cheap at used game stores

[Cool2Fool]

they cost exactly the same $400.

Are you kidding?

If you buy the combo Jao suggested you end up with around 280 bucks for the 360.

the elite cost 400 so im not kidding

[JaoSming]

yea, and the arcade costs 200

you can even pay full price for a 120gig harddrive and still be under 400 bucks.

arcade comes with a wireless controller now and unless you really really really want it black then there is no reason to go with the elite.

[ultimateplaya]

IMO, the only advantages of PS3 is Blu-Ray, built in wireless network adapter and free online pay. Even though i have the 360, i don't mind having to pay $80 a year for online play.
It all comes down to what satisfies your needs.

[Matthew]

I own both. Obviously the xbox hardware issues (not limited to the RROD, there have been plenty instances of disk drive failures and the dvd lens scratching disks as well) but the ps3 is not made of stone either. I've had the flashing yellow light of death twice and while it hasn't hit the mainstream the way the xbox rrod has, its a problem out there.

But it comes down to what you want. Jao summed it up well by saying if you want a games machine, get an xbox. If you want a blu ray player that plays games too, get a ps3. There are other factors you might want to consider though...

The ps3 does not (unless if you buy a launch console from ebay) have the ability to play ps2 games these days. This might sound like a small issue, but its can be a deterrent. Before MG4, and after I finished uncharted, I played my ps2 more then I played my ps3.

The ps3 also has the ability to use 3rd party peripherals such as hdd's for much cheaper then the xbox alternatives. $180 for a $120gb hdd? $150 for a wireless adapter? Jesus Christ...

The xbox is actually a much quieter machine then the ps3, or mine anyway. On the ps3 dashboard, it's very quiet. But if you run any application, a dvd or a game, within 5 to 10 minutes the main fan will kick in and it sounds like vacuum cleaner. Not every PS3 is like that, but not every xbox gets the rrod either.

The games on xbox are better then the ps3 ones. Gears of War, Halo, Forza, Crackdown etc. These games are quality. The ps3 does have some promising exclusives coming up, but they shouldn't be what you buy a console on unless you are a fanboy of that series. How many people are playing Haze or Lair right now?

Just some things to remember

[M3r$uRy]

For me XBOX 360 has better games,very comfortable controller
but if you want to play online buy PS3 cause I think online is free.Many of my favourite titles are in 360 (Fable 2,Mass Effect,Halo) and it runs many excellent titles better than PS3 (Fallout 3,Oblivion,Pro Evo Soccer/Winning Eleven 2009,Saints Row 2) so I would buy XBOX360.

[Jing]

Wasted money yet?

[HeatThreePeat]

Not yet. Still deciding. Thanks for all your input, it is helping me make a decision. But, I think I might go with the 360.

[Rondo]

Not yet. Still deciding. Thanks for all your input, it is helping me make a decision. But, I think I might go with the 360.

That is what I'd reccomend it's much cheaper. And it is a great gaming console. The newer editions the Holiday 2008 bundle namely has better cooling also so now there is quite a bit less of RROD going around.
When ya get the 360 get Madden 09 and holla at me on Live for a game XBL:murdainc0109

[Matthew]

Mario, I'll add you as well. I've been geeking up Madden a fair bit. What other games do you play?

[Rondo]

Mario, I'll add you as well. I've been geeking up Madden a fair bit. What other games do you play?

well i just got a new 360 for christmas so far i own
madden 09
cod world at war
nfs pro street
hitman blood money
mlb 2k8
soldier of fortune : payback

will be buying 2-3 new games soon though prolly live 09,ncaa football 09, and ncaa basketball 09