I went PS3 because there weren't really any XBOX games I wanted that I couldn't get for PC, and I didn't want to deal with the Red Ring of Death.

Both have their advantages and ultimately it is up to you. I went with PS3 for the media features like blu-ray and the fact that the online multiplayer services arr free unlike x-box live, but x-box is cheaper and as you said, more friends use it.

Up to you, but for usefulness, I say ps3.

I didn't know PS3 live was free... that's good to know.

It IS good to know, because from what I've heard the PS network goes down alot. While Microsoft DOES charge for Live, all that money goes into making it an unstoppable juggernaut with little to no downtime. Dunno if PSN's improved any since I've heard this earlier this year, but it's something to think about.

Nobody seems to know that there is a free Xbox Live option. http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/joinlive

Free X-Box Live doesn't let you play games online.

The PS3 Auto-Updates are only if you subscribe to PlayStation Plus, which is the same price as XBL but instead of being able to play online you get free games, Beta access and other goodies. For example, if you bought PS+ when it came out, you got LittleBigPlanet for free.

Honestly, I would take a look at what you're going to be doing with them. Look at the games, look at where your friends are, ask yourself if you're willing to pay the subscription to play with them online. Do you have a 720p or 1080p fullHD TV to fully utilize the blu ray player? Do you want to pay the extra money to purchase blu ray movies?

Really this is the way I see it, and this is coming from someone that has purchased all three consoles for the past two generations of systems, purchase the console that has the games that YOU want to play and the console that some of your friends at least play on. Both have their pluses and their draw backs, but in the end they pretty much do the same damn thing honestly.

Also I'm not sure what you mean by updates for the PS3, I'm guessing you're talking about the Blu ray players updates, in which case they are firmware updates, which allow the console to continue reading new Blu Ray videos if they decided to change something within the way the movie is compressed on the disk.

oh cool, thanks. And thanks for explaining to update thing.

Sure, if you have any other questions, feel free to ask. I'm more than willing to help you make a sound decision. :)

I bought a Wii.






Don't.

+like

I already have a blu ray player, and I'll die before another Microsoft product enters my home, so I guess my tight wallet won out. I have a couple cool games, Zelda, NHL 2K10, but I think what it really comes down to is that I am not much of a gamer anymore. I just don't have time to invest in it. If I could do it again I'd buy a PS3, the graphics look stellar and it's got some solid games.

I do however like virtual console. It's fun to be able to rock Mario 3 or Sonic 3 every once in a while when friends are over.

Ps3 definitely, huge bang for your buck... and its fantastic!

I'm also a PS3 owner, I don't really have anything against XBox, but there were several reasons why I went for PS3:

- Better games for me (This might be one of the most important things. You just have to look, what console has games that you'd be actually willing to buy)
- Bluray capability
- You can exchange the HDD without problems and without guarantee loss
- Free online gaming
- No region-lock (so far)

Also, with the Bluray capability there are the advantages, that you, at some games, don't have to switch discs (if that really disturbs anyone) or that some developers (i.e. with Final Fantasy 13) compress textures for Xbox as they wanted to fit them on the given number of DVDs.

So, as I said, I don't think the XBox is "bad", but I simply prefer PS3 for these reasons.

Of course the point on the other side is your friends using an XBox. But maybe you can talk them into PS3 gaming.

Oh yeah...XBox is easy to "crack" for...your...imported...games, you know, that's kinda impossible with PS3, with some exceptions, so, if you decide for a PS3, which I would recommend, then you'll actually have to buy all the games you want. :P

So, yeah, hope I could help you with this, I certainly recommend the PS3, nya.^^

Greetings,
RealZero

I've never been too impressed with the PS3 line up, but eh. Been plenty of 360 titles I've liked, (Dead Space, the ME series, Gears of War). As for RRoD, dunno how often it happens, but my XBox is first-gen and still going strong.

cool yeah.
my ipod is like 4th gen and still going strong. Am waiting for a sick ipod to appear on my non-colour screen any day now

Yeah. As far as I can tell, shutting down your 360 instead of leaving it running all the time helps a lot. :P

Anyways. I personally prefer the 360, and people gripe about the cost of Live, but it's cheaper than most MMOs. Granted, you have to make the one-time investment of purchasing a game to play on Live, but.

(And a 360 is cheaper than a really good computer, and you can buy at least five years of XBL with the money you save. :3c The cost of games on a PC and XBox are similar, as well.)

I like Wiis. Yeah the graphics are crummy, but the games are totally fun. Also easy to hack.


I don't know a lot about either xbox360 or ps3. :I All I know is that most games come for both, but more of my friends have an xbox360.

I'd get an xbox, but that's really the only reason. :/ Not to mention $$$

I myself would go with a 360, sure it might not have as many things as a PS3, but compare prices and what games you can get for both. In my view, the Online gameplay is better on 360 (Haven't played a game on PS3 yet) and the RRoD (Red Rings of Death) are a big deal, but if you know how to avoid it, then you'll be fine. All you have to do is, play your 360 less than 15 hours a day, turn it off every 3 or so hours, let it cool down for 5-10 minutes and you can play again, but if your like me and like it play it more than 3 hours and not turning it off to cool down, then try it for 5 hours and see how you go from there. If you have any other questions, then note me! :3

okay, I'll break it down for you as best as I can as a GameStop employee

PS3
Pros:
Blu-Ray
No Multi-disk games
free online
impressive exclusives (Uncharted 2, God of War III, Little Big Planet, Gran Turismo 5)
Playstation + (free games, beta access, auto-update, etc)
Move

Cons:
Free online (lack of funds for better online servers)


Yeah, I can't think of anything else personally...

360
Pros:
Better Online Experience
Impressive exclusives (Gears of War, Halo)
Kinect

Cons:
Red Ring of Death
$60/y online fee
easily scratches disks if moved while reading them.
Multi-Disk Games.

I didn't realize the PS3 had free online, damn that's a great perk.
I managed to nab my 360 from someone who sold it to me for dirt cheap, ($80 w/ 10 games included) and I STILL don't even play live. I can't afford to shell out cashola for something I pick up every other month.

Looks like the ps3 might be your best bet, personally!

PS3 has no game.

Having been an Owner of the Xbox 360 and the PS3, I can say that I love the PS3 a bit more, free online service with all of the capabilities of a Gold Subscription (Without the now $60.00 price tag), plus netflix and a blu-ray player, and a VERY large selection of games, which are just as good, if not better than the 360 selection, since most of them except for the odd exclusive here or there are available on both consoles, makes the PS3 in the end the better choice for me in the race. Though sometimes I do miss the 360, I couldn't stand having a total of 7 of the earlier models crap out on me.

Seems you've been given plenty to think about. some things to consider:
With newer models of 360's they have handled the issues older models had so this Red Ring of Death is a non-issue, just hold over hyperbole from fans of the other systems to diss the 360.
The big draw of the 360 is indeed, the large multi-player facet. If you have a regular crew of friends to play games with and like the same games they do, then it might be worth chunking in for the on-line service with perks (Live Gold). If the group of friends with 360's don't play them that much or are unreliable, you may not.
Rare stinks as of late, just about every release they've put out has been terribly hobbled together and they have even taken a PR hit, shutting down fan sites who were still defending them, despite their stinker titles and cancellations of projects they have been working on. Rare's not worth giving any more money to.
Exclusive titles. Here's a big kicker, as a lot of companies make games on both systems, so if there's a specific title you're hoping to play when it comes out, take a look at which system its being developed for and make your choice based on that.

Ok Red, I believe I can give you the best answer since, since I know your Aussie too *puts on nerd cap yo*

The 360, in terms of actual gaming hardware, is the superior console, the only thing lacking is the Blu-ray drive.

While the PS3 has built in WIFI, the new 360 slim does too (which I have, traded in my old one)

The 360's problems of the past such as the red ring of death have basically ended, almost all of the new consoles, if you properly take care of them, will never have problems.

The range of games that are exclusive to 360 are better suited to the more hardcore range, with games like Halo and what not. With games that are on both consoles like Call of Duty and the such, I MUCH prefer the 360 controllers, since they are uber comfy. The PS3's controllers, at least for me, give me bad cramps because of where the sticks are.

Now I dont want to sound like a 360 fanboy, I had the PS1 and PS2 before I had an xbox. The PS3 has good games, such as Uncharted and the likes, but the only thing that pushes me away is since Bluray has a slow read time, the game has to be installed to the hard drive before you can play it, where as the 360 you can just pop it in and play. or if you want to, install it the the HDD for quicker loading times.

Yes, playing online the PS3 is free, HOWEVER, the system here in Australia cannot be compared to the US network, so, its still lacking. Only just recently could you buy movies on the PS3.

The 360 has alot more going for it on network. Yes, you have to pay $80 bucks a year for Xbox Live, but, its well worth spent. You can also on Xbox, buy or rent movies and just recently introduced, watch Foxtel on you Xbox. I have this and its Awesome. Also, if you have a media centre PC, the xbox can fully network with that and you can have a full fledged media centre. My mate does this, he has his comp upstairs with all his movies on it, and his 360 is downstairs hooked up to his Home Theatre System.

Now with the addition of Move and Kinect, if your looking for a console that can be a party novelty like the Wii, DEFINITELY give Kinect a try. I dunno where, but my nearest JB HIFI has one and I played it before I bought it, and its awesome.

So, I hope that helps Red, at the end of the day its all down to personal preference, but I have played both quite a bit, and I can say the Xbox is the better console.

Free online service for the PS3.... Can't go wrong when it's free. :)

Unless that 'free' causes a system-wide meltdown and the hacking/credit card stealing if millions of users X3