so im finally breaking down... but i cant decide...

[Jrecee]

I'd wait til after E3 to decide. Also, there could be price drops in store this fall, not to mention the rumors of a new "slim" xbox 360 packaged with natal (and probably on its own).

[baschlives]

Go with the PS3

[Breetai]

The PS3 is less likely to break down on you, and the games are all region-free. Obvious choice of the PS3 in my opinion, unless there are some 360 exclusives that you just NEED to have.

[joehero]

PS3! It has blu-ray and seems more reliable.

[LiL-mAc]

NES!

mine hasn't break down in years.

[crux]

The funny thing about the PS3 being the only modern console (non-handheld) to be region free, is that it's also the only modern console that I haven't considered a single import game for. I own probably six or seven Japanese 360 games and I've considered getting a import Wii game from time to time, but no Japanese PS3 games have even crossed the radar.

Out of curiosity, are you dead set on a modern console? This is largely a retro site, and god knows there are a ton of great games on retro systems.

Otherwise, though I probably would have leaned one way or the other a year ago (namely towards 360), today I'd say both are equally great choices. In fact, I might even give PS3 the nod in terms of exclusives on the horizon, but both have so many exclusives and so many good games that it's a moot point. The dividing line will have to be the series that interest you. Both have very similar genres, so it's going to be series like Halo, Alan Wake, Mass Effect (console wise, anyway), Rare games, the few shoot 'em ups available on an American system (a HUGE plus in my book, if I didn't own a Japense 360 anyway), etc. PS3 has Metal Gear Solid, Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank, 3D Dot Game Heroes, etc.

I'd give Xbox 360 the edge for online support. The party chat system is awesome and should be a staple of all future online systems (unless PS3 is doing it now and I hadn't noticed). Along with that note, FAR more players on 360 have a microphone, something that annoys me to no end with many PS3 players. Not that I want to hear every jackass online, but certainly more than I hear on PS3 (often none at all). That said, online is free on PS3 and not on 360.

If I could only own one, my bias would lead me to 360's. Even if I didn't own a Japanese 360, Cave released Mushihimesama Futari and Espgaluda 2 region free, Death Smiles is coming to America soon, and games like Raiden Fighters Aces are already here. Otherwise, I think I'd be split right down the middle. For every PS3 game I like there's a 360 game I wouldn't want to do without either. Your own preferences will have to be the deciding factor.

[nutbar]

I think the PS3 is better hardware-wise, but it really comes down to the games. Most multiplatform games look better on the 360 (indeed, most run at a provably higher resolution such as 540p vs 720p and so on). Plus I actually like the 360 interface better, which surprises me because I typically shy away from any Microsoft UI. I bought a 360 first.

A few years later I got a PS3 slim because I thought I would like a lot of the exclusives like Killzone 2, Resistence, etc. It turns out I downloaded the demos of said games and hated them (the Call of Duty series has spoiled me against all other console FPS games; other control schemes just don't hold up). I got Metal Gear Solid 4, which is totally worth playing. And FFXIII looks way better on PS3 (against the typical trend) but I didn't enjoy it very much. I'm currently enjoying 3D Dot Game Heroes and looking for more good PS3 games.

Overall I still like my 360 better and I keep buying games for it instead of the PS3.

[MrPopo]

The funny thing about the PS3 being the only modern console (non-handheld) to be region free, is that it's also the only modern console that I haven't considered a single import game for. I own probably six or seven Japanese 360 games and I've considered getting a import Wii game from time to time, but no Japanese PS3 games have even crossed the radar.

I think that's because due to development costs there really haven't been many PS3 JP only titles. The only high profile one I can think of is Tales of Vesperia. All the other good ones have gotten localized, including such gems as Demon's Souls and 3D Dot Game Heroes (both of which are fairly niche). Smaller devs like Cave flocked to the 360 because Microsoft was very accomodating, but then they also got region locked.

Along with that note, FAR more players on 360 have a microphone, something that annoys me to no end with many PS3 players. Not that I want to hear every jackass online, but certainly more than I hear on PS3 (often none at all). That said, online is free on PS3 and not on 360.

So I'm primarily a PC gamer when it comes to online, and my game of choice these days is TF2. Usually there's only a couple people who have mics, and even then you don't tend to hear much actual discussion of strategy (I'm, of course, not counting clan games where everyone has a mic). People seem to develop a level of situational awareness that causes them to properly react to the various things that happen. Sure, there's a few who don't pay attention (why the fuck do we have 4 snipers on Goldrush?) and sometimes the mic is very handy to call out a quick spy warning, but all in all it's unnecessary. So I enjoy the silence given to me on the PSN.

[h8b1llg8ts]

if your an online gamer then go for the 360 but if your casual then the PS3 is a fine machine.

That is the best I can say without going nuts on the subject. But check out my backloggery for the answer I would really give ...

[DonSilvestre]

Coming from another person who owns both:

I VASTLY prefer to play the single player games I own on PS3 - I mostly have 360 for playing online multiplayer with friends. That being said, there are a lot of games that look noticeably better on 360. I recently picked up Red Dead Redemption on 360 because it looks better, and I can play online with all my 360-only friends. Load times are also usually worse on a PS3 if you don't install the game.

Other important questions to ask are: Do you own a PS1/Original Xbox or have interest in PS1/Original Xbox games? I've loved playing my PS1 collection on my PS3 and having all my saves in one place - it's sweet. 360 is not FULLY back compatible with original Xbox, but most of the important games work.

Do you plan on doing any downloadable titles for either console? Many of the good games are available on both XBL and PSN (Braid, Megaman 9/10, Capcom vs. Marvel 2), but 360 seems to have a lot more exclusive awesome downloadable games.

Do you want a blu ray player? Do you want wireless out of the box? (and frankly much more reliable wireless than the Xbox's adapter which I own and disconnects me fairly frequently?)

If I had to do it over again and only buy one, I'd do a PS3 - but since all my friends play online with a 360 it'd be awfully hard for me to give that up. They're both solid though, you can't really make a bad choice.