I have both and to me the PS3 is better. The menus are better, it doubles as a blu-ray player. The controllers fit my hands better and they're rechargeable.
Have my argument on the other thread. I have an older Xbox and I love it. BUT it pisses me off that I have to pay $50 a year (I'm a cheapass) for online capability. Plus I can't watch Bluerays. I would buy the PS3 over the 360 today if I wanted to spend the money.
I've got a better idea. Instead of spending $500 on video games, why not use that money to do something that does not make you a social recluse. Take a class, go on a trip, open up a tab, get a hooker, buy some blow (then you may not have to pay for the hooker). I would recomend doing anything but getting a video game system. Who am I kidding. I have a wii, and it is only because I like Mario and Zelda games.
I own a Wii and while I'm not interested in owning a second console at the moment, I'd buy a PS3 if I was. For me, it's about the exclusive titles. Sony has ModNation Racers and Metal Gear Solid 4. And the Uncharted and God of War franchises. Microsoft has no exclusive games/franchises that interest me.
In my honest opinion, I would only use the kinect when I had people over as entertainment, but that's what the wii is for with it's hundreds of fun games. It's fun and all, but how often are you going to use it by yourself with the games that are out now? Maybe once every now and then? It wouldn't be worth it to even get the Kinect. But if you wait a year or something, I'm sure some decent software will come out for it, but nothing right now. That was kind of convoluted, to sum up, I'm not going to get the kinect because I would never use it after it's initial "this is cool" period of a few days wore off.
I've got a much better idea, how bout we retire the myth that playing video games makes you a social recluse? Focus: I own both, but as anyone from the pop culture/CoD threads could tell you, I'm heavily biased towards my PS3. Blu-Ray's are stunning, free online play, Bluetooth trumps Live's headset everyday & wireless controllers beat having to go to corner store and get batteries every week. Plus Sony has more console exclusive titles coming in 2011 than the 360.
I'm sure my feelings on XBOX are known to a few members of the board. But I'll try to make this unbiased. Xbox Pros: Halo (and other Xbox only games) Dirt cheap Kinect Xbox Cons: Have to pay for online No HD movie playback PS3 Pros: Free online play Gran Turismo (and other PS3 only games) I personally prefer the controller PS3 Cons: Costs more Their dildo controllers for that PS3 Play or whatever In the end for me, the PS3 has the games I like. I prefer Sony products. I prefer the PS3 controller (it's the same as the PS2 which I used for years). I have no intention of dancing around in front of my game console, I don't use my console to party and get exercise. I use it as a way to veg out at the end of a long day, so I don't care about the Kinect/Play argument.
I bought a PS3 in November and I love it. Many of the perks have already been listed by previous posters, but to me the biggest of all is the fact that it doubles as a blue-ray player.
No, that guy's a fucking joker. Though, you do have to buy these. They also sell controllers packaged with the kit, which is probably more cost effective I'll put my recommendation this way. I have 3 360 games (Halo 3, Reach and Resident Evil 5). I have 0 PS3 games and I have about 15 Wii games. You said it's for entertainment when the fellas come over, so the only thing I can say regarding that is there are plenty of Wii titles to fit that bill. Can't speak to 360 and PS3 though, because I don't have a PS3 and use the Xbox more as a Halobox/Netflixbox
One that is updated every time you turn on the system, so essentially, the most advanced Blueray player out there software wise.
The two that came with my 360 use regular run of the mill AA batteries. One plus for the Xbox is that you get two controllers in the box instead of just one for PS3.
Especially if you are going to buy a 360, add in an extended warranty from whichever retailer you buy it from. The Red Rings of Death still exist for 360 owners, and it's still prevalent.
Interesting story about this. My friends 360 had the red rings about 3 years after he got it, so obviously out of warranty, so I called up Microsoft and explained the problem to them. They sent me a box, I shipped the console to them, and they sent me a new/refurb one at no cost to me whatsoever. Granted, this was when the red rings first started to become a problem about 4 years ago.
No, xbox has wireless rechargeable controllers. The rechargeable batt was a separate purchase when I bought mine though. Not sure what comes with the console these days. when I made my decision, I went with the xbox because more of my friends had one. I do not regret my decision. I have limited experience with the PS3, but I prefer xbox'a online/multiplayer even though there is the yearly cost. It's been a while since I've touched a PS3 though, so the things I've grown to like and that have been added could be just as true for the PS. I love netflix, occasionally use the espn app. I don't own any blurays, so that doesn't affect me. I use my computer. While I have not done it, you're supposed to be able to stream your itunes through your xbox, and can control it with ipod/iphones. No experience with the Kinect, but I'd assume PS is coming out with something similar. I've never had a RROD, but then again, I don't have my console buried in 2" of shit on the carpet. In the end, my vote is Xbox.
Not only do you get the Blu ray player, it's also often rated as one of the best Blu ray players. And Xbox Live? I'm already paying for the Internet, I don't need to pay more to login to a shitty network too.
I have a PS3 (and a Wii). I went with the PS3 because I didn't want to pay to play online and, more importantly, my hands are too small for Xbox controllers.
I have a PS3 for a lot of the reasons mentioned. Free online play, lots of great exclusive titles, I just prefer the controller, use as a blu-ray player, and all that junk. In truth, if I could play first-person-shooters, I'd be more inclined to get an Xbox for games like Halo or Gears of War, but those games make me incredibly motion sick. I prefer 3rd person action/adventure games and RPGs. Between the Uncharted series, inFamous, Metal Gear Solid 4, and Demon's Souls, the PS3 wins that battle for me. The bottom line is that the PS3 can do more than the Xbox 360 now. There was a time when Xbox had more titles, when HD-DVDs were still relevant, and you could ONLY stream Netflix through the Xbox. Now that Blu-Ray won the format wars, and the PS3 has Netflix and doesn't cost you $50 a year to play online, plus it has been out long enough to establish a bunch of exclusive titles, it has pulled ahead. If you'd have asked this same question two years ago, I think the majority would be saying Xbox 360 is the better console. However, the 360 is showing its age much more than the PS3. Between the two systems, the PS3 will be useful longer. Even after a company has upgraded it's consoles (the PS4 and the Xbox 129,600), the PS3 will still be a blu-ray player, meaning it will still be useful. Again, though, it is personal preference. I hate the silly console wars bullshit that I see people get into. I watched two of my work-friends at my old job get into an argument because one had a PS3 and the other a 360. These two fucks were screaming at each other. Who the fuck cares if someone plays a different console than you, or if someone doesn't like your console? Are you so thin-skinned that you let the fact that someone doesn't like your video gaming console turn you into a raving lunatic? Jesus, they're just video games.
I'd rather have a Wii than Kinect bullshit any day. Really this is going to come down to three things 1: Who's games you like better - generally this is a wash these days 2: Who has a better controller - this is individual preference, I prefer the 360's but I have all three systems so it's not like I voted with my wallet for one over the other. 3: Do you have a Blu-Ray Player - This at the moment is pretty much the main selling feature of one over the other.. if it's important to you at all. The PS3 being updatable makes it better than many cheap off the shelf BluRay players too. Some other considerations: XBL is not free. Rechargable batteries / packs for your controller is an extra expense for the 360.. as is Wifi connectivity, PS3 is not as cheap, BRDs have slower load times than DVDs (generally fixed with preloading on the ps3), user interface / comfort level with XMB vs.. whatever the hell they're calling the 360's interface now. Also you're Canadian, so I feel obliged to warn you about how bad netflix's Canadian listings blow. Seriously, they have nothing.