Battle of the Game Consoles, article + questions + discussion *crosses fingers* Options

[superstitious]

First off, I'd prefer this to stay here and not moved to News because the real reason I'm posting this is to get a feel for what next gen console would be the best choice for me (um, and Iz, of course).

Hope Fades for PS3 as a Comeback Player
In Battle of the Game Consoles, Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox Widen Leads Over Sony's PlayStation
By DAISUKE WAKABAYASHI

TOKYO -- For most of this year, Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 videogame console seemed finally to be taking off after a slow start. The PS3, trailing Nintendo Co.'s Wii and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 consoles, was closing in on the No. 2 Xbox 360, with new games and quarterly sales growth at twice the speed of last year.

But early results from this holiday season aren't promising. U.S. sales of the PS3 fell 19% last month from a year earlier, while sales doubled for the Wii console and rose 8% for the Xbox 360, according to research firm NPD. Analysts say they expect PS3 sales for this month to be flat or lower than last year, while sales for its rivals are likely to rise. And Sony may not reach its goal of selling 10 million PS3 consoles in the fiscal year through March, analysts say.

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more here

Last year (2008, so almost last year) was a very financially straining year, so I decided to wait until I receive my tax returns to get a new console. I had my mind on a Wii for a while, but after visiting a friend who has a 360, I'm sort of conflicted now. Then I had read a few comments on Amazon (I was browsing through some games) and a few reviewers were singing PS3 praises and I became even more conflicted.

I'm sure many of you have one (if not more than one) of these, so I was hoping that people might find a bit of time to give me their take. Also, does a potential financial fallout have much of an impact? I mean, I'd hate to spend so much money on something that will possibly be obsolete in the near future. Maybe "obsolete" isn't the best word to use, but I'm not sure how else to phrase it.

I swear, I'm not always so cautious when it comes to game related purchases. I bought the PS2, Gamecube and Xbox without much thought. It's just that the new equipment seems like more of an investment as a whole.

If you could be specific as to why/if you have a preference, that would be great. :)

[Tsukuyomi-No-Mok...]

Yea gamecube was a good console to get.
it was fun to use and the fact that anyone could play it kinda helped mainly cause u'd get that family air on things thats the thing i like bout Wii also it encompasses everyone so in ma fam it kinda brings evryone togeter since everyone and they baby cousin and grandma can play.

now between ps3 and xbox360
i'd choose the ps3
mainly cause one it's an entire entertainment system in itself.
i can go online
play movies/blu-ray DVD, store large amounts of info and other things like music and what not, remote play off my psp, connect to other computers in my networks, stream videos and stuff online and it works pretty quick. Also i can play my PS2 games off it and get my ps1 games DL to it as well.

Xbox 360 i don't wanna pay for xbox live mainly cause that's alot of cash.
The way i see it is once you get a PS3 the cost is high but afterwards you're good
as long as you take care of your console it should last you

my PS2 i only bought one and it's lasted me 7 years.
Everyone Iknow has only had one PS2 where as the xbox always had complaints on breakin down.

it all comes down to how well you take care of your system.
Also the disc reading error that only really occured when the CD was Damaged but other wise it's fine

So with me for family fun an dentertainment i go with the Wii
where as for entertainment and personal interest I go with Sony's PS3/PSP

[heyo-captain-jac...]

Xbox live isn't that expensive. And the PSP was the worst piece of shit Sony ever released.

I had drive issues with my first PS2 after one year of owning it. My second PS2 broke after 7 years, and I'm on my third one right now.

I actually play my PS2 more than my PS3, but I definitely prefer the PS3 over the 360. I'm a graphics nut.