I am one of those freaks that owns all systems, big and small. This is my honest (not-fan boy) opinion..

The 360 has been around longer, and has more exclusive games. My games library for the 360 takes of two shelves. Their online support while costing cash, I feel is much better than the PS3. Achievements have value to me, while the PS3 trophies feel like an after thought.

The PS3 has a few good games. Where it really excels is as an inexpensive Blu-Ray player. As a gaming platform they're slowing catching up with everyone else. Home is a neat idea that just doesn't work in reality. When it launched they removed rumble support from the controllers, and now that they put it back in, they removed backwards compatibility with PS2 games. Another thing worth mentioning is the remote control. It's bluetooth. really need, but that means you can't use a universal remote to play DVDs or Blu-ray on your PS3, you must use their remote, unless you purchase a 3rd party adapter. I really feel that while there are a few good games for the PS3, it's a continuing story of "almost."

That has to be the most helpful reply I have received thus far, thank you very much.

Hmmmm 360 or PS3?? Depends on what type of games you are into. If you like a lot of shooters 360 is the way to go since their platform was born off of Shooters. PS3 you get more of a variety of good games IMO.

Also ps3 allows you to install operating systems such as windows or linux if your into that type of thing, and not to mention online play is "FREE". Its not as good as Xbox live yet but since your coming from ps2 land it won't be hard for you to get use to psn.

Psn also has some good downloadable titles that run you about ten bucks and they are newly developed games not remakes.

In the long run ps3 will cost less than 360 if you add the peripherals you will have to purchase and the yearly live subscription if you want to game online.

Also don't forget God of War, MAG, and Uncharted 2 will be exclusive to ps3 and I know if you had a ps2 you know God of War was great.

Another helpful reply, thank you also.

It depends on what you want.

If you want a rock-solid awesome multiplayer experience, the 360's your only real choice.

If you want Blu-Ray, and that's a real value to you, the PS3's a bargain.

Mostly, it depends on what kinds of games you like. If you're into FPS's, the 360's the way to go for sure. Better controller, broader selection of games, and that online multiplayer.

If you like ... uh... hm. I dunno so much about the PS3 if there's a specific niche. Uncharted's a great game, LittleBigPlanet is really interesting, and Killzone is incredibly gorgeous (though I'm not a fan of the controls).

whoops! Ha. That'll teach me for leaving an unfinished reply and then going to lunch.

I am a single player kind of guy in to the race games like most of the Need for Speed games, Gran Turismo(s) and games like the Ratchet and Clank(s), Spyro(s), Metal Gear(s) although I have and do play others that will give our readers an idea of the type of system I might want. Elementary gaming for the most part, nothing to elaborate. Yes I like the Zelda(s) too but as you may know they are not made for Playstation. I don't do the online gaming with my ps2 and I am a major movie fan. It sounds to me like the ps3 may be what I am looking for based on what I have read here and in the posted story. I am a basic gamer stuck in the past, nothing fancy about my taste in games.

Ratchet & Clank, Metal Gear & GT are all PS exclusives at this point, which means the PS3's your best bet. R&C: Tools of Destruction was great. Short, but great - and there's a downloadable "expansion" chapter to it as well, and another on the horizon.

GT5: Prologue seemed unsatisfying, and I wouldn't bet on GT5 (the full game) 'till 2011, but that's just based on Polyphony's track record of being years and years late.

I've heard good things about Metal Gear 4, but I hated the end of Metal Gear 2 SO MUCH that I can't take the franchise seriously anymore at all.

Definitely sounds like the PS3's the one for you.

I have Metal Gear 1-4. Is the PS3 able to play my ps1 and ps2 games?

Sadly, no. Not unless you're lucky enough to get one of the launch PS3's (60GB or 20GB) or are able to find one of the first batch of 80GB ones. Unfortunately, unless you know exactly what to look for, it's really hard to tell whether it'll have backwards compatibility or not. If you're buying a new PS3, it's very, very unlikely to have backwards compatibility.

And by very, very unlikely, I mean basically 0% likely.

I might have to get more on exactly what to look for then (model numbers, etc.), I have a ps2 but would like to check out some of the new games that are not released for that system.

I'm going to your place to borrow a few games.
I'm way to poor too have that many games, hell, most came from the $19.98 rack at walmart, makes me feel good that im giving homeless games a place to be loved, except for sports games and child friendly games, thoes can get back in line for porage and corn bread.

but for choice there Kent, Microsoft has taken care of me through what Sony did not (i.e. the bricking of my PS2 and PSP)
my choice will always be XBOX, hands down.

As everyone said it really depends on your style of gaming,PS3 has strived to be a awesome console for multiplayer engagement,but the 360 has overcome it fully,the money towards 360's online is WELL worth it.I'm a PS fan all the way have been for many years,the ps1,ps2,psp....All of them i have and loved when the PS3 came out i was stoked but i have it now and was impressed i must say....But i also have the 360 and the performance of the 360 with its multiplayer,demos,music,movies,tvshows its endless on the stuff you can get with good quality of the 360.The ps3 has tryed to compare with 360 on these factors but its just not happening this year,All in all both consoles are good,PS3 lacks alot of what it should and i will never sell it due to me being a ps3 fan and that may be all that keeps me holding onto it,the 360 has shown me alot of good things and im impressed,You do have to pay for stuff on 360 as you do for everything.But if you have the cash i believe its WELL worth the cash. Hope this helps

Thank you for the information. It is very helpful, now I know the PS3 is my next system simply due to funds or lack of in my case.

Wow... an actual information exchange on the pros/cons of the various consoles that didn't degenerate into a flame war. Very nice.

No, see - first Kent GETS the PS3, then we go all YOU = PS3FANBOI! on him. Duh.

Don't forget that the PS3 is the best Blu-Ray player money can buy. Since CanadianCHANGE says he's a big movie fan, that makes a big difference.

And by "CanadianCHANGE," I meant "Kent."

LOL -Has "pick it" sign ready-

One of the big things that wasn't mentioned about the 360 was the ability to conenct to Netflix via your console and watch thier "Watch Instantly" (Netflix's version of OnDemand) content on your TV instead of on your computer monitor. That was the selling point that sold me. We are big Netflix Users and there is a lot of good content on the Watch Instantly list. The downside is that you have to have a XBoxLive Gold membership...which isn't that much of a downside as it was cheap and you get a lot of benefits from it. They have 3 options with the membership, 7.99 a month, 19.99 for 3 months, or 49.99 for a year. I just got a year...$50 isn't that much, hell I spend more on coffee every week than that (yes, I should own stock at Starbucks and Caribou hehehehe).

We used to watch the Watch instantly stuff on my computer monitor, now we watch it on my 42 Widescreen LCD TV...way better. This was a deal breaker for me with any other system.

Another cool feature is that you can network the 360 with your other computers. The advantage is that you can access multimedia content(movies and other video, music, and even pics) from other PCs or even set up a PC as a file server to store all of this content. With the pics, you can set up a slide show of pics...lets say you are celebrating your parents 70th wedding anniversary and you are hoting it at your house...you could set up a slide show of thier wedding pics and other pics from thi9er life together on the TV for guests to watch. My parents did that on a DVD and played the DVD...it was very cool...but this would allow you do do this with little preparation. Anything of this sort is all playlist based.

The thing that really attracted me to the 360 over all of the other game boxes out there is that it is not just a game box. I got this for my kids (and the big kid typing as well *grin*) for xmas this past year. The main thing is that it's just not a game box, but can be used for a lot more.

Vudoo...check out Gamefly.com. Get a subscription from them and you can rent games along the Netflix model and keep them as long as you want. If you liket he game, they also give you the option to buy the one you have rented at a discounted price (cavet...any games like Guitar Hero or RockBand that requiresspecial hardware...they don't provide it). It's a pretty awesome deal. I used it as a try before i buy kind thing.

Also, a lotof the game stores like Gamestop sell used games (they will also buy your games that you no longer play). I picked up Ghost Recon 2 for 9.95 a few months ago from the local store by me. They also had a deal on a new copy of Guitar Hero Aerosmith. Buy it for $10 and you get a free wired guitar. Can't beat that.

Thank you for the helpful information in both replies and welcome to playrag! Be sure to check out newsrag and zoorag through the links at the top of the page (no further sign up is required just sign in with the same stuff you use to log in on playrag.

the PlayStation 3 wins, NOT because of what it HAS, but what it DOESN'T have. No red ring of death, no E-74 fatal error.

Very nice! Agreed.

Blah, Blah, Blah... least Microsoft it taking care of it and fixing it for free. What is SONY doing for the Blinking Light of Doom when you warranty is up, Huh? Or are you guys still in denial about that? There's a Google Search, use it. Type in PS3 Error problem (not blinking light of doom, I made that up) and you'll see.

Really? because I've had no problem whatsoever.

***Slaps forehead***
Why is it every time I say that most PS3 users have problems also. That they begin with "I've had no problem." well, because you have not got it... yet. But others have. I have read message board, after message board about how many PS3's some one has bought. Considering it a $600 paper weight.

here is one example
http://gamer.blorge.com/2008/04/11/ps3-gets-xbox-style-rrod-error-80010514-code-of-death/

But that is not the worse of it. SURE! the 360 in count has the most RROD systems w/ e74 then PS3.

But, the Error list in comparison to the 360 (i.e. e74, e67, e68, etc.)
The PS3 has a list that is staggering. at least 60-70% more then the 360.
for instance.
80029945
Can’t playback burn BDr movie

80029946
Attempting to play burnt Dual layer NTSC disc on a Pal ps3 ( workarounds is to transfer files to ps3 via TVersity )

80029301
An error occurred during the delete operation (attempting to delete some ps2 homebrew from virtual mem card)

80029516
Sign in to PLAYSTATION-Network (needed for some games or Ps3 processes - have to sign in to use them)

80710A06
An error occurred during the install operation (error when downloading game from PSN - network error occured

8003041F
An error occurred during the copy operation (using media server)

80010006
An error occurred during the start operation (added 22aug07 - corrupted folding install)

80010007
An error occurred during the start operation (added 17aug07 - during disc swap tests)

710102
DNS Error; No DSN server available.

8013030
System Error due to failed update download

80010001
Major Error , Game ability stopped

80010017
Can’t start BlueRay Game

80010510
Will not play hard drive games - Cause unknown

80010516
An error occurred during the start operation; Ps1 game swapped using the eject function and then play pressed quickly - ps1 game inserted again

80029023
Exchanging Key Information exchange has timed out

80029024
“Cannot Obtain an IP address”.

80029564
Downloaded Game will not install - Cause unknown

80030920
An error occurred during the copy operation. The file may be corrupt or there isn’t enough memory. Try copying data from original source.

80031150
System Settings Fail to Save - Possible Blue Screen “Setting information is corrupted.Pre

80031601
Error Creating Account

80130203
PS3 connects to internet but not to network - Typically means that the required ports are

80410418
DNS Error

80710016
Playstation Network is down.

80710092
“An error has occurred. you’ve been signed out from the ps network” - (connection dropped?)

80710101
Connection error

80710102
IP conflict , PS3 Cannot connect to the router with current IP information - Try rebooting your router

80710541
The connection to the server timed out. ss the x button to repair and restore default”

80710723
Possible Port Error - Try opening ports , TCP port: 80, 443, 5223 and UDP port: 3478, 3479, 3658. or add Ps3 to DMZ

81019002
Error copying saves from location A to location B not open to connect to store but PS3 can connect to internet.

8001050B
Will not play demo hard drive games, when blue-ray disc is inserted - Cause unknown

8001050D
An error occurred during

Woah,No need to turn this into a flame war about which console is better,Each has its perks and has it flaws. Were helping each other here no fighting

Very well put.

Sorry, Just don't like 360 being put down because of one flaw by PS fanboys who don't know what there talking about.

It's all good, the comments on this post are by far the most helpful I have read and I thank you all for helping me figure out the pro's and con's of the different systems available.

I can understand that we all get caught up in that moment . I have not yet received those types of errors on my PS3 yet of course,It could happen sooner or later. And i have also not have had the RRoD. Both are suitable for having those types of problems,I find if you keep it well tooken care of those problems won't happen.But some are just un-avoidable. Each has it's own flaws within the console,just depends on your style of gaming because each to there own problems you could say

Also i have had my PS3 for about 1yr and my 360 5 months,Just to give a good time frame of how long i've had these systems without problems

Regarding errors, I've had my 360 RROD, and I've had my PS3 throw some really annoying errors. The main difference so far (for me) is that the only error I've had on the 360 was massive hardware failure (which they fixed for free), while the main problems I've had with the PS3 have been with the lousy design of their software (the XMB is a worthless piece of shit, and don't let anyone tell you different).

I'd ended up needing to change the security of my wireless, and every time I tried to change settings, it told me I had to disconnect. Then when I tried to disconnect, the system froze up. I ended up having to reconfigure my router first, reconnect to the wireless, then change the settings, then disconnect. It make me want to throw the thing out the window - particularly because it didn't throw any errors during this process at all. It just got "stuck."

So basically, they both suck. :)

Thank You Helava

You said, "Another cool feature is that you can network the 360 with your other computers. The advantage is that you can access multimedia content(movies and other video, music, and even pics) from other PCs or even set up a PC as a file server to store all of this content."

In fairness, it should be mentioned that the PS3 has this functionality as well.