So, I want a 360, but...

[Tenku]

I'm still trying to convince myself that it would be a great thing to get.

Like, for some time now, the 360 has been increasingly alluring over this year and generally has impressed me. For one it's cheaper, and it has better bundles, and dare I say games simply because there's achievements. I like working towards something and get rewarded on the spot. I already know what games I want if I do decide on it -- GoW1 & 2, Fable 2, Dead Space... perhaps Elder Scrolls, Bioshock, Resident Evil 5... mostly games that will last me a long time or

Plus, PS3 is just too expensive and there's still a small library, to me. The only thing that it has going is Blu-ray.

I'm not quite sure. What do you think or suggest?

[EinBebop]

Are you trying to convince yourself that you want a 360 over a PS3, or are you more conflicted that you even want a next-gen system at all at this point?

[Desensitized]

If you like the games on the 360 and would like to play them, then sure.

It's a great system, I'll admit to that, but just be wary of the whole red ring issue. Otherwise, you can't really go wrong with a 360.

I think if there's one next-gen system to own for a gamer, it would be the 360. Especially if you don't really care about Blu-Ray or Sony exclusives.

[defunctzombie]

I was in your same boat for a while. I have always been a Sony girl, and I planned on getting a PS3. I even had the money ready when I thought, why do I need to spend 400 dollars for a blu-ray player I will not be using (my tv is older than me). I haven't even seen any ps exclusive games that caught my eye. So I ended up getting a 360. Now, I do have a few problems with it, though. It costs 50 a year to play with other people, which is too much for me, and the new interface is not very much of an improvement imo.

[Eddy]

I wasn't much of a fan of the Xbox. But I love the 360. It's true that most of the great 360 games are also on the PS3 (such a Bioshock, which I love to death), but the 360 is also a couple hundred dollars cheaper. It also has it's share of exclusive games and, if you're like me and not much of a PC gamer, the 360 tends to get a lot of those too like The Orange Box and Left 4 Dead. And, while they may charge you for Live, it's worth every penny. It really is a great online service.

In all honesty, though, I would get a PS3 if I had enough money to blow on one. Bluray looks appealing and Little Big Planet looks like a lot of fun.

Buy, yeah, I have to side with the 360 here.

[Captain Highwind]

I'm not getting a 360 until they resolve that red ring thingy.

[Desensitized]

I'm not getting a 360 until they resolve that red ring thingy.

Doesn't seem to be happening.

But I will go on record saying that I've had my 360 over a year now and have never had a red ring.

I'm not kidding, I've seriously never had one.

[Mynd Hed]

I'm not getting a 360 until they resolve that red ring thingy.

What do you mean by "resolve"? Anecdotal evidence suggests that it's a far less common occurrence now than at launch (only Microsoft really has hard numbers, so we can't be sure in a scientific sense), and MS has a very good manufacturer's warranty, so as long as you register your console and keep your paperwork, you're covered even if something does happen.

If by "resolve" you mean that it will never, ever happen to anyone ever again, well, no, that hasn't happened. But it'll be a long, cold wait before any piece of electronics you buy can honestly boast a 0% failure rate. Yes, the 360 is, generally speaking, less reliable than either the PS3 or the Wii, and that's certainly a factor that should be taken into consideration. But it's not, IMHO, a deal-breaker in and of itself.

Back to the subject at hand, Tenku, do you have an HDTV? Because I've played the 360 on SDTVs and honestly, it ain't worth it. Squinting at unreadable menus and characters that blur into their backgrounds does not an enjoyable gaming experience make. It's become increasingly obvious that game developers of next-gen games think of usability on an SD display as an afterthought, if at all.

Beyond that, if you've committed to taking the plunge on a new console, of the three available the 360 certainly boasts a lot of bang for your buck. Between the full retail titles and XBLA downloadables, it's got a deep and varied library, and with the exception of a few titles that benefit from being played on a PC for mouse/keyboard controls and/or mods, 360 versions of multiplatform titles tend to be equal to or greater than other versions.

[Tenku]

Are you trying to convince yourself that you want a 360 over a PS3, or are you more conflicted that you even want a next-gen system at all at this point?

Well, I have a Wii since last year, and the only games I've bought were Zack and Wiki, Brawl, and Geometry Wars. For the most part, it doesn't feel like next gen. I know that there are great games for the Wii, it's just... well, slim pickin's.

I'm not getting a 360 until they resolve that red ring thingy.

That's one of my issues too, but I haven't heard anything from it. I think Microsoft resolved or at least it's a very small percentage of consoles that RROD.

Back to the subject at hand, Tenku, do you have an HDTV? Because I've played the 360 on SDTVs and honestly, it ain't worth it. Squinting at unreadable menus and characters that blur into their backgrounds does not an enjoyable gaming experience make. It's become increasingly obvious that game developers of next-gen games think of usability on an SD display as an afterthought, if at all.

Well, I have a flat panel... an Audiovox. But, I think we're gonna upgrade my tv to HD, so I don't think it'd be quite an issue. I forgot about that; about the small text. It's bad enough I have poor eyesight. Wish there was a function to at least make font larger.

[WolfieKiwi]

/looks at avy and covers her nose.

Honestly, if the PlayStation3 wasn't so gosh darn expensive and the PS2 compatible versions wasn't so scarce---then I'd suggest it but that's obviously not the case here. I mean...you could wait another year (And I actually did for the PS2. About three years but that's another story.) and see what happens but knowing that we're smack in the month where all the highly anticipated games start pouring out, I don't think waiting could even be accomplished. ;;

So yeah, I'd say go 360. The benefits are a handful, even if you don't have a LIVE account.

EDIT

Doesn't seem to be happening.

But I will go on record saying that I've had my 360 over a year now and have never had a red ring.

I'm not kidding, I've seriously never had one.

Same here. Although we have the dark green Halo edition I'm sure it's just the same as every other; save for the color.

[Tommy Lawson]

That's one of my issues too, but I haven't heard anything from it. I think Microsoft resolved or at least it's a very small percentage of consoles that RROD.

Good news - the long awaited Jasper model of the 360 is now shipping with onboard 256MB flash memory for the New Xbox Experience. It will replace the current Falcon model.

[Beat]

I went and got a 360, quite simply because I don't see the PS3 being a major force in marketing due to its exorbitant cost. Remember 3DO? Didn't think so.

[Wounded_Dragon]

If you have to convince yourself, you don't really want one.

[Novapocalypse]

I'm kind of on the same boat... being a teenager with no job yet, saving up money is kind of hard and annoying at that.... so whatever I get I want it to be worth it all. The thing is though, I'm leaning more to a PS3, because it has more games I'm interested in than the 360. But the 360 is also a great console that I can get for $200. It's really more of a money problem for me.

I'd say go two things.

1.) Go with the one that has more games you think you'll play.

2.) Go with the one that will be more useful to you.

[Tommy Lawson]

Also, the PS3 is no longer the most affordable Blu-ray player out there, so people are now paying extra for that feature if they get a PS3. That could significantly slow down sales of the PS3 system itself, as that was a major reason for its rise in sales at the start of this year.