For someone who owns neither, which is the better buy?

Sell it TO ME!

No, seriously. I want you to try to tell me why I should I buy an Xbox 360, or a PS3, or both, if I own neither of them or their ascendants.

This is also just for the console itself, don't really care about Blue-Ray Vs...nothing, or in any case.

Just tell me why the Xbox 360 is better than the PS3, or why the PS3 is better than the 360.

Thanks in advance.

Please note, there are many exclusive titles for both platforms, just listing the ones mentioned in this thread so others know.

UPDATE:
Reasons to own a PS3:

1. Less noise
   
2. Completely free online network
3. Every PS3 Includes a Hard Disk Drive
4. Blu-ray for movies
   
5. Metal Gear Solid 4 (exclusive title)

1. Price drop = cheaper than PS3
2. Xbox live better than PS3 Network? Supposedly
   
3. 4 Exclusive Titles: Gears of War series; Alan Wake (only listing this considering my PC prob won't be able to handle it); Halo 3; Too Human; Perfect Dark Zero; Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts

1. Access to all exclusive titles.
   

I like ps3 better cause its quiter and MGS4

Both are great. Just look at the games both offer. Which one's seem to interest you more?

Games I recommend you look at for the PS3: Uncharted, MGS4, Ratchet and Clank, Heavenly Sword, Motorstorm, Resistance.

I have to say the Xbox 360.
The price cut for the pro just took affect and now is only $299 for a 20G HDD.
Most PS3 games are non exclusive.
The Xbox has Halo
Th Xbox has Mass Effect
The Xbox has Too Human
The Xbox has Kameo, Perfect Dark, and Banjo Kazooie

You have to buy an Xbox.

I have a PS3 but in order to maintain fairness, I'll argue both ways.
PS3 has free online, MGS4, and they all come with HDDs.
360 has better online, Halo (if that's your thing), cheaper.

if you have the money to get either i'd say go with the ps3 for now cause you might as well get a blu ray player right? you can't go wrong with either tho

Both consoles offer a ton of features and exclusives.

I don't think that there has ever been such a balanced generation of consoles EVER. I can understand how hard it can be for you.

Think it through. Role-play.

"What would my gaming life be like with a PS3? A 360? Hmm..."

"Both consoles offer a ton of features and exclusives.

I don't think that there has ever been such a balanced generation of consoles EVER. I can understand how hard it can be for you.

Think it through. Role-play.

"What would my gaming life be like with a PS3? A 360? Hmm..."
"

XBOX Live scares me. I don't own either, but I'm gonna say PS3.

"XBOX Live scares me. I don't own either, but I'm gonna say PS3.
"

"hazelnutman said:

"Both consoles offer a ton of features and exclusives.

I don't think that there has ever been such a balanced generation of consoles EVER. I can understand how hard it can be for you.

Think it through. Role-play.

"What would my gaming life be like with a PS3? A 360? Hmm..."
"

Thats why I made this thread :D

Another question of importance: Control schemes! Which one comes out on top?
"

Xbox has like what 100 good games... PS3 has like 5. Xbox is cheaper, money you save can buy you more games and online (xbl owns psn). Xbox has, is and will always get more good games than ps3.

I would get a 360 because of better games and a more organized online service.

Ok about the controls.

Being the PC fanboy that I am, I did play with a PS2 a considerable amount of time in the past although I've never owned one. The controls imo were what distinguished consoles from my beloved PC. I didn't like the controls for the PS2 that much. How is the 360 controller better? Would you say its extensively different than the PS3 controller? Would a PC lover quickly warm up to a 360 controller? If I'm playing on the 360, will I feel like I'm really just playing PC? Same question for the PS3.
 

Right now, 360 has a larger library of titles and more exclusives, but PS3 are developing some very interesting and unique games, especially in the avenue of downloable titles.

"Xbox has like what 100 good games... PS3 has like 5. Xbox is cheaper, money you save can buy you more games and online (xbl owns psn). Xbox has, is and will always get more good games than ps3."

"Xbox has like what 100 good games... PS3 has like 5. Xbox is cheaper, money you save can buy you more games and online (xbl owns psn). Xbox has, is and will always get more good games than ps3."

Honestly, people forget to mention the RRoD
The 360's hardware is more unstable.
Both have good selections of exclusives, although, imho, the 360's is better
the 360 is cheaper.

The 360 is still the better buy in my opinion, it has a far superior online service, more exclusive games (Halo, Gears of War, Lost Odyssey, Banjo & Kazooie, Ninja Gaiden II, Mass Effect, etc).

It's also got the better controller, the Playstation controller hasn't really changed since the original Duel Shock for the PS1, that shape of controller was never really designed for duel stick play and (again imo) it gets uncomfortable after a while (particularly with FPS).

So it's cheaper, it has a bigger catalogue of games, it has more exclusives, it has better online support (albeit for a small fee), and the controller is better designed for modern games, no brainer if you ask me.

"If I'm playing on the 360, will I feel like I'm really just playing PC? Same question for the PS3."

"Ok about the controls.

Being the PC fanboy that I am, I did play with a PS2 a considerable amount of time in the past although I've never owned one. The controls imo were what distinguished consoles from my beloved PC. I didn't like the controls for the PS2 that much. How is the 360 controller better? Would you say its extensively different than the PS3 controller? Would a PC lover quickly warm up to a 360 controller? If I'm playing on the 360, will I feel like I'm really just playing PC? Same question for the PS3.
 
"

At  this point, you really can't go wrong with either one. If you have any gamer friends, get the same console as them, as playing online is way more fun with friends.

There both greats systems that pretty much equal in pros and cons but i would get a ps3 because i hate how loud the xbox is

little big planet is a reason to own a ps3, get all the exclusives is a reason to own both. Xbox 360s online is far more enjoyable and easy to use compared to the ps3. For example the ps3 friend and invite system arnt great yet and the ps3 microphone is pretty bad. erm ps3 has a blu ray player, ps3 is aiming for a 10 year life cycle while microsoft probably isnt going to drag the 360 out that long.

To me, it honestly feels like you already made up your mind...

I would go with the console more of your friends have. If both is an option, go for it. There's a lot of great games of each console, so I don't think you can go completely wrong with either.

I would go for both, but otherwise it realy comes down to what games you want to play more and whether you care about Blu-Ray or not.

Yeah I have both and a wii, and its good, the ps3 is better for movies, though i know youd dont care about that, but it is so much quieter its untrue, and also dosent break as much. There are more games on the 360 and the online is generally better and its a pretty slick interface. If you get both you have best of both worlds...

"To me, it honestly feels like you already made up your mind...
"

You didn't use live as a reason to get a Xbox 360? I know it isn't free but it is way better than PSN.

TBH though, I can't even honestly say the "price is cheaper" since your getting what you pay for. Last I checked the Xbox 360 elite is still $425 on Amazon. Does the PS3 include all the HD cables? Is it safe to say the HD graphics are equivalent on both platforms?

PS3 dude, trust me now is the best possible time to get a PS3 over the 360, and im not just saying that ( I could argue the point forever).

"TBH though, I can't even honestly say the "price is cheaper" since your getting what you pay for. Last I checked the Xbox 360 elite is still $425 on Amazon. Does the PS3 include all the HD cables? Is it safe to say the HD graphics are equivalent on both platforms?
"

If you really can't decide, then both. Both have many pros and cons.  But if you can only get one, then take this into consideration: Do you like shooters? Lots and lots and lots of shooters? Then 360 is your console.   Do you like variety? Do you like a little bit of everything? Then PS3. It's about as simple as that.

Xbox 360 has the better games. There you go

"Xbox 360 has the better games. There you go"

Just get the one which you think has better games on it. Statistically Xbox 360 has better games but it all depends on opinion.

Well it really depends, do you have any friends that have either system? Friends can make a huge difference in the fun you can have on a system.
Also, which system do you agree more with in the direction they are heading? Do you like the way Microsoft is going with the dashboard update and avatars? Or do you like where Sony is going with trying to expand the system's life?
There is no doubt that the 360 has the best online at the moment but Sony is trying to improve on that with games like MAG.

It's really a matter of preference on your part.

The majority of the best games are multiplatform anyway, and the 360 is cheaper and has better online.

My opinion.

If you want better games get a 360. If you have an large HDTV and are planning to watch a ton of Blu-Ray movies, HD video, and overall a ton of media content then go with the PS3.

I would go with both though.

Get the 360 if you plan to own only one. Get them both if you can afford it though.

"The majority of the best games are multiplatform anyway, and the 360 is cheaper and has better online.

My opinion.
"

Well it depends on a few  things.

Do you want a console that is reliable, updated regularly, handled by an experienced and established platform?

Or do you want a piece of hardware that has a minimum 30% EXPECTED failure rate at retail, a subpar set of titles for this year, and having to PAY for online?

I own all three consoles, im not bias, im personally a PC person over them all, but its really just fact.

So it seems to boil down to the amount of games each console has then. I have an 72 " HDTV projector, that can actually even go larger and still keep a nice HD quality.
To answer InnerBlueAbyss, yes I want a very reliable platform with minimal hard ware difficulty. I heard about Xbox360s hardware probs, but I'd never buy any major electronic anyway with out getting it from Costco.

So does the PS3 include HD cables? What is the expected longevity of both platforms? I'd hate to buy a PS3/X360 now just to hear that the PS4/X720 will be coming out next year...

Yes I do enjoy shooters but Action/Adventure games are my favorites. Puzzle Adventure games are my favorites too (Like Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened).

Are there any major differences (aside from technical problems) with the PS3 and X360 hardware? Since I have HD that can reach well over 72 ", I'd like to have the best visual experience I can get.

I think the most important thing in a console is how long it will last and the quality it will push out in its life span, and from what I am seeing the PS3 is the best bet in those aspects.

I don't know why you mentioned perfect dark zero as a selling point for the 360,thats kind of scary!

But it really depends on your preferences in games. As far as ones already released microsoft had a head start in 06-07 in terms of better games I would say,but as far as this year goes,multiplatform games are the big thing. So far only Sony and Microsoft exclusives this year go for are MGS4 and Ninja Gaiden 2(talking about ones that are released already,not upcoming yet) and upcoming really depends on your game preferences I guess. Microsoft is -Gears 2,Fable 2,Left 4 Dead(also on PC)Too Human and Banjo.   Sony has -LittleBigPlanet,Resistance 2,Socom confrontation,and motorstorm,as well as the superior soul calibur 4(who wants yoda over vader really?)

As far as upcoming games go beyond 08,Microsoft has announced not much,beyond-Borderlands,and Alan Wake(if this game ever comes out.)

 and Sony's 09 release is a bit more knowledgeable atm- The Agency,DC Universe Online,Killzone 2,Infamous,MAG,and God of War 3.

So if you have any big favorites that are exclusives( or most friends on one console over other also good platform deciding choice) Its all up to you to decide what looks the best. As I stated,besides the exclusives I listed,there is probably about 20 other great games in 08 alone that are multiplatform,so it doesn't really matter. Good luck in making your mind up!

(and there's no need to correct the lineup of games I listed,I'm not claiming I listed EVERY single title that is upcoming for either console,i'msure I missed some,just listed the big ones atm.)

Yeah, there are just so many games in 08 and 09, even in 2010 for PS3, this is where the massive game rollout starts.

360=cheaper than PS3,better games than Wii.

"I don't know why you mentioned perfect dark zero as a selling point for the 360,thats kind of scary!

But it really depends on your preferences in games. As far as ones already released microsoft had a head start in 06-07 in terms of better games I would say,but as far as this year goes,multiplatform games are the big thing. So far only Sony and Microsoft exclusives this year go for are MGS4 and Ninja Gaiden 2(talking about ones that are released already,not upcoming yet) and upcoming really depends on your game preferences I guess. Microsoft is -Gears 2,Fable 2,Left 4 Dead(also on PC)Too Human and Banjo.   Sony has -LittleBigPlanet,Resistance 2,Socom confrontation,and motorstorm,as well as the superior soul calibur 4(who wants yoda over vader really?)

As far as upcoming games go beyond 08,Microsoft has announced not much,beyond-Borderlands,and Alan Wake(if this game ever comes out.)

 and Sony's 09 release is a bit more knowledgeable atm- The Agency,DC Universe Online,Killzone 2,Infamous,MAG,and God of War 3.

So if you have any big favorites that are exclusives( or most friends on one console over other also good platform deciding choice) Its all up to you to decide what looks the best. As I stated,besides the exclusives I listed,there is probably about 20 other great games in 08 alone that are multiplatform,so it doesn't really matter. Good luck in making your mind up!

(and there's no need to correct the lineup of games I listed,I'm not claiming I listed EVERY single title that is upcoming for either console,i'msure I missed some,just listed the big ones atm.)
"

Lol I don't think Avatars should be listed as a selling point? LOL