PS3 vs. Xbox 360
Forget the Wii for a minute - although it’s a next-gen console, it’s not in the same league as these two consoles. The decision between a PS3 and an Xbox 360 is like Mac and PC. Different people have varied opinions on the matter; they will usually support the console they own.
I have a PlayStation 3 and love it; I see no compelling reason to buy an Xbox 360 at this point in time. The PS3 has the best graphics (in HD resolution terms, at least), Blu-ray built-in, free online play and a great selection of games. I’ll agree that the 360 has far more games than the PS3, but this is simply because the Xbox 360 has had an extra year of time for developers to make the games for it. I think the PS3 has a great future ahead of it - we’ve already seen a number of promising games confirmed for release this year. Blu-ray winning the format is an extra bonus for current PS3 owners, because now we don’t need to buy another player. Those looking for a Blu-ray player should consider a PS3, too - although there are some cheaper ones now.
The Xbox 360 only outputs a maximum of 720p (unless you buy the ridiculously-priced “Elite” version), only plays dual-layer DVDs and you have to pay £40/year to play online. Xbox users claim their Xbox Live online experience is superior to that of the PS3 - but to be honest I’ve played both, and the difference is marginal - definitely not worth paying £40/year for.
It will be interesting to see what Microsoft does next with the Xbox 360. Now that HD-DVD is dead, they are expected to release a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360. Sony will become its own competition, as it has a large stake in the Blu-ray disc association.
What are your thoughts on the console war?