Rex,
It is a matter of opinion. I consider myself a major gamer. I have all 3 major systems, Xbox 360, PS3, and WII. I will give you my assessment about which one is the best, but that may not be the one you want, so read below.
Xbox 360 (my Favorite)
most extensive games library between the 3 systems. very few major game releases will not be released on the 360. it is considered the leader of the 3 for hardcore gamers, all things considered. The Xbox LIVE experience is the online play, and although it is $50 a year, it far exceeds anyting PS3 or Wii have been doing even though theirs is free. So if you like to play games of all types, sports, first person shooters, Strategy, and Even RACING games, and you have any interest in online play, XBOX 360 is the way to go.
The BIG negative to this system, and it is a big negative, is the issue with what the industry has called "The Red Ring of Death" This is a hardware failure that has happened to me now 3 times. I pay a little extra for the extended warranty and just take the broken one into the store and they give me a brand new one. Microsoft has however stepped up recently and is offering a 3 year warranty on this harwdware failure, and will repair your system if it occurs. The good thing about this, is Microsoft has come out and siad they feel they are getting on top of this issue, and are manuafacturing the systems so this is not as much of an issue as it once was. So the Xbox 360 is (IMO) the best choice between the three consoles, but you are taking a risk with the history of the system. Let's just hope these issues have been corrected.
PS3- Probably the most well constructed system, and has the most potential of any of the 3. Or course, the included Blu-Ray player may interest some, and if that is something you would utilize, then maybe the PS3 is the system of choice. I have not personally made the switch to Blu-ray yet, so that was not an inlfuence in me purchasing the PS3 for that reason. Hardware wise, it is the most powerful of the 3 choices, but I think the best is yet ot come for this system. Most major releases can be bought on both the 360 and the PS3. A downside to the PS3 (right now), is that most games are still being made for the Xbox 360, and are then being "ported" over to the PS3. This could change, but the developers are a little behind for PS3 at this point. Sony makes a great product, and I havent heard of any major hardware issues since its release 2 years ago.
The big negative with Ps3 is online play. It is not nealry as streamlined as Xbox, but it is free. Many games can be very slow online, and the whole interface is hard to navigate. (PS3, does include an internet browser, although I've never used it)
Wii- (even though you didnt ask, someone may wonder)
Wii, is the fastest selling of the 3, but is also the least sophisticated as far as hardware is concerned. You are also not going to find as many of the "Hardcore console games that you would find on 360 or PS3. This is more of a "novelty" system. It is perfect for families who like to play together, and perfect for families with younger children. This system is perfect for party get togethers, and gatherings. No major concerns with the hardware have been documented.
All in all, any one you choose, I believe you can enjoy and get a lot of use out of. Hopefully, with my info above, you can decide which one is best for you. If you have any additional questions, please let me know.. I promise I have more of a life than video games...HAHA :checkered:
