Thinking of buying a gaming system.

[Arpy]

Looking for an avenue for release and am thinking of buying a gaming system. The last time I played an actual video game on an actual system was Mario 3 on I think Nintendo 64!

I saw an interview with Nathan Fillion recently in which he said his friends and he would unwind and catch up with each other over Halo, and that sounded like a lot of fun.

So what's the system to get? What offers the most games or best gaming experience these days? Thoughts?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

If playing games offline is your preference, then I don't think there is much difference between an Xbox 360 and a PlayStation 3 in terms of features. They have somewhat different libraries but there are a lot of games that are available on both, so it really depends on whether there are any specific games you're interested in that are available on one platform but not the other.

If you intend to play online with your friends, from everything I've heard the 360 offers the superior online experience, however you do have to pay an annual fee for it. Playing online with a PS3 is free but is apparently as not as smooth and integrated an experience as the Xbox Live model.

The Wii is also an option but that depends on whether you like the motion control scheme and the game library.

Which system offers the "most" games is totally irrelevant, as most of them could be crap. You should really look into the available games for each system and decide which has the largest selection that appeals to you.

 

[6079SmithW]

The two big ones are PlayStation 3 and X-Box 360. I own a 360 and have never played a ps3 so my opinion is biased. Some games have a version for both consoles and others are exclusive to that console. For example, the Halo series is exclusive to x-box 360.

I own a 360 because the games I like, such as Halo and Far Cry, are exclusive to it. There are some old original x-box games, like Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2, which can be upgraded to be compatible.
My friends all owned x-boxes and introduced me to these games, so that's why I own one. I guess my point is, "What kind of games do you like, Arpy?"

360 has lots of first person shooters (halo, call of duty), third person shooters (gears of war), rpg's, and others.

**** Conclusion****
I have heard that the ps3 has several problems/issues which the 360 doesn't. Again I'm biased, but I think 360 is the best bet because it has lots of games that I like, and many of those are exclusive to the 360. It does not have the bugs/issues that I've heard ps3 has. If you are into multiplayer, it has x-box live. Most people who do online multiplayer do it through x-box live. It plays dvds. Personally, I think anything you could get on a ps3 you can get at a better quality with the 360 and the 360 offers more.

You mentioned halo sounding fun so that would necessitate a 360. I think you should look around Amazon at video game descriptions and see which games appeal to you and base a console decision off that. But if halo sounds like you cup of tea then 360 has lots of similar games and I'd go with that.

Also, if you move this thread or make another in the video game forum you will get a lot more responses. I'm a casual player so I'm sure there are lots of people who know a lot more then me on all the console specifics and types of games.

I'm sure a ps3 lover will be along to correct my errant ways regarding console preference, but don't listen to them and be sure to get an x-box 360.

 

[Kelthaz]

Well as much as I personally dislike the console, the Wii is pretty much your best option.

- Cheapest console, so less money lost if you find out that gaming isn't your thing.
- Most popular console this generation by far, so it has the largest selection of games.
- Designed with offline multiplayer and party games in mind.
- Aimed at casual gamers or those just getting into the hobby.
- Online Virtual Console that allows you to download the greatest hits of the past that you missed out on.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

Well, if you're looking specifically for Halo, then you don't have any other choice than the 360.

It really boils down to what you're looking for. Do you want a bunch of simpler games aimed at a casual crowd? Go with the Wii. Do you want games that are more aimed at the hardcore crowd with shooters, and action games being the main? Go with the 360 or PS3. Do you want to play online? The 360 boasts a far superior overall online experience. How about other functions? The PS3 is generally accepted to be the best Blu-Ray player on the market right now in terms of functionality and affordability. The differences between the 360 and the PS3 are not quite so great as the difference between them and the Wii. The choice there essentially boils down to Gears of War, Halo, and Fable vs. Metal Gear Solid, Uncharted, and Little Big Planet. Though as I said before, the overall online package offered by the 360 is superior. The price is only $60 a year, and you can often get it for cheaper when stores do sales on subscription cards.

Perhaps if you gave us a little more information on what kind of experience you're looking for, we could help you choose a bit better.