Again, I never mentioned malice. I only mentioned that the OP is obviously a PC gamer and sees gaming through PC-colored glasses. Just an observation, move along, nothing to see here.
To be fair, Justin, I’m a very equal opportunity gamer - I just intensely dislike handheld systems. I would’ve lumped the PSP and DS together too unless I was trying to determine which one to buy (unlikely). On the other hand, I would’ve left the Mac out entirely. People play games on Macs? Who knew?
PC - though mostly for LotRO now, and some Sword of the Stars. PC gaming has been going in a direction that hasn’t interested me for some time now, and shows no signs of growing much variety anytime soon.
PS2 - I hated on the PS2 for YEARS for killing the Dreamcast, but it’s hard to argue that this box was a winner. Especially when purchased for like $90 late in its lifecycle, and promptly modded to play imports as well.
Dreamcast - Ahh, the Dreamcast. Forever shall I mourn you.
Xbox360 - Starting to regret this choice, not because there’s anything wrong with the system, but because people keep announcing PS3 exclusives that I’d like to play, which annoys me to no end since there’s really no reason for it.
Older systems include: Original Playstation (in a box somewhere, not technically mine, came with the wife. 
), Sega Saturn, Neo Geo CD. and an NES and Genesis in a box somewhere at my parent’s house.
I’m rather alarmed to see PS3 flagging so far behind X-Box 360. I’m a die-hard Sony fan-boy since the golden age of the PS1. I’m usually not one for brand loyalty, but I’ve just always had a soft spot in my heart for Playstations. To the point where I almost feel a PC v Mac level of antipathy toward X-Box.
But hell, now I want to get an X-Box because there seems to be more people to play with.
On the other hand, I don’t get why X-Box online is touted at all, considering it’s subscription, when PS3 online gaming is completely free. Or am I wrong about the X-Box subscription thing?
No, you’re right. Xbox Live, although it’s 50 bucks a month (there are semi-frequent deals to get it cheaper online) is, by all accounts, the MUCH better online service. It’s put together and runs much better than PlayStationNetwork.
Don’t you mean 50 bucks a year?
I do. My bad.
Ironic. I’m usually the one that corrects folks on this. If only some moderator had some kind of rule…
If that’s the case, I might rescind the conversation I just had with a cow-orker about how much X-Box seems to enjoy bending it’s customers over.
$4 or $5 a month is a reasonable expense for being pwned by a bunch of snot-nosed kids at every turn. $50 per month … not so much.
I am too but I really feel that Sony fucked over a lot of its fans when the PS3 came out, with the ridiculous price, and the absolute dealbreaker of no backwards compatibility. The latter is what sold the Xbox for me.
Now I hear rumors that they are putting out a PS3 that is backwards compatible, on some days, or when the moon is blue, or some games - who knows? Fact is, they already lost me when they didn’t think that I might want to still play my old games - maybe forever.
In order of preference:
PC
Xbox 360
PS2
DS
I’ll buy a PS3 too once GoW3 has been released.
You assume that you can’t play with older folks. Look online. You’ll find large, dedicated groups of folks that play without the kids.
Sony has said repeatedly that PS2 backwards compatibility is gone from the PS3 forever.
I feel confident the pwnage ratio would be about the same.
Sad. 
And impossible for me to accept.
clutches PS2
You’d be surprised.
PS2 is going to be around for a LOOOOOOONG time. Hell, I think Sony is still MAKING them.
But yeah. PS2 compatibility is gone and staying that way. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise unless it’s official press release from Sony.
Anyway:
While I won’t scold you for your loyalty, I suggest that it has been misplaced. I love my PS2 to bits - it took quite a lot to get me to forgive them for the Dreamcast thing, but all is forgiven. However, Sony played the Arrogance +5 card with the PS3. They’re only just about now getting the system to where it should’ve been at launch if they wanted to not piss off their fanbase.
[quote]
But hell, now I want to get an X-Box because there seems to be more people to play with.
[quote]
It doesn’t just “seems”; There are. Worldwide (and in the US) the 360 installed base is significantly larger than the PS3s, and, September notwithstanding, is likely to have only lengthened its lead in 2009. (My personal bet is that PS3 sales are going to return to very close to what they used to be for October, having gotten the vast majority of the “I’d buy a PS3 if only it were cheaper” sales out of the way in September.)
On the other hand, in Japan, the PS3 has a huge lead, which leads to a lot of the more unusual/Japanese games this generation still coming out as PS3 exclusives, which worries me, because I think it’s going to make people think those games don’t sell well outside Japan, when the reality is just that the PS3 has a dinky install base outside of its home turf.
Apparently it’s just better. And, well, $4 a month isn’t much.