PLAYSTATION 3
If you have a 1080p HDTV, this is the only system that can display movies in their full brilliance. As a matter of fact, its the only system that has ANY type of HD disc format standard. So if you buy consoles and use them as movie players, you're missing out on Iron Man and Underworld in their full HDTV brilliance if you decide to bypass the PS3. Computers have blu-ray drives, but VERY FEW include them as a standard part.
It used to be that Final Fantasy and Grand Theft Auto exclusively lived at the PlayStation but times have changed. Probably the two most popular franchises right now that you won't find anywhere but the PS3 are God of War and Metal Gear Solid. Two truly great franchises that you're missing out on if you skip the PS3. Besides that, you have sleepr hits that have hit it big this gen including Little Big Planet, Infamous, Resistance and Killzone. If you still consider Gran Turismo a "must have" title then PS3 is also your home.
Xbox Live is still the superior online serivce of the consoles but PSN is quickly catching up and it has one distinction that both Nintendo and Xbox don't share. It offers a full-range of downloadable games, online play, achievement system, downloadable movies, and it's FREE! Wii has yet to touch Xbox Live and PSN, and while Xbox Live is a superior online serivce, you still need to cough up more money to enjoy most of its perks. PSN is just now charging for themes, but it still offers many free compared to Xbox Live which charged for almost all downloads from the get-go. There's also a fine collection of "download only" gamea at PSN including Superstardust HD, Zen Pinball, Elefunk, PAIN, and more...
XBOX 360
Xbox offers its own exclusives that you can't find on the PS3 or Wii, primarily PC-themed games such as shooters, WRPGs, and real-time strategy games. True, you'll eventually find most of these on the PC, but if you're a console exclusive gamer, the Xbox 360 is your sole chance to enjoy these games. Of course, the big baby is the Halo series, which is still highly popular despite many shooters since matching its popularity, but Halo will always be an Xbox darling.
Xbox Live is the premiere console online service for many reasons. With Netflix and other options such as HD movies, it's the premier movie-watching online service. With headsets so predominant in the Xbox community, it's the most social online service. You'll be hard-pressed to find as many people with headsets on PSN as you will Xbox Live. (Which can sometimes be a curse when the 6-year-olds log-in.) THere is a far better collection of current downloadable games. PSN still struggles to put many of its PS2 and PS3 games online, and Nintendo mostly offers past consoles. Add-ons, themes, avatars, you name it, Xbox Live has it. It also has its own decent collection of downloadable only games.
NINTENDO WII
Yes, the other systems have their Wii-Mote copycats on the way, but for now, the Nintendo Wii is the only system that will allow you to experience gaming in gameplay **** that have never been commonplace. Less buttons, more moving, and more immersive physical involvement in gaming. Plus, many of the games that fully utilize the Wii-Mote are casual in nature and encourage mroe of a family gaming or community atmosphere in your home. The Wii-Mote is a gimmick for many hardcore gamers, but for many casual gamers, it seals the deal on which system to pick.
There is only one library of exclusives that barring Nintendo's exit from the system marketplace, you know will NEVER find their way on other consoles. Xbox and PlayStation exclusives usually find their way somewhere else unless they were designed by the company-owned developers, but Nintendo is the only company that relies almost exclusively on its in-house developer for most of its most popular games. Let's face it, Mario, Metroid, Icarus and company still make for great gameplay, and of course, the most popular series, Zelda, will always be a Nintendo product. Most of their predeccesors still live up to today's standards also, and you can find most of the ****c Nintendo franchises for download on Nintendo's online service.
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