The Video Game Critic

Honestly, I don't think there is much of a price difference between the 360 and the PS3. Now unless you go crazy with an expensive SD card there is a huge difference between the Wii and the 360/PS3. Hopefully you have wireless internet otherwise you won't be doing anything online with the Wii. There is an influx of PS3's in my area (southen Boston) and I really wanted to pick one up but I think I'll wait. So if you live in the area call around to Gamestop/EB Games in the Braintree area and you may snag one.

[/QUOTE]

Lately I've been inclined to agree with you (at least on this point).  A $599 PS3 gives me a built-in Blu-ray player, built-in Wifi, 1080p HDMI connectability, and a larger hard drive.  If I add the components up for the 360 ($200 HD-DVD drive, $100 wireless adapter), I am paying more than $600.

That's just me.  I am sure many don't care about HD-DVD or Bluray at this point, and some may even prefer not having to have wireless.  I've run into a few of these people on Gamespot who much prefer wired connections, though I have absolutely no idea why

 I am sure many don't care about HD-DVD or Bluray at this point

I am sure many don't care about HD-DVD or Blu-Ray at this point.

[/QUOTE]

Yeah, you're right.  To me, it all comes down to the games. And I guess I need to pay the piper now for my "losing MGS4 kills the PS3" statement.

By that, I mean that it dies from the perspective of those who want to use it for its main purpose; to play games.  And aside from MGS4, Motorstorm and maybe Gran Turismo 5 not much exclusive content remains on the PS3 that either:

A) truly shows off the system's power in the way that Sony's bragged about it for the past two years. 

B) makes me say to myself "I need to buy a PS3 to play these games."

or C) will make the masses rush out to buy it with the intentions of actually playing games on it.

And by the way, I'm not a Nintendo or Microsoft fanboy.  I recognized the big problems facing both the 360 and DS launches and criticized them quite a bit (especially with the DS, which was basically in the same situation two years ago that the PS3 is in now).  I just hope that Sony can realize the problems they face, so they can work on them to make the PS3 grow and thrive as a game machine, because in some ways, they seem to be forgetting about the system's main purpose. 

 I am sure many don't care about HD-DVD or Bluray at this point

[/QUOTE]
I don't yet understand why anyone is interested in this aspect at all.  It's still a format that hasn't won so why would you want to pay extra for it?  I really can't understand it.  A couple years from now if there is a winner, and if it is Blu-Ray, and when the PS3 is cheaper anyway, then it is a deal.  Right now no one can even be sure if it's worth the $200 extra it costs.  At least with the 360 if HDDVD takes off in the future then I can choose the HD player IF I want it.  If that format doesn't win, then who cares, I didn't pay for it.  I think of the Blu-Ray player as a minus, not a plus.  They charge you $200 for a gamble whether you want it or not.
[/QUOTE]

I want to experience both Bluray and HD-DVD for myself and see which one I like best.  Since for now many movies are being released in both formats, it's a win-win situation.

If I got a Bluray or HD-DVD player outside of the gaming console market, it would be $1000 or more.  These gaming systems give me a chance to experience it WITHOUT the high price.

Very recently I probably would have agreed with you.  I found myself being "meh" about the whole thing until very recently when I got a new 1080p HDTV.  Now I want to experience what it's capable of.  It's a geek-thing, and not really something I think is representative of the general public.

For the vast majority of buyers, there is no benefit in being stuck with a Bluray player, even if it isn't as expensive as adding one to the 360.  But for me, the PS3 has more value at this point if only because I don't have to buy $300 worth of add-ons to make it work on my existing setup AND give me an HD-level DVD player (which again, I actually want).

In all seriousness, anyone who wants to buy a Bluray player might as well just by the PS3.  It's the cheapest Bluray player on the market by a margin of almost $500.

I know that the 360 and ps3 round out about evenly when it comes to price, but there's a difference between the two....an IMPORTANT difference to me. I can buy the $400 xbox 360 and have essentially what I need. I wouldn't bother paying $200 for the hdvd add-on or any of that crap! I want to play games and I want a system that can play those games without all the extra crap! I know some of you are tech-savvy people who absolutely need the LATEST AND GREATEST but it's not for me. Offer me a system, a couple of controllers, something the other guy isn't doing and I am so there! I have a dvd player for my movies and I am not interested in the idea of updating my movies every five stinkin' years to make way for a new platform! I understand Sony's reasoning behind it, that the games are also fueled by the power of blu-ray but they don't look enhanced enough for me to spend the extra money. I don't think I'll rule them out entirely but it is going to take a lot of convincing to get me to spend that kind of money. Now before anybody lashes out at me for the price concern, consider this:

Monthly Pay: $2,100(my pay, not including the wife's)

My portion of the rent: $200

Groceries: $150-200 month($100 for me)

Gas: $200+/month(I live a ways from work)

Kids lunch: $10 a week

projects around the house: Not entirely sure how much per month, but expensive.

Electric/heating bills: Whoa! Very, very expensive during the winter!

     I know that most of you also face this dilemma, and I haven't even covered some of the other bills yet. All I am saying is, the little bit extra that I don't put into my retirement fund and into the kids' college fund goes into our savings account so it is a real treat for me to even be able to buy a video game these days, much less an entire console. Hell, even with the Wii, I had to save up for well over a year, telling my wife what I was putting away. Even if the ps3 got games I really wanted to play, I wouldn't be able to do it with everything I already have on my plate. Mind you, that's not a criticism of the system or the people who desperately want it but.....geez, where do you kids get all your damn money these days(lol!)?

     I know that most of you also face this dilemma, and I haven't even covered some of the other bills yet. All I am saying is, the little bit extra that I don't put into my retirement fund and into the kids' college fund goes into our savings account so it is a real treat for me to even be able to buy a video game these days, much less an entire console. Hell, even with the Wii, I had to save up for well over a year, telling my wife what I was putting away. Even if the ps3 got games I really wanted to play, I wouldn't be able to do it with everything I already have on my plate. Mind you, that's not a criticism of the system or the people who desperately want it but.....geez, where do you kids get all your damn money these days(lol!)?

Dude where are you living where you pay $200 for rent? I paid like $700 when I was renting in Boston. Rent sucks.

Yeah, Critic, that comment of his didn't settle well with me. As for your question, Shawn, my portion is actually about $220/month. The mortgage is $440 a month, though it is going up $60 come next month. I accidently put rent rather than mortgage. If I was back in my good ol' bachelor days, I would already have a 360, a Wii and be waiting for a ps3. Back then, I had to have every system that hit the market.