Recently, a friend of mine began considering buying a console. While I have no idealistic preference toward either the Xbox 360 or PS3, I do use a PS3 as my primary gaming system, but if someone were to drop a 360 in my lap I wouldn't toss it away in disgust. With the PS3 as my console though I wanted my friend to buy a PS3. As such I wrote a long list of reasons why he should invest in Sony's black box. Some of the numbers were more along the lines of guesstimations, especially concerning the costs of upgrading a 360, but for the most part I think everything's relatively close to the truth.

Well, Sony owes me one because after reading my list, my friend decided to go PS3! I thought I'd share the list with y'all. Enjoy...or if you're a 360 fanboy hate it. Whatever floats your boat!

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I said I would do it! Several reasons you should invest in a PS3 if the opportunity arises.

1. Cost Effectiveness: The cheapest PS3 on the market currently runs for 300. That is 100 more than the Xbox 360, but it also includes: free online, built in wi-fi, streaming Netflix and a blu-ray player. None of which is standard and in some cases even available for the Xbox 360. In fact, buying an Xbox 360 will cost an additional 50 dollars a year to play online. As well, things like memory upgrades and even wi-fi adapters are much more expensive for the 360. Find yourself in need of more memory (which you probably won't), the PS3 can use almost any hard drive from you common laptop. The 360 requires expensive HDs made specially for the console. In fact, with necessary accessories, the 360's 200 dollar price point generally runs closer to 350. Buying a PS3 used would save you even more. Currently Amazon lists a used 80 GB version for 224 bucks. Not too shabby!

2. Games: Granted the 360 has a lot of great games. But outside of titles like Halo, the PS3 shares much of the same library and has a growing library of exclusives that have often been found superior by critics at large. This includes: Metal Gear Solid 4, Killzone 2, Valkyria Chronicles, Little Big Planet, inFamous Ratchet and Clank, Demon's Soul, Uncharted and Resistance: Fall of Man In addition to this, the PS3 also has access to a growing library of classic titles from the PS1.

Here's a few samples to wet you appetite:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kiby2RBvFeE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnbKOboT5wQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljq6MXgPiSU

3. Durability: The PS3 is a durable piece oft technology. Point in case, I've been using mine for games and movies almost nonstop since the summer of 06 and it's still running strong. I have more evidence then that though! According to Gamespot, (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6216691.html) the 360s failure rate stands at 23.7% more than twice that of the PS3 10%. Microsoft has invested millions in trying to fix the problem but it still persists to a lesser degree today.

4. Friends: This one should be a no brainer :)! By choosing a PS3, you'll be able to play fellows like myself online. Fancy a fragfest, just give Bob a call and we could team up or go against each other. Even better, let's say you feel like a little Rock Band action but it's a hassle for us to cart all the equipment over to your place. Just pop in your own copy and we can play together online!

Not to mention that my extensive library of games would be at your disposal. This includes:
Resistance: Fall of Man
Resistance 2
Heavenly Sword
Conan
The Darkness
Metal Gear Solid 4
Mercenaries 2
Dead Space
Rock Band
Rock Band 2
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Killzone 2
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
Overlord: Raising Hell
Demon's Soul
Dragon Age: Origins
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Fallout 3
Valkyria Chronicles
inFamous

I'm pretty sure there are more but I can't remember them all and the light in the basement is burnt out.

In short Gil, if you ever find yourself considering current game consoles, I urge you to invest in a PS3. I could use someone besides , homophobic teenagers to shoot online.

-Bob