I'm a hardcore gamer, and I want the best gaming experience possible. So instead of running out and buying the cheapest console on the market, I went hands-on and tried out all three of the newest gaming systems myself. My brother owns a Wii, 360 and PS3 and after I got to play games on all three of the systems and compare them I'm deffinently going to go with one of the two next gen consoles. So for which of the two to buy, 360 or PS3, my final decision will be made using a few of the consoles major catagories:

ONLINE SUPPORT: 360 has more online features, but it's limited if you don't pay a monthly fee for the "gold membership" to access all the features. PS3's online support may not be as fancy but it's all free. I'm not into the online aspect of consoles so the online features don't matter much to me anyways.

GRAPHICS: PS3 and 360 are pretty much the same graphics wise. PS3 is only slightly better, but it's not that noticable.

SYSTEM FEATURES: They both offer backwards compatability. However I didn't have the original Xbox so I don't have any old Xbox games to use its backwards compatability with. But I do have old PSone and PS2 games still, so I'd get more out of the PS3 since it not only plays my old games but can upgrade the graphics for them too.

Jump drives are usable on both consoles as well. So things like downloading games and movies and using them on a next gen console is able to be done with both 360 and PS3.

For the next gen consoles memory cards are no longer required, all games can save onto the systems themselves. So with PS3 I'd be able to create an internal memory card for my PSone and PS2 games. It'll be nice to be able to play and save my old games without having to swap out memory cards.

A bonus for the PS3 is that it's compatible with the PSP handheld. As a PSP owner myself I can access features and content for it using the PS3.

FORMAT: DVDs VS. Blue-Rays. This is the 360 weak point, it's games are still on DVD. As games get bigger and better they wont be able to fit on a DVD anymore. (MGS4 fills up a whole blue-ray. thats over 10 DVDs) So this is where PS3 excels.

For movies Blue-ray disks are replacing DVDs. With PS3 I'll be able to watch both DVDs and my new blue-rays. With 360 I could still download and watch movies using the jump drive, but when it comes to renting a movie DVDs will be disappearing as blue-rays replace them.

PRICES: The games on both systems cost the same at $60 for a brand new game. For the consoles themselves PS3 is more expensive than the 360. (however for 360 getting the "gold membership" to access all the online features would end up costing more for the system in the long run)

THE GAMES (most important catagory): Almost all next gen games come out on both systems. But there are a few exclusives out there like Halo 3 and Ratchet & Clank Future. I'm not a Halo fan, it doesn't appealed to me. I played it and it was fun but I'm just not that big into shooters. PS3 has the Naughty Dog and Insomniac brand games. I'm not interested in Drake's Fortune at all but I still love the Ratchet & Clank games. Also some of the games that are on 360 and not PS3 can still be bought for PC, so true exclusives are only few on each console.

LOOKING FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD: Silent Hill 5 and Hitman 5 are supposed to be on both 360 and PS3, however Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy 13 will only be for PS3. Considering that those are 2 of my all time favorite game series I will go with what I love, and thats with the games I enjoy playing.

MY DECISION: PS3

After thoughts: 360 might be good for gamers who still have old Xbox games. But for me PS3 is the obvious choice. The backwards compatability for my PSone and PS2 games without needing memory cards and how it can interact with my PSP are major bonuses. Plus it plays Blue-rays. Everything about it works for me. I tried to be as fair as I could for the 2 next gen consoles. But all things considered the PS3 fits me like a glove. ^_^

-JenL

Note: I've heard a lot of bad stuff about the Wii and after going hands-on with it I understand why it has such a bad reputation. I gave the Wii a chance and played the best games it had to offer so don't bother crying because I don't want a Wii.

I have experienced the joy of next gen gaming. And I liked it. The physics, the graphics, the lighting, the sound, the gameplay, the effects. It's all so incredible.

In Bioshock I crept thru the halls of Rapture and encountered the horror that is known as a Big Daddy. And it was good. The water gushing from the walls as the underwater city was slowely being flooded. A whisper from the shadows as gene spliced freak was approaching from behind.

In Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction I hit the bottom row out from under a huge stack of crates with my omniwrench and watched as each individual crate from above came tumbling down and fell to the ground around me. It was awesome. Each individual character so animated and lively. The cities so full of life. The Pixar-quality graphics.

And the greatest game of them all Grand Theft Auto 4. Watching the sun rising over the ocean and the waves rise and fall at the rocky shores of the ocean. Sunlight glistening on the surface of the water. Driving a car speeding as fast as I could while I listened to modern rock music only to hit a wall and go flying thru the windshield into the street ahead. As night fell the city lights shone thru the darkness as mist hung over the streets of the night. Beautiful.

-JenL

Yesturday I was in a bookstore reading an article in a gaming magazine, and in it the journalist mentions: "by now most people have either a next-gen or Wii console". Reading that made me realize that it's high time I finally got myself one of the new gaming systems. Especially with all the awesome new games coming out this year. Since the two next-gen ones are down to $400 now maybe I'll get one soon. ^_^

My brother and his wife are coming to visit me tomarrow night. So I wont be hanging around online this weekend. ^_^

Rumor has it there will be another Blizzcon in southern Californina this fall. If so then thats good news for WoW players. ^_^

-JenL

Driving down the street one day. To my right I see it. Something most unusual. A yard unlike any other seen before. In it a garden. A garden most peculiar. And in this garden was the most unsual thing to see. Toilets. Lots of toilets. A whole yard full of toilets. Right up the street from where I live.

I see many strange things in my town. O_o

-JenL

O.K. so get this, I'm sittin' in Church listening to the preacher when I notice a cockroach next to me on the bench. Having only a Bible on hand I used it to squash that roach. Dead bug on my Bible so I scrapped it off on the back of the bench in front of me. Most eventful thing that ever happened to me in a Church.

I'm enjoying writting Cortex Complex 2nd night. It's a nice break from the usual stuff I do. Maybe some day I'll write the full story of the original comic. ^_^

Random funny sounding words:
Wacky
Fruit
Burrito
Hussy

Try saying this out loud to the first person you see: "Do you do voodoo?"

Darn you Cammiluna for sending me a whole bag of candy! Now I'm all hyped up on sugar.

-JenL