Checking recent sales figures the Xbox 360 is still ahead (by just a TINY fraction,) but I won't deny that I would actually be ecstatic for the PS3 to become market leader. I'm kind of a Sony fangirl, even if I can't afford the PS3 yet. I bought a 360 mostly so I could play games with my friends, who all have 360s, and so far I must admit I've been fairly impressed, especially since it fixed all the damn controller problems I had with the original Xbox, which was my only real complaint with it last generation.

If my argument prove false, then as I said, I'll be happy as a clam, since the PS3 deserves to be the one remembered. I just didn't see it as so from what I saw of the market. And, let's face it, once the next generation comes out all those happy people who picked up Wiis are gonna chuck 'em unless they're into retro gaming, because the Virtual Console is really the system's only truly redeeming factor.

Even by the broad standards of electronics produced at any point in time throughout the history of electronics, the 360 is pretty bloody terrible. There was no excuse for it being the fuck up it was. Far better hardware has been withdrawn from sale for good than what Microsoft put out there. It's shameful and deserves to be remembered for that.

Shameful is a bit strong. I have just spent 3 nights and quite a few hours fixing issues with an HP printer. My Macbook Pro recently died (luckily resurrected). I have had countless issues with PC's in the past. Stuff happens.

I love PC gaming but I also have had a PS3 for a few years and recently got a 360. I think it says a lot that when I go looking for console games now I seem to favour the 360. I am not sure why. The games on both systems look pretty much the same, but the 360 "experience" seems to be more . . . holistic/integrated. Microsoft took the online aspect of the original xbox very seriously and Sony, at the peak of its hubris with the PS2, completely ignored it. Come the next generation and MS had a few years of solid online infrastructure which Sony still seem to be struggling with.

Either way, I likes me games. New PC games, old classic PC games, XBOX games, PS3 games, iPhone games.

I have one simple answer to why i prefer the xbox.. i'm not 12 my hands are european male sized!
I have a PS3 and while i like it the controller hates me the thumb stick position is just wrong in this age of dual analogue control. I want to play only an hour through choice not because my hand is cramping! And whats with the triggers did they go "I know we'll go against 200 years of design and make peoples fingers slide off them easily!!"... *deep breath* but yes while I applaud the tech in the ps3 (which is a bugger to work with but thats another matter) I find myself using it only as a Bluray player while my xbox is being used most days for cross platform games like Assassins creed and NFS:Most wanted the PS3 only comes into use for games when it's an exclusive..

I read on Kotaku very recently, post those numbers, that the PS3 passed the Xbox. Google it if you want more details, I'm not going to bother since your attitude about it is shitty.

I don't own any of these consoles and have no dog what-so-ever in this fight.

http://www.vgchartz.com/ has last weeks totals they're still about 2.1million behind i believe

::edit:: sorry I was wrong its 3.7million Kotaku was most likely talking week to week sales btw

You do realize VGChartz is largely laughed at as a source for real numbers right? In any case, I read about it here on Gamasutra.

I used it as a quick reference + strategy analytics is even more laughed at this was the company that forcast 121million PS3's by next year and only 23 million Wii's sold total this generation!

It certainly does. But it's a question of how much stuff and how many people it's happening to. There is widespread suspicion that when it comes to first generation 360s stuff of the red ring will probably be happening to every last customer in a few years. I think it's already true that the majority have died, but I'm the first to admit I don't have any up to date statistics on that.

I do admit I didn't remember it was an analyst estimate when I mentioned it.

In any case the Wii kicks both their asses, and I would guess this generation of gaming consoles will mostly be remembered for expanding the definition of gamer through the Wii and Kinect, and for getting more online focused through Xbox LIve and the PC.

My first gen 360 is currently used as a media center expander and still works fine (but has had about 5 pot corrections in the last 2 years)

Again, I can't say I've heard any reports of the slim 360's failing. Do you have anything to back that up? It's really bad that they took so long to address the issue, but they most certainly have done with the new models.

The fact people stuck with the system for so long, despite all the problems answers your original question too. The 360 is definitely getting a bit long in the tooth but it'll be remembered for its great library of games and pioneering online gaming - something that it took Sony years to catch up with and only by pretty much directly copying XBL.

But both systems are great and I think we can all agree that we don't need to get bogged down in silly fanboy debates.

Yeah, there are still a good few around. But they already seem to be the exception to the rule which is pretty shocking. When a 25 year old console is more likely to work today than a 1st generation 360 you can't help but think that something is pretty screwed up with that situation.

Then again, I wouldn't expect anything else. Manufacturers are doing the same thing with consoles/computers/DVD players/electronics in general that they are with TVs now, and that's building them with the intention of them being replaced at regular intervals. I can pick up a TV set from 1973 at a yard sale and it will work perfectly fine, and if it does break down it's a simple fix. On the other hand, buying a used HDTV would be a waste, since they're only BUILT to last five years to begin with. Like everyone else, the consumer electronics market is in it for teh moneyz, and what better way to make money than to make sure people have to replace things they don't feel they can live without?

Sad, but so very true. Typically I blacklist manufacturers whose products have a high failure rate and I haven't completely run out of options just yet. But it's a very common practice though. I just wish companies where hit by heavy fines for these kinds of practices.