When the new system releases there's probably gonna be trade-up options and such. 300$ isn't too bad, not that hard to save up unless things are really difficult for you. If you're a bit on edge about it, you can just continue to save and when you do have the money and still don't feel comfortable you can always get an NGP

You don't have to worry about a successor for that any time soon.

You can't go wrong with a PS3 or X360 and all the games you haven't played yet are at very cheap prices right now.

If it takes you this long to save up for a PS3 then you're probably better off buying one since you can get great games for cheap as opposed to buying a new console when it comes out and only being able to purchase one or two games at a high price.

I agree with what everyone's said: wait until gamescom to see if a price cut is announced, and even if it isn't, just go for it. There's a brilliant library of games of all price ranges and in all genres spanning five years, and even more coming this holiday.

As for the TV, you're probably better off getting an HDTV. An SDTV doesn't really do the system justice. If you can manage a 32" HDTV (HD-Ready is fine) that's fine. Even slightly smaller than that is okay, if you sit close enough to the system.

i agree with everyone in this thread. definitely get a PS3 this year but wait until gamescom and TGS just in case theres gonna be a pricecut ($50-$100)

I'd say that if you want one, to go ahead and get it. Given Sony's recent systems and a lack of backwards compatibility (PS3 removing PS2, Vita not having any way to port PSP UMDs), there's a good chance that the PS4 would still not even open up the library of PS3 games that interest you. And to echo with the choir, there is a chance that Sony may drop the PS3's price later this year. I'm skeptical of it, personally (I think that Sony still wants to remove some of the red ink from early in the PS3's life and the recent hacks.), but it's not something that can be completely ruled out.

Ironically, the only systems I would make an argument for holding off on are Nintendo's. The Wii has its successor next year, and the only thing being dropped there is support for Gamecube. And the DSi family has been made obsolete by the 3DS. Anything else, well... I really can't make the argument to not buy if it has games you want. So I'll reiterate: go for it.

These price cuts are usually universal? I live in Europe currently, so everything's usually the same number but different currency. I could have enough for the system and a game in three months, just the TV wouldn't be something that could come right away.

If you can hold off, November is your best bet. Price cut, if there is one this year, will be in effect. But also this tends to be the time a ton of deals and bundles are going around.

I just bought a PS3 today, apparently there is a new model coming out, so retailers want to get rid of the current one. Best Buy was offering a 100 dollar gift card with the purchase of a PS3. I had wanted a PS3 anyway, and I would have gotten no gift card if my friend hadn't told me about the deal. But today was the last day of the offer, so I got pretty lucky. It might not have famous Nintendo franchises like Zelda and Mario, but it sure as hell does way more than my Wii can. It's awesome.

Welcome

I was in a similar situation when I bought my Wii in January, and let me tell you how that went.

First of all, I don't regret buying my Wii because Mario Kart with the gf is fun. It's a great console to play when people are over. I know I'll be playing it for years, even as Wii U gets old, just because Mario Kart and Smash Bros are such well made multiplayer games. I will not be buying a Wii U or 3DS because I am very backlogged on Wii and DS games.

However, if I played games alone, I would have regretted it. Wii U is backward compatible, and Pikmin 3 was changed to a Wii U title. Pikmin is one of the big reasons I got a Wii, but Donkey Kong Country is still fun.

So my response to your question, is at least wait for the very likely price cut this fall. PS4 won't be around for another 2 years, and when it releases, it's game library and reliability will be bad (every non-Nintendo first gen console I bought broke). PS3 didn't start getting good exclusives until 2009, 4 years after launch, and 360 took 2 years. So chances are, until 2015 PS4 will be expensive, unreliable, and have a poor game library.

However if you do wait, PS4 will likely be backward compatible .


So it's your call. If I were you I would buy a basic 4GB X-Box 360, after the likely price cut this fall. Last fall I say the 4GB model sell for $130 on Black Friday/Boxing Day, it may drop as low as $100 this fall. IF you get that, it comes with a controller, and that will enough to last you until 2013 when the PS4 comes out. Then when the PS4 comes out, wait for a console remake (with a bigger hard drive, or a Slim model), so that you can ensure good reliability. Then get a PS4, with PS3 backward compatibility.

However if you really want a PS3 specifically, get it on Black Friday/Boxing Day. Last fall I didn't see it go on sale, but it came bundled with a few games (God of War 3, Mod Nation Racers, LittleBigPlanet, and Uncharted 2).