Rock-on-2008 asked me and a couple of others to contribute to a thread about why Wii or PS3 owners should buy a 360 a few hours back. This is essentially what I wrote, with a few minor changes. You should only bother with this if you are unsatisfied with your current console, were considering a 360, or are unaware of the 360's games situation. If you are fully aware of the 360's gaming climate and still decided you didn't want one, this thread is not for you. If you have a negative issue with something I have said here, I will be happy to discuss it in a new thread, or via PM. This is simply a set of reasons why people might like the 360 as a primary console.

Rock_on_2008 said:
I would like a XBox 360 endorsement from hardcore XBox 360 fans: mrstickball, Legend11, selnor or starcraft. Those four MS experts would know the most regarding the XBox 360 consoles.

Starcraft said:
Lol, thanks for the shout-out.

Essentially the 360's great advantage now is it's games library. As Rocketpig pointed out, Microsoft appears to have made excellent headway (finally, I know) fixing Rrod, as it is extremely rare to hear about cases or reports of recently purchased 360's dying, which wasn't the case this time last year. Of course if you want Blu-Ray then the 360 isn't the option for you (not yet, but the rumours of an add-on are getting stronger, not weaker). Of course if your happy to download HD titles for rent, the 360 has a far stronger service.

But what the 360 is amazing for is it's formidable library and line-up of games.

The 360 IS the next-generation JRPG platform and the only game that could possibly change this in the forseeable future is Final Fantasy XIII:

-Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, Eternal Sonata (supposedely a PS3 version is on the way, but it seems to have disappeared), and (in the future) Tales, Cry On, Last Remnant, Infinite Undiscovery, Operation Darkness and more (PM stickball for a fuller list I think).

Now Final Fantasy is huge and I don't see the main installment hitting the 360. So if you simply must play it and cannot afford two consoles, wait until it comes out and then buy a PS3. However beyond that be under no illusions, if the PS3 ever reclaims the JRPG crown from the 360, it will be at least TWO years from now, and even then it wont have the back-catalogue of the 360. Microsoft seems VERY committed to buying these games. With the PS2, it took FF growing the console's JRPG base before more JRPG's were developed, so we are talking a long time before the PS3 sees another major commitment, and even that makes the assumption that FF will expand the userbase significantly in a country (Japan) that already seems to have chosen another console this generation.

Shooters:

-People should be more aware of the fullness of this category for the 360. There are all the multiplatform games and then there is the big ones, Halo and Gears of War. So far all the PS3 has is Resistence, which by most accounts is a decent game, but it cannot touch either of the titles I just mentioned. Gears of War 2 will be out this year and it will be amazing. That said, Resistence 2 is looking very promising, but don't make the mistake of believing Killzone 2 will be any better than the horrible original.

You simply cannot go wrong buying a 360 for shooters, but if you want to wait, we should have a better idea of how good Gears 2 and R 2 will be, how much K2 will suck, and how far away a true Perfect Dark sequel is after E3. Note one thing though. IT is possible Microsoft will hold off on this title till there next consoles, but when it comes, a true Perfect Dark sequel is simply the epitomy of console shooting, and it will not be on the Playstation platform. Although you must pay for it, it should be understood that shooters these days lean heavily on the online component and in this area the PS3 doesn't hold a candle to the 360, and due to entrenched mistakes, it is unlikely Sony can change that until PS4. Also the 360 has the excellent looking Alan Wake (from the makers of Max Payne) coming. Can anyone say drool?

WRPG's:

The 360 is the destination for Western RPG lovers, just as it is the destination for Japanese RPG lovers. The difference here is that there is no reason to feel that Microsoft will lose this crown this generation period (unlike the FFXIII situation above). There is not the vast number of good WRPG's out this generation that we had last generation, however the 360 is the place to be if you want to play any. There are the two major multiplatform ones, Oblivion and the future Fallout 3. But on the 360 exclusive side there is Two Worlds which after the patch is above-average but not excellent, followed by the simply AMAZING Mass Effect. This year, Fable 2 is coming, and it is looking like it will redefine RPG gaming. You can play co-op the entire way through the game in such a way that your partner can take something back to their game (rewards, experience etc.). It will have a very powerful AI-controlled dog that acts as a guide/supporter to traditional tools like mini-maps. There is simply nothing existing or planned, that is comparable on the PS3. Another excellent looking title that will arrive very soon is the first installment of the highly anticipated Too Human trilogy, which is starting to look fantastic.

And of course beyond this year, there is Mass Effect 2 in 2009, with every indication being that Microsoft traded PC publishing rights for ME1 (and some cash) to keep the series exclusive. There was also strong Jade Empire 2 exclusive to 360 rumours a few months ago, but with EA buying Bioware I wouldn't put that as anywhere near guarenteed at this point.

Racers:

The 360 has some very well scoring racers in PGR3, PGR4 and Forza 2. The first and last of these sold gangbusters, however the second, whilst a hit with critics, was a disappointment at retail. If you simply cannot live without GT, then as with FF, you must buy a PS3. But if your a massive racing fan in general, get a 360 as well. IT is likely we can expect Forza 3 next year.

Platformers:

The ultimate platforming console this generation is the Wii obviously, but I believe the 360 will finish the generation in second place. The PS3 has Rachet, and by most accounts the most recent leaned more towards shooting than platforming. The 360 has the refreshingly wonderful Viva Pinata and Kameo (which was very fun), but we also have the third installment of the second best platforming series in history coming this year in Banjo Kazooie 3. This title is being developed by the original team, and development is led by the series creator. Add to that Kameo 2 in 2009, and you have an awesome little group of platformers.

GTAIV:

If you simply have to have this title, which console you buy for it is a no-brainer. The 360 has exclusive downloadable episodes and what has been called the "definitive" version by Rockstar themselves. The 360 also has the excellent exclusives Saint's Row and Crackdown, and the PS3 has nothing worthy of comparison.

At the end of the day, any console purchase has to be made for games that you want. Theres a reason to by a PS3 other than games in Blu-Ray. However in terms of games, the only reason why you would choose a PS3 to the exclusion of a 360 is if you absolutely cannot live without GT, MGS or FF. Other than those three titles, the 360 has it over the PS3 in almost every gaming genre, and will continue too for at LEAST two years. At that point, even if the 360's game library is usurped by the PS3's, the PS3 will be far cheaper to purchase.

The 360 is excellent, buy it if you like games.

Edit:

Other points of interest:

-In-game custom sountracks.

-In-game messaging. 

You lost me when you called Saint's Row an excellent exclusive, and the same thing with Crackdown, though it is miles better than Saints Row.

But other than that, 360 has a great line-up of games. As does the Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation 3.

Hey look, you claim a game sucks ass before it's been released and before anyone, media included, have had a chance to play it. Bias here? NAH!

Well, it is a post about why you should want a 360. Surely a little bias goes hand-in-hand with that?

But if you have some reason the rest of the gaming world isn't privy too, please PM me and tell me why Killzone 2 is going to be fantastic.

DMeisterJ said: You lost me when you called Saint's Row an excellent exclusive, and the same thing with Crackdown, though it is miles better than Saints Row. But other than that, 360 has a great line-up of games. As does the Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation 3.

Did you play Saint's?  I buried hours into that game.  Its sold almost 2 million copies and its over 80 on metacritic.  It's not AAA, but it is awesome.

Your very biased towards the Xbox 360, really pathetic how you 360 fanboys keep begging for MGS4, Im telling you, it will never touch the Xbox 360. After MGS2's massive flop on the Xbox, you expect MGS4 to head to the Xbox?

Remember Metal gear solid 3 never went to Xbox, also its funny how you say only 3 games on the PS3 are must haves. There are games like God of war 3, Resistance 2, Little big planet, and even killzone 2 that have generated hype beyond your only Halo, and gears of war.

The Xbox 360's only good exclusives(as in only on the XBOX 360) are halo, and thats it, the rest are on PC.

THats the problem with the Xbox 360, all the AAA titles are on PC.

I think you should add the cost of the system to the list :P That's a pretty hard selling point of the console I'd say ;)

Thankyou for your valued contribution to the thread.  I was about to ask a mod to sticky this, but I can see its just going to go down in fanboy flames.

The thrust of my argument was that the 360 is doing excellently without games like MGS4, but I said many times that if people simply must have an old Sony exclusive, then they shouldn't buy a PS3.

Thanks leo. 

DMeisterJ said: You lost me when you called Saint's Row an excellent exclusive, and the same thing with Crackdown, though it is miles better than Saints Row. But other than that, 360 has a great line-up of games. As does the Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation 3.

Can we agree on anything??? j/k  I actually bought a 360 because of Saints Row.  Crackdown was a good game but besides the co-op was pretty repetive compared to Saints Row which had you doing different task etc.  In my opinion you have to be on some good drugs to think Crackdown is miles ahead LOL.

starcraft said: DMeisterJ said: You lost me when you called Saint's Row an excellent exclusive, and the same thing with Crackdown, though it is miles better than Saints Row. But other than that, 360 has a great line-up of games. As does the Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation 3. Did you play Saint's?  I buried hours into that game.  Its sold almost 2 million copies and its over 80 on metacritic.  It's not AAA, but it is awesome.

:-O

I can't believe that you are calling that game excellent.

The game was a good game, but nothing more.  And the 2 million people bought it because nothign was really out for the 360 when this game came out.  It's like Dead Rising.  An excellent game, but if it had came out recently, it'd be lost in all the really good game that are out.