Well if you think us Americans are dumbasses and the Japanese are lords of games, then you have already made up your mind. But you have already admitted that you don't know much about the Xbox 360 and you also stated that you believe the PS3 is a rip-off of the Wii. You need to do some research (don't rely on fanboy responses - both systems are good and are pretty evenly matched on the graphics).
There may be some features that sway you in a particular direction, but it really comes down to the games, so you need to find out what you want to play - now and in the future. Most third party games are available for both XB360 and PS3, so it will most likely come down to the exclusives. Microsoft has a really strong lineup this Christmas, but you may be more impressed with Sony's 2008 offerings. IGN and Gamespot are two web sites I like to check out. Also, check out Electronic Gaming Magazine.
