I was myself in a similar situation half a year ago. I did my research on the internet, as very few of my friends have any console. If you are deciding between Xbox and PS3, you should consider these questions to yourself:
1. Which console have more appealing exclusive lineup?
2. Can I use what PS3 has to offer to it's fullest? (Blue Ray, HDD, Integrated Wi-Fi)
3. Do I want to pay for online?
For me the dealbreaker were those exclusive titles. I picked PS3, because noone from the people I know has Xbox, I also known those famous franchises such as Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, God of War, Gran Turismo, Devil May Cry, yet I've never played them and they were all PS exclusive at that time. While on the other hand I knew Halo (played on PC, was lame compared to other PC shooters) and that was it... If I had to make that choice again, I'd go for PS3 without a second hesitation. The future is brighter on the PS side at this very moment.
MY HYPE LIST: 1) Gran Turismo 5; 2) Civilization V; 3) Starcraft II; 4) The Last Guardian; 5) Metal Gear Solid: Rising
