Hi everyone,

I took a long break from gaming due to studies (and partially due to lack of interest). Now that I can plan on having more spare time I am willing to buy a new console but I am definitely lost - the videogame stuff changes a lot really.

My 'peak' gaming happened during the 32-bit era, with both PlayStation and Saturn. Much later, I also got a Dreamcast and a PlayStation2 but  played very little... and quit.

Now I am willing to return to gaming but Sega is out of league, and Sony seems to be lagging behind in sales - even though the PlayStation3 seems to have a good game library, what is happening? How come the Wii is the leader, with few 'major' games on it? The X-Box 360 seems pretty strong/interesting compared to the PS3, though. Crazy times, anyway.

My favorite series are fighting (Virtua Fighter, Tekken, Soul Calibur, Dead or Alive) and RPG (Final Fantasy, Shining Force, any JRPG really), don't like sports, shooting, racing, or platform/action games and have no interest in handhelds either.

Also consider I am an 'old' guy, 27 y/o.

Based on this info would you still recommend me a PlayStation3? Or even an X-Box 360? Help is wanted to decide based on exclusive RPG/fighting games each console has - not very worried about price.  I know I might get biased replies due to being in the PS3 room but I found no other place to post. Please be honest guys I'm just a n00b here - sorry my english isn't too good.

Only exclusive HD fighter I can think of is Dead Or Alive 4 on the 360. Otherwise both consoles have the same fighting games.
As far as JRPGs go the 360 probably still has a small lead, but the PS3 is catching up quickly and will provide more JRPGs in the future.

So yeah sure get a PS3.

EDIT: Well if you count Demon's Souls (which still isn't out here in Europe) as a JRPG, then the PS3 has probably the best library in that genre.

Do you like WRPGs? (Like Oblivion or Mass Effect)

www.us.playstation.com/ps3

let them convince you =P

Depends if you've played WoW or not. If so, STAY AWAY!!!

anyhow.. the reason PS3 is lagging behind, is mainly because of price..

coming out at $599 not only hurt it's potential market, but it also hurt the brand image. The quality of playstation is still there, perhaps its better than ever before, but more people jumped on the wii since it offers motion gaming, despite it's non HD resolutions and last generation XBOX graphics, that is ofcourse in addition to the fact that it was $249 at launch compared to $400 for 360 and $600 for playstation 3.

360 is ahead mainly because of the year head start, and the fact microsoft has been marketing the console very well, and many former exclusive playstation franchises are now on XBOX 360 as well.. so that caused people to get the cheaper of the two..

NOW though with the ps3 getting constant AAA after AAA from sony's amazing 1st party, many consider the ps3 to have the best line up the past 2 years, and it is the system with the best bang for your buck.

PS3 IS STEPPING INTO MOTION GAMING AND 3D GAMING (3D as in AVATAR 3D) soon, so it's also a future proof system, and it's also one of the best BLU RAY PLAYERS on the market.

what kind of studies could be so heavy that you had to stop gaming ???

Well, for your question, if what you like are JRPG and fighting game, I'm afraid you're in the wrong generation of consoles

I can't think of any truly great JRPG this gen so far. On the fighting side, you have some sweet stuff though... In 2D, you have Street fighter 4 and Blazblue for example, in 3D, I think the last Soulcalibur is still the best out there.

The PS3 is a good choice, but not necessarily better than the 360 for the genres you seem to like. And don't worry about the sales : for the first time, we have 3 console makers that seem to have found success, thanks to the new market reached by Nintendo, the online features of the PS360 etc.

i own both ps3 and 360 and i play ps3 much more , it has the best diverse exclusives and it plays bluray and it has more powerful hardware under the hood and another thing with the blurays just look at the recent final fantasy 13 game , on 360 its 3 discs and its compressed which makes for downgraded visuals and audio, on ps3 its one bluray and its absolutely gorgeous.

games are getting much bigger and having bluray puts ps3 in a much more future proof position, also sony employs more first party developers than both nintendo and microsoft combined.

essentially ps3 would be the wisest choice but in reality the choice is up to you and what games you want to play

Thanks. :)

Barozi: Such a shame DoA isn't on the PS3!

Boutros: no I don't like war games, sorry! :(

leo-j: Looking!

patapon: Nope, but I have played a little Guild Wars. It's not quite as evil as WoW. :)

The game want most is Final Fantasy XIII which is on both 360 and PS3.

if you want final fantasy 13 the most buy a ps3 then and final fantasy 14 online will be out later on for ps3 and pc only and final fantasy versus next year will be a ps3 exclusive