-X360 = big console which 'shows-off' it's RAW horsepower... Americans dig that! (SUV's for example)

-Microsoft = an American company.

-X360 came out a year before it's competitors.

And, X360 isn't selling faster then the PS3 is doing when you align the launches. So i don't get the point of this thread, for it is stating something utterly false! Just because the 360 had a year headstart is has more units sold total in the US then the PS3 (or the Wii for that matter)...

 LOL man I worry about you Stan, I'm very much so American, but I find it funny that we always have this sense of bringing up WW2... Every find it strange that we've lost every war since >_>; I doubt he says that because he's "bitter", American cars "in general" are Big, Loud, and crap quality lol. I wouldn't say there all ugly, but many alot of them are :/ TELL ME WHY THE AVALANCHE CAME INTO BEING ><

If someone says something that offends you, your much better off not making yourself look like an ass by insulting back, esp when it comes to Countries >_>

I can understand Omac's reasons, that seems to make sense, but it still doesn't explain Europe, Europe is highly PC game oriented :/ Why did they choose the PS3 over the 360? I mean I know why I did, but that certainly can't hold for an entire continent.  

360 is cheaper, better online and has more games

1.) CAN BE cheaper, yes.

2.) Relative, you still pay for it, and it supports less people while connecting P2P

3.) Very true :P 

Your thread oozes ignorance.. just drips right off my monitor and on to my keyboard..

First off the PS3 is marketed as the BIG CONSOLE with RAW POWER (TH3 C3ll!!)

Secondly, no one gives a rats ass that its a an american console.. its freaking Microsoft!! Since when does Microsoft have a following for anything. Look at Nintendo, its not having any problems and its made in JAPAN!! (OMG!! BURN THOSE WII SHIPMENTS THEIR FOREIGN!!!!) 

And thirdly (to top off the stupidity of your post), this thread is about the sales in America.. align that launch and you'll see that the 360 thrashed the PS3 by over 1.5 million units.

Couple of thoughts on Europe / Others preferring PS3 as has been fairly raised as a question during the thread:

1) PC gaming is still large in Europe and for many PC owners I know a 360 seems like a redundant purchase (i.e. its like their PC but with less power and paid for online service vs free service and lots of mods). This point of view actually started with original Xbox

2) A lot of console sales are for families / kids - i.e. not hardcore gamers. This has benefited the Wii but I know a lot of families are getting the PS3 because its the latest PS2 (if you see what I mean) - they are expecting to get a lot of kids and lower rated games eventually as well as motion control games

3) PS3 has benefit of PS2 association for playing sports / driving games in Europe

4) Playstation has better brand image (differs by country by taking Europe as a whole it still comes out strong) than MS or 360.

5) PS3 and Wii are seen as a valid combination - I know quite a few familes with both. Wii for kids and because everybodies getting one and PS3 for dad / teenagers as well as BR / DVD upsale to show off new HD TV

6) Paying for Live isn't an option for many teenagers (as in their parents won't pay for it so for some teenagers a PS3 with free access for stuff like COD4 is the better way to get online)

Now, none of this is to say 360 isn't selling okay or doesn't offer the same features, nor that these are all definative - like everyone posting I only represent a certain demographic. But for me and those I know making choices these are the things I keep hearing / observing that drive slightly more people to go PS3 than 360.

I will say that point 1 and 2 seem the biggest drivers of PS3 purchasing and biggest 'objections' to buying a 360 that I hear all the time vs the others.

I have a few reason on why the PS3 gets a bad reputation in America, it has alot to do with SCEA. Not the game development team who make great titles but the heads of the gaming division in America. Jack Tretton is infamous over here for making constant "foot in mouth" statements to the US press and he gets reamed for it. Sony is also seen by many over here as too arrogant and out of touch with the average gamer.

Another reason is simple economics, the US is in a recession so people have less disposable income. The highest priced console always suffers under those circumstances, regardless of included features and perks.

Marketing also plays a part in its lack of success as well, the ads over here suck. They are either too strange like the creepy baby one or redundant like the "ladies and gentlemen" ad. Xbox has better marketing over here, the ads for Gears of War and Bioshock in particular.

I think that the true solution for PS3 in America is a change in mangement over here. If Phil Harrison were in charge in the US i don't think PS3 would be trailing by such a large margin over here.

Weird how the 360 has the exact same perception described above in europe.

Impulsiveness. Period. 90% of the people I know who have one bought it because there was nothing else to buy at the time

Because I am tired of being burned by sony, a company i used to enjoy buying form. 3 ps2s, i never even played it that much in comparison to other consoles. the trying to put a root kit on my computer, (i use macs primarly so they failed), making movies i cant watch on my mac without informing me on the packaging. terrible defect rates on audio equipment after 2004. (still own an excelent sony receiver from 2001) tv failure, **refusal to honor warranty** with registration and original receipts.

MS... well they make a buggy os have terrible business practices, however, they have been very good at fostering game development on the pc, something they leveraged into the xbox line. when my 360 broke, guess what they sent me a box to get it fixed... wow amazing idea...

out side of service, the game selection is better, surprising amount of exclusive good games in the first two years (dead rising, crackdown, bioshock, mass effect), Better online experience .... im willing to pay if i enjoy it. enjoyed the new controller (is on the small side) i am a bit warry because of no hd on all units, a step backwards, and no user replaceable hd. the user replaceable hd thing i at least understand, most consumers would never do it. but please dont rip us off like you do for the 120, and 20 gig, long ago hd space went well below a dollar a gig.

also american media hates all video game systems equally. (the wii in their eyes is not a video game system). ps2,ps3, xbox, xbox 360, and pc, are all out to destroy americas youth. so sony gets as much love as ms does.

and from the general populace (people work with, friends, strangers who will banter about this stuff ) i get the feeling the ps3 has nothing special about it unless you want to watch blueray, and most people seem unimpressed by it, the 360 to have live, which peoples friends are on.