In order:

1 - Sony - Free online is awesome. combination of a close second for exclusives next to nintendo, plus has ALL the multiplatform games. Love the controller. PSN is awesome for download games. Vita and PSP cross system account sharing and game sharing. System works flawlessly and has since launch, no issues. Love the PSP and Vita, as well.

2 - Nintendo - Best exclusives, and the Virtual Console is awesome. I like Nintendo as a software developer more, though. I'm pretty disappointed in the latter years of the Wii and I don't like the direction they went with the WiiU. That said, I'll always be a fan of Nintendo, especially since their handhelds are consistently awesome.

3 - Microsoft - I love what the Xbox 360 offers in terms of controller and games, but the fact that I have to pay for XBLA when Steam and PSN are free bothers me; not to mention the RRoD issue is, in my eyes, totally unforgiveable. Plus they don't have a handheld device.

Steam would be a close #2, but it's not hardware so it doesn't count, and my computer can't handle more intense games. I can barely play Dungeon Defenders and Minecraft! Anyway, Steam is awesome, the deals are unrivaled, the indie support is awesome, and the friends list integration is great. I like Sony just a smidge more, though, since I like their mentality when it comes to the overall feel of PSN and stuff. Getting a little miffed with them over this patenting of technology to block used games, though. That is enough, right there, to make me quit gaming. I don't even BUY used games, but if Used games got blocked, I'd probably just give up the medium in protest.

I like Nintendo for games you can play as a family or among friends in the same room.

I like Sony for making many new compelling IPs and keeping gaming fresh and pushing hardware and technology

I like Microsoft for focusing on pioneering console level services and making online console gaming the norm, but I can't ignore that they have basically stopped innovating on that stack and don't do much in terms of making new games that appeal to me. I also despise how they destroyed Ensemble Studios and a few others after buying them.

Yes you quoted my post saying I voted Microsoft then said I probably voted Sony.  That my friend is accussing someone of lying.  I take it very seriously when people question my honesty and integrity as most people do, there is nothing more personal.  The fact you've not retracted your statement having admitted you indirectly accused me of lying is just as bad.  If you have no evidence for an accusation then don't make it.  

Calm down. I NEVER quoted one of you comments in this thread. You are welcome to find this post where I supposedly quoted you.

My comment where I REFERRED to your post was only me further explaining that people in this thread could be saying they voted for their favorite while voting some something else in the poll. This is nothing personal, you are overreacting. Your comment was used as an example to further explain my logic, not as a personal attack or accusation.

Eh, no offense taken.  My info was bad, could have sworn I read about MS losing cash recently.  Oh well.  I don't have stocks or anything so the financial world doesn't get my attention very often.

Though Nintendo's games have been hit-or-miss IMO, nostalgia holds a grip on me.  I also don't feel I can justify Sony #1 though as all I get for PS3 are third-party games.  It would likely be the same deal if I owned an XBox.  Maybe I'd get Halo, Sci-Fi games are fun. Pondering over.

In the previous quarter they did have a loss in the division that the 360 is in I believe but that had nothing to do with the 360 as it was actually caused by Windows Mobile and Surface as well as R&D for the next gen in all likelyhood.  Microsoft as a company though posted several billion dollars profit as a whole for the quarter.  Someone maybe able to give you the exact figures.

Funny, Sony is the one most often criticized or straight up attacked by people on the internet, willfully wishing them failure...yet Sony is winning and Microsoft has terrible numbers.

How peculiar.

Aww, man. They made something like 5 billion profit last quarter. Profits are not marked in red, they are in black...

I picked Sony. I prefer their systems over the others for three reasons.

1. I have the choice of choosing a variety of titles and genres. Their first party studios have brought some of the best games I have enjoyed over the years I have been using their systems. From Crash, Spyro, Sir Daniel then Jak, Sly, Ratchet to Kratos, Drake and Cole. With a whole lot of other games to play in the mix. They have brought some of the best new IPs this generation. When I first played Heavy rain, I could imagine myself playing it on another platform.

2. The free online. I don't game online much, I don't really care to play online. So paying to get access to it when I want to play a game online would be a waste, when I do use it everyday. Also, the fact the if I want to use Netflix and other services on the PS3, I don't have to pay twice to get access to them.

3. The reliability of their consoles. I have had a PS1, 2 & 3 and have enjoyed them for a pretty long time. That is not to say they have never broke, but they have always been me breaking them and not normal ware and tear.

With that said, I do like playing on the 360 and Nintendo systems, they are just not the first system I would buy when it comes to choosing long term hardware.