Before any fanboy or anyone else jumps the gun, please take my argument into context with the OP.

To me, the console generation started with the Sega Master system and the NES. Many may argue systems such as the atari before it or the spectrum, but the truth is, it is the Master System and the Nes that brought easy gaming with some more depth into gamers homes.

Naturally, I became a big supporter of the 2 gaming giants and Yu Suzuki along with Shigeru Miyamoto became legends in my eyes. Even to this day, I can't give enough praise for what these 2 artists have done for gamers through the generations.

In the days of Sega and Nintendo console warz, things were kept fairly simple (imo) and it was all about the console pushing out a title better then its rival. Reviews were pretty simple and fanboyism wasn't as bad as it is today. Pretty much what you saw is what you got. For gamers, it meant everyone was in a win win situation.

HAH! Nintendon't what Sega does? Fanboyism spread to the advertisements on TV!

Now we fast forward to the current generation - we have the PS3, 360 and the Wii. From all the generation of consoles I have owned, this one feels to be the most miserable. maybe it's just me, maybe some share the feeling.

Wii

What can I say? I love Nintendo. After Sega stepping out of the console wars, it is the only one left from "back in the days". the N64 was awesome, the Gamecube was awesome, the Wii to me as a Ninty fan and a gamer is a big, big, big disappointment, if not a nice fresh slap on the face.

I am happy, Ninty has come back and finally got the sales it deserved and brought Ninty back into the competition, however, what is with the crappy novelty games? Where are the proper Ninty games that made ninty what it is today? I don't mean the millionth iteration or edition of Pokemon, I am talking about Kid Icarus, Kirby, Zelda's, Donkey Kong's, Diddy Kong's, Starfox's and so many other games they could make or new IP's that are for the fan base who have supported them over the years. 

I know the novelty has made Ninty a lot of money, but would Ninty rather stick to their new audience or could they try cater for the fan base first and the new audience of mothers, grandmothers and OAP's second!

I'm not saying they haven't released any good games this gen, but compared to the efforts they made on the Gamecube of N64, consoles which done worse then the Wii, they are making less of an effort to bring quality to their console then previously. 

Quality is always a relative term. They managed to stretch the dictionary definition of what gaming encompasses and encourage a completely different perspective of what gaming is all about.

360

The console itself is a step back from what the Xbox was, it offers less for more! The standard HDD is gone, XBL isn't as competitive as it was last gen and whilst the rival has almost matched its online features (and will surpass when home is released) and offers it for free, XBL charges. Unlike the previous year, where MS released a sturdy machine, this gen, MS took the risk of law suites and a broken machine in return for market share and dominance. 

Simplicity is back. Whats the point in making a machine which will always be expensive due to always including a HDD which never drops much in price, and when we're done with the 360 in the west, it can make its mark in the developing countries as well.

Don't get me wrong, I understand MS is doing everything they can do not be last this gen, but to take your fan base for granted the way they have done is wrong. I give them props for dropping their price, I give them props for buying out Sony Exclusives, I give them props for how well they have advertised this gen as well as how they have implemented strategies to conquer Japan (a country everyone said MS will never be able to get a foot into).

Really, for granted huh? They seem to have fought for every inch of market share they can get. They have delivered a strong library of games in any genre you can care to mention.

Overall, looking at what the 360 is to what the console was last year; it offers the least next gen gamin experiences in the sense that it has nothing more but next gen graphics. Unlike the Wii which has next gen controls, the PS3 which has a next gen disk format as well as some form of motion control. Other then a few IP's it hasn't offered much which is new to its fanbase. Last gen you had; Otogi, Oddworld, Kung Fu Mayhem, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Blinx, KOTOR, Jade Empire, Deathrow and many more. I haven't listed the obvious, I have listed the games which were different and brought something unique to the Xbox.

Have you considered XNA for example? They strive to democratise game development by releasing strong tools and giving them to your average home brew developer and giving them a chance to make games and sell them on Live. This generation they released Bioshock, Braid, Gears of War, Lost Od, Blue Dragon, Mass Effect and many more as big new releases which push the envelope of gaming experiences.

This year, other then GeoW, there is nothing new MS is able to bring to its gamer base. This gen seems to be more about what MS is able to take away from Sony and what they can makes remakes and sequels too. Not to say there is anything bad about this, but these are the only things that have won the system much acclaim this year (anyone say FFXIII and Tekken or maybe Devil May Cry?). The more fresher ideas seem to be Lips (copy of Singstar), new avatars (copy of Ninty Mii), Boku (copy of LBP) and maybe a new rumored motion controller (copy of the six axis and Wii controller). 

They delivered GEOW, which is what people wanted. You don't sell millions of copies in a few days by giving the people what they don't want. Remember the awesome offerings on Live Arcade this year and no they didn't copy LBP, They didn't copy Miis and they haven't released a motion controller.

Whilst the competition is throwing out fresh ideas and ways to attract gamers, MS seems to be copying and re-making. That said, there is nothing so much wrong with it, but it does mean that gamers on the system have less to go on. However, as long as they are happy, who really cares!

Lol

PS3

IMO, by far the best console this gen. Plenty of fresh new gaming experiences; LBP, Heavenly Sword, Heavy Rain, Lair, Motorstorm, Flower, Afrika, Eye of Judgement, R2 (no FPS has gone this big and wild on a console the way R2 has), Home, Infamous, MAG, DC universe Online, The Agency and maybe some others I have forgotten. 

Dude stop smoking the crack, noones going to praise MAG now that its been confirmed there will be a subscription fee and Lair/Motorstorm bombed hard, Flower is a PSN game and you conveniently forgot about the Live Arcade games in your tirade, Heavenly Sword was a good but average hack n slash and personally I would rather have Ninja Gaiden, Home has been delayed for the millionth time, etc.

The price may seem a little steep, but you are getting a combination of both; next gen graphics and playability as well as a BR player. Although many people don't see the big deal in BR, you have to watch some BR stuff to really appreciate it (anyone see Blue Planet or Transformers on BR?).

Me,  BR = Niche, only people with hardcore sound systems are really going to apreciate it.

The disappointment on the Sony console is its constant delays on everything. The console killed its own hype by being delayed. The games suffer the same fate. The marketing has been rubbish on this console. The ability for Sony to hold onto their Exclusives is slowly deteriorating, they can't keep up with the Wii and they can't seem to catch up to MS since MS keep dropping their price and give more and more reasons (reasons being games going multi plat) for gamers not to have to buy a PS3. Due to this, the PS3 has a smaller significance then it done last gen. 

It is truly disappointing that Sony has so much to offer this gen, but just cannot do enough to get their game base back. making fresh IP's, offering a free robust online experience, fresh concepts, Br player, built in WiFi, nothing is good enough except maybe a price drop. However, the price drop is the one thing Sony possibly cannot afford to do right now.

Summary

We have one console which caters to those who are inclined to Novelty games, another console which has ran out of ideas and is just taking from others and one console which hasn't got enough money to do as well as it should do due to delays and killing its own hype.

Read: Sony isn't doing as well as you'd hoped so you're just poo pooing the other consoles whilst lamenting Sonys lost opportunity.

To fanboys and fans, they can see a win in each of these consoles, but to me, looking at the changes over the years, I see 3 consoles that can do so much more, yet do so much less. Unlike the ninty and Sega of yester year, who would fight and bring new IP's to better the rivals; we have copycats, bribers, shovelwear enthusiasts and politicians.

Please note, this is just my opinion. I appreciate everyone has their own experiences with gaming and consoles from the various generations and may have a different outlook on this subject. Feel free to share your history of gaming and put forward your views.

Yes, that is what I mean about the PS3, it has some good stuff on there but it's not doing so well. It has in a sense dug its own grave through delays and pricing.

The 360 has capitalized on this as much as they can and maybe it is a good thing since it is now pushing Sony to make bigger better titles for their system in vain of getting back the support they had last gen.

@Squilliam - errr NO! I ain't pooing on other systems just cuz Sony isn't doing well. I would have thought you from all the people would have seen more sense, but it seems you are smoking more crack then me lol

1) HAH! Nintendon't what Sega does? Fanboyism spread to the advertisements on TV!

I never said there was no fanboyism, i said it wasn't as bad. Also, this was an advert made by Sega, not something a fanboy posted up for the sake of argument or favorism.

In that time, people resorted to violence to defend their favourite console. I haven't heard of that happening in these days.

2) Really, for granted huh? They seem to have fought for every inch of market share they can get. They have delivered a strong library of games in any genre you can care to mention.

Yes, I mentioned it already they have fought for every inch of the market. Did you forget to read it or chose to ignore it?!

My point with taking their fans for granted was MS knowing the risk of RROD but taking the risk anyway for the sake of an early release and getting a head start on their competition.

They made a mistake yes, but they also made good on it. If they ignored the problem, that would be taking gamers for granted. 

3) Dude stop smoking the crack, noones going to praise MAG now that its been confirmed there will be a subscription fee and Lair/Motorstorm bombed hard, Flower is a PSN game and you conveniently forgot about the Live Arcade games in your tirade, Heavenly Sword was a good but average hack n slash and personally I would rather have Ninja Gaiden, Home has been delayed for the millionth time, etc.

Again a lack of understanding Squilliam. Dude, is the 360 fanboy coming out of you again and taking over?! I never said any of these games were brilliant, I said they were different and brought something fresh for gamers. And AGAIN you missed the enirre section on me saying Sony screws up this gen by constantly delaying things again. Your last sentence on Home being delayed confirms what I have written.

My point stands, you decided to take a particularly one sided view of the games situation.  

4) no they didn't copy LBP, They didn't copy Miis and they haven't released a motion controller.

N4G has an article claiming Boku to be a copy of LBP, there are several articles on the Mii issue and AGAIN your failure to read has now made you say they have never released a motion controller. Congratulations dude, again, you have confirmed what I have written. Did you not notice the "rumor"? Or did the fanboy get the better of you to ignore it again? 

 N4G also said that Vgchartz was a pile of poop. Obviously you don't take heed to every opinion they spout over there now do you? Boku is an extension of their visual creation tools which they have been developing for YEARS. If anything comparing Boku to LBP makes LBP the copy and Boku the original. Also, unless you can prove they weren't developing Avatars before Miis, and face it - nooone would have thought to Copy that concept until about 18 months ago anyway, when it became obvious the Wii was a smash hit success.

Seriously people, I can go on, but when the fanboys come out to play, it's like explaining yourself to a child who refuses to listen, read and understand lol It's like trying to talk sense to a group of martians who do not speak the same language as you. It is hopeless lol

On that note, I leave the thread to you guys to argue since me wasting anymore time on it would be pointless and of no benefit :)