Will buy a PS3. Despite Xbox not having the PS3 exclusives, all "exclusives" I like on 360 I play them on my laptop.

I own all 3, so I shouldn't really comment. BUT, I would definitely say the PS3! U forgot to mention FF13 Verses, the only FF13 out of the 3 that is similar to 7 and 10. Oh, What about White Knight Chronicals too?

I think come 2009, these kinder silly threads will stop...

If it helps, you can find a 60GB hard drive on eBay for like fifty bucks.

@ Khuutra: Way cool! I'll take your advice to heart...

I bought a 360.

Main reason: price.

The 3 absolute must haves for me were Resident evil 5, Beyond Good & Evil 2 and Final Fantasy 13. These are all multiplat so I picked the cheapest option I could play those on.

There's hardly any difference between the two. Some exclusives here, some exclusives there. I would have loved to play Valkyria, but Mass Effect is with Fire Emblem my favorite game so far this gen.

im already made my mind up im getting a 360 for price and the games

I have no XBOX games, so BC to that doesn't matter.

As mentioned, the PS3 does have BC to PS1.  Also, you can still easily get a PS3 with BC to PS2 from ebay.  I would prefer to get a used console then a PS3 without BC.

Xbox 360. Without a shadow of a doubt. It's exteremely cheap, it's got Live, and it has way more games that appeal to me than the PS3. I don't give a flying fart about Blueray.
Also, the RROD issue seems to have been fixed. :) Who knows, I might get one one day.

That's a tough one, but I say 360.

I'm a Wii first owner but I also have a 360. If I had to do it again I'd still choose a 360 because it has more games that appeal to me (Tales of Vesperia, mainly). =]