My apartment mate's ps3 got stolen, when we got robbed over this chrismas break while we were away from school (luckily for me, I took mine home), along with his HDtv, surround sound system and 2 games: battlefield:bad company and cod4.

He feels really sad because the total cost of the stolen stuff amounts to $1000+. He said he probably wasn't going to be able to play games anymore because he just graduated and hasn't found a job yet so he doesn't really have a steady income flow. I made him remember all the fun he had playing bad company online and he decided that he may have to rethink that decision.

Then the funny/strange thing happened: I advised him that since the cost of buying his stuff over is high he might as well buy a 360 instead and he gave a reply along these lines: "what? I don't want that system, I'm a ps3 head now. I have to save money to get another ps3".

I was amazed by his reply. Note that this guy was never big on games/gaming and actually used to think it was for kids. He decided to get a ps3 after spending countless nights playing cod4 on my ps3. He first became interested in cod4 because of the level of realism (funny that realism can attract new gamers).

To cut the long story short, my friend officially gave a fanboy answer by blatantly refusing to get a 360 in his ps3's 'stead even going as far as to call the 360 "wack". His answer was surprising. I myself am somewhat of a PS brand fan because I'm heavily invested in it (since ps1) and can't see myself backing out except sony backs out.

So what is it that makes people become fanboys? Is it the first console they buy or the games they play or something else?

Familiarity, comfort, basic human psychology.

You'll find some degree of loyalty in any kind of brand whether it's cars or washing powder. We notice fanboyism because games are something we talk about alot, but there is such fanboyism in the car world as well.

Well i have never seen myself in a fanboy position, because i just really love video games. I would never stop myself from getting a particular system just because i bought another one. All systems have great games, which offer different gaming experiences, so you would be limiting yourself by just being "loyal" to one particular system.
This generation, until december i had only a PS3, Wii and a PSP, I felt sad because of the great games i was missing out on the 360 and the DS, even today, one month after buying my 360, i'm still missing out on the DS. Hopefully i'll buy it in my birthday.
My point is, you should, if you can, try every kind of game, independently of the system that it comes to.

You may have a point there. I personally think that as much as we love to hate the concept. Fanboys actually drive this industry lol.

He is not a fanboy. He made independent, based on experience decision. I think that funboy is someone who isn't really happy with their console as they have to bring the other console down for any reason to fell better for a few seconds.

I really do love videogames. My ps3 moves with me whenever I stay anywhere for more than 2 days despite it's size because games are my primary form of entertainment. In many cases I find that most multi-console owners never even purchase all the games they want on one system before they buy a new one. In my case I still play my old games so I bought the ps3 for continuum. I then consider the other software available on my new format and just ignore  others at least until the rare case that some "super" game convinces me to buy another platform like Ninja Gaiden finally got me to buy an xbox.

Experiences with brand/console also with the psychological feeling of needing to feel part of a group. It's the same psychology that makes people feel proud of their race, heritage, etc.

Doesn't seem particularly fanboyish to me. If he likes the Playstation but isn't interested in the Xbox, that's perfectly fine. Fanboyism is more the trashing other platforms, spreading FUD, rallying to the defense of a faceless multinational corporation, that sort of thing.

The bigger question is, "What creates people who use the word 'wack'?"

Fanboys make fanboys ...

The thing is we don't even talk about console wars or anything like that, we just play games. This is why I was surprised. I called myself a "PS brand fan" not a fanboy because I have played and loved a vast number of games on these formats for a long time and I'm still collecting old and new games on these formats all to be played with ONE console.  Most recent none ps3 games I've purchased and loved are Persona 4 and Legend of Dragoon.

Fanboy has somewhat of a negative connotation to the term thats why as much as I love PS, I refuse to be described by that word. I don't really spend time badmouthing other people's choices either. If you didn't notice, I even advised him to get a 360 instead because of the price.