I commend this thread, but it lost all credibility as soon as I saw the word metacritic. You also fail to address the effects of a years head start in any way.

You used titles like Halo 3 and GOW2 which everybody knows are heading for PC. Without those titles, the 360 is actually behind in the number of AAA games. Now you can leave them on the list and even call them exclusive until things change, but then your only lying to yourself in a thread that is supposed to argue for "real exclusives".

There are also several games on the 360 list that are arguebly ONLY there because of the years head start: Saints Row, MotoGP06, Tetris, Namco Museum and Dead Rising.

Quite possibly the biggest problem I have with your numbers, however, is the final result. 360 finishes at 50 while PS3 finishes at 30. Nowhere do you mention that only 3 of these exclusives are rated higher than 80 (even by Metacritic's cracked out standards). On your list, 28 of the 360's 29 exclusive lead are rated lower than 70%. 21 of these titles are not even at 60%.

It is on disc in Europe. I've seen it in multiple stores..

Well concidering the +1 years advantage and the hard achitecture of the ps3 it's pretty nice seeing that in "top rated games" it's about even.

This list still doesn't give me a reason to get a 360. But it can help either 360 owners or ps3 owners whose concidering the other console to see which games they alone offer.

Maybe I shouldn't have used the PS2 as an example because people would just call me a sony fanboy. I just used it because I think it has the most exclusive games for a console ever.

Lets use the SNES. Is it fair to compare the number of SNES exclusives to the number of PS3 or 360 exclusives without taking into account the amount of time the SNES was on the market compared to 360 or PS3?

The answer is no.

@Onyxmeth

I applaud you sir, and your conservative use of statistics. You have effectively made your analysis something that cannot be spun. You have used the most concise even handed criteria possible. There is no arguing with stand alone exclusives. Users that actually back up their arguments with bona fide data. Rather then arguments based upon intuition or blind faith. Are indeed my favorite users. Unfortunately they are so rare.

@topic

For those griping about the nonaligned launches portraying an unrealistic portrait you are wrong. The delayed launch for the PS3 had a range of advantages, and disadvantages. The same holds true of the early launch of the 360. However the honest appraisal is for what is in hand. How one got there is irrelevant. Only the results matter. In this case the Microsoft made sacrifices to have more games. Sony sacrificed that to jam more tech in their console. Nobody argues that the PS3 is more reliable. So why argue that the 360 does not have more games.

For my part about the quality its irrelevant. Volume is often just as much about satisfying different pallets as having the most. For every game there is an ardent fan that sees the virtues, and is blind to the faults. The only thing worth note is whether there is enough to wet every whistle. So all games should be included even if not acclaimed.

For me I think Lost Odyssey should rate over ninety, but for me one of the defining characteristics of the game was the writing. Which was simply outstanding there is a book of morality tales entwined in the game. I never thought I would read a story about the morality of the treatment of immigrants within a game. Granted many might not appreciate this level of depth, but I absolutely adore it. I would cringe to see someone say that is not quality.

Such desperation..

Proof? Do you have proof, other than yourdeep, heartfelt fanboyish wishes? Sony fanbots have declared Halo 3 heading to PC in 2007. It's 2009. Might wanna give that one a rest, buddy. And Gears? Unlinke the first, isn't this "PC port" continuiously shot down by Epic/Cliffy, etc? Stop talking out your ass.. it makes the rest of your post look foolish.

If the 360 last 7 years, and the PS3 last 10 years, then would we only compare the games for each console between the six years both consoles are on the market? That would sound pretty dumb to me...

Metacritic is the STANDARD review score we use because it takes an average.. PS3 fanboys use it as much as 360 fanboys, its not perfect, but its fair and impartial!!

What source are you using that said that Halo and Gears 2 was heading to the PC? Cause I have sources that say that Sony is closing all its 1st party studios.. we should trade sources and become "All Knowing Sentient Forum Nerds"!

PS - Whats the best way for Sony to make more money off its 1st party studios?? PC Ports!! They will come, just wait and see!

I'm in the boat that the exclusives that 360 does have aren't that great and don't appeal to me, which is why I got a PS3 for those multiplats and going to upgrading my PC sometime this summer when I'll have more money to spend and get the PC/360 multiplats cause I'm a big PC guy anyway, I just don't see wasting money on another console but I'm a cheapskate that was able to buy 60 games this past year apparently so I guess it works out well for me.

Maxwell - That's fine and dandy. Just because the 360 has more & better exclusives doesn't mean you'll want all of them. Heck, I owned a N64 over a PS1. Of course, that was a horrible time in my life I won't mention, but the point still stands.

To each his own, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the 360 has more exclusives. Now, weather or not that effects you is between you & your console.

That's opinion and not truth as you phrased it.

None of the 90+ rated games on 360 appeal to me as Forza is about as entertaining as any other racing title and shooters are best on PC to me as I hate dual analog and the graphics are better, not to mention I'd put good money that Gears 2 will end up on PC with extra stuff much like the original which again plays and looks a lot better then 360 and if I wanted to play with a controller I have that option as well and then hook my PC into my TV, all of which makes me buying a 360 a waste of money, as I get more features, games that cost 50 instead of 60, and free online that has more features then a pay service on a console.

I'm not taking away from 360 having more exclusives but a good few of those were either released or long in development before PS3 released, as is the case of saints row and a few others.   The few games that is exclusive to 360 that appeal to me aren't good enough to make me buy the system, I held out on buying a PS3 until Little Big Planet and having the chance of buying the system for 50 dollars helped.