Personally I think you always have to take a side on it. You should just now where to put it/say it in a right way.

Which is exactly what it is

I would say that it is not the case. Some people are very biased towards their favorites while ignoring the competition, even though the competition is actually worthwhile. If you say there are no titles on the 360 or the Wii which interest you in any way, but you love the PS3 lineup, then chances are you are suffering from tunnelvision, or you don't want to admit interest, both of which are obvious signs of bias.

I agreed with this until you said "And THAT should not be qualified as biased.", because that is exactly what it is. If you can give reasonable arguments for your preference, then you are explaining your bias.

Nobody is completely unbiased. Having an opinion, for example preferring the PS3 to the 360, introduces a bias.

For example, in a graphics comparison, you may be leaning slightly towards the PS3, but if the 360 wins, it wins. The trouble arises when the 360 version clearly looks better, and you say the PS3 version is better graphically.

Only basic facts are unbiased. However, that's only basic facts. Let me give you an example: console A is known to be more slightly powerful than console B. However, console B is said to be easier to develop on than console A. But what if someone actually finds console A to be easier than console B? Yep, even a universally agreed thing that isn't a simple measurable fact isn't that reliable.

We should first define "biased" and "opinion" before discussing them, let alone their relationship. Is biased having an opinion? Is having an option being biased?

Yeah, I'd say only facts are unbiased; whatever you derive from them isn't. It can be very close to being unbiased but it will never be completely unbiased. There's always bias, even if only a little.

I'd like to see what starcraft has to say here... And if they were more serious, I'd also like to see what Squilliam and gebx have to say. And probably many others as well, can't remember all of them. Now that I think of it, although only a little, I might simplify things a little and say that PS3 fans are stupid and 360 fans are very biased of trolls. Don't take that too seriously, it's just a very simple... simplification.

Anyway, for once I can say that I've found a good thread. Naturally it's be best to define what "biased" and "opinion" mean first, but that's probably impossible on most forums.

There's a huge difference between bias and opinions. It's only recently that people have decided they are the same thing as a way to defend Fox News.

"Fox news is a horrifically biased joke excuse for a network"
"Well everyone has an opinion, so everyone is biased and it's all the same thing"

No, no it's not. Bias is a far different thing from an opinion. And Fox news is a horrifically biased joke excuse for a news network.

There we go.

No, but it does mean that you don't let that opinion influence what you write, and good luck finding any human that's ever successfully done that. Everyone is biased, one way or another: the only differences are in degree and direction. Even a camera can only take pictures in the direction it's pointed.

The really dangerous reviewers and outlets are the ones who pretend to be unbiased, either because they're not competent enough to see their own bias or they're deliberately trying to influence people toward their own viewpoints. The real solution to this problem would be if outlets would drop the pretense and be open and honest about what their biases are. That way readers could take the bias into account and correct for it.

There is a difference between bias and opinion.

For example, as a PC gamer, my opinion is that PC gaming is superior. But obviously, I am biased by the fact that I grew up with PC games, and, console games would give me weird, unpleasant experiences, since I'm not used to them. If I say The Sims 3 will be the best-selling game ever, even my prediction is biased by the fact that for years I only knew PC gaming communities, where the Sims games are perceived as the quadrillion-selling Big Bads, similar to the Wii on "hardcore" forums.

On the other hand, you often see me praising the against the HD consoles. (especially from a business point of view), even though I don't own any console. These opinions are unbiased, because I simply rely on the observation of other, biased fanboys of both sides, and pick the parts that make sense, without being effected by the NES era nostalgia, or the PS1-2 era's "grown up vs kiddie" perception.

Bias is when your interpretation of events or data is influenced by factors other than the facts. Opinions are fine as long as you are presenting them as nothing other than a subjective assessment. Bias only really matters if you are intending to OBJECTIVELY present a topic.

nice to see a lot of intelligent and mature answers in this thread.^^

What I would like to say is if I look at three platforms, decide what I feel is a strength and weakness to each one, deliberate and choose only ONE, does that make me biased for then on out? I gave an even assessment to the situation and chose the best to my ability. I could say, "I think____is better", althought that is just my "opinion", if I give evidence to my conclusion does it have to be "biased"?

An opinion is just a bad observation. V_V imo =P

Most people think they are smart so they share an opinion, the thing is only smart people seem to have opinions on inventory.

If I had a penny for every opinion I have I'd be broke paying for reconstructive surgery bills.

Why be serious when you could just make fun.