Heey guys!!

Long time lurker! First time posting.  So I just got done with summer classes and my parents said they would let me buy a new videogame system TODAAAAY.  Our family just bought a 50 inch Plasma Panasonic from Target for 630 (I paid 100 bucks :D so I get to use it!!) and I'm ready to go HD 8-).  As you guys can tell from the name I already own a Wii (AND I AM NOT GOING TO SELL IT). So I have been reading the threads and it seems like the PS3 has got a price cut and the 360 Elite is about to drop to $299.  So you guys, I need your help.  If I buy a system I am stuck with it for the entire generation.  I'm only 15, so I gotta make sure its the right choice!

PS3 -
Bluray Player
Free online
Two friends own one

Xbox 360 -
Cross game Chat
Seems like alot more people own one
Cheaper Arcade unit

Also as far as games go - this is what I want.  EXCLUSIVES.  

PS3:

Little Big Planet
Ratchet!!!!
God of War 3
Killzone 2
Metal Gear Solid 4
Infamous
Gran Turismo 5 (sorry Forza)

Xbox 360:
HALO 3
Gears 1 and 2 (I tried Resistance 2, hated it)
Mass Effect
Crackdown

Consoles are too expensive to be impulse buys. It is good to have at least 7 games in mind before you buy one.

The PS3/360 are virtually the same, so it will come down to exclusives. Youtube some gameplay videos and find out what you like.

With the Xbox 360 you get backwards compatibility.

Well what good is cross game chat if you dont have any friends on it? E-friends are dangerous. And you have two real life friends with PS3s. And you wrote it yourself, the PS3 has more exclusives you want. But also look into what each console brings in 2010, exclusive wise, too see what might be worth playing.

Me personally, Blu ray on that sweet 50 inch would be fantastic. Even though its a plasma. LCD ftw! :D

It seems like you think Gears and Resistance are similar - let me clarify: they are absolutely nothing alike, and the only reason they're compared is because they're high-profile action games that came out around the same time.

You seem to be more enamored of the PS3, though.

You seem to list more PS3 exclusives, so maybe thats what you are leaning towards? Also ask yourself how often youre going to play with your friends online. I think both will have good exclusives at all times, so you can just choose one without giving yourself too much of a headache.

I'd recommend the PS3 because its now the same price as the elite and imo has many better quality exclusives, plus free online plus bluray. Do the math.

IF you buy a PS3 then please don't wait for the slim version

In the end, it's all about games, and your PS3 list is bigger than the 360's... although I'm a bit surprised that it lacks some big franchises...

Go for the PS3 if that's the console with the most games.

Well I haven't written 360 off because it does have some compelling features, and it would be stupid to.

Do you guys think in the future the PS3 will have cross game chat? one of the reasons I am not worried so much about it is becuase Sony has been putting in good features and well, I don't how I could pay for live every year. I rent most games, don't buy.