At this point the hardware on the 360 should be pretty stable (right?) and the PS3 /has/ come down in price. If the online isn't going to kill you (and pretty much every 360 owner suggests that the PSN really is that bad) then there's no reason not to go with the PS3.

I have a PS3 and I'm content with it. I'm not sure what the 360 exclusives are but I do miss Mass Effect and Alan Wake. I might be interested in Halo 2-Reach but aside from that any game I've wanted has been available for the PS3.

Game Recs are gonna be tough. It depends on if you want to go for old games you missed of the new hotness. For instance I was at BestBuy looking at cheap games. Rainbow 6 Vegas, Resistance, Saint's Row 2, Red Faction 2, Fallout 3, Singstar, Singstar: Queen, Singstar: Abba, Singstar 2, were all $20. Infamous, Resistance 2, Ratchet and Clank were al Greatest Hits ($30)

There was a thread with a bunch of posts in it, let me dig up the link. Should provide some insight without having to rely on comments.

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=274025

Sorry to hear about your wifes uncle. It is always hard to lose someone like that. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family.

As for systems, I think both are really great options. In my opinion, the biggest thing to look at is the selection of games and which is going to offer the most games you will like. They both have their pros and cons (i.e. 360 can get RROD (although the slim model isn't supposed to) PS3 can get YLOD, 360 has better online, PS3 offers free online, etc) So I think it comes down to which one has the most benefits for you. I'm not really into RPGs, but I'm pretty sure the PS3 has more RPGs than the 360 from what I have heard.

The PS3 also has the Blu-Ray player, which really isn't something a lot of people have to have, but still a nice extra. I'm pretty sure the 360 Slim has wireless built in, but the older models do not, you either have to use a wired connection or pay about $100 to get the adapter. I'm also not sure if you have to pay for Xbox Live to get Netflix streaming or if you just have to be able to get online. I really think both systems are great, but for RPGs I'm think the PS3 is probably the best option. Plus, since you have kids the new Move bundle would probably be a really good option for you as well.

Game wise, there are ton of great ones for the PS3, Ratchet and Clank is definitely a good choice. You also have Little Big Planet for the PS3, as well as Uncharted. With Little Big Planet 2 coming, the first one should be dropping in price some more. ModNation Racers is also a lot of fun, Buzz Quiz TV is good if you want a game to play with a group of people. Those are the best ones I can think of off the top of my head for the PS3. As for 360, I haven't really been able to find that many platformers yet. Kameo is a game that was recommended to me but I haven't really got into it enough to deside if I like it. Banjo Kazooie is another one, but I have not purchased it yet. I know there are probably a lot of others that I'm not thinking of right now, but I'm sure some of the others will have more answers.

ahh yes goodpoint. theslims DO have wifi built-in. But yes from what I recall you DO need to be a gold member (pay) to use netflix. You need gold to do anything online. Except maybe buy XBLA/DLC

You can buy my PS3

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...#ht_518wt_1139

I don't know if I would feel comfortable spending inheritance money on games. Just feels like it should go towards savings, kids college, or pay off mortgage more....ANYWAY since you're buying a system...

I thought my 360 would outlive the RROD (it did not) and since then I felt very disappointed at Microsoft. Every Nintendo and Sony console I've had has been indestructible and my 360 lasted a couple years. idk I just think its sad that a 25 year old Super Nintendo outlives a modern system.

I have also played on Xbox Live for a year with Gears of War 2 and Left 4 Dead and almost every game there was something going wrong. In GoW2 someone would often hijack the game and cause extreme lag for everyone but themselves. And L4D is full of rage quitters who leave your team defenseless. I've heard horror stories about Halo and MW2 where people are just so good that you're barely alive before you respawn. Don't forget about the pre-teens who scream racial comments over the mic! It eventually hit me that I wasn't really having fun and stopped playing consoles online.

Sony's brand of hardware has never disappointed me so I buy all my multiplatform games for PS3. Only 360 games I get/have are strictly console exclusives.

yeah but to be fair that's just the internet. I play old games like Resistance 2 and Rainbow Six Vegas 2 but we have rage quitters on Fat Princess, and Castle Crashers too. I'm sure we have super elite players on Killzone and our Modern Warfare 2 as well.

I'd also vote on PS3. Little Big Planet (and soon LBP2) are great family fun, and Disgaea 3 (and soon 4) are awesome if you're into JRPGs (there's not a whole lot of good turn-based console RPGs anymore). And of course Uncharted, MGS4, Demon's Souls, etc.

Go for the PS3. I highly recommend the Uncharted series even though it isn't turn-based or a platformer.

Trust me, less than 10% of the inheritance (more like insurance) money is going towards game. 50% is going straight into savings.

I think I'm definately learning towards the ps3. The only reason the xbox 360 is slightly tempting is that it's 'new'.

I know the ps3 online is free, but isn't there a playstation online + that costs more? Is that worth it?

the PSN+.. basically it's a discount program. like costco membership. You pay the same $50 a year and you get discounts on store stuff.

The only reason to pay for it is if you buy a lot of stuff online.

There are some added benefits but nothing worth talking about. You get to monthly rentals which lasts as long as your membership ['free games'] but they choose the games for you. You can download firmware updates automaticallly, You'llget first chance at betas. nothing really interesting. If you look at it as discount membership it makes sense and you can decided if you want it.

I have both, but I prefer my PS3(partially due to 3 360's crapping out on me in various ways, NOT all covered by Microsoft).

As far as game recommendations, Valkyria Chronicles for the PS3 is awesome, and cheap now. Little Big Planet, Infamous as PS3 exclusives. For either system Fallout 3. For 360, Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2.

What turned based RPG's does the PS3 have? I still think the best RPG on the 360 is Lost Odyssey, so if you're a fan, you'd love that. Otherwise there's a pretty decent RPG selection overall. Platformers, yeah I'd give Sony the edge on that.