Wii, PS3, or XBox 360?

So, I am looking at finally picking up a current generation gaming system (PS3, XBox 360, Wii). Yes, I know that the next generation are coming out in like a year, but bear with me. Anyway, I am torn between the three. I really want it to do a myriad of things. I want good motion games for exercising, be able to do Netflix, some good racing (of course), and general gaming goodness. I see advantages and disadvantages to each system and wanted to get some opinions from the general populace. What have you all heard/seen/experienced? What would you recommend and why?

For additional info, the Wii comes out to about $200, the PS3 is 340 (with Move and extra move controller), and the Xbox (with Kinect and 250GB) is 400. I am currently leaning toward the PS3, but my wife is pushing for the Wii. I really really really like the Kinect system for the Xbox, but I am not sure it is worth the premium to pay for it.

I have also heard that the Xbox has reliability issues and can scratch games easily is looked at the wrong way. That is not a good thing when you are using it with Kinect.

Help! I cannot decide!

GS

XBOX360 all the way. Kinect is better than the Wii, Forza4 is better than GT3 (and Nintendo's only racer is MarioKart), and all of the issues were fixed with the new "S" models (slim).

Do yourself a favor, and buy used though. The small gb X360S are all over for dumb cheap, buy the Kinect and 250gb HD on Amazon and call it a day.

I've had Kinect for about a year now. Hardly play it myself, but I like how I can use good racing games and fun games that give me excersize in one machine. The kids love it and end up winded after a good game session. They wouldn't get that in a dark office, wearing head gear, and guzzling mtn dew for hours on end like most gamers.

I will probably be the lone vote for the wii, but I'm not afraid to be different. We've had the wii for going on 2 years now. It still works, it still gets used, and the wii Fit Plus disc/accessory is great! Yoga, strength training, and fun games! Love it!

The Wii is not good for modern games; it's a pretty weak console, computing-wise. Look at racing games for it, they're all pretty cartoony.

The PS3 is beautiful hardware but has a lousy online component. The 360 feels cheap but I haven't had a single problem with mine in the 4 or so years I've owned it. The newer ones are even more reliable. I have both a PS3 and a 360 and the PS3 pretty much just serves as a blu-ray player now while the 360 gets used a lot.

Does Kinect have a Street Fighter game? 'cause that would actually be pretty awesome.

Too bad that Punch-Out is a Nintendo property, though... That would make for an amazing Kinect game.

Xbox 360.

I love my Wii, have had it for 5 years now. I also love my PS3. My brother has an Xbox with Kinect and 4 kids - it almost never gets used.

I agree with buying used.

By some strange circumstances we have one of each. We use the Wii and the PS3 the most. The only thing the Xbox is used for is Forza. The PS3 is used for Netflix and everything else because of the cost vs getting an Xbox live subscription. Also upgrading the hard drive in the PS3 is cheap and easy compaired to the Xbox.

I believe you can do Netflix on all three.

The Wii is generally a better "family" system.

Kinect and Move are many times not used much after the novelty wears off.

PS3 and Wii have free online service, XBOX will incur a yearly charge.

Forza verses GT5 is very debatable, I don't think you will be disappointed with either. There are both GT5 and Forza GRM leagues going on currently. Getting a wheel for either is highly suggested.

aircooled wrote: Forza verses GT5 is very debatable, I don't think you will be disappointed with either. There are both GT5 and Forza GRM leagues going on currently.

Forza has not only a Gremlin and a Pacer, but a Javelin, which means GT5 loses.

All kidding aside, the newer Kinect games (including yoga) are amazingly well done, and yes I have played the Wii. PSN may be free, but it's down a lot and they keep getting hacked. XBOX Live really isn't all that much, especially if you have Netflix, Hulu, etc to stream through it. We've talked seriously about ditching cable all together for the Live entertainment.

You can make a pretty good case either way for the PS3 or the X360S, but the Wii just isn't even worth anything unless you have a house full of 6-16 year olds.

GT5 does tend to be a bit Japan centric sometimes. If you like Skylines, you will LOVE GT5.

Wii also will not go full 1080 I believe.

PSN was hacked once, to no known effect, and it is almost never down in my experience (they will do maintenance sometimes). There is also access Hulu and some other subscribtion stuff (I don't mess with it) in PSN.

Kinect, Move and the Wii balance board probably will only see good use when used for exercise games (which I think is what he want them for). Despite what the commercials seem to imply and the companies like to push, they generally are not very successful for gaming.

Oh, and one more thing. If you go online with either PS or XBOX, either make sure you can turn down the volume or be prepared to learn that you may not be the same sexual orientation you believe you are. and to learn some interesting fact about you mother you may not be aware of.

We have a Wii and a PS3, have had both for 3-4 years now. At first, when my kids were 8-ish, it was the Wii all the way. Mario Kart, the various sports games, you name it. At that time, the PS3 was primarily a Blu-Ray player (which is why I picked it over the 360). As they've gotten older, though, the Wii has really fallen by the wayside, and my son now plays Call of Duty on the PS3 all the time. He's on PSN constantly, too, and other than the one outage, we haven't had any trouble with it. Hardware-wise, I think the 360 and PS3 are pretty comparable. It seems like the big advantage of the PS3 is free network gaming, and the big advantage of the Xbox is Kinect. They both get all the major titles at the same time, and the racing games are good on both. As noted, all three can do Netflix, though the Wii can't do it in full HD. The 360 and PS3 can also do DLNA, though I've found the PS3 to be pretty picky and clunky about it, so I just use a WD TV Live instead.

I'm sure when the next generation comes out, we'll get one, but I have no idea which one right now.

I prefer PS3 because of the Blu-Ray player, the built in harddrive, and the built in batteries in the controls. The online is weaker than Xbox 360's, but then you'll probably want to buy a harddrive and rechargable battery for the 360. Xbox Live Gold does cost $60 a year while PSnetwork is free.

Wii is essentially an updated GameCube with fancy controllers. If you want to play with fancy controls, though, it's hard to beat the company that wrote the book on how to jump around with a fancy controller. If you want to play video games on it, it will feel like you're using a 2001 gaming console to play games in 2012 (i.e. antiquated.), but if you want NEStalgia it's the only way to go.

I had a first gen 360 and it lasted 5-6 years and then finally died. My first gen PS3 lasted almost as long. I now have the updated slim versions of both. I tend to buy games on PS3 first. I find it works and looks better to my eyes. I will switch to 360 if one of my buddies has a xbox and wants it play online.

I never considered getting a Wii because I have a gym membership, and I don't have kids. That and my modded original Xbox can play emulators.

Edit: We watch Netflix on both xbox 360 and PS3. You need xbox live gold ($60/yr) to use netflix. Our lowest speed AT&T DSL works just fine with both platforms and buffers only at the beginning of the show and only for 5-10 seconds max.

I use my Xbox for Forza and Netflix only

I use my PS3 for Netflix(the format/interface is better IMO) and Blu-ray only

I primarily play games on my computer

If I had a Wii or Kinect, I would play those kind of games more. I just don't like using controllers unless racing.

I really hate the $60 a year crap for Xbox Live. That blows where the pampers is.

I have an XBox and a Wii. basically I play games on the XBOX and at this point the Wii is only used for Netflix. I think it is going to get sold soon.

Another vote for X Box. Get a refurb at Gamestop with a 1 year warranty. I love mine. Watching Netflix on it right now AAMOF.

PS3. Miles and above better than my 360 was.

Watch slickdeals for bundles that pop up for cheap every month or so. Or get a used one.

That being said I vote Xbox360. I've played all three systems extensively though I have not tried any of the motion games for PS3. Forza 4 is the best racing game out there. Xbox can handle Netflix duties well. Some of the Xbox menus/interface is kinda annoying. Having to pay for being able to play online is inconvenient, but it works well(again check out slickdeals for xbox live subscriptions they pop up for $30-$40 for a year which is a lot cheaper than the regular $60.) I like the Kinect. Dance game is pretty good, and some of the adventure stuff is fun/good for a laugh.