Which should I buy?

Jun 11, 2009 16:32

I'm not likely to buy a new system soon, due to budgetary constraints. But given the breadth of the gaming world I can't help but obsess over the following question: which system should I buy? I already have a Wii, a DSi, and a PS2. My main criterion: which system offers the best ratio of FUN to COST OF OWNERSHIP?

Maybe you can help me out. Poll below.

PC ($1000+?)

Pros:
  • Tons of games I want to play
  • Lots of indie games
  • Obviously, there are many free and cheap tools for tinkering and development
Cons:
  • This is the most expensive option, even if I build my own
  • Hungry for power and apartment real estate
  • Might be superfluous, if I can swing decent graphics in my next laptop upgrade (the $1999 MacBook Pro?)---and actually my current laptop can run a lot of good PC games that I don't have time to play anyway

XBox 360 ($300)

Pros:
  • Also, tons of games I want to play---and most of the PC games I want to play are also available on 360
  • Least expensive of the full-blown console options
  • Netflix! That would be cool.
Cons:
  • Still a significant chunk of change, and the Gold fee doesn't help with that
  • Not homebrew friendly

PlayStation 3 ($350)

Pros:
  • The Last Guardian
  • I guess I wouldn't mind having a Bluray player?
Cons:
  • Pricey; most of the games I'd want to play have (sometimes superior) 360/PC ports
  • PS3? I mean, come on.

iPod Touch ($180 refurbished)

Pros:
  • Not too expensive, and the software's generally pretty cheap too
  • Accessible to indie developers, vibrant development scene
  • I could use a new iPod anyway...
Cons:
  • I can't think of any games compelling enough to sell me on the system; I can get awesome casual stuff on platforms I already own

PSP ($170)

Pros:
  • Surprisingly, there are a lot of PSP games that I want to play: Persona, Class of Heroes, LittleBigPlanet, Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy VII...
  • Sony's going all-downloads for the PSP, which appeals to me
  • Almost cheap enough to be in the "buy on a whim" category
Cons:
  • Sony's actively hostile to the homebrew scene
  • Do I really need another portable gaming device? Hmm.

Poll

lazyweb, games

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