I Love the Xbox 360, but I'm Not Biased!!

Just as any other journalist covering the world of gaming, I am occasionally perceived by readers as biased towards one system or another. This past week, after I posted the story "Why The Xbox 360 is Crushing the PS3", I received a few emails accusing me of being biased towards the Xbox 360. I even received a comment attacking me personally on a level so juvenile it doesn't warrant further discussion. I rarely feel the need to defend myself or my opinions, but in this case I felt it necessary to set the record straight on a few things.

While I admit the title of the piece was somewhat inflammatory, the fact remains that throughout the story I provided MANY links to other sources supporting my thoughts on the subject. Not one person that called me "biased" offered any shred of evidence to support a counter view. Apparently, they disagreed with me but didn't know why.

Several readers assumed I only own a Xbox 360 and said that if I owned a PS3 and/or a Wii then I wouldn't come to the conclusion that the Xbox 360 is leading in the current console hardware battle. To me, that kind of thinking is the absolute definition of bias. First of all, as I said in the story, I don't consider the Wii to even be in the same race as the PS3 and 360 for several legitimate reasons. Inferior processor power, much lower price (though not as much so now with the $279 Core Xbox 360 now available) and the fact that Nintendo is admittedly targeting non gamers with the Wii are all reasons to separate it from any discussion of competition between the PS3 and 360.


However, for the record, I own all three consoles. Those are my controllers at the top of the story. Specifically regarding the PS3, I bought one shortly after it was released and sold it a few months later due to the severe lack of software. Honestly, I got sick of looking at what was essentially a big black paper weight. But now that there are some quality titles on the horizon combined with the much lower priced 40GB model, I recently got a new PS3 (pictured above next to my 360 and PC).

My basic assertion that the Xbox 360 is presently in the best position of the three going forward had nothing to do with bias and everything to do with recent history, present sales, future software expectations and developer support. It's not my fault that Sony is more concerned about pushing Blu-Ray than giving gamers what they want...namely games. Just as it is not my fault that Nintendo is more interested in quick profits than they are in giving hardcore gamers what they want...eye candy and good online gaming.

Microsoft is not perfect...by far. I hate Windows Vista and have no urge to put it on my Gaming PC. I fully documented their issues with faulty 360 hardware and the steps they have taken to resolve them. But those issues don't change the fact that when you examine their gaming operation as a whole, they are presently doing the best job giving gamers all the things they want and expect from a modern gaming console; quality hardware, a huge library of excellent games, the very best online gaming, digital distribution of movies and television programs and more.

If anyone can show me that I'm wrong, I am always open to being enlightened. But let's be clear...understanding the facts and pointing them out, even (and especially) when it's not popular with some readers doesn't make me biased. It actually makes me unbiased. I don't have a grudge against Sony or Nintendo; quite the contrary. I want nothing more than for them both to be hugely successful, because I firmly believe competition is the only thing that drives innovation. If Sony and Nintendo start providing me with great games and experiences with their consoles, I will be the first to sing their praises. After all, I voted for them both in the only way an American truly can...with my wallet. And I actually voted for the PS3 twice. Doesn't that make me biased toward the PS3? Hmm.