Console Christmas Crisis part Duex!

Okay, my mythical free PS4 is not happening (more to the point, I refused to give the level of on air time to it that it would have required to get a free one).

Anyhooo --- that leaves me needing to purchase a console for the family in the next week or so. I don't think I need a new generation - the kids have never had one, Minecraft on the PC and angry birds are the extent of their gaming.


So where does one get a deal on a good, complete PS3 or Xbox360 setup these days? Anyone blowing them out cheap? Starter games anyone would suggest? Am I crazy to buy the old one?


AC

Gamestop is a decent source of used console units and games. I have used them a couple of times. We have an xbox 360, but I like the PS-3 that my youngest son recently purchased better. He purchased it from a friend with a few games and a headset for $200.

There is no monthly charge with the PS-3 for online access like there is with the xbox 360. Both systems can have issues. Xbox 360 has the 3 red rings of death issue, and the open tray issue among others. Fortunately there are independent repair facilities to address these issues. One here locally, for example, repairs the "open tray" issue for about $45.

get a ps3. I'll send you all the skylanders stuff.

Get the Xbox 360 and let them play Minecraft there...

Thanks for all the help on this topic.

I've settled on a used PS3 from GameStop - they come with a 1 year warranty for free at $129. Add a camera, two move controllers and an extra regular controller and you're at about $200.

Going to pick up some used games:

Just Dance 3
Lego [something, whatever they have]
Little Big World
Sports Champion

And maybe Ashman will send me Skylanders and/or COD Modern Warfare.

Anything else I should get at startup?

I'm late here. Otherwise I would love to sell you my Xbox 360 in great shape with a Kinect and some games... It's a slim 4GB model but I formatted an 250GB aftermarket hard drive and both the HD carrier from Deal Extreme. Sooo, you get the sweet Matte Black slim with the hard drive. Plus some seriously cutting edge games like LEGO something or other, Fable II, Mass Effect 1, and The Darkness!

But seriously, I have both, and I couldn't justify paying the $$ for Xbox live just to watch freaking Netflix. I know PS+ will cost with the new generation, but when you stand in the store saying "Should I get this on Xbox just to justify keeping it?" something's not right. All my local buds have PS3 as well. Plus it's a BluRay player, which you know, is just the bee's knees.

Have fun with it. But if you DO decide on the Xbox 360, let me know