How did you choose between PS2 and Xbox (or PS3 and 360)?

[sworddude]

I didn't

Choose the gamecube instead back in the day

[bizzgeburt]

I actually owned a N64 AND a Playstation, but I considered myself a Nintendo-Child. Well, up until I was introduced to Final Fantasy ... that actually FORCED me to buy an PS2 in order to te able to play Final Fantasy X ... that's a purchase I'll never regret.
I was actually in the lucky position to mostly own every actual big-name console, but honestly, the Playstations were the ones I played with the most up until today. Especially my beloveth Big PS2 which I pruchased at my 15th birthday, and that has never disappointed me. I couldn't count the 1000s of hours I put in this thing  and still am

[telekill]

For the PS2/Xbox gen, there were a few reasons I went with PS2 over Xbox.
 - Backwards compatible with PS1
 - I liked the controller already
 - Onimusha looked really good (and remains good)
 - Microsoft jumped into the console space by buying out talent instead of building it. Even back then I recognized this for what it was and wasn't a fan.

I didn't buy one at launch though as I had my Dreamcast and PS1. I waited until the following tax return came in... so April-ish of 2001. There was still a severe shortage of PS2 systems so every day I was calling stores within a 2 hour drive radius. Finally got lucky.

Well... lucky-ish. Got to the store where they were holding the PS2 for me. I had my PS1 with me to trade in and pay for the taxes. Went to pay for the PS2 and my card was declined. It hit me that I had forgot to transfer my tax return into my checking from my savings, not wanting to accidentally spend it. I told them I'd be right back and headed to the ATM. Savings accounts at the time had a max withdraw of $150 at my bank per day. So that was half. I scrambled having to leave the mall and head to Target to use my debit card and get cash back... $151 pack of gum. Then I had to race back to the mall as they were almost closing... the closest mall entrance had already been locked so I ran to the next and ran through the mall, full speed, looking like an idiot about to shit his pants. Made it to the store just as they were closing their gate. I was very happy they let me complete the transaction. I was sweating profusely, regardless of being in decent shape. Had the guys laughing a bit at me, but I had my PS2. I simply didn't have enough for the second controller or a game until I could transfer more money from my savings the following day.

It was the only Playstation I ever kept vertical and once I swapped it out with the PS2 Slim, I kept all systems horizontal from then on. As for the OG PS2 I had for many years... I fully upgraded it to play Resident Evil Outbreak at its best. I had purchased the HDD that came with one of the online FF games. I had purchased the online adapter. I even got it a USB keyboard for pregame chat. Good times.

[telekill]

For the PS3/360 generation, I continued to stick with Playstation for even more reasons than the PS2 gen.
 - There were 15 games in production I knew I wanted to play on it; Uncharted being at the top.
 - Launch PS3's were backwards compatible with both PS1 and PS2 games.
 - Xbox 360 RRoD was in full effect already.
 - Xbox fans had proven to be complete dicks... even those working at the stores; story to follow.

I bought my launch PS3 about a week after launch, just before Thanksgiving. I had missed the slim window for preordering due to being at work and every day, would meander the local shops, asking if they'd gotten any shipments of PS3's in. For some background, I had worked at one of the two local EB Games stores a little better than a year prior to this for a couple years.

One day, I walked into the EB Games I hadn't worked at and did the usual asking. The guy behind the counter straight up lied, asking why I wanted a PS3 when 360 was going to be getting every game the PS3 has and that there were no exclusives on Playstation anymore. I laughed and called him out on it, after he said they didn't have any in stock but pushed for me to buy the 360 instead. I understood he was trying to make the sale, but bold face lying like that isn't the way to go about doing it. It wasn't long before he was insulting people that preferred Playstation and that didn't sit well with me.

The following day, I made my rounds again, going into the same store. I immediately saw the same guy, and reversed course, not wanting to deal with the fanboyism anymore. As I headed up the escalator, a familiar face was heading down the other. He used to be a coworker of mine at the other EB Games and we were friends. Within the few seconds of the escalator ride, I found out he had been promoted to store manager of this location and not only that, they had PS3's in stock... but only the 20GB models. I didn't care.

By the time he reached the bottom and I reached the top, I quickly flipped around and joined him in his store. As he went into the back to grab one of the systems, I waited at the counter. The jerk from before asked me if I had changed my mind and wanted to buy a 360 instead. I told him I was here for a PS3 and he said they didn't have any and I need to let it go, offering the 360 again. I simply smiled and waited until my friend came out with the PS3 and put it on the counter in front of me, telling me that they had just gotten a shipment yesterday but wasn't supposed to sell them until Black Friday, two days later. He made the exception for me and I bought the in store warranty, an extra controller and Resistance Fall of Man with it. The jerk was a mix of confused and irritated. I loved it.

[wartoy]

I picked up all of them first was the Ps2 it was the first to release then later the Xbox cause I wanted to play Halo and the next gen was 360 first then later Ps3 because I wanted to play Disgaea.