If you are looking at the long-term, it seems obvious that your choice should be the Xbox.
The first argument many will come up with is that the PS2 has a bigger game library. In reality, the Xbox game library is quickly gaining parity with the PS2 game library. And don't forget that quantity does not necessarily mean quality. There are a boatload of high-caliber games coming out this Christmas season for the Xbox and a lot of them are out right now or will be within the next couple weeks or so:
- Splinter Cell (the latest Official Xbox Magazine has a demo disc)
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
- Ghost Recon (Xbox Live!)
- Unreal Championship (Xbox Live!)
- MechAssault (Xbox Live!)
All of these games are getting great reviews across the board. And there are more coming. Of course, all the sports titles are there too, and pretty much without exception, they all look better on Xbox.
- FIFA 2003 and the rest of EA's line (no Xbox Live support though... bums :-/ )
- NBA 2K3 (Xbox Live!)
- NHL 2K3 (Xbox Live!)
- NFL 2K3 (Xbox Live!)
- NFL Fever 2003 (Xbox Live!)
Next year there will be some great sports titles as well. Microsoft is coming out with MLB Inside Pitch (baseball, early '03 - Live?), Top Spin (tennis, Live-enabled - sweet!) and a soccer game in fall '03 (also Live-enabled).
Don't discount the value of online play to the Xbox. I assure you that Xbox Live is amazing. The PS2 online experience has nothing on Live (I've been on the public Live beta since the first round).
Of course, I'm not saying the PS2 is a bad console - that's not true and everybody knows that. But if you are looking for the best platform and the most bang for your buck in the coming years, the Xbox should be no-brainer.
- Holesinswiss